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While My Pretty One Knits (A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery #1)
by
Anne Canadeo
The Black Sheep Knitters — Maggie, Lucy, Dana, Suzanne, and Phoebe — meet once a week without fail, sharing the varied and colorful skeins of their lives as much as knitting tips, recipes, and small-town gossip, and creating an intricate, durable pattern of friendship. Now a shocking murder has peaceful Plum Harbor, Massachusetts, in knots — and the Black Sheep women must...more
Kindle Edition
Published
(first published May 12th 2009)
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Shallow, especially stupid entry in the crafts-n-mystery genre. I guessed the murderer by page 28. Several things caused me to say out loud: "Oh, how stupid!" or "Yeah, that's believable!" including when the veterinarian character doesn't charge for a vet visit that turns out to include exam, blood work, x-rays, surgery to remove an obstruction, and several days boarding for observation/recuperation at the clinic. Yeah, all for free, right. Also, there are several glaring errors in police proced...more
This book is about the formation of a knitting group consisting of Maggie, the owner of the knitting store, Lucy, Dana, Suzanne, and Phoebe. From reading the back blurb of the book, I thought the sleuth was going to be Maggie but it wasn't.
There is a book signing at the store for a former pupil, now author, of Maggie's. Cara Newhouse, author of a popular book on felting (a process done to completed projects.) Everyone is so excited and the five ladies help set up the store.
To their surprise, Ma...more
There is a book signing at the store for a former pupil, now author, of Maggie's. Cara Newhouse, author of a popular book on felting (a process done to completed projects.) Everyone is so excited and the five ladies help set up the store.
To their surprise, Ma...more
I admit - I knew "Who Done It" in the first chapter. The set up just kind of gave it away. I spent most of the book waiting for the other characters to catch on to what was already obvious to the reader.
And still I enjoyed the book. I can't say it was written very well - I found who was saying what confusing at times - but there was something about the chemistry of characters that was "ON" enough to make me like reading it.
I definitely felt echoes of other knitting mysteries here. Maggie remin...more
And still I enjoyed the book. I can't say it was written very well - I found who was saying what confusing at times - but there was something about the chemistry of characters that was "ON" enough to make me like reading it.
I definitely felt echoes of other knitting mysteries here. Maggie remin...more
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This was a ho-hum knitting murder mystery. It's easy to figure out who the murderer is about half way thru the book - then you slog thru the rest. A rival knitting shop owner, Amanda Goran, is murdered and Maggie Messina, owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is framed for the murder. Her four friends belong to a knitting club with Maggie as the expert who helps them out of their knitting casualties are the usual cast of characters, a divorcee and Maggie's closest friend, a super mom, a stylis...more
The characters were all the same ones you've met if you've read knitting books before: the tattoo-ed, pierced goth who lives upstairs; the person who had just gotten a divorce; the woman whose husband had recently died; the one who is an uber mom; etc. Oddly, the character whose voice the story is told in is not the one listed first in the character teaser in the front of the book. What gives this book a little boost is that it's a murder mystery, although I had it figured out early on. And ther...more
Several things wrong with this book.
1. Within 18 pages, I wanted to take my red pen to it. Whoever edited it did a poor job.
2. The writing wasn't that great either.
3. Once I figured out for sure who did it, I wasn't interested in keeping reading. I had no connection with the characters at all.
4. Though it's a book about women who love to knit (one of them owns a knitting shop, actually), there's none of that love conveyed in the story. The author did her research, and she knows about knit and pu...more
1. Within 18 pages, I wanted to take my red pen to it. Whoever edited it did a poor job.
2. The writing wasn't that great either.
3. Once I figured out for sure who did it, I wasn't interested in keeping reading. I had no connection with the characters at all.
4. Though it's a book about women who love to knit (one of them owns a knitting shop, actually), there's none of that love conveyed in the story. The author did her research, and she knows about knit and pu...more
The only reason this is getting two stars (instead of one) is that I actually finished it. I only finished it to determine if I had truly figured out the entire book -- whodunnit, motivation, red herrings, etc. -- by page 10. (I had all that right, but I forgot to include the obligatory love interest in my guesses.) Honestly, I don't mind knowing all that ahead of time. I *do* mind flat characters whose dialogue has no snap. I have a feeling, if I were to spend any time with these characters in...more
Lame title? Check.
Worse tagline? "One small town. Two rival knitting shops. Someone's about to meet a baaad end." Check.
Yet for some reason, I HAD to read it. The characters aren't that deep but it says "first in a new series" so I'm sure there's more to come. It's both a mystery and a romance (the guy is even a beginning knitter, although not one she meets at a 'speed dating for novice knitters' event). The saving grace? The mystery part was actually pretty good. I figured out who did it before...more
Worse tagline? "One small town. Two rival knitting shops. Someone's about to meet a baaad end." Check.
Yet for some reason, I HAD to read it. The characters aren't that deep but it says "first in a new series" so I'm sure there's more to come. It's both a mystery and a romance (the guy is even a beginning knitter, although not one she meets at a 'speed dating for novice knitters' event). The saving grace? The mystery part was actually pretty good. I figured out who did it before...more
For some reason, which I have yet to put my finger on, I actually quite enjoyed this book. The so-called mystery is spoiled about thirty pages in and much of the writing is obvious and heavy handed, as well as being poorly edited. But it was just so cozy a read, with all the context of the universe of the avid knitter. Though haven't cast-on a project in months, reading this made me want nothing more than to spend the day in a good yarn store. I'm still not sure where the title came from, but I...more
Overall, I was a little disappointed because the mystery was so easy to figure out. I knew who did it and the motive long before the reveal. So, it was a little difficult for me to give it a higher star rating when I felt annoyed at how simple the mystery was to solve. But, that being said, I still finished the book and enjoyed it well enough. I will give the next book in the series a shot because I'm a knitter that loves to read knitting related mystery novels. What can I say? I'm a total sucke...more
Knitting mysteries are the latest "whodunits" to saturate the shelves. It seems every cozy writer wants to try their hand weaving one making the sub-genre blend together in a knot...
Enter the stellar Anne Canadeo w/ her exemplary mystery debut While My Pretty One Knits.
Delightful. Enchanting. Humorous. Impressive. Witty. Those are just a few adjectives to describe Anne Canadeo's effervescent cozy debut, While My Pretty One Knits.
I absolutely adore this series. I couldn't put it down & when I...more
Enter the stellar Anne Canadeo w/ her exemplary mystery debut While My Pretty One Knits.
Delightful. Enchanting. Humorous. Impressive. Witty. Those are just a few adjectives to describe Anne Canadeo's effervescent cozy debut, While My Pretty One Knits.
I absolutely adore this series. I couldn't put it down & when I...more
Obvious killer but a fun choice of murder weapon and a completely interesting motive. Unfortunately, the MC took her sweet time connecting the book's single piece of evidence to the killer. The cast of characters is fun enough, although the characterizations are awfully pat (the group's youngest member says "like" a lot and has part of her hair dyed! like the young people do). Also I didn't know what to do with the offhand reference to the "bad element" in town. Unless that's setting up book 2's...more
I chose this book for its connection to knitting. This book is similar in many ways to Sally Goldenbaum's Seaside Knitters series. In this case the author does a much better job of describing her characters and giving them personality, but the mystery itself does not unravel, just sort of falls in place without much intrigue. Maybe later books by this author will be better. This is the first book in a new series called the "Black Sheep Knitting" mysteries.
Quite enjoyed this one. The knitting 'tips', the mentions of sites and blogs I'm already familiar with. And oddly, a character who was eerily similar to myself. (Not exactly, of course, but many of the things it said about her applied to me as well. lol)
Interesting mystery, but not too hard. Ironically, I solved it before the book did - as soon as I had enough info. Something VERY unusual for me.
All in all a good read. Ready for the next one!
Interesting mystery, but not too hard. Ironically, I solved it before the book did - as soon as I had enough info. Something VERY unusual for me.
All in all a good read. Ready for the next one!
In one new england small town, there's really only room for two knitting stores... If Stephanie Plum were a little bit older, and had knitting as a passion, I think she'd fit right in with the other characters of this series. They're all a little bit quirky in their own ways, and had me in stitches a few times through out the story (pun most certainly intended.)
Knit, Purl, Die (the second in the series) is next on my list to read!
Knit, Purl, Die (the second in the series) is next on my list to read!
Raeson for Reading_ Looking for a fast book to read.
From_Picked up at Julian Library Book Store
Just a fun summer read about knitting. Sometimes it is nice to just have a book that doesn't take to much brain power, but is entertaining.
The plot and characters were easy to figure out, but easy to take.
Knitting is one way to entertain yourself and so was this book. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, but it was fun.
From_Picked up at Julian Library Book Store
Just a fun summer read about knitting. Sometimes it is nice to just have a book that doesn't take to much brain power, but is entertaining.
The plot and characters were easy to figure out, but easy to take.
Knitting is one way to entertain yourself and so was this book. I wouldn't go out of my way to buy it, but it was fun.
When a knitting shop owner is murdered, police suspect Maggie, whose own shop had been the focus of the dead woman's jealousy. Graphic artist and new divorcee Lucy, real estate agent Suzanne, and psychologist Dana--to say nothing of Maggie's college student helper Phoebe--are sure that Maggie is innocent, and find themselves looking for the real killer.
I would probably give this book a 3 1/2 but not as low as a 3. I read other reviews on here and saw that a lot of people didn't like it or found it too predictable and knew who the killer was early on in the book.
I must just be a little slow as i couldn't wager a guess until a good way into the book. And while my prediction was correct it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. For me it did what I intended. It was a nice light mystery that entertained me and I liked it. As a knitting...more
I must just be a little slow as i couldn't wager a guess until a good way into the book. And while my prediction was correct it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book. For me it did what I intended. It was a nice light mystery that entertained me and I liked it. As a knitting...more
Maggie owns Black Sheep knitting and Lucy, Dana, Suzanne and Phoebe all are dear friends. Meanwhile, Amanda Goran, the owner of a rival knitting shop is found dead. The problem with this book is there are few characters in the book so the ending has to be one of a few people or a stranger off the street.
I hate reading he said, she said, he said. It is well written with good dialogue and bonuses of a guacamole recipe and information on how to dye wool with Jello. Alas, most of the yarn I get is...more
I hate reading he said, she said, he said. It is well written with good dialogue and bonuses of a guacamole recipe and information on how to dye wool with Jello. Alas, most of the yarn I get is...more
Meet the Black Sheep Knitters:
• Maggie: knitting shop owner (The Black Sheep);
• Lucy: divorced graphic designer on the prowl;
• Suzanne: mom and realtor;
• Dana: cool and confident psychologist; and
• Phoebe: funky college student and Maggie’s boarder.
They all live in the small village of Plum Harbor and are the best of friends. When rival yarn shop owner Amanda Goran is murdered, it is up to the knitters to solve the crime, especially since Maggie is the prime suspect.
This is a horrible mystery....more
• Maggie: knitting shop owner (The Black Sheep);
• Lucy: divorced graphic designer on the prowl;
• Suzanne: mom and realtor;
• Dana: cool and confident psychologist; and
• Phoebe: funky college student and Maggie’s boarder.
They all live in the small village of Plum Harbor and are the best of friends. When rival yarn shop owner Amanda Goran is murdered, it is up to the knitters to solve the crime, especially since Maggie is the prime suspect.
This is a horrible mystery....more
I enjoyed this book although it's main character is an awful lot like the one in Maggie Sefton's books. Both work at home, both are new to knitting and both spend a lot of time at the yarn shop. This character seems more likeable though, so I'd like to read another one in this series.
Trivial at best. Had trouble finishing this due to the fact that i figured it out 1-2 chapters in.
Seaside Knitters is so much better and I had issues with the title ( complete knock off of a Mary Higgins Clark book) which was much better. I'll stick with While my pretty one sleeps and not continue reading this series
This was a typical cozy mystery. It was a fun little read, easy and brainless summer reading. The knitting parts were entertaining. Perhaps I will skip the jello yarn dyeing project. The characters were interesting enough and there was hint of potential romance. I solved the mystery pretty early on, but still enjoyed the read.
It was hard to rate this book. I gave it 3 stars because I could tell right off who the murderer was. However, it is a fun book to read. The main characters and great and all the talk of knitting and recipes makes it fun as well. I will read another by this author.
I do not usually like these knitting club books, even though I am a knitwit myself. But this one was cute, had a dog in it and of course she falls for the vet. It is possible to knit and read at the same time. You do not do either very fast but it is relaxing.
Very easy fun read. I read it in one sitting. So what if I figured out who done it in the first chapter?! My favorite thing about her books is that I feel like I'm in that town in New England, it's like taking a vacation without leaving the house
There are so many series about knitters now it's hard to keep them all straight in my mind. This one has a good group of regular characters, but in this book I guessed the killer right very early in the book--not a good thing in a mystery.
Aug 13, 2009
Mary J
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fun,
contemporary-mysteries
I enjoy reading stories where the women have strong friendships and strong characters. These characters appealed to me. The way they rally around to help their friend in a desperate situation, gave the story some warmth. The way the mystery was solved seem practical enough to actually happen. It was a good relaxing read.
Predictable ending!! I had it figured out less than halfway through. Additionally, she had some of her knitting terms wrong, which bugged the crud out of me. Fine for a non-knitter, but as a knitter, I had hoped she would at least do extensive research before throwing terms around. The character of Lucy was interesting though.
A lovely cozy mystery, the first I'd read in years! Loved it enough to read the second and want to read more. I liked the characters. A wee bit stereotypical, but it works. A lovely cozy afternoon read on a blustery day.
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Oct 27, 2009 02:45pm