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Bait & Stitch Cozy Mystery #3
A Double-Pointed Murder
Double Pointed Knitting Needle Becomes Murder Weapon in the Cozy Mystery, A DOUBLE POINTED MURDER by Ann Yost
Red Jacket, Michigan, On the Keweenaw Peninsula
When Cricket Koski, a barmaid from the Black Fly, is stabbed to death with a double-pointed knitting needle on New Year’s Eve and deposited in the bed of Lars Teljo, it's up to Hatti Lehtinen to exonerate her ex-brother-in-law. It’s not that Hatti, who runs a fishing-slash-knitting supply shop, is a trained detective. It’s just that Sheriff Clump considers his collar a slam dunk because an affair between Lars and Cricket three years earlier has made him vulnerable to blackmail.
But there's a problem…
Everyone in the tiny, Finnish-American town on the Keweenaw Peninsula has to wear more than one hat and, as acting president of the chamber of commerce, Hatti has to host a quintet of television personalities who arrive unexpectedly to film an Antiques Roadshow knockoff called What’s in Your Attic? What’s in the local attics are pieces of Nazi memorabilia from Finland’s World War II partnership with Hitler and when a letter disclosing the existence of a piece of Nazi artwork is discovered, all attention turns to trying to find the masterpiece.
Hatti begins to suspect there’s a connection between the arrival of the newcomers and the death of Cricket Koski and after a second shocking murder, she is sure of it. The only question is, which one of them did it? And, since double-pointed needles are packaged in sets of four, does that mean there are two murders still to come?
Publisher's Note: Fans of Joanne Fluke, Mildred Abbott and CeeCee James will enjoy this trip to the U.P of Michigan filled with pets, food, knitting and fun. While you don’t need to be a knitter to enjoy this series, you just might pick up a fun and rewarding hobby in addition to enjoying a thoroughly delightful, clean and wholesome, mystery with a good dose of humor
"Yost provides an entertaining combination of mystery and romance with a dose of Finnish tradition." ~Kirkus Review
The BAIT & STITCH SERIES:
A Pattern for Murder
A Double-Pointed Murder
A Fair Isle Murder
Red Jacket, Michigan, On the Keweenaw Peninsula
When Cricket Koski, a barmaid from the Black Fly, is stabbed to death with a double-pointed knitting needle on New Year’s Eve and deposited in the bed of Lars Teljo, it's up to Hatti Lehtinen to exonerate her ex-brother-in-law. It’s not that Hatti, who runs a fishing-slash-knitting supply shop, is a trained detective. It’s just that Sheriff Clump considers his collar a slam dunk because an affair between Lars and Cricket three years earlier has made him vulnerable to blackmail.
But there's a problem…
Everyone in the tiny, Finnish-American town on the Keweenaw Peninsula has to wear more than one hat and, as acting president of the chamber of commerce, Hatti has to host a quintet of television personalities who arrive unexpectedly to film an Antiques Roadshow knockoff called What’s in Your Attic? What’s in the local attics are pieces of Nazi memorabilia from Finland’s World War II partnership with Hitler and when a letter disclosing the existence of a piece of Nazi artwork is discovered, all attention turns to trying to find the masterpiece.
Hatti begins to suspect there’s a connection between the arrival of the newcomers and the death of Cricket Koski and after a second shocking murder, she is sure of it. The only question is, which one of them did it? And, since double-pointed needles are packaged in sets of four, does that mean there are two murders still to come?
Publisher's Note: Fans of Joanne Fluke, Mildred Abbott and CeeCee James will enjoy this trip to the U.P of Michigan filled with pets, food, knitting and fun. While you don’t need to be a knitter to enjoy this series, you just might pick up a fun and rewarding hobby in addition to enjoying a thoroughly delightful, clean and wholesome, mystery with a good dose of humor
"Yost provides an entertaining combination of mystery and romance with a dose of Finnish tradition." ~Kirkus Review
The BAIT & STITCH SERIES:
A Pattern for Murder
A Double-Pointed Murder
A Fair Isle Murder
266 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 30, 2019
129 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Ann Yost
11 books65 followersAnn’s hometown is Ann Arbor, Michigan and she is a graduate from the University of Michigan. She spent ten years as a reporter for three daily newspapers in Michigan and, not surprisingly, she wound up married to a journalist and moving with him to the Washington D.C. area. Although a hard-news reporter, she preferred to write features. She especially enjoyed writing a column about her first year of marriage (I Did, I Did) as it allowed her to dispense with strict accuracy. She has written for the Washington Post about her harrowing experiences as a substitute teacher and a little league umpire. Ann's passions, in addition to reading and writing, include her grown children, tiny grandchildren, dogs, friends, spending time with her recently retired husband, avoiding housework and naps.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 19, 2019
Excellent, quirky unusual setting with likeable characters. But Am I missing a book? There are references to a previous murder with the body found in the morgue and to Hatti's estranged husband's discovery of his parentage - is there another in the series not on Kindle? I found it annoying.
April 10, 2019
Hatti Lehtinen runs her family's bait and stitch store, fishing and knitting store in the Red Jacket a Finnish-American town. In this book Cricket Koski is murdered. Hatti becomes a sleuth and tries to help find out who killed her because her brother in Law is the only suspect that the Sheriff has. Since he has Lars he does not feel the need to look any further. In the meantime a TV antiques show has come to town and is stirring up problems. They are asking for Nazi memorabilia and having people digging up stuff in their attics and bring up a whole new mystery of a letter with hidden information. Another murder happens and they wonder if it is just coincidence that the TV show crew shows up after the first murder and are there for the 2nd. Hatti just cannot stay away from the investigation and helps figure out several mysteries in this cozy mystery.
I am looking forward to more books in this series. I like most of the regular characters.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own
I am looking forward to more books in this series. I like most of the regular characters.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own
March 6, 2020
Hatti is still suffering over her husband - the estranged Jace Nightwind. But she has got several men, that if not for Jace, she might get involved. As she is visiting her friend, Elli, at the B&B, a car pulls up with five people. It turns out the mayor Arvo has set up a TV show to film their pilot in Red Jacket - but has forgotten to mention this detail to the members of the town council. Since Arvo is not there, Hatti has to deal with them. They are filming a show similar to Antiques Roadshow, but in small towns to see what people have in their attic. Unfortunately, the host fixes on the Finnish connection to Germany in WW II. - not a popular subject. But people dutifully hunt through the attics for stuff.
And a letter from a man sent to Germany as a diplomat from Finland to his aunt stirs up a lot of curiosity - and murder with double pointed knitting needles.
There is quite a gap between events in the first book and this one that is not covered ecept for glancing references here and there. In fact, I skimmed through the first book to make sure I hadn't missed this info. It's left a sort of gap in the story with the reader feeling a little lost on events.
And a letter from a man sent to Germany as a diplomat from Finland to his aunt stirs up a lot of curiosity - and murder with double pointed knitting needles.
There is quite a gap between events in the first book and this one that is not covered ecept for glancing references here and there. In fact, I skimmed through the first book to make sure I hadn't missed this info. It's left a sort of gap in the story with the reader feeling a little lost on events.
October 2, 2025
I wanted more of the story of the h's sister and her ex, but very little of the storyline was on that. At the end of book 1 it led you to believe it would be. Plus, near the end of this story, Lars totally disappeared and we are left hanging what happened to him.
Several topics would start, and nothing became of them or just lightly touched on. From book 1 the funeral director's wife is convicted of murder, but nothing is mentioned of him being distressed, or what charges the wife got. Then a character from book 1 gets a girl pregnant and is to be married to another and we are left hanging of that outcome. Did the girlfriend cancel the wedding? When none of this was told in book 1, I thought for sure it would be mentioned in book 2 - nope. I dislike lose ends and will not be continuing the series.
I will say this is a unique storyline. It's a clean story with only kisses, little on romance, couple murders and many suspects. The ending was unexpected, and I liked to twist.
No cheating, no cliffhanger but lose ends, HEA and clean. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide whether to purchase. (ljb)
Several topics would start, and nothing became of them or just lightly touched on. From book 1 the funeral director's wife is convicted of murder, but nothing is mentioned of him being distressed, or what charges the wife got. Then a character from book 1 gets a girl pregnant and is to be married to another and we are left hanging of that outcome. Did the girlfriend cancel the wedding? When none of this was told in book 1, I thought for sure it would be mentioned in book 2 - nope. I dislike lose ends and will not be continuing the series.
I will say this is a unique storyline. It's a clean story with only kisses, little on romance, couple murders and many suspects. The ending was unexpected, and I liked to twist.
No cheating, no cliffhanger but lose ends, HEA and clean. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide whether to purchase. (ljb)
April 9, 2019
I really enjoy this cozy mystery series. The characters are amusing, the setting is unique and rich in the quirks of small town life. The mystery kept me guessing. The background subject matter Hitler, the Nazis and WWII was treated respectfully as it deserves but with enough humor mixed in fitting of the cozy genre. While the mystery plot of this book is complete I would recommend reading the series in order. Much of the background of the characters is explained in more detail there and while it’s not impossible to figure out relationships it’s much easier if you’ve read the other first. All in all a fun read and an excellent mystery. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
March 24, 2019
Another wonderful story by Ann Yost. Follow Hatti as she tries to sort the truth from the red herrings when a couple of murders occur in the town while a film crew are trying to film a pilot episode of an antiques show.
As always the characters are brilliantly written and the descriptions of the area, towns and buildings paint a vivid picture.
I recieved a copy of this book from ebook discovery in exchange for a freely given, honest review.
As always the characters are brilliantly written and the descriptions of the area, towns and buildings paint a vivid picture.
I recieved a copy of this book from ebook discovery in exchange for a freely given, honest review.
July 18, 2025
Fun Series
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books. The knitting titles caught my attention but the delightful setting in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan has kept me reading. I love the insights into the Finnish community. The mysteries are entertaining. I have to say the various inhabits of the books must have incredible metabolisms to eat the way the do and still fit through the doors! I feel like I gain weight just reading but it doesn’t stop my mouth from watering.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books. The knitting titles caught my attention but the delightful setting in the Upper Pennisula of Michigan has kept me reading. I love the insights into the Finnish community. The mysteries are entertaining. I have to say the various inhabits of the books must have incredible metabolisms to eat the way the do and still fit through the doors! I feel like I gain weight just reading but it doesn’t stop my mouth from watering.
July 18, 2019
Finnish Fun
I was a bit worried that between the murder mystery, the tv show, the conflict of a possible Finnish and Nazi correlation, and all of this in a small town, would just be too much to follow, but it really tied together quite wonderfully. The characters are well written, and the plot is fantastic. I highly recommend this series.
I was a bit worried that between the murder mystery, the tv show, the conflict of a possible Finnish and Nazi correlation, and all of this in a small town, would just be too much to follow, but it really tied together quite wonderfully. The characters are well written, and the plot is fantastic. I highly recommend this series.
May 9, 2021
The Missing Monet
When a film company comes to town to put the town on the map, Hattie, as acting Mayor, has to entertain and help them. When a dead body shows up in her ex-brother-in-law’s bed, she has another murder to solve and her husband shows up to help. Quirky characters and twists and turns.
When a film company comes to town to put the town on the map, Hattie, as acting Mayor, has to entertain and help them. When a dead body shows up in her ex-brother-in-law’s bed, she has another murder to solve and her husband shows up to help. Quirky characters and twists and turns.
October 1, 2023
Wor.d War II mystery
The finding of a letter from a relative during the war hinted towards a treasure in the attic of one of the UP michigan's homes. This leads to more mystery and death.
The finding of a letter from a relative during the war hinted towards a treasure in the attic of one of the UP michigan's homes. This leads to more mystery and death.
January 9, 2024
An interesting murder mystery set in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Lots of historical details about the Finish people who settled the area. The murder mystery is good as well. The pace of the book is a little slow at least for me. Interesting area and interesting characters.
May 25, 2025
another good book in the series! I can hardly wait for the next one. but...in the first book, Hatti has 2 dogs. then in the second, she has one. where's the poodle? in the third, the dog is now her Pops'. read it anyway.
August 14, 2019
Great read
This was another great, well-written mystery with lots of interesting, sometimes crazy characters, and a great renewal in an important relationship! 😀
This was another great, well-written mystery with lots of interesting, sometimes crazy characters, and a great renewal in an important relationship! 😀
January 7, 2020
Fishing for yarn
The Mayor invites tv group to film small towns attic findings. Two murders muddy waters. Who can you trust? Great series
The Mayor invites tv group to film small towns attic findings. Two murders muddy waters. Who can you trust? Great series
April 7, 2020
Love Hatti
I loved the Finnish culture shown in the book. Also like the recurring characters, especially Hatti. Better able to keep track of the characters this time.
I loved the Finnish culture shown in the book. Also like the recurring characters, especially Hatti. Better able to keep track of the characters this time.
April 13, 2020
Enjoyable cozy
A really nice cozy mystery series. Enjoyed learning about Finnish foods, traditions, customs and language. Enjoyable characters with lots of local history.
A really nice cozy mystery series. Enjoyed learning about Finnish foods, traditions, customs and language. Enjoyable characters with lots of local history.
August 6, 2022
Good mystery.
January 8, 2023
Quaint, romantic, twisty turny fun
I'm really enjoying this glimpse into Finnish-American culture. The characters are likeable and the stories are compelling. A great relaxing read.
I'm really enjoying this glimpse into Finnish-American culture. The characters are likeable and the stories are compelling. A great relaxing read.
December 24, 2023
Keweenaw, on the UP where the snow hardly stops falling and the ground is too frozen to dig graves in, so death is unwelcomed for more reasons than most. And murder is definitely a no-no, especially in the small Finnish-American community of Red Jacket, where most everyone knows everyone else and everyone else's business as well. So the fact that Lars, who is working on a reconciliation with his wife, had an affair with Cricket, the girl found stabbed in his bed was quite the candidate for the guilty verdict. So how does a television crew that arrives hot on the heels of the murder, looking for Nazi treasure has to do with anything? Or does it?
A clever piece of writing from Yost, which was much enjoyed. I like the way she sprinkles Finnish words and names in the book, with good descriptions as to their meanings, almost an education for us readers who have never wandered close to that icy part of the world. She also presents the back drop well, describing how families are related in some way to each other, showing us just how closely entwined these small villages must be. I received an ARC from ebook discovery and this is my honest opinion.
A clever piece of writing from Yost, which was much enjoyed. I like the way she sprinkles Finnish words and names in the book, with good descriptions as to their meanings, almost an education for us readers who have never wandered close to that icy part of the world. She also presents the back drop well, describing how families are related in some way to each other, showing us just how closely entwined these small villages must be. I received an ARC from ebook discovery and this is my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews