4 out of 5 stars

Today I’m bringing you the latest stop on the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Knit Before Dying by Sadie Hartwell. It’s the second in the Tangled Web Mystery series, but it was the first one I’ve read. It was a fun read and easy to read as a stand-alone.

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Synopsis

Shop owner Josie Blair is finally settling into the pace of living in Dorset Falls, Connecticut. Between running Miss Marple Knits, jump starting a blog, and handcrafting items with the help of her knitting pals, Josie’s too preoccupied to worry about her past in New York. And thanks to Lyndon and Harry, the owners of the brand-new antique shop next door, she has another project in her midst—repurposing a box of vintage crocheted doilies adorned with the most curious needlework . . .

But before Josie can formally welcome her neighbors, she discovers Lyndon on the floor of his shop stabbed to death by a rusty old pair of sheep shears. Police have pinned Harry as the killer, but Josie isn’t so sure. Now, she’s lacing up for another homicide investigation—and no eyelet or stitch can go unexamined, lest she herself becomes ensnared in the criminal’s deadly design . . .

Review

This was a fun read. As I stated above, this is the first one in the series that I’ve read, even though it is the second book of the series. However, the author provided enough background information to make it possible to read this as a stand-alone without overdoing it for those who may have already read the first book.

I enjoyed our main characters. Josie seems pretty well-rounded with a good head on her shoulders. While she’s curious and she asks questions, she doesn’t seem to go looking for trouble (which, in my opinion, is a good thing). I also enjoyed Evelyn, Lorna, Helen, Mitch, and the rest of the supporting characters.

This is my first “fiber arts” cozy mystery and I enjoyed it. I felt that the author did a good job balancing out the inclusion of the knitting and the yarn shop without it being smothering for those (like myself) who are not into knitting or crocheting.

The mystery itself was interesting and had plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. I didn’t see the final twist coming, tho’ given that there was still about 15% of the book left after the supposed climax, I knew something else was going to happen. I just didn’t know what!

The only real complaint that I have is that I would have liked it if we’d found out where the body of one of the victims had actually been buried. It’s alluded to, but we never really know for sure.

All in all tho’ it was a fun read and if the author publishes more in the series, I’m definitely up for reading them!

About the Author

Sadie Hartwell grew up near the Canadian border in northern New York State, where it’s cold, dark, and snowy almost half the year—a perfect environment for nurturing a simultaneous love of mystery fiction and needlework. She attended St. Lawrence University, graduating with a degree in history, and has worked as a waitress, handbag designer/manufacturer, paralegal, and copy editor before turning to writing full time. Now she gets to play with yarn and make up stories whenever she wants, and wishes everyone had a job as much fun as hers.

 

Thanks for joining me today on the latest stop of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour for A Knit Before Dying by Sadie Hartwell.  If you wish to visit other stops on the tour, please click on the banner below. It will take you to the main tour page with the listing of all the stops!