When a murder shocks picturesque Arborville, New Jersey, Pamela Paterson and her Knit and Nibble knitting club suddenly find themselves at the center of the investigation—as suspects . . . Pamela is ready to kick back and relax after a busy day selling stuffed aardvarks to benefit Arborville High School’s sports program at the annual town festival. But just as she’s packing up, she makes a … up, she makes a terrible discovery—someone’s stashed a body under the Knit and Nibble’s table. The victim is Randall Jefferson, a decidedly unpopular history teacher after his recent op-ed criticizing the school’s sports program. But the primary suspect has an alibi, and the only clue is a stuffed aardvark found on the victim’s chest . . . Now the Knit and Nibblers must unravel the case quickly—before a crafty killer repeats a deadly pattern.
Knitting tips and delicious recipe included!
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Dollycas’s Thoughts
We’re back in Arborville just in time for a fundraiser for the sports program at the high school. GO VARKS! The Knit and Nibblers have created 25 stuffed aardvarks to sell in their booth. When the day is winding down Bettina and Pamela realize 2 knit aardvarks have gone missing. Frustrated they start to pack up. When they start to remove the canvas around their table they find one of the missing aardvarks . . . on the chest of a very dead Randall Jefferson, a history teacher at the school. He had been quite vocal in his criticism of the sports program most recently in an op-ed in the paper.
Because of where the body was found and the presence of the fuzzy turquoise aardvark the community blames the group of knitters for the death even though they have no motive. To clear the group the knitters are going to have to knit together all the clues. Will finding the 2nd missing aardvark lead them in the right direction? or will they need a new pattern to follow? Will their snooping lead someone to needle them . . . fatally?
The Knit and Nibbler’s knitting group is an eclectic group. All with their own strengths and weaknesses. A new enthusiastic member has joined the group. Holly Perkins is about the age of Pamela’s daughter, Penny. A tiny woman with purple streaks in her hair and an unusual knitting project in the works using needles as “thick as drumsticks”. One member has a big announcement. Pamela is struggling on a decision for a new project after knitting so many aardvarks. I love the characters in this group. They are people I can identify with and would love to be their friend and part of their knitting group. I remember many years ago I pulled out my broomstick thick needles to work on a quick knit sweater pattern and my mother thought I was crazy. Until I finished it and made her one too.
This author has a super descriptive writing style which sometimes can turn me off or goes too far, but everything she describes are things I wanted to be described. The knitting projects, the food, the flower gardens, Penny’s vintage clothing finds, and the scenes needed to help solve the murder. It is said the “devil is in the details”. Peggy Ehrhart is excellent in giving us the necessary details along with dropping the clues judiciously to keep readers and her characters on the trail or divert us to another way of thinking. She also knows how to knit in humor in all the right places. OMG, Pamela’s cat, Catrina’s antics had me in stitches.
I found the mystery to be well-plotted and entertaining but I hated the people’s reactions and actions regarding the knitters. Sad at how judgemental the residents of Arborville were with no real evidence. While I would love to be around the Knit and Nibble group, I am not sure about the rest of the town’s residents. Of course, you have this type of people in any town, and I did like that the group took the high road in dealing with the rath.
Strong characters, a captivating mystery, and a great theme are found within these pages. A very enjoyable read. A Cozy Cat pattern and Strawberry Shortcake recipe can be found at the end of the book for all knitters and nibblers. I look forward to book 3, Knit One, Die Two.
When Pamela and her knit and nibble friends decided to make the school’s mascot and sell them, they never thought they would be used against them. When Pamula finds one on top of a body, she must find out who done it.
I enjoy this series because of the different perspective. It’s not being solved by. “Young, single group of ladies” but of ladies that have a bit more of life experience. Great story, great characters. Can’t wait to read what’s next!
Pamela is excited about working the knitting club’s booth at the annual fundraiser for the high school’s sports program. When she finds the history teacher under the table in their booth, dead with one of their stuffed aardvarks on his chest, Pamela is determined to clear the knitting club from suspicion.
As with the previous book, I found it hard to stay connected with this book. I’m not sure why I’m not clicking with the characters. I did find the mystery intriguing and I wanted to find out what was going to happen but there was just something that I didn’t connect to. I’m enjoying getting to know Pamela and her friends. They all have interesting quirks. I’m hoping as I continue reading this series, I’ll get more connected to the characters, and will then connect more to each story.
A good cozy mystery with interesting characters
I really enjoyed this book. The characters and the plot were well written. The book kept me on my toes and guessing the killer until rhe very end. I loved all the twists and turns; it kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading.
Would be an easy beach read.
Book was slow paced and didn’t pull me in at all. No character development or closeness between characters.
Died in the Wool by Peggy Ehrhart is the second novel in A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Pamela Paterson along with Bettina Fraser have been selling knitted aardvarks at Arborfest all day with the proceeds to benefit the Arborville high school athletic program. During the afternoon, Bettina noticed that two of the little knitted critters have gone missing and, as Pamela removes the canvas from around the table, she finds one of them—on top of a dead body someone stashed under the table. The victim is local high school history teacher, Randall Jefferson who managed to rub many people the wrong way and angered many people for his critical op-ed regarding school sports programs. When the knitting club members and their knitted creations become persona non grata, Pamela must work to unravel the clues. After a search of Randall’s home, they come up with two likely suspects. Someone is not happy with Pamela’s questioning and leaves her an unusual warning. Pamela will not be deterred, and she soon uncovers the second missing aardvark along with another victim. Can Pamela connect the clues and identify the wily killer?
Died in the Wool can be enjoyed if you have not read Murder, She Knit. The author provided the necessary background on the main character and the knitting club. I had some trouble getting into the book because I found Died in the Wool to be a slow starter. They eat frequently in this book and the food is described in detail (the ingredients, how it is prepared, every item in the meal, sitting down to eat, etc.). There are also detailed descriptions of plants as the various members maintain their perennial beds and purchase new plants. Readers are also entertained with every outfit that Penny Patterson wears to work (she has an interesting wardrobe). The group has a new member, Holly who is very perky. I liked that she is knitting with larger needles and yarn (similar to roving). The ruby red yarn that Pamela picked up for her new sweater sounded beautiful. The mystery had Pamela and Bettina breaking into Randall’s home, questioning suspects, tailing thieves and tampering with evidence. Any forensics that could have been obtained from the evidence was lost by the time this group was done with it. There are pointed clues to aid readers in solving the crime and the killer can be pinpointed early in the book. In Died in the Wool more time is devoted to food than the mystery and the murder mystery was lacking in substance. I did get a good laugh when the cat in heat noises were described (it is very distinctive). Pamela had no clue what the caterwauling indicated. There is a knitting pattern at the end for a cozy cat and a recipe for strawberry shortcake. I am giving Died in the Wool 3 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a light cozy mystery with charming characters, then you should check out Died in the Wool.
This delightful new series is already a favorite of mine. The small-town setting of Arborville, NJ, is a short drive into Manhattan. It is the kind of town where many people know each other or get to know of each other at local functions. For example, football coach Brad Striker tells everyone in earshot how Randall Jefferson is an “idiot history teacher” at the May Celebration.
Pamela is an associate editor for a fiber arts magazine, allowing her to work from home. She is also the founder of the knitting club in Arborville, Knit and Nibble. They have knit 25 turquoise aardvarks, the high school mascot, to raise money for the school’s athletic program. They are to be sold at the knitting club booth at the annual May Celebration and Parade.
History teacher Randall Jefferson thinks that high school sports, especially football, should be disbanded, and that history more important than team sports. When Pamela and best friend Bettina are taking down their booth and find Jefferson’s body stuffed under the canvas-wrapped table, it was an easy assumption that Coach Striker did the deed.
Pamela and Bettina think they are the primary suspects since he was found at the knitting group’s booth. They are almost ostracized, one local web site even stating that Pamela should be in jail already! Someone started collecting the “killer aardvarks” that people had purchased, with the intent to burn them. As much as she doesn’t want to get involved, Pamela knows she must follow at least a couple leads. One who looks just like Jefferson, a woman named Nightingale who was a regular nightly visitor, and a professor with whom Jefferson had regular, backstabbing, written critiques of each other’s research.
Pamela and Bettina have colorful imaginations, as evidenced by their potential scenarios of who might have killed Jefferson. Their easy conversations show how close their friendship is. I enjoy both ladies for their intelligence, creativity, homemaking talents, and strong relationships with loved ones, despite Bettina’s insistence that the widowed Pamela should consider going out with their somewhat new neighbor, Richard. I also enjoy sweet Catrina, the kitten Pamela rescued during the winter who has become quite the companion.
I find it refreshing that this cozy mystery includes “seasoned” protagonists. Pamela has an interesting career that does not consume her and is enhanced by her love of working in various fibers. She, and the mystery, took hold of my attention early in the novel and held it throughout. Twists and turns in the plot brought suspects to light. I’m not sure than I could wander through a recently-murdered man’s home looking for clues…especially when hearing someone else in a house that should be empty! There is genuine suspense, humor, cleverness, and the joy of being with friends. I had an idea who the killer was, only for the reason of opportunity and a couple of tiny seeds of clues, yet was genuinely surprised to see it really was this person who was respected in the community. The end left me wanting more of Arborville and its good friends. I highly recommend Died in the Wool to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries filled with yarn arts, fun, and friendship.
From a grateful heart: I received an e-arc from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
This is a new to me series and I had no problem starting with book #2.
It was nice to have a main character with a sidekick again and there are a lot of other characters in the knitting group with potential.
The killer kind of comes from left field and I doubt many readers would see it coming.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.