Woolen Witness

A Hazel Stitchworth Cozy Mystery #2

by Fiona Grace

“A great story of murder, romance, new beginnings, love, friendships and a wonderful cascade of mystery.”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WOOLEN A HAZEL STITCHWORTH COZY MYSTERY (BOOK #2) is the second book in a new cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace, #1 bestselling author of Murder in the Manor, which has over 10,000 five star reviews!

When knitter and boutique owner Hazel Stitchworth heads to Scotland for an elite knitting convention, things quickly spirals from stitch to hitch when her icon is killed amidst the revelry, leaving behind an unfinished pattern that could lead to the killer.

Can Hazel and her new beau Liam knit the loose ends together? Or will the murderer slip through her fingers like so many silken threads?

Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of the Hazel Stitchworth series, a warm and inviting cozy mystery that seamlessly blends sharp wit and peculiar charm. With its blend of lighthearted comedy, heartfelt emotions, and unexpected plot turns, this series is sure to present an endearing new protagonist who will steal your heart and keep you engrossed until the early morning hours.

Future books in the series are also available!

"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The story line wasn't just a who done it, but had a story about her life and romance, including village life. Very entertaining.”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“It has endearing and sometimes quirky characters, a plot that keeps you reading and the right amount of romance. I can’t wait to start book two!”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“What a great story of murder, romance, new beginnings, love, friendships and a wonderful cascade of mystery.”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Murder in the Manor)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This is a clean contemporary romance that you will find hard to put down!”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Always, Forever)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A bit of romance and a very determined woman! I have read many of Fiona Grace's novels and loved every one of them—this was no exception. I am looking forward to reading the rest of this new series!”
--Amazon reviewer (regarding Always, With You)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Mystery

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2025

About the author

Debut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too many knitting puns and similes to interrupt the flow of the book. Too much internal pondering and loving thoughts about coworkers. Many mistakes in sequence - she zips the bag closed and then it falls and everything drops out.

The characters were flat and existed only in their usefulness to the story. Like the policeman who laughs when Hazel admits she stole and kept evidence. Yeah, that’s going to happen!

I skipped paragraphs and pages and still got bored!

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hazel Stitchworth owns a place called the Needle Nook, a yarn store and a sister. Also she has a male friend who is an academic in textiles.That is all I know of her back story except that a year ago she attended an international knitting conference and was accused of murder, which with the help of her man friend she managed to absolve herself and find the real murderer. This year, she is at another international conference and finds the body of her knitting hero with knitting needles sticking out of her chest . Of course she is the main suspect and determines to again solve the case. The mystery is marred by clues without context and apparently some backstory I’m not aware of, perhaps in the first in series. The writing is marred by knitting/textile puns, references in nearly each paragraph which at first was cute but became irritating after a couple of chapters. She does indeed solve the case and absolve herself then she and her man friend get on planes to go home. A book I was looking forward to reading as it involves knitting and mysteries. Perhaps a bit of serious editing would improve it.

[Jo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Knitting Snarl

First it was set in the UK with the knitter supposedly co-owning a Yarn Shop. Anyone who knows the difference of knitting in the States and the UK knows that sweaters are referred to as jumpers in the UK. You do not cast on another row, you either knit or purl the next row. You do not cast off the last row, you bind off the last row. A competent editor should have caught these discrepancies. I understand why an author wants to explore other characters and job endeavors but this wasn't a good choice. For too many uses of tangled and balls of yarn and any other cutesy references to knitting lingo. It grated on me after the first chapter. So, I can't say what I enjoyed about the book because I wasn't into the characters and I felt like the character should have spent more time in the convention. Also, I like Edinburgh and felt like it wasn't featured in the book at all.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG! If you're not a rabid knitter, don't start this book. I didn't read the first two books but I'm sure they are probably the same. Hazel bumbles around where she shouldn't be, finds a body, moves papers around, steals evidence, and lies to the police. She thinks nothing of going into rooms that have been taped off with police tape, listens in on telephone conversations, and makes assumptions on the 1/2 of the conversation she hears. All while spouting out knitting terms left and right.

Sorry Fiona, but you need a good editor with a red pen.

[Annette Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my type of story

I expect some people who may knit wu
I’ll really enjoy this story. Fit mr though I found the writing a little simplistic and with all the knitting references placed throughout sentences liberally, well, it just wasn’t for me.
Some blasphemy.
I haven’t read book one, but this one gives no clue as to ages, looks, country, except I know where Edinburgh is.
So it did lack connection with characters.

[Sharon M. Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woolen Witness

Hazel is on her way to Edinburgh to a yarn knitting conference. Her hero is giving a special lecture on secret yarn patterns. Plus her new man friend is coming to join her. The moment arrives and her mentor doesn't show up. Hazel goes looking for her and finds her in the conference room with a shirt full of knitting needles. With her hero dead she promises herself she will find the killer. Notice the knitting terms scattered throughout the story.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story chock full of knitters jargon. The characters are interesting, the setting is beautiful, and the story is worth reading. The plot is easily followed and the premise is finding out who killed Hazel's hero, Moira, and why. The answers were finally found and clues helped them find them. I do recommend this story.

[jean barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure knitted bliss

I recently read book one in this series so I'm not surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I have read other books by this author. The way this author knots together characters, settings, mysteries and relationships, that seam amazingly realistically possible and probable makes her books a joy to read no matter the setting

[Charla · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you join knitting-themed similes that add nothing to the story or characters, and you want a simile or other reference to knitting/yarn/weaving to be in almost every paragraph, maybe you will enjoy this book. I started skimming before I was even halfway through, hoping to finish quickly and move on to an enjoyable book. It didn't work. I kept falling asleep after only a few pages.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel knit together for your enjoyment!

I did enjoy this story but I think the author definitely overdid the use of knitting references throughout the story! An interesting murder, as Hazel and her friend Liam try to solve the mysteries surrounding the death.

[Liza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too many thread synonyms. Types of yarn (alpaca, merino, cotton, wool), usages (embroidery, tapestry, crocheting, knitting), needles (knitting, crochet), stitches (purl, plain). Over and over and over.

Remove half these references and the book would have been a lot better.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hazel has gotten caught up again in murder....she really needs to stop discovering dead bodies!
But as always....Liam is by her side helping her every step of the way.....

[patricia sendelbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows a recipe established in the first book.

[Jean Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

not as good as earlier books in different series but then, apparently, it's now written by AI

[Jaclyn Orozco · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book because of the “cozy mystery” description and whodunnits are my thing, but this book was just one knitting pun after another around a very predictable story without believable premises or compelling characters.

[Gretchen D. Kraft-Weil · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overload of knitting/textile references and sentences filled with knitting/textile vocabulary.

[Alice S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wondered if anyone had actually edited this book as there were so many discrepancies (they watched her exit the car; she got out of the car and walked...; she zipped her bag shut; the open bag spilled...) . Also, the author used far too many references to knitting as descriptions...I am a knitter and understood those references, but they became predictable and tiresome when used so frequently. The story line was good and the crime solving okay, but I was very distracted by both the lack of attention to detail and the constant references to knitting as figures of speech.