Finely Knit Murder
A Seaside Knitters Mystery, Book #9
By Sally Goldenbaum
ISBN13: 9780451471604
Author Website: http://www.sallygoldenbaum.com/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Kayt
Synopsis:
In the newest mystery from the national bestselling author of Murder in Merino, the sleuthing skills of Izzy Chambers Perry and the Seaside Knitters are tested as death mars the beginning of the school year…
Seaside Knitter Birdie Favazza is thrilled that her granddaughter Gabby will be visiting for the fall and attending the Sea Harbor Community Day School. Gabby loves the school, with its newly-adopted progressive curriculum, and she loves that the Seaside Knitters are teaching knitting as part of the enrichment program. It’s a huge success, and on crisp autumn days, girls camp out on the terraces, knitting up hats for charity.
But not everyone is happy with the direction the school is taking. Outspoken board member Blythe Westerland has sparked tempers with her determination to unravel the current administration. Then, on the evening of an elegant school event, Blythe’s body is found near the school boathouse.
With a killer on the loose, Birdie is determined to keep Gabby safe. Working together, the Seaside Knitters carefully unravel the layers of Blythe’s complicated life, bringing faculty members and town residents under scrutiny. Before the cast-off rows are made on the students’ projects, the knitters will need to stitch together the evidence to see if a murderer has been walking beside them all along.
Review:
A Finely Knit Murder is the ninth in Sally Goldenbaum’s A Seaside Knitters Mystery series. You really do not have to read the others in order to enjoy this one or any of them. They can all stand alone, although I do suggest reading them as they are all wonderful. The amazing cast in these books feel like family. The mystery is finely woven, yet as the seaside knitters stitch the clues together, it unravels. These mysteries are unique as each one has one of the main characters in the spotlight. All of the characters are involved in each book and solving the mystery. All of them are delightfully well developed and wonderfully written. You really cannot go wrong reading any of these mysteries.
In A Finely Knit Murder Birdie’s granddaughter Gabby is attending the Sea Harbor Community Day School and loving it. The headmaster has been doing a great job as far as everyone is concerned. Well everyone except for board member Blythe Westerland. Her family owned the building that now houses the school. Blythe is harsh with her criticism and quick to action. After her first attempt to get the board to fire Elizabeth Hartley, the headmistress, is thwarted, she ends up dead. Murdered during a successful party at the school. Blythe was not a popular resident of this wonderful seaside town and the suspect list is a long one. Unfortunately for the chief, Jerry Thompson, his lady friend is on top of that list.
As the ladies of the Seaside Knitters, Nell, Izzy, Cass and Birdie, try to get some answers, they find more and more people that had a motive for wanting Blythe gone. Along the way to solving the murder, the ladies enjoy meeting for knitting, eating and just friendly get-togethers. This is a wonderful and superbly written mystery that keeps the reader guessing. All the while, enjoying the companionship and friendship of this amazing cast. Each main character plays a part in the story, has their own voice. While Nell is the major speaker, no one plays a lesser part. The descriptive writing and wonderful voices of the characters is such a delight to read.
A Finely Knit Murder is another fabulous addition to this great series. Reading it is like taking a mini vacation to the seaside. I could almost smell the salt in the air, the whiffs of fabulous food, and the wonderful sea breezes. The characters are so diverse however they are all people I would love to be friends with and enjoy their company. I personally do not knit, but for those knitters out there, you can find knitting patterns at the end of the book. Even not being a knitter, I love this series. And this one is just fabulous. I would recommend A Finely Knit Murder to any reader that wants a pleasant escape, fun characters, an intriguing mystery or fabulous friends that are all knitted together in one amazing bundle.
