Bead on Trouble

By Barbara Burnett Smith

     Ex-stateswoman Kitzi Camden has been going to Camp Green Clover with her best friend Beth since she was eight years old. Now she attends their Bead Retreats and recreates that happy summer camp atmosphere for a precious weekend every year. But this year something is wrong; not only is there a tense atmosphere of rivalry as a contractor from a prestigious firm is looking for new talent but somebody gets murdered. Kitzi and Beth have their own reasons to not be shedding tears, but when it looks like they are the prime suspects it is time to turn detective.

  As a keen beader I enjoyed reading about my beloved craft and relished the tip at the back, but I also enjoyed this easy-to-read cozy for other reasons. There is a lively plotline (I didn't guess it all), some evocative camp atmosphere and some engaging characters. Having Kitzi tell the story in her own words brings immediacy to the tale, and any non-beaders out there need not worry that the book is going to be filled with hobby talk as it isn't. The start of a new series, and an enjoyable one.