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Black Sheep & Company Mystery #11

Hounds of the Basket Stitch

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The Black Sheep Knitters come to the aid of two sisters--one a victim and one a suspect . . .

Maggie Messina knows that knitting is not only enjoyable, it also calms both the mind and soul. She's happy to visit two sisters, Holly and Rose Piper, and teach them some simple stitches, while the rest of the Black Sheep knitters tag along. Dana Haeger has known the young women since they were children and is the closest thing to family the Pipers now have. Dana is especially concerned about Rose, who has been easily overwhelmed ever since a car accident many years ago. She is at her best managing the houseful of hounds that she rescues and shelters, while Holly runs the family nursery and remains devoted to Rose's care. The lesson goes well, but the knitters are troubled about the sisters living alone in such a remote corner of Plum Harbor.

Their worst fears are realized when Holly is attacked in her greenhouse and the building set ablaze. Rose is found unconscious nearby, her dogs running wild. When she wakes, her memory is blank. Holly is hospitalized and unable to offer even a clue. The Black Sheep suspect a mysterious drifter who had talked his way into a few days of wages, and just as quickly, disappeared. Or was it their estranged half-brother, Toby, full of family grievances and eager to make a claim on the estate? Or, heaven forbid . . . was it Rose? Hovering over all these questions like an ominous shadow is a dark secret from the sisters' past.

While it seems everything is unraveling, the knitters will need to keep their wits as sharp as their needles to prove Rose's innocence and stop a killer from striking again.

265 pages, Hardcover

Published October 29, 2019

109 people are currently reading
308 people want to read

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Anne Canadeo

23 books262 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
2,939 reviews38 followers
November 24, 2019
Maggie knows that knitting is relaxing, so she is happy to visit two sisters and teach them some simple knitting. Dana has known them since they were children and is worries about Rose who is easily overwhelmed since a car accident. Rose takes care of stray animals while her sister runs the family nursery. one night there is a terrible fire and while both sisters are pulled from the fire in time, Rose can’t remember anything and Holly is in the hospital with lung problems. Maggie and Dana try to figure out who did it, the handyman that had shown up right before the accident, their estranged half-brother, who wants to make a claim on the estate or did Rose have a spell and cause the fire.
Profile Image for Amy.
492 reviews4 followers
October 25, 2019
Dana has been the honorary aunt of sisters Holly and Rose Piper since their parents passed away some time ago. They live outside of town, owning and operate a greenhouse and nursery. Rose has some disabilities as a result of a car accident involving Holly and her ex-boyfriend, who served time in prison because the other driver was killed. When a stranger arrives on the property arrives on the property under suspicious circumstances, leaves just as quickly and soon thereafter a fire engulfs the business. Holly is seriously injured and Rose sustains minor injuries. When someone is murdered, Dana and her friends need to find the killer before they strike again, quite possibly at one of them.

I've read the first three books in the series , but not the ones immediately prior to this one in the series, so it can easily be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and finished it in two sittings. I like the unique point of view of this series: it doesn't have a "main" protagonist and it was interesting to learn more about Dana and her life in this installment. The characters mesh together and I feel like I'm in the middle of the book with them.

Maggie's knitting project for the book was very inclusive for those with special needs but can be enjoyed by all--finger knitting. The author provides computer links to instructions as well the recipe for Dana's flatbread.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a digital ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.
Profile Image for Kirsti.
2,497 reviews104 followers
December 18, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I loved this one! It was just so easy to fall into, and all the characters were wonderful. The mystery was a really solid one, even if it didn't follow the traditional cozy formula. Probably this could have gone both ways, but it worked really well in this story. This is number 11 in the series, but it didn't feel stale or confusing. Instead it felt like a fresh breath in this genre. I can only hope the rest of the series is as good!

Definitely recommend this one. Five stars.
Profile Image for Tari.
3,634 reviews103 followers
October 7, 2019
I hadn't read a book in this series since last December and couldn't resist going ahead with this ARC copy even though it doesn't publish until October 29. I hadn't realized how much I missed visiting Plum Harbor and the Black Sheep knitting friends. I really enjoyed the characters of Rose and Holly and hope that they show up in another book. This mystery was a bit different with the murder happening much later, but the actions toward the beginning were a little more important than the later murder, since it was an attack on Dana's goddaughter who spent a lot of the book in the hospital. I always love how these characters, as different as their personalities are, always work great together especially when it comes to solving murders.

There were some great plot twists, and I was really surprised at the showdown which was short but great. Everything was wrapped up just right as usual and ended with the friends being together. One of them even welcomed a cute furry pup into their family.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, and my opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Vicky.
Author 26 books69 followers
October 22, 2019
Maggie and her knitting friends—Dana, Lucy, Phoebe, Suzanne—head out to the Piper Sisters’ plant nursery for their weekly knitting get-together. Rose and Holly Piper are close enough to Dana to call her “Aunt” and she helps them out where she can. During their teen years, Rose and Holly were in an accident that killed one young man and left Rose with serious head trauma that she never really recovered from. After their parents’ deaths, Holly took on not only the family business, but Rose’s care. As part of her therapy, Rose takes in dogs and trains them. Now, years later, someone is trying to hurt the girls. The friends believe it was the girls’ half-brother who showed up after ten years and tries to take over the nursery. When someone burns down the greenhouse and tries to kill Holly, the friends go to work to figure out who could be so horrible—but they have too many suspects.

What I liked: This is a cute cozy mystery all about family ties, vengeance, and friendship. I liked the character of Rose and how, even with her problems, she is respected for her work with dogs and trains them well. I liked how the friends all worked together to help Holly and Rose and Dana cope with everything that was going on. I liked the satisfying ending and especially liked the links to knitting techniques in the end and the recipes, not only for human food, but dog treats as well. I especially liked that Holly had a a happy ending.

What I didn’t like: Hmm – how to say this without giving away a spoiler. There was one nasty person who didn’t get any consequences in the end and I would have preferred to see that happen. Also, I was a little confused at times as to who was telling the story. I believe Maggie is the main character, but the cast—being quite large—made it a little hard to figure out sometimes.

Recommendations: If you’re familiar with the series, I’d recommend this one as a good addition. You can read—and enjoy—it without having read the others, but it helps to know the characters better if you do. I’d also take a definite look at the other series this author has in cozy mysteries. I know she’s definitely on my “to buy” list now, and should be on yours as well.
Profile Image for Valerie.
736 reviews14 followers
September 21, 2019
I loved this book. It's fast-paced, with lots of dogs and knitting. It's about the friendship of a group of women who help two sisters, one of whom has a brain injury recover from a series of bad events. It's well-written and easy to read. #HoundsOfTheBasketStitch #NetGalley
Profile Image for Karen Stallman .
882 reviews98 followers
April 8, 2020
“Hounds of the Basket Stitch” the 11th instalment in the “Black Sheep and Company Mystery” series by Anne Canadoe. I have only read one other instalment in the series but I really enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed visiting Plum Harbor and the Black Sheep knitters again, it had been awhile. I adored the character Rose who trains therapy dogs. I do recommend you start at the beginning of the series, only for the sheer fact of the number of characters involved in the series, it might be easier to get to know them all from the start..

There are plenty of twists and turns in this story, and I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down.
The ladies and their friendship is really what brings this series to life. One lady even welcomes a darling fur baby into their family. (Any type of dogs or cats are right up my alley )

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Jeanie.
1,311 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2019
This is the second mystery I've read in this series, and certainly my favorite of the two. The knitting class, led by Maggie, is a fabulous group of friends who have grown into their own little family over the years. They welcome new members in this novel, both of whom I really like, sisters Holly and Rose. I couldn't solve the mystery myself, and appreciated learning more about traumatic brain injuries and treatments.

Dana, a member of the knitting group, is a therapist. She is gaining a new certification at the new center in Plum Harbor for those effected by brain injuries. The doctors are studying new treatments, including those used on Rose, Holly's younger sister, who suffered an injury when a teenager. The author shares information about ongoing symptoms of the injury. The new treatments are helping Rose, as is taking in rescue hounds and preparing them for adoption either as pets or caring dogs, as she calls her own three hounds who help her with her challenges.

Holly helps care for Rose. She learned how to run her family's nursery and took over when their parents died. She is a knowledgeable businesswoman who enjoys working in the gardens and greenhouse.

Knitting has potential for useful treatment so Maggie, owner of the yarn shop and sleuth who has helped with many criminal investigations, will lead a lesson to begin teaching Rose to knit. The night they were scheduled, however, Rose's latest mama hound isn't well. The class drove out to their home at the nursery; Maggie began a lesson for Rose with finger knitting, which sounds interesting.

A storm came through; before the ladies went back into town, a gruff man came to the house. He accidentally knocked over part of their fence and wants to repair it. Creeped out by his sudden appearance of Carl, Holly decided to think about it. The next day, he was there early and took care of the fence. Seeing his work and his work ethic, he is going to help at the nursery for a few days, as the spring - summer crew has not yet begun.

Carl was a great help, but only stayed a few days. He quit abruptly one morning and left at the end of the day. Later that night, Maggie saw on the TV news that there was a fire at the nursery greenhouse. She hurried to call Dana and met her at the hospital. Rose only had minor injuries, but couldn't remember anything about the fire and wanted urgently to see Holly. Holly had been hit on the head before the fire was set, suffered from smoke inhalation, and would be sedated for a few days.

The next day, Toby, the girls' half brother showed up after disappearing 10 years ago. He wants to take over responsibility for Rose, who doesn't care for him. He not only draws up papers to take over Rose's care, but wants to take over their home, get rid of the dogs, and make changes to how things were done. In the meantime, the police are concerned that Rose had hurt Holly and set the fire, as she had gas on her clothing that night.

With Rose a suspect, Toby trying to take over, and Carl having disappeared, Dana and Maggie are very concerned for the girls. Maggie and Dana are doing what they can to find who really set the fire before the police try to charge Rose. To do so may involve digging through some family secrets that have festered for a long time.

I really like this story! From finger knitting, learning about Rose's challenges and treatments, and the very likeable characters, the pages flew. One couldn't have better friends than Maggie and Dana, or a better sister than Holly. I was stymied by the mystery, especially so when a much-loved young woman is found murdered. I highly recommend this mystery, especially to those who enjoy fiber art, well-written cozy mysteries, dogs, and learning more about brain injuries.

From a thankful heart: I received an ARC of this book; a review was not required.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,566 reviews64 followers
September 17, 2020
4.5 stars

This is the eleventh book in the Black Sheep & Company Mystery series by Anne Canadeo.

This story centers around Holly and Rose Piper and the Black Sheep Knitters. When Holly is attacked in her greenhouse a whole slew of strange things start cropping up. The step brother from Hades shows up wanting his share of some inheritance he actually was paid for years earlier but he wants more since he is not the best with keeping money in the bank. Then someone sabotages the breathing equipment in the hospital nearly causing Holly’s death for a second time. This gal definitely has nine lives.

The main character here is Maggie Messina. She is a part of the Black Sheep Knitters. The mystery here is pretty intricate and you need to pay attention to all the characters and who they are so when you get to the end you know who the bad guy is. There are a ton of twists and turns that keep us completely invested in the story. I loved the cast too and they weren’t as featured as I assumed they would be. Since this is the first book I have read in this series, I figure they have been more played up in previous books.

The only thing I had a problem with was the fact that at the end there is a dog in the knitting shop and for those of us with pet allergies, we wouldn’t be able to buy yarn from this store. Overall a very good mystery and cast that puts this series on my must read list.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
844 reviews40 followers
October 29, 2019
I love these ladies. The love they show for each other are what all of look for in our friends. I had to laugh when Maggie was waiting and said she was fine she had her knitting. That’s how I am with my books. This is a great story. Holly and Rose are dealing with so many problems. Rose is such a special person and her love and compassion for dogs is awesome. There was a twist or two that just kept me reading to see what was going to happen next. I hope I can join these wonderful ladies on their next adventure. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews165 followers
October 28, 2019
An excellent cozy mystery, well written and with a cast of interesting and fleshed out characters.
I liked the style of writing, the solid mystery and the well written cast of characters.
It's a mystery but it's also about female friendship and I appreciated how the writer describe the relationship between the characters.
An engrossing and entertaining read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
628 reviews19 followers
October 18, 2019
Hounds of the Basket Stitch is the 3rd installment in the Black Sheep & Co mystery series. This is also tied to the other series by Anne Canadeo. Maggie knows that knitting is both enjoyable and therapeutic so she is more than happy along with the other Black sheep knitters when Dana asks them to teach her goddaughter and her sister to knit. Holly and Rose are trying to keep the family nursery afloat and Rose is also trying to deal with and fully recover for an automobile accident that happened a few years ago. Rose is also running a dog rescue for therapy dogs. It appears someone is trying to stop the nursery from being successful so the knitters begin asking questions and try to help their new friends. There is a mysterious handyman and an unreliable step brother who enter the picture as well. The nursery is set on fire and Holly and Rose both end up in the hospital. The knitting group helps with the rescue dogs and trying to figure out what is going on and who is behind it. I love how the group just takes to Holly and Rose and look out for them. This is a good addition to this series. This can be read as a standalone and easy to follow and get to know everyone. Great addition to the series. Recommend.
11.4k reviews192 followers
October 23, 2019
Why would anyone set fire to Holly's greenhouse and attack her sister Rose? That's the question the Black Sheep Knitters, led by Maggie and Dana try to answer in this quick paced and sensitive cozy. Rose suffered a traumatic brain injury years ago and while she's made a lot of progress, there's no reason to believe she could or would be the villain. She raises rescues and trains therapy dogs (nice touch!) Then there's Todd, their half brought who suddenly reappeared after many years away. As with all cozies, there's more to the story, this time in the form of a family secret. I'd not read any of the preceding novels, making this a standalone for me, and it was fine. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Good characters (not just the sisters but also the stars of the series- the knitters) and a twisty enough plot make this a good read.
Profile Image for Vonda.
318 reviews160 followers
October 29, 2019
A cozy extremely entertaining mystery. A sewing circle of amateur detectives that is out to solve their latest whodunnit with a cast of quirky fun characters.
Profile Image for Judith.
397 reviews
February 16, 2025
The title has no relation to the story
The only time basketstitch was mentioned was from the character. Maggie. It was about a sweater for her lover, Charlie. Also, she would teach the stitch but had to chose an elder lesson for brain damaged, Rose. But who wouldn't know that simple stitch of knits and pulls set in an alternating horizontal and vertical pattern to mimic an interwoven, reed basket? I did it in the seventies. Also, the cover shows an elegant house. The house described in the book doesn't resemble a mansion. When Holly is attacked and the greenhouse burned, how would she earn a living? She and her sister were dependent on it for a living. And how did a half brother suddenly appear with claims on the house? And why, after the fire,did it take so long to mention the dogs, who weren't hounds in the sense of the original title, Hounds of the baskervilles. I skimmed most of it. The sentence structure was boring. I don't recommend it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
2,021 reviews3 followers
October 25, 2019
Hounds of the Basket Stitch is a throughly entertaining cozy mystery. A very well written plot with quirky characters and a good setting. Mystery fans will love this book. My thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.
Profile Image for Bobbie Kirkland.
647 reviews14 followers
October 7, 2019
I received a free copy of HOUNDS OF THE BASKET STITCH (Book 3 of the Black Sheep & Co. Mysteries) by Anne Canadeo, through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Black Sheep knitter Dana Haeger is the godmother of two young sisters, Holly and Rose Piper, who are living alone on their plant nursery acreage. Dana enlists the assistance of Maggie Messina to teach them knitting as therapy for the younger sister Rose. When someone burns down one of the greenhouses, seriously injures Holly, and knocks out Rose, law enforcement opens an arson and attempted murder investigation. Shortly after Rose is released from the hospital for her own injuries, it seems like the investigators may be trying to take advantage of Rose’s diminished capacity to pin the crimes on her. As a result, Maggie and Dana pursue their own investigation so they can protect Rose.

I liked it. This is the first book in this series that I have read. Though this was the third in the subseries and eleventh in the overall series, I had no problem connecting with the characters or the story. I liked the knitting gals and would spend time with them if I were a fictional character, too.

#HoundsOfTheBasketStitch #NetGalley
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,846 reviews9 followers
October 29, 2019
I am a little confused on the series name and numbering sequence as there are at least 10 books in the Black Sheep knitting series and 3 in the Black Sheep & Co. knitting series. Books 9 & 10 of the first series are also included as books 1 & 2 of the new named series.

That being said, this was an enjoyable standalone book. What I like about the series is each of the knitters brings their own talents to the table in investigating. Also, each story has a different knitter introducing the main victims to the group.

There is plenty of good writing, wit, and a strong plotline for the story. I enjoy how these women stand up for themselves and people they care about. There are plenty of suspects, twists, and secrets that revealed along the way. Looking forward to the next installment no matter what the series is called.

I was given an advanced copy by Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.
Profile Image for Westminster Library.
960 reviews54 followers
November 18, 2019
Sympathetic victims find themselves in the midst of various attacks, old
secrets coming to the fore, black-sheep relatives arriving, and arson. The
Knitting Group, including Dana--the godmother of the victims, provide
support and sleuthing to aid the clearing up of this criminal drama. This
books contains fantastic characters, who show the true meaning of
friendship, making this a comforting read.

Find Hounds of the Basket Stitch at Westminster Public Library today!

And if you are in search of new books to read, try our services, What Do I Read Next. Our library staff are standing by to create a personalized recommendation list for you!
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,177 reviews119 followers
September 14, 2019
Hounds of the Basket Stitch by the talented Anne Canadeo is my favorite in this series.
Ms. Canadeo has created an entire cast of wonderful, colorful characters, full of life, love, and loyalty, not only to each other, but to those they come in contact with.
In this book, Dana, one of the Black Sheep knitters, has asked a favor of the group. Her goddaughter and her sister are having a hard time, and Dana thinks a bit of knit therapy may be needed.
As the group travel to visit these new friends, they find out that the sisters, Holly and Rose, are trying to keep the family nursery going, while also dealing with medical conditions Rose received in a tragic accident.
It seems someone is trying to prevent the sisters from being successful, and the knitters soon begin to poke around, asking questions, and forming a tight knit circle around their new friends.

This is a fantastic series, full of heartwarming scenes and witty banter among the friends.
I've read all the books in this series, sometimes more than once, and would highly recommend this author's works to anyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this book.
2,290 reviews40 followers
September 16, 2019
Maggie Messina and the knitting ladies are back and helping Dana and her friends by teaching them knitting. Maggie has agreed to teach Holly and her younger sister Rose, who still suffers from a car accident she was in many years ago, how to finger knit. When a drifter knocks on the girls' door during a thunderstorm, Dan and Maggie aren't comfortable with the man and his intentions. While he helps Holly out at her nursery for awhile, he quits without notice and leaves town. Later that night, the nursery's green house is set on fire and Holly and Rose are taken to the hospital.

While Rose, who runs a dog rescue from their home, is in the hospital, the knitting ladies help care for the dogs and they come back to find the girls' half brother has shown up in town. Suspicious of the timing and his intentions, the ladies begin doing a little digging around on his background and fear finding out what he is truly up to. But they hope to find it out before he scams his sisters and any more damage comes to them. Can they beat the clock?

A fun cozy series. This is the second book I have read by this author and I enjoy them. The ladies in the knitting club are varied ages and they have found their tribe. It's fun to spend time taking in their knitting projects and conversations as they work together to help their friends and families. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Jan.
6,531 reviews102 followers
September 21, 2019
The knitting circle must investigate the complex series of mysteries including arson, attempted murder, and more. Relatively new to the circle are a pair of sisters, one operates a nursery and the other a rescue dog program to train them for therapy work. And she really knows the importance of therapy dogs as she is a survivor of Traumatic Brain Injury and its problems in everyday life. Then comes the fire at the nursery which puts the elder sister in Intensive Care and totally disrupts everyone's life. Add in an unsavory looking transient handyman, a possible suicide of a doctor at the neurological clinic, and a loathsome half brother who suddenly appears and demands control over all monies. Well done! Great realistic characters and knitting!
There is no mention of how the author knows so much about TBI, but having worked in a specific rehab facility I assure you that all is quite true.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
1,004 reviews13 followers
September 14, 2019
Hounds of the Basket Stitch combines two of my favorite things...dogs and knitting. Rose suffers brain damage from a car accident when she was younger, but she copes well with her sister Holly’s care and her emotional support dogs. She has developed a dog rescue operation and continues her therapy with psychologists. The Black Sheep Knitters provide a lesson in finger knitting, but quickly become more deeply involved with the sisters. When their greenhouse is burned down and Holly is badly injured, the knitting friends dive in to help...and to solve the mystery. Who is the mysterious older man who worked a few days at the nursery? Why has Todd, the ne’er do well half-brother suddenly shown up after ten years? And who burned down the greenhouse and almost killed Holly? This was an excellent mystery that kept me guessing to the end! Though this is part of a series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. But do yourself a favor and read the rest of the series, too!
Profile Image for OpenBookSociety.com .
4,104 reviews135 followers
February 3, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/h...

Hounds of the Basket Stitch
Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries #11
By Anne Canadeo
ISBN 9781496708656
www.annecanadeo.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

The Black Sheep Knitters come to the aid of two sisters–one a victim and one a suspect . . .

Maggie Messina knows that knitting is not only enjoyable, it also calms both the mind and soul. She’s happy to visit two sisters, Holly and Rose Piper, and teach them some simple stitches, while the rest of the Black Sheep knitters tag along. Dana Haeger has known the young women since they were children and is the closest thing to family the Pipers now have. Dana is especially concerned about Rose, who has been easily overwhelmed ever since a car accident many years ago. She is at her best managing the houseful of hounds that she rescues and shelters, while Holly runs the family nursery and remains devoted to Rose’s care. The lesson goes well, but the knitters are troubled about the sisters living alone in such a remote corner of Plum Harbor.

Their worst fears are realized when Holly is attacked in her greenhouse and the building set ablaze. Rose is found unconscious nearby, her dogs running wild. When she wakes, her memory is blank. Holly is hospitalized and unable to offer even a clue. The Black Sheep suspect a mysterious drifter who had talked his way into a few days of wages, and just as quickly, disappeared. Or was it their estranged half-brother, Toby, full of family grievances and eager to make a claim on the estate? Or, heaven forbid . . . was it Rose? Hovering over all these questions like an ominous shadow is a dark secret from the sisters’ past.

While it seems everything is unraveling, the knitters will need to keep their wits as sharp as their needles to prove Rose’s innocence and stop a killer from striking again. (from Goodreads)

Review:

This fast-paced mystery drew me in from the beginning and held my attention throughout. I enjoyed seeing Maggie and her group of Black Sheep Knitters again and getting to know Holly and Rose. They are sweetly engaging and lovable even through the life changes they face. The mystery is intriguing, and I admit that I did not figure out who the bad guy was before being revealed.

Maggie opened her yarn shop several years ago after her husband passed away. She is an expert businesswoman, and knitter. She has helped solve several mysteries over the years, even though it brought challenges in her relationship with now-retired detective, Charles. She is an excellent friend to many. One of those is Dana, a therapist who is getting additional certification by learning/ working at a special center with innovative treatments for those with traumatic brain injuries.

Dana invites her goddaughter, Holly, and her younger sister, Rose, to attend their knitting class. Rose and Holly were in a car accident in Holly’s boyfriend’s car 15 years earlier, and Rose suffered a brain injury that presents many challenges. Rose is as mature as if she were about 14. Since taking part of treatments at the new clinic and taking in rescue dogs to care for and put up for adoption, she has become more responsible.

Instead of going to college, Holly stayed home to help with Rose’s care. She learned how to run the nursery her parents owned and, when they died, kept it going. It is thought that learning to knit could have a positive effect on Rose, but one of her hounds recently had 8 puppies and is now sick, so she didn’t want to leave the it alone. The Thursday evening class goes to their home, bringing dinner and supplies. They meet all of Rose’s hounds, including the mother and its adorable pups.

Shortly before ending the evening, a strange older man pounded on the sisters’ door. He had slid into and knocked down part of their fence and offered to return in the morning to repair it. Nobody recognized him; they decided that if she wanted the fence repaired, Holly would call him. Holly texted him the following morning that they wouldn’t need his help, but it was too late – Carl Thornton was already putting the fence back up. She let him work through the day to help get rid of the downed limbs from the prior night’s storm. Since he is familiar with nurseries and horticulture, Holly hired him to help her with some things as it is soon time to bring in the seasonal workers.

Several days later, Carl told Holly he could only work through the end of that day. Later that night, someone attacked Holly in the greenhouse and set it on fire. Hospitalized with smoke inhalation, Holly would be sedated and on a breathing device for a few days. Rose wasn’t injured but can’t remember what happened. The police discover gasoline splashed on her clothing as well as used to start the fire. The detective in charge of the investigation considers the possibility that Rose set the fire. But why?

The characters are as well-defined as necessary for their roles; I enjoyed seeing how Susan and Maggie’s lives have changed since the last in series. I very much liked getting to know Holly and Rose and getting to know Dana better. Especially with the secrets Holly has tucked away for so long, I admire her care for her sister. Toby, the sisters’ older half-brother, is definitely one of my least favorite characters.

There are many things I enjoyed in this mystery, including reading about finger knitting, which I might look at. I appreciated reading about some of the things that people with serious brain injuries endure; it is written about with sensitivity and it is interesting how new treatments are developed. Using Rose’s challenges while using knitting and her care for/ training of rescue dogs for pets or for caring dogs within the boundaries of the mystery also kept my attention. The mystery itself included red herrings that I followed, and was quite surprised to learn who the bad guy really was. Especially to those who are fans of well-executed cozy mysteries and yarn arts, I highly recommend this novel!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Janilyn Kocher.
5,089 reviews117 followers
September 15, 2019
Canadeo has a knack for writing a cozy mystery with a narrative that flows well and each chapter is chock full of action. The knitting group grapple with sisters who have more than their bout of bad luck. Rose is damaged from a car accident, but is an excellent dog trainer. As the knitters race to discover what happened to Holly and the fire there are several suspects. Canine assistance helps solve the case. This book is a other good addition to the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.
Profile Image for Michelle Debnam.
313 reviews1 follower
September 18, 2019
Having never read any of these books I was apprehensive about reading part way through but this was not to be the case, the relationships between the characters are easy to grasp and reading this has made me want to seek out the others in the series

Really enjoyed this cosy little story and would recommend to all
967 reviews27 followers
September 12, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It is the first one I've read by this author. Even though this is far down in the series, I never felt lost about the relationship between the characters. I liked the characters, the setting and the mystery, since I was unable to figure out who did it and why. I've added the previous books to my TBR list.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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2,050 reviews5 followers
November 8, 2019
This is book #11 in the beloved "Black Sheep Knitting Mystery" Series by author Anne Canadeo. This is a top favorite cozy series of mine and I am always thrilled to return to this delightful cozy series. I have read and enjoyed every book in the series. This is a cozy mystery series that I highly recommend.

In this next installment our favorite knitter and protagonist Maggie and her friends in the knitting group have all decided to visit two sisters in town to teach them knitting and check on them. The group has been concerned about them since one sister has been recovering from a accident and is not well. The sisters live in a remote area and are alone in life depending on each other. They care for a large pack of rescued dogs and run a family Nursery for income.

When a fire occurs in their greenhouse and both sisters are attacked the police have no idea who the suspect is. Maggie and her friends are skilled investigators and want to help the sisters and give them peace of mind. Maggie begins to put clues together and soon suspects abound and the sisters may still be in danger. Could it be the stepbrother who wants their property to sell or is it the mysterious stranger that came to do handyman work and disappeared?

I loved this next in series. Maggie and her friends are so like people we would all want as friends. They are devoted to each other and to their town and the community. I love the small town feel of these books and the warmth of the people that the author creates. This is a heartwarming read with lovable charcters that I always enjoy returning to. This mystery was so well crafted I was unable to guess the conclusion. The author added in twist and turns to keep every reader guessing. This is such a fun read that I do highly recommend it for your reading enjoyment ! Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. Review is cross posted across platforms.
1,529 reviews2 followers
November 12, 2024
In this volume, one of the characters trains service dogs, calling them comfort dogs.

That part is fun to read, but although I like dogs, there are so many! I am glad I don't have to take care of so many.

I thoroughly enjoyed it (4 stars), but probably wouldn't reread it (5 stars.)

Rose doesn't sound as damaged as they describe.

I didn't guess whodunit. I don't think there were enough early clues to determine ahead of time, although I had guessed the identity of the vagabond.

The plot is convoluted, as many mysteries are, with more facets than most of these mysteries.

A sad part is that neither Dana nor Lucy went bike-riding in this book.

It almost felt irresponsible, or perhaps unprofessional for Dana to tell Rose that her wishes had caused something. They were still in crisis, not knowing whether things would resolve. IF things ended badly - if someone died - it would be terrible for Rose to think she hadn't wished hard enough.

One of the other reviewers was disappointed that one person didn't get a comeuppance, but others in this book didn't, either.

Favorite quotes:

"Safety always wins out over remaining silent."

"Your dogs have the right idea. The day is done and it is time to just be."

"Knitting is not a race."

"Taking joy in the activity for its own right."

SPOILER ... The series seems to be intent on finding all the women a pet over the course of time. And/or a romantic interest.
440 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2019
Hounds of the Basket Stitch by Anne Canadeo. 5 stars

A follow up to last years Purls and Poison, this year's entry of the Black Sheep & Company focuses on Dana Haeger one of the Black Sheep Kniiters. A psychologist with a busy practice she brings the rest of group to meet her godchild Holly and her sister Rose. Rose was in a car accident when she was younger and received a head injury. She is currently receiving therapy from two innovative doctors in town. Holly runs a nursery that she inherited and Rose raises rescue dogs and trains them to be therapy dogs. There is a fire at the nursery and Holly is injured and Rose is traumatized. So the obvious mystery is how did the fire happen and who hurt Holly. But there is more to the story and as the book unfolds we find out the truth on past actions.

I've been reading the Black Sheep & Company mysteries since 2009 when they were published by another company and called the Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries. I have enjoyed each and every one. The obvious affection and friendship that is shared by all the members is a given in each book. Each member contributes their expertise and skills to investigate and solve the mystery. What made this extra special was the addition of the dogs and a particular charming puppy.. I will eagerly await the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
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