Murder, She Knit

A Knit & Nibble Mystery Series, Book #1

By Peggy Ehrhart

ISBN: 9781496713278

Author’s Website: peggyehrhart(.)com

 

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra

Summary:

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 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 . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

Murder, She Knit is the first in the A Knit & Nibble Mystery Series by Peggy Ehrhart. I was drawn to the book by its description and the cover art as well as the fact that I enjoy cozy mysteries with knitting and animals. What kept me reading was I the need to know more about the stray cat, Catrina. I kept figuring Catrina would play a more prominent role… well, maybe in future books in the series she will.

The tale begins with Pamela getting ready for the Knit & Nibble club meeting she is hosting. Getting to know the motley crew was entertaining: Bettina Fraser, Nell Bascomb, Jean Worthington, Roland DeCamp, and Karen Dowling. I must say – I loved Roland’s knitting project ☺. I predict you will too once you read about it yourself!

Earlier in the day, Pamela invited Amy Morgan (an old friend who recently moved back to Arborville) to join the knitting group. Everyone had arrived…except Amy. Wondering where she was a mystery. After everyone had left, Pamela went in search of Catrina’s food dish as it was not on the porch. What she found instead was a body. In fact, the body of Amy! And so the mystery begins.

There are many red herrings throughout the story – adding depth and in my mind at times, confusion. But that certainly added to the mystery. Pamela takes it upon herself to figure out who killed Amy because after all, she died in her yard. She feels guilty for asking her to join the club because if Amy had not been in Pamela’s yard, she would have not gotten killed … or would she?

I found the pace a wee bit slow, until Pamela’s daughter Penny came home for Thanksgiving. Then things got hopping. So much so that a second murder occurred! Pamela better hurry up and figure out who is murdering these people. Was it Amy’s sister? Or a disgruntled university staff member? Or??? Really, there was no shortage of possible suspects. The journey that Pamela (and her best bud Bettina) took to figure out the suspects, and eliminate them one by one was an entertaining journey.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere in the small town of Arborville… and the name of the pizza joint – When in Rome – was great. To be able to walk to the co-op and know your neighbors (so much so that Pamela rummages through the apartment buildings garbage for “great finds”) is refreshing. I imagine this is what small town life is like.

Murder, She Knit is a cozy mystery with many interesting and entertaining characters. The many story lines provided for many possibilities in future books in the series. Of course, more murders…but maybe a romance or two? And my overriding question…will the knitting club knit enough elephants so that all the kids at the woman’s shelter get one? And of course…. who was the killer in this book?  I love it when I don’t figure out ‘whodunit’ until the very end.

I anticipate picking up more of Peggy Ehrhart’s cozy mystery series in the future and hoping that the intensity and pace that was in the second half of the book shines throughout the remainder of the series. And that we get more story time from Penny and Richard in future books.

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