Material Witness Mysteries

“There’s a new material girl in town… [a] resourceful and gutsy sleuth.”

 —Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author

A Material Witness Mystery Series

The Material Witness mysteries star pageant dress designer Polyester Monroe, who inherits the fabric shop where she was literally born—on a bed of polyester. Set in the small California town of San Ladron, the series blends cozy crime with creative flair, close-knit relationships, and just the right amount of charm.

In this series, you’ll find:

  • A clever, fair-play murder mystery
  • A small-town California setting with big personality
  • A crafty fabric-shop hook and DIY flavor
  • Sweet, slow-burn romance and layered family dynamics
  • Two scene-stealing kittens named Pins and Needles

Meet Poly Monroe and stitch together the clues today.

Suede to Rest

Book #1 from the series: Material Witness Mysteries
“There’s a new material girl in town… [A] resourceful and gutsy sleuth.” —Krista Davis, New York Times bestselling author

Unraveling family secrets can be murder…

Polyester Monroe grew up playing among bolts of silk and velvet in her family’s legendary textile shop, Land of a Thousand Fabrics—until a devastating tragedy shut its doors for good....

Read more

Crushed Velvet:

A Fabric Shop Cozy Mystery
Book #2 from the series: Material Witness Mysteries
“Vallere stitches an intrepid heroine together a nicely layered plot that fits well with the fabric imagery… Fans of Jenn McKinlay’s Hat Shop novels may also enjoy this small-town cozy.”Booklist

Fabric shop owner Polyester Monroe is back—and business is finally booming. With the grand reopening of Land of a Thousand Fabrics just around the...

Read more

Silk Stalkings

A Fabric Shop Cozy Mystery
Book #3 from the series: Material Witness Mysteries
“Vallere weaves a tapestry of finely knit characters, luxurious fabrics, and… murder.” —Janet Bolin, national bestselling author of the Threadville Mysteries

Fabric shop owner Polyester Monroe knows how to handle a tangle of textiles—but murder is another matter entirely.

With the annual Miss Tangorli beauty pageant approaching, Poly agrees to...

Read more

Tulle Death Do Us Part

A Fabric Shop Cozy Mystery
Book #4 from the series: Material Witness Mysteries

“As with any mystery by Diane Vallere, the characters shine and really bring readers back for each new installment in her series.”

—Kittling: Books


Wedding bells are ringing—but murder is crashing the ceremony.

Polyester Monroe, quirky amateur sleuth and owner of Material Girl, the most colorful fabric shop in San Ladrón, California, is swept up...

Read more

Sheer Window

A Thanksgiving Mystery Novella
Book #5 from the series: Material Witness Mysteries

In this Thanksgiving twist on Rear Window, a seemingly ordinary holiday gathering takes a dark turn when a squabble across the street turns deadly…

When a freak accident leaves klutzy fabric shop owner Polyester Monroe confined to a wheelchair, she’s forced to spend Thanksgiving watching the world go by from her living-room window. With friends...

Read more

Contesting the Wool

A Fabric Shop Cozy Mystery
Book #6 from the series: Material Witness Mysteries

"I love the characters, and it is a joy to slip back into their world."

-Carstairs Considers

It’s curtains for somebody at the reading of the will…

Polyester Monroe never expected to inherit anything from Reginald Villamere, the recently deceased millionaire who preserved San Ladrón’s historic movie theater. Poly barely knew the man—but her own...

Read more