A Killer Stitch

A Knitting Mystery #4

by Maggie Sefton

The House of Lambspun has been bombarded for the holidays. In the midst of overflowing bins of sumptuous yarn, unexpected winter romance now buzzes, in chorus with the spindles of shy new spinning instructor Lucy Adair. But when a rancher is found dead in Bellevue Canyon, avid knitter and sometime-sleuth Kelly Flynn quickly puts these festive pastimes aside. With his reputation for lovin' and leavin' the ladies of Fort Connor, it seems a little strange that the victim's final admirer was a fianc�e . . . none other than the hopelessly bereaved Lucy Adair. Unluckily, Kelly also finds herself linked to the prime suspect in the case--a rejected ex-lover of the playboy rancher. Charged with keeping both spinner and spurned from going over the edge, she'll discover more than a few secrets tangled on this triad's bobbin.

Genres: Mystery, Knitting, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Crafts, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 3, 2008

About the author

Aka Margaret Conlan

From author website:

"First, a little biographical information as introduction: Born in Richmond, VA, I grew up in Northern Virginia in Arlington, close to Washington, D.C. I attended university and received a Bachelor's degree in English Literature & Journalism, married, and started my family there. All four of my daughters are grown and established in careers of their own and are literally scattered around the globe. I now reside in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with two very demanding dogs."

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, I wanted to throw this book against the wall. Not because of the plot, though I guessed who the killer was very early on. No, it's the prose that kills me - pun intended. Most of the characters have the same voice, except for Jayleen who is super-Southern-drawl woman. Everyone says "Ooooh, yeah" in response to every question. The sleuth, Kelly Flynn, is forever bemoaning her lack of knitting skills even though she's been knitting multiple things in each book. Kelly's description of touching the yarns and drinking Eduardo's coffee are the same thing every time. I was sick to death of Kelly's caffeine comments by the end of the book.

Also, it wouldn't hurt to have a physical description of the main characters so that I have something to hang my imagination onto. "A Killer Stitch" had so many characters running in and out of the yarn store that I kept forgetting who was who.

I started reading this series because I like mysteries and I like knitting, so it seemed like it had potential. The first two books didn't annoy me so much (and I must have skipped the third), but I don't know if I can get through another one like "A Killer Stitch". Maybe I could do it if I'm in the mood to turn off my brain while reading.

[alyssa]

The most heterosexual yet. They’re in Colorado and none of these knitting softball women are lesbians?? Unrealistic.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is so insanely awful, and the humor would have been too gentle for my Catholic grandmother. It kind of kills me that people go on about these books being witty. They're corny at best, and work so hard to be heartwarming that they just come off saccharine and two-dimensional. Plus, isn't anyone there concerned that Kelly sort of wanders around bettering her situation because other people die? She somehow gained a cottage across from a yarn store, a whole bunch of friends, a boyfriend, a lot of ranch property in Wyoming, sheep, cattle, alpacas, and now a ranch in a Colorado canyon, and a little consulting business, because everyone she knows seems to die within weeks of meeting her. If I were the cops in that little town, I'd be taking a closer look at Caffeinated Kelly. And if I were her friend, I'd keep my distance.

I mean, I'm finding the books kind of hilarious, but I'm pretty sure it's not in the way the author intends.

[ML Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another bad guy dies and amateur sleuth solves the crime before police. Totally could happen...totally!

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a little baffled as to why the author has the main character own a dog. The dog shows up every once in a while for no reason relevant to the plot, and the main character's interactions with him (in the two Knitting Mystery books I've read so far) consist entirely of opening the door to let the dog out. Presumably, at some point she lets the dog back in, but we don't see this. I have no idea why these books have a dog in them, or even why the main character wants to have a dog. For someone who works from home, she spends no time with the dog.

When you find yourself obsessing more about the dog in the book with no role rather than the mystery or main character, that means it's time to stop reading the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book drove me crazy. I loved the first three in the series, but this one really got under my skin. How many cups of Eduardo's coffee can one drink? How many times can a cup of coffee be described in the same exact way? And how obvious is the freaking killer? The conversations are monotonous - basically the same conversation had over & over with different words or questions. I kept taking a break from this book, thinking I'd come back & enjoy it - but I didn't.

I'm just over this series.

[Evelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series has such potential but this book was a clunker. Kelly is about as boring as a MC can get, the killer is easy to guess, the writing is repetitive, the characters are flat, and a huge chunk of the already-thin plot is devoted to setting up the next book. All that plus a frustrating thread about how Kelly and her boyfriend haven't progressed much past chaste kissing, which of course leads to an immensely silly scene where they share a long kiss in front of people and everyone around them hoots like they're a studio audience.

[CinnamonHopes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Barely tolerable, this book was as bad as I was expecting. I had to reread the first chapter, because the characters were so generic that I couldn't tell them apart. It took me until the second chapter to identify the main character, and I mostly figured it out due to her major trait - an everpresent cup of coffee.

This was the rankest crap.

[Joyce · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will NOT be reading any additional books from this series. The characters are unbelievably shallow. They all seem to be preoccupied with getting the main character to do something she has chosen not to do.

[Castor Akers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woah! This is my favorite one of these so far! I'm actually shook I feel like the plot of this one was just so good and the characters I was just really starting to vibe with more and feel more connected to. The main and really only thing that annoyed me was how much her friend was teasing her about her relationship and how far they've gotten. Like I get it was probably a thing of the time, but i'm like... it's none of your business?? People go at their own paces in relationships. BUT, other than that I actually adored this one. I also loooooved how this one ended and is actually making me want to start the next one so bad. Also this could be a Christmas book because it is set during that time, but honestly I forgot it was actually close to christmas and not just winter a few times so I didn't feel out of touch with it being spring when in reading it. I still enjoyed it a lot.

[Jeannette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelly meets Lucy, the new spinning instructor at the knitting shop, who happens to be head over heels in love. When her boyfriend turns up dead, Kelly finds out from Jennifer that he wasn't the great guy that Lucy claimed. At Jennifer's request, Kelly starts to snoop around his death to find out which of his potential enemies might have done away with him. I found this an interesting installment in this series because it's the first time I really felt a bit surprised at the solution to the mystery. It was a bit dark and sad for a Christmas-themed book, but there was still enough of the cozy vibe to make it work. There was also a bit more romance and humor in this one, which balanced out the rest nicely.

[Kimberly Prytherch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know what it was, but I just couldn’t get into this one. I didn’t love the way they talked about alcoholism, and I wasn’t sure I even cared who the killer was. I might try one more in the series, but I’m not sure yet

[Meredith Waggoner · Rating 3 out of 5]

this audio narrator made every male sound like a frog

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 4th book in the Knitting Mystery cozy mystery series. When a rancher ends up dead, Kelly gets involved when a friend of a friend and former girlfriend is under suspicion. To make matters more complicated, one of the spinning instructors at her favorite knit shop is also involved in the case, being the girlfriend of the man who died, and now is pregnant with his child. Kelly is also hoping to get the ranch property that she previously lost out on when it unexpectedly comes back on the market. She is also moving very slowly forward in her relationship with Steve. If that isn’t enough to keep her busy, she is helping out with a children’s holiday party and is participating in a tennis tournament. Kelly must help sort out the murder before one of the two women, or both, go over the edge emotionally. A recipe and pattern are included with the book.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my fourth book in this series. I am getting attached to the girls who go to the knitting shop to meet up with each other and relax for a spell. Kelly always has to have her Coffee. It is just that there is always a murder. But on this book I did not guess whodunit. This was a much better book than the others. I started the #5 book and Kelly and Steve are getting to be a couple and probably will be getting together in this book, I hope. The books are all readable and the group of people are likable and fun.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished a killer stitch last night and I have only read one other in this series. I enjoy the characters and the small town they live in. I am not normally a Crime of Passion mystery fan but I liked how this story played out. I will not hesitate to pick up another book in this series and love the knit patterns and recipes at the end!

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know why I continue to read these books. The character development is lacking, the dialogue is boring and I can't stand that she has based her book on Fort Collins, but calls in Fort Connor. I don't know how many times Kelly can complain about her lack of knitting skills in one book and her dire need of coffee. So annoying.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of the author's "knitting" series. It is the first one I read, so it took me a while to get into it. Once I did though, I really enjoyed it. The characters are very easy to visualize.

[LauraBytheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun cozy read with plenty of knitting, yarn, and coffee talk to soothe my soul. This book takes place in Colorado in December. I read it in July and it made me nostalgic for snow and Christmas.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this visit with my Lambspun family. I got really excited thinking I had solved the mystery early and then got more clues and discovered I was wrong! Still a fun read! #readforkimberly

[Bess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been enjoying the characters more as their personalities are more fleshed out, but some of the side characters still seem more like cliches as they are less central to the plot (Eugene! What have they done to you! Now you're a stereotypically gossipy plot device!).

I feel like this book had a lot less purple prose about the joys of coffee and yarn. Which was probably good for the plot... but I really didn't mind hearing about all the luscious yarn and somewhat missed it. Why else do people read these niche-hobby-mystery books anyway? There's a mystery series for every hobby out there now. I assume we want to read these in part because of the delicious validation and ecstatic descriptions of our hobbies.

More last names are needed. Everyone in town seems to be connected to Kelly's life now, on a first-name-basis-only, and they are blurring together pretty badly. If they haven't been a central character or had more than one line of dialogue and they are going to ever be referenced again... could they please have last names? Ellen - Hellen - Hilda - Lisa - Lizzie - Lucy - Gary - Greg - I think by the end I had them somewhat down but the beginning felt like a litany of faceless names.

The mystery was interesting, there was a lot of good misdirection, but the reveal was a bit too unexpected and fast. Seriously, Ellen was probably mentioned twice before in the book along with ten other first-name-only women who might have appeared briefly in previous novels but I can't keep them all straight. Then suddenly she was the stalker and killer of the piece. I feel like there was no way to connect the dots before it was Definitely. Inescapably. Ellen. because Kelly FELT it was the right answer. Then the rest of the story was just proving Kelly right. The problem is that I felt like there was no way for the reader to guess before Kelly "knew".

Despite the timing problems and so forth, I really enjoy Kelly and many of the more central characters around her. I appreciate that some of them have some serious life challenges going on. I like how they handled the stories of alcoholism in this novel. Jayleen - recovering and on her feet for years and wanting to help another addict, vs. Diane -stumbling towards a future maybe-hope. I feel like the author didn't pull punches and try to make it seem like Diane was definitely going to have a happy ending. Nor did it seem like Diane should be vilified because of her struggles with alcohol. I also appreciate that she was dogged by a social stigma because of the alcohol, and even Kelly had doubts about Diane despite her instincts. That seemed very realistic, along with the issue of lying to protect herself, and how that made others look at her differently. I would bet that future novels show Diane recovering, and making a new life for herself, because the series is pretty upbeat overall. But I appreciate that they chose to end this book with Diane still having a long way to go.

I'll read another, for sure, the next time I want a cozy mystery with a dash of yarn.

[The Mystery Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Killer Stitch" is the fourth cozy installment in Maggie Sefton's A Knitting Mystery series, and it once again draws us into the yarn-filled world of Kelly Flynn and her friends. This time, the peace of Fort Connor is disrupted by the murder of a local alpaca rancher, a man known for his way with the ladies. When the police investigation stalls, Kelly's sense of justice and her knack for observation kick in, leading her to conduct her own inquiries.

Sefton nicely balances the comforting routines of the House of Lambspun and the engaging details of the knitting world with the unfolding mystery. The setting of an alpaca ranch adds a unique flavor to the story, and the descriptions of the animals and the yarn-making process are a pleasant backdrop to the darker events. The victim's reputation as a playboy provides a clear motive for a number of women in town, creating a satisfyingly long list of potential suspects for Kelly to consider.

Kelly's approach to sleuthing feels natural, growing organically from her interactions with the community and her willingness to listen. Her knitting friends often provide unexpected insights and support, reinforcing the cozy and communal aspect of the series. The narrative unfolds at a relaxed pace, allowing the reader to piece together the clues alongside Kelly as she navigates the tangled relationships and secrets within Fort Connor.

While the mystery itself might not be a high-stakes thriller, it's a well-crafted puzzle with believable motives and a satisfying resolution. "A Killer Stitch" is another enjoyable read for fans of cozy mysteries with a crafty theme, delivering a pleasant blend of yarn, small-town life, and amateur sleuthing.

★★★★☆

#AKillerStitch #MaggieSefton #KnittingMystery #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #BookLover #Reading #Books #Bookish #BookRecommendation #CraftMystery #AmateurSleuth #Knitting #AlpacaRanch #MysteryBooks #Whodunnit

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Killer Stitch by Maggie Sefton is book 4 of the A Knitting Mystery series set in present-day (fictional) Fort Connor, Colorado. Accountant Kelly Flynn absolutely loves Colorado. She lives just across the way from The House of Lambspun, where she goes several times a day for coffee, pastries, to fondle a wide variety of yarn, and take breaks from her work-from-home workload, to knit her current project, a scarf.

She's mesmerized watching Lucy teach a spinning class. Then tragedy hits: a rancher is found murdered in a nearby canyon. Lucy was in love with him. The police consider Lucy the prime suspect. Kelly vows to sleuth her way to proving Lucy's innocence. Her wide group of friends at Lambspun help out, despite the frigid weather. They all drink a huge quantity of coffee and hot chocolate, to warm up from even a quick dash outside. Eventually a critical clue is found, and the truth comes out.

Meanwhile Kelly wants to buy a canyon ranch. Her heart is set on it, even though her bids haven't succeeded. Two previous buyers mysteriously put the ranch right back on the market. Kelly doesn't care, she wants the ranch no matter what. Vandalism at the end most likely leads into the next mystery.

Includes a pattern for a scarf Kelly knits through the book, plus Maggie's Chocolate Mint Fudge recipe.

[Melissa -Crazy Lucky Book Nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spinning Wheel of Death turns to a new victim
Kelly is finally right at home with her Colorado friends at the Lambspun shop. She has her heart set on Geri's old property but luck hasn't been on her side so far. That mess would have to be put aside when a notorious womanizer, Derek, is found dead on his ranch. Jen begs Kelly to help her because her friend Diane is being accuse of the murder due to her volcanic relationship with the victim.
I'm not going to lie, this book had me guessing. I really wasn't sure which suspect could be the culprit. Sefton did an amazing job keeping me doubting if Diane really was the murderer or not. Just when Kelly thought she found good evidence to prove Diane's innocence she finds a counter to dispel the evidence. And then I was becoming convince that it was another girl who was involved with Derek to be the murderer.
I adored the residents of the small town Kelly is involve with. Megan, Burt, Jen, Lizzie, Hilda, Mimi are amazing people. They even brought in a new guy who has the hots for Megan (and her cooking!) it's adorable nd I'm all for it.
Can't wait for the next installment!

[Brandi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the last book of this series I will be reading for a while. While I still enjoy reading knitting cozies, this series is plodding and not that fun.

The author excels best when she is writing the interactions between the Lambspun group. The mystery, however, is eh at best and her writing is overly repetitive. The last I didn't notice too much until a colleague who had read this series and was dissatisfied by it mentioned it when she found out I was reading this.

I still don't really like the main character Kelly. And can we PLEASE talk about the NONSENSE book titles?! This book is about SPINNING and it's called A Killer STITCH?!?!?!?! The last book's title, A Deadly Yarn, would have been MUCH more appropriate.

At this point, the author is reaching for victims related to the yarn shop. And though I am glad to have read a book that took place around the Christmas holiday during December, this wasn't a satisfying read. And I still own several of the following books, argh!

[Herb Blank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of fun. This is my fourth read of Sefton's Kelly as I am trying to read the series in order and so far with the Public Library''s help, am succeeding. This has been a consistently enjoyable evolving series where the characters grow and relationships develop but the mystery never takes too much of a back seat and is a real mystery. So far, I'm three-for-four in deducing the murderer before Chapter Five but have not been able to be 100% certain until much later. That' what I call fun. I love all her friends. Her boyfriend is interesting in his own right without being cloying. So are her friends. A Killer Stitch was my 2nd favorite of the series so far but these are hairline differences. They've all been fun. My favorite was the one right before this one and I love the two guys from Denver they added in the last one.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do love this chick-lit murder mystery genre, but this book missed the mark in multiple ways. The characters were underdeveloped. A lot of what was included aside from the actually mystery didn't really develop the main characters or draw you to them/into the series in any meaningful way. The author also didn't give enough background for readers who didn't start at the beginning of the series (which I didn't). Also, it sure seems like the ending of a previous book in the series was given away in this one (if not the info. was completely unnecessary to include) which limits the other books in the series you can read - especially if you can't or just are simply not going in order. That said, it was a pretty easy and light read. The main characters didn't pull me in they way they do in other series, but in a pinch, I would read another book in this series.

[Natalie Renfro · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mention of coffee is (a little too much)
As a lover of coffee you might like it at first but after it being mentioned over twenty times in the first 5 chapters it is a little too much, almost annoying.
This book is better than I expected it to be but that's not saying much. With such a cheesy title you'd think the book would be cheesier, but it's not. It's written better than I expected. As a knitter and a murderino the title intrigued me.
The vibe of this book is a mix of Desperate Housewives and Gilmore Girls, both of which I love. But together it's an interesting pair.

Note to self: stop picking up random books at the thrift store and don't read the whole thing if you know you won't like it after reading the first few chapters.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 The House of Lambspun has been bombarded for the holidays. In the midst of overflowing bins of sumptuous yarn, unexpected winter romance now buzzes, in chorus with the spindles of shy new spinning instructor Lucy Adair. But when a rancher is found dead in Bellevue Canyon, avid knitter and sometime-sleuth Kelly Flynn quickly puts these festive pastimes aside. [amazon synopsis]

The dead rancher had a reputation - he was the old "luv em and leave em" kind. Coffee, coffee and more coffee - is that all they do? IF I drank that much coffee, Ii would be in the bathroom and not getting much knitting done. I like Burt, the former detective. Good knitting pattern at the end. I think I am going to start knitting again.

[Linda C · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the death of a womanizing rancher puts 2 of his former love interests in the sights of the police Kelly Flynn and her knitting friends try to help out. Both woman are emotional wrecks as well as having health issues. I like the characters in this series for not just being amateur sleuths but also being involved in really being supportive. Kelly is also getting her fledgling accounting service off the ground and looking into buying a local ranch to move her alpaca herd from Wyoming. My only question about this series is that the yarn shop where everyone meets up never has any crocheters, only knitters. Huh?