When up and coming knitting designer, Padraig Wilson, is found murdered at the start of the South’s largest fiber festival, FBI Special Agent John Smith has his hands full. Not just keeping his bff from buying every skein of yarn in sight, but in clearing her oldest friend’s name of murder.
This book was fun and entertaining. An FBI takes his girlfriend, an obsessed knitter, to his first Fiber Festival, where one of the knitting designer assistants turns up dead. Surprisingly, his partner shows up, also in the company of his knitting-obsessed girlfriend, and they investigate the murder together. i give it 4 stars for its entertainment value, a fun glimpse into the world the knitting addicts.
I knew Hilary could write, but this book is even better then I expected it to be.
Yes, I know the author. She is an internet friend that I have met in person. She is a pattern designer, one of my favorites, and a wonderful person.
I don't usually read crime-dramas but I had to read this one because Hilary wrote it. It was time well spent. Yup, read it in less than one day. That is how good the book is. Did not want to put it down.
The characters are well rounded and complex. The story is convoluted but not impossible to follow. She even keeps the knitting references to a reasonable amount so as to not confuse the non-knitter too much. A book very worth reading.
If you like crime-dramas, books about knitting, or are a fan of a certain TV series, you really need to read this book. You will enjoy this book.
Knitting themed cozy mystery set at a fiber festival,with an FBI agent boyfriend of one of the exhibiting knit designers as the sleuth. So many suspects that I wasn't able to figure out who "done it" until the murderer confessed at the very end. No knitting pattern in back,but pattern link to Ravelry, and an author who really understands the knitting geek subculture,and explains it to the non-knitting sleuth(and non-knitting readers,too). Can't wait for the next one!
I really enjoyed this book because it had two things I really like. First, there are lots of references to knitting and all the fun that goes with knitting: buying yarn, finding fun patterns, and meeting people with your same interests. Also, the book had really strong and likable central characters: Wes, Harry, Rhodes, and Janine. I would definitely read the other books in this series to read more about these characters. The mystery was kind of easy to solve, but it was the interaction between the characters and the knitting references that made the book interesting to me.
A good quick read with the usual elements of a light mystery novel with a romance byline. There was an interesting surprise twist near the end. Enjoyable book. With a lot of yarn and fibre I was generously gifted a copy of this book by the author as a prize in the Criminal Knits 12 hats of Xmas knitalong. It is a great piece of work and a lot of thought must have gone in to planning the various characters and their interactions. Very much enjoyed this generous gift.
At last, a knitting mystery by and for people who know all about the details of knitting and fiber artists! Anyone who has knitted a swatch, worked through a pattern, or been to a fiber event will recognize the characters and settings. Most knitting mysteries are cute and cozy, but this one is funny and gritty. Much of the mystery unfolds through the viewpoints of FBI agents who are partners of knitters. I really enjoyed this story!
What a great combo for a mid- week read! Fiberfests will never look the same! Hopefully once we get past the pandemic, the local fiber festivals will have lots of people with NO dead bodies, but since they are all virtual, reading about handsome FBI agents solving a murder at a yarn event was quite a bit of fun. Love that this was written by a knitter for like minded people.
A good read. Great lively characters, vibrant and enthusiastic with an obvious love of knitting that comes over loud and clear. She is a feisty red head, he is a built Special Agent. Together the pair are a powerhouse of energy. The plot was a good one, murder at a knitters convention. Just a shame that i guessed the culprit from the start. Still a bit miffed that not everyone paid for their involvement in the events that led up to murder. Nicely paced with smooth sleuthing. A must read for anyone who loves working with yarn in any capacity.
I find myself increasingly disappointed by cozies, especially ones around a crafting theme. Ms Latimer to the rescue. Part of what makes this book so much fun is the detectives really are detectives and do the police work without telling the women to stay out of it every five minutes. Another part of the fun is watching the detectives try and understand the knitting world at a yarn festival while their significant others shop and drop by occasionally to help them understand, share overheard gossip, and perhaps most importantly show off their purchases. Lots of good fun. Looking forward to reading more of the series
Hilary Latimer's first mystery is a fantastic success. The characters jump off the page, - lively, likeable, and believable. Latimer has the conversational dialogue down pat. The suspense built as I tried to outguess the detectives to figure out the murderer. Turned out I was right, but what a fun time getting to the conclusion. I would definitely recommend this book for light mystery reading. Especially for my knitter friends.
I found this book by chance and what a great find! It is very well written! I loved the storyline and it is well paced and very engaging! The characters are well developed, well rounded, and likeable or not as written. I hope that there will be more books by this author. I also purchased an pattern book by this author as they looked interesting also! Highly recommend this book!
The writing was okay - but I did not read this one for the plot or the writing. This was a knitting book for my knitting book club. All the details that had to do with knitting were fun. During this quarantine the idea of a knitting convention with designers, wool merchants, indie hand dyed wool and class on different techniques sounded so wonderful. Dreaming of a day that we can do that sort of thing.
Fiber festival plus a murder equals one great read
As a fiber enthusiast, when the story entered a fiber festival, I was hooked! In all the descriptions of the goings on I could see myself right there. And the who-done-it aspect kept me guessing up to the end. Well written; it doesn’t drag. Absolutely love it.
Oh to be immersed in a knitty world! I loved how the setting is at a knitting conference. Every aspect was so familiar. I didn’t realize the lead character was the accompanying agent bf; what a pleasant surprise and how cute he escorted his partner to it. Tangent: Reminded me of the days when my husband would drive me down to the Santa Clara Convention Center for STITCHES West, take me out for lunch midday, and then pick me up on his way home from work. Cute how his partner and her designing BFF were so upbeat and shopped for🧶 with gusto. And how fun the backdrop was the cutthroat world of designers.
This is the perfect cute, light read. Since I’m a knitter, I loved the back story and all the references to yarn, knitting and the festival, which is where the story takes place. The characters are sweet and the murder is light, with no gore or deep details. I already have the series in my library.
I can’t be the only one that thought Gianni was Malcolm’s son with Liz from their college days and that she didn’t really get an abortion? Anyway, pretty good mystery. I was more delighted in the description of the fiber festival and wishing I could go!
Excellent freshmn book! Love the confusin around knitting Wes expressed. Can't wait for the next book to come out..
If you're a knitter come join Hilary on Ravelry under "Criminal Knits." She has great patterns and there is plenty of help should you get stuck in a pattern.
My two favorite topics - murder and knitting. This book has both! Well developed characters with good twists in the story to keep the reader's interest. I'm looking forward to the next story.
As I am an avid knitter, my family thought I would enjoy this book as a Christmas gift. They were right. It was a fun read and I am reminded that I have to get back on the yarn show shopping circuit, although I really don’t need more yarn.
A fiber festival cozy mystery, that made for a quick and fun read. Latimer created slightly predictable but interesting characters, nailed the setting perfectly making any fiber enthusiast wishing they could attend the event in person, and added just enough of twist to make the ending interesting.
I started this a few days ago and now I'm finished. I loved the book, all the background and the plot. Maybe it's being deprived of yarn shopping but I was in all the way within minutes. I will be reading more from this writer.