Double Cross Crochet

Annie’s Mysteries Unraveled #11

by Marlene Chase

Vanessa Stevens is shocked by the death of Andy Marin, a friend from college, especially when authorities initially rule the death a suicide. She confides in her mother, top crochet fashion designer and author Kate Stevens, that Andy had become distraught after a confrontation with Vanessa.

Vanessa can’t help but wonder if she is to blame for his death.

Kate seeks to help her daughter, convincing her to join Kate in teaching a class in beginner crochet at the Once Upon a Yarn needlecraft shop. There Kate and Vanessa encounter a twelve-year-old waif named Cory Evans, an orphan Kate fears is headed for a tough life if she doesn’t get help.

In fact, Kate’s first interaction with Cory leads her to suspect the girl has shoplifted an item in the local pharmacy in Sage Hills, Texas. She has no proof of the theft, and a confrontation with Cory only brings an aloof and resentful response.

Vanessa and Cory aren’t Kate’s only problems. When Kate’s ex-husband, Harry Stevens, hears of Vanessa’s traumatic experience, he is quick to fly from Maine to Texas. Harry tries to win back Kate’s heart—the one he broke into a thousand pieces years ago.

Will his overtures and Vanessa’s assurances that her father has changed his ways convince Kate to give their relationship another try? What about Peter Matthews, the ruggedly handsome Fort Worth homicide detective Kate has been dating for months now?

Kate tries to dodge all of the emotional fireworks while solving the mystery of how Andy died in Double Cross Crochet.

203 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Chuck Neumann · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Double Cross Crochet" is a novel in the book series "Annie's Mysteries Unraveled". This is the first in the series I read and likely the last. I try to stay away from mysteries that includes recipes and now I will add sewing in the titles as well. The main character is Kate Stevens, a well known author of books on crochet designs. She is divorced with a daughter in college. He ex-husband was a drinker and a cad, but her daughter loves him and that makes Kate jealous. She has a male friend, a police detective who is handsome and brave and never married but is wild about her. Kate herself is not happy to find herself attracted to him. (Men are not highly regarded in this novel, Kate's friend Vivi's comment "Men can be such a pain" sums it up) Her daughter Vanessa is upset over the death of a fellow student. He apparently was smitten with Vanessa, but she didn't get turned on by him. He was kind, smart, very nice but not handsome enough for her. (She apparently met a handsome TV actor in Maine whom she is crazy about). He gave her a bracelet and refused to take it back. Soon after, his body was found at the base of a cliff. Vanessa believes he killed himself because she rejected him. Kate tries to comfort Vanessa, and she is also trying to help a 12 year old girl who likes to steal pretty things. That girl later steals the bracelet, which causes a lot of problems. Then, her ex-husband shows up from Maine to comfort Vanessa, also bothering Kate who feels he should stay out of Texas. Poor Kate then gets kidnapped by the man who killed Vanessa's almost boyfriend. There really is no solving of mysteries by the characters, things just happen. I'm sure many would like this book, it is just not my cup of tea.

[July]

Is it really a DNF when you only read 2 pages? I'll come back to this book. I never even gave it a chance.

[Lisa Stanglin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light mystery read. I love how Kate always tries to help the underdog in the stories. I also like the subjects touched in this books. Feelings between exes and moving on.