Since her only daughter left for college, widow Pamela Paterson has kept busy as associate editor of a craft magazine and founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club in quaint Arborville, New Jersey. Now, she’s trying out a new hobby—solving murders! Pamela is hosting the next Knit and Nibble meeting and can’t wait to liven up her otherwise empty home with colorful yarn, baking, and a little … baking, and a little harmless gossip. She even recruits Amy Morgan, an old friend who recently moved to town, as the group’s newest member. But on the night of the gathering, Amy doesn’t show. Not until Pamela finds the woman dead outside—a knitting needle stabbed through the front of her handmade sweater . . .
Someone committed murder before taking off with Amy’s knitting bag, and Pamela realizes that only she can spot the deadly details hidden in mysterious skeins. But when another murder occurs, naming the culprit—and living to spin the tale—will be more difficult than Pamela ever imagined . . .
Knitting tips and delicious recipe included!
more
This was a fun read.
The ending was a surprise.
*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
What a cute premise to a new cozy mystery series. We get it follow Pamela on her knitting adventures that just happen to end up tangled with a murder. I can say that it took a little bit for the story to get moving but once it does it moves pretty quick until you find yourself at the end amazed how something that seems so ordinary can be so significant from a different angle. I was loving the reluctant kitten especially with the happy ending. If you enjoy cozies and knitting then this is probably the book for you. If I am being totally honest it would get 3.5/5 stars but I always round up sense halves are not possible so it gets 4/5 stars.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Pamela Patterson is hosting this week’s meeting of her knitting group, o.k. one of them only crochets. They get together to do their craft, do a little show and tell, and talk about all the happenings in Arborville, New Jersey. Pamela has invited her old friend Amy Morgan to join the group. They haven’t seen each other in years, so she thought it would be a good chance to get caught up.
When the group arrives at Pamela’s house Amy is a no-show. Pamela is disappointed. As the group leaves, she is busy trying to locate the bowl she had left out for a stray kitten. Instead, she finds her friend Amy in the bushes with a knitting needle stabbed into her chest. Then a few days later she finds another body throw out with the trash at a nearby apartment building. The same building where Amy had been living. Pamela decides the police are not moving fast enough so she starts her own investigation hoping she can knit together the clues to catch the killer before she finds another body.
Pamela Paterson is an editor for a crafting magazine. She works mostly from her home so that gives her plenty of time for other things like knitting with her Knit and Nibble group, picking through her neighbor’s trash for treasures, and hunting down murderers. She is a widow with a daughter in college so she has no one except a stray kitten to rush home for. She is good friends with her neighbor Bettina Fraser who becomes Watson to her Sherlock. The other members of the Knit and Nibble group keep their ears open for pertinent gossip and serve some yummy treats at the weekly meetings. We are just getting to know these characters and being the first book in the series we have barely scratched the surface but so far I find them interesting and engaging.
The story is well written but some of the clues to solve the mystery really didn’t sink in with me at first. Pamela went to Amy’s funeral and to the college where she worked. She was questioning everyone she could. Pamela seemed to have a lot of theories, some seemed pretty out there but soon all the clues dropped into place both for Pamela and me. I was totally surprised.
I love the knitting theme of this series. Prior to my accident that left my right side paralyzed I loved to knit although, I was still learning. In the book, they talk about a harness that allows people to knit one-handed. I have tried many different one-handed techniques but usually become frustrated so I had to search the internet for this device but couldn’t find it. Maybe the author will give us more info in a future story.
I found this to be a comfortable cozy with genuine characters I want to know better. I am looking forward to seeing how a very frisky feline makes herself at home with Pamela too.
Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the first story in A Knit and Nibble Mystery series. Pamela Patterson is a widow who lives in Arborville, New Jersey. Pamela is associate editor of Fiber Craft magazine and is the founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club. On her way to the co-op grocery store, Pamela runs into Amy Morgan who has just moved to town. Pamela has not seen Amy in five years. She invites Amy to the Knit and Nibble meeting that will be held at her house. Unfortunately, Amy fails to show up for the meeting. After everyone has departed, Pamela finds Amy dead in the bushes with a metal knitting needle sticking out of her chest. Pamela notices that Amy’s knitting bag is missing. Who killed Amy and why? Pamela believes that the police do not always ask the right questions and decides to conduct her own investigation. While walking home from the market, Pamela finds a woman dead behind Amy’s apartment building. Are the two deaths connected? Pamela and her friend, Bettina set out to unravel the clues and hook the killer in Murder, She Knit.
Murder, She Knit is a cute cozy mystery. The book is nicely written and, for the most part, has good pacing. I do wish that the author had taken the time to establish the characters. I would have liked more detail on Pamela and the town. I liked the knitting theme and the beautiful yarn descriptions. The author mentions a knitting harness that allows knitters to knit with one hand (I am looking that one up). The mystery is straightforward. There is some misdirection and the author provided good clues that will aid readers in solving the crime. I kept hoping for more action (anything besides questioning and speculation). Pamela’s method of questioning leaves a lot to be desired. The police are in the periphery in the book (practically nonexistent). I felt that many of the scenes felt contrived (farfetched). The members of the knitting group attend the funeral of a woman they had never met (because she was about to join their group—would you take off work) and she happens to see a man wearing argyle socks that match one’s the victim knitted are just two examples. I also did not understand Pamela talking with a reporter after finding Amy’s body (come on into my kitchen and let’s chat). There is a lot of time spent shopping, knitting, cooking, chatting, and taking care of the stray cat. The series has potential, and I am hoping for improvement in Died in the Wool. My rating for Murder, She Knit is 3 out of 5 stars. There is a recipe for Autumn Apple Cake at the end of the book.
I really enjoyed this cozy. I think it is fun when a craft or hobby is introduced as part of the story. You learn something knew all the time. In this tale, Knitting is the craft. Pamela is hosting her Knit and Nibble group. She has invited a new member, actually an old acquaintance as well. The next thing you know, a murder has occurred. The characters are all fun and quirky. Pamela and her best friend Bettina are the amateur sleuths. The story is enjoyable and a nice escape. It moves along nicely and kept me entertained. I would love to read more by this author.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my review.
I enjoyed the first visit with Pamela and the Knit and Nibble knitting club. The main characters were well developed and very likeable. I would have liked to get to know the other members of the club a little better but it suited the mystery since quite a few of them started out as suspects – and there was no shortage on suspects.
Pamela and Bettina, a neighbour and fellow knitting club member, make a great team in solving the mystery and I look forward to seeing them solve some more murders in the future.
I totally fell in love with the sweet little kitten that Pamela takes care of and “invites” into her home. It is the star of this cozy for me….
I requested this book from NetGalley and am thankful that Kensington and the author provided me with an advance copy.
Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart was a refreshing change in cozy mysteries.
The protagonist, Pamela Paterson’s daughter is off to college and she stays busy as an associate editor of a craft magazine as well as being involved in a knitting group. She is calm, independent, practical and seems to be content with her life within her community.
I enjoyed getting to know Pam and the other members of her knitting group. I look forward to seeing the characters developed more fully as the series progresses. The plot was smoothly paced and the twists and turns kept me guessing. This was an easy and comfortable cozy that kept my attention throughout the book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.