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Craft Fair Knitters Mysteries #1
A Wicked Yarn
A killer may craft the perfect crime, but as every knitter worth her yarn knows--murder wool out.
Mother's Day should be a cinch for the good folks of the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, and knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger has a good feeling about this year's yield. But things quickly get knotty when Lia's daughter announces she's quit her job and Lia finds herself tangled up in the murder of her best friend's ex-husband. While Belinda's alibi quickly gets her off the hook, nasty rumors spread throughout Crandalsburg that shroud the entire fair in suspicion.
Could the vendors be responsible for the murder of a man hell-bent on unraveling the fair just days before his death? Lia and her crafty group of Ninth Street Knitters must put down their needles to gather clues and save the crafting community they've grown to love.
Mother's Day should be a cinch for the good folks of the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, and knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger has a good feeling about this year's yield. But things quickly get knotty when Lia's daughter announces she's quit her job and Lia finds herself tangled up in the murder of her best friend's ex-husband. While Belinda's alibi quickly gets her off the hook, nasty rumors spread throughout Crandalsburg that shroud the entire fair in suspicion.
Could the vendors be responsible for the murder of a man hell-bent on unraveling the fair just days before his death? Lia and her crafty group of Ninth Street Knitters must put down their needles to gather clues and save the crafting community they've grown to love.
285 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 29, 2020
116 people are currently reading
2435 people want to read
About the author
Emmie Caldwell
3 books88 followersEmmie Caldwell is the pen name of Mary Ellen Hughes, author of 4 cozy mystery series.
A WICKED YARN begins Emmie's Craft Fair Knitters Mystery Series, set in Crandalsburg, PA, where Lia Geiger and her Ninth Street Knitters solve murders as they knit up a storm.
A WICKED YARN begins Emmie's Craft Fair Knitters Mystery Series, set in Crandalsburg, PA, where Lia Geiger and her Ninth Street Knitters solve murders as they knit up a storm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
February 2, 2026
This is a cozy mystery, and this is the first book in A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters a lot. The mystery parts of this book was good. I also enjoyed the craft parts of this book. I think this is going to be a great cozy mystery series. I cannot wait to be back with these characters. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
January 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this mild cozy Murder mystery featuring a nice cast of crafty characters and a strong protagonist, widow Lia Geiger, a knitter. The author supplies a steady stream of suspects you’ll believe could certainly have motives to be killers.
Vendors at the Crandalsbury Craft Fair in Pennsylvania certainly have no inkling a killer walks the fair grounds. Lia Geiger belongs to a lovely, active group of kind-hearted knitters-Ninth Street Knits-who sell their items at the fair. When Lia comes close to identifying the disturbed killer; the author revs up the ending to what was a great conclusion. I’m looking forward to reading the next story.
Vendors at the Crandalsbury Craft Fair in Pennsylvania certainly have no inkling a killer walks the fair grounds. Lia Geiger belongs to a lovely, active group of kind-hearted knitters-Ninth Street Knits-who sell their items at the fair. When Lia comes close to identifying the disturbed killer; the author revs up the ending to what was a great conclusion. I’m looking forward to reading the next story.
December 30, 2020
After the loss of her husband, Lia Geiger moves to a new town in Pennsylvania and starts selling things she and her knitting friends make at a local craft fair run by her best friend, Belinda. She’s expecting to sell lots of items over Mother’s Day weekend, and Saturday is great. But when she arrives on Sunday, she finds Belinda standing over the dead body of Belinda’s ex-husband, a developer who just the day before was planning to buy the barn where the craft fair is held and tear it down. With attendance at the craft fair dropping and Belinda everyone’s prime suspect, Lia jumps in to clear her friend. Can she do it?
While I don’t normally read crafting themed cozies, I’m glad I picked up this debut because I enjoyed it. The mystery is strong with several viable suspects, and it kept me guessing until the end. I did struggle with Lia’s relationship with Belinda. Even given what she is going through, I had a hard time believe that Lia and Belinda are best friends. However, there are plenty of other characters to love here, including Lia’s new neighbors and her young adult daughter. I enjoyed spending time with them. I’m looking forward to visiting Lia again when the next book in the series comes out.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
While I don’t normally read crafting themed cozies, I’m glad I picked up this debut because I enjoyed it. The mystery is strong with several viable suspects, and it kept me guessing until the end. I did struggle with Lia’s relationship with Belinda. Even given what she is going through, I had a hard time believe that Lia and Belinda are best friends. However, there are plenty of other characters to love here, including Lia’s new neighbors and her young adult daughter. I enjoyed spending time with them. I’m looking forward to visiting Lia again when the next book in the series comes out.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
January 21, 2021
A WICKED YARN is my first book of 2021. All I can say is, if the rest of the books I read this year are half as good, I'm in for some fabulous reading!
Author Emmie Caldwell's (Mary Ellen Hughes) debut book in the Craft Fair Knitters is going to be a lot for the author to live up too. Like the pilot of a TV series, the first book in a series is all about introducing the characters and setting, so it can be often be slow going. That was not the case with A WICKED YARN. By the end of the first couple of chapters I felt like I was in a familiar place with wonderful friends.
As for the mystery, is was very well written. I tried to get into the author's head for just a hint of who the baddy was, but I was stumped. Protagonist Lia and I learned the killer's identity at the same time. Totally worth sitting up half the night to read.
Author Emmie Caldwell's (Mary Ellen Hughes) debut book in the Craft Fair Knitters is going to be a lot for the author to live up too. Like the pilot of a TV series, the first book in a series is all about introducing the characters and setting, so it can be often be slow going. That was not the case with A WICKED YARN. By the end of the first couple of chapters I felt like I was in a familiar place with wonderful friends.
As for the mystery, is was very well written. I tried to get into the author's head for just a hint of who the baddy was, but I was stumped. Protagonist Lia and I learned the killer's identity at the same time. Totally worth sitting up half the night to read.
January 11, 2021
When Lia Geiger's friend Belinda becomes the main suspect in a murder, amateur sleuth Lia springs into action.
The protagonist in this charming cozy is likable, and the secondary characters are realistic and relatable. The plot is well-conceived. There are plenty of suspects with believable motives. Descriptions are vivid. The small town setting is delightful.
Definitely four star reading pleasure here.
The protagonist in this charming cozy is likable, and the secondary characters are realistic and relatable. The plot is well-conceived. There are plenty of suspects with believable motives. Descriptions are vivid. The small town setting is delightful.
Definitely four star reading pleasure here.
December 29, 2020
A Wicked Yarn is the first book in the A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series by Emmie Caldwell.
A delightful new series comes from Emmie Caldwell, who also writes as Mary Ellen Hughes.
Lia, a recent widow, has moved to Crandalsburg. She soon joins a knitting group who call themselves The Ninth Street Knitters. The Ninth Street Knitters sell their knitted items at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, and Lia handles their booth. Lia’s long-time friend, Brenda, manages the fair, located in a barn that dates to the Civil War days. One day Brenda gets Lia’s attention and informs her that the barn is about to be sold, but nothing is known about the barn’s future or the Craft Fair. Soon Brenda’s ex-husband, Darren, is overheard talking with a business associate about his plans to tear down the barn once the sale goes through. On Sunday, Mother’s Day, Lia plans on getting to the fair early show she can make sure that her booth is ready for what she expects to be a busy selling day. When she enters the barn, she finds Brenda standing over a body, who she soon learns is that of Darren. Fortunately for Brenda, she’s not the prime suspect, but foot traffic at the craft fair shows a drastic decline, so Lia sets out to investigate her own.
Lia’s daughter, Hayley, has come home for Mother’s Day and will be spending some time with Lia while she considers a job change. Hayley offers to help her mother with the investigation, and they will soon find several suspects.
I found the story to well-written and plotted. There were enough red herrings that kept me guessing until the end of the book as to who the murderer was. The characters are believable and well-developed, and I would be happy to call them my friends.
I will be watching for the next book in this engaging new series.
A delightful new series comes from Emmie Caldwell, who also writes as Mary Ellen Hughes.
Lia, a recent widow, has moved to Crandalsburg. She soon joins a knitting group who call themselves The Ninth Street Knitters. The Ninth Street Knitters sell their knitted items at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, and Lia handles their booth. Lia’s long-time friend, Brenda, manages the fair, located in a barn that dates to the Civil War days. One day Brenda gets Lia’s attention and informs her that the barn is about to be sold, but nothing is known about the barn’s future or the Craft Fair. Soon Brenda’s ex-husband, Darren, is overheard talking with a business associate about his plans to tear down the barn once the sale goes through. On Sunday, Mother’s Day, Lia plans on getting to the fair early show she can make sure that her booth is ready for what she expects to be a busy selling day. When she enters the barn, she finds Brenda standing over a body, who she soon learns is that of Darren. Fortunately for Brenda, she’s not the prime suspect, but foot traffic at the craft fair shows a drastic decline, so Lia sets out to investigate her own.
Lia’s daughter, Hayley, has come home for Mother’s Day and will be spending some time with Lia while she considers a job change. Hayley offers to help her mother with the investigation, and they will soon find several suspects.
I found the story to well-written and plotted. There were enough red herrings that kept me guessing until the end of the book as to who the murderer was. The characters are believable and well-developed, and I would be happy to call them my friends.
I will be watching for the next book in this engaging new series.
November 27, 2020
A Wicked Yarn is the first book in the Craft Fair Knitters Mystery by author Emmie Caldwell (who also writes as Mary Ellen Hughes). This was a solid start to a new series. I really like that the series is centered on a craft barn with many different crafters who sell their wares. The characters were all very enjoyable, and I loved the mother-daughter relationship between Lia and Haley. The secondary cast of characters includes the crafters at the craft barn along with Lia's knitting group known as the Ninth Street Knitters, whose wares Lia sells at the craft barn. Lia is an amateur sleuth drawn into solving two murders because she stumbled over both bodies. She decides to try and help her friend, who is under suspicion for the murders but also to save the craft barn as well.
I thought the mystery was well done. There is a lot of clues for Lia, who is joined by her daughter Haley in sleuthing, to follow. There are plenty of viable suspects that have good motives for committing the murders. Lia is not a reckless sleuth nor does she charge in and get herself in trouble. The killer's identity is revealed toward the end and there is a climactic scene involving Lia's daughter where the killer is caught. The one thing that kept me from giving this a 4-star review was the pace of the book. I, personally, felt that the pace was slow and dragged a bit in some places which made it harder for me to push through to the end.
All in all, I enjoyed this book enough that I will be returning for the next book in the series to see how the author grows the characters and to see how she plots the next story.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
I thought the mystery was well done. There is a lot of clues for Lia, who is joined by her daughter Haley in sleuthing, to follow. There are plenty of viable suspects that have good motives for committing the murders. Lia is not a reckless sleuth nor does she charge in and get herself in trouble. The killer's identity is revealed toward the end and there is a climactic scene involving Lia's daughter where the killer is caught. The one thing that kept me from giving this a 4-star review was the pace of the book. I, personally, felt that the pace was slow and dragged a bit in some places which made it harder for me to push through to the end.
All in all, I enjoyed this book enough that I will be returning for the next book in the series to see how the author grows the characters and to see how she plots the next story.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, Berkley, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
January 22, 2021
Ms. Caldwell first book in a new cozy mystery series, Craft Fair Knitters, was a delight to read from beginning to end.
Lia Geiger is a widow living in a small community in Pennsylvania. She is a retired surgical nurse and keeps herself busy knitting now that she has recently moved to Crandalsburg. The developing characters were all likable except for one who I found to be too rough around the edges. Lia and her daughter, Haley, are strong characters that I liked immensely as I got to know them. The mystery is smoothly paced with plenty of clues that provide the twists and turns and the suspects were quite plausible. The reveal was dramatic and totally unexpected. I never guessed who was behind the murder and mayhem.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Lia Geiger is a widow living in a small community in Pennsylvania. She is a retired surgical nurse and keeps herself busy knitting now that she has recently moved to Crandalsburg. The developing characters were all likable except for one who I found to be too rough around the edges. Lia and her daughter, Haley, are strong characters that I liked immensely as I got to know them. The mystery is smoothly paced with plenty of clues that provide the twists and turns and the suspects were quite plausible. The reveal was dramatic and totally unexpected. I never guessed who was behind the murder and mayhem.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
December 29, 2020
This is the first book in A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery. Lia Geiger has a booth at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair which is housed in a Civil War era barn. The fair's manager's ex=husband is found dead after threatening to buy the barn and tear it down. Lia and her daughter, Hayley immediately start sleuthing to find the killer.
As a fiber enthusiast I was delighted to find this new series. I really enjoyed all the conversations about wool and knitting. I'm a cat lover, too so the cover won me over. Who doesn't love a fluffy cat and an alpaca?
The characters are well developed and felt like friends by the end of the book. I loved the small town and the history associated with it.
The mystery is well done. I suspected several people and did not realize the actual culprit until Lia did.
i was a little disappointed that there were not knitting patterns or recipes at the end of the book. Since this was an ARC they may very well be included in the actual release. I will certainly look for iit.
An excellent start to the series and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As a fiber enthusiast I was delighted to find this new series. I really enjoyed all the conversations about wool and knitting. I'm a cat lover, too so the cover won me over. Who doesn't love a fluffy cat and an alpaca?
The characters are well developed and felt like friends by the end of the book. I loved the small town and the history associated with it.
The mystery is well done. I suspected several people and did not realize the actual culprit until Lia did.
i was a little disappointed that there were not knitting patterns or recipes at the end of the book. Since this was an ARC they may very well be included in the actual release. I will certainly look for iit.
An excellent start to the series and I look forward to reading more.
Thank you to Net Galley and Berkley Books for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 9, 2020
The hook for me was knitting, alpacas, and a Civil War barn. And of course, a murder to solve. Recently widowed Lia moved to a nearby town and became involved with a professional knitters group who sold their work at a historic barn in the community. Things were going well until a developer with ties to one of Lia's friends was found murdered in that very barn. Soon Lia and her daughter take on the amateur sleuthing task and learned more about the deceased and other town citizens than they ever thought possible. A nice cozy read for an afternoon!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley. Thank you!
December 28, 2020
I was intrigued by The Crandalsburg Craft Fair Mystery Series by Emmie Caldwell. Former surgical nurse and widow Lia Gieger stars as a knitting sleuth in this series set in Crandalsburg, Pennsylvania. Lia runs a booth at the craft fair for her knitting group Ninth Street Knitters, but always has time to investigate a crime. When a developer who plans to demolish the craft fair barn turns up murdered Lia sets aside her knitting to do some detective work.
I was pleasantly surprised by this knitting mystery. I enjoyed the cozy small town setting and Lia’s visits to the craft fair and local restaurants. I haven’t read the previous books in the series, but it was enjoyable as a stand alone book.
I was pleasantly surprised by this knitting mystery. I enjoyed the cozy small town setting and Lia’s visits to the craft fair and local restaurants. I haven’t read the previous books in the series, but it was enjoyable as a stand alone book.
November 7, 2020
The bright colors in this cover, and the title, were big factors for requesting this book. I love any type of craft themed cozy mystery. From knitting and crocheting, to scrapbooking and candle making, those are my absolute favorites to read.
In this book we meet Lia, and her daughter Hayley. Lia is a knitter who likes to live a quiet life, after the loss of her husband.
Lia and her knitting group have a table at the local craft fair, and things begin to get rocky when there is talk about demolishing the antique barn where the fair takes place. Add in a grumpy fair manager, a vindictive ex husband, and a shady business partner, and you have the beginning of a murder investigation.
This is an easy to read book and the story flows well from beginning to end. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
#AWickedYarn #NetGalley
In this book we meet Lia, and her daughter Hayley. Lia is a knitter who likes to live a quiet life, after the loss of her husband.
Lia and her knitting group have a table at the local craft fair, and things begin to get rocky when there is talk about demolishing the antique barn where the fair takes place. Add in a grumpy fair manager, a vindictive ex husband, and a shady business partner, and you have the beginning of a murder investigation.
This is an easy to read book and the story flows well from beginning to end. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
#AWickedYarn #NetGalley
November 27, 2020
"A Wicked Yarn" first in the Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series by Emmie Caldwell. Great start to a wonderful new cozy mystery series! I really enjoyed this story, with its craft fair theme. I did one craft fair years ago and I can see how this can be a fun series with lots of quirky characters.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.
I did suspect the killer prior to Lia and Haley but it did not take away from the enjoyment. I found myself engrossed in the story from beginning to end.
I’m looking forward to “Stitched in Crime” Coming Winter 2021
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.
I did suspect the killer prior to Lia and Haley but it did not take away from the enjoyment. I found myself engrossed in the story from beginning to end.
I’m looking forward to “Stitched in Crime” Coming Winter 2021
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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August 9, 2025The Cozy Mystery Book Club Read A Wicked Yarn!
The YouTube Livestream Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtX9t...
The YouTube Livestream Discussion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtX9t...
December 30, 2020
A Wicked Yarn by Emmie Caldwell is the debut of A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery. We meet Lia Geiger who is a widow who has recently moved to Crandalsburg for a new start. Lia is a knitter who belongs to the Ninth Street Knitters. I liked this group of knitters who sell their wares at a booth at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair run by Belinda Peebles. I enjoyed the lovely descriptions of the yarns and the items they created. There is also a visit to an alpaca farm. Lia is creating a sweater from the soft yarn. I would have liked more information on Lia. Her last name is not mentioned a third of a way through the book. Lia’s daughter, Hayley is not happy with her marketing position in Pennsylvania and decides to make a change. Hayley explores her options while her mother worries about her. The mystery involves the death of Darren Peebles who is out to hurt his ex-wife through the barn where the Crandalsburg Craft Fair is held. You can tell right away that Darren will be the victim. The second victim is equally obvious. Lia decides to investigate to help her friend and save the craft barn. She questions various people and comes up with a list of suspects. Each suspect has a good motive (I am surprised the man was not murdered sooner). I like that Lia is not one of those amateur sleuths who dives into an investigation and is heedless of her own safety. The reveal of the killer involves drama and suspense. Most readers will be able to solve this whodunit before the killer is exposed. A Wicked Yarn has the cozy part down with knitting, chatting, food preparations, and eating. I liked the feel of the craft barn and the various vendors (who have created one-of-a-kind-items). The pacing could have used improvement. It was slow throughout the middle (lack of action) which had me speed reading through the sluggish sections. I thought the characters were realistic and I could understand their concerns regarding finances when business slowed down at the craft barn. A Wicked Yarn is a charming new cozy mystery with a crafty killer, adorable alpacas, daughter drama, comfy knits, and a dead developer.
November 15, 2020
I am always on the lookout for new cozy mystery series. A Wicked Yarn fit the bill. Lia mans a booth at the local craft barn every weekend. She moved to a new town after the death of her husband. But bodies keep popping up in conjunction with the barn and Lia's friend Belinda had terse relationships with both victims. Can Lia knit together the clues in time to clear her friend. I liked the concept. I like the knitting angle. I'm a knitter drop out, but it's soothing to read about. I like the small town atmosphere. The culprit was fairly easy to spot. I think the series is off to a good start. Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for the early copy.
March 18, 2022
I’m somewhat hesitant to review this book because I have just never read anything like it before.
Apparently “cozy mysteries” are a niche genre. Whereas most mysteries tend towards thrillers, cozy mysteries are much more relaxed. Think a cup of tea and a blanket as a book.
It’s hard for me to apply typical critical reviewing standards. Perhaps the only fair thing to say is that this book was very chill.
Apparently “cozy mysteries” are a niche genre. Whereas most mysteries tend towards thrillers, cozy mysteries are much more relaxed. Think a cup of tea and a blanket as a book.
It’s hard for me to apply typical critical reviewing standards. Perhaps the only fair thing to say is that this book was very chill.
January 7, 2021
Being a longtime craft fair participant myself, I really enjoyed the setting for this mystery. How cool would it be to have a venue for doing a nice show every weekend? And the best part was it was inside away from the weather. Although if Belinda the manager's ex had his way, that barn was going to be torn down once he bought it. Luckily, the crafters never had to find out, because someone offed the guy, and all eyes turned to his ex, Belinda. Main character Lia was a good friend of hers, so with the help of her twenty-something daughter Hayley, they decided to clear their pal's good name...and bring back their customers due to the pesky detail that the dead guy was found in their barn.
Lia and Hayley were such a fun and likable mom-daughter duo, and they made a good sleuthing team. I like that Lia wasn't portrayed as someone who was tech-scared (as characters her age are often described in books--I'm older than Lia and I love tech!). The roles were almost reversed from the typical cozy which was fun. Hayley went off on her own while Lia sleuthed online. An added plus was that Hayley started seeing her old friend Brady who was now a police officer who came in handy more than once.
I had a sneaky feeling most of the way through the book of whodunit, but I had no idea why, so it was fun following along and seeing if I got taken by any of the red herrings. The showdown was really good, and just as I was worried the killer was getting away, the police got them. There were a few places where the story went a little slow, but usually it kept my interest due to the craft fair subject. I'm really very anxious now for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
Lia and Hayley were such a fun and likable mom-daughter duo, and they made a good sleuthing team. I like that Lia wasn't portrayed as someone who was tech-scared (as characters her age are often described in books--I'm older than Lia and I love tech!). The roles were almost reversed from the typical cozy which was fun. Hayley went off on her own while Lia sleuthed online. An added plus was that Hayley started seeing her old friend Brady who was now a police officer who came in handy more than once.
I had a sneaky feeling most of the way through the book of whodunit, but I had no idea why, so it was fun following along and seeing if I got taken by any of the red herrings. The showdown was really good, and just as I was worried the killer was getting away, the police got them. There were a few places where the story went a little slow, but usually it kept my interest due to the craft fair subject. I'm really very anxious now for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
January 2, 2021
Lia Geiger has started a new life in Crandalsburg, PA after the untimely death of her husband Tom. She's part of a knitting group who has a booth at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. Everyone is especially excited for the weekend, since it's near Mother's Day and everyone will be looking for gifts. That is, until events take place that threaten the sustainability of the craft fair. Lia's best friend, Belinda, is the craft fair manager. When Belinda's ex-husband is murdered, the rumors fly and the craft fair becomes enveloped in scandal. Lia wants to help her friend and save her livelihood, thus beginning her amateur sleuthing adventure, involving her knitting group as necessary. Lia also has a daughter visiting, who is have a career crisis.
A Wicked Yarn is the first book in the Craft Fair Knitters mystery series by Emmie Caldwell. Lia is a likeable character who wants nothing more than the best for her daughter, Hayley and to help her friend, Belinda. She works hard at both, but I found the relationship between Lia and Belinda a bit unlikely. Had there been a bit more backstory on their friendship I may have jumped on the bandwagon but Belinda's personality did not mesh well with Lia's. Then again, people have become friends despite such extreme differences in personality. Other than that, the characters are enjoyable.
The book has a strong plot, believable mystery, and fantastic setting. My mom and I used to have a craft booth in a local craft building just outside of Flint, MI for many years. I was taken back to that time in my life and I enjoyed the memories the story invoked. Thankfully there weren't any murders to contend with during our tenure. We only pulled our items out of the space when the building was sold and the craft sections turned in a new furniture store. We were pretty bummed.
The path to revealing the murder, although kind of slow-going, was well thought out. The author provided several viable suspects, keeping me guessing almost until the end. I figured out who the murderer was prior to Lia's revelation, but it didn't detract from the mystery. One thing that really impressed me about A Wicked Yarn was how smart Lia was while sleuthing. She didn't put herself into needlessly dangerous situations nor did she dance the gray line of legality. I look forward to the next book in the series.
A Wicked Yarn is the first book in the Craft Fair Knitters mystery series by Emmie Caldwell. Lia is a likeable character who wants nothing more than the best for her daughter, Hayley and to help her friend, Belinda. She works hard at both, but I found the relationship between Lia and Belinda a bit unlikely. Had there been a bit more backstory on their friendship I may have jumped on the bandwagon but Belinda's personality did not mesh well with Lia's. Then again, people have become friends despite such extreme differences in personality. Other than that, the characters are enjoyable.
The book has a strong plot, believable mystery, and fantastic setting. My mom and I used to have a craft booth in a local craft building just outside of Flint, MI for many years. I was taken back to that time in my life and I enjoyed the memories the story invoked. Thankfully there weren't any murders to contend with during our tenure. We only pulled our items out of the space when the building was sold and the craft sections turned in a new furniture store. We were pretty bummed.
The path to revealing the murder, although kind of slow-going, was well thought out. The author provided several viable suspects, keeping me guessing almost until the end. I figured out who the murderer was prior to Lia's revelation, but it didn't detract from the mystery. One thing that really impressed me about A Wicked Yarn was how smart Lia was while sleuthing. She didn't put herself into needlessly dangerous situations nor did she dance the gray line of legality. I look forward to the next book in the series.
March 31, 2022
It was a cute, predictable, tame story. It felt a little boring for my tastes. I loved the alpacas, relationship, and the town atmosphere. I liked the craft fair and barn community atmosphere as well.
December 30, 2020
This is a wonderful new debut cozy series . The "Craft Fair Mystery Series" by cozy author Emmie Caldwell is a charming fun read with a well crafted sleuth and great charcters. I enjoyed reading this first in series that is promising for a long running cozy series.
Our protagonist is is Lea who is a skilled knitter and sells her wares at craft shows. She is living in a small Pennsylvania town and runs a knitting group . Lea is a widow and starting her life over enjoying her craft of knitting and living in a small town where crafts are appreciated and popular. She has a daughter and a cat she adores. When she and her group are knitting in a historic barn they discussion turns nasty when certain people in town want the barn torn down. Soon a murder occurs and Lea wants to find the suspect and keep the peace in her comfortable new life.
The sleuth was very well created to conclusion. I enjoyed the charcters and the knitting was fun to learn about. I will be continuing to read this charming new series. Thank you to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for making this book available for review. My review opinions are my own.
Our protagonist is is Lea who is a skilled knitter and sells her wares at craft shows. She is living in a small Pennsylvania town and runs a knitting group . Lea is a widow and starting her life over enjoying her craft of knitting and living in a small town where crafts are appreciated and popular. She has a daughter and a cat she adores. When she and her group are knitting in a historic barn they discussion turns nasty when certain people in town want the barn torn down. Soon a murder occurs and Lea wants to find the suspect and keep the peace in her comfortable new life.
The sleuth was very well created to conclusion. I enjoyed the charcters and the knitting was fun to learn about. I will be continuing to read this charming new series. Thank you to the publisher, the author and Net Galley for making this book available for review. My review opinions are my own.
January 1, 2021
In 'A Wicked Yarn', the first installment in a new cozy mystery series, a bizarre murder at a the site of craft fair seems to point to the fair's manager, Belinda Peebles, as the most likely suspect; her arrest could also mean the end of the craft fair. Lia Geiger, Belinda's long-time friend and a knitter who runs the Ninth Street Knitter's booth at the fair decides to look for other suspects in an effort to get her friend off the hook and to save the fair. As Lia interacts with friends and neighbors, while checking out every angle of the murder, their backstories become seamlessly woven into the narrative--here's hoping they will be back in a sequel. Most important in Lia's life is her twenty-something daughter, Hayley, who helps her with the sleuthing--the dynamics of their relationship is fun to watch. Caldwell's development of her characters skillfully moves the plot along with mounting suspense and danger that plays off against the idyllic small-town setting with an artful and sometimes heart-wrenching look at human nature at its best and worst.
November 30, 2021
Better than average cozy mystery. I couldn't tell who the murderer was until the book revealed it. I'll definitely be keeping up on this series.
December 14, 2020
This is the first in a brand new series A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery. Lia has relocated to Crandalsburg from York after the sudden death of her husband Tom she is getting acquainted with her new home and has taken a booth of her knitting and that of her friends with the Ninth Street Knitters at the local Crandalsburg Craft Fair located in a historic barn just outside of town. Her friend Belinda manages the craft fair and can come across often too direct and abrupt but it is shouting when her ex-husband Darren shows up claiming to have bought the barn and his plan to tear it down and would take Belinda’s livelihood away. Lia is surprised when her daughter Hayley arrives in town for Mother’s Day with some work troubles on her mind but they are enjoying their weekend when it is time for Lia to go to the craft fair. She arrives early and finds Belinda over the dead body of Darren who has been killed and staged with some items from the local crafters. Belinda immediately comes under suspicion and Lia knows her friend and does not believe her capable of murder. Town sentiment is not as kind as Belinda does not always endear herself to others with her direct ways. Hayley must go home but arrives back later in the week to help her Mom thru the trauma of the murder. Lia decides to do some investigating to help her friend out. I really enjoyed the debut of this new series and look forward to the next installment. The mystery was good and it was a fast and effortless read. Recommend.
December 1, 2020
A Wicked Yarn is the debut of the A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series set in the small town of Crandalsburg, Pennsylvania and featuring Lia Geiger, a recent widow and avid knitter. It's Mother's Day weekend and Lia is looking forward to a busy day manning her booth at the local craft fair.
A day filled with happy customers and a beautiful array of crafts hits a low when two gentleman enter the barn and cause a stir. The men are overheard bragging they are going to purchase the property and tear down the barn, effectively putting an end to the local attraction. The next morning, Lia arrives early to set up her booth and discovers her friend and fair manager, Belinda leaning over the body of a dead man. It's one of the men from the day before and it turns out to be Belinda's ex-husband, Darren Peebles.
Feeling a need to clear her friend's name and save the craft fair, Lia sets out with the help of her daughter, Hayley and the Ninth Street Knitters, her group of fellow knitters. Plenty of suspects come to the surface thanks to Lia's needling, including Darren's business partner and also one of the craft vendors.
A well crafted plot with interesting characters, a touching mother/daughter dynamic, a close knit group of friends and a delightful furry ragdoll named Daphne. This is a great start to a new series and if you haven't already done so I suggest taking a look at the author's other series, Pickled and Preserved written as Mary Ellen Hughes.
I received an advanced copy of A Wicked Yarn from NetGalley via Berkley Books and while not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
A day filled with happy customers and a beautiful array of crafts hits a low when two gentleman enter the barn and cause a stir. The men are overheard bragging they are going to purchase the property and tear down the barn, effectively putting an end to the local attraction. The next morning, Lia arrives early to set up her booth and discovers her friend and fair manager, Belinda leaning over the body of a dead man. It's one of the men from the day before and it turns out to be Belinda's ex-husband, Darren Peebles.
Feeling a need to clear her friend's name and save the craft fair, Lia sets out with the help of her daughter, Hayley and the Ninth Street Knitters, her group of fellow knitters. Plenty of suspects come to the surface thanks to Lia's needling, including Darren's business partner and also one of the craft vendors.
A well crafted plot with interesting characters, a touching mother/daughter dynamic, a close knit group of friends and a delightful furry ragdoll named Daphne. This is a great start to a new series and if you haven't already done so I suggest taking a look at the author's other series, Pickled and Preserved written as Mary Ellen Hughes.
I received an advanced copy of A Wicked Yarn from NetGalley via Berkley Books and while not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.
January 24, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/a...
A Wicked Yarn
Craft Fair Knitters Mystery #1
By Emmie Caldwell
ISBN#9780593101681
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/au...
http://www.maryellenhughes.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A killer may craft the perfect crime, but as every knitter worth her yarn knows–murder wool out.
Mother’s Day should be a cinch for the good folks of the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, and knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger has a good feeling about this year’s yield. But things quickly get knotty when Lia’s daughter announces she’s quit her job and Lia finds herself tangled up in the murder of her best friend’s ex-husband. While Belinda’s alibi quickly gets her off the hook, nasty rumors spread throughout Crandalsburg that shroud the entire fair in suspicion.
Could the vendors be responsible for the murder of a man hell-bent on unraveling the fair just days before his death? Lia and her crafty group of Ninth Street Knitters must put down their needles to gather clues and save the crafting community they’ve grown to love. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Wicked Yarn, the first Craft Fair Knitters mystery, is a solid start to the new series by Emmie Caldwell (aka Mary Ellen Hughes). Small town dynamics, a crafty backdrop, and a quality murder mystery come together to make a fun cozy read.
Lia, a surgical nurse, unexpectedly finds herself a widow and moves to a small town in Pennsylvania to start over, though she does not move far and maintains her knitters group in her nearby hometown. She is settling in nicely and spends her weekends manning her group’s booth at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. Things start to go awry when the barn’s manager Belinda’s ex-husband threatens to buy the historic building and tear it down, but then Lia finds his Belinda standing over his dead body. In an effort to save Belinda’s reputation and their livelihood, Lia sets out to find a killer, even as the body count rises.
The mystery Lia faces is very well thought out and executed. The layout of suspects and clues is orderly and moves along in an organic fashion. Every step Lia takes makes sense, and she never goes off on a wild goose chase. Belinda’s ex-husband Darren has stepped on a lot of toes along the way leaving behind a slew of folks with good motives for murder. The addition of another victim complicates the investigation, and a dangerous situation adds suspense. It all comes together to make a satisfying read.
Lia is an older than average cozy sleuth, but I had to keep reminding myself that she is probably only in her late forties or early fifties. She feels fresh to me…she is not a quirky octogenarian or inexperienced young woman but a sensible and warm, intelligent woman who sees the best in people. I really enjoy her relationship with her daughter Haley and appreciate both perspectives of Haley’s predicament as she figures out the trials of young adulthood. There is the merest whisper of romance within these pages but not for Lia. Quite a few supporting characters are introduced between the other craft fair vendors, knitting group members, neighbors, and murder suspects, and it does require a little attention to keep them all straight. These characters provide a lot of variety and interest to the small community setting. I like that the police are not the bad guys or portrayed as inept.
A Wicked Yarn hits all the right notes for the cozy genre, and I will definitely read the next installment in the Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series when it becomes available. Recommended to any cozy reader.
A Wicked Yarn
Craft Fair Knitters Mystery #1
By Emmie Caldwell
ISBN#9780593101681
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/au...
http://www.maryellenhughes.com/
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele
Synopsis:
A killer may craft the perfect crime, but as every knitter worth her yarn knows–murder wool out.
Mother’s Day should be a cinch for the good folks of the Crandalsburg Craft Fair, and knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger has a good feeling about this year’s yield. But things quickly get knotty when Lia’s daughter announces she’s quit her job and Lia finds herself tangled up in the murder of her best friend’s ex-husband. While Belinda’s alibi quickly gets her off the hook, nasty rumors spread throughout Crandalsburg that shroud the entire fair in suspicion.
Could the vendors be responsible for the murder of a man hell-bent on unraveling the fair just days before his death? Lia and her crafty group of Ninth Street Knitters must put down their needles to gather clues and save the crafting community they’ve grown to love. (Goodreads)
Review:
A Wicked Yarn, the first Craft Fair Knitters mystery, is a solid start to the new series by Emmie Caldwell (aka Mary Ellen Hughes). Small town dynamics, a crafty backdrop, and a quality murder mystery come together to make a fun cozy read.
Lia, a surgical nurse, unexpectedly finds herself a widow and moves to a small town in Pennsylvania to start over, though she does not move far and maintains her knitters group in her nearby hometown. She is settling in nicely and spends her weekends manning her group’s booth at the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. Things start to go awry when the barn’s manager Belinda’s ex-husband threatens to buy the historic building and tear it down, but then Lia finds his Belinda standing over his dead body. In an effort to save Belinda’s reputation and their livelihood, Lia sets out to find a killer, even as the body count rises.
The mystery Lia faces is very well thought out and executed. The layout of suspects and clues is orderly and moves along in an organic fashion. Every step Lia takes makes sense, and she never goes off on a wild goose chase. Belinda’s ex-husband Darren has stepped on a lot of toes along the way leaving behind a slew of folks with good motives for murder. The addition of another victim complicates the investigation, and a dangerous situation adds suspense. It all comes together to make a satisfying read.
Lia is an older than average cozy sleuth, but I had to keep reminding myself that she is probably only in her late forties or early fifties. She feels fresh to me…she is not a quirky octogenarian or inexperienced young woman but a sensible and warm, intelligent woman who sees the best in people. I really enjoy her relationship with her daughter Haley and appreciate both perspectives of Haley’s predicament as she figures out the trials of young adulthood. There is the merest whisper of romance within these pages but not for Lia. Quite a few supporting characters are introduced between the other craft fair vendors, knitting group members, neighbors, and murder suspects, and it does require a little attention to keep them all straight. These characters provide a lot of variety and interest to the small community setting. I like that the police are not the bad guys or portrayed as inept.
A Wicked Yarn hits all the right notes for the cozy genre, and I will definitely read the next installment in the Craft Fair Knitters Mystery series when it becomes available. Recommended to any cozy reader.
October 17, 2022
Now I really wanna be part of a craft fair. Except the only things I make are mistakes.
This was a fun little cozy, largely thanks to the craft fair setting. I loved the idea of a sort of farmer's market for homemade crafts, and holding it in a barn adds a lot of rustic charm. The small-town vibes are always perfect for this kind of book, especially because everyone being all up in each other's business makes a lot of sense in a place like that.
There's a big cast of characters, none of whom were exactly super well-developed but they were distinct enough from each other that it didn't matter all that much. I did really appreciate that Lia is a bit older and a widow, and that the hint of a romance which we seem to get in every single cosy mystery involves Lia's daughter and not Lia herself.
The plot itself could've been a bit stronger--while the murder happens pretty quickly, which I prefer, the pacing is pretty slow in the first half with very little happening that is directly related to the murder or Lia trying to investigate. We get nothing at all involving the detectives, either; the only bit involving police is Lia's daughter's potential love interest, who is a cop, but not a detective and can only offer a couple of tiny insights about the crime. In the second half, the action picked up a bit, though. I did also very much like that we do not get any bit of villain monologue at the end. Rather, we get the details of why/how/what from other characters relating things they learned from the cops, the news, etc.
Also, I fucking love the cat. I hope the cat plays a starring role in a future book. DAPHNE, YOU THE REAL MVP HERE.
This was a fun little cozy, largely thanks to the craft fair setting. I loved the idea of a sort of farmer's market for homemade crafts, and holding it in a barn adds a lot of rustic charm. The small-town vibes are always perfect for this kind of book, especially because everyone being all up in each other's business makes a lot of sense in a place like that.
There's a big cast of characters, none of whom were exactly super well-developed but they were distinct enough from each other that it didn't matter all that much. I did really appreciate that Lia is a bit older and a widow, and that the hint of a romance which we seem to get in every single cosy mystery involves Lia's daughter and not Lia herself.
The plot itself could've been a bit stronger--while the murder happens pretty quickly, which I prefer, the pacing is pretty slow in the first half with very little happening that is directly related to the murder or Lia trying to investigate. We get nothing at all involving the detectives, either; the only bit involving police is Lia's daughter's potential love interest, who is a cop, but not a detective and can only offer a couple of tiny insights about the crime. In the second half, the action picked up a bit, though. I did also very much like that we do not get any bit of villain monologue at the end. Rather, we get the details of why/how/what from other characters relating things they learned from the cops, the news, etc.
Also, I fucking love the cat. I hope the cat plays a starring role in a future book. DAPHNE, YOU THE REAL MVP HERE.
April 27, 2021
In this new series from Emmie Caldwell/Mary Ellen Hughes, “A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery,” the first book is a wonderful start to a new type of crafting cozy. A Wicked Yarn is filled with new characters, many of whom readers will love instantly, others they may not take to as easily. The small-town atmosphere is delightful, and the knitting crew is what most of us imagine it would be like to be a part of this type of group. Add in a craft fair and you have a winner.
Lia is not usually an amateur sleuth; she actually knows nothing about tracking down a killer. But she jumps in when her best friend is the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-husband. There are quite a few suspects and motives to keep track of, so readers will need to keep on their toes. The murderer is not caught easily, it takes everything Lia and her knitting group has to find the evidence and keep a killer from escaping justice.
This book is an excellent start in this series. Readers will enjoy the interaction between Lia and her daughter and the knitting crew. The scenery is picturesque with enough detail to make you want to spend a few hours roaming through the quaint little town. A Wicked Yarn is the first book in a new series, so there is a lot of setup and introductions; for some readers, this can be a turnoff, but in order to get to the good stuff, and for future books, it is necessary. Overall, however, I found the characters likable, the setting soothing, and the mystery believable. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Lia is not usually an amateur sleuth; she actually knows nothing about tracking down a killer. But she jumps in when her best friend is the prime suspect in the murder of her ex-husband. There are quite a few suspects and motives to keep track of, so readers will need to keep on their toes. The murderer is not caught easily, it takes everything Lia and her knitting group has to find the evidence and keep a killer from escaping justice.
This book is an excellent start in this series. Readers will enjoy the interaction between Lia and her daughter and the knitting crew. The scenery is picturesque with enough detail to make you want to spend a few hours roaming through the quaint little town. A Wicked Yarn is the first book in a new series, so there is a lot of setup and introductions; for some readers, this can be a turnoff, but in order to get to the good stuff, and for future books, it is necessary. Overall, however, I found the characters likable, the setting soothing, and the mystery believable. I look forward to the next book in this series.
January 22, 2022
Very solid, well done cozy! Not quite four stars but about 3.7 for good characters, a minimum of dawdling in the investigation, and a good mystery. There's a nice selection of supporting characters to help Lia; good relationship with her adult daughter (who fulfills many of the requirements of the sometimes flighty heroine of these sorts of mysteries), and while Lia does spin theories she never accuses someone publicly of murder. (Yes, that had to be said. Happens a lot in these books and it makes me cringe with embarrassment every time.) Extra credit for having a disagreeable character who develops-- not changes, per se, but is self aware; and for laying out clues well. This reminds me a great deal of Peggy Erhart's series but with many fewer digressions. Also a lovely ragdoll cat named Daphne.
Perfect treadmill book. I've already started the second.
Perfect treadmill book. I've already started the second.
December 28, 2020
Lia is adjusting to life in a new town with new friends and a new business, selling items she and her friends have knitted at a local craft fair. The fair is run by an old friend who supported Lia when things were bleak, so Lia is quick to defend her friend when Belinda becomes Suspect #1 in a murder. Can she prove that someone else committed the crime?
This is the first book in this series by a new-to-me author, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Before The Plague shut everything down, I love attending craft fairs, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the book is set in Pennsylvania, in a fictional town not too far from where I live. It's always fun when a book is set in familiar surroundings :)
I liked the characters and can't wait to learn more about them as the series progresses. The mystery was good, with plenty of suspects to choose from, each with their own motive. I probably should have had the actual culprit higher on my suspect list, but I didn't figure it out until very near the end of the book. Overall, this book was much better than many of the first-in-series books I've read, so I have high hopes that the rest of the series will follow suit and can't wait to read the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This is the first book in this series by a new-to-me author, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Before The Plague shut everything down, I love attending craft fairs, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the book is set in Pennsylvania, in a fictional town not too far from where I live. It's always fun when a book is set in familiar surroundings :)
I liked the characters and can't wait to learn more about them as the series progresses. The mystery was good, with plenty of suspects to choose from, each with their own motive. I probably should have had the actual culprit higher on my suspect list, but I didn't figure it out until very near the end of the book. Overall, this book was much better than many of the first-in-series books I've read, so I have high hopes that the rest of the series will follow suit and can't wait to read the next book!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
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