The Devil's Hook

Emory Crawford Mysteries #2

by Pearl R. Meaker

Life is getting strange in Twombly, Illinois.

Jairus Twombly's familial intuition is faltering and his new personal assistant seems to be trying to replace his wife, Amy.

On the Twombly College campus, someone is breaking into the dorm rooms of female students leaving things instead of taking things: red colored objects including a red golf ball, a red ribbon and a tiny red stuffed dog.

When a recipient of some of the red objects goes missing and is returned after being told, "You're not her", and the personal assistant turns up dead with Amy Twombly's elegant Bloodwood crochet hook in her eye, things heat up for Emory Crawford and her chemist and forensic scientist husband, Dr. Jebbin Crawford.

Emory, along with the Twombly's Nancy Drew-like daughter, Madison, once more turns to her amateur detective skills and intuition to solve the mysteries.

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2015

About the author

Slightly quirky, always creative, Pearl R. Meaker has been an artist, singer and craftsperson her whole life. Although she's always had stories in her head, they didn't come out to play with others until the advent of home computers with their ease of making corrections and moving bits around.

After several years of writing fanfiction in the world of Tolkien's Middle-Earth, she took a couple of writing courses and dove into writing original works of fiction, and The Can Be Mysteries were born.

When not playing with story ideas you can find Pearl playing with yarn either knitting or crocheting, doing other arts and crafts, bird watching and photographing nature, playing bluegrass fiddle (her husband plays banjo) or relaxing with her hubby on the sofa watching mystery shows on Netflix.

Oh - and reading all sorts of books, but especially cozy and other types of mysteries!

Reviews

[Sarah Hardwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book and it was great! Honestly after reading the first book by this author I was a bit cautious to read the second because while I enjoyed the first one, to me it was a bit disjointed, an obvious first book with a few flaws, but The Devil's Hook shows that Pearl R. Meaker is quickly improving her craft! I'm not a professional reviewer by any means but here's a few things about this book I loved and a few things I didn't. Beware of SPOILERS!

I guess I'm starting off a bit backwards here but how sad about the Resie chick! I had tears in my eyes from the letter that was a bonus at the end of the book. And I loved how Henri said that if the hook hadn't been there she'd still be alive but when he gripped it he just couldn't stop himself. That the emotions of what happened were just too strong and took over. Definitely a crime of passion.
Anyway, My two favorite lines that I highlighted are the 'Not all ghosts are the spirits of the dead' that was also used in the amazing book trailer (if you haven't seen it check it out here - https://youtu.be/vO-jeBVQdOM ). That's a freaking great line! And I really liked the memory Emory has of her dad saying, 'You can't run away from yourself because you take yourself with you wherever you go'. That is a great lesson everyone should learn at a young age. Oh! And I liked 'squiggle room'...that made me giggle.
There are slow bits I didn't like to much. For example, the description of the Cornelia House is too long for me and felt more like a history lesson but there was definit improvement from the last book where there were several places I felt the descriptions of things dragged on and on.
I love Madison! A modern day Nancy Drew indeed! Her energetic personality was a great addition to the book and I hope she becomes a staple in this series. Having a young teenage girl with brains and knowledge of new technology as a supporting character is brilliant. I also enjoyed getting to see more of Amy Twombly and learning that she has a mysterious background. Can't wait to see what Pearl R. Meaker does with that in the future.
I like the Wizardess Aine. Her and Emory's way of speaking to each other makes me laugh! You can tell they've been friends for a long time.
I like the short conversation that Jebbin and Emory had about him worrying about her being involved with this stuff. What husband wouldn't worry about his wife finding herself in these situations? I think that was a great little scene that need to happen and was treated well by the author.
I didn't really like that the Andrews kid seemed to get away with all the stuff he did...like legally. He kidnapped Tracy and drugged Lilly. You'd think there'd be consiquenses for that. Maybe it would have helped to say he'd do community service or something? Anything besides being left with the feeling that they're going to help him with his money and mommy issues but not knowing what happened as far as his punishment for what he did. I thinks that's one of those 'wrap up' details that should have taken place but was overlooked.
And why did Jarvis lose his gift for a bit. I didn't get that either. Like what was the reason behind it, or was that just supposed to be one of those unexplained things? Was it because it was all too close to home? Because he was lying to his wife and felt guilty? Or maybe I just ask too many questions haha
Anyway, great book! I think Pearl R. Meaker fans are going to be really happy with this one!

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad that the Twombly intuition didn't have as prominent a place in this second of Pearl Meaker's series. Madison, the Twombly teenage daughter, is a nice character although she is perhaps a little too adult. It's a difficult line to draw but we can't see her so we need some sort of reminder that she is only fourteen. Somehow the other characters come across as a little mellower than they seemed in the first book, perhaps because Amy Twombley is a little mellower. I could believe the logic of the story, although if anyone came across as immature it was the kidnapper, although his problem was certainly real and scary enough. The murder made sense and that worked out alright
I have every intention of going on line to examine those fancy crochet hooks as the one on the cover is certainly attractive.

[Kelly Hulse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book! One of my grembles with many modern authors is that they seem to be following some sort of formula and after a few books it gets painfully obvious. This is only the second book from this author but I have high hopes since she doesn't seem to be relying on a narrower back ground of say a forensic anthropologist to build the story from. Emory Crawford is simply a highly curious individual so there really is no telling how she is going to find herself stumbling onto a murder, sometimes she will be in the thick of it other times she is likely to just be wading into something that maybe isn't any of her business but how can she resist when it is so interesting?

An Emory has to do what an Emory has to do!

I just dig Emory, she is so cool!

[Julia Damatto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pearl R. Meaker did it again!
I felt so happy when I started reading this book, it was like a second date.
In Devil's Hook we meet again with the most delightful character of all times: Emory Crawford. And she's still a little prying, highly intuitive, extremely smart and ready to solve another mystery!! And what a Mystery!!
The story is fast paced, with new interesting characters, more witty dialogues, full of twists and turns and great amounts of mystery.
I'm hoping that we have more books with Emory!!
Highly Recommended
*I received a Free copy in exchange for an Honest Review*

[Jeanette Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pearl Meaker's second Emory Crawford mystery is like going home for the holidays. You know and like most of the characters, but no reunion ever goes 100% smoothly. There's an intriguing mystery here that Emory and her new sidekick Madison are determined to solve. I'm not usually a fan of cozy mysteries but this is an enjoyable read. It's also great to see Ms. Meaker improve her writing skills.

[Dianne Landry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emory is teaching a crocheting class which includes Amy Twombly, wife of the college's president, Jairus,and their youngest daughter, Madison. Amy is disturbed by Jairus' PA who seems to be trying to take her place. When the PA is murdered Amy is, naturally, the prime suspect. It doesn't help that the sheriff is a jerk with a grudge against the family.

Also on campus someone is breaking into girls' dorm rooms and leaving them red tokens of affection. One of the crochet students gets kidnapped suddenly reappears, stoned on a date rape drug, on Emory's doorstep.

Naturally Emory channels her inner Miss Marple and working with Madison (or Nancy Drew, as Emory's husband calls her). They solve both mysteries.

This is a fun series and I look forward to reading the next one and hope Ms. Meaker keeps publishing them.

[Jane Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Devil’s Hook is a fun, fast-paced cozy mystery, the second book in the Emory Crawford Mystery series. (You can read my review of The Devil’s Music, Book #1 in the series, here.) The Devil’s Hook is a great follow-up to The Devil’s Music. No sophomore slump here, for Author Pearl R. Meaker.

Emory Crawford isn't your average cozy-mystery sleuth. She's a middle-aged housewife, mother of two grown children, and a grandmother. She doesn't go out looking for mysteries to solve.

The Devil’s Hook begins with a quote from Greenshaw's Folly by Agatha Christie:

"Some commit murder, some get mixed-up in murder, others have murder thrust upon them. My Aunt Jane comes into the third category." (Raymond West about Miss Marple)

Emory Crawford is among those who have murder thrust upon them. In The Devil’s Hook, not only murder but mayhem (in the form of break-ins and kidnapping) is being thrust. These mysteries are intriguing, and held my interest throughout the book. There are twists and turns in the plot, as the surprising motives for the various mysteries are discovered.

The Emory Crawford Mysteries take place in Twombly, Illinois, the home of Twombly College, whose president is Jairus Twombly VI. Meaker's worldbuilding is realistic, and detailed without being too wordy. The characters are distinctive, true-to-life, and likable.

In Book #1, The Devil's Music, Emory's sleuthing was done only to assist her husband Jebbin, a forensics scientist, in his investigation following a murder. As she worked on the case, she kept thinking of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple as she worked the case, asking herself "What would Jane Marple do?"

In The Devil's Hook, Emory is more comfortable doing her sleuthing. The self-doubt I noted in The Devil's Music is gone. Emory is teaching a Crochet class at Twombly College for the optional January Term. Among her students are daughter Madison and wife Amy of the college president. Amy Twombly has a rather unique reason for taking up crochet. I enjoyed Amy's monologue as she explained it to the class on their first day.

I agree with Author Pearl R. Meaker, in the interview on my blog, that Madison is my new favorite character, along with Emory. Madison, a precocious 14-year-old and student at both Twombly High and Twombly College, is the perfect sidekick for Emory — Madison as Nancy Drew, and Emory as Miss Marple.

I recommend The Devil’s Hook to all fans of Cozy Mysteries, especially cozy fans who are also Yarn Enthusiasts.

I really enjoyed The Devil’s Hook by Pearl R. Meaker, and grant it Four Stars out of five!


Note: I received a complimentary copy of The Devil’s Hook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog at Jane Reads.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting cozy with a fresh approach; a mature amateur sleuth teamed up with the teenage daughter of a colleague, reminiscent of a pairing of Miss Marple and an aspiring Nancy Drew.

Winter break at Twombly College allows an opportunity for less serious, more flexible classes. Mrs. Crawford is teaching crochet to a group of varied students, from 14 year old Madison and her mother, Amy, wife of a prestigious professor, several college students, including two male soccer players, and an adult accountant, suffering from pneumonia and boredom.
Emory Crawford has adult children of her own and is beginning to feel pangs of empty nest syndrome. Fortunately she still has two cats and a golden retriever to mother. Emory also has some intuition or psychic awareness. The esteemed professor Twombly also has some extra sensory abilities, more developed than Emory's. The animals may have some intuitive intelligence, similar to Koko, the cat WHO, or it could just be Emory's desire for them to communicate with her.

Strange things are happening on campus. Someone is breaking into rooms and leaving red objects. There is no explanation. It is just weird.
One student who receives the mysterious red items is in the crochet class.
Things escalate when she is drugged and kidnapped. Emory can not keep her nose out of the investigation.

Even worse, the professor's P.A. ends up dead in his home kitchen after a loud argument with Amy. Madison can't sit back and watch her mother take the fall. She knows Amy is not guilty, but the evidence isn't clearing her.

This is a quick read. The crochet talk is interesting and the food descriptions are tantalizing. I wish the incredible pot pie recipe was included, but from details given, even I can create it. Something about this author's writing encourages readers to cook.

There are a lot of relationship issues discussed, some sleuthing over every dinner, and several mysteries to solve, including an ongoing curiosity about Emory's psychic intuition. Even after the main mysteries are solved, there is enough left unexplained to make readers look forward to another book.

This does well as a stand alone, but some references are included to past events. I look forward to seeing the characters grow and develop.
I did receive this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

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

I am totally hooked on the Emory Crawford Mystery series. And I am not just saying it that way because of the title of Book Two, The Devil's Hook.

In The Devil's Music, Book One in the series, you get to know Emory, the people closest to her, what she is about and you see some of the college that is her home. But in The Devil's Hook you begin to understand what is so special about Emory and the people around her.

In The Devil's Hook not only is there a case of someone breaking into female dorms and leaving red colored items but the personal assistant of the President of the college ends up murdered. No one likes Amy Twombly but when she is arrested for the murder, Emory feels very strongly that she is innocent, But with only 5 people in the house at the time of the murder, Amy is the only one with motive to want the assistant gone......or is she ?

Emory along with Madison, daughter of the accused, do some investigating of their own to try to clear Amy's name.

Can Emory find out who is behind the red colored items ? Can she prove Amy is innocent ? Does she have the "gift" or is it just plain luck that she gets things right ??

As with all reviews, I could go on and on tell you more and more but then there is no reason for you to want to read this series. And I want to encourage you to read these books. Not only are the characters lovable and the setting enjoyable but you will get completely hooked !!!

[Heather Westing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't think cozies could get any better after I read the first Emory Crawford book, but author Pearl R. Meaker has outdone herself with this delightful second installment in the series. No spoilers - just pick up a copy and enjoy!

[Mary Rosenblum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Very 'Agatha' and nice suspense!