A Yarn-Over Murder

Bait & Stitch Cozy Mystery #2

by Ann Yost, Alice Duncan (Editor)

A year after her marriage break-up and return to Michigan’s remote Keweenaw Peninsula, Hatti Lehtinen has settled into a peaceful life within the Finnish community as shopkeeper at Bait and Stitch, a hybrid fishing-and-yarn store.

When Hatti's beloved dad, Pops, breaks his leg in a snowmobiling accident, the mayor tags Hatti to fill Pop's role as the town police chief, and entire police force. Assured the job entails little more than prying quarters from frozen parking meters, Hatti steps up.

But Hatti's peaceful existence is short lived when the town's reigning St. Lucy is found dead in the funeral home sauna on the eve of the St. Lucy Festival. Now with a murder to investigate, Hatti's situation is complicated when she discovers the prime suspect is her brother-in-law, Reid Night Wind, a circumstance sure to bring her face-to-face with the husband who dumped her a year earlier—a man she’d hoped to never see again this side of the Pearly Gates.

With the counsel of her knitting circle, Hatti launches her investigation, fearing someone among those she's known all her life is a murderer. With the list of suspects growing like increases in a Finnish wedding ring shawl, the answer comes from an unlikely source. But can the town of Red Jacket ever be the same?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2018

About the author

Ann’s hometown is Ann Arbor, Michigan and she is a graduate from the University of Michigan. She spent ten years as a reporter for three daily newspapers in Michigan and, not surprisingly, she wound up married to a journalist and moving with him to the Washington D.C. area. Although a hard-news reporter, she preferred to write features. She especially enjoyed writing a column about her first year of marriage (I Did, I Did) as it allowed her to dispense with strict accuracy. She has written for the Washington Post about her harrowing experiences as a substitute teacher and a little league umpire. Ann's passions, in addition to reading and writing, include her grown children, tiny grandchildren, dogs, friends, spending time with her recently retired husband, avoiding housework and naps.

Reviews

[Christa Lynn Sapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming, compelling, and Charismatic

I am thoroughly enjoying these stories. My favorite part is learning more about the cultures in the area where the stories take place. I can hardly wait for the next book!

[Karla Twiggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for book club as 'A Stitch in Crime'. It was later learned that it was being rebranded as 'A Yarn-Over Murder'. Either way, it is a fun and easy read with some interesting cultural references.
From the internet:
A young lady returns back to Keweenaw, a remote Michigan Peninsula, to recover from a marriage break-up. She settles into a peaceful life within the Finnish community as shopkeeper at Bait and Stitch, a hybrid fishing-and-yarn store. When Hatti's beloved dad breaks his leg in a snowmobiling accident, the mayor tags Hatti to fill Pop's role as the town police chief, and entire police force. Hatti steps up and her peaceful existence is short lived when the town's reigning St. Lucy is found dead in the funeral home sauna on the eve of the St. Lucy Festival. Now with a murder to investigate, Hatti's situation is complicated when she discovers the prime suspect is her brother-in-law, Reid Night Wind, a circumstance sure to bring her face-to-face with the husband who dumped her a year earlier—a man she’d hoped to never see again.
Me:
A murder victim is discovered and Hatti agrees to keep it secret while she investigates. The 'secret' murder before long is shared with half the town. The murder is solved, the romance between the ex's is rekindled, and it ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger. I enjoyed reading this book and the discussion we had in book club about it.

[Sharon Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frosty tale

A mystery set in the upper peninsula highlights the frigid winter and traditions of the Finnish American communities based there.
The protagonist has returned to the comfort of her hometown after her brief marriage broke up to run a bait and yarn shop. When a beautiful teen is found dead, Heiki is called in to investigate since she is serving also as the interim police chief while her father, the chief, recovers from a recent hit and run accident.
The reader gets a sense of insular ethnic communities and the way the second generations are encouraged to keep many of the old country ways which expect a woman to be married and quiet while also cooking excellent customary dishes. The solution also requires a renewed contact with her estranged husband, a Native American whose community is nearby.
Several mysteries are resolved by the end thanks to her dogged pursuit of the truth, which she learns is not always welcomed. The writing is good, I learned about Finnish communities and food in this unusual setting. The plot was a bit convoluted, but not implausible. Read this.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young girl beautiful, and complicated is murdered in the sauna of her surrogate family’s home. Acting police chief Hatti Lehtinen (on the job due to an untimely snowmobile accident of her father’s) is called in to investigate. However the Maki’s Arvo and Pauline who had been hosting Liisa the deceased ask Hatti to hold off on an official investigation until the festival of St. Lucy is over. In the small insular town on the UP it’s hard to imagine who could possibly have killed this young girl but it’s someone they know and can’t imagine suspecting who else could have the insider knowledge? Add in the sudden appearance of Jace Night Wind Hatti’s estranged husband and Christmas is becoming quite stressful to say the least. A wonderful blend of small town charm and big city murder. The characters are full of eccentricities, the town is steeped in history and pride of its cultural heritage and the story is intricately written. A stand out in the cozy genre.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.

[Linda J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author and it was certainly unique. I didn't read book 1 and this is a standalone and I just ordered book 3 because I liked the characters.

This was a 5-star read until the ending. I wanted to know two things, did the h ever get her phone call on New Years Eve. Two, did the H ever confront someone about his birth?

Clean story with only kisses. I liked the background and history of the town people. Some references to the bible, which didn't offend me.

Many twists in this story and I went back and forth who the villain was. Interesting main and secondary characters that kept the story interesting. I found the story was slow especially in the beginning but soon picked up speed.

HEA, romance, clean, villains, will keep you guessing, the ending is nice set up for next story. I can't improve on the blurb, just giving you extra tidbits to decide to purchase or not. (ljb)

[Carolyn G. Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stitch In Time

Hattie looks at the body in the sauna with deep sorrow. She looks like an beautiful angel she thought. Ask to silve the case and find the killer by Arvo and Pauline, the Mortuary owners, she’s deep in the case when her husband shows up to protect the girl. A marvelous Upper Peninsula myster and romance.

[L Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A ygood mystery surrounded with good characters. There are also a lot of fun Finn facts as It all takes place in a Finnish American community that keeps up all the old traditions. I really enjoyed it.

[Mary Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story

A Finish-American mystery. A young woman is found dead in a sauna. The temporary police officer investigates. She will discover the truth but not before more people are hurt.
Good read.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read

I really like this series. The characters and setting are different, unique. But! I knew Elwood was the deputy and what happened to Hatti's other dog? Being half Norwegian and Lutheran made me laugh at parts because they reminded me of my childhood.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this mystery set in a Finnish community in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan more than the first in the series and look forward to reading the next one!

[Juyth A. Guenther · Rating 5 out of 5]

suspense

Could not put it down, enjoyed all the references to native customs and Finish customs. Didn’t figure out who the murder was till almost the end