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Crochet Mystery #2
Dead Men Don't Crochet
The Tarzana Hookers are a motley crew of women, all of whom are not afraid to speak their minds. Except Sheila, a timid, anxiety-ridden crocheter in desperate need of money, who sells her beautiful scarves at a local consignment store. When the owner stiffs Sheila, the boisterous ladies rally to her support.
Then the shop owner is found dead. Molly Pink ignores the warnings from her homicide-detective boyfriend and sets out with her stitchmates to clear Sheila's name.
Then the shop owner is found dead. Molly Pink ignores the warnings from her homicide-detective boyfriend and sets out with her stitchmates to clear Sheila's name.
278 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 2, 2008
158 people are currently reading
1397 people want to read
About the author
Betty Hechtman
33 books713 followersI grew up on the south side of Chicago and in a very busy weekend, got married, graduated college and moved to Los Angeles.
Although my degree is in Fine Arts, all I ever wanted to be was a writer and I've been doing it in one form or another for as long as I can remember. My shining moments in elementary and high school always involved stories or poetry I'd written. I wrote news stories and a weekly column in my college newspaper. My first job out of college was working on the newsletter of a finance company. I worked for a public relations firm and wrote press releases and biographies. Later I wrote proposals for video projects and television shows that went through various stages of development.
I tried writing screenplays and wrote three. I sold one and another was a winner in a Writers' Digest contest.
I was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom and did all kinds of volunteering at my son's schools including editing and writing several newsletters.
I wrote essays and small pieces that ran in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News and Woman's Day among others. My short romantic and mystery fiction appeared in Woman's World, and Futures magazine.
From time I was a thirteen-year-old babysitter cooking for the kids I babysat, I dreamed of writing a book about babysitting. It took a little longer than I'd expected, but BLUE SCHWARTZ AND NEFERTITI'S NECKLACE was published in 2006.
My affair with crochet began in Las Vegas. I had always had a fascination with crochet, particularly granny squares, but thought there was some magic involved with making them that was beyond me. And then everything changed that day in Vegas when I saw the kids' kit in FAO Schwartz. If the instructions were easy enough for kids, I thought they might work for me.
My first granny square was missing a corner, but when I tried again, all four corners were there. I was in awe of my own accomplishment. I had found the magic. I went granny square crazy until pretty soon I didn't need directions anymore. Then I learned there were more squares than just basic grannies and I made squares with sunflowers in the middle and other patterns. I moved beyond squares and made flowers, hearts, bookmarks and more.
I was in love with crochet and began to make scarves, purses, afghans, and shawls. I started carrying my hooks everywhere. A plane trip became a pile of granny square wash cloths, or part of a shawl. A vacation in Hawaii turned into a tote bag.
And now I get to write about it...
** Sourced from authors website
Series:
* A Crochet Mystery
* Yarn Retreat
Although my degree is in Fine Arts, all I ever wanted to be was a writer and I've been doing it in one form or another for as long as I can remember. My shining moments in elementary and high school always involved stories or poetry I'd written. I wrote news stories and a weekly column in my college newspaper. My first job out of college was working on the newsletter of a finance company. I worked for a public relations firm and wrote press releases and biographies. Later I wrote proposals for video projects and television shows that went through various stages of development.
I tried writing screenplays and wrote three. I sold one and another was a winner in a Writers' Digest contest.
I was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom and did all kinds of volunteering at my son's schools including editing and writing several newsletters.
I wrote essays and small pieces that ran in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News and Woman's Day among others. My short romantic and mystery fiction appeared in Woman's World, and Futures magazine.
From time I was a thirteen-year-old babysitter cooking for the kids I babysat, I dreamed of writing a book about babysitting. It took a little longer than I'd expected, but BLUE SCHWARTZ AND NEFERTITI'S NECKLACE was published in 2006.
My affair with crochet began in Las Vegas. I had always had a fascination with crochet, particularly granny squares, but thought there was some magic involved with making them that was beyond me. And then everything changed that day in Vegas when I saw the kids' kit in FAO Schwartz. If the instructions were easy enough for kids, I thought they might work for me.
My first granny square was missing a corner, but when I tried again, all four corners were there. I was in awe of my own accomplishment. I had found the magic. I went granny square crazy until pretty soon I didn't need directions anymore. Then I learned there were more squares than just basic grannies and I made squares with sunflowers in the middle and other patterns. I moved beyond squares and made flowers, hearts, bookmarks and more.
I was in love with crochet and began to make scarves, purses, afghans, and shawls. I started carrying my hooks everywhere. A plane trip became a pile of granny square wash cloths, or part of a shawl. A vacation in Hawaii turned into a tote bag.
And now I get to write about it...
** Sourced from authors website
Series:
* A Crochet Mystery
* Yarn Retreat
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
May 25, 2017
This is the second book in the series and I like the characters and the crocheting. It's not too heavy on crochet terminology so even if you're not a crochet person you can enjoy it. The main character is Molly Pink and she is part of a crochet group that meets in the bookstore where she works. One of the group members is accused of murder and Molly sets out to solve the murder, once again running up against "Officer Heather" who is interested in Molly's boyfriend, another detective. I liked that this was a real who done it and I couldn't figure out the killer before it was revealed. I read a lot of cozy mysteries so I always enjoy when there are clues but the murderer isn't obvious. I have already downloaded the third book into my Kindle and will probably continue with this series.
July 4, 2016
Second verse same as the first with this book, it was just ok. I had a hard time connecting with the characters overall. Molly acts more like she's 20, instead of the late 40's widow she really is. Adele is a giant witch to everyone, and there is no real reason why given in the story. CeeCee's focused on being a celebrity, her good side, and her special makeup for television appearances, and it was old in the first book! Sheila's nice, but forgettable, as she doesn't stand up for herself much and is rather meek overall. Dinah's an enabler, and not in a good way. Don't even get me started on Barry, because he seems like he's using Molly more so than anything else, and she doesn't see it! It seems like every new member of the group seems to be evil in some way! It was too predictable! Thankfully, I got this from the library, but I'm not sure I'll be continuing after the next book.
December 8, 2019
Molly's "detecting" skills are put to the test when one of the crochet group is a person of interest in the murder of a local businessperson. Once again Detective Heather has tunnel vision when it comes to her investigation so Molly jumps in to find the real killer before her friend is hauled off to jail, but can she detect and keep herself from being offed in the process. A great plot wrapped around a group of unique and interesting characters to keep you invested in the outcome! I can't wait to hear what happens in the next audiobook in the series!
April 27, 2021
Not for me. Mystery was ok. Most of the men are asshats and they are excused repeatedly. Ugh. And enough with the fantasy that your average middle aged single woman has not just one hot guy chasing her, but 2.
Read
April 5, 2022Hits all of the tropes - craft store, cop boyfriend, lots of fun characters. See if you can figure it out before Molly Pink.
June 28, 2020
All the characters seemed to be extremely self absorbed in this one. Molly wants a relationship, but doesn't. Barry keeps coming over and letting himself in, even though it bothers her, because he wants a more committed relationship than she does. Her son Peter treats her like an imbecilic invalid who doesn't know how to take care of herself. Adele wants to run everything because she figures she is better than anyone. Patricia is going to be a councilman's wife and figures that she is the first lady of the city already and everyone is beneath her. It was all a bit much.
Sheila is a nervous wreck because she is owed money from one of the antique store dealers where she sells her handmade scarves and after a confrontation with him, he turns up dead in a soup bowl. Molly tries to get as much info about the crime scene as she can before they are all kicked out of it. Sheila is the prime suspect and Molly is trying to prove otherwise. She sticks her nose in a lot where it really should not go. I know this is a cozy mystery, but it was her attitude towards finding out who done it that really irked me. She felt that she was a detective on the case, and she should be able to interrogate people just because she read a book. UGH
Sheila is a nervous wreck because she is owed money from one of the antique store dealers where she sells her handmade scarves and after a confrontation with him, he turns up dead in a soup bowl. Molly tries to get as much info about the crime scene as she can before they are all kicked out of it. Sheila is the prime suspect and Molly is trying to prove otherwise. She sticks her nose in a lot where it really should not go. I know this is a cozy mystery, but it was her attitude towards finding out who done it that really irked me. She felt that she was a detective on the case, and she should be able to interrogate people just because she read a book. UGH
March 23, 2017
this is the 2nd book in this series and much better than the first. I love the character of Molly Pink. I understand how she feels about her dating life as well. She is a smart woman who somehow manages to figure out the 'who done it' while almost getting herself killed in the process. She has a grown son that I want to slap, but other than that, I like the books and the storylines of all the characters. Hope they continue to get better as I finish the series.
September 21, 2017
While I love these cozies, and enjoy mysteries in general, this particular one didn't thrill me. I had not figured it out, but there was a lot of distraction in side stories in this one, and the mystery didn't seem center stage. I have enjoyed this author, though, so will continue to read more by her.
October 27, 2022
I listened to the audio version again, I tried reading the book but found myself skimming. I enjoyed the first book a lot more than this one. Already it seems to have a pattern and I'm only on book 2 of the series. I felt annoyed with Molly several times while listening and thought she should just be minding her business.
The crochet group didn't feel as appealing to me as it did in the first book. I didn't particularly appreciate how Barry "manipulated" his way into Molly's house. I wanted Molly to speak up more than she did. And that dang Detective Heather, goodness....she apparently is not very good at her job.
Overall it was an ok read. I do think I will try the next one, but if it follows the "pattern" of the first two I'm not sure I'll continue after that.
Rating: PG -the topic of murder, closed-door bedroom scene
Language: clean read, I don't recall any bad language
Recommend: so so
The crochet group didn't feel as appealing to me as it did in the first book. I didn't particularly appreciate how Barry "manipulated" his way into Molly's house. I wanted Molly to speak up more than she did. And that dang Detective Heather, goodness....she apparently is not very good at her job.
Overall it was an ok read. I do think I will try the next one, but if it follows the "pattern" of the first two I'm not sure I'll continue after that.
Rating: PG -the topic of murder, closed-door bedroom scene
Language: clean read, I don't recall any bad language
Recommend: so so
April 30, 2009
Like I said in my initial review, this book is cheesy. Apparently it was the 2nd in a series, which I really don't think mattered. I don't plan on reading the first one & I don't plan on reading anymore either. The writing wasn't awful, but certainly more like a young adult novel, than a novel for the demographic I think the author was trying to reach. (The main character in the book was a 50 something year old widow...) All that being said, you didn't find out who the murderer was until the end of the book, and I was wrong as to who I thought it was. So the author did a good job surprising you. Even though it was a murder mystery, it served its purpose in providing me with an easy-read, "light" book to read after the intense story I read before this. As a crocheter not a knitter, I was happy for some love to the crocheters of the world! I knew the lingo & that's pretty cool.
November 30, 2019
Entitled & oddly clueless white woman spends a lot of energy judging others, especially their appearances. Behaves erratically & sometimes stupidly while attempting to sleuth. Has creepy cop boyfriend she keeps for the sex, & because it's nice to be wanted. Fails spectacularly at setting boundaries with boyfriend and with others. Neither the protagonist, nor any of the supporting characters, appear to be developing any significant depth.
Summary: Not worth reading just because I enjoy crochet, not when there are better mysteries out there.
Summary: Not worth reading just because I enjoy crochet, not when there are better mysteries out there.
December 14, 2016
The Tarzana Hookers, are not street ladies, but a crochet group.
April 24, 2025
#2 in the Crochet Mystery cozy series
It's been ages since I read the first book, but it was easy to pick up where I left off. Molly is a friendly character, working at the bookstore as well as participating with the Tarzana Hookers (crochet group). She's dating Barry, a detective, although he wants to push things along quicker than she does. When one of the crocheters has a fight with a man just before he is murdered, Molly gets involved in the investigation to help her friend. I liked that she just asked questions, and she was persistent enough to be pretty annoying. Her friend Dinah isn't much help this time since she's dealing with her ex-husband and his (not hers) young children. As previously, Molly has to deal with Adele, a pushy employee at the bookstore, as well as CeeCee, the leader of the group. It was fun to learn a little bit about crocheting (this time they're making shawls for a women's shelter) while discovering more about the murder. Light, not complicated, just the thing for a warm spring day's reading.
It's been ages since I read the first book, but it was easy to pick up where I left off. Molly is a friendly character, working at the bookstore as well as participating with the Tarzana Hookers (crochet group). She's dating Barry, a detective, although he wants to push things along quicker than she does. When one of the crocheters has a fight with a man just before he is murdered, Molly gets involved in the investigation to help her friend. I liked that she just asked questions, and she was persistent enough to be pretty annoying. Her friend Dinah isn't much help this time since she's dealing with her ex-husband and his (not hers) young children. As previously, Molly has to deal with Adele, a pushy employee at the bookstore, as well as CeeCee, the leader of the group. It was fun to learn a little bit about crocheting (this time they're making shawls for a women's shelter) while discovering more about the murder. Light, not complicated, just the thing for a warm spring day's reading.
February 15, 2021
These are solid for what they are: light, escapist reads. I would like to see Molly make better choices with her sleuthing. One quibble with this book is that while extended stitches are used to create a foundation row, you can't actual make a fountain row just using extended stitches. Instead there's a whole technique, which is why patterns refer to a first row that creates the chain as you make the stitches as a foundation row. And while it wasn't clear if they thought extended stitches can be used in other rows, they certainly can be.
January 9, 2024
I really like the idea of a crocheting group that meets at a bookstore - sign me up! The characters in this series are pretty stereotypical, but the different personalities find common ground (and stress relief, and service opportunities, etc.) in crafting, and there's a mystery. As for now, that's enough to keep me listening to these while sewing, cleaning, or (wait for it...) crocheting.
November 11, 2019
Enjoyable cozy... I like the characters in this series quite a lot!
January 16, 2022
Quick Murder mysteries. It was enjoyable, writing is so so. Like how it ties in crochet
March 3, 2023
This is a cute cozy mystery series that keeps me guessing.
March 14, 2024
3.75 ⭐️
January 21, 2024
The main character is quite reckless, the main love interest kind of sucks, but honestly I don’t even care because these books as a whole are just so delightful.
February 3, 2020
This is my second time reading it, the first I wasn't as active on here so I'm trying to update missing ratings and adding reviews.
I came across this series while looking for crochet patterns and it looked interesting, I've read up to If Hooks Could Kill which is the 7th in the series. There's a recently released 12th book, On the Hook, and number 13, Hooks Can Be Deceiving, is scheduled for this winter. I should probably catch up.
It's about Molly Pink, widowed with two grown sons, who works in a bookshop and is also part of the local crochet group called "The Tarzana Hookers". Each book comes with crochet patterns and cooking recipes. I like trying out the patterns but I don't think I'll be making this shawl, I'm more for small projects.
Molly almost never has a nice word for Adele. She obviously wants a promotion, one that could endanger Molly's place in the store, and she can be pushy about it but why criticize all her outfits, hairstyles and makeup choices as well? The book is in first person so this is meant to be Molly's personal opinion, and she seem to think everything looks bad on her, I wonder if her dislike for the person make them sound harsher than needed.
I don't like Barry, Molly's boyfriend, he's demanding, jealous and controlling. Molly keeps telling him she's not ready for a serious relationship, he keeps pushing and she's too naive to effectively block him. He's not even useful. Personally I'm rooting for Mason, he's likeable, understanding and also Peter (Molly's eldest son) approved.
I came across this series while looking for crochet patterns and it looked interesting, I've read up to If Hooks Could Kill which is the 7th in the series. There's a recently released 12th book, On the Hook, and number 13, Hooks Can Be Deceiving, is scheduled for this winter. I should probably catch up.
It's about Molly Pink, widowed with two grown sons, who works in a bookshop and is also part of the local crochet group called "The Tarzana Hookers". Each book comes with crochet patterns and cooking recipes. I like trying out the patterns but I don't think I'll be making this shawl, I'm more for small projects.
Molly almost never has a nice word for Adele. She obviously wants a promotion, one that could endanger Molly's place in the store, and she can be pushy about it but why criticize all her outfits, hairstyles and makeup choices as well? The book is in first person so this is meant to be Molly's personal opinion, and she seem to think everything looks bad on her, I wonder if her dislike for the person make them sound harsher than needed.
I don't like Barry, Molly's boyfriend, he's demanding, jealous and controlling. Molly keeps telling him she's not ready for a serious relationship, he keeps pushing and she's too naive to effectively block him. He's not even useful. Personally I'm rooting for Mason, he's likeable, understanding and also Peter (Molly's eldest son) approved.
January 23, 2017
Dead Men Don't Crochet is the second book in the Crochet Mystery cozy mystery series. Y'all have heard of "cozy mysteries," right? Murder mysteries minus any gore? They're often lacking in sex and language, also, making these pretty safe books to hand to Grandma. I enjoy them as little breaks in more intense reading. Also, two of the first adult book series I ever read were cozy mysteries! (Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries by Tamar Myers (and my first author meet-and-greet) and the "Cat Who" series by Lillian Jackson Braun.)
This cozy mystery series follows Molly Pink, an upper-middle-aged widow who manages events for a local bookstore, including leading the crochet group that meets there. They make things to donate to local charities. In her free time, she gets herself mixed up in murder mysteries around town.
In this volume, there's been a murder in a local shop, and one of the Tarzana Hookers is suspected of the murder! Molly jumps right in with investigating. Hijinks ensue. These cozy mysteries are a little predictable... but that's ok. That's why they're cozy!
I can't resist this little teaser: while dead men do not, in fact, crochet... some very unexpected men do! You won't believe what man ends up crocheting in Dead Men Don't Crochet. ;)
I listened to the audiobook version of Dead Men Don't Crochet. I didn't really connect with the narrator... I can't put my finger on anything in particular that was wrong, but it just wasn't quite right, either. Maybe it's just me.
This cozy mystery series follows Molly Pink, an upper-middle-aged widow who manages events for a local bookstore, including leading the crochet group that meets there. They make things to donate to local charities. In her free time, she gets herself mixed up in murder mysteries around town.
In this volume, there's been a murder in a local shop, and one of the Tarzana Hookers is suspected of the murder! Molly jumps right in with investigating. Hijinks ensue. These cozy mysteries are a little predictable... but that's ok. That's why they're cozy!
I can't resist this little teaser: while dead men do not, in fact, crochet... some very unexpected men do! You won't believe what man ends up crocheting in Dead Men Don't Crochet. ;)
I listened to the audiobook version of Dead Men Don't Crochet. I didn't really connect with the narrator... I can't put my finger on anything in particular that was wrong, but it just wasn't quite right, either. Maybe it's just me.
January 10, 2015
January 10, 2015: So I read this book again because I actually started the series from the beginning. What a difference it made! I increased it to a 3-star rating (might have been four, but you know, these ratings are always so subjective anyway, right?). So my advice: start with book one and then read book two as it's much easier to keep track of who's who, although I still don't understand the whole anti-knit sentiment by hookers. How else would I create a provisional cast on if I didn't use crochet? Respect the craft, people.
Jan 6, 2009: All-in-all, this book was lacking something. The much-discussed animosity between crocheters and knitters caught me by surprise. Really? The two groups are at odds? The character Adele who is a rabid anti-knitter, hates them so much that people have to hide the fact that they knit. Now that is a bit over-the-top. Too many characters to remember, too many moments where the protagonist feels as if she is the only one who can solve a mystery - it got kind of old from the beginning.
Jan 6, 2009: All-in-all, this book was lacking something. The much-discussed animosity between crocheters and knitters caught me by surprise. Really? The two groups are at odds? The character Adele who is a rabid anti-knitter, hates them so much that people have to hide the fact that they knit. Now that is a bit over-the-top. Too many characters to remember, too many moments where the protagonist feels as if she is the only one who can solve a mystery - it got kind of old from the beginning.
August 8, 2011
Dead Men Don't Crochet is the 2nd in the The Crochet Mystery series by Betty Hechtman.
I think this review by Judith Libby from the Amazon page says it all:
"This second-in-a-series of Molly Pink crochet murder mysteries is a delight. The characters are believable, and Molly herself is an adroit observer of life and its many layers. I especially enjoy how the characters interact and deal with the outside tugs at their lives. Crisply written for an entirely enjoyable read. Can't wait for the third installment."
I totally agree!
I think this review by Judith Libby from the Amazon page says it all:
"This second-in-a-series of Molly Pink crochet murder mysteries is a delight. The characters are believable, and Molly herself is an adroit observer of life and its many layers. I especially enjoy how the characters interact and deal with the outside tugs at their lives. Crisply written for an entirely enjoyable read. Can't wait for the third installment."
I totally agree!
November 21, 2020
This was another fun adventure following Molly Pink in her antics. The characters are absolutely ridiculous and I can't decide if Molly is likeable or annoying. I'm so entertained by the crochet group members and was actually surprised by the resolution to the murder mystery in this one. I related to Molly's first experience with thread crochet, but was dismayed to see errors in the included crochet pattern at the end of the book. Overall this is not the best book I've ever read, but will continue with the entire series for the hilarity and crochet related stories.
October 19, 2012
Molly Pink is my kind of character. She seemed like a normal person. Her group of friends from the crochet group reminded me a bit of my friends and a couple of co-workers. The pace of the story as it developed was good. I liked that the characters had a little bit of "meat" or realism to them. This is an author who I will be looking for in the future. I was surprised at who the culprit was. No I'm not going to tell you. You'll have to read the book to find out. Yeah, I know I'm evil.
October 14, 2010
Good read, I enjoyed the character Molly Pink, and like her I rip out as many "stitches of despair" as I complete. Book also contains a pattern for a shawl and Molly's cheesecake cupcakes, as girl after my own heart. Oh and she owns a terrier mix.
August 17, 2024
Source: Libby
Content warnings: eating disorders, fatphobia
This is the third book I have read in the series (I started out of order). For the most part, I find these fun and easy to read. I am starting to notice a pattern/formula:
-Adele and the whole crochet vs. knitting war/drama
-The cops usually go way overboard to something Molly does, often involving a bunch of police cars and a "thwacking" helicopter. They must be really bored or something!
-At least one event at the bookstore where things get out of control but it ends up working out
-Molly makes questionable choices with her snooping around and has to hide somewhere ridiculous and almost gets caught
-A crocheted item ends up being an important clue in the mystery
-Subplots involving the crochet group's current project they are making for charity and Molly's love/family/friend life
I have kinda learned to just go along with Molly's antics even though they can occasionally be cringey. I mostly like following her as a main character although her narration does seem a bit unreliable for Adele. I think she was being unnecessarily harsh in some situations.
There is still a lot of weight/diet talk in this one including a dancer struggling with pressure to lose weight and a possible eating disorder. This serious subject felt a little jarring when contrasted with Cee Cee's more joking attitude towards being a dessert addict. There is also a weird bias against using anxiety meds in this series (with Sheila's boyfriend wanting her to try them being seen as a bad thing). Of course, everyone's situation is unique, but as someone who has been massively helped by psych meds, I don't like seeing this attitude still going around without being challenged.
As far as the mystery goes, I thought it was well done with clues woven in (like that ) I did end up being somewhat surprised by the killer this time, although like book 1, they were on my radar as I knew they did not appear in the later book in the series I read. One plot hole is that I thought
One of my issues with starting later in the series was there were too many characters and I had a hard time keeping them all straight. Fortunately, going back, they are getting introduced more slowly and we get more time with each one which helps.
I really like how Hechtman describes outfits and buildings/rooms. It makes it fun to imagine. In general I like the balance of mystery stuff and other plots in these.
Unfortunately the editing was pretty bad for a tradpub book. Lots of typos and incorrect word usage. Bummer!
Diversity report: Unfortunately I think basically all the characters in this book are white and straight, except for Cee Cee's maid (except I guess Eduardo is Irish/Latino). There weren't any random transphobic comments in this one, thankfully, but there is kinda a weird bit where a character lies about a man being gay because she doesn't want Molly hitting on him. And then there are 2 gay couples (a male one and a female one) used as props for a political commercial. That's about it!
Content warnings: eating disorders, fatphobia
This is the third book I have read in the series (I started out of order). For the most part, I find these fun and easy to read. I am starting to notice a pattern/formula:
-Adele and the whole crochet vs. knitting war/drama
-The cops usually go way overboard to something Molly does, often involving a bunch of police cars and a "thwacking" helicopter. They must be really bored or something!
-At least one event at the bookstore where things get out of control but it ends up working out
-Molly makes questionable choices with her snooping around and has to hide somewhere ridiculous and almost gets caught
-A crocheted item ends up being an important clue in the mystery
-Subplots involving the crochet group's current project they are making for charity and Molly's love/family/friend life
I have kinda learned to just go along with Molly's antics even though they can occasionally be cringey. I mostly like following her as a main character although her narration does seem a bit unreliable for Adele. I think she was being unnecessarily harsh in some situations.
There is still a lot of weight/diet talk in this one including a dancer struggling with pressure to lose weight and a possible eating disorder. This serious subject felt a little jarring when contrasted with Cee Cee's more joking attitude towards being a dessert addict. There is also a weird bias against using anxiety meds in this series (with Sheila's boyfriend wanting her to try them being seen as a bad thing). Of course, everyone's situation is unique, but as someone who has been massively helped by psych meds, I don't like seeing this attitude still going around without being challenged.
As far as the mystery goes, I thought it was well done with clues woven in (like that ) I did end up being somewhat surprised by the killer this time, although like book 1, they were on my radar as I knew they did not appear in the later book in the series I read. One plot hole is that I thought
One of my issues with starting later in the series was there were too many characters and I had a hard time keeping them all straight. Fortunately, going back, they are getting introduced more slowly and we get more time with each one which helps.
I really like how Hechtman describes outfits and buildings/rooms. It makes it fun to imagine. In general I like the balance of mystery stuff and other plots in these.
Unfortunately the editing was pretty bad for a tradpub book. Lots of typos and incorrect word usage. Bummer!
Diversity report: Unfortunately I think basically all the characters in this book are white and straight, except for Cee Cee's maid (except I guess Eduardo is Irish/Latino). There weren't any random transphobic comments in this one, thankfully, but there is kinda a weird bit where a character lies about a man being gay because she doesn't want Molly hitting on him. And then there are 2 gay couples (a male one and a female one) used as props for a political commercial. That's about it!
July 1, 2021
I am feeling a bit gross reading this book. There are some weird fetish things going on. In both book one and book two, our protagonist is handcuffed and treated badly by the police. In book one, it was the opening scene and was part of the plot that she was the main suspect. In book two, she is spying on someone she suspects of the murder and they call the popo on her, hence her being ordered out of her car, patted down etc. What makes me feel a little icky inside is how the author goes to great lengths to explain how Molly submits to the police. It's like reading a clean version of an S&M porn. It's very Fifty Shades. Molly throws her hands up in the air when they command her to. She slaps her hands down on the car hood when ordered to. They pat her down and she submits to it. Not to mention, they sent seven patrol cars and a helicopter to take her down when all she was doing was sitting in her car outside the guy's house.
Her relationship with the detective Barry is also creepy. She refuses to make any kind of commitment to him, even keeping her options open with another man. Barry eventually confronts her about this other man, and she admits there is a little sumthin sumthin with guy #2, although she hasn't acted on it yet. Instead of telling her what he wants from the relationship and/or leaving until she gets her sh*t together, Barry starts kissing her. *barf*
There is nothing attractive about Barry. In book one he was portrayed as a real catch, but in book two all he does is intrude on her home and keep telling her that she is stupid/wrong/dumb for trying to investigate the murder. Why would you stay with a man who discounts your every intuition and doesn't want you to pursue your own interests. Not to mention he is a police officer and refuses to help her in any way. He won't even relay information to the actual detective on the case.
There is also way too much talk about fat/thin/eating/not eating and all of it is extremely judgemental. Molly's son has a girlfriend who is a dancer and she is very thin. Of course Molly immediately jumps to the conclusion that the girl has an eating disorder. It is not possible in this world to be thin and athletic and watch what you eat without being anorexic, right? In one scene, the girl is heading to a dance class and Molly actually tells us that the girl is overdoing exercise. Molly makes some delicious meal while the girlfriend nukes a low cal meal and Molly is convinced that if she just had a little more time she could get the girl to eat her high cal meal. Like wtf Molly. Mind your own GD business. That girl's body and fitness routine are exactly 0% your business.
I actually enjoyed book one and liked the crochet aspects of it, but I am so fully barfed-out by book 2 and its weird S&M vibe that I will not be reading any more. I know of lots of cosy characters that have the cop boyfriend trope without making the protagonist a useless rag and a tease.
Her relationship with the detective Barry is also creepy. She refuses to make any kind of commitment to him, even keeping her options open with another man. Barry eventually confronts her about this other man, and she admits there is a little sumthin sumthin with guy #2, although she hasn't acted on it yet. Instead of telling her what he wants from the relationship and/or leaving until she gets her sh*t together, Barry starts kissing her. *barf*
There is nothing attractive about Barry. In book one he was portrayed as a real catch, but in book two all he does is intrude on her home and keep telling her that she is stupid/wrong/dumb for trying to investigate the murder. Why would you stay with a man who discounts your every intuition and doesn't want you to pursue your own interests. Not to mention he is a police officer and refuses to help her in any way. He won't even relay information to the actual detective on the case.
There is also way too much talk about fat/thin/eating/not eating and all of it is extremely judgemental. Molly's son has a girlfriend who is a dancer and she is very thin. Of course Molly immediately jumps to the conclusion that the girl has an eating disorder. It is not possible in this world to be thin and athletic and watch what you eat without being anorexic, right? In one scene, the girl is heading to a dance class and Molly actually tells us that the girl is overdoing exercise. Molly makes some delicious meal while the girlfriend nukes a low cal meal and Molly is convinced that if she just had a little more time she could get the girl to eat her high cal meal. Like wtf Molly. Mind your own GD business. That girl's body and fitness routine are exactly 0% your business.
I actually enjoyed book one and liked the crochet aspects of it, but I am so fully barfed-out by book 2 and its weird S&M vibe that I will not be reading any more. I know of lots of cosy characters that have the cop boyfriend trope without making the protagonist a useless rag and a tease.
July 11, 2025
"Dead Men Don't Crochet," the second book in Betty Hechtman's Crochet Mystery series, dives back into the world of Molly Pink and her crochet group, the Tarzana Hookers. This time, the focus is on Sheila, a timid member who gets stiffed by the owner of a local consignment store where she sells her beautiful scarves. When that shop owner turns up dead, and Sheila becomes a suspect, Molly and her outspoken stitchmates step up to clear her name.
The charm of this series definitely lies with the Tarzana Hookers themselves. They're a "motley crew" of women who aren't shy about speaking their minds, which makes for some entertaining dialogue and a strong sense of community among them. Molly's determination to help her friend, even against the warnings of her homicide-detective boyfriend, provides a clear drive for the plot. The crocheting elements are woven throughout the story, giving it that distinct cozy mystery feel that fans of craft-based series enjoy.
However, while the characters are endearing and the premise sets up a good reason for the Hookers to get involved, the mystery itself felt a bit underdeveloped for me. The investigation, as Molly and her friends go about clearing Sheila's name, didn't offer as many surprising turns or complex red herrings as I usually hope for. The path to discovering the killer felt a little too straightforward, and the overall tension didn't quite build to a satisfying "aha!" moment. It's a pleasant enough read, but the whodunit aspect didn't fully engage me.
Ultimately, "Dead Men Don't Crochet" is a cozy mystery that delivers on its promise of charming characters and a comfortable setting for crochet enthusiasts. While the overall narrative is enjoyable, the central murder plot didn't offer the layers of intrigue or unexpected developments that would have made it a stronger read for me.
★★★☆☆
#DeadMenDontCrochet #BettyHechtman #CrochetMystery #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #Crochet #TarzanaHookers #AmateurSleuth #SmallTownMystery #Whodunnit #CraftMystery
The charm of this series definitely lies with the Tarzana Hookers themselves. They're a "motley crew" of women who aren't shy about speaking their minds, which makes for some entertaining dialogue and a strong sense of community among them. Molly's determination to help her friend, even against the warnings of her homicide-detective boyfriend, provides a clear drive for the plot. The crocheting elements are woven throughout the story, giving it that distinct cozy mystery feel that fans of craft-based series enjoy.
However, while the characters are endearing and the premise sets up a good reason for the Hookers to get involved, the mystery itself felt a bit underdeveloped for me. The investigation, as Molly and her friends go about clearing Sheila's name, didn't offer as many surprising turns or complex red herrings as I usually hope for. The path to discovering the killer felt a little too straightforward, and the overall tension didn't quite build to a satisfying "aha!" moment. It's a pleasant enough read, but the whodunit aspect didn't fully engage me.
Ultimately, "Dead Men Don't Crochet" is a cozy mystery that delivers on its promise of charming characters and a comfortable setting for crochet enthusiasts. While the overall narrative is enjoyable, the central murder plot didn't offer the layers of intrigue or unexpected developments that would have made it a stronger read for me.
★★★☆☆
#DeadMenDontCrochet #BettyHechtman #CrochetMystery #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #Crochet #TarzanaHookers #AmateurSleuth #SmallTownMystery #Whodunnit #CraftMystery
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