National bestselling author Betty Hechtman brings the Tarzana Hookers to a winning thirteenth installment in the Crochet mysteries. It’s going to get knotty.The Tarzana Hookers crochet club is ready for its close-up! But Molly Pink may be getting too close to a case that will land her on the cutting-room floor.Molly Pink’s excitement level is off the hook: The Craftee Channel’s new cable talk … Craftee Channel’s new cable talk show “Creating with Crochet” has scheduled an upcoming taping at the bookstore. While she’s there, TV host Rory Graham is to work with the Tarzana Hookers on a Make and Take bracelet project to draw bookstore customers to the yarn section. It’s a win-win…or so it “seams.”
The situation gets a bit knotted when channel producer Michael Kostner confides to Molly his concern that Rory may have oversold her ability as a crocheter. When the producer’s worst fears are realized, it’s up to Molly to make sure Rory comes through.
Guiding Rory through crocheting-for-beginners will have to wait, though, as Molly suddenly has to untangle the mysterious death of a new Tarzana Hookers member. Marianne Freeman and her live-in companion, Connie Richards, haven’t exactly been gabby since they joined the Hookers, but Connie’s voice is silenced permanently when she is electrocuted while walking on a wet lawn—electrified by an old radio plugged into a faulty extension cord. The fingers point at Marianne, but Molly is fast on the case to protect one of her own. Was Marianne the killer…or the intended target? Why does her younger brother want to keep her from talking to the cops? And why is this whole case starting to remind Molly Pink of an old TV movie?
Crochet patterns and sweet recipes included!
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Hooks Can Be Deceiving is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery. I thought the book was well-written with steady pacing. Hooks Can Be Deceiving can be read as a standalone. I like that Molly is a mature main character with an active life. She has her son, her fur babies, her job, friends and she has started dating Mason again. The story has humor courtesy of Adele with her outlandish ideas and fashions choices. She is the perfect choice to host the children’s hour, but I am baffled why the children must register (Adele has an elaborate system in place). I wish my local bookstore had a yarn department like Shedd & Royal Books & More (it sounds like a great place to spend an afternoon—books, tea, snacks and yarn). The mystery is clever with a unique method of murder. The mystery can be solved by the reveal, but I have a feeling some people will be surprised by the killer’s identity. The ending did feel a bit rushed as the author hurried to wrap up the storylines. While Adele was not as prominent in this story, the animals were (too much). I would have liked the author to include descriptions of the yarns carried at the store. I am not sure how I feel about the relationship between Mason and Molly. His lifestyle and Molly’s do not seem compatible (she is more down to earth while he has fancy cars and dines in high end restaurants). We will have to wait and see how it plays out. I Hooks Can Be Deceiving is an engaging and spirited cozy mystery. I am giving Hooks Can Be Deceiving 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I am curious to see what trouble Molly will get herself into next time in the fourteenth A Crochet Mystery.
The lively Tarzana Hookers find out their crocheting skills will be featured on a national television show on the Craftee Channel. Molly befriends Marianne, a group newcomer, who joins the hookers with her companion, Connie. When a seemingly freak accident takes the life of one of the women, Molly’s ex-boyfriend, Detective Barry Greenberg, asks Molly to help him reason out the circumstances leading up to the death since he has suspicions it’s a homicide.
This cozy series features a popular cast of characters who have different personalities yet enjoy getting together socially to crochet. As usual, Molly’s dogs and cats are home to greet her and she loves each one. The killer reveal was a surprise to me. I think Cozy fans—old and new—will enjoy this fast-paced plot. The author shares crochet patterns and recipes at the end of the book.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.
This whole series is a great read for those who love cozy mysteries!
cozy-mystery, women-sleuths, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement, friendship, family-dynamics
If you like your cozies to end as totally Happy Ever After, this one’s for you! Starts out messy and with some confusion, but then the sleuthing begins with lots of convoluted twists, incredible red herrings, and some really out of the blue events. The characters are interesting and engaging with the annoying ones being very clearly portrayed. Nice balance between situational and verbal humor to keep the suspense from getting too tight. A good read! Even if I do better with knitting than crocheting.
I requested and received a free ebook review copy via NetGalley.
I always look forward to new books in this series, as it’s like visiting old friends. Thirteenth in the Crochet Mystery series, this enjoyable novel can be read as a standalone. The author’s trademark humor, at least one character resembling our most challenging co-worker or client, and an electrifying mystery are crocheted together into an exciting, laugh-out-loud story that goes by far too quickly.
Molly is head of the yarn department and assistant manager at Shedd & Royal Books and More and hosts many events there. This time is a bit different. First is a book signing by “Missy Z”, who wants to be so anonymous that she will come in only if wearing a disguise. The other is a big deal that Mrs. Shedd wants to be perfectly executed. The Craftee Channel wants to tape the premier show of “Creating with Crochet” during one of the Tarzana Hookers’ Happy Hour groups. Hosting the show will be Rory Graham, most recently from reality TV shows, her “signature” being something she calls Dance Break, a way of keeping people’s focus on her. One little problem: Rory can’t crochet and doesn’t want to. She wants to simply be the star, even though the producer is adamant that Rory shows people how to make the hour-long project. Adele comes to the rescue in hopes of getting on the show regularly.
There are two new women; Marianne, who seems to be on meds that keep her off balance, and Connie, who seems to be their spokeswoman. Marianne forgot her crochet project at the shop, so Molly was going to take it to her. Upon arrival, Molly finds police SUV’s and a detective’s car. She hears detectives Barry Greenberg and Heather Gilmore. When the crochet hook drops, Barry hears it and escorts Molly away without leaving Marianne’s project. Barry and Molly were once a couple. Surprisingly, Barry comes to Molly’s later that evening asking for a favor. Since Molly knows Marianne a little, he would like Molly to keep an eye and ear out for anything that could point the finger to a murderer. Her companion, Connie’s, murderer. Not typical Barry at all. Until Molly starts getting threats.
The author defines her characters delightfully well. We learn something new every time about the regulars, especially Molly and best friend Dinah, current significant other Mason, “ex” boyfriend Barry, and of course Adele. You’ll have to read about Adele for yourself to believe it; you have worked with or for someone like her. Rory, a millennial star, is in many ways like Adele, but even more self-absorbed. She and Adele provide much comic relief.
The crochet group shares each other’s troubles but also has a good time together. I find that Mason’s and Barry’s reflections in this novel are very revealing – one from a man who wants to re-write his legacy, and the other a man who is finally listening to the woman he loves and lost.
So many things in this story could be clues! Or they could simply be pieces of fluff like the yarn that pulls apart when being used. There are interesting and confounding plot twists. I couldn’t make up my mind about one suspect even as considering others. I was stunned to find out who the killer was and why; it was not anyone I thought about at all. Not one of the plot twists or clues could prepare for that! I highly recommend this delightful, at times frightening or LOL funny, outstandingly well-written cozy mystery!
From a grateful heart: I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.