FOR BETTER OR WORSTED (CROCHET MYSTERY, BOOK #8) BY BETTY HECHTMAN: BOOK REVIEW

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5 star rating
 
For Better or Worsted
Crochet Mystery #8
By Betty Hechtman
ISBN# 9780425252611
Author’s Website:  www.bettyhechtman.com

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

for-better-or-worstedSynopsis:

The latest novel in the national bestselling Crochet Mystery series.

Molly Pink and her crochet group, the Tarzana Hookers, love an adventure. But when their newest member is accused of turning her wedding into happily-never-after for the groom, Molly’s chance to find the truth hangs by a thread…

When Molly is invited to a major society wedding, she expects some drama but not this much. The bride, the daughter of Molly’s friend Mason, has been planning the nuptials for ages, but at the reception, things go amiss when the groom ends up dancing with the Grim Reaper.

To make matters worse, the bride’s mother is found holding the murder weapon—and, as a reality show star, she’s happy to fuel the media frenzy. Molly agrees to open her home so Thursday, the distraught bride, can have some peace from the paparazzi. But when it’s revealed that she and her groom were on shaky ground, Thursday takes the spotlight as the prime suspect.

Now Molly and the Hookers must quickly stitch together unrelated clues and high-profile suspects—before a killer strikes again…

Review:

For Better or Worsted is Betty Hechtman’s eighth novel in the fascinating and fun Crochet Mystery series.  If you have not yet read earlier books in this series, you can easily pick up this  one and not feel out of place – the author stitches just enough details in the design to invite new readers to feel like long-term members of the Tarzana Hookers (uh, that’s ‘hookers’ as in crochet enthusiasts).

I would love to be a fly on the wall when an author plots a new tale – after all, how often does one plot the murder of a bridegroom at his own wedding reception?  And how many mothers of the bride would want to be photographed while plopped into the wedding cake … holding the bloody murder weapon?  That’s a little over-the-top, no matter how Mom feels about her new son-in-law, even if Mom is a reality TV star.  But could Mom have done the evil deed?

Molly Pink is the Events Coordinator for Shedd & Royal Books and More where she and her friends in the Tarzana Hookers group meet to socialize and work on their projects together.  Thursday, the bride (and widow) is a new member of the group.  Thursday’s father, Mason, is an attorney and one of two men who want Molly’s undivided attention.  Molly was headed into the reception and ran into her other want-to-be suitor, Barry, when the murder was found.

After the initial police inquiry was completed, Molly snuck Thursday away to her home where she could avoid the paparazzi for the evening.  Barry, however, is the detective in charge of Thursday’s husband’s murder investigation.  Molly now has to see both Mason and Barry daily.  SO not in her plan!  Mason and Barry do not like each other, but they do agree on one thing.  They do not want Molly involved in the murder investigation, but how could she and her fellow Hookers not try to find the bad guy – or gal?  After all, Thursday is now one of their own!  And Molly had already successfully solved other murders!

The eccentric ladies of the crochet group take on a new project, one that will bring new customers into the bookstore and multiple challenges for Molly.  This reader enjoyed seeing the Hookers in their unique personalities and talents as they work through this new project.  (One of the results is one of three crochet patterns in the book; all three patterns appear fun and easy to do).  But one of the Hookers is suspected of “yarn bombing” Tarzana with bright, fun crocheted items – could one of the group actually be sent to jail for this?

Each central and peripheral character is uniquely well-developed.  None of the regulars will fade into the woodwork, as each has at least one highly-memorable trait.  I like Molly and her best friend Dinah best, maybe in part as Molly is more of a contemporary to me, but the group definitely couldn’t get along without Adele and Elise!

The cover art is appealing, both the colors and design.  From the crochet hooks, pup, and various crafts to the bright window, it is a fun. open invitation to throw open the panes and go for the story within that will not disappoint.

The plot is very thoroughly and finely executed.  No clue has gone unchecked, and there are no unresolved concerns at the end.  It is perfectly stitched to the gauge that brings the suspense to new heights for the Hookers!  There are plot twists and even u-turns that made me doubt every suspect I considered!  And the solution is far from what one would expect, based on the initial clues.

I absolutely recommend For Better or Worsted to adults of all ages who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with women sleuths, needle crafts, and challenging crimes solved that include a bit of romance and a lot of fun.  If you haven’t yet read one of Betty’s books, you are in for an exciting, suspenseful, and delightful ride!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*