A Dark and Stormy Knit
A Knit and Nibble Mystery #11
By Peggy Ehrhart
ISBN 9781496749574
Author’s website: peggyehrhart.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser call their crafting group Knit and Nibble, in honor of its two main activities. But on a stormy Halloween night, their peaceful chat over spiced cider and cookies is interrupted by homicide . . . With the houses of Arborville, New Jersey, decked out in festively frightening decorations, it’s easy to mistake a real dead body for a fake. But Pamela and Bettina are alerted by the screams of teenage trick-or-treaters to the corpse next door. Their neighbor Adrienne’s sister, visiting from New York City, is slumped on the porch, fatally stabbed. And with countless people traipsing around in costume, the killer might be as elusive as an apple in a bucket of water. The victim was a charismatic college professor and fierce feminist, and soon the women are infiltrating her social and academic circles to collect clues. But some scandalous local gossip also suggests that Adrienne, not her sister, might have been the target. Now, Pamela and Bettina will need all their creative skills to solve this ghoulish crime . . . (From Goodreads)
Review:
This delightful novel has a mystery that kept me engaged from beginning to end!
The annual Arborville, New Jersey, Halloween parade was interrupted by a storm, sending most attendees home. Bettina and Wilfred Fraser, costumed as Little Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf were relieved when the storm subsided and their power was restored. Pamela Paterson, their friend and neighbor across the street, had attended with them, and afterward joined them for hot beverages and snacks. They heard older teens outside who had gone trick-or-treating after young children went home. Loud, frantic screams began, so they looked outside at three upset teens. They had just left the home next door and found a dead woman on a chair on the porch. They only knew it was not the homeowner, Adrienne.
It was not the first time Pamela had seen a body. She had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, having found others after they were murdered. In several instances, she and Bettina helped police find the killer, especially if they or someone they loved were accused of the murder.
The mystery maintains a steady pace throughout. The background of the murder victim is more interesting than many. Mel (short for Melissa) is part of the “bicycle fish” women’s movement in NYC. Mel’s friends are part of a scholarly group of women called Shakespeare’s Rib. Just as Shakespeare could keep women out of the Globe Theatre by using men to play in women’s parts, men could be replaced in women’s lives today. They set themselves apart from boy-girl relationships. They follow strict behavior standards. All the women are in academia, and they must separate themselves from dating or performing any domestic service. Some women spy on and report those suspected of having a secret man or suspicious relationship.
Bettina and Pamela attended the memorial event as invited by Mel’s sister, Adrienne. They mingled with the attendees, and learned that Mel had been running against Blair to be the new president of the group. Blair was almost universally disliked, as she wanted to make one radical change that upset many members. She might now become president by default. One man dared to show up for the event, briefly, because he wanted to see the people who had “done this” to Mel. Bettina and Pamela considered various motives and even possible suspects for Mel’s murder.
One of their neighbors pointed out that Mel’s killer could have been aiming for Adrienne, not Mel, since the power was out temporarily during the storm Halloween evening. Adrienne was suspected of having been involved with husbands of a few local women.
Best friends Pamela and Bettina, along with Bettina’s husband Wilfred, are regular characters in the series. Other regulars include members of their weekly Knit and Nibble group. Each personality is demonstrated through relatable conversations and behaviors. We are most familiar with Pamela, as the main character. Pamela, widowed young, and Bettina are highly engaging, interesting ladies who have been neighbors for many years. She and Bettina work remotely. Bettina, a reporter, also attends local events for inclusion in the weekly newspaper. Over the course of the series, Pamela has gradually become more confident in expressing herself, both in the murders they look into and in response to changing relationships. Her only daughter currently lives in NYC and is applying to graduate school. Pamela also came to a startling revelation that I hope to see results of in the future!
Those interested in fiber arts might find the articles Pamela reviews fascinating. She is an associate editor for Fiber Craft magazine. She reads and make recommendations on some articles whether or not they would be a good fit for the publication. She copyedits other articles prior to printing. I know little about fiber arts, as it includes many specialties, yet I have found the highlights of the magazine articles interesting.
There are several suspects, and some who seem obvious are actually red herrings. There were no easy answers, except I kept looking at my “pet suspect” after the second murder. What surprised me was the actual motive for the murders. I was very satisfied with the novel and ending, and highly recommend it. A knitting pattern and recipe are included.
