The newest member of Martha’s close-knit quilting circle has an eye for couture. But when the designer’s fingerprints are found blanketing a crime scene, Martha must prove that he didn’t have a hand in homicide! Martha Rose is alarmed by the discovery of Dolleen Doyle’s dead body, especially when evidence suggests a fellow quilter committed the crime. Set on clearing her pal, Martha … clearing her pal, Martha searches for answers—but with ties to a convicted fraudster’s stolen millions and a secret office room, the victim’s past raises even more questions. As Martha inches towards the culprit, she learns that wrapping the case up—and living to baste another square—will be trickier than she ever imagined . . .
Praise for Mary Marks and her Quilting Mysteries
“Characters are brilliantly written in entertaining situations . . . Gone are the stereotypes of mature women expected to stay at home and knit quietly by the fire.” —RT Book Reviews on Gone but Knot Forgotten
“A pleasurable and satisfying addition to any quilting mystery fan’s reading list. Recommend to those who cannot get enough of Terri Thayer, Elizabeth Craig, or Earlene Fowler.” —Library Journal on Knot in My Backyard
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Martha Rose is looking forward to a typical Tuesday quilting session with her friends until Jazz, the latest member of the group, shows up. As Jazz describes his morning, everyone begins to worry about the friend he was trying to see earlier in the morning. When they go to investigate, they find the body of Dolleen Doyle on her kitchen floor. Dolleen is the second wife of a man currently in jail for running a Ponzi scheme. With the police looking at Jazz as their prime suspect, Martha begins to investigate. Can she find the real killer?
Those familiar with the series will know what to expect here, and they won’t be disappointed. The plot is complex with several twists before Martha pieces the clues together. I do wish we hadn’t had the scenes with the psychic, but that’s a minor complaint. I enjoy the characters since they are different for a cozy series, and I appreciate how their lives are evolving as the series progresses. The suspects are just as sharp and interesting. While the Los Angeles setting is unusual for a cozy, as a native, I enjoy it, and the book still feels cozy. There’s a nice dose of humor as well, and I can’t wait to see how what happens next to Martha after the way this book ended. If you are looking for a fun cozy series, this is definitely one to check out.
Another really well written story with fun characters with lots of quirks. I love the humour around religion – plus the Jewish flavour. Poor old Catholic Ray! Enjoyed the mystery, and had become suspicious of the murderer at the ice cream stage.
Martha, Birdie, Lucy, and Jazz are back in Mary Marks’ 5 book in her Quilting Mystery series. Jazz is a murder suspect when one of his friends, Dolleen Doyle, is found dead. Jazz’s prints are all over the murder weapon and inside Dolleen’s home. Knowing he isn’t a murderer Martha begins her sleuthing to help clear Jazz’s name. Her beau, Crusher, supports her as she puts clues together and creates a murder board. Her ex, Arlo, isn’t nearly as big of a fan.
As the murder investigation continues, Martha discovers that Dolleen had some skeletons in her closet. As she gets closer to identifying the suspect, much to the chagrin of the real detectives, things heat up. Add in a boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend and the murder of Dolleen isn’t the only thing heating up. Danger mounts as the mystery unfolds – and there is more than one story line that takes place in Knot What You Think.
Martha Rose is the typical heroine – totally not a crime solver/fighter but makes it her duty to dive in head first whether there’s water in the pool or not. Martha Rose puts herself into vary precarious situations and breaks a lot of laws in her quest to find the killer. Birdie and Lucy are great sidekicks and I enjoy theirs roles in each Quilting Mystery. The women quilt together, providing a bit of murder mystery down time.
Mary Marks does another wonderful job building up the mystery and keeping the responsible party a secret. The truth of the situation is revealed at the perfect time and the person responsible is not the person I thought it would be. The writing flows well and is concise. The author’s writing style is fluid and smooth and so easy to get lost in. The romantic elements of Knot What You Think are subtle and don’t overshadow the mystery. The entire novel is engaging; never a dull moment.