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A Flock & Fiber Mystery #1
Murder Spins a Tale
Denied justice weaves a web of revenge and death in this new cozy mystery. A beautiful winter morning gives no hint of the danger that will engulf Martha Williamson, owner of The Spider's Web — a shop specializing in spinning and weaving.
Living with her two Great Pyrenees dogs, Falcor and Denali, on a small farm near Black Hills, Washington, Martha has come to cherish the quiet life she created after the violent death of her husband in a car accident. However, the news spreads fast when Martha discovers a burglary of the town's beauty salon; and her friends fear another robbery.
Gossip becomes reality; burglary becomes murder; and Martha's business card is found at the scene. When Falcor discovers the murder weapon and Martha is threatened, she is driven to find the killer. Taking the reader into her world of fiber arts, Martha, with Denali and Falcor at her side, spins her way through a tangle of clues, deception and danger.
Living with her two Great Pyrenees dogs, Falcor and Denali, on a small farm near Black Hills, Washington, Martha has come to cherish the quiet life she created after the violent death of her husband in a car accident. However, the news spreads fast when Martha discovers a burglary of the town's beauty salon; and her friends fear another robbery.
Gossip becomes reality; burglary becomes murder; and Martha's business card is found at the scene. When Falcor discovers the murder weapon and Martha is threatened, she is driven to find the killer. Taking the reader into her world of fiber arts, Martha, with Denali and Falcor at her side, spins her way through a tangle of clues, deception and danger.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 20, 2010
63 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 24, 2025
I really enjoyed this older cozy mystery. The murder mystery was hard to figure out, and there were several good suspects. I like farm settings, and the protagonist has several animals, notably two Great Pyrenees who are both working dogs and guard dogs. She owns a knitting shop, and gives lessons. I learned a lot of interesting facts about making wool, etc. to knit with. I was fascinated that dog hair can be used!! Spinning seemed like it would be fun to learn, also.
I had these books on my Kindle for years, and glad I came across them to read. 😃📚
I had these books on my Kindle for years, and glad I came across them to read. 😃📚
August 18, 2015
Excellent!!
Have you ever read a book that just leaves you wanting...no demanding more? If so, then sit back and let me tell you about the book that had me laughing and crying.
Martha Williamson is a gentle, caring woman who lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she has a small farm and a yarn shop. It's there that she lives with her two best friends, Great Pyrenees dogs, Falcor and Denali. Their job is to protect the livestock that provide the beautiful wool for the yarn shop. Martha's husband has passed away, but Martha has a good life, she has her brother Sean, her best friend Ellen and a few others that create a warm circle of friends. Sable is her Siamese cat and she loves to run in and out of the restored barn that houses the yarn shop. Everyone finds peace when attending a spinning class, or just stopping in to work on their favorite fiber project. The small town welcomes Jane, a new teacher at the elementary school. Martha looks forward to setting up some workshops to teach Jane's students how to create fiber.
Sadly, a rash of burglaries has upset their quiet town and everyone is practicing safety precautions. For a town this small, the simple task of locking their doors leaves them feeling violated.
When a burglary turns to murder, taking the life of Martha's dear friend, she is left speechless. Not only was this friend a comfort to her during her own grieving process, she was hoping the relationship was growing to something more intimate.
Was this the work of a random burglar or was it something more sinister?
When Martha's business card is found underneath the body, she can only believe the killer is part of their own community.
The murder wasn't even 24 hours old when the victims ex wife shoes up demanding to see his will. Her temper flares when she realizes she won't inherit the property she insists belongs to her. Did she know about the change in the will? Is she responsible for his death?
When long time office manager, Angie, becomes the executor of his will, she seeks out Martha and Ellen for assistance. As they go through his papers they find some information that makes them wonder just who is responsible for the tragic murder. When a newcomer is suspected of the murder, Martha can't help but believe they have the wrong man in custody. Martha is determined to find the truth and risks everything she lives to do just that.
This book made me laugh and giggle, it made me want to learn how to spin, and it made me want to read more in this wonderful series.
This is a definite 5 star book!
Have you ever read a book that just leaves you wanting...no demanding more? If so, then sit back and let me tell you about the book that had me laughing and crying.
Martha Williamson is a gentle, caring woman who lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she has a small farm and a yarn shop. It's there that she lives with her two best friends, Great Pyrenees dogs, Falcor and Denali. Their job is to protect the livestock that provide the beautiful wool for the yarn shop. Martha's husband has passed away, but Martha has a good life, she has her brother Sean, her best friend Ellen and a few others that create a warm circle of friends. Sable is her Siamese cat and she loves to run in and out of the restored barn that houses the yarn shop. Everyone finds peace when attending a spinning class, or just stopping in to work on their favorite fiber project. The small town welcomes Jane, a new teacher at the elementary school. Martha looks forward to setting up some workshops to teach Jane's students how to create fiber.
Sadly, a rash of burglaries has upset their quiet town and everyone is practicing safety precautions. For a town this small, the simple task of locking their doors leaves them feeling violated.
When a burglary turns to murder, taking the life of Martha's dear friend, she is left speechless. Not only was this friend a comfort to her during her own grieving process, she was hoping the relationship was growing to something more intimate.
Was this the work of a random burglar or was it something more sinister?
When Martha's business card is found underneath the body, she can only believe the killer is part of their own community.
The murder wasn't even 24 hours old when the victims ex wife shoes up demanding to see his will. Her temper flares when she realizes she won't inherit the property she insists belongs to her. Did she know about the change in the will? Is she responsible for his death?
When long time office manager, Angie, becomes the executor of his will, she seeks out Martha and Ellen for assistance. As they go through his papers they find some information that makes them wonder just who is responsible for the tragic murder. When a newcomer is suspected of the murder, Martha can't help but believe they have the wrong man in custody. Martha is determined to find the truth and risks everything she lives to do just that.
This book made me laugh and giggle, it made me want to learn how to spin, and it made me want to read more in this wonderful series.
This is a definite 5 star book!
July 1, 2011
I loved this book. Because I had a small ranch, that had the same type of animals (sheep, Great Pyrenees, etc) as well as being a spinner, knitter, and crocheter, I really related to this story A LOT except for the murder, that is. LOL. I cannot wait until her next book comes out.
December 28, 2011
This book was so fun to read. If you like fiber art. spinning, knitting crochet, want to raise sheep and like mysteries (like me) you'll like this book.
May 13, 2011
Ms. Grace spun a delightful tale of suspense, and murder within the locale of Black Hills, Washington and the sleuth's home-farm store which is famed as a Fiber store.
Martha Williamson, a widow and the owner of "The Spider's Web," has etched out a fulfilling life-work situation for herself and her beloved pets and animal flock. I found myself intrigued with Martha's flock being the source of her fleece etc. Denali and Falcor are two Great Pyrenees dogs that are trained as Livestock Guardian Dogs. This was an occupation which I had been unaware of for dogs but was so interested to learn.
Ms. Grace also teaches us a lot about spinning fabric. I would have enjoyed a glossary of terms to ease a non-crafter, as myself, to an easier understanding of what the clients were discussing.
As to the murder mystery, it was very well presented and I was saddened by the choice of the victim. I guess I wanted a bit of romance for this lovely Martha. Perhaps, in her next book. I really did enjoy this book and will be on the lookout for any future books by Ms.Grace.
Martha Williamson, a widow and the owner of "The Spider's Web," has etched out a fulfilling life-work situation for herself and her beloved pets and animal flock. I found myself intrigued with Martha's flock being the source of her fleece etc. Denali and Falcor are two Great Pyrenees dogs that are trained as Livestock Guardian Dogs. This was an occupation which I had been unaware of for dogs but was so interested to learn.
Ms. Grace also teaches us a lot about spinning fabric. I would have enjoyed a glossary of terms to ease a non-crafter, as myself, to an easier understanding of what the clients were discussing.
As to the murder mystery, it was very well presented and I was saddened by the choice of the victim. I guess I wanted a bit of romance for this lovely Martha. Perhaps, in her next book. I really did enjoy this book and will be on the lookout for any future books by Ms.Grace.
August 6, 2011
I like fiber and craft-related cozies, so I was looking forward to reading this. On the plus side, I liked the spinning and knitting content and the characters. The story line was pretty good, although the clues pointing to the killer were too heavy-handed and obvious.
The biggest problem for me was the writing style. This book could have used some SERIOUS editing. Dialogue passages were especially bad, with conversations sounding stiff and unnatural. More contractions in the dialogue would have helped, and a few more commas as well. There were times when I had to re-read sentences to get the correct phrasing due to missing punctuation. I eventually found that if I skimmed the book, the clumsy writing didn't trip me up me as much, but I'd much prefer to take my time and enjoy a well-written book.
The biggest problem for me was the writing style. This book could have used some SERIOUS editing. Dialogue passages were especially bad, with conversations sounding stiff and unnatural. More contractions in the dialogue would have helped, and a few more commas as well. There were times when I had to re-read sentences to get the correct phrasing due to missing punctuation. I eventually found that if I skimmed the book, the clumsy writing didn't trip me up me as much, but I'd much prefer to take my time and enjoy a well-written book.
August 18, 2015
Fun and unusual fiber mystery
If you like dogs, knitting, spinning, animals, or mysteries, you'll love the Flock and Fiber mysteries. Lots of heart, friendship, family fiber producing animals (sheep, llama, alpaca, dogs... Yes, dog fiber) to keep the reader engaged and add spice to the mystery. Highly enjoyable. I wish I could live in this community and visit The Spider's Web yarn shop!
If you like dogs, knitting, spinning, animals, or mysteries, you'll love the Flock and Fiber mysteries. Lots of heart, friendship, family fiber producing animals (sheep, llama, alpaca, dogs... Yes, dog fiber) to keep the reader engaged and add spice to the mystery. Highly enjoyable. I wish I could live in this community and visit The Spider's Web yarn shop!
May 16, 2014
I really enjoyed this one. Yes the clues are there, and easy to guess who did it and why, however she allows them to appear in a logical manner. The fact it's surrounded with spinning and fiber and she actually knows what she's writing about is a major plus.
What I enjoy most is the book is filled with community. One of things I like about having a Fiber habit.
What I enjoy most is the book is filled with community. One of things I like about having a Fiber habit.
February 19, 2013
The writing was competent though neither very exciting nor very interesting. I enjoyed the fiber/spinning/knitting references.
I do, however, disagree with her about pre-drafting fiber.
Like some other reviewers, I skimmed over the last third.
I do, however, disagree with her about pre-drafting fiber.
Like some other reviewers, I skimmed over the last third.
May 15, 2020
A pretty good first novel. The characters are interesting, the locale sounds lovely and the details of the fiber crafts mentioned sound accurate.
My only negative criticism is that the author’s inconsistent use of contractions leaves the dialogue feeling a little stilted. It’s just not the way most people speak nowadays unless they’re unfamiliar with English or using full words for emphasis.
That being said, I’m about to read book #2 in the series and then #3 after that. I love a good cozy mystery and when you throw in fiber and animals you really have my attention.
My only negative criticism is that the author’s inconsistent use of contractions leaves the dialogue feeling a little stilted. It’s just not the way most people speak nowadays unless they’re unfamiliar with English or using full words for emphasis.
That being said, I’m about to read book #2 in the series and then #3 after that. I love a good cozy mystery and when you throw in fiber and animals you really have my attention.
May 8, 2020
Better Than I Expected!
I wasn't sure what a. Flick and Fiber Mystery would be about. It turned out to be very interesting. I learned a lot about how wool and other fibers are spun, what makes a good fiber, and how life is like in Washington State. I recommend it to anyone who is crafty or who likes mysteries.
I wasn't sure what a. Flick and Fiber Mystery would be about. It turned out to be very interesting. I learned a lot about how wool and other fibers are spun, what makes a good fiber, and how life is like in Washington State. I recommend it to anyone who is crafty or who likes mysteries.
January 5, 2021
Murder spins a tale
First time reading this author. I really enjoyed this book and at the same time there was too much detail on starting the coffee pot and not enough detail on the main character. Still I loved the plot and the writing style is easy to read. I will read the next book in this series
First time reading this author. I really enjoyed this book and at the same time there was too much detail on starting the coffee pot and not enough detail on the main character. Still I loved the plot and the writing style is easy to read. I will read the next book in this series
May 9, 2020
Great Pyrenees
Wonderful story, didn't want to put it down. Glad it turned out so well in the end. I didn't figure it out at first, but suspected quite a bit later in the book. Definitely a good read.
Wonderful story, didn't want to put it down. Glad it turned out so well in the end. I didn't figure it out at first, but suspected quite a bit later in the book. Definitely a good read.
May 19, 2020
A fun cozy
In the Pacific Northwest with friends dogs lambs and alpacas . Martha knows something’s wrong when everyone thinks the new guy at the feed store but no one saw this cominf
In the Pacific Northwest with friends dogs lambs and alpacas . Martha knows something’s wrong when everyone thinks the new guy at the feed store but no one saw this cominf
June 30, 2020
Fiber good
If you like 👍 fiber related cozy mystery, this is the one for you. Great characters , plot, and location. You also learned about Great Pyrenees dogs and spinning their fur.
If you like 👍 fiber related cozy mystery, this is the one for you. Great characters , plot, and location. You also learned about Great Pyrenees dogs and spinning their fur.
September 18, 2025
Recommended for sinners and dog lovers
I have trouble applying the word "cozy" to any story based on a murder, but this book is a good puzzle with nice settings and a lot of fascinating and well intentioned characters.
I have trouble applying the word "cozy" to any story based on a murder, but this book is a good puzzle with nice settings and a lot of fascinating and well intentioned characters.
January 12, 2018
Enjoyable cozy
May 11, 2020
Happy
This is a great book. It kept me entertained until the end. There was no guessing what was going to happen before. It was the tears at the end. But the happy ending.
This is a great book. It kept me entertained until the end. There was no guessing what was going to happen before. It was the tears at the end. But the happy ending.
May 15, 2020
Good story.
What a good storyteller this author is. I loved the loyalty displayed between friends and the loyalty between these wonderful Great Pyrines.
What a good storyteller this author is. I loved the loyalty displayed between friends and the loyalty between these wonderful Great Pyrines.
May 20, 2020
Good
I know nothing about spinning or wool so parts of the book were very informative. Loved the dogs. A good book. Hoping there are more.
I know nothing about spinning or wool so parts of the book were very informative. Loved the dogs. A good book. Hoping there are more.
May 28, 2020
Dogs and fibers can’t be beat
A nice, light murder mystery enlivened by a sprinkling of fiber spinning and lovable guard dogs. Recommended for animal loving mystery enthusiasts.
A nice, light murder mystery enlivened by a sprinkling of fiber spinning and lovable guard dogs. Recommended for animal loving mystery enthusiasts.
June 1, 2021
Keeps you guessing
Great read facts go all over the place but you don’t really guess or get the answer until the end. Can’t wait to read more books by this author.
Great read facts go all over the place but you don’t really guess or get the answer until the end. Can’t wait to read more books by this author.
June 7, 2022
Excellent story. The dialog is a little stiff. I understand this is the author’s first book and I look forward to reading her future titles.
June 4, 2024
This was an okay story for me. I found the fiber stuff a bit boring, but I liked the characters.
December 11, 2025
⭐⭐
Murder Spins a Tale by Veryl Ann Grace is the first book in A Flock & Fiber Mystery series, and while it has some appealing elements, it struggles with execution that makes it hard to fully enjoy.
Martha Williamson owns The Spider's Web, a shop specializing in spinning and weaving in Black Hills, Washington. She lives on a small farm with her two Great Pyrenees dogs, Falcor and Denali, and has built a peaceful life after the violent death of her husband in a car accident. When Martha discovers a burglary at the town's beauty salon, her friends worry there might be more robberies coming. Those fears prove warranted when burglary turns to murder, and Martha's business card is found at the scene. When Falcor discovers the murder weapon and Martha receives threats, she's compelled to investigate.
The fiber arts setting is unique and clearly written by someone who knows and loves the craft. The details about spinning and weaving add authenticity, and Martha's two Great Pyrenees are charming companions. The small farm and shop setting has cozy potential. Unfortunately, the writing needs polish. The pacing is uneven, and some scenes feel rushed while others drag. Character development is shallow, making it difficult to connect with Martha or care deeply about the supporting cast. The mystery itself lacks tension, and the investigation doesn't unfold in a particularly compelling way. Dialogue sometimes feels stilted, and plot points don't always flow naturally.
There's a good concept here with room for a promising series, but this first book needs more development to reach its potential.
#MurderSpinsATale #VerylAnnGrace #FlockAndFiberMystery #CozyMystery #MysteryBooks
Murder Spins a Tale by Veryl Ann Grace is the first book in A Flock & Fiber Mystery series, and while it has some appealing elements, it struggles with execution that makes it hard to fully enjoy.
Martha Williamson owns The Spider's Web, a shop specializing in spinning and weaving in Black Hills, Washington. She lives on a small farm with her two Great Pyrenees dogs, Falcor and Denali, and has built a peaceful life after the violent death of her husband in a car accident. When Martha discovers a burglary at the town's beauty salon, her friends worry there might be more robberies coming. Those fears prove warranted when burglary turns to murder, and Martha's business card is found at the scene. When Falcor discovers the murder weapon and Martha receives threats, she's compelled to investigate.
The fiber arts setting is unique and clearly written by someone who knows and loves the craft. The details about spinning and weaving add authenticity, and Martha's two Great Pyrenees are charming companions. The small farm and shop setting has cozy potential. Unfortunately, the writing needs polish. The pacing is uneven, and some scenes feel rushed while others drag. Character development is shallow, making it difficult to connect with Martha or care deeply about the supporting cast. The mystery itself lacks tension, and the investigation doesn't unfold in a particularly compelling way. Dialogue sometimes feels stilted, and plot points don't always flow naturally.
There's a good concept here with room for a promising series, but this first book needs more development to reach its potential.
#MurderSpinsATale #VerylAnnGrace #FlockAndFiberMystery #CozyMystery #MysteryBooks
May 12, 2011
If I could give this book 2.5 stars, I would. I liked the plot, but the author needs to work on writing conversation. I swore if I read one more time "I have to feed/take care of/whatever the 'critters'" one more time, I was going to pitch the Kindle out the window! Most of the conversation was written with simple sentences - subject/verb, subject/verb - unless she got really creative and wrote compound sentences - subject/verb/conjunction/subject/verb. Every time someone came to her house to eat, the visitor "built the fire" while Martha, the main character, fixed the meal. It really was annoying! The structure of the writing reminded me of the short stories my sophomores had to write when I taught, well, sophomores! LOL! Actually, I knew who the murderer was when I was 49% of the way through the book. That's not really a good thing.
Martha is a widow who has a fiber shop on her small farm. She also has 3 sheep, 2 alpacas, a cat, and 2 Great Pyrenees. She lives in the small town of Black Hills, Washington, (which also was bothersome initially but only because I grew up in the Black Hills of SD and didn't know there were any towns called Black Hills.) Dr. Tom is the local physician whom everyone in town adores. There have a spate of burglaries recently, but most of them have been north of Olympia. When Dr. Tom is discovered dead in his unlocked office early one morning, everyone is in shock. There are many suspects, but only a new hire at the feed store, Dr. Tom's ex-wife, and maybe the burglar seem to be plausible choices. Martha can't believe that most of these would have actually killed anyone.
Martha is a widow who has a fiber shop on her small farm. She also has 3 sheep, 2 alpacas, a cat, and 2 Great Pyrenees. She lives in the small town of Black Hills, Washington, (which also was bothersome initially but only because I grew up in the Black Hills of SD and didn't know there were any towns called Black Hills.) Dr. Tom is the local physician whom everyone in town adores. There have a spate of burglaries recently, but most of them have been north of Olympia. When Dr. Tom is discovered dead in his unlocked office early one morning, everyone is in shock. There are many suspects, but only a new hire at the feed store, Dr. Tom's ex-wife, and maybe the burglar seem to be plausible choices. Martha can't believe that most of these would have actually killed anyone.
August 30, 2012
I read it based on reviews...and the wonderful book they all promised never materialized. It was slow, the author writes about each minute detail in a way that goes beyond descriptive into boring! Each day, the main character wakes, lets the dogs out, opens/closes gates, feeds livestock, eats, works, a casual mention of something plot related, eats supper, opens and closes gates, and goes to sleep. The characters are completely flat. They don't use contractions in their speech, so it felt to me like a teenager handing in an English project that relied to much on spell check. It was awkward reading the dialogue because people don't talk like that! The idea was great, the who-dunnit pretty tricky and the spinning/knitting fun. The dogs could have been a great touch, but since they ended up being the only characters in the book with any personality, maybe a book about them would have been better! I would have loved it if it weren't so tedious and boring. In the hundreds of books I read I rarely just end up flipping through to the end. But after getting over half through, that's what I did
July 24, 2011
As genre cozies go, this was a decent introduction to a possible new series. As an avid knitter and spinner I enjoyed the designer and pattern name dropping, though someone not into fiber arts may feel a bit alienated by it. I did find the formulaic chapters a bit tiresome. Though overall the copyediting was better than most self-published Kindle titles I've read lately.
I would give this author another chance should a follow-up book be released in the future. I'd even be anxious to do so if she were picked up by a publisher so there was a bit more fine tuning.
I would give this author another chance should a follow-up book be released in the future. I'd even be anxious to do so if she were picked up by a publisher so there was a bit more fine tuning.
October 24, 2014
Wonderful book!!!
I really loved reading this book, and can't wait to start the author's next book!
The characters were very real, the story flowed nicely and the end it was just perfect.
My only criticism is that the author needs to work on her sentence structure. the dialog in places reads like it was written and not spoken.
Other than that one criticism, the book was absolutely perfect!!! A great cozy read!!!
I really loved reading this book, and can't wait to start the author's next book!
The characters were very real, the story flowed nicely and the end it was just perfect.
My only criticism is that the author needs to work on her sentence structure. the dialog in places reads like it was written and not spoken.
Other than that one criticism, the book was absolutely perfect!!! A great cozy read!!!
September 1, 2013
A quaint cozy set in Washington. Martha is the owner of a fiber arts studio and store. She raises alpacas and has two Great Pyrenees as her faithful companions. Life in a small town goes downhill quickly when the town doctor is murdered. Martha delves into the investigation and almost becomes a statistic herself. Good start to the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews