Touristy little Hideaway Grove seems to be a place where pink is for girls, blue is for boys. The many women entrepreneurs run bakeries, dress shops, Touristy little Hideaway Grove seems to be a place where pink is for girls, blue is for boys. The many women entrepreneurs run bakeries, dress shops, antique shoppes, and the few men we're introduced to are in law enforcement, own tire stores, are woodworkers. The women are rather hysterically worried about a big convention cancelling on short notice (have they never heard of contracts?) after an unpleasant woman is killed. Abbey (sewing studio, though she doesn't seem much of a devoted needlewoman) worries that her Aunt Sarah is the main suspect, as the victim was planning to start a competing bakery. Surprise--she finds the real killer, and barely escapes with her life....more
Pamela and her journalist friend Bettina are at the seniors' St. Patrick's Day luncheon when Isabel Lister, the now-elderly daughter of a leading famiPamela and her journalist friend Bettina are at the seniors' St. Patrick's Day luncheon when Isabel Lister, the now-elderly daughter of a leading family of the town who has recently returned after a colorful career, is found murdered. Bettina is determined to scoop her rival newspaper, but it is Pamela who does most of the detecting, while also dealing with her private life. There's not as much knitting in this as in some of the previous books in the series, and a lot of description of Bettina's outfits and the meals that the women eat....more
Libby has started a yarn business in her home town after her divorce, even though the new mayor is her high school boyfriend, and her mother wants notLibby has started a yarn business in her home town after her divorce, even though the new mayor is her high school boyfriend, and her mother wants nothing so much as to move in with Libby and her dog. The featured speaker, an expert on dying natural fibers, dies and it's clear that someone blocked the ventilation system and doors of the warehouse where she was working. The local sheep farmers had protested her presence, but murder is a rather strong form of protest. Her sister, a famous chef, and her videographer brother-in-law were also participating in the local festival, but don't claim to know of any enemies who might be responsible. I suppose that there's an audience for this, but this week I've had enough of the healing power of crafts....more
I've read earlier books in this series, but found this one repetitious and slow. Every time the heroine has a cup of coffee at home (and she drinks a I've read earlier books in this series, but found this one repetitious and slow. Every time the heroine has a cup of coffee at home (and she drinks a lot of coffee) the author has to mention that she uses her wedding china; every time her neighbor and sidekick arrives, the author describes her clothes and mentions that she uses sugar and cream in her coffee. Pamela has persuaded the magazine she works for to co-sponsor a conference on fabric; when the keynote speaker dies suddenly, she's afraid her boss will blame her for the bad publicity. But the speaker, an obnoxious professor, was so generally disliked that it's hard to focus on just one suspect. ...more
Maggie's beloved yarn-shop assistant Phoebe gets a spot at the famous local farmer's market to sell her knitwear--the first step toward opening a shopMaggie's beloved yarn-shop assistant Phoebe gets a spot at the famous local farmer's market to sell her knitwear--the first step toward opening a shop of her own. But when she finds out that the previous stall-holder, a local organic farmer, killed himself--correction, was murdered--she wonders if the stall is cursed. It certainly seems that way when her stall is vandalized and so is her on-line presence. But maybe it was just an overreaction by her ex-boyfriend Harry, who uses his aunt's stall right across the way from hers. Another death leaves the police eyeing Harry, and judging Phoebe as guilty by association. There isn't quite so much of the meetings among the ardent knitters who frequent the shop in this series addition....more
Assistant bookstore manager Molly Pink has a lot on her hands--including new housemates, her older son and his pregnant girlfriend--and her long-time Assistant bookstore manager Molly Pink has a lot on her hands--including new housemates, her older son and his pregnant girlfriend--and her long-time "casual" boyfriend who suddenly wants to get married. That's not to mention some of her co-workers and customers at the bookstore where she also runs the needlework section. But when she sees a woman die in front of her, everything else takes second place. Her ex-boyfriend, a police detective, asks her help in relaying gossip about the death to him, which gives Molly all the excuse she needs to poke around the scene of the terrible accident--or was it murder? While Molly finds the culprit, she also finds herself in danger....more
Single mother Mandy is busy with her teenaged daughter, her online presence as a journaler, and her part-time job as a barista at a large hospital, whSingle mother Mandy is busy with her teenaged daughter, her online presence as a journaler, and her part-time job as a barista at a large hospital, when she discovers a body in the parking garage on her way home. The dead woman worked as a chair massage therapist in the hospital lobby, and recently was the target of Mandy's pal's ire after a really bad massage. That leaves Reese as a leading suspect. Mandy is sure that Reese isn't a murderer, but she's certainly hiding something. There's also Mandy's co-worker in the coffee bar, who seems to be too interested in Mandy's daughter. And her ex, although deeply in arrears for child support, wants to woo her again. Fortunately, the tenant in her basement apartment is not only hunky, he's a homicide cop....more
Retired curator--and novice quilter--Beatrice finds herself in a van with her extroverted neighbor and friend Meadow going to visit a wealthy old womaRetired curator--and novice quilter--Beatrice finds herself in a van with her extroverted neighbor and friend Meadow going to visit a wealthy old woman who wants to start a quilt foundation. Meadow is determined that their quilt guild will be included, but they soon learn that the old woman, Muriel, really wants to apologize to her invited guests for things that she did to them in the past. An unexpected ice storm strands all the guests, the power goes off, and that night Muriel is murdered. At least that's what Beatrice thinks! It's a dead spot for phone reception, and there's too little food, but Beatrice tries to investigate, with the help of her friends....more
Divorced mother Mandy works two jobs and rents her basement apartment to her cousin Ryan when her ex-husband refuses to pay child support for Vellum, Divorced mother Mandy works two jobs and rents her basement apartment to her cousin Ryan when her ex-husband refuses to pay child support for Vellum, age 15. For her insurance, she works at the coffee shop in a hospital; for her pleasure, and an increasing part of her income, she does vlogging on journaling. When Ryan is murdered, it upsets her financial status, but more than that, she feels fear and grief--grief for her oldest friend, fear because a murderer was in her house and she may be a suspect. The handsome police detective soon realizes that she's innocent, but she may be able to provide him with insights on Ryan's job as a hospital maintenance man. Besides, the policeman is looking for a new apartment......more
A DNA test, and Martha learns that she has a previously unknown half-sister living not far away. Giselle turns out to be filthy rich, but she doesn't A DNA test, and Martha learns that she has a previously unknown half-sister living not far away. Giselle turns out to be filthy rich, but she doesn't know much more than Martha did about their father, whom Martha never knew because he deserted her pregnant mother. He deserted Giselle's family, too--or was he murdered? Detecting away, the duo finds that they also have a half-brother, but who is he? And did his mother kill their father? In the midst of this, Martha's daughter reveals that she's pregnant, and going to get married, unfortunately to a man that Martha detests....more
There's light reading, and there's light reading plus. Carol Dean Jones' quilting mysteries are really light, although she sometimes delves into weighThere's light reading, and there's light reading plus. Carol Dean Jones' quilting mysteries are really light, although she sometimes delves into weighty subjects. Sarah finds an old quilt, and tries to find out more about it. Meanwhile, her husband, a retired police detective, thinks he's on to a cold case of murder, only to discover that his informant was wrong. Sarah's daughter Martha and her best friend's son Timothy seem attracted to each other, but will they take the next step? Life in a retirement community seems ever-busy....more
Spunky (one has to use the word) Sammy Kane runs the crafts cooperative her best friend started before her untimely death. She's expecting a noted craSpunky (one has to use the word) Sammy Kane runs the crafts cooperative her best friend started before her untimely death. She's expecting a noted crafter to come there for a book signing, but instead finds the crafter's dead body. Sammy can't leave the investigation to the new police detective in town, much as she's attracted to him, because the crafter hinted that she knew something about Sammy's friend's death before she went to her own. Sammy is assisted by her homemaker-sister Ellie and their cousin Heidi--the three use their initials to form "SHE," an investigation team. There's a recipe and a crochet pattern, but remarkably little crafting goes on in this, the second in a series. I haven't decided if I'll read the first....more
Widowed Sarah Miller enters Cunningham retirement community at the urging of her children. Soon she realizes that they were right--she misses her gardWidowed Sarah Miller enters Cunningham retirement community at the urging of her children. Soon she realizes that they were right--she misses her garden but enjoys her new friends and activities, including the quilting she decides to try in the nearby village. When one of her new friends is found dead, she and bustling Sophie decide to help the police find the culprit. The lead policeman is eventually taken off the case because of personal problems, Sarah adopts a dog, and a comforting figure from her past reenters her life. The plot isn't much and there's little sense of place, but the characters are amusing and I will try to read the rest (this is the first of a planned series of ten), but the real problem for me was the rather simplistic, though grammatical, writing....more
Assistant bookstore manager Molly Pink is responsible for the filming of a cable craft show in the yarn room of the bookstore. That's where her crocheAssistant bookstore manager Molly Pink is responsible for the filming of a cable craft show in the yarn room of the bookstore. That's where her crochet group meets, talks and works. But she's also concerned when a member of the group is mysteriously killed--accident or murder? No one knows. Her ex-boyfriend Barry, the police detective on the case, surprisingly asks her to see what she can find out about the death, although he's usually reluctant to have her involved in his cases....more
Post divorce, Abby devotes herself to clearing the house that her Aunt Sybil left her, only to find that Sybil's friends have arranged to take over SyPost divorce, Abby devotes herself to clearing the house that her Aunt Sybil left her, only to find that Sybil's friends have arranged to take over Sybil's committee chairmanships and other civil tasks. While preparing for the quilting group's garage sale ("Sybil always held it in her yard..."), Abby and the retired veteran, now a college student, who rents her guest house find a dead body--and it's the body of Sybil's main rival for quilting dominance. Abby wants to clear her aunt's name when she becomes the main suspect in the murder, but she doesn't know that she's rapidly getting in too deep, both in danger and in romance....more
Pamela and her knitting group are selling stuffed toy aardvarks--for the high school mascot--at a fair to raise money for school sports, when they finPamela and her knitting group are selling stuffed toy aardvarks--for the high school mascot--at a fair to raise money for school sports, when they find a dead body under their booth. The police don't suspect them, but local gossip is vicious, forcing them to shop out-of-town. So Pamela and best friend Bettina investigate. There's a little development in the friendship between Pamela and her new (single) next-door neighbor, too. So why only two stars? Is it possible for a book to be too nice? Ehrhart curates almost every bite of food Pamela eats, every outfit Bettina wears, their household plates...I don't think Pamela pours a cup of coffee without us being told it's her "wedding china." I like genteel--but maybe a little more grit would help?...more
While I generally like this and Wait's other series, this one didn't do it for me. Angie impulsively buys a tattered piece of embroidery at an auctionWhile I generally like this and Wait's other series, this one didn't do it for me. Angie impulsively buys a tattered piece of embroidery at an auction and finds some mysterious documents behind the fabric. She tries to investigate, but someone doesn't want her to find out or even own the embroidery. One friend is murdered; someone close to her is hurt in an explosion. The explanation is not very satisfying. But worse than that, there are repeated confusions of "I" and "me" in the book, which I don't remember from earlier books. New copy-editor? One can only wonder....more
It's possible that this book just has too much quilting minutiae for a non-sewer like me. I did wonder, though, if it would have too little for dedicaIt's possible that this book just has too much quilting minutiae for a non-sewer like me. I did wonder, though, if it would have too little for dedicated quilters. Harriet discovers a dead body on the field after a Civil War reenactment that her quilters' group is helping to sponsor. Amazingly, it turns out to be Gerald, the husband of her friend--a man who was supposed to have died twenty years ago. Shock follows shock, as the group learns that he has been remarried for fifteen years, and has a new life in the Netherlands. Harriet and her friends find the culprit(s), though it endangers her life, too. It does seem to me that the police were rather slow in figuring out the method of the murder, but the solution didn't seem too challenging. Don't think I'll pursue the rest of the series....more
Molly Pink and two of her fellow crocheters visit a house that's for sale. But they each have a reason for not wanting it known that they visited, so Molly Pink and two of her fellow crocheters visit a house that's for sale. But they each have a reason for not wanting it known that they visited, so when they learn that some one else is about to arrive, they leave hurriedly, so much so that Molly leaves behind her distinctive scarf. What they don't know is that the dead body of the owner is on the lower level, so Molly's scarf becomes, the police think, a valuable clue. Molly decides that she must find the real murderer before the police learn that the three women were there. I didn't find the whole premise that plausible, but a lot of the book is about the three men in Molly's life, as she reconciles with lawyer Mason, realizes she still has feelings for policeman Barry, and confronts new problems with a man who likes her a whole lot more than she likes him. ...more
Widowed and an empty-nester, knitter Pamela works mostly from home in a quaint little New Jersey suburban town. She meets an old friend, Amy, who has Widowed and an empty-nester, knitter Pamela works mostly from home in a quaint little New Jersey suburban town. She meets an old friend, Amy, who has just moved into town, and invites her to join a knitting group. But Amy doesn't come to the meeting--she's been murdered. Pamela finds her body, and soon learns that lovable Amy had several enemies. With the help of her neighbor Bettina, Pamela finds alibis for most of the suspects, although there are some odd things she cannot explain, like why the woman who sold Amy a mysterious yarn wants to buy it back. As the various puzzles are solved, Pamela puts together some stray pieces, and comes up with the name of a most unsuspected murderer....more
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