Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Knitting Game Mysteries #1

Malice in Wonderland: A Knitting Game Mystery

Rate this book
When up and coming knitting designer, Padraig Wilson, is found murdered at the start of the South’s largest fiber festival, FBI Special Agent John Smith has his hands full. Not just keeping his bff from buying every skein of yarn in sight, but in clearing her oldest friend’s name of murder.

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2017

121 people are currently reading
153 people want to read

About the author

Hilary Latimer

10 books11 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
116 (42%)
4 stars
86 (31%)
3 stars
55 (20%)
2 stars
9 (3%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for oshizu.
340 reviews30 followers
October 6, 2021
This book was fun and entertaining. An FBI takes his girlfriend, an obsessed knitter, to his first Fiber Festival, where one of the knitting designer assistants turns up dead. Surprisingly, his partner shows up, also in the company of his knitting-obsessed girlfriend, and they investigate the murder together.
i give it 4 stars for its entertainment value, a fun glimpse into the world the knitting addicts.
Profile Image for Ann  Marie.
120 reviews2 followers
September 1, 2017
I knew Hilary could write, but this book is even better then I expected it to be.

Yes, I know the author. She is an internet friend that I have met in person. She is a pattern designer, one of my favorites, and a wonderful person.

I don't usually read crime-dramas but I had to read this one because Hilary wrote it. It was time well spent. Yup, read it in less than one day. That is how good the book is. Did not want to put it down.

The characters are well rounded and complex. The story is convoluted but not impossible to follow. She even keeps the knitting references to a reasonable amount so as to not confuse the non-knitter too much. A book very worth reading.

If you like crime-dramas, books about knitting, or are a fan of a certain TV series, you really need to read this book. You will enjoy this book.
Profile Image for Catherine McClarey.
9 reviews
June 3, 2018
Feds at the fiber fest!

Knitting themed cozy mystery set at a fiber festival,with an FBI agent boyfriend of one of the exhibiting knit designers as the sleuth. So many suspects that I wasn't able to figure out who "done it" until the murderer confessed at the very end. No knitting pattern in back,but pattern link to Ravelry, and an author who really understands the knitting geek subculture,and explains it to the non-knitting sleuth(and non-knitting readers,too). Can't wait for the next one!
Profile Image for Phyllis.
351 reviews
July 6, 2021
I really enjoyed this book because it had two things I really like. First, there are lots of references to knitting and all the fun that goes with knitting: buying yarn, finding fun patterns, and meeting people with your same interests. Also, the book had really strong and likable central characters: Wes, Harry, Rhodes, and Janine. I would definitely read the other books in this series to read more about these characters.
The mystery was kind of easy to solve, but it was the interaction between the characters and the knitting references that made the book interesting to me.
63 reviews
January 31, 2018
A good quick read with the usual elements of a light mystery novel with a romance byline. There was an interesting surprise twist near the end. Enjoyable book. With a lot of yarn and fibre
I was generously gifted a copy of this book by the author as a prize in the Criminal Knits 12 hats of Xmas knitalong. It is a great piece of work and a lot of thought must have gone in to planning the various characters and their interactions. Very much enjoyed this generous gift.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Fensin.
321 reviews6 followers
December 28, 2019
At last, a knitting mystery by and for people who know all about the details of knitting and fiber artists! Anyone who has knitted a swatch, worked through a pattern, or been to a fiber event will recognize the characters and settings. Most knitting mysteries are cute and cozy, but this one is funny and gritty. Much of the mystery unfolds through the viewpoints of FBI agents who are partners of knitters. I really enjoyed this story!
139 reviews1 follower
October 9, 2020
Yarn festival and murder

What a great combo for a mid- week read! Fiberfests will never look the same! Hopefully once we get past the pandemic, the local fiber festivals will have lots of people with NO dead bodies, but since they are all virtual, reading about handsome FBI agents solving a murder at a yarn event was quite a bit of fun. Love that this was written by a knitter for like minded people.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
November 25, 2019
It's not just yarn that can get snarled up.

A good read. Great lively characters, vibrant and enthusiastic with an obvious love of knitting that comes over loud and clear. She is a feisty red head, he is a built Special Agent. Together the pair are a powerhouse of energy. The plot was a good one, murder at a knitters convention. Just a shame that i guessed the culprit from the start. Still a bit miffed that not everyone paid for their involvement in the events that led up to murder.
Nicely paced with smooth sleuthing. A must read for anyone who loves working with yarn in any capacity.
Profile Image for Virginia Kessen.
457 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2024
not just for knitters

I find myself increasingly disappointed by cozies, especially ones around a crafting theme. Ms Latimer to the rescue. Part of what makes this book so much fun is the detectives really are detectives and do the police work without telling the women to stay out of it every five minutes. Another part of the fun is watching the detectives try and understand the knitting world at a yarn festival while their significant others shop and drop by occasionally to help them understand, share overheard gossip, and perhaps most importantly show off their purchases. Lots of good fun. Looking forward to reading more of the series
47 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2017
Fast paced murder mystery at a fiber fest

Hilary Latimer's first mystery is a fantastic success. The characters jump off the page, - lively, likeable, and believable. Latimer has the conversational dialogue down pat. The suspense built as I tried to outguess the detectives to figure out the murderer. Turned out I was right, but what a fun time getting to the conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book for light mystery reading. Especially for my knitter friends.
Profile Image for Nancy Bodie.
1,125 reviews1 follower
November 16, 2017
Excellent story!

I found this book by chance and what a great find! It is very well written! I loved the storyline and it is well paced and very engaging! The characters are well developed, well rounded, and likeable or not as written. I hope that there will be more books by this author. I also purchased an pattern book by this author as they looked interesting also! Highly recommend this book!
376 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2021
The writing was okay - but I did not read this one for the plot or the writing. This was a knitting book for my knitting book club. All the details that had to do with knitting were fun. During this quarantine the idea of a knitting convention with designers, wool merchants, indie hand dyed wool and class on different techniques sounded so wonderful. Dreaming of a day that we can do that sort of thing.
3 reviews1 follower
September 27, 2024
Fiber festival plus a murder equals one great read

As a fiber enthusiast, when the story entered a fiber festival, I was hooked! In all the descriptions of the goings on I could see myself right there. And the who-done-it aspect kept me guessing up to the end. Well written; it doesn’t drag. Absolutely love it.
Profile Image for Stefanie.
627 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2025
Oh to be immersed in a knitty world! I loved how the setting is at a knitting conference. Every aspect was so familiar. I didn’t realize the lead character was the accompanying agent bf; what a pleasant surprise and how cute he escorted his partner to it.
Tangent: Reminded me of the days when my husband would drive me down to the Santa Clara Convention Center for STITCHES West, take me out for lunch midday, and then pick me up on his way home from work.
Cute how his partner and her designing BFF were so upbeat and shopped for🧶 with gusto. And how fun the backdrop was the cutthroat world of designers.
81 reviews
August 4, 2025
cute read

This is the perfect cute, light read. Since I’m a knitter, I loved the back story and all the references to yarn, knitting and the festival, which is where the story takes place. The characters are sweet and the murder is light, with no gore or deep details. I already have the series in my library.
Profile Image for Megs.
338 reviews
November 25, 2017
I can’t be the only one that thought Gianni was Malcolm’s son with Liz from their college days and that she didn’t really get an abortion?
Anyway, pretty good mystery. I was more delighted in the description of the fiber festival and wishing I could go!
Profile Image for Diane Sharp Keys.
8 reviews
January 20, 2019
Excellent freshmn book! Love the confusin around knitting Wes expressed. Can't wait for the next book to come out..

If you're a knitter come join Hilary on Ravelry under "Criminal Knits." She has great patterns and there is plenty of help should you get stuck in a pattern.
Profile Image for Alyson Cline.
25 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2019
Excellent mystery

My two favorite topics - murder and knitting. This book has both! Well developed characters with good twists in the story to keep the reader's interest. I'm looking forward to the next story.
Profile Image for Pat Roberts.
481 reviews4 followers
February 11, 2020
As I am an avid knitter, my family thought I would enjoy this book as a Christmas gift. They were right. It was a fun read and I am reminded that I have to get back on the yarn show shopping circuit, although I really don’t need more yarn.
6 reviews
April 12, 2020
Ok but just that

The plot was pretty good but I found her repetition of the characters movements more than predictable.

Hoping for better in the next book, pinching the bridge of my nose, running my fingers through my hair, then tugging it...
Profile Image for Pat Salvatini.
745 reviews12 followers
January 22, 2021
A fiber festival cozy mystery, that made for a quick and fun read. Latimer created slightly predictable but interesting characters, nailed the setting perfectly making any fiber enthusiast wishing they could attend the event in person, and added just enough of twist to make the ending interesting.
103 reviews1 follower
May 18, 2021
This Just Grabbed Me

I started this a few days ago and now I'm finished. I loved the book, all the background and the plot. Maybe it's being deprived of yarn shopping but I was in all the way within minutes. I will be reading more from this writer.
Profile Image for Penny Wilson.
84 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2018
Fun, light read. You've got to be a fiber lover to really enjoy it. Made me feel. Like I was at a fiber fest with the characters.
69 reviews4 followers
January 24, 2024
Made me want to attend a Knitting/yarn show.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Leslie.
157 reviews1 follower
December 16, 2019
Its knitting and a mystery in one... I'm easy, this worked for me.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.