Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Knit & Nibble Mystery #6

Knit of the Living Dead

Rate this book
When a spooky celebration in Arborville, New Jersey conjures real scares, can Pamela and the Knit and Nibble Club sink their teeth into a bone-chilling mystery that just won’t rest in peace?

Among the countless revelers at the town’s much-anticipated Halloween parade, a woman dressed as Little Bo Peep is the only one making people scream bloody murder. In a scene straight out of a horror movie, the Knit and Nibblers find the nursery rhyme character dead with thick strands of yarn looped around her neck. Pamela and her best friend, Bettina, are set on pinning down who wanted the woman gone forever, but it’ll take every trick they can muster to catch the culprit without becoming the next poor souls to join Little Bo Peep’s dark, endless sleep . . .

Knitting tips and delicious recipes included!

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 25, 2020

256 people are currently reading
645 people want to read

About the author

Peggy Ehrhart

26 books486 followers
Peggy 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

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
332 (32%)
4 stars
371 (36%)
3 stars
238 (23%)
2 stars
51 (5%)
1 star
18 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
Profile Image for Carrie.
3,567 reviews1,692 followers
May 5, 2021
Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart is the sixth 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 it’s Halloween in town and Pamela and Bettina find themselves investigating when a woman dressed as Little Bo Peep has been murdered during the town’s festivities

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. The characters in this cozy series keep me coming back time and again as I always get a good chuckle out of their antics and whatever mayhem they become involved in during the stories. However, I’ve said from book to book that I always find myself coming to the same conclusion of wishing the author would break away from the overly descriptive recipes and knitting and spend more time on the mystery and characters leaving my rating at 3 1/2 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

Profile Image for beachbum bookworm.
371 reviews617 followers
June 13, 2020
Newest Adventure details:

Where: Arborville, New Jersey

Who: Pamela and the Knit and Nibble gang


This was my first visit to Arborville, and there couldn’t have been a more fun time to go then Halloween. Pamela is really nice, and I was really excited for the festivities. Things were going well...I met Bettina...she is great. Not long after we arrived things took a turn for the grizzlier side of Halloween when a young girl was screaming and reporting a dead body...pointing to the trees just at the edge of the park. We went to check it out, and lo and behold there is a dead body...little bo peep. Well it seems like nowadays nursery rhymes and fairy tales are all being retold…. so, I guess little bo peep is now a horror story. They quickly rounded everyone up and planted us in the library. That is where I got to meet some other faces like Nell, Harold, and Wilfred. The murder victim is wool blogger and Nell’s neighbor Mary Lyons...or so we all thought. Until the next day when we found out that it wasn’t Mary Lyons. She brought us up to speed that every year her and her husband do a couple's costume...he was supposed to go as little bo peep and Mary was going as the sheep. After a fight with her husband her friend Dawn was dressed as bo peep...and the victim. We tried to talk with Mary and warn her that...she was more than likely the target, and to be careful...but most of what I heard was right about Mary...she wasn’t very nice. She didn’t think any of what we had to say was legit, and ultimately, she did fall victim. Pamela, Bettina, and I were determined to sort this whole thing out…


My thoughts:

I really loved this book!! If I had to describe it in one word it would be...COZY! This had all the elements I enjoy in a cozy series. I loved the characters ( I enjoyed that they were older), the small town, community celebration, nibbles, and knitting. The mystery had more tangles...than a ball of yarn. It kept me guessing till the end. The cover is adorable...I just liked everything about it! The only thing I might add is a little more quirkiness to the characters. I can’t believe I haven’t read any of the other books in this series but rest assured...I will be!

For more book fun subscribe to my blog @: http://beachbumbookworm.com/

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author Peggy Ehrhart , and the publisher for this opportunity.
Profile Image for Julie.
2,004 reviews630 followers
July 30, 2020
This is the first book in the Knit and Nibble Mystery series that I have read. It's the 6th book in the series. I don't often jump into a series in the middle....if fact, I pretty much always start at book 1 and go from there. But...I made an exception for this one! The front cover and the cute title sucked me right in....and I dove right in and read it! Glad I did...this was a fun Halloween theme cozy!

Arborville is having its annual Halloween parade. Costumes, candy, crowds of revelers....the festivities are all good fun until....

There's always an "until'' in a mystery novel....

Little Bo Peep is found dead....right in the middle of the party.....strangled with loops of yarn wound tightly around her neck.

Who strangled the peep right outta Bo Peep?? Pamela and her bestie Bettina....and the rest of the Knit and Nibble gang.... are on the case!

This book was so much fun to read that I'm backtracking to start this series at the beginning! The characters are fun and I like the background theme. The book also includes knitting instructions and recipes! :)

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
Profile Image for Claudia.
267 reviews3 followers
January 15, 2021
It isn't a bad story but I skimmed through a lot of it. The author spends way too much time on describing every thing every character wears. Every time they have a meal or even a cup of coffee, we get a description of the china and the way the table is set. Okay, I get it, she uses the wedding china every day.
I personally took exception to the description of the college professors. The men are collegiate in tweeds, etc. but, the women have let their hair go grey (oh, the horror), they wear little or no makeup and they wear shapeless jackets, baggy slacks and flat shoes!
Profile Image for Katie T.
1,317 reviews261 followers
Read
October 7, 2020
Dnf 27% - apparently this isn't about cats solving murders.
Profile Image for james ☆.
299 reviews27 followers
May 30, 2022
one of my absolute favorites from this series so far! how can a couple of autumnal baking scenes and lovely characters make murder solving seem so...comforting?
Profile Image for Mint.
151 reviews21 followers
August 31, 2021
This is an extremely cozy mystery, perfect for readers who love learning more about the lives and activities of characters. However, this book progressed a bit too slowly for me.

Like many cozy mysteries, Knit of the Living Dead is set in a small town. The setting of Arborville, New Jersey seems to exemplify what living in a small town is like - a close-knit community where everyone knows everyone, where life goes at a slower pace than in the big city. Arborville is a charming community; minus the crime of course!

Ehrhart writes with a lot of detail. Everything from the appearance of background characters to the meals that characters eat is described with care. This paints a very vivid picture of the scenes. I especially appreciate that she took the time to detail the reasoning of the sleuths and how the clues in the mystery fit together.

At the same time, I felt that the detail made the book tedious to read at times. I found myself skimming over some scenes, unfortunately. I think that the fluff could have been cut down to make the book more exciting at key points. There are scenes in the book that could be quite suspenseful, but in my opinion, the additional detail just bogs them down.

This book is a clean mystery, as there is no (explicit) violence and no foul language. There is a brief discussion of romance but it isn't a major part of the story.

For more of my reviews, please visit:
153 reviews
March 28, 2023
I enjoyed this installment of the Knit & Nibble Mysteries. The plot was interesting, with several red herrings. I absolutely love the characters in this series, especially the close bond between Pamela and her neighbor/BFF Bettina. One of their Knit & Nibble knitting group friends, Nell, joins them on their sleuthing excursions this time around. She is a nice addition to the usual Pamela-Bettina sleuthing duo. That being said, the constant mentions of Pamela's wedding china are annoying. In this installment, her china has now become an adjective - "the wedding-china cup," "the wedding-china plate." If it was a drinking game, every reader would be drunk after 20 pages. Along the same lines, the endless, overly detailed descriptions of step-by-step coffee prep, shopping at the Co-op, etc. are mind-numbing. A generous 4-star rating...really 3.5.
Profile Image for Carlye.
24 reviews
November 1, 2020
I have read all the books in the series and this so far was my favorite. The knit and nibble group reminds me of my own knitting groups, minus the murders.
Profile Image for Toni.
1,565 reviews64 followers
August 24, 2020
4.5 stars

This is the sixth book in the A Knit & Nibble mystery series by Peggy Ehrhart.

I think the best thing about this story was Pamela herself. I loved following her around and seeing how she just lived her life. Quite insightful. The mystery involving the yarn was just a bonus. The victim here was a popular yarn blogger who received a lot of items from various sources to review. So when Pamela goes to help root out some gems in this blogger’s stash, she realizes she really doesn’t need to add more to her own hoard of stuff. Any normal person would jut grab the goodies and run. This gave me a lot of respect for Pamela.

Pamela tries to help the local police department by offering advice but her insights come to rest on deaf ears. I think this happens all too often when people’s ideas are immediately discounted before even taking them into consideration.

This is definitely a series I want to continue on with. Just loved the whole ambiance of it and the mystery was just spot on!

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.
Profile Image for Sheila.
3,351 reviews57 followers
September 5, 2021
Pamela and her friends are at the bonfire celebrating Halloween when a dead body is discovered. Pamela and Bettina start thinking about who did it. Then a week later another murder occurs. And finding the murder is a priority. As Pamela and Bettina look for clues and pass them to the police and Nell joins their investigation, another murder occurs. They double their efforts. There are a lot of people they don't want it to be but who is it.

I liked this story. I am coming to like Harold more and more. I guess the song "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell is right. "...You don't know what you got till it's gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot..." when it comes to Pamela's feelings for Richard.

I kind of figured out who it was. Well, I got it down to two people. The mystery was interesting and the reasoning sound. Although I don't know why the last murder unless it was vengeance. I would have thought the murderer would have been happy to make the last victim suffer rather than kill for vengeance. At least that's what I would do.

I was hoping the pattern for the little Halloween dolls (shown on the cover) would have been given. They are so cute. I look forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Jerri Cachero.
653 reviews48 followers
June 7, 2020
Halloween costumes, mistaken identities, yarn used as a weapon, mystery and murder all combine to give Pamela and Bettina their next opportunity to be sleuths, in their picturesque town of Arborville.

I enjoyed the latest adventure! So many things to love about this book - a well-written mystery and characters, the easy friendship between Peggy and Bettina, beautiful descriptions of Autumn in Arborville, the camaraderie of the Knit and Nibble group and the delicious food (I always snack when reading this series!) all make for a culinary/knitting mystery series that keeps me reading!

The mystery had several "red herrings" and I didn't guess "whodunit" until the end of the book. When I sit down to read this series, I feel like I'm visiting with "old friends" and I always have a great time!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for Robin Loves Reading.
2,894 reviews452 followers
August 23, 2020
The town of Arborville is setting things up for a Halloween parade. As per normal for Pamela Britton and her trusty team of amateur detectives, another mystery has fallen into their lap, and they will not rest without solving the crime.

They are all wearing costumes, but one is more deadly than any of the others. Because the woman in a Little Bo Peep costume is found murdered. Pamela and best friend Bettina do whatever they can to find the person responsible for the murder, and at the same time, remaining safe from harm.

I have loved this series from the very first book. Pamela and the group that make up the Knit & Nibble team are quite endearing. Cozy mysteries are always quite enjoyable, as there is always a murder to two to solve, all while things are kept rather sweet, making for easy reads. That is exactly how I felt about this book and the rest of the series.

Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review).
882 reviews
October 11, 2021
Phew!! Halloween has got seriously scary in Arborville, the Knit and Nibblers are hoping to enjoy either the bonfire and parade in town or Trick or Treaters coming around but it all goes wrong when a couple of teenagers discover a dead body. On the surface this has nothing to do with the knitters other than the fact that some yarn was draped around the neck of the deceased. But then there is another murder and THIS is without a doubt knitting related - now Pamela and Bettina (and surprisingly Nell!) need to card through the clues and find out the truth before anything else happens.
Profile Image for Leah.
1,976 reviews
September 16, 2020
This begins on Halloween and ends before Thanksgiving. The story involves trick-or-treating, yarn, llamas, an old house, and jewelry. There is also lots of food. I liked the llamas and the farm, and I felt bad for their owner. She seemed lonely. The main character was too, but she did that to herself.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
738 reviews
January 17, 2021
Really about a 3.5. If you enjoy descriptions of food prep and loving detailed furnishings and food, you'll love this. It got on my nerves at first but I have come to find it very soothing and would be disappointed if it stopped. I do like her word choices. Raisins are plump, bread glistens with butter, etc. Very delectable.
Profile Image for Marjo.
9 reviews1 follower
August 8, 2021
I enjoy reading book series that involve a group of crafting friends that solve a crime. This series is a favorite of mine for the way the families involved interact. There has been a lot of character development throughout this series and I really have enjoyed that aspect. I was a little disappointed in the denouement of this particular installment but have already started the search for next one in the series.
Profile Image for Cozy Reader Lady.
1,142 reviews121 followers
November 23, 2024
"Knit of the Living Dead (A Knit & Nibble Myself #6)" by Peggy Ehrhart starts on Halloween. The first victim, yes there are multiple in this one, is found by teenagers as Pamela and crew are at a Halloween bonfire. Then, who they think was the intended victim is found a few days later. Oh, we're not done. A week or so later, the husband of the second victim is found dead. There, at least, seems to be some connections between all the deaths and Pamela is going to figure it out. Despite her daughter's constant requests not to get involved.

It's been a little while since I've read one of this series and I forgot about the clue drop that seems to happen at the beginning of each book. I missed it but remembered it when the reveal happened. Kind of a "dang it! I forgot about that."

The only thing that really annoys me about these books is the constant use of the phrase "wedding china." You could make it a drinking game with these books. I swear the author started constantly referring to Pamela's dish-ware of choice to get her word count up and is now stuck with it because it's a thing now. I would be okay with one mention of it and done for the reminder of the book.
Profile Image for Kim.
1,161 reviews15 followers
November 23, 2020
I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. I characters are fun, the setting is cozy, and the mystery was interesting. This is a great book to read for Halloween. The mystery is full of twists and turns and no shortage of suspects. I can't wait to read more of this series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
1,445 reviews
July 9, 2022
So much wrong with this audiobook! Unending descriptions of food preparation, clothing and jewelry worn by every character, grocery shopping, making coffee (drip and percolator), feeding the cats, dishes used ... And how many times did Roland look at his IMPRESSIVE wristwatch?!?

The police are treated as incompetent and the knitting group as detectives. The revelation of the murderer at the end of the book came out of the blue, without any clues leading up to the discovery.
Profile Image for Traci Haley.
1,783 reviews25 followers
December 8, 2021
I'm not sure why I continue with this series. The characters are truly insufferable. Bougie, privileged, and judgemental in the worst way. Not a page goes by where someone doesn't criticize someone's weight, someone's style, or Nell pipes up that there might be a granule of sugar in something. Seriously, these books are full of the worst Karens! But something keeps me coming back....
Profile Image for Jennifer.
570 reviews7 followers
October 12, 2022
Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart is a beautiful Halloween mystery.
Will Pamela, Bettina, and Nell figure out who is on a killing spree in their little town?
The Lady Sleuths
Our sleuths are part of the Knit and Nibble Knitting Club. These ladies have a nose for finding the culprits. But let's not forget that they have their weekly knitting night and like to get together to share their lives. They each have distinctive personalities that set them apart. Yet, they work well together for the good of their small New Jersey town.

Pamela is our point of view, for the most part. She is like a super sleuth. Pamela is widowed, and her daughter is in college away from home.

Nell is married and the oldest of the three. She sometimes wants to help but also comes from a generation where she doesn't like to buck authority (unless it is needed).

Bettina is also married. She lives across the street from Pamela. Bettina loves food and bright clothing and writes for a local newspaper.

These three ladies are excellent at investigating.
Knit of the Living Dead CRThe Mystery
We start on Halloween at the town's celebratory bonfire, where a woman is killed. The ladies know the victim and don't think that the local detective's direction will be useful. So, they begin to investigate the murder. But then another murder happens, and another. Are they related? Who could be doing this? So many questions but not a lot of suspects. However, in the end, the ladies figure it out before Detective Clayborn has a clue.
Four Stars
This is the first Knit and Nibble Mystery that I have read. I liked it. These ladies find some delicious treats while investigating the murders. I enjoyed following them around and getting to know them and their other knitting group members. If you are into knitting and mysteries, this could be a new series for you.

Included in the back of the book is a knitting pattern for a Trick-or-Treat tote and a couple of "nibbles" recipes for you to try: Pumpkin-Spice Crumb Cake and Roland's Easy Candy-Corn Halloween Cookies. 


Other Books in the Series

Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart Died in the Wool by Peggy Ehrhart Knit One, Die Two by Peggy Ehrhart Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Ehrhart A Fatal Yarn by Peggy Ehrhart Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart Knitty Gritty Murder by Peggy Ehrhart Death of a Knit Wit by Peggy Ehrhart


Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart.

Until the next time,

Jen Signature for BBT

 

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

Profile Image for Lauren.
250 reviews23 followers
February 10, 2024
Arborville, New Jersey’s annual Halloween parade is something the entire town looks forward to. It is a fantastic community event where everyone can show off their costumes and enjoy the town’s decorations and the yearly bonfire. This year though, this year the only screams come from the college girl who stumbled over a murdered Bo Peep with a thick strand of yarn wrapped around her neck. Having arrived shortly after the body was found, Paula and Bettina of the Arborville Knit and Nibble find themselves determined to get to the bottom of the crime.

Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit of the Living Dead falls pretty strongly in the category of books that are not strictly bad, just not really for me. Part of this may come from it being the sixth book in its series, so all of the characters have already been introduced and developed. Part of it might also be that Knit of the Living Dead is far to the cozy side of cozy mysteries.

I think that is where I want to start, because it wound up being where a lot of my issues with getting the book read came from. Knit of the Living Dead felt so incredibly disinterested in its own mystery that I found myself putting it down over and over again. The story would wonder over to Paula doing her grocery shopping or working on editing articles for the magazine she works for. The book seems more interested in the characters meeting for dinner and what is served or side character Bettina’s outfit of the day than its own plot. I found myself exhausted by it, waiting for something to happen only to receive more of the same.

The writing itself added to this. In many cases Ehrhart would use words that read as more than a touch mischosen. Characters frequently whimpered or wailed their lines, mostly Bettina, suggesting that she trends towards deep dramatics, but it was repeated to the point of annoyance rather than as a character note. Other word choices might be down to my copy being a NetGalley ARC, a sandwich reposed on a plate, a fine word on its own but dramatic for a sandwich, a cup of coffee had cream added to it until it was mocha color, making the coffee coffee colored. Nothing wrong exactly, nothing that could be called incorrect specifically, but just off enough to be unpleasant to come across.

I am mildly unsure of how I feel about the characters here. Given that this is the sixth book in the series, again as above, the characters are set in their characterization and their development has happened already. It can leave them feeling more than a little flat for a first time reader. In the last half of the book Paula’s previous love interest is brought up. It felt less like the story going back into something in the character’s life and exploring her feelings now that that ship has sailed and more like another instance of trying to avoid the plot at all costs. I admit, I rolled my eyes at that one.

Again, I feel like my issues with Knit of the Living Dead are my issues rather than being entirely issues with the book itself. I did not enjoy it and I find myself unlikely to read more of Ehrhart’s writing, but it is very much a standard for cozy mysteries as a sub genre. Perhaps not a sub genre I am likely to visit again soon. All told, I give Knit of the Living Dead a two out of five.

Review previously posted at https://tympestbooks.wordpress.com/20...
Profile Image for Elizabeth Love.
Author 11 books28 followers
July 31, 2020
This review is made possible by early access from NetGalley.

I was eager to try a cozy set in New Jersey. This is book six in the "Knit and Nibbler" knitting series. I only had one moment of unfamiliarity regarding characters and to whom they were referring near the end of the book. Otherwise, it was easy to get to know each character's personality and style.

Pamela Patterson is the main sleuthing character as the protagonist; but it's really her best friend Bettina Fraser who gets nearly as much space who can liaise with the police since she's a local reporter for a weekly paper, The Arborville Advocate. Pamela's profession as an assistant editor for Fiber Craft magazine is instrumental in the final twist and reveal.

At first, this book felt like the suspect pool was weak and the alibis held up so theories were such a stretch. Alas, it's not until 90% through that the clues are put together and I admit I did not decode them earlier. When there's a cozy theme like knitting, a reader does expect a lot of references to that subject so another mention of a character who may be a knitter or needle artist didn't necessarily make a suspect. The way the killer tied in to the triple homicide was a cerebral high.

There's a bit of repetition that I feel could have been scaled back like Pamela's morning routine of toast and coffee using her fancy china. Literally every morning, Ehrhart detailed the exactness of Pamela's toast and coffee and china. We get it -- she likes routines. I did appreciate the couple of notes about Pamela having some frugality in her life like not being afraid to pick up discarded trash and make it into a treasure for herself.

One thing that showed -- and perhaps this is because the setting is in a part of New Jersey across the river from New York City. Although Arborville is a fictitious town, Ehrhart showed how some characters are so invested in their image. One of the knitting club members, Roland, is the only man and he absurdly comes to their Knit and Nibble gatherings in three-piece suits, starched shirts, always wearing and expensive watch, and brings his knitting in a leather briefcase. Even rich people own casual wear. Roland isn't the only whose image is constantly brought up. In this regard, I felt there was a lot of judgment about people's looks which I could have done with something reworded to sound like annoying. I haven't lived out in that part of New Jersey since I was a child so perhaps, it's all accurate about how people are over there. I know I certainly don't feel connected to them.

In the end, the identity of the real killer made me a happier reader. There could have been more clues earlier on for the killer. Introducing yet another suspect of an already unrealistic pool of characters at 80% seemed like that had be "the one" that stuck. But it was a superfluous addition adding that particular suspect. Had it been cut and more clues placed about the real killer, I would give it five stars. 

Rating: 4 stars
13 reviews7 followers
July 26, 2020
#Net Galley #KnitoftheLivingDead

Review based on a Net Galley arc. But I will be buying my own copy when it's published.

I enjoyed this book and will be purchasing a copy for my personal collection. I recommend it to my friends who like knitting mystery books. This is first Knit and Nibble mystery that I have read and now I want to read the rest.

The Knit and Nibble club members seem like a congenial group to spend time with as a reader follows the series. The group is mostly female, but there is a male knitter. The club members seem to be mostly married while Pamela is a widow with a college-aged daughter. The only quibble I had was that although Pamela is the lead character, she was frequently overshadowed by stronger and more active personalities in the group. I found the secondary characters like Bettina Fraser far more interesting to read about.

Bettina is Pamela’s best friend and the oldest member of the club. Since Bettina has a professional stake in solving the mysteries - she’s a reporter for the town’s weekly paper - her interest in sleuthing feels more relatable. It distracted me somewhat from the story that Pamela didn’t seem to have any particular reason for getting involved.

In this particular installment in the series, the club members are attending a bonfire party on Halloween night in costumes, along with much of the rest of Arborville. The evening ends with the discovery of a body - a woman costumed as Little Bo Peep. Pamela and Bettina investigate the crime.

The author has a smooth voice that’s easy to settle into; I was immediately absorbed in the story and following the investigation, although I did soon begin skimming any scenes that didn’t contain Bettina. I enjoyed the author’s ability to set a scene and ability to describe:

“Sweet as the chocolate cookie was, it’s flavor still hinted at the slight bitterness of the cacao bean, and that bitterness tamed the excruciating sweetness of the candy corns studded here and there."

“Wilfred was standing at the end of his driveway in a plaid bathrobe, apparently having a conversation with a Ilama. The woolly creature, a creamy shade of white, stood on the strip of grass between the sidewalk and street. Its graceful neck was extended to its full height and its long ears were tilted attentively in his direction.”

Recipes included with the book are Pumpkin-Spice Crumb Cake and Roland’s Easy Candy-Corn Halloween Cookies. Knitting pattern included is the Trick or Treat Tote.
Profile Image for Crystal.
1,098 reviews27 followers
August 9, 2020
This was my first trip to Arborville, NJ, but this is the 6th installment in the Knit and Nibble Cozy Mystery series. Pamela and her friends head over to the park for a Halloween evening of festivities. That is until a young woman comes screaming out of the trees. It seems like a amorous young couple had decided to wander into the trees for some time together when they came across the body of a woman dressed as the shepherdess Mary. With a piece of yarn left on her throat, Pamela and company know it’s going to be up to them to help solve the case. With a hat covering her face, they don’t know who the woman is, but they know who’d let it be known that they had the costume.
Finding out that it wasn’t the woman they thought it was, the women rush to warn her that her life might be in danger. Though they warn her in time, she doesn’t listen and ends up victim number two. Now the three friends need to figure out who’s behind the slayings before the next one happens. Aside from the murder, we learn more about Pamela, her college age daughter (who’s away at college, but emails regularly), her job, and the Knit and Nibbles group. They are a group of knitters who meet up to work on their projects and have some nibbles. Each meeting is held at a different knitters’ home, so there’s a different recipe for each one. After the end of the story, not only do you get the recipes made for the meetings, you also get a craft to knit if you’re so inclined.
The reason for the four star review is because at times the story lags. I actually got bored a couple of times and had to stop reading it for the rest of the day. I did manage to read through, and I was glad I did. I’d managed to figure out the killer not long before they were revealed.
*I received an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
54 reviews1 follower
July 10, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Knit of the Living Dead is the first book I have read in the Knit and Nibble series. I thought it would be interesting to read a book featuring two things I enjoy, namely knitting and Halloween. The book begins with the murder happening almost right away. I was expecting a little more time spent setting up the situation and characters involved. It was surprising, but it did not reduce the quality of the mystery. The storyline was interesting, and I really wanted to know who the murderer was, as well as the reason that motivated it. The main characters in this book are Pamela, Bettina and Nell. They are the ones investigating the murder, while the other members of the knitting group do not have much to do. It took me a while to get used to the characters, as I thought that they were a bit odd at first. After a few chapters, that feeling was gone. There are are a few interesting suspects, and new developments arise at a steady pace to keep the story moving. However, I thought that the story was peppered with unnecessary details, such as the fact that Pamela wears the same clothes many days in a row (is her washer in need of repair?), as well as Bettina's outfits and hair. Aside from that, the book is very enjoyable, and I will check out the previous books in the series. Also, the book cover is so cute! It really catches the eye.
Profile Image for Cozy Reviews.
2,050 reviews5 followers
September 6, 2020
This is the 6th book in the wonderful "Knit & Nibble series by cozy mystery author Peggy Ehrhart. This is a delightful series that I highly recommend. I have read the entire series and enjoy returning to each book in the series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

In this next in series our protagonist Pamela and her knitting ladies are looking forward to the town Halloween festival. I love the strong charcters the author has created for this series and the male addition to the knitting club is a delightful addition. The charcters are all likable and add to each book with fun, friendship and sleuthing. With the Halloween festival they do not have much time to knit and are all contributing to the fun creating crafts and decor.

During the much anticipated Halloween costume parade a attendee is strangled who is dressed as Little Bo Peep. Pamela and Bettina her best friend and fellow sleuth are on the case. As they investigate they find out that the costume had been changed before the parade to another person which adds mystery to the case as to who the mystery Bo Peep was and why she was murdered. Pamela and Bettina are a great team and soon on the right track.

The mystery kept me guessing to conclusion. I enjoyed the addition of a Llama into the story and different charcters that contributed to the sleuth . This was a fun next in this delightful series. Review delayed due to fire evacuation.
170 reviews2 followers
November 14, 2021
4.5/5 Stars!

It's a Halloween celebration, knitting, and murder in Knit of the Living Dead by Peggy Ehrhart!

Our protagonist, Pamela (member of the Knit & Nibble) along with other members are gathered at their town of Arborville's Halloween celebration. The evening is fun and creative Halloween costumes, until a Murder occurs. It's up to Pamela and the Knit and Nibble crew to solve the murder.

Knit and Nibble is a knitting community that gathers at each other's homes to knit their projects and 'nibble' on snacks and refreshments. The scenes with the Knit and Nibble makes me feel like I'm a member, knitting and having refreshments with them.

I enjoyed reading about Pamela, Bettina, and the Knit & Nibble community. The details and descriptions in the story makes me want to visit the town of Arborville. Reading the story makes me want to give knitting a try. The twists along the story, and how the murder was solved was clever and kept me reading. I feel that this book can be read as a stand alone, perfect for new and current fans of the Knit & Nibble series.

The book has a spooky, yet cozy cover that invites readers to give it a try. The story also includes recipes and knitting tips as well.

I enjoyed my first entry into the Knit & Nibble Mystery series, and I'm looking forward to more. My thanks to the author for a copy of this book for my review!
Profile Image for T K Nelson.
445 reviews4 followers
November 2, 2025
This is book six of the series. I could easily do a copy paste of my reviews of the five previous.

This may be the most boring cozy series published. Someday I’m going to figure out the percentage of mystery solving vs details related over and over and over ad nauseum about daily activities. What the characters wore including accessories. Where they purchased groceries. What the pets were fed and how often. Which dishes are used. How the coffee is made. There are a couple of recipes included but, seriously?, to include refrigerated dough cookies and ignore foods that sound intriguing adds insult to injury.

Characters are bland with no growth in six books. There is a tiny indication of personality growth and/or change seen here in Pam.

Another reviewer here (thanks, Lauren) described the book as “incredibly disinterested in its own mystery”. This is it in a nutshell. I will no doubt continue reading this series. It is absolutely great when you do want to think. I’m pretty sure that’s not a compliment but it is true.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.