The Yarn Woman

Yarn Woman Mystery #1

by Brooks Mencher

She lives above an Art Deco theater in San Francisco’s Sunset district with an old long-haired cat, a harpsichord and more yarn than a loading dock. The FBI and city police call her the Yarn Woman. She’s their textile forensics expert.In her first recorded case, ‘Ghosts of the Albert Townsend,’ Ruth has only a blood-soaked nineteenth century shawl to unravel the link between the resurfacing of a ghostly schooner just offshore and the severe wounds on young Hauper Brown’s body. A nearby fatal animal mauling only adds to her worry. In her second case in this first Yarn Woman mysteries book, ‘The Fisherman’s Wife,’ Ruth must decipher the meaning behind a dead man’s hand-knit sweater while racing against time to save his otherworldly widow. Finally, Ruth helps identify the body of a playwright by the handwork in his shirt, and finds not only a young friend in Gabriel, a curly-haired boy with unusual abilities, she unearths a network of beggar-masters and their slaves deep in San Francisco’s seamy underside.This first book, a trilogy of dramatic novellas, introduces a cast of characters who will recur as the Yarn Woman mystery series continues in ‘Wailing Wood’ and ‘The Rusalka Wheel,’ with more cases on the horizon.

Genres: Knitting, Mystery

285 pages, Paperback

First published March 4, 2014

About the author

Brooks Mencher is a second-generation newspaper writer and editor, and author of the Yarn Woman mystery novels. He published his first mystery collection, “The Yarn Woman,” in 2014, and the novel, “Wailing Wood,” in 2015, in which a double murder is unearthed in Northern California's redwood country. "The Rusalka Wheel," the third book in the series, explores the mythology of the spun thread -- and murder in San Francisco, the 'cool, gray city of love.' Book four, "The Sea Silk Shawl" was released in May 2020. More to come. His website is www.yarnwoman.com

Reviews

[Humbledaisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short collection of mysteries solved by the same team of investigator (the titular Yarn Woman is actually a forensic textile investigator), a cop and a journalist. I believe there is a sequel as well.

Written a bit like Agatha Christie's older Miss Marple mysteries, it also flings supernatural elements and superstition into the mix. The cop brings in the crime aspects, the journalist researches the crimes and the Yarn Woman solves them using her textile knowledge and giving her "little grey cells" a workout.

While some aspects of the textile research is beautifully done, the yarn lover and the archivist in me cringe over descriptions of how poorly she kept her valuable yarns, textiles and samples. Yes, I like to think the author was trying portray her as a textile-loving Bohemian living in San Francisco with a former Communist agent as her driver but - all I could think of was "The moths! Who's going to save her from the moths!"

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not your usual knitting mystery, no cozy yarn shop, no circle of women etc. What there is is a woman with a vast knowledge of fibers and patterns and a huge stash of yarn. There are three stories in this book which I enjoyed. I will read more of these.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything I love in one place -- San Francisco, yarn, ghosts, and the Pacific coast.

[LyndaIn Oregon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the spirit of full disclosure ... I'm a devoted knitter AND omnivorous reader who keeps searching for the perfect combination of both passions in one volume. And I may have just found it in this book.

Consisting of three tales centering around the "yarn woman" of the title -- a forensic textile specialist who occasionally consults with the San Francisco Police Department as a sort of cross between Sherlock Holmes and Elizabeth Zimmerman by way of Glinda the Good Witch -- this quick little read defies categorization.

There's murder and magic here and lots of yarny details that will delight any knitter worth her Addis. It's not a "cosy" in the generic sense -- this is NOT about a bunch of ladies who get together to knit and just accidentally keep stumbling over dead bodies, not a sicky-sweet friends-helping-friends soap opera where everybody lives happily ever after. It really defies description. Just run out and lay hands on it.

Non-knitters will enjoy it, folks who left their heart in San Francisco will recognize a loving portrayal of the city, and fantasy fans will be sucked in by the stories, particularly in the second episode.

[Diane Neri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t give up!

I read this book on the recommendation of one of my knitting friends. It was not what I was expecting. The first episode had me stopping and re-reading sections certain that I couldn’t have read it correctly. I had. The second episode...well by then I was accustomed to strange things happening. The third episode was my favorite. In each episode we learn more things about the mysterious Yarn Woman, Miss Ruth and the people around her, Mr.Kasparov, Detective Chu and the voice of the story, Mr. Field, the reporter. Miss Ruth lives a reclusive life in an abandoned movie theater on a little San Francisco street that seems lost in time yet she is well known by the police for her talent with detection based on fibers and/or garments.
The writing made the Avaluxe Theater and it’s surrounding alleys come to life, and Miss Ruth is a character I’d like to know better.

[Tira · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading what was labeled by Amazon a "Cozy Craft & Hobby Mysteries". Not a paranormal Mystery. The over all story goes from fiber forensic to a ghost story.
The descriptions were over the top. Every scene was padded with description of every thing. I didn't care. The Yarn woman was such a disappointment. She was snobby and not at all a endearing yarnaholic I had hope she would be.
I couldn't get into the story.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good cozy mystery, especially if it has a knitting theme. This had none of the usual cozy mystery qualities. No amateur sleuth trying to solve the murder with a supportive cast of characters. Instead Mencher gives his readers a professional fiber expert who police bring in as a consultant. I was not a fan of the individual stories or the paranormal element. However, I did thoroughly enjoy the fiber element of each of the stories, which was the redeeming quality to the book.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a lot of poorly written mystery, yarn books, but this book is NOT one of those.

I loved this book. The writing was superb and enjoyable to read. The Yarn Woman character reminded me of Sherlock - brilliant, eccentric, and flawed.

I Highly recommend this book to everyone, not just mystery readers.

[MJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author's wife is a person with a large yarn stash and I'm assuming that's why he's writing mysteries where the "yarn woman" is a specialist in the forensic study of textiles. Ghosts and other quiet paranormal things seem to happen in these 3 stories compiled in this little book. Quite enjoyable. Setting is San Francisco.

[Sharon LaCrosse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was 3 separate stories about Ruth's, The Yarn Woman, sleuthing abilities in determing the cause of each death. I love how she takes in the 'underdogs' along the way to resolution. It's a nice side story.
Our library does not contain this series, so I have ordered the next 2 as I feel that others will want to read them. Then, I will ask the library to get the last couple.

[Margaret W. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than Yarn

An unusual read, well written and the author keeps you waiting for the next word. Each story has a common thread and a lovely heroine, Ruth. I would recommend this book to anyone who lives life to the fullest.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not at all what I expected. I was anticipating a typical mystery story, but the author adds more elements of the mysterious/paranormal to the plot.

I did like the way the last story wrapped up which made me up the rating a bit.

[Helena Vidaurri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short stories

Textile forensics mixed with folk stories behind knitting traditions and a well written mistery! I have not left the book! From beginning to end!

[Lynne - The Book Squirrel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a brilliant read.

[Karissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories in one book. I really enjoyed these mysteries with a taste of superstition and supernatural, not your cozy mystery. I look forward to reading more of these tales.

[E]

library

[Suzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series of short stories. I enjoyed the character of the yarn lady. I thought this was a very interesting forensic field.

[Michelle Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It took me a little while to get into the groove of the author's writing style, but now I'm hooked! I'm reading his second Yarn Woman novel already and I only finished the first one a few days ago. Brooks Mencher

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This set of stories has elements that I should love: San Francisco setting, fantasy/mystery, Celtic myth, and yarn. Yet it was so awkwardly written and so lacking in authenticity as to put me off. It wasn't fun at all, and I skipped the last story even though the second featured one of my favorite myths - the Sulkie or seal woman. This author has a tendency to over-describe and over write in general, but he really fails in his portrayal of the yarn woman. I can tell that he meant for this character to be a tribute to his wife from the minute description of her clothing to her love of knitting and yarn, but come on. She lives in an abandoned movie theater, is driven around in a Silver Cloud, and can count the microns in a strand of knitted yarn using only a magnifier. Even in a fantasy way, this just doesn't compute.

[Cayenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book very much and I hope there will be more Yarn Woman stories. She wasn't at all what I expected. Young and bohemian. There were definitely typos, but that's common for self-published books. The storytelling was excellent and the plots were very clever. Good pacing, characters I cared about, interesting setting. The ghost story was my favorite. It was very sweet. Perfect amount of spooky for me (which is to say it was fairly mild.) Adult topics, but pretty clean. I loved the fiber and knitting references.

[Dona R. Gant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging read and haunting at times...

Nothing supernatural at all in this book, but the characters lend themselves towards that persuasion through the writing. Very good story.....somewhat reminiscent of The Five People You Meet In Heaven, but only by the way the lives interconnect in a way that is first not apparent. Not throughout each story, but within each tale. Wonderfully written and enjoyable.

[Trishwah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting set of short stories. Most have a mildly supernatural aspect to them. The titular yarn woman is a woman who specializes in textile foresics and is occassionally called on by the police to help solve mysteries.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the read especially the knitting clues. I do wish the plot could have stayed in the real world.

[Chris Salvatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. It's not your usual knitting cozy mystery. Much more to it than knitting, gossiping and red herrings. Looking forward to another!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed these stories!

Good character development, interesting plot twists, and knitting is everywhere. Rather like Miss M's yarn. I especially like the boy, Gabriel.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting writing style (point of view is handled in a crazy manner), but the characters are intriguing, and the stories are compelling.

[Ruhegeist · Rating 4 out of 5]

delightful. ended in such a way that now i really feel to need to see if there is more about Ruth M. :)

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad. liked the third story the best.