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A Knitting Mystery #16
Dyeing Up Loose Ends
Kelly Flynn has been enjoying motherhood and avoiding murder, but when a friend's life is cut short, she enlists the Lambspun knitters to catch a heartless killer in the latest novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Only Skein Deep.
Kelly is happily busy with her son, Jack, now a rambunctious four-year-old preschooler. Jack keeps his mom on her toes and drinking all the coffee she can handle at Pete's Porch Cafe. Kelly's friendly waitress Julie is hoping to become an accountant. She makes sure she keeps Kelly caffeinated and up-to-date on her career progress.
Kelly splits her free time between Pete's and Lambspun, where her fellow knitters love hearing all about Jack's latest exploits. They've also been taking a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about crimes that Kelly had a hand in solving over the years. But the Lambspun crew is horrified when a very present-day murder occurs in their midst--and Julie is the victim.
With her sleuthing instincts on full alert, Kelly starts asking questions. The well-liked waitress may have had enemies no one knew about, or she could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly and her friends at Lambspun soon learn that the answers are knottier and more shocking than they ever dreamed...
Kelly is happily busy with her son, Jack, now a rambunctious four-year-old preschooler. Jack keeps his mom on her toes and drinking all the coffee she can handle at Pete's Porch Cafe. Kelly's friendly waitress Julie is hoping to become an accountant. She makes sure she keeps Kelly caffeinated and up-to-date on her career progress.
Kelly splits her free time between Pete's and Lambspun, where her fellow knitters love hearing all about Jack's latest exploits. They've also been taking a trip down memory lane, reminiscing about crimes that Kelly had a hand in solving over the years. But the Lambspun crew is horrified when a very present-day murder occurs in their midst--and Julie is the victim.
With her sleuthing instincts on full alert, Kelly starts asking questions. The well-liked waitress may have had enemies no one knew about, or she could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly and her friends at Lambspun soon learn that the answers are knottier and more shocking than they ever dreamed...
263 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2018
176 people are currently reading
838 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Sefton
35 books779 followersAka 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."
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."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
July 14, 2018
This latest offering from the ongoing series was extremely disappointing to a long-time reader. A large chunk at the beginning of the book was taken up by a completely unnecessary recapping of previous mysteries, which served no purpose, and which also came across as though it had either been ghostwritten by someone who hadn't done their research properly, or by a author who doesn't care any more and has lost interest in her own plots, as it was full of errors. The murder itself felt like a side plot, and the murderer (despite one or two vague/lazy attempts at misdirection) was clearly signposted, so there weren't really any surprises. And it was another book where Kelly wasn't really investigating, but got lucky with a couple of questions. Very, very disappointed.
June 4, 2018
Way too much reminiscing this time. Reminiscing, coffee-drinking, and opening/closing spreadsheets.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
July 14, 2018
Dyeing Up Loose Ends by Maggie Sefton is the sixteenth tale in A Knitting Mystery series. Kelly Flynn is married to Steve and her son, Jack is now a boisterous four-year-old in Fort Connor, Colorado. Kelly spends her days at Pete’s Porch Café and Lampspun working on her client’s accounts and enjoys evenings with her family and close friends. Julie, one of the waitresses at the café, takes accounting classes at the local university and is currently having some issues with her boyfriend’s ex-girlfriends and her money grubbing brother. One morning Jennifer and Pete arrive at the café to find Julie’s car already in the parking lot. It looks like Julie has worked her last shift. They find Julie dead in her car from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Kelly and the Lambspun crew have another theory and they set about untangling the clues. In between, the group has a wedding to organize for two special people. Join the Lampspun crew one last time in Dyeing Up Loose Ends.
All our favorite characters from A Knitting Mystery series returns in Dyeing Up Loose Ends. The book has a nice, steady pace and a conversational writing style that makes Dyeing Up Loose Ends easy to read. A Knitting Mystery series used to be one of my favorites and I could not wait for each new installment. The last couple of books, though, have felt like they were done by someone else. They lack the same depth and complexity of the earlier books in the series. Most of Dyeing Up Loose Ends is spent reminiscing (I ended up skimming through it since I have read every book in the series and I wonder if someone double checked their information). The various characters share recollections on the cases they have solved as well as discuss how Kelly came to Fort Connor, inherited her various properties, her accounting business, how Kelly met Steve, and how they other characters paired up and married. The murder mystery was simple and there was little investigating. Identifying the guilty party was a snap. There are cozy moments as Kelly spends time with her friends, a lot of eating, time with the children, a wedding, and time spent at Lambspun. There are lovely descriptions of yarn included in the story and I laughed at Carl’s continued determination to catch a squirrel (my dogs have given up). I believe this is the end of A Knitting Mystery series. I just wish the author had decided to go out as she started the series. If, like me, you have read all the books in this series, then you will want to read Dyeing Up Loose Ends (to find out what happens to the various characters). For those who are new to the series, I suggest starting with Knit One, Kill Two.
All our favorite characters from A Knitting Mystery series returns in Dyeing Up Loose Ends. The book has a nice, steady pace and a conversational writing style that makes Dyeing Up Loose Ends easy to read. A Knitting Mystery series used to be one of my favorites and I could not wait for each new installment. The last couple of books, though, have felt like they were done by someone else. They lack the same depth and complexity of the earlier books in the series. Most of Dyeing Up Loose Ends is spent reminiscing (I ended up skimming through it since I have read every book in the series and I wonder if someone double checked their information). The various characters share recollections on the cases they have solved as well as discuss how Kelly came to Fort Connor, inherited her various properties, her accounting business, how Kelly met Steve, and how they other characters paired up and married. The murder mystery was simple and there was little investigating. Identifying the guilty party was a snap. There are cozy moments as Kelly spends time with her friends, a lot of eating, time with the children, a wedding, and time spent at Lambspun. There are lovely descriptions of yarn included in the story and I laughed at Carl’s continued determination to catch a squirrel (my dogs have given up). I believe this is the end of A Knitting Mystery series. I just wish the author had decided to go out as she started the series. If, like me, you have read all the books in this series, then you will want to read Dyeing Up Loose Ends (to find out what happens to the various characters). For those who are new to the series, I suggest starting with Knit One, Kill Two.
July 18, 2018
Kelly is enjoying motherhood and knitting with her friends at Lambspun. Her friends are interested in the antics of her son and all the murders she has been involved in. When her favorite waitress is killed she gets involved in solving that. While I enjoyed the story there were a few things that just jarred you out of the story. Two college age kids are going into their junior year of college and want to get married, they will make enough watching 4 kids for the summer to pay for tuition, books, dorm and fees for their junior year so they go ahead and get married. It seems very odd that they could earn enough to pay for all that and what about senior year, neither of their families bring that up. The other thing is the crook is clearly shown right away and no one picks up on it.
July 11, 2018
The book has 259 pages. Pages 1-9 gave me faint hope this might be better than the last books. Various members reminiscing about past deaths pages 10 to 56. New death page 136. Arrest page 251. There were many things over-explained (the usual) and so many not. (1) big deal made about one of the female group being way too thin and looking skeletal but nothing else ever mentioned until late in the book (2) why did they have little faith in the dead person? I could go on but I have other things to do...like knit. Which by the way was mentioned on only one occasion!
June 11, 2018
Still disappointed. Dying Up Loose Ends is better than the last book that Sefton wrote, but not by much. While some people might enjoy a recapping of the series so far, I found it boring and not really relevant to the story. The real mystery started about a quarter of the way into the book. This book is more about catching up on the characters lives than a mystery. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
June 12, 2018
The title of the sixteen story will let you know the girls at Lampspum are telIing a new waitress about the murders that had been involved. Kelly is kept busy looking after her 4-year son, Jack. There is not much information about the next generation but enough so you know what each person is doing.
Julie a waitress is found dead in her car one morning, closing the cafe and Lampspun for short time. Kelly begins to look Into the matter. Kelly needs to find the answer before there is another death.I recommend this book and series.
Recipes and knitting pattern are included
Disclosure: Many thanks to Berkley for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own
Julie a waitress is found dead in her car one morning, closing the cafe and Lampspun for short time. Kelly begins to look Into the matter. Kelly needs to find the answer before there is another death.I recommend this book and series.
Recipes and knitting pattern are included
Disclosure: Many thanks to Berkley for a review copy. The opinions expressed are my own
July 8, 2018
To say I was disappointed with this book is a mild understatement. Five years have gone by in Kelly’s life. The first portion of the book is a review of all of Kelly’s cases. Tiresome. Then there is a weak murder case and another marriage. That is the total book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2018
I finished Dyeing Up Loose Ends by Maggie Sefton , this is the 16th book in the series and it is a great read. Out July 3rd this book walks you through all the past murder mysteries and it also goes through main Character Kelly's current life, her relationship with her friends and her growing little boy. The murder mystery tied in nicely with what felt like a visit with old friends. As usual a great read and a wonderful series.
July 22, 2018
I love these books and this one was no exception. A good visit with characters that have become friends and a mystery that I was able to solve. This book does include reminiscing and spoilers from earlier books in the series so I would recommend reading them first.
January 9, 2020
I still want to go back to the beginning of the series, but the last few books have been disappointing.
There was little to no mystery in this book. The reveal was poorly executed.
Over written.
Mostly just a recap of the other books in the series?
There could have been a plot but instead there wasn’t.
There was little to no mystery in this book. The reveal was poorly executed.
Over written.
Mostly just a recap of the other books in the series?
There could have been a plot but instead there wasn’t.
September 14, 2018
The 16th book has moved ahead 4 years, to baby Jack is 4 years old and the rest of the kids either 5 or going on 4. My issue with this book was Carl, the dog. The dog acts still as young and as active 13 to 14 years later and Carl was not a puppy when she brought him to Ft. Connor, CO. So he should be showing his age.
She is still helping the police when someone is found dead outside the Knit shop and cafe. She pays attention to the information provided by those around her and then shares it with Burt so that they can find the person who murdered the victim.
It was a fun book and it was good to see how the families had changed and life had changed for all the friends. These books can be read out of order and then this book looked back on the past books so anyone who has not read any of the others doesn't need to unless they want to.
She is still helping the police when someone is found dead outside the Knit shop and cafe. She pays attention to the information provided by those around her and then shares it with Burt so that they can find the person who murdered the victim.
It was a fun book and it was good to see how the families had changed and life had changed for all the friends. These books can be read out of order and then this book looked back on the past books so anyone who has not read any of the others doesn't need to unless they want to.
December 12, 2022
Glad to see this is the last book in the series; its death is a mercy that no one need investigate.
The last six books beg this question: how *lazy* do you have to be to write a *murder mystery* but your protagonist never speaks to the suspects, law enforcement, or even confronts the killer? She speaks to one witness, hears a banal update through an intermediary, and... that's it. Two pages before the end, someone calls her to confirm the killer was arrested.
Instead, there are repetitious conversations that sound like an alien imitating a human about irrelevant details related to the lives of people wholly unrelated to the plot, rather than addressing subplots that were mentioned and then dropped entirely or the plot itself.
The last six books beg this question: how *lazy* do you have to be to write a *murder mystery* but your protagonist never speaks to the suspects, law enforcement, or even confronts the killer? She speaks to one witness, hears a banal update through an intermediary, and... that's it. Two pages before the end, someone calls her to confirm the killer was arrested.
Instead, there are repetitious conversations that sound like an alien imitating a human about irrelevant details related to the lives of people wholly unrelated to the plot, rather than addressing subplots that were mentioned and then dropped entirely or the plot itself.
May 19, 2024
I read all 16 of these and I think she’s done. This last one was published 5 years ago. I’m glad she ended as I believe it had run its course. I mean how many murders can a small town have in 16 years? The references to drinking coffee were somewhat monotonous. I am glad, though, that I finished out the series and glad that she is writing other stories now. Happy Knitting and sleuthing!
July 19, 2018
Kelly and the Gang are reminiscing on the past murders she has helped solve as this novel begins. She and her friends have changed over the years since the series began, further establishing careers, relationships, even three of the couples with very young, active kiddos. I didn't realize this would be the final mystery in the series; looking back is so interesting yet seemed to take more pages than I might have considered. The friendships, marriages, and overall family members by choice relationships are what stand out; to me, that was more important than each of the prior mysteries.
One wedding is being planned for the summer; I was almost surprised that this young couple is now partially through college and definitely old enough for marriage. It was good to see how well they had planned through it to make sure they completed school and could still have enough study while working to pay their school fees and campus apartment. What surprised me is that the little word "love" wasn't evident, at least not that I could recall, unless they were still embarrassed a bit to use the term in front of others. As that small wedding is being planned, another member of the Lambspun/ Pete's Porch Cafe will be getting married. It sounded like this would be a joyful summer in Fort Collins, Colorado.
At least until Pete and his wife Jennifer arrived at work to find one of the young ladies dead in her car, with a handgun on the floor of her car. This terrible death is so unexpected, and doubly senseless. While the Lambspun family (yarn / fiber arts) is greatly distressed, the owner of Lambspun grieves the most. It is almost impossible to open again without the cheerful face of their friend and employee.
I have enjoyed many of the Knitting Mystery books by this author, who is gifted with plotting, dialog, and character definition, and I will miss them for sure. Fortunately we many mysteries we can re-read and enjoy. I did miss several things this time, however. One is time spent discussing and asking questions about the murder and possible suspects. Another is that Mimi and Burt seem absent from most of the activities, and Mimi has the heart of the mama, so to speak, of the group. I would love to see a spinoff of the series someday, as I also missed the things that make Lambspun such a popular place over the years such as the various crafts and activities, even seeing life from the point of view of beloved alpaca rancher Jayleen.
Finding a killer is a priority, and there were a couple of great red herrings stirred into the clues. The real bad guy was kind of a surprise, but there were clues pointing to the shooter even before Kelly caught on. Keeping track of a busy 4-year-old, husband, and career has given her a full plate!
I recommend this novel to anyone who has enjoyed this series in the past, but probably not for the first-time reader. I'm looking to seeing this author's talents in her next writing ventures!
I received a copy of this from the publisher and this is my honest review.
One wedding is being planned for the summer; I was almost surprised that this young couple is now partially through college and definitely old enough for marriage. It was good to see how well they had planned through it to make sure they completed school and could still have enough study while working to pay their school fees and campus apartment. What surprised me is that the little word "love" wasn't evident, at least not that I could recall, unless they were still embarrassed a bit to use the term in front of others. As that small wedding is being planned, another member of the Lambspun/ Pete's Porch Cafe will be getting married. It sounded like this would be a joyful summer in Fort Collins, Colorado.
At least until Pete and his wife Jennifer arrived at work to find one of the young ladies dead in her car, with a handgun on the floor of her car. This terrible death is so unexpected, and doubly senseless. While the Lambspun family (yarn / fiber arts) is greatly distressed, the owner of Lambspun grieves the most. It is almost impossible to open again without the cheerful face of their friend and employee.
I have enjoyed many of the Knitting Mystery books by this author, who is gifted with plotting, dialog, and character definition, and I will miss them for sure. Fortunately we many mysteries we can re-read and enjoy. I did miss several things this time, however. One is time spent discussing and asking questions about the murder and possible suspects. Another is that Mimi and Burt seem absent from most of the activities, and Mimi has the heart of the mama, so to speak, of the group. I would love to see a spinoff of the series someday, as I also missed the things that make Lambspun such a popular place over the years such as the various crafts and activities, even seeing life from the point of view of beloved alpaca rancher Jayleen.
Finding a killer is a priority, and there were a couple of great red herrings stirred into the clues. The real bad guy was kind of a surprise, but there were clues pointing to the shooter even before Kelly caught on. Keeping track of a busy 4-year-old, husband, and career has given her a full plate!
I recommend this novel to anyone who has enjoyed this series in the past, but probably not for the first-time reader. I'm looking to seeing this author's talents in her next writing ventures!
I received a copy of this from the publisher and this is my honest review.
April 8, 2019
This was pretty disappointing. Most of the book was with the characters recapping the past knitting mysteries. It was unnecessary filler and just lazy writing. This book was pretty much filler with no substance, as the actually mystery (the murder of a cafe staff member), compromised only a small part of this tale and was melodramatic at best.
I did enjoy reading about the knitting shop and yarn, as I love the fiber arts. Unfortunately, this isn't a series I'm interesting in continuing.
I did enjoy reading about the knitting shop and yarn, as I love the fiber arts. Unfortunately, this isn't a series I'm interesting in continuing.
March 3, 2022
Early in the book, the friends discussed all the murders from the previous fifteen books. Often when reading a long series, I have trouble recalling past events so appreciated this recap. The murder in this last book was sad as it was one of the people from the circle of friends I’ve grown to love reading about. This was balanced by a happy event however. Sad to know this series is at an end.
October 10, 2018
This book includes lot of memories from earlier books. In the book, Cassie and Eric are entering their junior year college and have big plans. There is a murder of a waitress at the cafe but it really seems secondary to all the life changes happening and that have happened. It is a short book so was a very quick easy read.
April 10, 2019
Another good story for the series. Many of the conversations reminisced about previous adventures. A light and quick read.
August 23, 2019
Good gods this was awful.
So. Much. Repeating. You don't need to constantly repeat the children's ages. You don't need to give ever single friend the title "my dearest friend" every time anyone is mentioned.
It also took more than 50% of the book to even get to the murder and there was almost no sleuthing at all. This was so boring.
Rehashing all the past books in the series. Remember this murder? remember this person? remember? remember? remember?!
I'm glad that Carl got some facetime.
So many inconsistencies! It's mentioned it was a 9mm gun not too long after the murder. someone mentions they had one. Kelly asks Burt..."what kind of gun was it? you never told me" ...Yes. he did.
Conversations with Cassie and Eric are confusing too. They talk about how everyone knows now. Then there is a big conversation about informing families.
Why do I keep reading these?
So. Much. Repeating. You don't need to constantly repeat the children's ages. You don't need to give ever single friend the title "my dearest friend" every time anyone is mentioned.
It also took more than 50% of the book to even get to the murder and there was almost no sleuthing at all. This was so boring.
Rehashing all the past books in the series. Remember this murder? remember this person? remember? remember? remember?!
I'm glad that Carl got some facetime.
So many inconsistencies! It's mentioned it was a 9mm gun not too long after the murder. someone mentions they had one. Kelly asks Burt..."what kind of gun was it? you never told me" ...Yes. he did.
Conversations with Cassie and Eric are confusing too. They talk about how everyone knows now. Then there is a big conversation about informing families.
Why do I keep reading these?
November 5, 2018
I tried for a few chapters and couldn't finish this book. The conversations between the characters were so unrealistic that I became too frustrated to get through it. She seems popular, perhaps her other books are better.
December 10, 2018
I was extremely disappointed in this book. It felt like the author has lost interest in the series, and it would not surprise me in the least if it's the last we see of Kelly and company.
The first couple of chapters are nothing more than recapping the previous murders in the series. Fine if you have read all the books, but if you haven't, you don't need to, since now you know who dunnit.
The current murder occurs nearly two thirds of the way thru the book, and the culprit is easily identified. The character is not someone we have come to care about, anyway, so there's no drama in it.
We know Kelly LOVES her coffee, and if we ever questioned how much she loves it, this book certainly answers those questions. Every other page features Kelly either taking a long drink from her ever-present travel mug, or getting the mug refilled.
The dialog is also repetitious. Kelly has a conversation with a secondary character, then a couple of pages later, has the same conversation with a different character. Then, the secondary characters have the same conversation with each other!! This happens several times throughout the book, to the point that I began skipping pages repeatedly.
One of the side plots revolves around the marriage of two secondary characters. While it seems like a small thing to many, I'm sure, as the characters listed their reasons for marriage to Kelly and several others, love was never mentioned as a reason to marry. This bothered me, since it seems to me that it should be one of the primary reasons, and none of the other characters even asked if they loved each other.
If there is another book published in this series, I will be shocked. This truly read like the last gasp of Kelly and company. I know it's the last one I will read.
The first couple of chapters are nothing more than recapping the previous murders in the series. Fine if you have read all the books, but if you haven't, you don't need to, since now you know who dunnit.
The current murder occurs nearly two thirds of the way thru the book, and the culprit is easily identified. The character is not someone we have come to care about, anyway, so there's no drama in it.
We know Kelly LOVES her coffee, and if we ever questioned how much she loves it, this book certainly answers those questions. Every other page features Kelly either taking a long drink from her ever-present travel mug, or getting the mug refilled.
The dialog is also repetitious. Kelly has a conversation with a secondary character, then a couple of pages later, has the same conversation with a different character. Then, the secondary characters have the same conversation with each other!! This happens several times throughout the book, to the point that I began skipping pages repeatedly.
One of the side plots revolves around the marriage of two secondary characters. While it seems like a small thing to many, I'm sure, as the characters listed their reasons for marriage to Kelly and several others, love was never mentioned as a reason to marry. This bothered me, since it seems to me that it should be one of the primary reasons, and none of the other characters even asked if they loved each other.
If there is another book published in this series, I will be shocked. This truly read like the last gasp of Kelly and company. I know it's the last one I will read.
June 10, 2018
I enjoyed reading “Dyeing up loose ends”. It starts out Kelly sharing about her past mysteries adventures and than it goes into her connection with her friends . I definitely was not excepting the way the mystery ended up! I believe this is worth reading and would definitely recommend it! 😊
July 20, 2018
Ms Sefton, have you totally run out of ideas? Half the book is a trip down memory lane.
Cassie and Eric, two young people who have grown up in this series, have decided that while they have dated others while in university, they really prefer each other's company. They want to marry quickly so they can live in the married students' residence. They also want to marry so they can finally "take their relationship to the next step". I kid you not, in spite of the fact that everyone else in these books lives together without benefit of marriage for years, this young couple do not want to disappoint their elders. Even this story line seems to fall flat.
There is a death in this book, but it is barely mentioned. Julie, a young woman who works at their Lambspun cafe hangout (they seem to know virtually nothing about her), finds out she she is pregnant and announces that she will marry the father, who is still being pursued by his previous girlfriend. Julie then offers each of her Lambspun friends a piece of her late, beloved mother's valuable jewellery (Did I mention they seemed to have hardly known her). Her deadbeat brother wants it to sell and keep the people he owes money to off his back.
Julie's death is declared a suicide until it is discovered that someone else purchased the gun. On this "evidence" alone, they arrested the killer.
The death in this book seems to be just an aside. There is no "detection" and clues are not followed.
The title is appropriate. All loose ends seem to just die, and are not tied up at all.
Cassie and Eric, two young people who have grown up in this series, have decided that while they have dated others while in university, they really prefer each other's company. They want to marry quickly so they can live in the married students' residence. They also want to marry so they can finally "take their relationship to the next step". I kid you not, in spite of the fact that everyone else in these books lives together without benefit of marriage for years, this young couple do not want to disappoint their elders. Even this story line seems to fall flat.
There is a death in this book, but it is barely mentioned. Julie, a young woman who works at their Lambspun cafe hangout (they seem to know virtually nothing about her), finds out she she is pregnant and announces that she will marry the father, who is still being pursued by his previous girlfriend. Julie then offers each of her Lambspun friends a piece of her late, beloved mother's valuable jewellery (Did I mention they seemed to have hardly known her). Her deadbeat brother wants it to sell and keep the people he owes money to off his back.
Julie's death is declared a suicide until it is discovered that someone else purchased the gun. On this "evidence" alone, they arrested the killer.
The death in this book seems to be just an aside. There is no "detection" and clues are not followed.
The title is appropriate. All loose ends seem to just die, and are not tied up at all.
June 10, 2020
This is the most recent novel in Maggie Sefton's "A Knitting Mystery" series, and I did enjoy it almost as well as I did the previous 15. One minor quibble that I have with it is that she spends the first chapter more-or-less reviewing the mysteries that happened in her previous novels; granted, she does it through a dialogue between several characters, but it still annoyed me. Anyway, I enjoyed this fun cozy mystery novel and liked seeing what was new in the characters' lives even though I did find the murder in this one to be sadder than the ones in earlier novels simply because this time, the murder victim was a closer friend to Kelly and the gang and had been a fairly regular secondary character in the series. I have enjoyed this series a great deal and hope there will be more novels after this one.
July 31, 2018
Did we really need a rehash of the last 15 books? Why did it take until halfway through the book to get to the murder?
Note: the author clearly read the review that asks what happens to Carl when they're not at the cottage. There's an entire LONG passage about how he likes the cottage yard better.
This book actually hurt to listen to. There were so many things that become so much more GLARINGLY obvious when you listen rather than skim the print edition, particularly the overuse of "just then" and people's first names in conversations.
Note: the author clearly read the review that asks what happens to Carl when they're not at the cottage. There's an entire LONG passage about how he likes the cottage yard better.
This book actually hurt to listen to. There were so many things that become so much more GLARINGLY obvious when you listen rather than skim the print edition, particularly the overuse of "just then" and people's first names in conversations.
July 27, 2018
http://openbooksociety.com/article/dy...
Dyeing Up Loose Ends
A Knitting Mystery, Book #16
By Maggie Sefton
ISBN 9780425282540
Author Website: maggiesefton(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Murder hits very close to home for Kelly Flynn and the Lambspun Knitters in the next New York Times bestselling mystery.
Four years have sped swiftly by, and Kelly Flynn and friends are all happily busy with children and careers. Baby Jack is now a rambunctious four-year-old preschooler who keeps Kelly on her toes. She needs all of the coffee she can drink at Pete’s Porch Café. Her friends at Lambspun knitting shop are all immersed in the wonderful world of fiber until they are shocked by the murder of one of the café’s lovable staff.
Kelly’s sleuthing instincts immediately go on full alert, and she starts asking questions. The well-liked waitress may have had enemies no one knew about or she could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly and the Lambspun crew soon learn that the answers are knottier and nastier than they ever dreamed. (Goodreads)
Review:
Kelly and her friends at Lambspun of Colorado have come a long way in the years since she first came to live in the little home she inherited from her Aunt Helen. The core group of friends are closer than ever, and most have small children of their own. Kelly and Steve are parents of a very busy four-year-old and they have busy careers. It is early summer, and many people are away. As a result, Lambspun is less busy than usual with regards to classes and various fiber arts. This is more of a relational and reminiscing novel, somewhat apropos when I learned it was also the final mystery in the series.
The first several chapters are spent with various people of the Lambspun family reminiscing about the mysteries that Kelly contributed to solving over the years and how people met and came together as families. Lambspun folks are not immune from tragedies, as they have pulled together over the years when one of their loved ones has been died, or even when customers were found guilty of murder.
Two weddings are anticipated to take place in the near future for two young couples close to the heart of Lambspun and Pete’s Porch Cafe, the restaurant part of the Lambspun building. One is planned thoroughly, even though it is hard to imagine that the two young people are old enough to wed. The other is not to be. One morning when Pete and Jennifer arrived to get the Cafe ready to open, one bride-to-be was found dead, shot, with the gun on the floorboard of her car. Horrified, it is hardest of all for Mimi, owner and manager of Lambspun, and Burt, her husband and a retired police detective, who have taken the younger couples into their hearts as if sons and daughters. Pete and Jennifer have also worked closely with the young woman for the past several years, and it is hard for them to re-open the cafe without their friend.
The characters have grown and changed over the years they have lived in Fort Collins, Colorado. They have been on softball and other teams together, helped each other and the greater community during times of disaster, and grown closer through both joys and tragedies. I enjoy seeing the women now as mothers learning to balance safe limits for their children without stunting their need to explore and try new things. Kelly is still a favorite; her son is now her most active sport. Mother Mimi is a favorite also, even though this time she is less visible. Cassie is a young favorite; watching her blossom under the care of her uncle, Pete, and Jennifer, his wife, has been amazing.
The death did not occur until well into the novel, much later than I would have anticipated, and I didn’t think that there was much time given to asking questions or looking for the bad guy amongst Kelly and the Gang as in the past. With young children, they are very busy, but I didn’t feel the mystery was adequately inquired about by police or the Gang. It wasn’t until much later that Kelly heard something that clicked her logical, questioning mind, something that made her, Burt, and the police take another look at events. Despite one other person who could have been involved, it was almost obvious who the bad guy/gal might be and who at least one of the red herrings was. While there were plot twists that helped change the course, there were not as many surprises as I anticipated.
When I opened this mystery, I was not prepared for it to be the final one in the series. I have enjoyed the realistic characters and the mysteries woven by an excellent author for a long time! I did miss the activity typical in the shop, reading about spinning or new craft classes, and some of the action outside the shop. I also missed having a full investigation occurring even through the grief and loss. That being said, the novel is still very well written, simply not as much about mystery as about relationship. These beautifully-drawn relationships have stood the test of time, and there is much to be learned from this series even as we puzzle over the murders and learn about various fiber arts. As one can see through the pages of memories, this is a series that will be read, re-read, and enjoyed for yarn lovers for some time to come.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Dyeing Up Loose Ends
A Knitting Mystery, Book #16
By Maggie Sefton
ISBN 9780425282540
Author Website: maggiesefton(.)com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
Murder hits very close to home for Kelly Flynn and the Lambspun Knitters in the next New York Times bestselling mystery.
Four years have sped swiftly by, and Kelly Flynn and friends are all happily busy with children and careers. Baby Jack is now a rambunctious four-year-old preschooler who keeps Kelly on her toes. She needs all of the coffee she can drink at Pete’s Porch Café. Her friends at Lambspun knitting shop are all immersed in the wonderful world of fiber until they are shocked by the murder of one of the café’s lovable staff.
Kelly’s sleuthing instincts immediately go on full alert, and she starts asking questions. The well-liked waitress may have had enemies no one knew about or she could have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly and the Lambspun crew soon learn that the answers are knottier and nastier than they ever dreamed. (Goodreads)
Review:
Kelly and her friends at Lambspun of Colorado have come a long way in the years since she first came to live in the little home she inherited from her Aunt Helen. The core group of friends are closer than ever, and most have small children of their own. Kelly and Steve are parents of a very busy four-year-old and they have busy careers. It is early summer, and many people are away. As a result, Lambspun is less busy than usual with regards to classes and various fiber arts. This is more of a relational and reminiscing novel, somewhat apropos when I learned it was also the final mystery in the series.
The first several chapters are spent with various people of the Lambspun family reminiscing about the mysteries that Kelly contributed to solving over the years and how people met and came together as families. Lambspun folks are not immune from tragedies, as they have pulled together over the years when one of their loved ones has been died, or even when customers were found guilty of murder.
Two weddings are anticipated to take place in the near future for two young couples close to the heart of Lambspun and Pete’s Porch Cafe, the restaurant part of the Lambspun building. One is planned thoroughly, even though it is hard to imagine that the two young people are old enough to wed. The other is not to be. One morning when Pete and Jennifer arrived to get the Cafe ready to open, one bride-to-be was found dead, shot, with the gun on the floorboard of her car. Horrified, it is hardest of all for Mimi, owner and manager of Lambspun, and Burt, her husband and a retired police detective, who have taken the younger couples into their hearts as if sons and daughters. Pete and Jennifer have also worked closely with the young woman for the past several years, and it is hard for them to re-open the cafe without their friend.
The characters have grown and changed over the years they have lived in Fort Collins, Colorado. They have been on softball and other teams together, helped each other and the greater community during times of disaster, and grown closer through both joys and tragedies. I enjoy seeing the women now as mothers learning to balance safe limits for their children without stunting their need to explore and try new things. Kelly is still a favorite; her son is now her most active sport. Mother Mimi is a favorite also, even though this time she is less visible. Cassie is a young favorite; watching her blossom under the care of her uncle, Pete, and Jennifer, his wife, has been amazing.
The death did not occur until well into the novel, much later than I would have anticipated, and I didn’t think that there was much time given to asking questions or looking for the bad guy amongst Kelly and the Gang as in the past. With young children, they are very busy, but I didn’t feel the mystery was adequately inquired about by police or the Gang. It wasn’t until much later that Kelly heard something that clicked her logical, questioning mind, something that made her, Burt, and the police take another look at events. Despite one other person who could have been involved, it was almost obvious who the bad guy/gal might be and who at least one of the red herrings was. While there were plot twists that helped change the course, there were not as many surprises as I anticipated.
When I opened this mystery, I was not prepared for it to be the final one in the series. I have enjoyed the realistic characters and the mysteries woven by an excellent author for a long time! I did miss the activity typical in the shop, reading about spinning or new craft classes, and some of the action outside the shop. I also missed having a full investigation occurring even through the grief and loss. That being said, the novel is still very well written, simply not as much about mystery as about relationship. These beautifully-drawn relationships have stood the test of time, and there is much to be learned from this series even as we puzzle over the murders and learn about various fiber arts. As one can see through the pages of memories, this is a series that will be read, re-read, and enjoyed for yarn lovers for some time to come.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
January 29, 2020
Too much reminiscing!! Whew!!
July 30, 2025
If you’ve made it this far in the series, you know these books haven’t been good since like 13 installments ago and we’re all here for collective self punishment. But man oh man, if you thought all the other ones were bad, this book was an insulting slap in the face to those who stuck it out to the end. Let me recount some of the atrocities Sefton committed for the grand finale:
1. The first TWENTY FOUR percent of the book is allllllll “recollecting” the previous 15 books and their various murders. This happens via various characters nonsensically wandering in and out of the knitting room taking over eachothers stories to tell Casie about all of the terrible things that’ve happened in Fort Connor while Cassie acts like she’s listening to a fictional podcast. I think he eyes “pop out of her head” and she “sits up straight” like 400 times in this part
2. The murder for this murder mystery novel doesn’t take place until we’re a record breaking FIFTY FOUR percent of the way into the story
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
3. we’ve had 15 other books now where a main cast of characters were established and they spend every waking moment watching/playing softball, eating pizza, and drinking fat tire ale. They work together, they live in the same neighborhood, they’re raising kids together. Suddenly, book FIFTEEN, poor waitress Julie who’s only ever been there to refill coffee-zombie Kelly’s mug, proclaims that this group of people are her best friends. WHAT??! So she’s been watching them all hang out without literally ever inviting her for a canonical FOURTEEN YEARS and she decides that these people are so precious to her that she needs to gift them her dead mothers heirloom jewelry?????
4. AND THEN THEY KILL HER OFF WHILE SHES PREGNANT??!!!
5. Cassie and Eric’s rushed 19 year old marriage just so they can move in together in college to *raises eyebrows* (eye roll) I know it happens irl all the time but come onnnnnn. Also obviously they’d end up together but we got 0 development of them actually dating in the books and then all of a sudden they’re getting married.
6. Julie’s #1 concern pre death was that they hide the jewelry from her brother so he wouldn’t sell it and then as soon as he asked for it they handed it over and made jokes about how fast he’d sell it off??? This was LITERALLY NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN
7. The big happy ending for the ENTIRE series was surprising Cassie and Eric with a one week cruise??? How boring!!
Maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic for being at the end but despite all these crimes I honestly thought this book was better written than the last few so overall I can’t bring myself to give it lower than 2 stars.
1. The first TWENTY FOUR percent of the book is allllllll “recollecting” the previous 15 books and their various murders. This happens via various characters nonsensically wandering in and out of the knitting room taking over eachothers stories to tell Casie about all of the terrible things that’ve happened in Fort Connor while Cassie acts like she’s listening to a fictional podcast. I think he eyes “pop out of her head” and she “sits up straight” like 400 times in this part
2. The murder for this murder mystery novel doesn’t take place until we’re a record breaking FIFTY FOUR percent of the way into the story
MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD
3. we’ve had 15 other books now where a main cast of characters were established and they spend every waking moment watching/playing softball, eating pizza, and drinking fat tire ale. They work together, they live in the same neighborhood, they’re raising kids together. Suddenly, book FIFTEEN, poor waitress Julie who’s only ever been there to refill coffee-zombie Kelly’s mug, proclaims that this group of people are her best friends. WHAT??! So she’s been watching them all hang out without literally ever inviting her for a canonical FOURTEEN YEARS and she decides that these people are so precious to her that she needs to gift them her dead mothers heirloom jewelry?????
4. AND THEN THEY KILL HER OFF WHILE SHES PREGNANT??!!!
5. Cassie and Eric’s rushed 19 year old marriage just so they can move in together in college to *raises eyebrows* (eye roll) I know it happens irl all the time but come onnnnnn. Also obviously they’d end up together but we got 0 development of them actually dating in the books and then all of a sudden they’re getting married.
6. Julie’s #1 concern pre death was that they hide the jewelry from her brother so he wouldn’t sell it and then as soon as he asked for it they handed it over and made jokes about how fast he’d sell it off??? This was LITERALLY NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN
7. The big happy ending for the ENTIRE series was surprising Cassie and Eric with a one week cruise??? How boring!!
Maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic for being at the end but despite all these crimes I honestly thought this book was better written than the last few so overall I can’t bring myself to give it lower than 2 stars.
December 28, 2022
It was noted that this could be read as a standalone book, even though it was a 16th of the series. First of all, I cannot believe somebody is reading 16 of these. I don’t know what the first 15 are like, and I have no intention of finding out. The first quarter of the book was just a bunch of women sitting around rehashing old murder tails. Very little character development and maybe that’s because all of that is done in earlier books, but that doesn’t both well for what should be a standalone. The characters were all completely basic, I had no way to really picture any of them in my mind based on the week descriptions. The conversations were all very dim and lacking any real feeling or emotion. All these comments about how the main character Kelly is crazy and wild when really she’s about as exciting as white toast. She’s apparently some kind of super sleuth with a good gut who helps the detectives, but really she sort of stumbles into information and accidentally overhears things that anybody could overhear. The actual mystery part doesn’t happen until the last three chapters and by then you’ve figured out what’s going on. This is so boring. I thought maybe it would be cute or even fun, but it was ridiculous. There was so much overuse of certain descriptive terms like “she took a deep drink of her coffee.” I’m pretty sure that was used about 20 times. I get it, she likes coffee, she drains it down. There are so many different ways to say this. How about every question was basic and everyone else’s answer was always.”Oh yes. “Oh wow.” And “oh my”. And if I had to read another line about how she fingered the wool, I would bash my face in. This was the most primitive writing I’ve read.
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