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Knit & Nibble Mystery #4
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit
When murder silences the Christmas cheer in charming Arborville, New Jersey, Pamela and her Knit and Nibble pals must unravel the most bone-chilling mystery this side of the North Pole . . .
Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville—because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die!
Knitting tips and delicious recipe included!
Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville—because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die!
Knitting tips and delicious recipe included!
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 29, 2019
297 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
Peggy Ehrhart
27 books487 followersPeggy Ehrhart is a former English professor with a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature who now writes mysteries. Her publications include a prize-winning nonfiction book; she has also won awards for her short fiction. Her blues mystery series, featuring blues singer "Maxx" Maxwell, was inspired by her guitar-playing hobby. She currently writes the very cozy Knit & Nibble mystery series for Kensington Books, featuring amateur sleuth Pamela Paterson, founder and mainstay of the Knit and Nibble knitting club in charming Arborville, New Jersey.
Series:
* Maxx Maxwell Mysteries
* A Knit & Nibble Mysteries
Series:
* Maxx Maxwell Mysteries
* A Knit & Nibble Mysteries
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
I am giving up on this one at 20% Talk about over descriptions to the 9th degree. I don't need pages devoted to making coffee, buttering toast, what every single person is wearing every single time they show up in the book!
October 21, 2019
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the fourth book in the cozy A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Each book of the series contains it’s own mystery that will be solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order one chooses. However, those that follow from the beginning will see the full character development that carries over from book to book.
The main character of the Knit & Nibble series is Pamela Paterson who is on the older side for a cozy protagonist. Pamela found herself with an empty nest when her daughter headed off to college so she joined the Knit and Nibble knitting group. The group not only spends time together crafting their favorite projects but also cooks up some yummy treats as the name suggests.
Pamela and her best friend and fellow knitter, Bettina, first became involved in what has become a habit for them in solving murders when a body was found at Pamela’s home. This time around however Pamela wasn’t the one tripping over yet another body but instead when her daughter Penny comes home from college for a visit Penny finds the most current victim in town, Millicent Farthingale.
I have followed the Knit & Nibble series from the beginning as this one has an endearing quality to me reminding me of my own knitting grandmother. I wish I could score this series higher than I do but I feel a 3 1/2 is being nice simply for the sentimental value for this latest installment. The characters are great, quirky and fun, however my one complaint since the beginning has been the author tends to be overly descriptive making a lot feel like filler and lacking on depth where it’s needed (mystery). I don’t need a step by step with every visit into the kitchen from each ingredient to the color and style of the dishes. I’d just personally like those extra pages worth of description be more adventures for Pamela and Bettina. Hopefully book 5 will pull back on that again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The main character of the Knit & Nibble series is Pamela Paterson who is on the older side for a cozy protagonist. Pamela found herself with an empty nest when her daughter headed off to college so she joined the Knit and Nibble knitting group. The group not only spends time together crafting their favorite projects but also cooks up some yummy treats as the name suggests.
Pamela and her best friend and fellow knitter, Bettina, first became involved in what has become a habit for them in solving murders when a body was found at Pamela’s home. This time around however Pamela wasn’t the one tripping over yet another body but instead when her daughter Penny comes home from college for a visit Penny finds the most current victim in town, Millicent Farthingale.
I have followed the Knit & Nibble series from the beginning as this one has an endearing quality to me reminding me of my own knitting grandmother. I wish I could score this series higher than I do but I feel a 3 1/2 is being nice simply for the sentimental value for this latest installment. The characters are great, quirky and fun, however my one complaint since the beginning has been the author tends to be overly descriptive making a lot feel like filler and lacking on depth where it’s needed (mystery). I don’t need a step by step with every visit into the kitchen from each ingredient to the color and style of the dishes. I’d just personally like those extra pages worth of description be more adventures for Pamela and Bettina. Hopefully book 5 will pull back on that again.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 23, 2019
As ever, this book has a quiet mystery in the midst of quiet lives, where the importance of eating and day-to-day routines far outweigh justice for murder.
Let's bypass the idyllic small town and Perfect Protagonist. Let's just accept that for the annoyance that it is.
What this book desperately needs is an editor: a real editor, one who reads and strikes out whole passages of unnecessary filler and points out when the same phrases are reused within pages of each other. (Personally, I'm convinced that the author has a list of descriptions/phrases she wants to always use in reference to certain characters. It becomes even more obvious when books are read back-to-back.)
This makes the writing style like MadLibs story formula: [Pamela] + [household chore]. [Pamela] + [work email takes a while to download, works] + [break] +[co-op reference] + [detailed coffee and meal prep] + [Betina interrupts].
Sometimes the descriptions seem like she is going down the synonyms list in the thesaurus. I don't mean to be mean, but this makes the filler even more obvious, like the author isn't sure how to make a story long enough to be a book.
Let's bypass the idyllic small town and Perfect Protagonist. Let's just accept that for the annoyance that it is.
What this book desperately needs is an editor: a real editor, one who reads and strikes out whole passages of unnecessary filler and points out when the same phrases are reused within pages of each other. (Personally, I'm convinced that the author has a list of descriptions/phrases she wants to always use in reference to certain characters. It becomes even more obvious when books are read back-to-back.)
This makes the writing style like MadLibs story formula: [Pamela] + [household chore]. [Pamela] + [work email takes a while to download, works] + [break] +[co-op reference] + [detailed coffee and meal prep] + [Betina interrupts].
Sometimes the descriptions seem like she is going down the synonyms list in the thesaurus. I don't mean to be mean, but this makes the filler even more obvious, like the author isn't sure how to make a story long enough to be a book.
November 25, 2020
Pamela Patterson summons her knitting pals when her daughter stumbles across the body of a wealthy craft shop owner.
Earhart's descriptions are vivid and her characterizations are superb. The relaxing story flow was perfect for me.
I recommend this splendid holiday read to all cozy mystery readers.
Earhart's descriptions are vivid and her characterizations are superb. The relaxing story flow was perfect for me.
I recommend this splendid holiday read to all cozy mystery readers.
October 18, 2019
Pamela's daughter, Penny, is home from college for winter break, and is helping her mom with the holiday preparations. Pamela runs the Knit and Nibble group in her small NJ hometown, and everyone is shocked when someone is murdered. Bettina, another member had made the victim a scarf, and it keeps turning up, making the women wonder if the murderer would have the audacity to wear it-- especially since the wearer is Penny's new boyfriend. If you are in the mood for a relaxing holiday read--a cozy mystery with cats and knitting--this book is a good choice. Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance review copy.
October 20, 2019
This is a pleasant book to read for a holiday themed story with lots of great sounding foods, shopping and parties to get in the spirit. Pamela Paterson is a knitter who makes sweaters and garments for herself and her daughter, Penny, along with working for a fiber magazine. Pamela and her best friend and neighbor Bettina are members of a group of knitters who get together every week to knit and have refreshments in different homes. They call their group, Knit & Nibble. Pamela, Bettina and her husband Wifred are busy icing Christmas cookies for the next meeting when Penny, home from college, calls Bettina's house frantic after finding a body in a nearby nature preserve. The body is that of a friend, Millicent, who owns a local craft shop. Millicent was a wealthy woman who has recently married so her new, younger husband, Pierre, is suspected of her murder as are a few others. Pamela and Bettina set out to find out who killed their friend while spending time knitting, baking, cooking and shopping. Pamela also has some work to do for the magazine as well.
I would have liked to see more time time spent on solving the murder mystery instead of so much time spent talking about daily activities and detailed discussion of recipes, baking and cooking. There is plenty to read about parties, Christmas carols, time spent with family and friends. I was very surprised to see who the killer turned out to be. I never suspected the person.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
I would have liked to see more time time spent on solving the murder mystery instead of so much time spent talking about daily activities and detailed discussion of recipes, baking and cooking. There is plenty to read about parties, Christmas carols, time spent with family and friends. I was very surprised to see who the killer turned out to be. I never suspected the person.
I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
August 22, 2020
The holidays are in full force and Pamela Paterson couldn't be happier when her daughter Penny heads home from college to celebrate. However, the atmosphere quickly changes when Penny finds a dead body, that of Millicent Farthingale, a sop owner. Millicent was someone that always had scandal attached to her name, but her death still manages to shock just about everyone, including Pamela and her Knit and Nibblers team.
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is the delightful fourth book in the Knit and Nibble series. Whether you choose to read the series in order like I have chosen, or prefer to just grab one here or there, no worries, because each book has a single case that the team seek to solve. Of course, I enjoy continuity, so I was glad to get to this fourth story.
I have gotten to enjoy Pamela and her group of knitting friends. Solving murders is something that falls into their laps. Knitting is something that I have never learned, but I love this lovely group of people. This case is literally too close to home as Millicent was found dead in Pamela's house. How could she not get involved yet again? This is a quick story that is an excellent addition to the series.
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is the delightful fourth book in the Knit and Nibble series. Whether you choose to read the series in order like I have chosen, or prefer to just grab one here or there, no worries, because each book has a single case that the team seek to solve. Of course, I enjoy continuity, so I was glad to get to this fourth story.
I have gotten to enjoy Pamela and her group of knitting friends. Solving murders is something that falls into their laps. Knitting is something that I have never learned, but I love this lovely group of people. This case is literally too close to home as Millicent was found dead in Pamela's house. How could she not get involved yet again? This is a quick story that is an excellent addition to the series.
December 16, 2019
3.5 stars: Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the fourth book in the cozy A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Each book in this series has it’s own mystery to be solved, so they can be read as stand alone stories. The main character is Pamela Paterson who is a more mature protagonist. Pamela found herself with an empty nest when her daughter headed off to college so she joined the Knit and Nibble knitting group. She and her best friend Bettina, often find themselves investigating mysteries and murder around town. In this story Pamela's daughter, Penny comes home from college for a visit. While out, Penny finds the most current victim in town, Millicent Farthingale, a friend and acquaintance of Bettina. The one clue, a red scarf that her friend made for Millicent, keeps showing up around town. Is the murderer wearing the scarf? Why was Millicent murdered? Who is the stranger in town and why is she there?
The "Knit and Nibble" members are a fun, diverse group, with their own quirks. They come together to create knitted items, eat delicious snacks and snoop into the latest crime or death that has taken place in their fine town. Each story gives us more detail about these characters, as well as introducing new ones. They are usually suspects and we learn more about them as clues are dropped along the way during the investigation. My one complaint with this series and this book is that they are overly descriptive. The author describes how to make something they are creating or eating, what the characters are wearing, who is doing what etc. This bogs down the mystery for me, and seems like a lot of filler. This book seemed to be more about the Knit and Nibble members than the murder. Having said that, if you enjoy a cozy series where you love spending a lot of time with the characters and their lives, then you will enjoy this one. The mystery itself was a bit hard to solve, but the red herrings were well done and confused this reader. The reveal was well written and is the main reading I keep reading this series. I am hoping that as the series continues, the murders take up more of the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
The "Knit and Nibble" members are a fun, diverse group, with their own quirks. They come together to create knitted items, eat delicious snacks and snoop into the latest crime or death that has taken place in their fine town. Each story gives us more detail about these characters, as well as introducing new ones. They are usually suspects and we learn more about them as clues are dropped along the way during the investigation. My one complaint with this series and this book is that they are overly descriptive. The author describes how to make something they are creating or eating, what the characters are wearing, who is doing what etc. This bogs down the mystery for me, and seems like a lot of filler. This book seemed to be more about the Knit and Nibble members than the murder. Having said that, if you enjoy a cozy series where you love spending a lot of time with the characters and their lives, then you will enjoy this one. The mystery itself was a bit hard to solve, but the red herrings were well done and confused this reader. The reveal was well written and is the main reading I keep reading this series. I am hoping that as the series continues, the murders take up more of the story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
December 14, 2019
Why does everyone ALWAYS say Richard’s first and last name when referring to him? We know who Richard is. We also know that Bettina’s coat is pumpkin colored because it is mentioned EVERY time we see her in it. There is WAY too much detail about cooking and baking things that have nothing to do with the story. And that ending—what a stupid thing to do! And could Richard and Pamela be any more socially awkward together for two normal adults?Sorry but this book was just kind of annoying.
November 27, 2019
Pamela is happy that her college age daughter, Penny, is home for Christmas until Penny stumbles on the body of Millicent a wealthy craft store owner. Millicent has a scheming business partner and a seedy younger husband but who did it. Pamela sees a knitted scarf that she knows is a clue.
November 1, 2019
Dollycas’a Thoughts
Welcome to Arborville, New Jersey, just in time for the holidays . . . and a . . . MURDER!
When Pamela gets a frantic call from her daughter Penny saying she found a dead body while out hiking and sketching Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers rush to her side. Pamela identifies the body as none other than craft shop owner, Millicent Farthingale. With just a little digging many suspects are found but Pamela believes a scarf recently given to the victim and missing from her body is a key clue to finding the killer. With the Nibblers on the case, they hope to knit all the clues together and wrap up the case before their holiday celebrations.
I really enjoy catching up with these characters. If the Knit and Nibble group was real it would be one I would love to join. The members are diverse, all with their own quirks. They come together to create wonderful knit items, eat delicious snacks and snoop into the latest death that has taken place in their fine town. With each story, the author delves a little further into the lives of this eclectic group. She also introduces new characters in the form of suspects. She unveils more about them as the clues drop and the investigation continues.
In Silent Knit, Deadly Knit, the murder mystery is pretty straight forward and for me was more of a subplot. The main plot this time was more about the lives of the knitting group and the holidays. While the mystery was interesting I think this time the author’s writing style which is very descriptive took over pushing it into the background. I did enjoy all the baking and cooking, Pamela’s quest to find the perfect tree, and her trying to spend as much time with her daughter as possible. There were some funny and sentimental moments and the story did have a good flow. I just wish the mystery would have had as much depth as the characters I have come to love.
Pamela and Bettina make a great team whether sleuthing, butting into each other’s lives, or taking care of their friends. Following these ladies around through these pages is always entertaining. I do encourage the author to tighten up her writing a bit and put more focus on the mystery. I really liked the premise of a unique scarf as a strong connection. It really grabbed my focus. I also loved the description of the tunic Pamela was making for Penny. It sounds gorgeous!
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is a nice addition to this series. To really get to know Pamela and the rest of the Knit and Nibble group you really need to read the series from the beginning.
Welcome to Arborville, New Jersey, just in time for the holidays . . . and a . . . MURDER!
When Pamela gets a frantic call from her daughter Penny saying she found a dead body while out hiking and sketching Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers rush to her side. Pamela identifies the body as none other than craft shop owner, Millicent Farthingale. With just a little digging many suspects are found but Pamela believes a scarf recently given to the victim and missing from her body is a key clue to finding the killer. With the Nibblers on the case, they hope to knit all the clues together and wrap up the case before their holiday celebrations.
I really enjoy catching up with these characters. If the Knit and Nibble group was real it would be one I would love to join. The members are diverse, all with their own quirks. They come together to create wonderful knit items, eat delicious snacks and snoop into the latest death that has taken place in their fine town. With each story, the author delves a little further into the lives of this eclectic group. She also introduces new characters in the form of suspects. She unveils more about them as the clues drop and the investigation continues.
In Silent Knit, Deadly Knit, the murder mystery is pretty straight forward and for me was more of a subplot. The main plot this time was more about the lives of the knitting group and the holidays. While the mystery was interesting I think this time the author’s writing style which is very descriptive took over pushing it into the background. I did enjoy all the baking and cooking, Pamela’s quest to find the perfect tree, and her trying to spend as much time with her daughter as possible. There were some funny and sentimental moments and the story did have a good flow. I just wish the mystery would have had as much depth as the characters I have come to love.
Pamela and Bettina make a great team whether sleuthing, butting into each other’s lives, or taking care of their friends. Following these ladies around through these pages is always entertaining. I do encourage the author to tighten up her writing a bit and put more focus on the mystery. I really liked the premise of a unique scarf as a strong connection. It really grabbed my focus. I also loved the description of the tunic Pamela was making for Penny. It sounds gorgeous!
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is a nice addition to this series. To really get to know Pamela and the rest of the Knit and Nibble group you really need to read the series from the beginning.
December 13, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!
I have read a number of this series already, and I always enjoy the mysteries and the characters. I am getting a little tired of the skirting around the romance angle- it's been four books already and nothing is happening in that department. That wouldn't be a problem if the books didn't make it seem like something WAS about to happen every five minutes and then pfft it fizzles out again. Will book five finally see some closure?
This is the christmas edition obviously, and it follows the Christmas theme as well as keeping up with the knitting group. When they come together to knit and gossip is probably my favorite parts of the book, especially Roland. The sweater he made for Melanie was cute too!
This is a generally fun, easy to read cozy. My only gripe is the romantic tension, but hopefully Pamela changes that soon. Four stars.
I have read a number of this series already, and I always enjoy the mysteries and the characters. I am getting a little tired of the skirting around the romance angle- it's been four books already and nothing is happening in that department. That wouldn't be a problem if the books didn't make it seem like something WAS about to happen every five minutes and then pfft it fizzles out again. Will book five finally see some closure?
This is the christmas edition obviously, and it follows the Christmas theme as well as keeping up with the knitting group. When they come together to knit and gossip is probably my favorite parts of the book, especially Roland. The sweater he made for Melanie was cute too!
This is a generally fun, easy to read cozy. My only gripe is the romantic tension, but hopefully Pamela changes that soon. Four stars.
September 23, 2019
Another trip to Arborville, this time during the Christmas holidays, finds Pamela, Bettina and Penny trying to solve a murder of an acquaintance while preparing for the holidays, family visits and falling in love.
As always, with this series, I enjoyed the mystery and how the author tied all the clues together and I couldn't figure out " whodunit" until the murderer was revealed. I love the cozy setting and I find myself making a cup of tea and grabbing a pastry when I read this series. The description of the food and knitting projects are a perfect balance to the mystery. The relationships Pamela has with her daughter, friends and neighbors are fun to read because they are relatable. The new family additions, kittens, made the book even more cozy!
The book put me in the holiday mood and I didn't want it to end. I'll have to impatiently wait for the next adventure!
I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.
As always, with this series, I enjoyed the mystery and how the author tied all the clues together and I couldn't figure out " whodunit" until the murderer was revealed. I love the cozy setting and I find myself making a cup of tea and grabbing a pastry when I read this series. The description of the food and knitting projects are a perfect balance to the mystery. The relationships Pamela has with her daughter, friends and neighbors are fun to read because they are relatable. The new family additions, kittens, made the book even more cozy!
The book put me in the holiday mood and I didn't want it to end. I'll have to impatiently wait for the next adventure!
I received an ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.
October 25, 2021
this was my favorite in the series since book one. i love how each installment is fresh and exciting on the mystery front, but familiar and almost...repetitive (in a good, comforting way) on the cozy front.
i will never be sick of pamela's baking scenes, the kittens antics, and of course the knitting club meetings - even though roland can lowkey choke.🙃
also the poppyseed cake recipe at the back of the book...yes i absolutely would like a slice thanks for asking
i will never be sick of pamela's baking scenes, the kittens antics, and of course the knitting club meetings - even though roland can lowkey choke.🙃
also the poppyseed cake recipe at the back of the book...yes i absolutely would like a slice thanks for asking
September 17, 2019
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is a fun, fast paced holiday cozy mystery, filled with holiday cheer, murder, and deceit.
Pamela and her daughter Penny are preparing for Christmas. While Penny is home from college, she decides to do a bit of sketching, but unfortunately, she makes a grim discovery.
Park, Penny, and Bettina are sure the answers lie with the victims spouse, so of course their eyes and ears are open, hoping to catch the culprit.
While all this is going on, Penny seems to have found a possible new love interest, while Bettina seems determined to find a beau for Pamela.
I like the easy flow of this book. The characters all work well with each other and there are plenty of moments that will make you chuckle.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this ARC.
Pamela and her daughter Penny are preparing for Christmas. While Penny is home from college, she decides to do a bit of sketching, but unfortunately, she makes a grim discovery.
Park, Penny, and Bettina are sure the answers lie with the victims spouse, so of course their eyes and ears are open, hoping to catch the culprit.
While all this is going on, Penny seems to have found a possible new love interest, while Bettina seems determined to find a beau for Pamela.
I like the easy flow of this book. The characters all work well with each other and there are plenty of moments that will make you chuckle.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for approving me to read this ARC.
June 9, 2020
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the first book in the Knit and Nibble Mystery series that I have read. Although it’s book four, Ehrhart gives enough background information on the characters and previous events that you won’t be lost.
I always hate giving a book less than a four star rating, but sometimes it has to be done. Especially since I write book reviews so people know what they are getting into. But reviews are subjective and what I found to be a problem with this book might be something that others enjoy reading.
There was a lot of filler in this book. I think Ehrhart mentioned how to make coffee at least ten times in this book. The neighbors pumpkin colored coat and Penny’s violet coat and scarf were mentioned almost every time they went outside or came in from outside. Whenever Pamela would pick up something around her house it had to be said if she got it from a tag sale or some other second-hand shop. When they were looking through her friend’s items at the estate sale, a black and white outfit was mentioned twice in the same paragraph… and I think the paragraph was only three sentences long!
If you were to take out all of the descriptions and repetitive household events, the book would be only half as long and I would have been fine with it. I would rather have a short, well-written book than one with a lot of fluff.
I did get a good feel for the characters which always makes for a good cozy. It was not consistent how Pamela treated her 19 year old daughter though. One minute she was letting her drink alcohol and then she needed to know where she was all the time. And the way Pamela and the potential love interest were interacting was very high-schoolish to me, by book four I would think it would have moved along a bit more.
I did really enjoy the mystery reveal though and didn’t see it coming. Plus I really enjoyed the details behind it. Maybe if I had started with book one, Murder, She Knit, and had really gotten to love the characters I would continue reading the series, but there are just so many great cozy mystery series to read that I don’t want to settle for a just okay one.
I always hate giving a book less than a four star rating, but sometimes it has to be done. Especially since I write book reviews so people know what they are getting into. But reviews are subjective and what I found to be a problem with this book might be something that others enjoy reading.
There was a lot of filler in this book. I think Ehrhart mentioned how to make coffee at least ten times in this book. The neighbors pumpkin colored coat and Penny’s violet coat and scarf were mentioned almost every time they went outside or came in from outside. Whenever Pamela would pick up something around her house it had to be said if she got it from a tag sale or some other second-hand shop. When they were looking through her friend’s items at the estate sale, a black and white outfit was mentioned twice in the same paragraph… and I think the paragraph was only three sentences long!
If you were to take out all of the descriptions and repetitive household events, the book would be only half as long and I would have been fine with it. I would rather have a short, well-written book than one with a lot of fluff.
I did get a good feel for the characters which always makes for a good cozy. It was not consistent how Pamela treated her 19 year old daughter though. One minute she was letting her drink alcohol and then she needed to know where she was all the time. And the way Pamela and the potential love interest were interacting was very high-schoolish to me, by book four I would think it would have moved along a bit more.
I did really enjoy the mystery reveal though and didn’t see it coming. Plus I really enjoyed the details behind it. Maybe if I had started with book one, Murder, She Knit, and had really gotten to love the characters I would continue reading the series, but there are just so many great cozy mystery series to read that I don’t want to settle for a just okay one.
November 8, 2019
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the fourth A Knit & Nibble Mystery. Pamela, Wilfred, Bettina and the knitting group are back. They are gearing up for Christmas by finishing last minute gifts and enjoying Christmas cookies. Pamela is happy to have her daughter, Penny home for the winter holidays. I like the diverse group of people that make up the knitting group. They are friendly bunch who get together to create beautifully knit items while they chat and eat items that they have made. Of course, when there is a murder to solve, they brainstorm and snoop. I like that we get to learn more about Pamela as well as the knitting members in each story. We also get to catch up on the lives of the kittens who love to chase yarn and get into mischief. There are some lovely yarn descriptions that had me wanting to add to my stash (which consists of six large totes at the moment). Pamela and the knitting group get involved in the death of Millicent Farthingale. Millicent is a woman of means who is married to Pierre, a French Canadian and owns a local craft store. The mystery was not the primary focus of the book. Pamela was focused on decorating for the holidays, making cookies, and spending time with Penny. There are a couple of suspects in Millicent’s death, but the killer can be pegged in the first quarter of the book. I wish the mystery had been the focus and that it had been more complex. I am glad that the romance between Pamela and Richard is not being rushed. However, I believe it is time to move forward and for them to actually go out (they have been acting juvenile for two mature adults). Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is nicely written, and the story moved along at a nice pace. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. There are lovely cozy moments and some humor sprinkled throughout. Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is a merry cozy mystery with scrumptious cookies, yummy yarn, fun felines, Christmas carols, and a meddlesome murder.
October 26, 2019
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit is the fourth book in Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit & Nibble Mystery series. This book is a light and entertaining read. The author’s descriptive writing flows smoothly; however, things repeated multiple times and cooking descriptions and daily routines that are somewhat monotonous. The well-developed characters are likable, and the mystery is interesting, but it plays a minor role in the book other than in a few scenes.
Pamela Paterson is a widow who lives in Arborville, New Jersey and has one daughter, Penny, who attends college, is home for her Christmas break. She’s an associate editor of a craft magazine and the founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club. Bettina Fraser is her neighbor, friend, fellow knitter, and sleuthing partner. While Penny is sketching in the nature preserve, she finds the body of Millicent Farthingale, the owner of a craft shop in Timberley. Pamela and Bettina are determined to find the murderer.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Pamela Paterson is a widow who lives in Arborville, New Jersey and has one daughter, Penny, who attends college, is home for her Christmas break. She’s an associate editor of a craft magazine and the founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club. Bettina Fraser is her neighbor, friend, fellow knitter, and sleuthing partner. While Penny is sketching in the nature preserve, she finds the body of Millicent Farthingale, the owner of a craft shop in Timberley. Pamela and Bettina are determined to find the murderer.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
November 1, 2019
As a knitter, I was quite excited to learn that there is a mystery series that focuses on a knitting club! It sounded like a fun little series and the book even includes a knitting pattern to boot. I found it quite slow and there was a lot of filler involving Christmas cookies, and meal preparation, and so on. The mystery was fun but it felt like it was a secondary focus. If you're in the mood for a cozy and slower mystery read, though, then this might be a good fit for you.
Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
Thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
January 7, 2026
This book was kind of terrible. I wasn't expecting much from a Christmas-and-knitting-themed murder mystery but this managed to disappoint even those low expectations.
First: It was repetitive. We were talked through the process of making coffee about five times. Every time we saw one character, we were reminded of her "pumpkin-colored coat." We were reminded constantly that various belongings of the MC's were thrifted or from a tag sale. The main character made coffee and whole wheat toast every morning and it was described in great detail. If you cut the repetitive parts of the book, it would probably be a novella.
Second: The mystery was half-baked at best. In case you're worried about being spoiled for this silly book, let's just say that there were no real clues, no real investigation, and no real solving of a mystery. It was unsatisfying.
Third: There wasn't enough knitting. I think we see people knitting in one scene? Maybe two? There was a heck of a lot of baking, including an eleven-page scene in which the main character bakes a cake . That's it. She bakes a cake. We see her opening the cabinet doors and getting out the ingredients and mixing them together and eventually there is a cake. We get a recipe for it in the back of the book, which is cool I guess. They do a ton of baking in this book and it is completely irrelevant to the plot. Which brings me to...
Fourth: So much of this book was filler. We got scenes of the characters feeding their cats. We got scenes of them baking. Scenes of them eating. Scenes of them getting dressed. Scenes of them making coffee and getting the newspaper and playing with cats. None of these went anywhere.
Fifth: Characters? More like caricatures. We have the plump friend who loves to eat and dresses flashy. The naive 20-something daughter who can fit in tiny vintage clothes because she's so tiny uwu. The MC who likes coffee and toast and judging people. The old lady who judges everyone who lets sugar cross their lips. The rude attorney. The Boston couple who "doesn't believe in gender." Everyone is one-note, even the main characters and it's so annoying.
My mom and I listened to this audiobook while doing some winter knitting. We created a drinking game for it which you might enjoy. We did it with water and I recommend that you do the same, for the sake of your health.
Drink when
- someone makes coffee
- someone bakes
- there is a pumpkin-colored coat or a violet-colored coat
- something is thrifted/vintage/from a tag sale
- the cats are there and do nothing for the plot
First: It was repetitive. We were talked through the process of making coffee about five times. Every time we saw one character, we were reminded of her "pumpkin-colored coat." We were reminded constantly that various belongings of the MC's were thrifted or from a tag sale. The main character made coffee and whole wheat toast every morning and it was described in great detail. If you cut the repetitive parts of the book, it would probably be a novella.
Second: The mystery was half-baked at best. In case you're worried about being spoiled for this silly book, let's just say that there were no real clues, no real investigation, and no real solving of a mystery. It was unsatisfying.
Third: There wasn't enough knitting. I think we see people knitting in one scene? Maybe two? There was a heck of a lot of baking, including an eleven-page scene in which the main character bakes a cake . That's it. She bakes a cake. We see her opening the cabinet doors and getting out the ingredients and mixing them together and eventually there is a cake. We get a recipe for it in the back of the book, which is cool I guess. They do a ton of baking in this book and it is completely irrelevant to the plot. Which brings me to...
Fourth: So much of this book was filler. We got scenes of the characters feeding their cats. We got scenes of them baking. Scenes of them eating. Scenes of them getting dressed. Scenes of them making coffee and getting the newspaper and playing with cats. None of these went anywhere.
Fifth: Characters? More like caricatures. We have the plump friend who loves to eat and dresses flashy. The naive 20-something daughter who can fit in tiny vintage clothes because she's so tiny uwu. The MC who likes coffee and toast and judging people. The old lady who judges everyone who lets sugar cross their lips. The rude attorney. The Boston couple who "doesn't believe in gender." Everyone is one-note, even the main characters and it's so annoying.
My mom and I listened to this audiobook while doing some winter knitting. We created a drinking game for it which you might enjoy. We did it with water and I recommend that you do the same, for the sake of your health.
Drink when
- someone makes coffee
- someone bakes
- there is a pumpkin-colored coat or a violet-colored coat
- something is thrifted/vintage/from a tag sale
- the cats are there and do nothing for the plot
August 6, 2020
Ah Christmas, a time for families to get together and Peace and Goodwill to all, well that is the theory at any rate! In practice it appears that murder not goodwill is on the menu. Pamela's daughter Penny is home from college and whilst Pamela is over at her friend Bettina's house decorating Christmas Cookies, Penny has decided to go for a walk to do some sketching. What Penny does NOT expect is to find a dead body! Pamela, Bettina and Bettina's husband Wilfred rush to her side and Bettina suddenly realises that she knew the dead woman. Now this has become personal and Pamela. along with Bettina, has put on her virtual deerstalker hat again and is determined to find out who will be getting coal in their prison issue stocking this year.
January 1, 2026
A fun cozy to end the year. I figured out the whodunit but not exactly why. Overall, it was a nice story, but I found some of the descriptions really repetitive. I plan to read more in the series though.
December 5, 2023
Cute and entertaining.
May 25, 2020
I have a complicated relationship with these books. On the one hand, I like the writing: not flashy or with sentences that I want to linger over as I do with, say, Louise Penny, but Ehrhart does a good job of choosing words, an expanded vocabulary that some cozy writers don't manage. I basically like the main character a lot, a cautious woman who was widowed and had a college age daughter. There is a flirtation of sorts with a neighbor but it is moving glacially slow. . . she thinks about him a good deal but doesn't actually talk to him much at all. (Previous book, as I recall, featured her wondering where he was for the entire book and near the end was told by a friend that he had been out of town visiting relatives or some such.) This time she agonizes over whether to give him one of her poppy seed cakes because she doesn't want him to feel he has to reciprocate. Given that it is broadly hinted that he has been the person who came over and shoveled her walk in the early hours of morning, there is the perfect reason to gift without any need for him to feel the need to gift. Truth is, though, we really don't know much about this guy because the main character doesn't interact with him much, just thinks about him a lot. Even this can be a plus when compared to books where heroine sizes up every attractive male character as a potential boyfriend. . . . and I don't think every heroine needs to be paired up, though I confess I do like a bit of romance. Maybe it is my own tendency toward indecision that I find unfortunate in others.....
The second thing is that all food prep (and there is a lot) must be described in detail. Whole grain bread from the Co-op (ALWAYS whole grain bread) is put in the toaster, there is a description of how the eggs are cracked, how boiled eggs are peeled, how the golden yokes are mashed and seasonings added, and on. The knitting sessions go better, in part because there are other people talking. I don't know anything about knitting but these go better for me than the cooking. Anyway, the mystery is well done; it would have been a stunner if there had been more sleuthing and clues and less cooking and mooning. The other problem is that Our Heroine -- sensible shoes, worried about her daughter dating someone who may know something about the murder, practical, etc.-- decides to lure a murderer out ALL BY HERSELF. A murderer with a gun. At night. Without telling anybody. I expect that from an airhead heroine but not from this character, who edits articles on knitting with esoteric titles and is so eminently sensible in other matters. Well, not in spay and neuter because she takes in a cat and fails to get it fixed and ends up with five or six kittens who are conveniently adopted out. No mention if she has spayed the mother or if kittens were fixed before adoption.
And yet I have bought the fifth in the series. What is wrong with me? Am I so desperate for decent writing and a mature heroine in a cozy that I'm willing to put up with the annoyances? Am I so hungry for (usually) level headed characters that I will forgive them going totally off the rails at the climax? (Yeah, she's done it before but not to this extent-- breaking and entering, you know, minor things.)
Apparently the answer is yes.
So obviously I enjoy them on some level. It takes me awhile to read them because there is no compulsion to read, no "just one more chapter" because they move slowly. I don't expect anything exciting to happen in the next chapter any more than I did in the last chapter. You can see it took me over a month to read it.
I certainly do not mean this to be a totally negative review-- see above, where I keep buying and reading them-- but I don't quite know what brings me back to them. I've had no trouble ditching other cozy series I found wanting but there's something about this one that brings me back time and again to grouse, complain, whine, and read.
Don't consider this so much a review as a meditation on why I do some of the things I do.
The second thing is that all food prep (and there is a lot) must be described in detail. Whole grain bread from the Co-op (ALWAYS whole grain bread) is put in the toaster, there is a description of how the eggs are cracked, how boiled eggs are peeled, how the golden yokes are mashed and seasonings added, and on. The knitting sessions go better, in part because there are other people talking. I don't know anything about knitting but these go better for me than the cooking. Anyway, the mystery is well done; it would have been a stunner if there had been more sleuthing and clues and less cooking and mooning. The other problem is that Our Heroine -- sensible shoes, worried about her daughter dating someone who may know something about the murder, practical, etc.-- decides to lure a murderer out ALL BY HERSELF. A murderer with a gun. At night. Without telling anybody. I expect that from an airhead heroine but not from this character, who edits articles on knitting with esoteric titles and is so eminently sensible in other matters. Well, not in spay and neuter because she takes in a cat and fails to get it fixed and ends up with five or six kittens who are conveniently adopted out. No mention if she has spayed the mother or if kittens were fixed before adoption.
And yet I have bought the fifth in the series. What is wrong with me? Am I so desperate for decent writing and a mature heroine in a cozy that I'm willing to put up with the annoyances? Am I so hungry for (usually) level headed characters that I will forgive them going totally off the rails at the climax? (Yeah, she's done it before but not to this extent-- breaking and entering, you know, minor things.)
Apparently the answer is yes.
So obviously I enjoy them on some level. It takes me awhile to read them because there is no compulsion to read, no "just one more chapter" because they move slowly. I don't expect anything exciting to happen in the next chapter any more than I did in the last chapter. You can see it took me over a month to read it.
I certainly do not mean this to be a totally negative review-- see above, where I keep buying and reading them-- but I don't quite know what brings me back to them. I've had no trouble ditching other cozy series I found wanting but there's something about this one that brings me back time and again to grouse, complain, whine, and read.
Don't consider this so much a review as a meditation on why I do some of the things I do.
August 19, 2023
What is this book? It was advertised as a cozy mystery but no one is really collecting clues or trying to solve the mystery. Is it just a novel in which case I just don't like the set of characters. The main character, Pamela, is wooden, emotionless, and boring. The back up characters lack sufficient substance to support her. The solution to the mystery suddenly just appears without any clues leading us to the resolution. It was bad all around.
December 19, 2019
I didn't like this one as much as the previous books. This is because Penny, the main character's daughter, is in this story. I don't like her. The story involves knittimg, cooking, a scarf, an inheritance, adoption, love, and family. The story was a but slow this time, but I was surprised by the ending.
December 8, 2019
https://openbooksociety.com/article/s...
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit
A Knit and Nibble Mystery #4
By Peggy Ehrhart
ISBN 9781496723635
www.peggyehrhart.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When murder silences the Christmas cheer in charming Arborville, New Jersey, Pamela and her Knit and Nibble pals must unravel the most bone-chilling mystery this side of the North Pole . . .
Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville–because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die! (From Goodreads)
Review:
This Christmas cozy mystery is all about celebrating the holiday with friends and family. Pamela, dear friend and neighbor Bettina, and other friends are members of the weekly knitters’ group. Knit and Nibble has been in Arborville, New Jersey, for several years, and members work on gift, personal, or charity items.
Pamela tries to stay out of the murder investigation in Arborville. It is hard to avoid, though, because her 19-year old daughter Penny, home from college between semesters, found the body a close friend of Bettina. Millicent was owner of a craft shop in nearby Timberley and heiress to her family’s mansion and fortune since the recent death of her mother. The craft shop has been more of a hobby to her than a necessity. The huge home and property that has been home to her family for several generations is up for sale, as it is far more than she and her husband need, and an estate sale is on the schedule.
Bettina was walking towards the telephone to call Millicent, who had sounded troubled earlier that day, when Penny called for her mom. She was at the nearby nature preserve and came upon the body of a dead woman. Bettina, her husband Wilfred, and Pamela rushed to Penny, and Bettina’s shock was almost as great as Penny’s when she recognized and identified Millicent for the police. She was dressed exactly as when Bettina had seen her that morning with one exception. The unique red and green scarf Bettina made for her friend, that she put on before they went different ways, was nowhere in sight.
It was learned later that Millicent was murdered with an old hunting rifle using homemade lead bullets. While there may be many hunters in the area, lead bullets are a thing of the past for most. Also, the poor woman had been murdered somewhere else and dumped off at the preserve.
Pierre, Millicent’s somewhat younger husband, doesn’t seem too sorrowful at his wife’s death. At the cemetery, he was actually grinning! He was very friendly at the reception following the funeral, especially to Penny, and invited them to the estate sale over the weekend that had already been planned. When the reception was almost over, Pamela heard Pierre and a lady who made an impact when she entered wearing a little black cocktail dress talking about how the future is now theirs. Pamela and Bettina had also been greeted by Coot, Millient’s older sister that appeared out of nowhere in recent weeks. It seems their parents were teens when their mother got pregnant, she was sent to an aunt’s in Texas, and the baby was put up for adoption. She found her birth family by doing a DNA kit.
Throughout the series, the characters are defined as needed. I don’t feel, however, that I have gotten to know even Pamela, the central figure, that well. Each of the characters is very likable but even with this being the fourth in series, I don’t feel as invested in them as I would have hoped, due to primarily surface conversations. I do appreciate Pamela’s and Bettina’s age and their activities with Knit and Nibble and the community. I also like seeing a professional man in the group who has taken up knitting to reduce his stress level and improve his health.
The mystery itself is challenging; I certainly was unable to solve it. There are red herrings and plot twists that add and delete suspects throughout. I do wish there had been more of the mystery going on! As the time frame is Christmas, much of the novel is devoted to preparing and shopping for Christmas as well as the parties themselves. I enjoyed the antics of the pets, both Pamela’s and Bettina’s; it was just enough to bring humor without overtaking the narrative. I was completely surprised at who the killer was! I highly recommend this novel to those who like cozy mysteries embracing the Christmas season.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Silent Knit, Deadly Knit
A Knit and Nibble Mystery #4
By Peggy Ehrhart
ISBN 9781496723635
www.peggyehrhart.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When murder silences the Christmas cheer in charming Arborville, New Jersey, Pamela and her Knit and Nibble pals must unravel the most bone-chilling mystery this side of the North Pole . . .
Pamela has been in merry spirits since her artsy daughter Penny returned home from college for the holidays. But their mother-daughter bonding time gets cut short when a terrified Penny stumbles upon the dumped body of Millicent Farthingale, a wealthy craft shop owner who was popular for all the wrong reasons. From a scheming business partner to a seedy husband several years her junior, Millicent attracted scammers so in love with her assets, they’d toss her down a chimney to get their paws on them. Now, with only a hand-knit red scarf connecting the killer to the crime, Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers could use some extra creativity as they find out who’s really naughty or nice in Arborville–because going up against a looming culprit is DIY or die! (From Goodreads)
Review:
This Christmas cozy mystery is all about celebrating the holiday with friends and family. Pamela, dear friend and neighbor Bettina, and other friends are members of the weekly knitters’ group. Knit and Nibble has been in Arborville, New Jersey, for several years, and members work on gift, personal, or charity items.
Pamela tries to stay out of the murder investigation in Arborville. It is hard to avoid, though, because her 19-year old daughter Penny, home from college between semesters, found the body a close friend of Bettina. Millicent was owner of a craft shop in nearby Timberley and heiress to her family’s mansion and fortune since the recent death of her mother. The craft shop has been more of a hobby to her than a necessity. The huge home and property that has been home to her family for several generations is up for sale, as it is far more than she and her husband need, and an estate sale is on the schedule.
Bettina was walking towards the telephone to call Millicent, who had sounded troubled earlier that day, when Penny called for her mom. She was at the nearby nature preserve and came upon the body of a dead woman. Bettina, her husband Wilfred, and Pamela rushed to Penny, and Bettina’s shock was almost as great as Penny’s when she recognized and identified Millicent for the police. She was dressed exactly as when Bettina had seen her that morning with one exception. The unique red and green scarf Bettina made for her friend, that she put on before they went different ways, was nowhere in sight.
It was learned later that Millicent was murdered with an old hunting rifle using homemade lead bullets. While there may be many hunters in the area, lead bullets are a thing of the past for most. Also, the poor woman had been murdered somewhere else and dumped off at the preserve.
Pierre, Millicent’s somewhat younger husband, doesn’t seem too sorrowful at his wife’s death. At the cemetery, he was actually grinning! He was very friendly at the reception following the funeral, especially to Penny, and invited them to the estate sale over the weekend that had already been planned. When the reception was almost over, Pamela heard Pierre and a lady who made an impact when she entered wearing a little black cocktail dress talking about how the future is now theirs. Pamela and Bettina had also been greeted by Coot, Millient’s older sister that appeared out of nowhere in recent weeks. It seems their parents were teens when their mother got pregnant, she was sent to an aunt’s in Texas, and the baby was put up for adoption. She found her birth family by doing a DNA kit.
Throughout the series, the characters are defined as needed. I don’t feel, however, that I have gotten to know even Pamela, the central figure, that well. Each of the characters is very likable but even with this being the fourth in series, I don’t feel as invested in them as I would have hoped, due to primarily surface conversations. I do appreciate Pamela’s and Bettina’s age and their activities with Knit and Nibble and the community. I also like seeing a professional man in the group who has taken up knitting to reduce his stress level and improve his health.
The mystery itself is challenging; I certainly was unable to solve it. There are red herrings and plot twists that add and delete suspects throughout. I do wish there had been more of the mystery going on! As the time frame is Christmas, much of the novel is devoted to preparing and shopping for Christmas as well as the parties themselves. I enjoyed the antics of the pets, both Pamela’s and Bettina’s; it was just enough to bring humor without overtaking the narrative. I was completely surprised at who the killer was! I highly recommend this novel to those who like cozy mysteries embracing the Christmas season.
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
September 26, 2020
Christmas murder!
Always a great time for a mystery. This one keeps you guessing like gifts under the tree. Once again, a surprise ending! Good food, knitting, and cats, what more could a person need?
Always a great time for a mystery. This one keeps you guessing like gifts under the tree. Once again, a surprise ending! Good food, knitting, and cats, what more could a person need?
January 6, 2021
Pamela Paterson is getting ready for Christmas with her daughter Penny, who is home from college for the holidays. But things aren't very merry when she receives a frantic phone call -- Penny has found the body of a local craft store owner in a nature preserve where she was sketching.
When Pamela and her best friend Bettina, who is a reporter for the weekly newspaper The Advocate, get involved, they know there's a killer out there and they're determined to find out who it is. But just questioning people isn't going anywhere, and the dead woman's husband might have a motive but he also has an alibi. Now they have a couple of others to focus on, but they haven't ruled him out.
They're also trying to get ready for Christmas, with wrapping last-minute gifts and planning parties, and Pamela has been cooking up a storm. When one of the suspects suddenly turns up closer than Pamela would like, she's on the hunt to figure it out. But will she be able to do it before the holidays are over?
This is the fourth book in the series, and I honestly don't know why I'm continuing on with it. I guess because I bought the books, I tell myself I should finish them.
The main problem with the books is the fact that people are rarely knitting. They're always eating. And we get long, detailed descriptions of what they're eating. Over and over. We know that Pamela loves whole-grain bread, because she tells us every time she has a slice. We also know she drinks tons of coffee. There were over four pages detailing every step of making the poppy seed cake. Why? Why are we told in every single book about Pamela's wedding china? About Bettina's sage green dishes? Do we really care? Who does that? We're told about Bettina's pumpkin-colored coat numerous times. It's as if the author needed a heavy word count. The result? Very little time was spent on the mystery.
To top it off, there were no clues apparent to us on who the murderer might be, until after they were discovered and Pamela explained it -- and we wouldn't have figured it out anyway! Not with that one clue. Why didn't the police get closer to the killer? They never do, and they're inept in these books. There is no detective presence at all, just Bettina relaying messages.
In the end, this book gave us exactly what all the other books have done: unanswered questions as to what happened to various characters. It's as annoying as Nell, who disapproves of anyone eating anything that isn't healthy. (None of her business, and she shouldn't spout it off to people). What others eat isn't anyone's business but their own. (No, I don't want to see people gorge themselves, but not my circus, not my monkeys).
I know this sounds like a rant, but I wish there were more murder clues and less descriptions of food and dinnerware. Saying that, when the killer was discovered, it came as a surprise, because...there were no clues. Ah, well. I guess I'll just go have a cup of coffee, with cream, in my pretty red reindeer mug and have a slice of homemade banana swirl bread on a blue-rimmed plate...
https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/202...
When Pamela and her best friend Bettina, who is a reporter for the weekly newspaper The Advocate, get involved, they know there's a killer out there and they're determined to find out who it is. But just questioning people isn't going anywhere, and the dead woman's husband might have a motive but he also has an alibi. Now they have a couple of others to focus on, but they haven't ruled him out.
They're also trying to get ready for Christmas, with wrapping last-minute gifts and planning parties, and Pamela has been cooking up a storm. When one of the suspects suddenly turns up closer than Pamela would like, she's on the hunt to figure it out. But will she be able to do it before the holidays are over?
This is the fourth book in the series, and I honestly don't know why I'm continuing on with it. I guess because I bought the books, I tell myself I should finish them.
The main problem with the books is the fact that people are rarely knitting. They're always eating. And we get long, detailed descriptions of what they're eating. Over and over. We know that Pamela loves whole-grain bread, because she tells us every time she has a slice. We also know she drinks tons of coffee. There were over four pages detailing every step of making the poppy seed cake. Why? Why are we told in every single book about Pamela's wedding china? About Bettina's sage green dishes? Do we really care? Who does that? We're told about Bettina's pumpkin-colored coat numerous times. It's as if the author needed a heavy word count. The result? Very little time was spent on the mystery.
To top it off, there were no clues apparent to us on who the murderer might be, until after they were discovered and Pamela explained it -- and we wouldn't have figured it out anyway! Not with that one clue. Why didn't the police get closer to the killer? They never do, and they're inept in these books. There is no detective presence at all, just Bettina relaying messages.
In the end, this book gave us exactly what all the other books have done: unanswered questions as to what happened to various characters. It's as annoying as Nell, who disapproves of anyone eating anything that isn't healthy. (None of her business, and she shouldn't spout it off to people). What others eat isn't anyone's business but their own. (No, I don't want to see people gorge themselves, but not my circus, not my monkeys).
I know this sounds like a rant, but I wish there were more murder clues and less descriptions of food and dinnerware. Saying that, when the killer was discovered, it came as a surprise, because...there were no clues. Ah, well. I guess I'll just go have a cup of coffee, with cream, in my pretty red reindeer mug and have a slice of homemade banana swirl bread on a blue-rimmed plate...
https://joannesbooks.blogspot.com/202...
November 23, 2019
This novel is an interesting read taking place at Christmas. It takes place in Arborville, NJ. Pamela is excited that her daughter Penny is home from college for winter break. While Penny catches up with her friends, Pamela and close friend / neighbor Bettina are planning for the Christmas Eve party for the Knit and Nibble group. Pamela is the mainstay of the knitting group; their party will be for the members and their spouses.
Penny is at the nearby nature preserve to do some hiking and sketching when she finds a dead body. As she waits for the police, she tracks her mother down at Bettina's home. Pamela, Bettina, and her hubby Wilfred race to Penny, where Bettina makes a terrible discovery. The person Penny found is Millicent, a close friend and owner of a craft shop in a neighboring town. Pamela has put herself in danger in the past to help solve mysteries, and doesn't want to get involved yet again. She takes more of an interest when Penny's picture is in the local paper as the person finding Millicent, as she doesn't want Penny to become a target of the killer.
Plot twists and turns regarding clues and various situations continue to change the course of the investigation. While some of the deck seems stacked against Millicent's husband, there are at least a couple more potential bad guys. Could Penny be going out with him by being too trusting?
I enjoyed the mystery itself, but there isn't enough of it! There was a little too much holiday preparation with lengthy parties, but not so much dedicated to the mystery. I do enjoy seeing how different families celebrate, but it needed a little more balance. I also felt there wasn't quite enough depth to the characters to generate the many social and shopping activities. I don't expect to have heart-to-heart conversations every day, but simply feel something is missing. For me.
I did appreciate seeing Pamela begin to work through letting Penny go as she is an adult now, as that is a crisis of sorts for most mothers and daughters. I also appreciated a bit of the history of various fiber art projects that Pamela reviewed for the magazine she works for, and the fun time with Pamela's cats. There are definitely surprises at the end! I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy knitting and cozy mysteries with a central theme of celebrating Christmas.
Penny is at the nearby nature preserve to do some hiking and sketching when she finds a dead body. As she waits for the police, she tracks her mother down at Bettina's home. Pamela, Bettina, and her hubby Wilfred race to Penny, where Bettina makes a terrible discovery. The person Penny found is Millicent, a close friend and owner of a craft shop in a neighboring town. Pamela has put herself in danger in the past to help solve mysteries, and doesn't want to get involved yet again. She takes more of an interest when Penny's picture is in the local paper as the person finding Millicent, as she doesn't want Penny to become a target of the killer.
Plot twists and turns regarding clues and various situations continue to change the course of the investigation. While some of the deck seems stacked against Millicent's husband, there are at least a couple more potential bad guys. Could Penny be going out with him by being too trusting?
I enjoyed the mystery itself, but there isn't enough of it! There was a little too much holiday preparation with lengthy parties, but not so much dedicated to the mystery. I do enjoy seeing how different families celebrate, but it needed a little more balance. I also felt there wasn't quite enough depth to the characters to generate the many social and shopping activities. I don't expect to have heart-to-heart conversations every day, but simply feel something is missing. For me.
I did appreciate seeing Pamela begin to work through letting Penny go as she is an adult now, as that is a crisis of sorts for most mothers and daughters. I also appreciated a bit of the history of various fiber art projects that Pamela reviewed for the magazine she works for, and the fun time with Pamela's cats. There are definitely surprises at the end! I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy knitting and cozy mysteries with a central theme of celebrating Christmas.
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