Knitty Gritty Murder

Knit & Nibble Mystery #7

by Peggy Ehrhart

Pamela Paterson and the Knit and Nibble ladies have plenty of talents that don’t revolve around yarn. But their penchant for patterns has led to a dangerous hobby they just can’t quit—unraveling murders.

Most times of the year, the tight-knit community gardens in quaint Arborville, New Jersey, overflow with seasonal vegetables and herbs. But who planted the dead body? Farm-to-table enthusiast Jenny Miller had a cookbook in the works when she was suddenly found strangled by a circular knitting needle in her own plot. Now, the pressure is on Pamela and her neighbor Bettina as they weave together clues in search of the person who kept Jenny’s renowned heirloom plants—and budding career—from growing. With suspects and victims cropping up like weeds, it’ll take a whole lot more than green thumbs and creative minds this spring to entangle the crafty culprit . . .

Knitting tips and delicious recipe included!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Knitting, Fiction, Audiobook, Crafts

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 30, 2021

About the author

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

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cozy mystery, and this is the 7th book in A knit and Nibble Mystery series. This was a fun and cute mystery with great characters. The mystery was good, but it was not the best. This book was mostly the characters with I really enjoyed. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Kensington Publishing Corporation) or author (Peggy Ehrhart) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knitty Gritty Murder by Peggy Ehrhart is the seventh 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 as the community of Arborville, New Jersey comes together in the community gardens they find more than plants when the body of a farm to table enthusiast, Jenny Miller, is found strangled with with a knitting needle in her own garden plot.

I began following this series in the beginning as this one has an endearing quality to me reminding me of my own knitting grandmother. I came to love the characters in here and their quirky antics and continue to come back time and time again. However, each time I remind readers in my reviews that this one does have one big drawback to me that always leaves the books at three and a half stars and that is the overdoing of the details of the knitting and cooking in the stories. I keep wishing that time was spent more on elaborating on the mystery but alas I still enjoy Pamela and Bettina to much to not join them on their journey.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

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

[james ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

this series will never not feel like a warm, welcoming hug and a hot cup of tea. the comforting repetition in each book blended with the exciting details of new mysteries is a winning combination in what i'm pretty sure will always be my favorite cozy mystery series.

[Arlene Arredondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining cozy mystery!
Amazing characters, easy to read story and interesting ideas for knitting and baking.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read each book in this series, I become more attached to these wonderful people. Pamela and Bettina make me laugh out loud and this book is my favorite so far.
Community gardens are for bringing people together, however, not in this case.
Naturally Pamela and Bettina begin asking questions, and when the begin putting the pieces together, they find a lot of secrets that were meant to be kept quiet.
I can’t wait to see what happens next for these wonderful characters.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent mystery, but cooks and people really interested in food would like it better. So much of the book is detailed about the food she is cooking.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

A circular knitting tool, used to murder a young woman who practiced urban farming, has Pamela and Bettina stumped. Who on earth, would use such a tool and why would the person or persons murder such an innocent victim? The ladies are determined to prove a fellow knitter was not responsible for such a crime.

I'm a fan of the series and enjoy reading about the adventures of the amateur sleuths. The characters are so well written that they seem to "leap" off the page! Not only does the mystery entertain, but the descriptions of other aspects of their lives - neighborhood, family, home, cooking - are lush and enjoyable. I liked the little bit of romance in the book and hope for more.

I'm hoping for another trip back to Arborville!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this we are my own.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It surprised me. I was first attracted by the cute cover. I am not a knitter, but I find the hobby perfect for a cozy mystery. I love the amateur sleuth with her cooking and sleuthing skills. With many delicious food descriptions. Way too many characters to keep up with for me. The murder should've had more of a knitting theme than gardening, but it was still intriguing.





Thank you Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. This was an honest review.

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to visit the upbeat best friends, Pamela and Bettina again! They live in a sweet little suburb in New Jersey for more than two decades. They are part of the Knit and Nibble knitting group that meets once a week to share projects, tips, and at times, knit for some of the local causes brought to them by the eldest member, Nell. The characters are described well through realistic conversation and behaviors.

Several years ago, land was donated to Arborville for community gardens for those who do not have yards of their own to plant in. They are used for various types of plants, most being vegetables, but one woman grows flax with which to make her own clothing. Early one morning, Jenny Miller, who lives upstairs from the local hardware store, was found dead in a garden plot that she and her mother worked. She had been garroted with a circular knitting needle, not a common murder weapon. Days after her funeral, her mother was found murdered in the same place with the same type of weapon. Is there a serial killer in their little town?

Pamela is a young widow who lost her husband in an accident several years ago. She works from home as an editor for a fiber magazine and has adjusted to being an empty nester during the school year when her daughter is away at college. Pamela and Bettina have helped solve a few murders, which upsets her daughter Penny, afraid she would lose her mother. It is hard to not get drawn into this murder, as Bettina continues to learn about it as she interviews people for the weekly paper she writes for. Pamela empathizes with Janice at having her only child murdered. The two have also tried to find knitters other than those in their group, since the weapon would only be in the home of a knitter.

Pamela, who loves cats and currently has a mother and daughter pair, was talked into taking on the cat that had belonged to Jenny. To this crazy cat lady, watching Jenny’s cat be introduced to the two Pamela has was very realistic, as was trying to get them to live peacefully together. Penny came home between the deaths of Jenny and Janice. Between seeing her friends and working her summer job, she patiently spent time with Precious to get her, Catrina, and Ginger to be friends. The cats did not have a huge role, but enough to have contented “aww” moments.

The mystery has several twists and turns that reveal suspects and possible motives for Jenny’s murder. Janice’s death, however, doesn’t seem to be related to any of the suspects or motives and is a real puzzler. The real whodunit totally astonished me, partly because I missed a couple clues entirely. I didn’t like some of the detailed special dessert preparation details, as I don’t bake, but others may enjoy it. I was very pleased overall with the novel and growth of the characters and series and am looking forward to the next mystery in the series. I appreciated moments with the cats, the knitting group, and seeing a little of what Pamela’s work entails. I highly this to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, cats, knitting, and baking.

From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of Knitty Gritty Murder through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Knitty Gritty Murder is the seventh mystery in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series. In this cozy mystery, Pamela Paterson and her neighbor and friend, Bettina, take it upon themselves to solve a knitting related mystery in the community gardens.

I have read every book in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series and I love each book more than the next. The characters are great, interesting and relatable. The setting is nice and homey, making you want to live in Arborville with them. The mystery is intriguing, but light hearted. I absolutely love everything about this series and this book is no different. This cozy mystery is definitely worth the time!

[The Cozy Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knitty Gritty Murder, like other books in this series, gets bogged down in the details. However, this addition is better than some of the others. There are scenes, especially those when the knitting group gets together, that will keep readers attached to their seats. The investigation of a murder of a young woman who is strangled with a circular knitting needle while out in the garden is unique and intriguing. It becomes more intriguing when the victim’s mother falls prey to the same fate.

I enjoy the friendship between Pamala and Bettina, the characters are well written, and you definitely get a good sense of them as individuals. I don’t like the fact that Pamala’s daughter seems to treat her mother as if she is ready for the old folks’ home. Pamala is, by all indications, barely in her 50’s, yet she acts at times and is treated as if she is in her 80’s. This grates on the reader, more so if the reader is a woman entering her 50’s or already there. The knitting group, even the garden in this story are the best parts, and if the story had used more about both and less cooking and grocery shopping, it would have made for a better read.

The murder(s) are interesting; even with the evidence being sparse, readers will most likely already know who the killer is. However, there are suspects, even a few members of the knitting group and the garden co-op, who are under suspicion and lend an air of intrigue to an otherwise hum-drum cast. There are a few twists but nothing too drastic, red herrings are far and few, and frankly, easily missed. Knitty Gritty Murder is an easy read, made for someone who just wants to kick back and not have to be overly attentive. If they love knitting, gardens, and characters that are predictable, they will enjoy this book and series.

[Bobbie Kirkland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of KNITTY GRITTY MURDER (Book 7 of the Knit & Nibble Mysteries) by Peggy Ehrhart in exchange for an honest review. Pamela Paterson and her best friend Bettina have a new murder to investigate. This time, a community garden participant is strangled with a circular knitting needle while tending her plant plot. Pamela and Bettina work to uncover gossip from and about the community gardeners, but they struggle to identify the guilty knitter hiding among them. Meanwhile, Bettina continues to push Pamela into dating, and Pamela still struggles with the idea of finding a new love. Pamela’s daughter Penny comes home for the summer and finds a new love hiding in Pamela’s basement.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I note that, though the other books involved food, this book absolutely fixated on the topic. I found it a little odd because the fixation about organic quality, etc. did not extend to the cats’ food. It made me wonder if the author was dieting. If you are dieting, be cautious and read it on a full stomach. I recommend the book to fans of the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, knitting, knitting groups, editors, reporters, cats, and food.

#KnittyGrittyMurder #NetGalley

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really about a 3.6. These books are comfort reads to doze off by. There is a rhythm to them like a children's picture book: the main character fixes food (described in detail), talks with her friend, runs errands, fixes food, worries about her daughter, fixes food. I liked this one better than some because there were a few clues planted early (in some of them, there has been a huge info dump to reveal the likely murderer in the last couple of chapters). I'll admit the first two wore me down until I got into the spirit. Now I find the books in this series are a nice choice to read before going to sleep.

[Sharla · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It was a pleasure to lose herself in the mundane.” That is a sentence from the last pages of this book. Could that sentiment also serve as the key to my own fascination with this series? I think it very well could. The quiet tedium that might make these books boring to some, provide just the right degree of cozy relaxation to be appealing to me at times.

This one features an interesting twist in the ending along with the usual cast of characters. I enjoy the knitting group interchanges and the cooking vignettes, although I have learned to skip the tediously detailed descriptions of how Pamela prepares coffee. I like the characters overall although the nosey bossiness that makes Bettina good at tracking down clues and suspects can also make her extremely annoying on a more personal level.

That brings me to something that grates like sandpaper in every volume. In this book even Wilfred, usually one of my favorite characters, falls prey to the ridiculously intrusive behavior in which it is assumed Pamela is not capable of making her own decisions about whether she wants a romantic relationship or not. This theme has been carried way too far. Living an isolated life might be bad for a person but living alone is NOT a fate to be dreaded beyond any other as this book would seem to indicate.

The author did address her error concerning the cats from a previous volume. Having the three ginger kittens born to Catrina be females was unbelievable at best. Ginger cats are predominately male while calico or tri-color cats are almost always female. Now in this volume we have the Siamese cat, Precious, given a ball of wool to play with. I’ll grant that it might be okay but it’s also a fact that Siamese cats often have a propensity to chew on and swallow wool, which can lead to life threatening intestinal blockages. Maybe these details are not earth shatteringly important, but they are noticeable.

I will probably keep reading this series despite the faults. Overall, they are enjoyable and relaxing reading.

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman is murdered at the local community gardens, and Pamela and Bettina jump immediately into trying to solve the crime. After all, the murder weapon was a distinctive knitting tool.

"Knitty Gritty Murder" follows Peggy Ehrhart's usual formula for A Knit & Nibble Mystery. She introduces new characters with various murderous motives. Pamela uses her wedding china, waxes poetic about food and takes numerous walks. She also welcomes a new furry friend into her home and a nice-looking man into her life.

This is a perfectly enjoyable addition to the cozy mystery series. Yes, I guessed the murderer before book's end, but I totally missed the motive.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, great characters that I enjoyed spending time with. You don't have to be a knitter to enjoy the book.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knitty Gritty Murder is book seven in Peggy Ehrhart's A Knit & Nibble Mystery series featuring Pamela Paterson and the Knit and Nibble ladies, from Arborville, New Jersey. The reader follows Pamela through her daily life as she works from home as an editor for “Fiber Craft” magazine and does a little sleuthing on the side with her friend, neighbour, and yarn and nibbler, Bettina. In this instalment, news circulates when a community gardener, farm to table advocate and aspiring cookbook author, Jenny Miller is found by Marlene Pepper, killed by strangulation with a circular knitting needle.

I really enjoy Peggy Ehrhart's writing style. She tells the story in a way that brings the reader right into each scene, from Pamela's home office as she works on such interesting-sounding articles, to the items being knitted and the food being served; the crepes suzettes with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on offer at Holly Perkins' house sounded scrumptious! I love the camaraderie between the knitting group characters, the way they support each other and the conversations they have are realistic. The interaction between Pamela and Bettina whose repartee had me frequently chuckling was a delight to observe, in particular.

The mystery starts off quickly and the pace throughout the book is even. Peggy Ehrhart sprinkles clues and red herrings throughout the book so the story remains fresh whilst the reader follows along and the ending left me quite surprised. Knitty Gritty Murder will be of interest to many cozy readers, especially crafters, and I’m game to see what shenanigans Pamela and Bettina get into next in book eight.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knitty Gritty Murder is book seven in Peggy Ehrhart's A Knit & Nibble Mystery series featuring Pamela Paterson and the Knit and Nibble women from Arborville, New Jersey. I enjoy so many aspects of this fun series and highly recommend this series . Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own. Review posted across platforms.

Pamela is a busy editor for “Fiber Craft” magazine and does have a habit of being involved in many cases of sleuthing with her friend, Bettina. She also has a close group of women friends that knit together and they assist her in solving crimes. She also is a foodie and the author features many scrumptious treats in her books that are mouth watering. In this next in series a community gardener is murdered and the weapon used were knitting needles. This puts the knitting group in suspicion with the local police .

The sleuth featured many red herrings as well as intriguing clues. The group of friends and charcters in this series are endearing to this reader. The food descriptions are sublime. I love the premise of this series with close women friendships featured around knitting and solving crime. A highly enjoyable addition to this fun series.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

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

I am not a knitter but I understand the passion for a yarn craft. So, when someone is murdered with a circular knitting needle, they need to find out if one of their own is involved. Great mystery, characters are the best part of this. They are the things that really keep you coming back. The mystery didn’t hold my attention as much as the interaction between the characters did.

Even if you are not a knitter, you can enjoy a crafty book like this one. I will definitely be picking up others in this series very soon.

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.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 7th installment of this series, there’s no real connection between the Knit and Nibble members. But when a woman is found dead courtesy of knitting needles, Pamela and Bettina start sleuthing anyway.

This book isn’t so much a mystery to me because the mystery doesn’t take center stage. What really comes through in this book, similar to the previous books, is the friendships between characters and the knitting patterns that are sprinkled throughout and we see Pamela’s daughter Penny make an appearance in the books. And I love the cats, as always.

I recommend this series to anyone who likes cozy mysteries, with an emphasis on the cozy.

[Raymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a book in this series but it’s so easy to follow that I could pick up right where I left off.

These are fun cozy Murder Mystery books with an amateur sleuth.

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great cozy mystery. I love the main characters and how they find the culprit and help their local police department. The setting was wonderfully described. It sounds like a beautiful Northeastern town. The means of murder was unique, as I never read anything like it before. The plot kept me turning the pages until I learned whodunnit. And, that's why I can't wait to read another book in this series. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder by circular knitting needle in the garden! The group of friends and neighbors in the Knit and Nibble have done sleuthing before and do well again this time. I like the recurring characters as much as the whodunit. Good series!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peggy's books are so much fun! I love the Knit and Nibble group, after reading about the desserts served at each meeting I am always hungry.

Peggy did a great job of keeping me guessing about who the murderer was throughout the whole book. Once the murderer is revealed and it is explained how they figured it out, I was very impressed, I completely missed those little Easter eggs.

I also love the fact that Peggy includes recipes and a knitting pattern at the end of her book. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately Penny the daughter is in town. As usual she is beautiful, pixie like, thin and cute. While i love the many extra descriptions the author provides i cannot tolerate the constant beauty remarks that are made for each new character unless of course she is describing someone less than perfect and then they are just plump! Goodness!!!

[Clarabelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not impressed. I wanted to dnf on page one but made myself read the first couple of chapters. The dialogue is so unnatural. I had high hopes for it because that cover is super cute and it is an interesting storyline. Unfortunately, this was not a winner for me.

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://openbooksociety.com/article/k...

Knitty Gritty Murder
A Knit and Nibble Mystery, Book #7
By Peggy Ehrhart
ISBN 9781496733894
Author Website: peggyehrhart(.)com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Synopsis:

Pamela Paterson and the Knit and Nibble ladies have plenty of talents that don’t revolve around yarn. But their penchant for patterns has led to a dangerous hobby they just can’t quit–unraveling murders.

Most times of the year, the tight-knit community gardens in quaint Arborville, New Jersey, overflow with seasonal vegetables and herbs. But who planted the dead body? Farm-to-table enthusiast Jenny Miller had a cookbook in the works when she was suddenly found strangled by a circular knitting needle in her own plot. Now, the pressure is on Pamela and her neighbor Bettina as they weave together clues in search of the person who kept Jenny’s renowned heirloom plants–and budding career–from growing. With suspects and victims cropping up like weeds, it’ll take a whole lot more than green thumbs and creative minds this spring to entangle the crafty culprit. (Goodreads)

Review:

I enjoyed this delightful mystery and seeing how the characters continue to grow. The mystery is well-plotted and challenging. The focus is on the core group of characters, primarily Pamela, Bettina, Pamela’s daughter Penny and the cats we met in the beginning, and the Knit and Nibble knitting group. The New Jersey setting sounds like a lovely oasis outside the bigger cities, including the nearby Big Apple.

A very distressed Marlene went to the Bettina’s after finding the body of Jenny Miller when going to work in her plot at the Arborville community garden. The young woman’s body was in the plot she shared with her mother, Janice, and a circular knitting needle was wrapped around her neck. Marlene went to see Bettina as it is well-known that Pamela and best friend Bettina have helped solve murders in Arborville and they are both in the Knit and Nibble knitting group. Bettina also wrote for the weekly Arborville Advocate paper, and she would want to include the death in the next issue.

The weekly knitting group met that evening. Claire was a visitor who was interested in joining the group. Jenny had rented an apartment from Claire and her husband. Comments were made that the daily paper included the murder weapon, an item that Claire and one other knitter used that evening. Were it not for Nell, the oldest member of the group, they would have spent the night discussing the grisly crime. They did talk about the book that Jenny had been writing about growing, cooking, and eating healthy foods with healthy recipes.

Pamela’s daughter Penny was due to come home from college for the summer at the end of the week. Penny worried in the past about her mother looking into murders, even when it was to get innocent friends off the police department’s suspect list. Pamela’s husband had died young in an accident, and Penny didn’t want anything to happen to her mother, too. If Pamela or Bettina did any sleuthing, it had to stop by the time Penny arrived.

Bettina and Pamela talked with several people, including Helen, the renter across the hall from Jenny. Helen had been caring for Jenny’s cat and needed to find a home for her, so Pamela would foster Precious, or keep her if her two cats approved. They also talked with gardeners who were said to have disputes with Jenny, but none sounded serious enough to kill someone over. The person also had to be a knitter, or at least have access to the special knitting needle. The caterer Jenny worked for was rumored to be angry with her, and her home overlooked the community garden. A few days after Jenny’s funeral, Janice was found murdered in the same place, with the same kind of weapon, her daughter had been.

One of the author’s strong points is how well she demonstrates the characters, especially through their easy conversations. I like both Pamela and Bettina, as well as Penny and the other knitters. Pamela continues to face changes in her life, including that when her daughter graduates from college, she will probably move to a bigger city. Adapting to pets and an empty home during the school year, Pamela continues to work from home and deflect attempts of others to play matchmaker. Pamela will spread her wings a little more in this mystery, and I’m looking forward to seeing more about it next time.

The story drew me in from the start and held my attention through all but one little section. To me, the lengthy description of making a special cake was excessive since the recipe was not included. It would probably make more sense to the reader who loves baking tips. The number and type of suspects was excellent, as were the clues. I did not have any idea who the killer was or why, so the resolution was a complete surprise. All loose ends were tied up, and the ending was satisfactory. I highly recommend this cozy mystery and series!

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela Paterson lives in Arborville, New Jersey and works for a crafts magazine doing online editing of articles. Her daughter Penny is finishing college in Massachusetts, but has returned home on break. Pamela also has two cats, Catrina and Ginger, that keep her company when Penny's gone.

She also started the Knit & Nibble group, where a group of knitters meet once a week at rotating homes to work on their projects and enjoy a dessert made by the host. But the talk this week centers on the death of gardener -- and hopeful cookbook writer -- Jenny Miller, who was strangled with a circular knitting needle. Even though everyone wants Pamela and her best friend Bettina to stay out of the investigation, Bettina, who is a reporter for the weekly newspaper, can't do so, and Pamela, as her best friend, has an innate curiosity that always gets her involved in these things.

At first they have no idea who would want the woman dead, but when they speak to other members of the community garden where she had her plot, it seems she wasn't well-liked. Even though any one of them could have done the deed, Bettina and Pamela have no proof and no idea. Without help from the local police, they're determined to discover who wanted Jenny permanently planted underground...

This is the seventh book in the series, and I have to say that in ways it might have been the best. There was less mention of everyone's dinnerware sets, and since we really don't care about what everyone is using to eat on, it actually helped in the book. Unfortunately, there were still pages upon pages of every single item Pamela cooked and how long it took her to cook and assemble. I really don't care, and just skimmed over every single recipe instruction.

However, the mystery itself was interesting in the fact of the murder weapon was different. I did enjoy the addition of the other cat, poor thing; and that Pamela is finally moving forward in her life. It added to the story line. We still have the other characters who are regulars, and Penny, who startles her mother into making a decision (read the book and you will see what it is!).

Aside from this, I liked this installment to the story, and since it has morphed into something truly delightful, I will continue to read it. When the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it's rather sad what drove this person to commit murder, but with an unhinged mind one can't reason. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

[Scilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best book of the series. Pamela Patterson and Bettina Fraser (who live across the street from each other) have been solving local murders together now in seven books. They belong to a knitting group with four others which meets every Tuesday night. At 8pm, they break for refreshments, which seem to be very elaborate. This book begins with a murdered young woman at the community gardens; she was strangled with a circular knitting needle. Marlene Pepper, who runs the gardens finds Jenny Miller dead in her garden. Jenny was writing a book called Grow, Cook, Eat. It doesn't take long for Pamela and Bettina to begin talking with possible suspects.

There were other gardeners who were unhappy with Jenny. There was a man who grew genetically modified corn and didn't approve of her wild varieties. There was a woman in competition for who grew the best tomatoes and claimed Jenny had a plot with more sun. And, there was the woman who grew Flax and thought she needed more garden space. Then, there was the caterer where Jenny worked who thought Jenny was stealing her recipes for her cookbook. And, there was another woman whose husband was in love with Jenny. When Jenny's mother is also killed in her garden, also strangled with a circular knitting needle, Pamela and Bettina rule out the caterer and the scorned woman. At one point, Pamela talks with a woman who had "lost" three circular knitting needles, and they wonder if another person will be murdered.

Pamela's daughter Penny arrives home from college for the summer, and Penny is not happy with Pamela's sleuthing. However, Pamela had adopted Jenny's cat, who was having trouble getting settled before Penny arrived, but appears to be interested in Penny. It's when she is watching the cat that Pamela suddenly figures out who the murdered is. Of course there is a dangerous confrontation. Also, there may be some romance in the next book!

[The Mystery Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐
Knitty Gritty Murder by Peggy Ehrhart is a fun addition to the Knit & Nibble Mystery series that delivers exactly what you'd expect from a cozy mystery.

When farm-to-table enthusiast Jenny Miller is found strangled with a circular knitting needle in her community garden plot, Pamela Paterson and her neighbor Bettina are on the case. Jenny was working on a cookbook featuring her heirloom plants, and now someone has made sure that project will never see the light of day.

I really enjoy the community garden setting. It's a nice change from the usual cozy mystery locations, and Ehrhart does a good job weaving in the gardening details without overdoing it. The knitting circle continues to be a strong part of the series, and I like the friendship between Pamela and Bettina.

The mystery is solid with plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. The murder weapon being a knitting needle is a nice touch for this series. While I did figure out some elements before the reveal, it was still an enjoyable ride getting there.

This is book seven in the series, so you know what you're getting at this point. Good characters, a cozy small-town vibe, and a mystery that keeps the pages turning. If you've enjoyed the previous books, you'll like this one too.

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