As sleepy Sea Harbor, Massachusetts settles into the glow of autumn, a baby-on-the-way has the Seaside Knitters feeling warm and fuzzy. Only, these crafty ladies can’t get too cozy when sweater weather delivers an unexpected arrival—murder! While no-nonsense mother-to-be Cass Halloran tries downplaying her pregnancy and her frequent doctor’s visits as an “older” mother-to-be, a softer side of … as an “older” mother-to-be, a softer side of the lobsterwoman emerges as she joins the Seaside Knitters in knitting an abundance of delicate hats and booties. But in contrast to the happy news, terrifying events unfold at the town’s art series that puts a real chill in their New England fall . . .
Izzy Perry’s husband Sam had reservations about inviting his one-time mentor Harrison Grant to speak at the opening reception, although he never imagined the famed and charismatic photographer would rudely embarrass his hosts that evening. But when a dead body turns up along the wooded shoreline the next day, startling secrets come into focus that could undo the tight-knit community of local artists . . .
With a mysterious murder pitting neighbors against each other, Izzy, Birdie, Nell, and a vulnerable Cass find themselves entangled in a dangerous hunt for answers. Can four best friends somehow tie together scattered clues and pacify a list of potential culprits before a cascade of fallen foliage buries the pièce de résistance of a ruthless killer?
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Loved this story!! The characters are awesome! Have you ever had that friend that y’all could read each other’s minds? I love Nell, Birdie, Cass and Izzy and how they relate to each other. The way the folks of Sea Harbor stick together is how folks should do it. Even grumpy folks need to be loved and appreciated. I think you will enjoy the Canary Cove artists and the wonderful knitters in this story. I can’t wait to hang out with them again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Each book is better than the last. Can’t wait for next
I love this series. As a knitter, I appreciate the camaraderie of this community. Sally Goldbaum’sbooks are always charming and she provides interesting mysteries with plenty of twists and surprises. Her books are a bit heavy on sentiment and contain somewhat unrealistically loving relationships, so I recommend spacing them out rather than reading them in a group. Despite the sugar, I find joy, hope, and pleasure in each book of the series. I have happily read every one I them.
Enjoy this series
A Crime of a Different Stripe is a fantastic addition to this series. The multiple narratives from the main characters keep you ingrained in the story and their lives. You don’t know just the thoughts of one character; you get all of them. You learn about their lives, from having babies to their craft of knitting, to deep relationship fears and joys. Each character plays a vital intricate role in the lives of the other characters; they work, play, and live together as one big family. They take strangers under their wing and make them feel as though they are a part of everything and everyone. These characters feel grief when a stranger dies and joy when a child is born. They keep readers smiling, and at times crying. They are impossible to forget.
The small-town setting gives you a sense of closeness and life in a place where everyone knows everyone. New England is a picturesque setting for any series and ideal for this one. Add in a knitting group who love each other, several expectant mothers, a murder, and you have a combination that keeps a small town filled with life, gossip, and love.
There is little to no police involvement in this book. If readers are looking for an in-depth hard-driven murder investigation, this is not the book for them. There are suspects, perhaps more than you would expect. The evidence is found within the writer’s words, but readers may need to sit back and think things over before realizing that a red herring may be more important than they thought. This is not a book that you can rush through. Readers will need to find a quiet place, a hot beverage, and the time to immerse themselves in the character’s lives. This is not a stand-alone book; most readers will be lost if they have not read at least one of the other installments in this series. The knitting patterns in the back would be terrific for those interested in the craft. A Crime of a Different Stripe has an intensity you may not find in other stories of the same type. This is a character drive experience you won’t want to miss with an ending that will have readers filled with joy and hope.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Back in Sea Harbor, Massachusetts is a place I love to be. Birdie, Izzy, Nell, and Cass have become friends I look forward to catching up with when each new book comes out.
This time the Sea Harbor Art Colony is hosting a week-long photography event. Sam was asked to invite one of his mentors Harrison Grant to be the keynote speaker. The man arrives for the opening ceremony but when it is time for his speech the photographer is nowhere to be found. Sam is quite upset but is sure Harrison will show up in his own sweet time.
The next morning, while on her morning run, Izzy finds Mr. Grant, but he won’t be giving any lectures. Dead men tell no tales, but knowing there is a murderer in the vicinity, Izzy, Birdie, Cass, and Nell find themselves wrapped up in another murder mystery. They are knitting together the clues while also knitting caps and booties for a community baby shower and for the bundle of joy that Cass will soon be delivering.
Ms. Goldenbaum has a lovely writing style that draws her readers into the story and wraps them in a warm hand-knit blanket on a cool autumn night. She has created a cast diverse in age and experience that gather together to knit and for some amazing meals. They discuss the events of the day like the current murder.
These characters have continued to develop over the years but Cass is the one the changes the most in this story. She is blissfully happy in her marriage and impending motherhood. She has made a new friend and they are taking a pregnancy yoga class. I love seeing her this way and I am excited to see how she takes on motherhood.
The mystery was intriguing especially as we learn more about the victim and his past. The author throws some red herrings into the mix along with several twists. The story unfolds at a comfortable pace but I missed some of the things I have come to expect in this series. I needed more dinners together and more time at Izzy’s shop knitting. The time spent at the new art was interesting. It is quite a place.
My visits to Sea Harbor and the beautiful beaches and shoppes always end much too soon. I enjoyed A Crime of a Different Stripe very much. I anxiously wait for the next installment next year.
Once again we come to Sea Harbor and find our friends, Cass, who is now a soon to be mother, Izzy and her husband Sam, Nell and Ben, and Birdie up to their necks in the towns functions. While Sam was reluctant to invite his old mentor, Harrison Grant as the guest speaker for the art festival, he did so anyway at the persuasion of the art festival leader. But all chaos breaks loose when Harrison Grant is found murdered and the main suspect is Sam who had a reason to murder him due to something in the past. Nell, Birdie, Izzy, Cass and Ben all work together to find out who the real murderer is but it seems that there are several people who had reason to want Grant dead. Lots of twist and turns and an unexpected ending make for a great read. Sally Goldenbaum again takes us to our familiar friends and weaves a tale well worth reading. I highly recommend this book. I want to thank Net Galley and Kensington for the chance to read this e-book in exchange for an honest review. #A Crime of a Different Stripe#Net Galley
Another interesting mystery in the series, always nice to visit the cast of characters.
When a renowned Photographer is invited to present a series of workshops in Sea Harbor no one is expecting that he will be murdered at the welcoming ceremony. He has no connection to the area. Or does he? The ladies of the Seaside knitters come together to support Izzy after she discovers his boy the morning after he goes missing just before he is to be introduced.
The ladies go on to conduct their own investigation when it appears that the local law enforcement are going to charge one of their friends with murder. It becomes even more pressing when Izzy’s husband has more motive for murder than any of them thought possible. As the life of victim becomes clear many more motives are uncovered.
The story unfolds nicely and I enjoyed the addition of multiple knitting projects. You need not be a knitter to enjoy this novel. The side story is a good addition. The progression of Izzy’s friends pregnancy and her friendship with a young pregnant women. The conclusion of the twist element was the only thing i found unsatisfying in this story. It ended rather abruptly for my taste.
A Crime of a Different Stripe is the fourth book in the Seaside Knitters Mystery series. I would consider it a standalone…although reading the previous books might give you more backstory, plus they’re fun reads.
I enjoyed this book so much. There’s no wild and crazy…just great characters and and interesting whodunit. Definitely recommend.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
I love this “community type” books; maybe it’s covering the subconscious need my body has a for company and comradery (because as Pooh Bear says, “It’s top peoplely out in the world”). All I need are books!! Goldenberg is an excellent author and I love her Maine settings and the characters are amazing. Sit down, prop up your feet, and prepare to read a fabulous book.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.
This was the first book I read by this author. I won a Kindle copy from Good Reads. Love the characters and the little seaside town where the series takes place. Couldn’t out it down and I went back to start from the first book in the series. I highly recommend this book as well as the whole series.
A Crime Of A Different Stripe is the fifteenth book in the Seaside Knitters Society Mystery series by Sally Goldenbaum.
The Canary Cove Art Colony is planning a lecture series that they are planning to hold in their magnificent new old house. They would like Sam Perry, Izzy’s husband, to extend an invitation to renowned photographer Harrison Grant. Sam, a former student of Grant’s, is reluctant to extend the invitation but finally relents, never revealing why. The evening of the event arrives, and Grant seems to be enjoying visiting with the attendees. Toward the end of the event, Grant appears to have disappeared.
The next morning as Izzy is out running along the beach with her dog, she discovers Grant’s lifeless body on the steps to the house’s shore next door to where the Art Colony party had been held. The property owner, a curmudgeon, and recluse becomes a suspect, but Izzy and her fellow knitters aren’t sure. When Izzy receives information, that makes her wonder if Sam is somehow involved. Soon, Grant’s personal secretary arrives in town and provides the knitters with information that proves to be invaluable in determining the killer.
A subplot of the story centers around Cass and her new yoga partner, Elena. Elena is in her 20’s like Cass is pregnant, and they do yoga together. Her husband works on Cass’s lobster boat. As Cass is trying to learn more about her, she is vague about her past as if she is hiding something. Goldenbaum will skillfully weave Elena’s history into the mystery.
The book is well-written and plotted and moves at a nice pace. The characters are all well-developed, engaging, and believable. They are ones that I would like to have as friends.
A pattern for a baby hat also is included in the book.
A CRIME OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE by Sally Goldenbaum is the fourth book in the Seaside Knitters Society cozy mystery series and takes place in Sea Harbor, Massachusetts. The book worked as a standalone novel, but reading the first three books may provide some additional background on the characters and town.
The main characters in this novel are a soon-to-be mom and co-owner of the Halloran Lobster Company, Cass Halloran and her friend Izzy Perry, mother of a toddler, former attorney, and current owner of the Sea Harbor Yarn Studio. They are supported by friends Birdie Favazza, an octogenarian, and Nell Endicott, a retired nonprofit director. These four friends are kind, hard-working, and very involved with the local community. When a death occurs after the town’s art series reception, these Seaside Knitters look for answers.
The main characters are likeable and definitely someone you can root for. They felt three-dimensional, but perhaps a little too virtuous. Their flaws did not come through and would have made for a more realistic portrayal of people in small towns. Despite this, their goals were clear and influenced the plot. The secondary characters brought depth to the story line.
While the viewpoint is switched a few times between chapters, the story line progresses smoothly. The plot twists were believable, and partially unexpected. The author did a great job of world-building. The descriptions were vivid and gave a clear sense of time and place without detracting from the flow of the story.
Overall, this was an enjoyable and fun read with relatable characters. Due to the large number of characters, there is a list of characters at the beginning of the book. Additionally, there is even a baby hat knitting pattern at the end of the book. Themes included death, grief, community support, gossip, amateur sleuthing, secrets, motherhood, friendship, family, and much more. If you enjoy good-hearted protagonists, knitting and cozy mysteries, then I recommend you check out this series.
I won a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. Thanks go to Kensington Books and Sally Goldenbaum for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.
Another great story by this author! this is book 4 in the series and we read about some of the same characters and see what is happening in their lives now and also add some new ones. Poor Izzy thought there were no more secrets with her and her husband Sam but his past come calling and she finds out he has still been holding back. This is a cozy mystery and the Knitter Society have to try and solve a murder while dealing with everyday crisis. Well written and kept my attention can be read as a stand alone but more fun if you read them all!