“Charming . . . Relatable characters and amusing commentary show why Canadeo is so popular with cozy readers.” —Publishers Weekly When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend’s defense . . . Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It’s bad enough that Liza … Properties. It’s bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne’s open houses to poach potential buyers, it’s the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other.
When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle—poisoned by a diet shake—Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed—but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who’s trying to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes . . .
“Members of the Black Sheep knitting group must use their sleuthing talents to rescue one of their own . . . The wrenching ordeal of a Black Sheep as a murder suspect makes this entry the strongest in Canadeo’s series.” —Kirkus Reviews
more
In PURLS AND POISON, author Anne Canadeo takes readers back to Plum Harbor and quickly enmeshes us in a murder mystery where one of the Black Sheep Knitters is a suspect. But the list of likely killers keeps growing. And with more twists than a ball of yarn, this is was difficult whodunit to untangle.
I really enjoyed this fast-paced story. Early into the book I was more than sure I knew who the killer was. Yet when I read the reveal, I couldn’t believe how far of the mark I was. I never saw it coming. But when I peeked back through the book, I saw that the clues were there all along. Well done, Ms. Canadeo!
You don’t have to be a knitter to enjoy PURLS AND POISON or this series. But if you are, you’ll find a link for a knitting pattern at the end of the book. But if you’re like me and can’t knit a stitch, there’s also a recipe included to enjoy!
This series just keeps getting better and better! Returning to Plum Harbor with Maggie and her crew of knitters was an absolute joy for me. Throughout the series, each character has developed in her own way, at her own pace, with life lessons learned and new reasons to celebrate. Not only was this installment a delight to read — it hinted at the prospect of exciting things to come. I can’t wait for the next offering in this charming cozy series.
I don’t know how I have missed this series before. A group of mature women, knitters, business owners, etc is quite the sort of book I enjoy.
I know I will go back and find more books from this author.
The characters are well developed and people I would like to know.
I enjoy the relationship between them, and the men in their lives.
Suzanne’s difficulty with a coworker is something I am sure we have all come across now and then. Someone who waits until much of the difficult work is done and then swoops in and takes credit.
However there is a moral underneath the sad bits of the story – we never do know what someone else is going through. Almost all people, no matter the bad they do, have some good about them.
There are many secrets between the lines and behind the scenes. Changes are happening for many players. Enjoy a couple hours and get lost with these wonderful ladies. You may even find yourself desiring to do some good at the end.
What fun to return to characters I have read about in the past. I enjoyed this mystery.
Purls and Poison by Anne Canadeo was another complex little mystery to be solved by the Black Sheep knitters.
Although I am fairly new to this series, I had previously read Knit to Kill so I was a little familiar with the women, Maggie, Phoebe, Dana, Suzanne and Lucy. This time they must rally around Suzanne as her temper has gotten her into a world of trouble. The plot is quickly paced with plenty of suspects, twists and turns and red herrings that made Suzanne look very guilty. I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what the ladies were going to do next. This is a novella but the story was complete with all the intrigue needed to keep me wrapped up in the story. I am so glad that I have found this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
This is a series I have been meaning to start reading, and I do wish I had done so sooner! Not only do I like the group of friends who meet at Black Sheep and Company for knitting, one would be hard pressed to find a group of friends who are this loyal to each other. The mystery is complex and challenging, and the characters are defined well through their conversations and actions.
Suzanne, wife and mother, knitter, and home seller, definitely had my attention from the start as she re-hashed the day she had with her business nemesis. The author describes her feelings so well that I could remember when I had disputes with co-workers and how heavily I carried them. While I can say that I never stooped to hair-pulling, if I had the incentive of losing real estate commissions I certainly might have! Suzanne certainly tried when Liza, the other pricey-homes seller in her office, stole what would have been her biggest sale to date. Bad news is that she had to see the boss and Liza the next morning. Sharing the events at her knitting group, her close friend and shop owner Maggie suggested she talk with Liza the next day and try to make it right with her. Maggie knows Liza in a different capacity, as a gifted knitter, devoted daughter and sister, and someone who was active in charitable work.
Tomorrow doesn’t always come for everybody, though. Driving past the realty on her way home from knitting, Suzanne saw that the lights were still on and Liza’s vehicle was parked outside. Since there is no time like the present, she went in to apologize to Liza. It was too late, as Liza was dead. She feels terrible, thinking that perhaps her outburst causing their argument could have caused her to die of a blood clot or heart attack.
At first, it appears to be a death due to natural causes. After labs and a search are done, the signs point to murder – by Suzanne. Several things send the police in her direction, and she is the only suspect. The lead detective, Maggie’s guy Charles, and his partner, are focusing on her, causing problems between Maggie and Charles. When Suzanne is shown leaving the police station on TV news, it also causes problems for her children, especially one of her sons.
Maggie knows how it feels to be a suspect in a murder, and is determined to do what she can to help prove her innocent. The ladies in her knitting group ask questions, keep eyes and ears open, and do some research online to try to keep this woman out of prison, as the police decide to not look for anyone else.
This is a great mystery, with a finely executed plot surrounding a murderer who has completely framed Suzanne. It is also a great story about friendship, love, and loyalty, and looking for the good in those around us. I definitely want to go back to read earlier novels, partly to catch up a bit and partly to enjoy the series better knowing more of their history. I was stumped for part of the story, but grabbed onto a motive and a suspect I don’t think anyone else did until it was almost too late. While I was partly right, I was also partly wrong. There are several surprises in this novel; a couple related to the crimes and a couple that will bring interesting, favorable changes to some of the characters in the future. I highly recommend this to those who appreciate well-written cozies mysteries, knitting, and good friends.
PURLS AND POISON BY Anne Canadeo is tenth book in the Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries series taking place in Plum Harbor. It can definitely be read as a standalone.
PURLS AND POISON is the story of Suzanne Cavanaugh becoming the Essex County Police Department’s number one suspect in a murder case. Suzanne works at Prestige Properties alongside her rival, Liza Devereaux. Although they both work hard, Suzanne feels that Liza is stealing work and commissions from her which comes to a head at an office meeting when Suzanne felt Liza was poaching her client and stealing her commission. Tempers flared coming just short of blows. There’s no secret to the animosity between the two. When Liza turns up dead, Suzanne becomes the police’s prime suspect
Suzanne has a lot in her corner from her devoted husband, her son who gets a black eye sticking up for her, her newly hired lawyer, and a bunch of great friends – The Blacksheep Knitters. They are all determined to find answer to who murdered Liza and why they were trying to frame Suzanne for it. Maggie and Lucy even engage Liza’s mother to help them find clues. After all, all they all want is for the REAL killer to be punished for such a horrendous crime.
Life gets complicated for Maggie, Suzanne’s friend, when she has to decide whether to support her friend, who she knows is innocent, or sit idly by while her boyfriend, Detective Charles Mossbacher, railroads her best friend. She knew what she had to do and it ended up moving her relationship from about to move in together to not talking to each other at all. She was a true testament to true friendship – when you put another before yourself.
Along the way, there are a lot of twists and turns that add more people to the suspect list, take others off the list when alibis are substantiated, as well as finding out family secrets and past events that no one knew about. Are they solving one crime or two? The author definitely keeps you engaged and turning pages trying to figure out whodunit. The final reveal is surprising, but makes the story all the more exciting. Once you know the answer you will wonder why you didn’t see it coming.
Recommend this book to anyone that loves a wonderful cozy mystery, great characters and that will have you guessing to the very end. It’s well written and well worth the read. I now want to check out the other nine books in this series.
Great book! The Black Sheep Knitters come to the rescue when Suzanne is accused of murdering her rival at her real estate agency. It seems that someone is framing her. I love this group of friends that includes young and older. I always feel a part of the book. Can’t wait to see what’s next for this gang!!
Purls and Poison by Anne Canadeo takes us to Plum Harbor. Suzanne Cavanaugh is a realtor at Prestige Properties and she has had a difficult day. She is happy to spend time with her knitting friends that evening, so she can rant and then relax. Suzanne had clients and a listing stolen by Liza Devereaux which ended up in a heated argument at the staff meeting. On the way home, Suzanne passes by the realty office and notices Liza’s car outside. She decides to take her friends advice and make peace with Liza. Suzanne finds Liza sprawled on the floor of her cubicle with her broken pearls scattered around her. Detective Charles Mossbacher and his partner, Detective Frank Oliver are on the case. Unfortunately, Suzanne quickly rises to the top of the suspect list and the circumstantial evidence is mounting up. The knitters know that Suzanne is being framed for the crime, but they need proof. The ladies begin digging into Liza’s life to discover who wanted her out of the way. They need to work quickly because the case is unraveling Suzanne’s family and it is affecting another one of the knitter’s relationships. Join these five ladies in their latest investigation in Purls and Poison.
Purls and Poison is the second book in A Black Sheep & Company Mystery series, but it is tenth book involving the ladies of Plum Harbor (the series changed publisher & altered the series name). I do not recommend beginning the series with Purls and Poison. You will be missing the backstory on the characters. Plum Harbor is a charming seaside town that is home to a delightful knitting shop. The ladies (Maggie, Dana, Phoebe, Lucy and Suzanne) meet each week at the shop to knit, chat, and enjoy a meal while indulging in wine. Purls and Poison is told from Suzanne’s point-of-view. She is extremely angry at Liza for poaching her client and then selling them her listing (double whammy). It resulted in a heated exchange earlier in the day with all her co-workers in attendance (you can see where this is heading). Liza is then murdered, and all the evidence points to Suzanne. The book contains good writing with the regular cozy elements that readers enjoy, but the pacing was varied. The mystery has a handful of suspects, misdirection and pointed clues. Readers will have no problem identifying the guilty party before the solution is revealed. I could have done with less speculation and repetition of case details (which slowed down the pace of the story). I would have preferred if Purls and Poison was told from the third person perspective (instead of changing in each book). I am not a fan of Suzanne and her attitude in this story did not alter my opinion. We get limited information on the other knitters which is a shame (Maggie is my favorite character). One of our ladies is in for a life changing event (I do not want to spoil it for you). I did enjoy their participation in knitting items for charity. They were trying to complete a hundred items for families in need. There is a knitting pattern and recipe at the back of the book. Fans of Anne Canadeo and A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series (the original series) will be delighted with Purls and Poison.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
What an adorable cozy mystery that centers itself around a group of knitters. This is an established group that doesn’t really bat an eye at murder though they do get upset when one of them is the main suspect. These women really know how to rally to a cause finding clues left and right. A fun story fit for all ages just like the characters. A knitters delight. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.