A Dark and Stormy Knit

Knit & Nibble Mystery #11

by Peggy Ehrhart

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 . . .

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Halloween, Crafts, Cats

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 20, 2024

About the author

Peggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature who now writes mysteries. Her publications include a prize-winning nonfiction book; she has also won awards for her short fiction. Her blues mystery series, featuring blues singer "Maxx" Maxwell, was inspired by her guitar-playing hobby. She currently writes the very cozy Knit & Nibble mystery series for Kensington Books, featuring amateur sleuth Pamela Paterson, founder and mainstay of the Knit and Nibble knitting club in charming Arborville, New Jersey.

Series:
* Maxx Maxwell Mysteries

* A Knit & Nibble Mysteries

Reviews

[Rachael · Rating 2 out of 5]

New drinking game: Take a shot everytime food is described in excessive detail.

Just kidding. Don’t do that. You’ll die. Then these web sleuths will investigate your murder over carrot cake.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Dark and Stormy Knit (A Knit and Nibble Mystery #11)" by Peggy Ehrhart is lightly Halloween and Thanksgiving themed but heavy on the nibbles descriptions. They sure eat a lot in this one with almost excessive descriptions of the meals. In contrast, it was pretty light on the knitting side of the story this time.

The mystery started with a neighbor's visiting sister being found by trick or treaters. This lead to Pamela and Betina getting to better know the neighbor. They investigate the sister's extreme feminist group, plus a few other angles. I was heavily leaning towards one suspect and had a sort of back up suspect. My back up ended up being the culprit after all.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started the Knit and Nibble series in the middle and have enjoyed each of the books I've read. Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser are best friends and neighbors, and I adore their friendship. I also love Bettina's relationship with her husband Wilfred who is truly one of the good guys. Bettina and Pamela are in a knitting club together where they enjoy delicious treats and also solve crimes.

In this book, a professor with some extreme views is killed on Halloween and Pamela and Bettina are on the case. Pamela and Bettina make a great team as they talk to many of the victim's friends and colleagues to see who could have wanted Professor Wordwoman dead. They are able to get information that the local police can't and the case has an unexpected solution. I'm also intrigued by developments in Pamela's personal life and am looking forward to future books to see what develops.

I also learn a lot from this series while being entertained since Pamela is an editor for a fiber craft magazine and information from the articles she reviews is included in the story. There is also a recipe and instructions for a knitting project at the end of the book. I can't knit a stitch, but I like reading about the various projects Pamela, Bettina, and her friends are working on. This is a fun series for cozy mystery lovers.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Kensington Cozies. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

[Elaine Nickolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I often wonder, as I search the mystery stacks in the library, why I don't choose books with cute titles. Don't get me wrong, I have in the past, but I guess I forget over time what the usual experience was like. Well, I have total recall after reading his book. So little content dealing with the "mystery" and WAY, WAY too much dealing with their wardrobe, their morning breakfast rituals, the plate patterns, and their pets. Example- every time the author had Bettina and her best friend, Pamela meet for breakfast the reader was told, step by step, how to make fresh coffee using a carafe, from the boiling of water, grinding the beans, placing the paper filter in the carafe, and ultimately watching the brewed coffee drip into the carafe. This was repeated as least 45 times during this 316-page read. The reader also had to hear, each of those times how the cup and saucer was from her set of wedding China and also the pattern description each time. Are you getting a sense as to why I did not enjoy this book?
Bottom line- this had a great premise, but after being slogged down with the repetitiveness of unimportant filler, the reader, me, didn't really care anymore who did it.
Note to self- stay away from cutesy series in the future!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Raymie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy Mysteries are my palate cleanser.

The Knit and Nibble Mysteries are just so cozy and have a book for all the seasons.

Peggy really makes me want to pack up my house and move to Aborville. It was a cozy almost Stars Hollow town where everyone knows everyone.

Pamela, a widow with her daughter out of the house has some how been wrapped up in the latest murder in Aborville. As an amateur sleuth Pamela is going to get wrapped up in this murder.

This is a very cozy plot line. I love the characters as they are more in the middle age area and feel more relatable to me then younger characters do.

After reading 10+ books in this series I feel very interested not only in the murder plot line but the characters lives. I’m still hoping for a Pamela and Richard Larkin Romance.

The Halloween part of this book is literally in the beginning and I wish the book had more Halloween vibes but the murder happens on Halloween night and then Halloween is over.

Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery
APK: Ebook
Pages: 280
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Series or Standalone: Book 11 in the Knit and Nibble Series

Thank you Kensington Publishing for a free copy of Dark and Stormy Knit for a honest review 💜

[Deborah Almada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really don't know where to go here. This book is the eleventh in the series. I had read the first three but it had been a while, I remember them as pleasant enough, I like crafts, it seemed like Pamela was making the best moves forward for herself and her daughter and there was a real sense of community, in the neighborhood and with the knitting group. This book is just Pamela going back and forth across the street to Bettina's, drinking coffee, the making of which is described in excursiating detail every time a pot is made and descriptions of baked treats and meals. Once a week, knit and nibble meets, where there is more coffee and sweet treats, and the majority of the rest of the book Pamela reads articles which she describes again in detail, about fiber arts and after about 12 or 15 articles there is a clue in one. The murder is her across the street neighbor's sister and probably takes up 15% of the book. I love background in my books, but unfortunately for me in this book, Pamela is just a ghost of a person with little to no emotion, making coffee and going to her neighbors. There is not a lot of mystery here, and what there is, us far-fetched. Thanks to #Netgalley, #Kensingtonbooks, and the author for an opportunity to read. #ADarkandStormyKnit #PeggyEhrhart #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've become a huge fan of this series, and I was really excited to read #ADarkandStormyKnit #NetGalley.
I stopped reading my current book to begin this, and even though I was entertained, it didn't excited me as I hoped it would.
Bettina and Pamela are a great duo, and I was hoping for a little more spark in this book.
I really did enjoy the book, it just lacked a certain "oomph" that I was hoping for. This opinion in no way impacts my review, it's just my thought, as I've grown quite find of this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Halloween in Arborville, New Jersey, is one of the fall's highlights but, after a storm threatens to turn it into a washout, friends Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser are happy to spend most of their evening in front of the fire instead. When a body is discovered nearby, they find themselves, once again, looking for the person responsible. They are also busy with their own lives, they both run the Knit and Nibble knitting club, while Pamela edits Fiber Craft magazine, and Bettina is a journalist with Arborville's weekly newspaper, the Advocate.

With the sister of the murder victim needing some moral support, Pamela and Bettina find themselves travelling into New York City and looking into a life very different to their own. The Knit and Nibble group are curious to find out what the two of them have learned there as well as by listening to local gossip to try and find out why a murder occurred in their neighbourhood and even if the deceased was actually the intended victim.

Book eleven in this cosy series was my first visit with the Knit and Nibble ladies and was slightly different to what I expected. This is, without doubt, a gentle stroll through the lives of two mild-mannered women whose main excitement is running a knitting group until occasionally a murder intrudes. The pace can only be described as calm, and there is a repetition, in very similar detail, of their joint morning routines and Pamela's editing responsibilities, which I found distracting. I definitely enjoyed the investigation, discussions, and excursions, however, which caught and held my attention and piqued my interest in this series and the previous installments.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a gentle cosy crime mystery which, although devoid of blood and gore, is full of most things readers of this genre enjoy, including a knitting pattern and relevant recipe. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars..

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The houses of Arborville, New Jersey are decked out for Halloween when Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser 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. Can these best friends find the truth behind the murder?
This was a very interesting cozy mystery with characters that I love to read about. It's like visiting with old friends. Although, I wished for more time with the other Knit and Nibblers. The plot was okay. I understood why Pamela and Bettina got involved with the mystery, I just felt that the solution to the mystery came out of left field. I didn't understand fully how they figured out whodunit. I do want to read more from the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place around Halloween. The story is about a past murder and a present murder that are connected. I liked the mystery in this one. There were a few twists, but the ending wasn't a surprise. I didn't like the romance. Fortunately, it wasn't a big part of the story.

[Stephanie Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. It was fun to get a Halloween themed cozy. Wasn't too saturated with Halloween but just enough to enjoy. Hope there are many more books in this series.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

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.

[dnsyl57 · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A Dark And Stormy Knit" is book #11 in the "Knit & Nibble Mystery" by Peggy Ehrhart.

"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 . . ."

My thoughts:
Pamela continues to be a smart, strong independent woman with her own sense of style.

Bettina continues to be a fashionista who is a reporter for the local weekly paper. It takes some toughness to be a good reporter but Bettina also tends to take things too personally when it comes to any slights - professionally or personally.

How many times in a book must we be subjected to the rehash of how Pamela does her morning routine of retrieving the daily paper from the curb and preparing her breakfast? Or, how she is interrupted by the doorbell announcing Bettina's arrival and subsequent need to take a carton of cream from the fridge, pour it into a creamer and then dribble the cream into her coffee? All while using Pamela's wedding china... Yawn! This feels more like filler word count than actual needed content. Bettina bemoaning lack of respect from readers or that Detective Clayborn has no time for her but plenty for the daily's reporter. It is all getting old.

As for the murder? The police certainly weren't paying much attention to clues right under their noses but then again, Bettina and Pamela seemed to also be easily sidetracked.

I had a hunch as to who was responsible early on but wasn't sure of the motive until several chapters later so wasn't surprised when all was finally revealed.

Then there is Pamela's dating life. I suspected something along the lines of the developments that did occur.

The Knit & Nibble group members and dynamics haven't changed much and probably never will. Tantalizing descriptions of various foods are sprinkled throughout the book with a recipe and directions for a knitting project included at the end.

A predictable yet easy read. 2.5 of 5 stars

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart

Rating: ★★★½

I have to start off by saying that I absolutely adore the cover of A Dark and Stormy Knit. It’s whimsical yet eerie, perfectly setting the stage for a cozy mystery. As a fan of the genre, I’ve always appreciated a book that can capture attention before you even crack it open. Now, onto the review!

This latest installment in Peggy Ehrhart’s series follows our favorite crafting duo, Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser, who run the Knit and Nibble group in the charming town of Arborville, New Jersey. On a stormy Halloween night, their usual gathering of spiced cider and cookies is disrupted by something far more sinister: a murder right next door.

The victim? Adrienne’s sister, a vibrant college professor visiting from New York City, is found fatally stabbed on the porch, leaving everyone in the neighborhood on edge. The festive decorations around town make it easy to mistake a real corpse for a dummy, which adds a unique layer to the unfolding drama. As Pamela and Bettina dig deeper into Adrienne's social circles, they find that this is no ordinary case and that the town is rife with secrets.

Having previously read book 4 in this series and ultimately shelving it as a DNF due to excessive descriptions, I approached this new addition with a mix of hope and skepticism. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while the over-descriptive style is still present, it didn’t bother me as much this time around. The pacing felt much better aligned with the plot, allowing me to enjoy the unraveling mystery without feeling bogged down by unnecessary details.

That said, for a book that is marketed as having a Halloween vibe, I was a bit disappointed. Other than the murder occurring on Halloween night, there wasn’t much else in terms of festive atmosphere. I was hoping for more seasonal elements to really immerse me in that spooky spirit. Nonetheless, the mystery itself was engaging and well-constructed. It held up nicely as a standalone read, which is a huge plus for those of us who may not have followed every book in the series.

Overall, A Dark and Stormy Knit offers an intriguing plot filled with twists and turns, though it could have benefitted from more Halloween flair. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a dash of crafting charm, this one is worth picking up—even if you might want to save it for cooler nights when you can snuggle up with your knitting!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela Paterson is lucky enough to work from home, a place she shares with her three cats and the occasional visit from her daughter, Penny. She spends a lot of time with her best friend Bettina, who lives across the street. Halloween night she, Bettina, and Bettina's husband Wilford, are enjoying the evening together when they hear a scream. Going outside, they discover a group of teens who tell them that there is a dead body on the porch of Bettina's neighbor, Adrienne.

Finding out that the dead woman is Adrienne's sister, Mel, everyone is wondering who could have killed her, and why; especially Adrienne herself. She asks for Pamela and Bettina to help her, and of course, their curiosity allows them to agree. Looking into Mel's current associates in the city, they discover that she was the head of a feminist group that eschewed men, and they wonder if one of the women could have killed her. But there's more at stake here when they start looking deeper, and now Pamela thinks that something -- or someone -- in Mel's past may have the answer...

I have read all but one of these books, and have followed Pamela along her journey of solving crimes. I did like the book, but I have to be honest and say: do we really need to know over and over again that Bettina has sage green pottery, Pamela constantly uses her wedding China, grinds her coffee beans for a pour over, and toasts multi-grain bread? Saying it once is enough; saying it as often as Pamela does is completely redundant and unnecessary.

Having gotten my 'little rant' out of the way, I found the mystery to be quite interesting. We have the usual meetings of the Knit and Nibblers, with their own snippets of gossip (sorry, Nell), that give Pamela some of the needed clues. There are, of course, plenty of descriptions of everything that is happening and everything everyone is wearing, so we have no questions in that area.

The pace starts out slow, but as the book progresses it moves forward, and, I am glad to say, that I connected the dots before Pamela as far as the motive for the murders; but -- and this is a big but -- I didn't know who the murderer was until they were unveiled, which is a very good thing indeed. In the end, it all came together well, and I enjoyed the book. Recommended.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

[Mei Kwong · Rating 2 out of 5]

SPOILERS












I listened to this as an audiobook from the library and it’s my first one for this series. It’s a cozy and it follows a lot of the beats you find in a cozy but this books confuses me. First, there’s actually a good portion of the book not devoted to the mystery but explaining what the protagonist does for her job which is a reviewer/writer for a crafting magazine. So tons of pages devoted to her commenting on articles she’s reviewing. One eventually leads to her eureka moment to solve the mystery, but I couldn’t believe how much time was devoted to that. Maybe because I’m used to cozies where ownership of a shop is involved and it doesn’t feel as forced into a narrative as this did, but a lot of time was devoted to her work.

Second a lot of time was devoted to describing people outfits particularly the side kick’s. I mean a lot of time. I didn’t see the point because a majority of the descriptions weren’t even about the items this character knitted, which is the “theme” of the book.

Bit the thing that made me knock an entire star off was the love interest. Pam, the protagonist has been dating a man casually for a while but she swears to herself it’s not serious. He unexpectedly cancels a date with her and the next morning she sees out her kitchen window, the man lives next door, a woman in his yard. Who is she? Why is she there? Pam finds out it’s his ex-wife. Later he comes over to break up with Pam because his ex wants to get back together and he has, “Never stopped loving her (the ex).” Pam is upset, cries on the sidekick’s shoulder, etc.

At the end the man comes over to check on Pam because she caught the murder, etc. They get back together! The ex-wife is actually a lesbian and is moving on with her new love and she was just back for I’m not sure what and he wants to get back with Pam. Excuse me, did you not tell Pam a few chapters before you met stopped loving your ex? I listened to this on an audiobook so I wasn’t going to go back to make sure I heard the break up correctly & someone was waiting for the book, but what was that? I was wondering where there two separate men that had ex wives come around on the book? What was going on? This caused me to knock off a star because huh?

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in time for the fall and Halloween seasons Peggy Ehrhart releases her eleventh book in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series ..... A Dark and Stormy Knit. Sadly I have only read novellas written about this series but that didn't take away from the story and the excitement surrounding it.

In A Dark and Stormy Knit main characters Pamela and Bettina are enjoying a treat with Bettina's husband Wilfred after attending a Halloween themed event but are roused from the house when they hear screaming and determine that it is something serious and not a Halloween prank. The screaming leads them to Wilfred and Bettina's neighbor's house where a few last minute teenage trick-or-treater's happened on a dead body ..... It is soon learned that the woman stabbed on the front porch is not the homeowner, Adrienne, but her sister, Mel, who is in town to take a break from her city life.

Adrienne asks Bettina and Pamela for their help in solving her sister's murder seeing as she doesn't really trust Detective Lucas Clayborn to do the job effectively. And the first thing she wants them to do with her is go to the city and look around her sister's apartment for clues. Mel was a member of a feminist group and they took their cause very seriously but serious enough to kill over ?

While Bettina and Pamela help Adrienne they are still going on with things in their own lives like lunches with Wilfred as the chef, their Knit and Nibble group and their personal jobs. The small town of Arborville may be small but it is hopping for these ladies.

Readers will enjoy their time in Arborville and wish they lived on Orchard Street and was a neighbor so that they could partake in the shared meals with this group. You may even think about taking up knitting so that you can be a part of the group even more. Or maybe just the occasional visitor when Ehrhart releases the latest book in the series. Regardless you will be an instant fan and love your time in Arborville.

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Peggy Ehrhart for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Dark and Stormy Knit coming out August 20, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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 . . .

I haven’t actually read the other books in the series, but I’m obsessed with cozy mysteries. So I was excited to receive this book. I love the title. I loved the small town Halloween vibes! Pamela and Bettina are a fun duo who have to solve the murder of their neighbor’s sister. I thought they were smart characters. I also loved the knitting theme. The knitting instructions and recipe at the end of the book was a nice touch.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Halloween cozy mysteries!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark and Stormy Knit is the eleventh cozy mystery in the A Knot & Nibble Mystery series. We join Pamela and Bettina on a stormy Halloween night when they discover a dead body on their neighbors front porch. The victim is their neighbor’s feminist sister visiting from New York. Intrigued by this new mystery and ready to dive deep into it, Pamela and Bettina get to work sleuthing and won’t stop until they’ve uncovered the killer.

I fell in love with this series from the very beginning and am always excited to see a new book coming out. I love Pamela and Bettina as the main sleuths and the town of Arborville is picture perfect, the perfect setting for this cozy mystery series. These mysteries always keep me intrigued and give me nostalgic feelings through their setting and friendships that thrive through this series. I love all of the characters and wish I could join them in their Knit & Nibble sessions. This mystery is some nice twists and turns, but I did guess the murderer a lot earlier than normal even though I couldn’t figure out the motive. It was still a fun and enjoyable read, but I’m used to guessing until close to the end at the killer for the rest of this series. If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery series with great characters and beautiful small town setting this book and series is worth reading. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Pamela and Bettina!

[Annie Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're not hungry when you begin reading A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart, you soon will be. Bettina's husband, Wilfred, offers his delicious treats throughout, punctuated by a delightful visit to a French restaurant in New York City and, as always, a tasty lunch at Hyler's in Arborville. Mouth watering details are offered for each of these, and I wish I could sample even one of them! I am amazed by Ehrhart's culinary knowledge, in addition to her grasp of unusual fabrics as shown in the articles Pamela reviews and copy edits for the Fiber Craft Magazine. There seems no end to this author's comprehension of these topics throughout her novels. And of course, there is the mystery - another of Ehrhart's skills - and this one is especially confusing. We learn about a little-known women's group as Bettina and Pamela wend their way down various paths attempting to discover a killer's identity. Will they discover the answer to a Shakesperean clue before someone else loses her life? Be sure to check out the lyrical passage at the top of page 50. I have seldom read such a memorable scenic description and I wanted to share it. Many characters lead our heroines through blind alleys, but Pamrla triumphantly puts the answer together at the last moment for an exciting finish. What will this daring duo solve next?"

[K.A. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A DARK AND STORMY KNIT is the eleventh book in the Knit & Nibble Mysteries by Peggy Ehrhart. I enjoyed the comradery that protagonist Pamela has with her best friend, Bettina, who lives across the street. Their banter provides a bit of humor to lighten the mystery. I also like that they’re women of a “certain age” which gives them experience and steadfastness. With a Halloween-themed cozy, the author sets the spooky season mood and starts the action right away. The sister of one of their neighbors is found murdered and left as a Halloween prop on the front porch. Pamela and Bettina delve into uncovering the culprit in between knitting and nibbling, and boy do they nibble so be prepared to be hungry while reading. While the story moves at a gentle pace, I still became engrossed as the clues unfolded... could a long-ago tragedy be connected to the present-day murder(s)? As the story came to the reveal, the strands of the clues and the subplots came together in a highly satisfactory manner, which will keep fans coming back for more. As a bonus, there is a knitting pattern and a delicious recipe included at the back of the book.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Scilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Halloween night there is a murder at the house next door to Bettina. The lightning is flashing, and someone screams. However, the victim in porch chair is not Adrienne, the woman who lives there. They soon find out the victim is Adrienne's younger sister, Mel Wordwoman who was a Professor at Fulham in the Bronx and was also committed feminist. The next morning Pamela and Bettina read in the paper that the killed was dressed in black and wore a mask. Mel arrives and tells them that she had found a note in her front hall saying "When shall we three meet again?" The three women go to NY City to Mel's home, but don't find anything relevant. Soon there is local gossip that the intended victim was Adrienne, who spent some time with other people's husbands.

When another murder is found near the dog park after a huge protest in the park among the townsfolk who wanted more park for the dogs agains those who want more park for the children. However, when the same note was found as found at Adrienne's, it seems clear that the cases are connected.

Of course, Pamela and Bettina figure out the murders before the police. This a a fun cozy mystery.

I thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the ARC so I could read the book ahead of publication.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the eleventh A Knit & Nibble Mystery. It can easily be read as a standalone. It has been a little while since I read A Knit & Nibble Mystery. I found the book to be easy to read. I like the neighborhood where Pamela lives. It is a cozy community where Pamela has good friends. Pamela and Bettina meet for coffee every day. How Pamela makes coffee is described in detail each time. Pamela whips up delectable, sweet treats and meals as well. We follow Pamela as she goes through making each item step by step. Pamela works remotely for a fiber arts magazine. She reads prospective articles to see if they would suit the magazine and edits others. Each article is recounted, and I found one to be particularly enlightening. A neighbor’s sister is murdered on Halloween night, and, naturally, Pamela along with the other Knit and Nibble members join in the investigation. The mystery was not at the forefront of the story. Pamela asks questions amidst working, making coffee, knitting, and whipping up tasty treats. The “Fish Bicycle” group was an unusual addition. Those readers who like the cozy over the mystery will enjoy A Dark and Stormy Knit.

[Drebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A Dark and Stormy Knit” is the nicely done eleventh book in Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit and Nibble cozy mystery series. In this one Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser investigate when a murder takes place next door to Bettina. The murder plot is a good one – at first the murder seems to be because of the victim’s feminist activities but then Pamela and Bettina wonder if maybe the victim’s sister was the ended victim. Truthfully I figure out fairly early who the killer was but it was still fun to read as Pamela and Bettina investigated. Also fun to read where the things Pamela and Bettina did while not investigating. Bettina is a hoot to read about – she’s a newspaper reporter who is fiercely protective of her job and a fashionista who doesn’t understand why Pamela prefers jeans and sweaters. I also loved reading about Pamela’s job at a magazine and the articles she edits – her somewhat tangled love life is also part of the series. I also love the descriptions of the Knit and Nibble meetings – the people attending, the projects they are working on, and the food. Food is a big theme in this series – I swear I gain weight just reading the books! All in all a fun book and series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to fast forward on the description of the Oxtail stew which just sounded disgusting and I am not a vegetarian. Lol. This was not a consideration in my rating of this story though. One thing that did downgrade this book for me was the constant description of Pamela’s breakfast coffee making. Mention it once or twice, ok but I literally lost count of how many times I had to read the breakfast ritual. Another thing I didn’t care for was Bettina and her over the top irritation of the flirty character who was flirty with her husband. Come on. It shows Bettina as being very insecure and quite silly for a woman her age who is obviously in a happy marriage. Have we not gotten beyond this old trope? I figured out who the culprit was pretty early on. The book hardly touched on Halloween which was a disappointment. Instead of describing every food item, if the book started just a few days before Halloween we could have had descriptions of the various Halloween decorations around town and the fun variety of the costumes of the kids coming to Pamela’s door. This alone would have upped my star rating. Since I am a knitter I was drawn to the series and give it one more shot. 2.5

[Kirsti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

This isn’t my first foray into this series, and I have read the first book and a couple of books between then and now. However, I haven’t read any of the recent offerings, and maybe that would have been to my benefit.

I found this book lacking in both plot, mystery, sleuthing and interest. Always awkward when it’s an ARC, because you feel almost guilty! I get we were off to a poor start from the get go with a mystery about a character that none of the leads had even met, and the lack of connection actually shone through with the novel’s tone. There was no urgency to solving the murder, no person at stake for the crime.

This also made the non sleuthing parts, of which there were far too few, seem long and repetitive. Is it possible to have a cozy mystery with all the cozy and none of the mystery?

I definitely know this author has stronger and better books, and I feel like this letdown may have just been a bump in the road. I’d definitely read more from them in the future.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela and Bettina are best friends who just happen to live across the street from each other in New Jersey. On Halloween evening, after an enjoyable night, the friends, including Bettina's husband are relaxing when they hear a scream. They run outside to discover a group of teenagers who appear to have discovered a corpse. The dead woman is a neighbor's sister. She was left on the porch almost like a part of the Halloween decorations. Who would want to kill a professor. Did they mean to kill Adrienne, their neighbor. As the women did a bit deeper, they find a society of feminists that espouse being single. They have no use for men. Could it one of the group or one of the men who are interested in a woman in the group?

This was an enjoyable read. I love cozies and this one comes with a knitting group and all the unique characters you would expect. The story is easy to follow and read. A very fun way to spend an afternoon. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book and offer my personal opinion.

[MrsK Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Bettina and Wilfred Fraser. They are a seasoned neighbor within their community. During the Halloween evening, they were enjoying a much-needed cup of hot apple cider with Pamela (their neighbor). A blustering storm had cut short the Arborville's Halloween Parade. With lightening flashing and thunder rolling... a scream is heard!

Both Pamela and Bettina belong to the knit and nibblers group, which tends to bring forth leads and suspects into a renewed search for the killer. So many leads... suspicious flower man, a group known as the Shakespeare's Rib, another death, and of course someone plotting another death.

Fortunately, or maybe un-fortunately, Bettina is willing to investigate the murder of Adrienne's sister. Will Detective Clayborn accept her help or will Bettina become the next victim?

This is a fun cozy mystery... grab a cup of hot cider and enjoy a blustery read,
MrsK

[Katie Menzel-Butz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book based on the cover because I wanted a Halloween themed cozy murder mystery and if I could give this book a 2.5, I would. I was disappointed with this story because first, the book did not center around Halloween. Halloween only happened in the first chapter and that was it. The rest of the story took place in November. Second, the murder plot line was more of an afterthought. It did not feel like the more story line. Third, there is great detail in what the characters are eating and wearing, and I was getting annoyed with how many times the author had to describe the main characters making same the breakfast over and over. The whole of the book revolved around detailed descriptions of food, clothes, knitting, and there was a murder on the side. This book didn't vibe with me and what I was looking for in a cozy murder mystery featuring Halloween.