What do you think?
Rate this book
Knitting Mysteries #1
Died in the Wool
Ariadne Evans is the proud owner of her very own knitting shop. And she's just got herself in a stitch.
When Ariadne enters her knitting store one day to find longtime customer Edith Perry strangled to death with homespun yarn, she fears her life is about to come undone — again, since she's still getting over a divorce. Her worries increase when she's questioned by detective Joshua Pierce, who may or may not have designs on her. While Josh pieces together the details of the crime, clues about Ariadne's ties to Miss Perry come to light...and a bizarre pattern unfolds. Now it's up to Ariadne to do some sleuthing of her own. Can she untangle the investigation without getting snarled up into too much trouble? That depends on whether the killer is as crafty as she is....
When Ariadne enters her knitting store one day to find longtime customer Edith Perry strangled to death with homespun yarn, she fears her life is about to come undone — again, since she's still getting over a divorce. Her worries increase when she's questioned by detective Joshua Pierce, who may or may not have designs on her. While Josh pieces together the details of the crime, clues about Ariadne's ties to Miss Perry come to light...and a bizarre pattern unfolds. Now it's up to Ariadne to do some sleuthing of her own. Can she untangle the investigation without getting snarled up into too much trouble? That depends on whether the killer is as crafty as she is....
391 pages, Paperback
First published August 2, 2005
31 people are currently reading
1106 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
February 13, 2009
Let's leave aside the total impracticality of someone making enough cash off pirated knitting patterns to make it worth killing for... and we'll leave aside the use of "Omigosh" about a dozen times in the first chapter... and we'll forget about the use of everyone's name each time they're spoken to (how often do YOU use your friend's name while in conversation with them?)...
The book is still not so great. The plot was transparent, the characters were wonky and wooden, and the whole thing was poorly plotted and choppy.
That said, I'll still probably read the rest in the series because it's about knitting, and I'm a sucker like that.
The book is still not so great. The plot was transparent, the characters were wonky and wooden, and the whole thing was poorly plotted and choppy.
That said, I'll still probably read the rest in the series because it's about knitting, and I'm a sucker like that.
February 7, 2011
I read this book in about 2 hours total, and it was a struggle.
Most of the book is about copyright wank and how the internet is the equivalent of exploring an uncharted planet. Scary! Even though it was written in 2005.
Character development was awkward, a lot of telling us instead of showing us through writing and actions. Relationships between characters were weakly developed, again through telling not action.
The oh-so-obvious love interest begins prematurely on page 6, but gets no where.
The protagonist's help on the case is dubious at best, illegal and improbable as well. As is the rest of the police work in the book.
The "people in a small town know everything" (except who could be the murderer, of course) is way overused here. Combined with the old saw of the transplanted big-city cop, it is a formula, and not well executed.
Finally, even though I am a fiber enthusiast, repeated references to how someone would never do that with yarn they had spun themselves because ZOMG THE YARN IS PRESHUS were so lame. Sure, they wouldn't use their own yarn because it could connect them to the crime... but if someone is KILLING someone else, I doubt the sanctity of their handspun is a factor in their weapon choice.
Most of the book is about copyright wank and how the internet is the equivalent of exploring an uncharted planet. Scary! Even though it was written in 2005.
Character development was awkward, a lot of telling us instead of showing us through writing and actions. Relationships between characters were weakly developed, again through telling not action.
The oh-so-obvious love interest begins prematurely on page 6, but gets no where.
The protagonist's help on the case is dubious at best, illegal and improbable as well. As is the rest of the police work in the book.
The "people in a small town know everything" (except who could be the murderer, of course) is way overused here. Combined with the old saw of the transplanted big-city cop, it is a formula, and not well executed.
Finally, even though I am a fiber enthusiast, repeated references to how someone would never do that with yarn they had spun themselves because ZOMG THE YARN IS PRESHUS were so lame. Sure, they wouldn't use their own yarn because it could connect them to the crime... but if someone is KILLING someone else, I doubt the sanctity of their handspun is a factor in their weapon choice.
January 19, 2009
So this is your pretty basic murder mystery, not much new there. The knitting theme was a bit cheezy - but I wasnt expecting much. I read it in two days, so not much of a time committment.
I had two major issues:
1. The author implies that the only free knitting patterns available online are either incredibily basic (i.e. garter stich scarf) or are pirated from professional designers and given away for free. I don't argue that some people do steal patterns and then give them away or sell them for profit as their own, but I think it is a bit of a leap to assume every free pattern of any value is stolen. Yes, designers deserve to get paid for their work, but if they choose to offer a pattern for free to the public, or if they collect income via advertising on their site, that is their choice.
2. the "free patterns" in the back of the book are beyond laughable. Now generally when a book has patterns or receipes you don't expect something life changing, but 2 of the 3 patterns were fun fur garter stich scarves! pathetic, it would have been better to leave them out.
I had two major issues:
1. The author implies that the only free knitting patterns available online are either incredibily basic (i.e. garter stich scarf) or are pirated from professional designers and given away for free. I don't argue that some people do steal patterns and then give them away or sell them for profit as their own, but I think it is a bit of a leap to assume every free pattern of any value is stolen. Yes, designers deserve to get paid for their work, but if they choose to offer a pattern for free to the public, or if they collect income via advertising on their site, that is their choice.
2. the "free patterns" in the back of the book are beyond laughable. Now generally when a book has patterns or receipes you don't expect something life changing, but 2 of the 3 patterns were fun fur garter stich scarves! pathetic, it would have been better to leave them out.
December 9, 2010
I've been knitting from free patterns online for over a decade, and the entire structure of the plot was based on the premise that all knitting patterns online are pirated or too basic to worry about copyright. You don't "lose" copyright by publishing something online, and there are dozens of legit ways to actually publish something free online, most of which existed when this book was written.
I was SHOCKED 2/3s of the way through the book to discover the main character was supposedly not yet thirty with her bizarre aversion to the Internet and running a website for her store. I thought she was in her 30s, and acting like she was in her 40s.
Didn't care for the POV choices, either.
I was SHOCKED 2/3s of the way through the book to discover the main character was supposedly not yet thirty with her bizarre aversion to the Internet and running a website for her store. I thought she was in her 30s, and acting like she was in her 40s.
Didn't care for the POV choices, either.
October 17, 2017
A fun whodunit with yarn!
September 10, 2013
Ariadne, aka Ari, owns a yarn shop. She is a designer, shop owner, newly single Mom, and a knitter. She never would have dreamed in a million years she would ever add sleuth to that list OR person who has seen a dead body in her own shop. Ari does have to add those things to her description of herself though after she finds Edith Perry dead in her yarn shop. Ari is the first suspect and primary one, but Josh, the detective, isn't so sure she has it in her. He just hopes that's his professional opinion and not his personal one getting in the way. He is new to the small town and soon is teaming up with the amateur sleuth to see what they can find in the way of solving this murder mystery. Ari reads a lot of mystery books, but she soon is discovering that books are very different from her real life mystery she is in. Can Ari clear herself from the suspect list? Will she be able to find the real killer before her or someone she knows is charged unjustly? Odds are, being a small town, the murderer is someone she knows....but who and why would they do it?
Wow, what a book! From the first sentence this book had me hooked. There was no lull in this book, it kept right on going like a knitter with a determination to finish a project. All I can say is this....I read this book in one day and only put it down for food and potty breaks. It was a hazard to my housework chores, that's for sure because they all got ignored until I was finished with this book. The plot was just so well written and flowed with the ease of a seasoned writer. I picked up this book, not going to lie, because of the intriguing cover. It was different than the one pictured below, it had yarn on the shelves with a yarn noose hanging down the middle of it all. I just loved it! The title was catchy too, which always peaks my interest when I am looking into reading a book. I read this book so quickly and adamantly that I felt like I was watching a movie or a season of a TV show. The characters were absolutely amazing too! Ari was by far my favorite, with her wonderful determination to help her friends in trouble. She didn't let anything stand in her way of trying to figure out who killed Edith in the shop she owned and Edith hated, not even a very hunky police detective. The mystery was great and the splash of color the relationship between Ari and Josh (the detective) added was perfect. I can't say enough good things about this book or this very talented author. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling something for the next reader, so I will just leave it at...this is an amazing book that I can't recommend enough for any reader out there, especially a mystery buff like myself! I can't wait to read the next book in the series that I have to see where it takes Ari and if she and Josh may get a bit more romance in their lives with each other.
5/5 Stars!
Wow, what a book! From the first sentence this book had me hooked. There was no lull in this book, it kept right on going like a knitter with a determination to finish a project. All I can say is this....I read this book in one day and only put it down for food and potty breaks. It was a hazard to my housework chores, that's for sure because they all got ignored until I was finished with this book. The plot was just so well written and flowed with the ease of a seasoned writer. I picked up this book, not going to lie, because of the intriguing cover. It was different than the one pictured below, it had yarn on the shelves with a yarn noose hanging down the middle of it all. I just loved it! The title was catchy too, which always peaks my interest when I am looking into reading a book. I read this book so quickly and adamantly that I felt like I was watching a movie or a season of a TV show. The characters were absolutely amazing too! Ari was by far my favorite, with her wonderful determination to help her friends in trouble. She didn't let anything stand in her way of trying to figure out who killed Edith in the shop she owned and Edith hated, not even a very hunky police detective. The mystery was great and the splash of color the relationship between Ari and Josh (the detective) added was perfect. I can't say enough good things about this book or this very talented author. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling something for the next reader, so I will just leave it at...this is an amazing book that I can't recommend enough for any reader out there, especially a mystery buff like myself! I can't wait to read the next book in the series that I have to see where it takes Ari and if she and Josh may get a bit more romance in their lives with each other.
5/5 Stars!
June 11, 2013
Ariadne is almost thirty. The revelation comes more than halfway in the book and that shocked me. She sounded like she was in her fifties. For a supposedly smart person, I hated her attitude to the internet and the computer and a new (really, it's old now) way of doing a business. That's an old person's attitude, probably written with an old person in mind. It's not the first time I've come across this in a cozy, and probably not the last time, but really? That's not all - the whole murder mystery is based on stealing something and selling them on the internet, complete with gross misrepresentation of everything involved. Why this whole hue and cry about how unreliable something off the internet is? Like in person sale is so much better? Like piracy would not happen had it all been mom and pop stores? An unbelievably smug attitude to take, and for a person not yet thirty it comes off as more than a little judgmental. Not to mention that the entire police procedural thing is unethical. I'm supposed to believe a man who thinks from what's in his pants is a good cop. Right.
I've got the second one already, so I'm going to read that, but beyond that it's goodbye series and author.
I've got the second one already, so I'm going to read that, but beyond that it's goodbye series and author.
November 9, 2009
Not the best knitting mystery out there, to say the least. The dialogue in particular was rather painful, very unrealistic and laden with bad puns (and I normally really enjoy horrendous puns -- these ones are just BAD bad and not funny bad). Also the plot was a typical eye-roll-inducing cozy plot, with an unexpected detective taking on an investigation instead of leaving it to the police, and all the characters being absurdly willing to help (and if she's so busy running a yarn store, where does she find the time to solve mysteries?). The narrator's voice was also very irritating. I read this only because Julia had read it and said it was so bad that I had to read it for myself. I wouldn't recommend inflicting this on yourself unless you REALLY enjoy knitting mysteries or you have absolutely nothing else to read.
April 19, 2020
Murder comes too close to home for Ari when she finds a dead body in her knitting shop, in Died in the Wool by Mary Kruger.
This is the first of a new knitting mystery series, by the author of the “Gilded Age” mysteries. 29 year old Ariadne (or Ari for short) owns Ariadne’s Web, a popular knitting shop in the small town of Freeport, New England. As well as running the shop, Ari creates knitting patterns and looks after her 7 year old daughter, Megan.
Opening her shop early one September morning, Ari is shocked when she finds a dead body lying amongst the yarn bins. Around the lifeless neck is some of Ari’s most expensive home spun yarn which appears to have been used as part of a garotte. The yarn was spun by Ari’s best friend Diane Camacho, from her own small flock of sheep.
The victim is Edith Perry, a long time customer of Ariadne’s Web. Edith was a difficult lady. Hercantankerous nature and unpopular stances on controversial issues, like opposing school expansions and building a new library, did not make her a popular local figure. But, why was she murdered? And why had she been in the yarn shop so early anyway?
The circumstances make Ari an obvious early suspect for the police and she is soon being questioned by detective Josh Pierce. Josh finds out that Edith was about to buy the building that houses Ariadne’s Web, probably increase the rent and possibly put Ari out of business. This puts Ari right in the frame for murder.
But, to use her own yarn in her own yarn shop seems unlikely to the detective. And after speaking to Ari, Josh isn’t so sure she is the murderer. Still, Josh spends more time questioning her (partly as he is new to the town). So, when Ari is (partially) cleared of the allegation, she finds it easy to persuade Josh to allow her to help in the investigation (unofficially). Ari is, understandably, determined to find out who carried out the deed in her shop.
As the two spend more time together, Ari’s Aunt Laura starts to suspect a budding romance with the handsome detective and doesn’t waste an opportunity to probe Ari about their latest meeting.
Being a small community, the odds are that Ari will know the murderer, or at least have served him or her in the shop. But, when suspicion falls on her close friends, Ari has some difficult choices to make.
Constant interference by her ex-husband Ted and uncharacteristic unruly school behaviour by her daughter Megan do not make things any easier. Events soon threaten Ari’s friendships, her business and her family relationships, and as she gets closer to the truth Ari soon realizes that she may be the murderer’s next target.
Josh is not only a newbie to Freeport, he also is new to knitting and the world surrounding the craft. As he investigates the murder, he is introduced to spinning, knitting and the people who love these arts. Knitting is an integral part of this story and the plot and this is a plus for me.
I loved imagining Ari wearing the Scandinavian cardigans her grandmother made for her long ago. I enjoyed the descriptions of the yarn shop and the spinning references too. The padded coat hangers knitting pattern mentioned in the story by Laura and Ari is included at the back of the book, as are two very basic fake fur scarf patterns.
The book has two viewpoints; Ari and Joshua, which is unusual for this type of novel. I thought that it was pretty successful. It meant that I could see how the two characters thought as they got to know each other.
I liked Ari’s character. I found her sympathetic, fun and very determined when it comes to detective work. I also enjoyed how Josh allowed room for gut instinct alongside his police procedures.
The dialogue keeps the story ticking along well. It is a very chatty type of novel and, for me, this makes it a quick read. The plot flowed nicely and kept me reading. The small town charm is endearing and there is a nice element of humour to the story.
I found it strange that Ari had such an aversion to the internet. Maybe because I am so used to it, I can’t get used to the fact that a woman who is not yet thirty can have such an out-dated view. I also thought that the storyline about publishing knitting patterns on the web had flaws. The ending was a bit of a let-down as the murderer’s motive was problematical.
There is a lot of promise in this series. I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the writing style of Died in the Wool. So, I am looking forward to seeing how Ms Kruger develops the narrative in future books.
The yarn in the photos in this blog post “Died in the Wool” is from my personal collection and I have projects in mind for pretty much all of it.
Some of the yarns such as the sock blanks are available in the Knitting Squirrel’s online yarn shop.
The sweater on the tailor’s mannequin is my Birkin designed by Caitlin Hunter. Definitely one of my favourite sweaters.
To find out more about the beautiful Sasha Dolls visit my website Sasha Doll Style.
My review is available at: https://www.theknittingsquirrel.com/d...
This is the first of a new knitting mystery series, by the author of the “Gilded Age” mysteries. 29 year old Ariadne (or Ari for short) owns Ariadne’s Web, a popular knitting shop in the small town of Freeport, New England. As well as running the shop, Ari creates knitting patterns and looks after her 7 year old daughter, Megan.
Opening her shop early one September morning, Ari is shocked when she finds a dead body lying amongst the yarn bins. Around the lifeless neck is some of Ari’s most expensive home spun yarn which appears to have been used as part of a garotte. The yarn was spun by Ari’s best friend Diane Camacho, from her own small flock of sheep.
The victim is Edith Perry, a long time customer of Ariadne’s Web. Edith was a difficult lady. Hercantankerous nature and unpopular stances on controversial issues, like opposing school expansions and building a new library, did not make her a popular local figure. But, why was she murdered? And why had she been in the yarn shop so early anyway?
The circumstances make Ari an obvious early suspect for the police and she is soon being questioned by detective Josh Pierce. Josh finds out that Edith was about to buy the building that houses Ariadne’s Web, probably increase the rent and possibly put Ari out of business. This puts Ari right in the frame for murder.
But, to use her own yarn in her own yarn shop seems unlikely to the detective. And after speaking to Ari, Josh isn’t so sure she is the murderer. Still, Josh spends more time questioning her (partly as he is new to the town). So, when Ari is (partially) cleared of the allegation, she finds it easy to persuade Josh to allow her to help in the investigation (unofficially). Ari is, understandably, determined to find out who carried out the deed in her shop.
As the two spend more time together, Ari’s Aunt Laura starts to suspect a budding romance with the handsome detective and doesn’t waste an opportunity to probe Ari about their latest meeting.
Being a small community, the odds are that Ari will know the murderer, or at least have served him or her in the shop. But, when suspicion falls on her close friends, Ari has some difficult choices to make.
Constant interference by her ex-husband Ted and uncharacteristic unruly school behaviour by her daughter Megan do not make things any easier. Events soon threaten Ari’s friendships, her business and her family relationships, and as she gets closer to the truth Ari soon realizes that she may be the murderer’s next target.
Josh is not only a newbie to Freeport, he also is new to knitting and the world surrounding the craft. As he investigates the murder, he is introduced to spinning, knitting and the people who love these arts. Knitting is an integral part of this story and the plot and this is a plus for me.
I loved imagining Ari wearing the Scandinavian cardigans her grandmother made for her long ago. I enjoyed the descriptions of the yarn shop and the spinning references too. The padded coat hangers knitting pattern mentioned in the story by Laura and Ari is included at the back of the book, as are two very basic fake fur scarf patterns.
The book has two viewpoints; Ari and Joshua, which is unusual for this type of novel. I thought that it was pretty successful. It meant that I could see how the two characters thought as they got to know each other.
I liked Ari’s character. I found her sympathetic, fun and very determined when it comes to detective work. I also enjoyed how Josh allowed room for gut instinct alongside his police procedures.
The dialogue keeps the story ticking along well. It is a very chatty type of novel and, for me, this makes it a quick read. The plot flowed nicely and kept me reading. The small town charm is endearing and there is a nice element of humour to the story.
I found it strange that Ari had such an aversion to the internet. Maybe because I am so used to it, I can’t get used to the fact that a woman who is not yet thirty can have such an out-dated view. I also thought that the storyline about publishing knitting patterns on the web had flaws. The ending was a bit of a let-down as the murderer’s motive was problematical.
There is a lot of promise in this series. I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the writing style of Died in the Wool. So, I am looking forward to seeing how Ms Kruger develops the narrative in future books.
The yarn in the photos in this blog post “Died in the Wool” is from my personal collection and I have projects in mind for pretty much all of it.
Some of the yarns such as the sock blanks are available in the Knitting Squirrel’s online yarn shop.
The sweater on the tailor’s mannequin is my Birkin designed by Caitlin Hunter. Definitely one of my favourite sweaters.
To find out more about the beautiful Sasha Dolls visit my website Sasha Doll Style.
My review is available at: https://www.theknittingsquirrel.com/d...
November 29, 2008
Okay, I don't usually expect too much from the theme mysteries such as this knitting mystery, the various cooking mysteries, etc. Having just read most of Maggie Sefton's knitting mysteries, however, I found myself disappointed with the quality of this, the first I've read by Mary Kruger - also her first knitting novel. The writing made me think that perhaps I could be a novelist, after all. The plot elements were fairly predictable, and I did guess the villain without having to try very hard. Maybe Ms. Kruger gets better as she writes; I admit I will seek out and read her other knitting mysteries - but more because I am on a big knitting kick than because I am really looking forward to reading them.
March 10, 2008
I inadvertently acquired this book when trying to pawn off some really bad books on my knitting group. This will be returning to the swap pool. It was not good. At least it wasn't offensive in any way...
September 16, 2015
A very entertaining read! I enjoyed the "knitting setting" (I started knitting recently so it must have helped!) and the quick pace of the book. This was quite a page-turner and I ended up reading it in one sitting:)
December 30, 2024
This was a surprisingly delightful story! Certainly formulaic but did a good job w/in the confines of the formula. The characters were well-developed (more than just the main character) and believable. The writing (word choice / diction) was good - nothing stunning, but descriptive, engaging, and skilled. I enjoyed how the story was self-aware that it was a cozy mystery - plenty of references to characters reading cozy mysteries, including a tongue-in-cheek passage in Chapter 11 that was something like, "if such a well-timed coincidence had happened in a novel she would have thrown the book across the room." Ha!
It was time travel to hear how the characters talked about The Internet, especially as The Internet became a larger and larger part of the story. Is that how we all thought about The Internet back in the early oos? I don't remember anymore. It was presented as a new and *optional* tool, though; characters could still run businesses, etc., without using/needing a computer. And websites! Were considered so new-fangled, high-tech, and fancy!
Somewhere in Chapter 11 I decided that Susan was the murderer. Turned out I was right.
A few weaknesses off the top of my head: (1) at the beginning there was a suggestion that Ari's ex-husband perhaps had an alcohol problem, but that wasn't followed up on (2) I assumed Ari was late 30s, given how she and Diana talked about high school being a long time in the past, how her daughter is 7 years old, and that she "confessed" to needing reading glasses; late in the book her age was given as late 20s?! Unbelievable (3) outdated dating expectations - seemed more in line w/ the 1970s or 1980s than early 00s (4) some weird ideas about gender; e.g., men don't knit (5) Ari protests to herself WAY TOO MUCH abt how she's NOT attracted to the policeman; how he's NOT attracted to her; how they're NOT on a date (when they are), etc etc etc. - not believable and tiresome (6) it's about straight ppl but *meh* they're tolerable all the same.
PS - started this book as a way to pass the time (and keep my brain occupied) while feeling sick. Listened on BARD; this was an audiobook recorded *specifically* for the Talking Book Library by some librarians in Connecticut. Unlike *some* BARD books, though, this one was easy to listen to and felt professional. Neither Libby nor BARD have the second book in the series, which is disappointing. I sort of want to know what will happen?
PPS - another oddity / weakness - when the policeman was interviewing Diana for the first time, while Diana was spinning yarn, she explained that after dying yarn she rolled it into balls. I didn't realize homespun / homedyed yarn would be rolled into balls? I thought it was mostly sold as hanks (or skeins or whichever very specific word to use here).
It was time travel to hear how the characters talked about The Internet, especially as The Internet became a larger and larger part of the story. Is that how we all thought about The Internet back in the early oos? I don't remember anymore. It was presented as a new and *optional* tool, though; characters could still run businesses, etc., without using/needing a computer. And websites! Were considered so new-fangled, high-tech, and fancy!
Somewhere in Chapter 11 I decided that Susan was the murderer. Turned out I was right.
A few weaknesses off the top of my head: (1) at the beginning there was a suggestion that Ari's ex-husband perhaps had an alcohol problem, but that wasn't followed up on (2) I assumed Ari was late 30s, given how she and Diana talked about high school being a long time in the past, how her daughter is 7 years old, and that she "confessed" to needing reading glasses; late in the book her age was given as late 20s?! Unbelievable (3) outdated dating expectations - seemed more in line w/ the 1970s or 1980s than early 00s (4) some weird ideas about gender; e.g., men don't knit (5) Ari protests to herself WAY TOO MUCH abt how she's NOT attracted to the policeman; how he's NOT attracted to her; how they're NOT on a date (when they are), etc etc etc. - not believable and tiresome (6) it's about straight ppl but *meh* they're tolerable all the same.
PS - started this book as a way to pass the time (and keep my brain occupied) while feeling sick. Listened on BARD; this was an audiobook recorded *specifically* for the Talking Book Library by some librarians in Connecticut. Unlike *some* BARD books, though, this one was easy to listen to and felt professional. Neither Libby nor BARD have the second book in the series, which is disappointing. I sort of want to know what will happen?
PPS - another oddity / weakness - when the policeman was interviewing Diana for the first time, while Diana was spinning yarn, she explained that after dying yarn she rolled it into balls. I didn't realize homespun / homedyed yarn would be rolled into balls? I thought it was mostly sold as hanks (or skeins or whichever very specific word to use here).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2025
"Died in the Wool," the first book in the Knitting Mysteries series by Mary Kruger, introduces us to Ariadne Evans, a woman starting over after a divorce by opening her own knitting shop. The premise is a perfect fit for a cozy mystery. Ariadne's new life is immediately complicated when she finds a longtime customer strangled to death with homespun yarn right in her shop. It's a great hook that pulls you into the story right away.
The book has a lot of charm, and I really enjoyed the unique knitting shop setting. It creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere, and the central character, Ariadne, is easy to root for as she gets back on her feet and finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. The detective on the case, Josh Pierce, also adds an interesting dynamic to the story.
However, while the cozy atmosphere is a lot of fun, the mystery itself felt a bit predictable. The plot didn't offer as many twists and turns as I would have liked, and the clues came together in a way that felt a little straightforward. It’s a very pleasant read, but I was hoping for a bit more of a compelling puzzle to solve.
Overall, it's a solid debut with a charming premise and a likable protagonist. It's a nice, easy read for anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with a unique hook, but I hope the mysteries become a little more intricate in future installments.
★★★☆☆
#DiedInTheWool #MaryKruger #KnittingMysteries #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #AmateurSleuth #Knitting #MysterySeries
The book has a lot of charm, and I really enjoyed the unique knitting shop setting. It creates a warm and comfortable atmosphere, and the central character, Ariadne, is easy to root for as she gets back on her feet and finds herself embroiled in a murder investigation. The detective on the case, Josh Pierce, also adds an interesting dynamic to the story.
However, while the cozy atmosphere is a lot of fun, the mystery itself felt a bit predictable. The plot didn't offer as many twists and turns as I would have liked, and the clues came together in a way that felt a little straightforward. It’s a very pleasant read, but I was hoping for a bit more of a compelling puzzle to solve.
Overall, it's a solid debut with a charming premise and a likable protagonist. It's a nice, easy read for anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with a unique hook, but I hope the mysteries become a little more intricate in future installments.
★★★☆☆
#DiedInTheWool #MaryKruger #KnittingMysteries #CozyMystery #BookReview #Bookstagram #AmateurSleuth #Knitting #MysterySeries
October 7, 2024
I liked this but wish the ending would have been a bit more fleshed out. I wasn't sure of the motive. Can you really make that much money with stolen knitting patterns? Enough to murder over???
I liked Ariadne and Josh. The other characters were just ok.
Some of the conversations were a tad sophomoric.
I liked Ariadne and Josh. The other characters were just ok.
Some of the conversations were a tad sophomoric.
December 18, 2022
This is a new mystery series for me. I very much enjoyed this first installment. Since I knit this series had a special appeal. The knitting aspect was fun, and the mystery aspect also kept my interest. I liked the main characters and look forward to reading further entries in this series.
April 23, 2023
This is a new mystery series for me. I very much enjoyed this first installment. Since I knit this series had a special appeal. The knitting aspect was fun, and the mystery aspect also kept my interest. I liked the main characters and look forward to reading further entries in this series.
November 29, 2017
Great read
July 19, 2018
Not very well written: no character development or setting development.
August 3, 2018
I enjoyed this book!
September 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were likeable and interesting!
October 17, 2018
Easy to read story, not too obvious.
April 16, 2019
Unremarkable murder mystery that takes place in a yarn shop.
April 24, 2019
Well done and recommended.
October 9, 2019
Fun cozy that keeps the action up. I didn't guess till the end.
October 27, 2019
Murder and Knitting - what's not to love.
February 6, 2020
I enjoyed it. I liked Josh’s character.
July 3, 2020
Not impressed, granted I'm not a huge murder mystery fan. I skipped the entire middle because I felt it was unnecessary for me to figure out the story.
April 19, 2021
The characters are relatable but the premise for the murders is unbelievable.
July 26, 2021
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews