Dorothy Howell Sews Together Her Love of Sewing and Writing in Seams Like Murder

Dorothy Howell Brings Her Sewing Strengths to Seams Like Murder

In the debut to her new mystery series, Dorothy Howell sews together her love of sewing and writing. Journey along with Abbey Chandler in Seams Like Murder as she tries to help solve a murder—and picks up a new hobby along the way. As readers enjoy this cozy tale, they’ll love indulging in Dorothy Howell’s seasonal Holiday Pumpkin Roll.

Dorothy Howell’s Holiday Pumpkin Roll
 
Makes 1 (10-inch-long) cake
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups confectioners’ sugar, divided
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • ⅔ cup solid-packed pumpkin
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup chopped English walnuts (optional)
  • 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons margarine
  • ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 15x10-inch rimmed baking sheet; line with wax paper. Sift ½ cup (or more) confectioners’ sugar evenly onto a paper towel to cover towel well.
  2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs and sugar with a mixer at medium-high speed until light in color, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in pumpkin.
  3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Add to pumpkin mixture, stirring until well blended. Spread batter into prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle batter evenly with nuts, if using.
  4. Bake until cake springs back when touched lightly, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove cake from oven and loosen edges with a knife. Turn cake out onto prepared paper towel. Remove wax paper. Beginning on a short end of cake, roll up cake and towel together jelly roll style. Place seam side down on a wire rack and let cool completely.
  5. In another large bowl, beat together cream cheese, margarine, vanilla extract, and remaining 1 cup confectioners’ sugar until smooth and creamy.
  6. Unroll cake and spread with cream cheese filling. Roll cake up again and place seam side down on a serving tray. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 2 days before slicing; or wrap tightly with plastic wrap, freeze for up to 3 weeks, and let thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

 

Seams Like Murder

About the Book

Abbey Chandler needs a new start and a place to escape, so Hideaway Grove, where she spent her childhood summers, seems like a perfect choice. Once there, she takes up a rewarding new hobby—but also gets tangled up in a hit-and-run homicide. 

Abbey has barely arrived in the quaint, quiet town of Hideaway Grove before things turn from blissful to bloody—as the new librarian is mowed down by a car. The only witness on the scene isn’t much help, aside from handing Abbey the bag of books dropped by the victim. Even worse, the sheriff’s office seizes Abbey’s car because of a suspicious dent in the right front fender.
 
While she waits for the problem to be sorted out, Abbey is drawn into a charity sewing project—even though she can’t tell a bobbin from a seam ripper. Before she knows it, she’s graduating from pillowcase dresses to aprons, setting up a studio in a back room of her aunt’s bakery, and making plans to participate in the upcoming craft fair. But through it all, she keeps looking for patterns and possible conflicts in the late librarian’s personal, professional, and romantic life. Then a shocking discovery sends her in a new direction, and as the truth begins to unspool, she’s got a notion about who’s guilty.

About the Author

Dorothy Howell is the USA Today and Amazon Bestselling Author of 48 books in the mystery and romance genres. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages with millions sold worldwide. Dorothy currently lives in Los Angeles. Visit her website at DorothyHowellNovels.com.

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