But Knot for Me

Yarn Retreat Mystery #8

by Betty Hechtman

In a new Yarn Retreat Mystery from nationally bestselling author Betty Hechtman, Casey Feldstein has to face down a self-help guru who may have helped himself to murder . . . When a charismatic life coach and his devoted followers descend on Vista Del Mar, Casey Feldstein and the yarn retreat group she's hosting literally get pushed aside, out of sight and out of mind of the struggling participants seeking enlightenment. But Casey can't help overhearing the rancorous argument between two members of the guru's staff, and when one of them turns up dead after ingesting poisonous mushrooms, Casey finds herself tangled up in a murder investigation while the self-help group looks on helplessly. With rumors swirling that the victim was having an affair with the group's leader and a host of potential suspects among her own eccentric yarn retreat group, Casey can only knit her brow at the complexity of the case. And when another staff member turns up dead and Casey narrowly escapes an early demise of her own, she knows she'll have to unravel the clues quickly to catch a killer who may be feeling more empowered than even the guru intended . . .

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

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2021

About the author

I grew up on the south side of Chicago and in a very busy weekend, got married, graduated college and moved to Los Angeles.

Although my degree is in Fine Arts, all I ever wanted to be was a writer and I've been doing it in one form or another for as long as I can remember. My shining moments in elementary and high school always involved stories or poetry I'd written. I wrote news stories and a weekly column in my college newspaper. My first job out of college was working on the newsletter of a finance company. I worked for a public relations firm and wrote press releases and biographies. Later I wrote proposals for video projects and television shows that went through various stages of development.

I tried writing screenplays and wrote three. I sold one and another was a winner in a Writers' Digest contest.

I was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home mom and did all kinds of volunteering at my son's schools including editing and writing several newsletters.

I wrote essays and small pieces that ran in the Los Angeles Times, the Daily News and Woman's Day among others. My short romantic and mystery fiction appeared in Woman's World, and Futures magazine.

From time I was a thirteen-year-old babysitter cooking for the kids I babysat, I dreamed of writing a book about babysitting. It took a little longer than I'd expected, but BLUE SCHWARTZ AND NEFERTITI'S NECKLACE was published in 2006.

My affair with crochet began in Las Vegas. I had always had a fascination with crochet, particularly granny squares, but thought there was some magic involved with making them that was beyond me. And then everything changed that day in Vegas when I saw the kids' kit in FAO Schwartz. If the instructions were easy enough for kids, I thought they might work for me.

My first granny square was missing a corner, but when I tried again, all four corners were there. I was in awe of my own accomplishment. I had found the magic. I went granny square crazy until pretty soon I didn't need directions anymore. Then I learned there were more squares than just basic grannies and I made squares with sunflowers in the middle and other patterns. I moved beyond squares and made flowers, hearts, bookmarks and more.

I was in love with crochet and began to make scarves, purses, afghans, and shawls. I started carrying my hooks everywhere. A plane trip became a pile of granny square wash cloths, or part of a shawl. A vacation in Hawaii turned into a tote bag.

And now I get to write about it...

** Sourced from authors website

Series:
* A Crochet Mystery
* Yarn Retreat

Reviews

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to sum up this book in one sentence, it would be superbly plotted, rich in detail, realistic and organic. I'd been meaning to get to this since I got it on NetGalley and I'm sorry I didn't move this farther up on my overloaded TBR list sooner! I hear a lot of good things about this series from my cozy mystery friends and when I saw this one, I knew I had to give it a try. I think I've tried every flavor of cozy mysteries except yarn cozies - well, until now! And I liked this one right from the first page; some writers have that amazing way of drawing you right into their world from the start and this one definitely did!

Casey is prepping for a yarn retreat at Vista Del Mar lodge and conference center when she's accosted by the manager, Kevin St. James, who tells her the inn is overbooked. Now, if I was Casey, I'd tell him to go out back and...well, use your imagination...but Casey is a lot nicer than me and was able to smooth the ruffled feathers so that self-help guru Jordan can run his fatally flawed retreat where he can torture people for money. As this is a cozy mystery, someone ends up dead, then another and Casey steps up to the bat to solve the mystery.

This is the first book I've read in the series, I really enjoyed it and I'm definitely going to go back and read the earlier books to learn more about the main characters, as most of the character development in this one went to the assorted retreat people, which I rather enjoyed. A lot of times you don't get to "meet" the victims before they're killed (which is true of the first death, but not the second) so having some context gave the crimes greater depth. I loved the surprise twist at the end when the culprit was apprehended (never saw it coming!) and I loved how it was all wrapped up. But what I liked best was the balance between the smaller side plots that added more depth to the story without detracting from the main plot, which moved quickly without sacrificing detail but not overloaded with what felt like filler. Just a great cozy mystery from start to finish with great characters, a rich plot and baked goods. Perfect!

[Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the characters. I loved the plot. I loved the pacing. But Knot for Me is a perfect light read for a cozy mystery fan! I highly recommend it.

[Keri Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fun to read this/listen to this book in the series of cozy mysteries. Even though Casey continues to solve murders that happen around her yarn retreats, the books are light hearted and not very deep, or realistic. But they are an easy escape and the culprit is usually a bit of a surprise. So maybe 3-1/2 stars.

[Mint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Casey Feldstein has been hosting relaxing yarn retreats at the Vista Del Mar hotel for some time now. However, this particular retreat gets off to a bad start when her group is double-booked with a retreat by self-help guru Jordan. Jordan may be charismatic on the outside, but as the weekend continues, it becomes more apparent that not all is what it seems with his retreats. The weekend gets even worse when one of his staff is found dead! Is Casey's retreat at risk? And will there be any more death before the weekend is up?

Overall, this is a solid cozy mystery, great if you want a light & quick read.

I have a soft spot for Betty Hechtman's work. She was the first cozy mystery author I ever read! I really enjoy the theme behind this series and I wasn't disappointed by the premise of this book. The guru and his strange retreat made for a very interesting premise that kept me hooked. I couldn't put it down!

That being said, if you are a fan of reading about very realistic characters, I don't know if you would like this book. I like that Casey isn't a perfect characters; she has her flaws. But I felt that some of the supporting characters and suspects were a little one-note. It was if I only knew one defining thing about them and not much else. To me, this was one of the most disappointing aspects of the book.

I did like how the book focused on different aspects of Casey's life other than the murder, such as her relationship with Dane and the business side of her yarn retreats. Unfortunately, I did think that this focus took away from the mystery itself, as I was a bit taken aback at the final solve. However, I think people who are fans of the series might enjoy this look into Casey's life.

Readers who don't like love triangles in their cozy mysteries should know that there is a reference to a previous one in the book, but there is no ongoing love triangle.

Thank you to NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty Hechtman's Yarn Retreat Mystery series focuses on Casey Feldstein who lives in Cadbury by the Sea on the Monterey Peninsula. Busy Casey who quit law school after just one semester has tried a variety of jobs including teaching and working in department stores and had a job as a private investigator. She is a talented dessert maker and now she is running yarn retreat weekends, a business bequeathed to her by her Aunt Joan. Hosting a yarn retreat at Vista Del Mar, a hotel and conference centre, Casey's group gets ousted by a self-help guru, known as Jordan and his group who are taking part in Find Your Retreat. Later, a member of that group is found dead...

There is a lot to like in this novel with its abundance of humour. Casey is fun and independent and she calls the shots with her beau, Dane Mangano, a Cadbury police department copper, living life on her terms. The mystery is well written, the setting is fabulous, and the characters are winsome. I'm very tempted to read some of the books I've missed in the series. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Beyond the Page Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Taryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey is upset that a life coach and his many followers have taken the spot her yarn retreat group was suppose to occupy. While trying to figure out what her group is to do she over hears an argument between two of the life coaches staff. Things go badly for the coach when one of the staff members is later found dead, murdered. Casey can't help but feel bad for the groups supporters and decides to help as much as she can. The rumor mill is going crazy leaving Casey with an abundance of suspects to look through. While moving ahead with her investigation another staff member ends up dead and Casey herself barely keeps herself alive. Follow along a see if she can catch a killer or will she get caught in the end!

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey Feldstein is back and ready to host a yarn retreat at the lovely Vista Del Mar. Since the aggravating Kevin has overbooked a life coaches retreat , Casey has to quickly find a solution - and what she thought that would be her major problem is nothing when murder makes an appearance!

Once again, Casey is sleuthing and entertaining readers! This book, along with a keep you guessing mystery, allows the reader to see more of Casey's life and why her desire to be independent is so important to her. She's an excellent baker, retreat host, but her calling is sleuthing. Along with a cast of lovable and quirky characters, she finds she can do all three! The only thing that wasn't fun, is that I would like to see Casey decide to commit to her boyfriend or breakup. The back and forth (from Casey's side) is a little irritating. Hiwever, I'm still a Casey fan!

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

[Tea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.
It's dry and the characters are not that interesting. There was no surprise at all in who the murderer was. It wasn't bad exactly, and if you already read the first book and enjoyed it, you'll likely enjoy this one too.

I had no interest in the romance and there was a little too much going on in the "cozy" department with the yarn craft AND the dessert baking. Pick a cozy lane.

It's fine I guess, but I didn't find it cozy as much as I did boring.

[Micky Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful mystery wrapped in yarn, good food, great characters and fun plot! Casey's newest yarn retreat is hitting a snag before it ever gets off the ground as a life guru has taken over the resort and has Casey trying to hide her retreat until a member of the guru's retreat drops dead and the hunt for the culprit is on! Add to the mystery and intrigue is that Casey's own retreat members seem to all be hiding things so double the intrigue in this story! The author does such a great job of weaving the characters life stories into the plot that you don't even notice that you are becoming deeply invested in their personal lives outside the mystery as much as the mystery itself! I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the next book!

[Dee Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super cute, cozy mystery. It kept me guessing all the way through. Awesome character development. It was funny and a very fast read. Great for a night in front of the fire!

[Andrea Kalmbach · Rating 1 out of 5]

The romance adds nothing to the story and is getting a bit ridiculous. I felt no compassion for the victims.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

But Knot for Me by Betty Hechtman has Casey Feldstein hosting another yarn retreat at Vista Del Mar. Unfortunately, there seems to be a little snafu. Kevin St. John got his dates mixed up and promised the whole facility to lifestyle guru, Jordan who is hosting one of his retreats. Casey works out a compromise with Mr. St. John, but Jordan is none to pleased. While Casey and her group are enjoying a delicious meal at the Blue Door, the Jordan group head out to forage for their dinner. Casey later hears that a Jordan employee is dead after ingesting the meal. Cloris, a hotel employee and friend, is afraid the blame will be placed on her since she was “supervising” the kitchen. Casey is not going to let Cloris take the blame, so she begins asking questions. When another Jordan employee turns up dead, Casey is not buying that both deaths were accidents. Casey with help from her old detective employer, Frank digs deeper for information. Someone is not happy with Casey’s sleuthing and attempts to silence her. Casey will need to work quickly if she is going to solve the case before the retreat guests fly the coop. But Knot for Me is the 8th A Yarn Retreat Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. I always enjoying visiting Cadbury by the Sea where Casey Feldstein lives and hosts her yarn retreats. She also bakes for the local businesses. I wish the town was a little more whimsical. I think it is a shame they do not appreciate the cute names Casey wanted to give her baked goods. Casey has been setting down roots, but she has not realized it. She has settled into her inherited home, has a successful baking business as well as running the yarn retreats, has a cat, and a boyfriend. Dane, Casey’s beau, needs to make her see this if they are going to move forward with their relationship. I like most of the secondary characters. Kevin St. John can be a pain, and Tag with his severe OCD was really getting on my last nerve by the end of the book. I do not know how his wife puts up with him arranging and rearranging everything. But Knot for Me is well-written with steady pacing. The mystery was fun to figure out. It was well-done with misdirection, several suspects, and good clues. I enjoyed piecing together the clues to figure out the identity of the guilty party. There was a tense scene near the end that gave me the heebie jeebies. I appreciated that the whodunit was completely wrapped up leaving me with no lingering questions. There is humor in the story as well especially with regard to Casey’s cat and his love for “stinky fish”. But Knot for Me is a relaxing story that was a joy to read. There is a recipe and pattern for a scrunchie at the end. I look forward to Casey’s next adventure. But Knot for Me is a hair-raising tale with a magnetic guru, a culinary conundrum, a phone predicament, chancy challenges, a slithery twist, foul fish, and a mate date scrape.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in a series. As I have not read the others (but probably will!), I felt as though I was missing some things, but it wasn’t a serious problem. The main character, Casey, runs needlework (knitting, crochet, etc) retreats at the resort across the road from her home. She also bakes amazing desserts for local restaurants.

Casey has a cop boyfriend, Dane, are ramping up their relationship to a new level which makes her nervous. Add to that, the resort where she’s holding her workshop has been taken over by a self-help egotistical guru who demands she keep her workshop people out of sight. Casey does her best, but it’s a challenge keeping her people away from the other group. The other group’s participants are literally drooling over Casey’s cookies and other food as they are relegated to what they can forage, bland oatmeal, beans and rice (with no spice). When one of the participants dies from poisonous mushrooms, the death is blamed on bad foraging. But Casey isn’t so sure. When a second body turns up, Casey is certain the deaths are linked, but convincing others takes some doing.

There are clever twists and turns through the story. And neither of the bodies were the one I was certain was going to be the dead person. Unfortunately. But the case does get solved (by Casey) and the perp caught.

I thought the whole “guru” bit was an interesting statement on these kinds of charismatic leaders and their self-help workshops. The characters in the workshops were also interesting like a woman who was addicted to her phone and went through withdraw when she discovered there was no signal at the resort. The other characters were just as much fun…but a little flat. Not a lot to them. Though, they are secondary characters so that’s not awful. As for Casey, her relationship with Dane was a problem for me. She needs to stop wavering and just do something.

Recommendations: This was a cute cozy with decent characters and really nice scenic descriptions. I enjoyed it for that alone. The ending is a bit of a surprise, which is always good in a mystery. If you’re into the series, definitely add this one.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Netgalley for providing this book. Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my top three favorite cozy series. i was delighted to receive this from the publisher for review. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own. This is a series that captures the reader with exciting sleuthing, great charcters and the wonderful picturesque setting of Pacific Grove CA. The author perfectly captures the spectacular environmental beauty of Pacific Grove. This is a great next in series and one of my favorite of the series.

Our protagonist Casey is setting up her next yarn retreat for her guests at the beautiful seaside Vista Del Mar Resort. Casey runs a yarn retreat business that she took over from her Aunt who passed away. She enjoys the people and improved her knitting skills. She has an agreement with the manager to have her guests stay at the resort during her retreats. When she is told to leave by the manager due to a special self help group taking over, Casey refuses and works out how to keep her guests happy and not interfere with the activities of the group. The Resort is a special place of environmental beauty and Casey does not want her paying guests to miss out on enjoying the resort and their yarn activities. Casey soon finds out this self help guru is causing trouble with the resort and her group. When two deaths occur Casey is on the case discovering red herrings and clues abound among the guests.

This was a exceptional mystery that kept me guessing to conclusion. The supporting charcters are all fun and add to the series. Casey is discovering more about her self with every book and growing as a independent woman standing on her own happily running a business she loves. She is a wonderful sleuth who always solves the murder. Her love interest is held at bay much to his chagrin which suits Casey and her life . I like that Casey stands up for herself and lives life on her terms. The author has a talent for bringing environmental beauty of Pacific Grove to her readers. I highly recommend this book and this wonderful series. This series is cozy perfection.

[LittleRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey Feldstein is hosting her latest Yarn Retreat at Vista Del Mar. She arrives ready to set up and get started, only to be told that the hotel has her down for NEXT weekend as a famous self-help guru has booked the entire hotel for his own retreat. While Kevin St. John tries to run Casey off, she stands her ground and the weekend is allowed to go on, with the expectation that she keeps her people apart from the larger event. This means having to come up with meals for people as well as finding activities for them since the hotel staff is not involved at all this weekend. Things could be worse, but the weekend is still on. What could go wrong?

When one of the staff members on the larger retreat dies from eating a poisonous mushroom after a foraging hike, Casey doesn’t believe it was an accident. When a second staff member is found dead, she’s certain the two deaths are connected somehow. Will she be able to help the police find the culprit or will they continue to insist, like the guru himself, that they were just accidents and they happen? Now if Casey can find the proof she needs to get the police to listen before she herself faces an accident of her own…

Another great entry in the series. I love the setting and always find the reads relaxing, even with a murder or two thrown in. Seeing Casey develop and face her own fears makes each entry feel like another step forward for her in her personal life too. Each book reads fine as a stand alone, so if you haven’t read a book in the series yet, don’t let that stop you. It just means you have a few more books to binge on and get caught up.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: Casey has a game changer coming up. She and her cop boyfriend Dane are going to take the next step in their relationship and she is a bundle of nerves. Before that can happen, she is running a Yarn Workshop at the resort across the road from her home. She thinks she has everything in hand until the acolytes of a self help guru and the big man himself sweep in. The manager of the resort has made a big mistake by double booking since the guru wanted the entire place to himself. Casey does her best to be accommodating but she is getting steamrollered.

The guru’s retreat gives austerity a new meaning so several of the participants are drooling, literally, over the good food and the fun that Casey’s group are enjoying. But as the body count increases in the guru group, Casey’s folks are happy to be with her. Are the incidents that led to the deaths just accidents or was there something more nefarious going on. Even the cops are getting nowhere in questioning the guru group so they are happy to have Casey’s insights. But someone is not happy. In fact, someone is downright unhappy and quite willing to risk Casey’s life to get her off the case.

The killer was a surprise and there were some clever twists and turns to lead the reader astray. There is also some interesting sub-text on why people buy into these self help schemes. Snake oil is alive and well and living in these “cults”. Four purrs and two paws up.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey runs knitting retreats and has had no issues but this time her group is having issues with their booking at the Vista Del Mar hotel. She has to deal with the twist that they have been double booked because Kevin got the dates mixed up. The other group is run by a self help guru named Jordan. He may be charming on the outside but on the inside, not a nice guy. It isn't long before not one but two of his employees wind up dead. Casey's friend, Cloris was overseeing the kitchen and soon becomes a person of interest. Knowing Cloris couldn't be the killer Casey turns to her former employer from her PI days to help her track down the killer.
As she investigates she discovers not only do the members of the self help retreat have secrets to hide but so do the members of her own retreat. It all comes together in a well written puzzle that kept me entertained to the end. The setting made me want to pack a bag and book a room at the Vista Del Mar hotel, knitting optional.
My thanks to the publisher Beyond the Page and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casey is setting up for her latest yarn retreat, when the manager of Vista Del Mar realizes he has double-booked the resort. A famous health guru has reserved the entire resort and wants no one else around. It’s too late to cancel the yarn retreat, so Casey is left to work around the other group. All is not sweetness and light within the guru group, though. The regimen is strict and some of his followers are more devoted than others. Casey is also working through issues in her own group. One is totally addicted to her phone, two sisters bicker constantly, and the schedule is changed to avoid the other group.
A woman dies and Casey’s friend is blamed for carelessness causing her death. Casey dives in to the investigation to clear her friend (and for her own curiosity). Her cop boyfriend is wanting her to commit to their relationship, but Casey is wary. She is too busy baking, running her retreat, and trying to solve a murder to have much time left for anything else!
Set on the California coast, this series will have you ready to head off on your own yarn retreat.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the eighth book in the Yarn Retreat Mysteries. I like Casey Feldstein and her yarn retreats. This book focused more on the Jordan event at the Vista Del Mar Resort on the Monterrey Peninsula. The area described reminds me of Pacific Grove.

The Jordan retreat is booked on top of Casey’s retreat and Kevin, the manager wants her to find a new location with only a few hours until her guests show up. Well we know Casey won’t kowtow to Kevin. They make a deal with the resort picking up the food bill from the local restaurant for her retreat.

Of course, someone from the staff of the Jordan event dies and Casey is drawn into the investigation.

We find the organizational leader has very few true leadership skills and I’m so happy when a few key players on the staff finally realize it.

There are plenty of twists and turns. My favorite scenes are between Crystal and Casey.
I would purchase this book as a gift for my cozy mystery reading friends.

I was given an advanced copy from Netgalley and am not required to leave a positive review.

[Julie Trapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a charismatic life coach and his devoted followers descend on Vista Del Mar, Casey Feldstein and the yarn retreat group she’s hosting literally get pushed aside, out of sight and out of mind of the struggling participants seeking enlightenment. But Casey can’t help overhearing the rancorous argument between two members of the guru’s staff, and when one of them turns up dead after ingesting poisonous mushrooms, Casey finds herself tangled up in a murder investigation while the self-help group looks on helplessly. [amazon synopsis]

Was the victim having an affair with the life coach? Even some of Casey's yarners are suspects. After another murder and Casey's near death experience, she has her hands full trying to solve this before anyone else turns up dead. Casey's escape from the maze was not only confusing, but unbelievable, even for a cozy. Kevin St.John will, someday, get his due. How obnoxious and overbearing can one person be? I would not be as nice as Casey is about his antics. If you knit, there is a pattern at the end.

[Barb Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

After an absence that seemed to take a little bit of forever, Casey Feldstein returns for another Yarn Retreat Mystery. This time, there's a self-help guru who insists on taking over Vista Del Mar and pushing Casey's retreat off to the side . . . if it has to be there at all.

Of course, someone dies. A couple of someones, actually. Casey does her usual offbeat investigating and finds herself in her usual pickle. She saves the day, of course.

On the personal side, Sammy moves in, and Dane is looking to take a big step in their relationship.

I was surprised that the retreaters were crocheting. As we all know, Casey's group knits. Betty Hechtman's other series, the Crochet Mystery Series, showcases Molly Pink and crocheters. I've learned to crochet, inspired in part by the Hechtman series, so I'm looking forward to finally making some of the items from the patterns at the end of each book. Soon, I'll have to learn to knit (I have my needles).

[Anna Hanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overhyped

The manager of Vista Del Mar made a booking mistake, resulting in a conflict between Casey’s retreat group and a big-name self-improvement guru’s group. He reluctantly agrees to let Casey’s group go on as planned, as long as they stay out of the way of the other; events intrude when some of the staff from the other group are lured to the goodies Casey provides for her people, breaking the rules of their austerity-based retreat. When one staffer dies of apparently accidental poisoning from foraging for her meal, it seems a sad tragedy but nothing more sinister than that - until Casey learns the woman had specifically avoided any mushrooms, knowing it would be too easy to make a mistake - so how did she die from a toxic mushroom? When blame seems to be falling on Cloris, the competent assistant manager, Casey knows she has to figure out what happened and protect her from any negative repercussions. Proving it may be another matter.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd only ever read the first book in this series, so I had a basic idea of the main characters. I quickly got caught up on Casey and her life in Cadbury by the Sea. There's enough information that anyone could easily read this book without having read the first or any others. There were also no spoilers which was good, because I still want to read books 2-7, lol.

The mystery was really intriguing, and just when I thought I suspected one person, another suspect turned up. I was completely surprised by the outcome having suspected someone else all together. The showdown was a good one and the kind I like where it's police-controlled. I'm eager now to go back and read the books in the series I've missed. I really like these key characters!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series always entertains. Casey has a retreat scheduled when she finds out that the manager of the resort has double booked. Two retreats at the same time. Casey's and one hosted by "Jordan" and self help guru. Casey is told to stay away from Jordan's group and he specifically said he wanted no other guests to be there while his retreat is occurring. This becomes more difficult when member's of Jordan's group start dying.

These stories are always fun and a nice light escape. The writing is easy to read and the story is engaging. The characters all have their quirks. There are lots of suspects and I admit, I was a bit surprised at the end. Fun for anyone who enjoys a crafty cozy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and offer my unbiased opinion.

[Mayda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through a mixup, a double booking occurs at Vista Del Mar. A life coach is supposed to have full run of the place, but Casey has already booked a yarn retreat. Sharing the space proves to be a bit difficult. The members of the life retreat are supposed to achieve enlightenment, by barebones meals and daily challenges, but they want the niceties that Casey’s group has. Casey overhears arguments among the guru’s leaders which leads her wonder how legitimate this guru really is. And then one leader dies, supposedly from eating poisonous mushrooms. Casey has to figure out exactly what has happened, to clear her own staff and save anyone else from dying. It’s another clever mystery in this entertaining series. And this installment is indeed quite entertaining.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another series that had me hooked from the very first book. The setting - a retreat center near the ocean - sounds much better than most of the retreats/crafting weekends I've ever attended :) The recurring characters are a good group of people, with one notable exception, and I'm sure fans of the series will know who I mean.

We didn't know much about the murder victims, so it was hard to come up with a list of suspects other than their co-workers. I was not surprised when the culprit was revealed, but would not have come up with the motive on my own.

The next book in this series is in my audio library, and I hope to listen to it sometime next year... although it appears that there are only two more books in the series, so I may spread it out a bit more.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But Knot for Me” the 8th instalment in A Yarn Retreat Mystery series by Betty Hechtman set in the seaside town of Vista Del Mar, California. Casey Feldstein has to face down a self-help guru who may have helped himself to murder . . .

I really enjoyed this story, the mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

Now I want to pick up crocheting again, I love these kind of cozy mysteries.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Beyond the Page and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very well written and is full of engaging characters. Casey Feldstein is hosting a yarn retreat at Vista Del Mar, but her group gets pushed to the side when a self-help guru rents the resort to hold one of his retreats. Casey must reorganize the weekend for her group with the help of her friends. When a member of the staff from the self-help group is murdered, Casey tries to help figure out what happened. She begins to suspect that not everyone in her group is being honest about who they are and why they are there. Can she help find the murderer before anyone else is hurt including herself?

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read a book by Betty Hechtman, I want to start to crochet or knit, and solve a mystery!
The yarn retreat series intrigues me, I think it would be so much fun to go to one, even if I had to help solve a murder mystery.
When a guest guru stirs up trouble, its all hands on deck until the villain is captured.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to Betty, for always keeping me reading late into the night.
ButKnotforMe #NetGalley.

[PeggySue · Rating 3 out of 5]

have read most of this series as well as the Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers series. I started with this series but I think I like the other series better. That is, except for the police officer boyfriend. Dane is my favorite.
This book did not seem to focus on Casey’s retreat very much. In fact, she was gone doing other things so much, I’m surprised they did not complain. It was not bad, I did finish it but not so sure I will continue with this series.