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Crafting for Sinners
Not yet published
Expected 7 Oct 25A queer woman must fight her way out of a big-box craft store run by a diabolical religious cult in this gripping survival horror novel by Jenny Kiefer, author of This Wretched Valley
The ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay and The Ritual by Adam Nevill
Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job as a cashier at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in the town.
In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed by a New Creations cashier. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. When Ruth is forced to stab out one of their eyes with a knitting needle, she realizes she's facing far bigger trouble than a simple shoplifting charge. As Ruth fights for her life, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her, but the entire town.
This relentless horror novel will have you on the edge of your seat as it hurtles towards a breathtaking conclusion. Will Ruth escape? Or will the shocking secret at the heart of the cult die with her?
The ratcheting tension and gut-churning terror will appeal to fans of The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay and The Ritual by Adam Nevill
Ruth is trapped. She’s stuck in her small, religious hometown of Kill Devil, Kentucky, stuck in the closet, and stuck living paycheck to paycheck. After her manager finds out that she lives with her girlfriend, Ruth is fired from her job as a cashier at New Creations—a craft store owned by the church that dominates life in the town.
In an act of revenge, Ruth attempts to shoplift some yarn but is caught red-handed by a New Creations cashier. Instead of calling the police, the employees lock her in the store—and attack her. When Ruth is forced to stab out one of their eyes with a knitting needle, she realizes she's facing far bigger trouble than a simple shoplifting charge. As Ruth fights for her life, she plunges deeper into the tangled web of the New Creationists, who are hiding a terrible secret that threatens not only her, but the entire town.
This relentless horror novel will have you on the edge of your seat as it hurtles towards a breathtaking conclusion. Will Ruth escape? Or will the shocking secret at the heart of the cult die with her?
304 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 7, 2025
27 people are currently reading
15254 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Kiefer
4 books377 followersJenny Kiefer is a horror writer living in Louisville, Kentucky. She is the owner of the horror bookstore Butcher Cabin Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
August 14, 2025
Gory, fast paced, and fun!
Crafting For Sinners is about a woman on a tight deadline for a blanket she’s been commissioned to make, however, she runs out of material and is strapped for cash. The solution? Go to the mega-church-run craft store she was unfairly fired from after they found out she’s in a relationship with another woman, and get the supplies she needs with her five finger discount.
But, when she gets there, she finds that not only has she been caught stealing, but she’s now locked in the store, and the fanatic cult-like store employees/church members attack her, and she must fight for her life using whatever craft supplies she can get her hands on.
I’ve been in a reading slump for about a month, and this was not only the first book to grab my attention, but hold it the entire time and I read it in two sittings. This kinda reminded me of a David Sodergren book in how it was not only extremely violent and gory, but also how it wasn’t afraid to have a little fun.
I do wish the ending was a *bit* crazier, but I still had a really great time and this was exactly the kind of fun over the top survival horror I needed atm so 4.5ish ⭐️ rounded up.
Thank you quirkbooks for the gifted copy!!
Crafting For Sinners is about a woman on a tight deadline for a blanket she’s been commissioned to make, however, she runs out of material and is strapped for cash. The solution? Go to the mega-church-run craft store she was unfairly fired from after they found out she’s in a relationship with another woman, and get the supplies she needs with her five finger discount.
But, when she gets there, she finds that not only has she been caught stealing, but she’s now locked in the store, and the fanatic cult-like store employees/church members attack her, and she must fight for her life using whatever craft supplies she can get her hands on.
I’ve been in a reading slump for about a month, and this was not only the first book to grab my attention, but hold it the entire time and I read it in two sittings. This kinda reminded me of a David Sodergren book in how it was not only extremely violent and gory, but also how it wasn’t afraid to have a little fun.
I do wish the ending was a *bit* crazier, but I still had a really great time and this was exactly the kind of fun over the top survival horror I needed atm so 4.5ish ⭐️ rounded up.
Thank you quirkbooks for the gifted copy!!
April 3, 2025
ARC for review. To be published October 7, 2025.
4 stars - and an extra .5 stars for the great title and cover.
Ruth is dating Abigail and they live in the little, bigoted town of Kill Devil, Kentucky, home to not much but an evangelical megachurch for a congregation of a group called the New Creationists. These spawn of the angels run their own craft/hobby store which sounds just like everyone’s least favorite (rhymes with Snobby Bobby and before you unknowingly patronize this bastion of hate again I beg you to do a little research on how much they hate women, the LGBT+ community and pretty much everyone who isn’t a cis white male. And I don’t shop there so I can’t confirm this but I have heard that, like the craft/hobby store portrayed in this book, they refuse to have products with bar codes because they feel they might be the sign of the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible. Anyone know if this is true? Because that’s just funny right there.) Lauren Myracle, I hope you are seeing this! (I mean that in only the best way, BTW.)
Here the store is called New Creations and Ruth used to work there until they found out she and Abigail were engaged in lady love and she was fired for conduct unbecoming. Now she steals from there to get back at them.
So, she heads there one day to pick up (abscond with) some emergency yarn and she gets caught. But the staff doesn’t want to call the local cops on Ruth. It’s much, much worse and now she’s trapped in the store and the New Creationists are after her.
OK, given the subject matter I expected this to be less horrifying that it was, but this was absolutely brutal for me, and I spent parts of the book literally, physically contorting my body trying to get away from it (but part of that may depend on how you feel about a certain something that I won’t exactly give away, but call me Winston Smith.). Ruth is a kick ass heroine and I’m not likely to forget this any time soon. Highly recommended for horror fans…Jenny Kiefer, thank you for this (kind of. I also may never get over it.)
4 stars - and an extra .5 stars for the great title and cover.
Ruth is dating Abigail and they live in the little, bigoted town of Kill Devil, Kentucky, home to not much but an evangelical megachurch for a congregation of a group called the New Creationists. These spawn of the angels run their own craft/hobby store which sounds just like everyone’s least favorite (rhymes with Snobby Bobby and before you unknowingly patronize this bastion of hate again I beg you to do a little research on how much they hate women, the LGBT+ community and pretty much everyone who isn’t a cis white male. And I don’t shop there so I can’t confirm this but I have heard that, like the craft/hobby store portrayed in this book, they refuse to have products with bar codes because they feel they might be the sign of the Antichrist spoken of in the Bible. Anyone know if this is true? Because that’s just funny right there.) Lauren Myracle, I hope you are seeing this! (I mean that in only the best way, BTW.)
Here the store is called New Creations and Ruth used to work there until they found out she and Abigail were engaged in lady love and she was fired for conduct unbecoming. Now she steals from there to get back at them.
So, she heads there one day to pick up (abscond with) some emergency yarn and she gets caught. But the staff doesn’t want to call the local cops on Ruth. It’s much, much worse and now she’s trapped in the store and the New Creationists are after her.
OK, given the subject matter I expected this to be less horrifying that it was, but this was absolutely brutal for me, and I spent parts of the book literally, physically contorting my body trying to get away from it (but part of that may depend on how you feel about a certain something that I won’t exactly give away, but call me Winston Smith.). Ruth is a kick ass heroine and I’m not likely to forget this any time soon. Highly recommended for horror fans…Jenny Kiefer, thank you for this (kind of. I also may never get over it.)
July 18, 2025
4.25 stars
YouTube Reading Vlog (featuring 2 BookTokers - Madison & Kelsey): https://youtu.be/4ISB3Wym1FY?si=4ne1Y...
YouTube Reading Vlog (featuring 2 BookTokers - Madison & Kelsey): https://youtu.be/4ISB3Wym1FY?si=4ne1Y...
Want to read
March 26, 2025OMG the premise of the book. IT WAS MADE FOR ME—a Kentuckian, a crafter, and an exvangelical.
I had a tough time with this author's first novel, but I am bound and freaking determined to love this one!
Thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for this ARC! Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer comes out on October 7, 2025.
I had a tough time with this author's first novel, but I am bound and freaking determined to love this one!
Thanks to Quirk Books and NetGalley for this ARC! Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer comes out on October 7, 2025.
August 11, 2025
Reading for review in the October 2025 issue of Library Journal
Three Words The Describe This Book: religious cults, small town horror, liminal space
crafting frame
Ruth and her girl friend Allison live in Kill Devil, KY. The New Creations church has taken over the town and they hate gay people. Allison wants to leave, her mom is dead. Ruth has never lived anywhere else, her parents are still there but they disowned her when they got scooped up in the religious fervor of the church. Reluctantly though, Ruth agrees it is probably time to move. She just needs to finish this blanket commission.
But that requires a trip to the craft store owned by the church-- where she worked for years but was recently let go because of her "sin." Since be fired, she has been stealing from the store for her supplies.
Allison is worried she will finally be caught. Ruth-- a diabetic-- says goodbye to Allison for just the hour it will take to go there, get the yarn, and come back. She doesn't bring insulin.
When she arrives, the parking lot is eerily empty. She is trying to get the yarn, but is stopped and they don't want to arrest her, these employees need her alive for a ritual and they will sacrifice everything, even their lives to capture her-- and so begins a fight for her life in the store with only the things she can find there to arm herself and eat in order to stay alive.
But this is bigger than Ruth as the narrative hints at-- podcast transcripts, letters, historical documents, message board exchanges-- ephemera that adds depth to history and the horror here. The horror here runs deep, and it is in the land itself, going back generations.
The detail that Ruth is a diabetic adds another level of believable terror to her fight to live.
Great descriptions of the store and details from her time working there that help her to survive, Also visceral and darkly comedic kills. The way she moves around and battles them is over the top and yet believable.
As Ruth is fighting for her life, she is able to find moments to rest and provide flashbacks to her life, the church as it grew in prominence in the town. Her escape has moves in fits and starts-- she does well, gets caught, escapes again etc... but it allows her (and us) to see the full picture of what is happening. This I snot just a few bad seeds-- this is a cult that NEEDS a sacrifice, and they have been grooming her for the slaughter.
Those who like liminal space horror will enjoy this as well. She is completely trapped in a place that is slightly outside reality, one for which she cannot just walk out and even when she does, she is still trapped. Even when outside the building.
The back of the book says Horrorstor meets Camp Damascus and I usually quibble with book comps from publisher but this is SPOT ON. If you like those, you will like this.
Three Words The Describe This Book: religious cults, small town horror, liminal space
crafting frame
Ruth and her girl friend Allison live in Kill Devil, KY. The New Creations church has taken over the town and they hate gay people. Allison wants to leave, her mom is dead. Ruth has never lived anywhere else, her parents are still there but they disowned her when they got scooped up in the religious fervor of the church. Reluctantly though, Ruth agrees it is probably time to move. She just needs to finish this blanket commission.
But that requires a trip to the craft store owned by the church-- where she worked for years but was recently let go because of her "sin." Since be fired, she has been stealing from the store for her supplies.
Allison is worried she will finally be caught. Ruth-- a diabetic-- says goodbye to Allison for just the hour it will take to go there, get the yarn, and come back. She doesn't bring insulin.
When she arrives, the parking lot is eerily empty. She is trying to get the yarn, but is stopped and they don't want to arrest her, these employees need her alive for a ritual and they will sacrifice everything, even their lives to capture her-- and so begins a fight for her life in the store with only the things she can find there to arm herself and eat in order to stay alive.
But this is bigger than Ruth as the narrative hints at-- podcast transcripts, letters, historical documents, message board exchanges-- ephemera that adds depth to history and the horror here. The horror here runs deep, and it is in the land itself, going back generations.
The detail that Ruth is a diabetic adds another level of believable terror to her fight to live.
Great descriptions of the store and details from her time working there that help her to survive, Also visceral and darkly comedic kills. The way she moves around and battles them is over the top and yet believable.
As Ruth is fighting for her life, she is able to find moments to rest and provide flashbacks to her life, the church as it grew in prominence in the town. Her escape has moves in fits and starts-- she does well, gets caught, escapes again etc... but it allows her (and us) to see the full picture of what is happening. This I snot just a few bad seeds-- this is a cult that NEEDS a sacrifice, and they have been grooming her for the slaughter.
Those who like liminal space horror will enjoy this as well. She is completely trapped in a place that is slightly outside reality, one for which she cannot just walk out and even when she does, she is still trapped. Even when outside the building.
The back of the book says Horrorstor meets Camp Damascus and I usually quibble with book comps from publisher but this is SPOT ON. If you like those, you will like this.
May 7, 2025
2.5 rounded up. I really want this book to be better - because it’s a fun story.
It needs a couple more drafts. It’s close. But not there yet.
It needs a couple more drafts. It’s close. But not there yet.
July 18, 2025
Fun, queer, culty horrorness.
I can safely say, I've never read a book like this one before.
The commentary on religion and queerness was apt and thoughtfully woven into the story.
Reading this book almost felt like playing yarn chicken (my crocheting friends will understand): I was on tenterhooks the whole time.
My only gripe was that I'd have liked the podcast segments to continue throughout.
The world needs more queer horror!
I can safely say, I've never read a book like this one before.
The commentary on religion and queerness was apt and thoughtfully woven into the story.
Reading this book almost felt like playing yarn chicken (my crocheting friends will understand): I was on tenterhooks the whole time.
My only gripe was that I'd have liked the podcast segments to continue throughout.
The world needs more queer horror!
August 11, 2025
The first half of this book was a literal drag. It had witty moments here and there, sure, but overall it was a slow start that struggled to hold my attention.
Once I hit the mid point though, things got intense. There was plenty of gore, and I found myself rooting hard for Ruth to escape New Creations. Her weapon creativity was also such a fun highlight. She was brutal and clever, it was so satisfying.
The cult elements were also genuinely fascinating and it really gave the second half of the book an unshakable tension.
I just wish the pacing had been more balanced throughout. Still, this is a pretty unique story, and for that, I definitely have to give it credit.
Once I hit the mid point though, things got intense. There was plenty of gore, and I found myself rooting hard for Ruth to escape New Creations. Her weapon creativity was also such a fun highlight. She was brutal and clever, it was so satisfying.
The cult elements were also genuinely fascinating and it really gave the second half of the book an unshakable tension.
I just wish the pacing had been more balanced throughout. Still, this is a pretty unique story, and for that, I definitely have to give it credit.
August 22, 2025
In Crafting For Sinners, Ruth is locked in a craft store run by a cult of religious zealots after being caught stealing. The premise of the story sounds exactly like something I would love, but I found myself a bit bored.
The first two-thirds of the book build up to a much more eventful final act, but it seemed repetitive and slow. The last of the book had plenty of squeamish violence and action, and once it finally arrived, I was excited to pick the book up and read every night.
Overall, the story works, and the horror is impactful, it just takes quite a while to get there.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC copy.
The first two-thirds of the book build up to a much more eventful final act, but it seemed repetitive and slow. The last of the book had plenty of squeamish violence and action, and once it finally arrived, I was excited to pick the book up and read every night.
Overall, the story works, and the horror is impactful, it just takes quite a while to get there.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC copy.
April 4, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
When I see a weird premise for a book, you know ima read it. A queer woman fighting her way out of a homophobic cult craft store? Sigh me up. Hobby Lobby eat your heart out (literally). I had been drawn to this one by the cover of course but the synopsis sounded amazing so I knew I wanted to read it. I read Jenny Kiefer’s debut book last year and wasn’t too impressed by it, but I think this one was better by a good amount.
This book is a look at religious trauma and extreme religious fanatics. Living in a small conservative town run by a giant church, Ruth and Abigail have always felt like they don’t quite belong. Even though Ruth knows she needs to leave, she is afraid of what will happen if she does. I really liked Ruth’s character. She is ready to fight and was also ready to tell her family and her fiancé who she really was even if it had ended badly. And it also took me a while to realize that Ruth and Abigail were best friends since they were kids and now are dating? It seemed kind of random that they were together to me.
The cult parts of this were interesting, even if the chase seemed a little drawn out. I wanted them to do something crazier and they just didn’t deliver that. I did like seeing the craft store weapons though. That was fun. All the twists were done in a way I enjoyed too. I didn’t see a few things coming. Honestly though the scene with the rats seemed just weird. Like why was that even there? Just to make you feel antsy? The ending was very good until the epilogue. That literally felt like reading a goosebumps book. I was so disappointed. I highly recommend this book if you want a horror that’s not that scary but has a good amount of gore and bigots getting stabbed with knitting needles.
When I see a weird premise for a book, you know ima read it. A queer woman fighting her way out of a homophobic cult craft store? Sigh me up. Hobby Lobby eat your heart out (literally). I had been drawn to this one by the cover of course but the synopsis sounded amazing so I knew I wanted to read it. I read Jenny Kiefer’s debut book last year and wasn’t too impressed by it, but I think this one was better by a good amount.
This book is a look at religious trauma and extreme religious fanatics. Living in a small conservative town run by a giant church, Ruth and Abigail have always felt like they don’t quite belong. Even though Ruth knows she needs to leave, she is afraid of what will happen if she does. I really liked Ruth’s character. She is ready to fight and was also ready to tell her family and her fiancé who she really was even if it had ended badly. And it also took me a while to realize that Ruth and Abigail were best friends since they were kids and now are dating? It seemed kind of random that they were together to me.
The cult parts of this were interesting, even if the chase seemed a little drawn out. I wanted them to do something crazier and they just didn’t deliver that. I did like seeing the craft store weapons though. That was fun. All the twists were done in a way I enjoyed too. I didn’t see a few things coming. Honestly though the scene with the rats seemed just weird. Like why was that even there? Just to make you feel antsy? The ending was very good until the epilogue. That literally felt like reading a goosebumps book. I was so disappointed. I highly recommend this book if you want a horror that’s not that scary but has a good amount of gore and bigots getting stabbed with knitting needles.
June 4, 2025
ARC review (no spoilers):
I'm giving it 2 stars because I like the idea of the story. However, the writing is very repetitive. it would have been much better as a novella rather than a full out novel. The end change of POV for one chapter was unnecessary as well.
Basically it was a good concept, poor execution.
I'm giving it 2 stars because I like the idea of the story. However, the writing is very repetitive. it would have been much better as a novella rather than a full out novel. The end change of POV for one chapter was unnecessary as well.
Basically it was a good concept, poor execution.
July 21, 2025
I really really wanted to like this one. I absolutely love the cover, and the premise of a woman being trapped in a craft store while fighting off religious cult members sounded like so much fun. Unfortunately, this book was just not for me. First off, I didn't like the main character Ruth. Almost everything we find out about her and her relationships with people are told through snippets and flashbacks, so we don't really see her engaging in any of those relationships. It made it hard for me to feel invested or really care about her and the other characters that we're supposed to be rooting for. And once she's in the store and begins realizing that people are coming after her, she very quickly switches from "survival mode" to "killer mode." Instead of focusing on self-defense and finding the quickest way out, she focuses on how many people she can kill and how violently she can do it. It was a pretty jarring switch, and she even admits to feeling gleeful about it.
Because of all these fights/attacks against Ruth, she is one big bloody pulp by the end of the book. She's bleeding from every orifice, has many broken bones, her blood sugar is in constant flux, and she probably has a nasty concussion. But she's also running around this whole compound many times including running up and down stone stairs on a broken/sprained ankle. She should be barely standing, not running around like nothing's wrong. I'm also convinced that she would've bled out from all of her wounds way before we reach the climax of the story.
We are also told that Ruth is queer and that she has diabetes. Those are the two main characteristics that she's given, and it is repeated over and over again. Like, give me something else to work with! Those are not the things that should be defining a person. I need some more personality to shine through. She also is entirely too trusting of people (given her situation), and she makes so many dumb decisions throughout.
The majority of this book is set inside the craft store and cult "underground," and I would estimate that almost 90% of this book is just Ruth running and hiding from the cult members. It got very boring and repetitive, and I just wanted something else, anything else, to happen. Most of what we learn about the cult is through exposition- almost every time Ruth is in a hiding spot, she just so happens to overhear someone talking about their plans for her and why exactly they are trying to catch her. It's so convenient, and honestly it feels like lazy writing. When someone isn't outright telling her their plans, she's hearing it over the walkie talkie or from a pair who are chatting right outside of her hiding spot.
I also don't really understand the cult's ideology. Are they a fundamentalist group? They're ultra conservative, with "traditional" christian values, sporting scripture, "modest clothing," and gender roles. But they also build a mega-church, which is much more "new wave" as well as having relics and artifacts on display, which feels more catholic. Then they're also into crafting their own chants/mantras (not from the Bible) and have "magic" relics/objects that imbue the wearer/holder with specials powers. So, what's their deal? It's such a hodge podge that it really makes no sense to me. And then the ending?? Does that not completely undermine what the rest of the book was trying to get across?? I'm honestly so confused.
I've seen a few reviewers say that this book is *almost there, and that it needs a few more revisions, and I have to agree. I love the concept, but it's not there yet for me. It needs to be tightened up and edited a bit more. I want to understand the cult's ideology and feel more connected to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Because of all these fights/attacks against Ruth, she is one big bloody pulp by the end of the book. She's bleeding from every orifice, has many broken bones, her blood sugar is in constant flux, and she probably has a nasty concussion. But she's also running around this whole compound many times including running up and down stone stairs on a broken/sprained ankle. She should be barely standing, not running around like nothing's wrong. I'm also convinced that she would've bled out from all of her wounds way before we reach the climax of the story.
We are also told that Ruth is queer and that she has diabetes. Those are the two main characteristics that she's given, and it is repeated over and over again. Like, give me something else to work with! Those are not the things that should be defining a person. I need some more personality to shine through. She also is entirely too trusting of people (given her situation), and she makes so many dumb decisions throughout.
The majority of this book is set inside the craft store and cult "underground," and I would estimate that almost 90% of this book is just Ruth running and hiding from the cult members. It got very boring and repetitive, and I just wanted something else, anything else, to happen. Most of what we learn about the cult is through exposition- almost every time Ruth is in a hiding spot, she just so happens to overhear someone talking about their plans for her and why exactly they are trying to catch her. It's so convenient, and honestly it feels like lazy writing. When someone isn't outright telling her their plans, she's hearing it over the walkie talkie or from a pair who are chatting right outside of her hiding spot.
I also don't really understand the cult's ideology. Are they a fundamentalist group? They're ultra conservative, with "traditional" christian values, sporting scripture, "modest clothing," and gender roles. But they also build a mega-church, which is much more "new wave" as well as having relics and artifacts on display, which feels more catholic. Then they're also into crafting their own chants/mantras (not from the Bible) and have "magic" relics/objects that imbue the wearer/holder with specials powers. So, what's their deal? It's such a hodge podge that it really makes no sense to me. And then the ending?? Does that not completely undermine what the rest of the book was trying to get across?? I'm honestly so confused.
I've seen a few reviewers say that this book is *almost there, and that it needs a few more revisions, and I have to agree. I love the concept, but it's not there yet for me. It needs to be tightened up and edited a bit more. I want to understand the cult's ideology and feel more connected to the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quirk books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 26, 2025
I received this as an ARC for review from quirkbooks.
Crafting for Sinners was one the most fun I’ve ever had reading a horror book! A real page-turner. The mention of horror and crafts had my interests piqued instantly. Ruth was a tiny, but feisty main character that has you rooting for her from the very beginning.
She is forced to pick up some more supplies for a craft deadline at her local craft store, where she frequently gets five-finger discounts. Only this time, they are no longer accepting her promo. It’s as if Joanne Fabric and Craft Store and a Halloween house of horrors had a love child for poor Ruth. You’ll never look at craft supplies the same way again after reading this.
Crafting for Sinners was one the most fun I’ve ever had reading a horror book! A real page-turner. The mention of horror and crafts had my interests piqued instantly. Ruth was a tiny, but feisty main character that has you rooting for her from the very beginning.
She is forced to pick up some more supplies for a craft deadline at her local craft store, where she frequently gets five-finger discounts. Only this time, they are no longer accepting her promo. It’s as if Joanne Fabric and Craft Store and a Halloween house of horrors had a love child for poor Ruth. You’ll never look at craft supplies the same way again after reading this.
August 4, 2025
A Gruesome Thriller with a Soul!
The premise of this novel had me sold before I had even finished the first paragraph. A lesbian attempting to escape a craft store run by religious zealots?! - Count me INNN! Pulse-pounding religious trauma is the forefront of this novel. Readers beware, this one isn’t for the faint of heart. I am sure that you’re imagining knitting needles entering bodies and that is a possibility within these pages, however there is so much more to discover. There are action sequences that made me physically cringe because of how gruesomely they were written. There are
Naturally this story also has a lot of HEART! There is a beating heart and soul in the center of this story that readers are going to connect with. It’s relatable and the cause is worth fighting for. Not only is it self-preservation, but it’s fighting for TRUE LOVE! Not only is this something that kept me engaged, but I was INVESTED - I was ready to start swinging craft supplies myself!
This is a perfect story for fans of Taylor Adams thrillers or fans of the Last Shift/Malum movies! Check these out - you’re going to LOVE IT!
The premise of this novel had me sold before I had even finished the first paragraph. A lesbian attempting to escape a craft store run by religious zealots?! - Count me INNN! Pulse-pounding religious trauma is the forefront of this novel. Readers beware, this one isn’t for the faint of heart. I am sure that you’re imagining knitting needles entering bodies and that is a possibility within these pages, however there is so much more to discover. There are action sequences that made me physically cringe because of how gruesomely they were written. There are
Naturally this story also has a lot of HEART! There is a beating heart and soul in the center of this story that readers are going to connect with. It’s relatable and the cause is worth fighting for. Not only is it self-preservation, but it’s fighting for TRUE LOVE! Not only is this something that kept me engaged, but I was INVESTED - I was ready to start swinging craft supplies myself!
This is a perfect story for fans of Taylor Adams thrillers or fans of the Last Shift/Malum movies! Check these out - you’re going to LOVE IT!
July 10, 2025
when i saw this book on Netgalley, i requested it right away as it seemed right up my alley. i love fun horror books and have a strange fascination with mega churches. plus, i’d read Jenny Kiefer’s debut, This Wretched Valley, last year and thought it was ok.
overall, i think Crafting for Sinners was a decent horror comedy. it was a truly unique, wacky, and wild ride filled with tons of blood and gore, creepy cult rituals, and revenge.
however, i do have a few gripes hence the 3 star rating.
the first 60% was honestly kind of boring and mostly consists of Ruth fighting her way through the store and hiding in tight places while her pursuers conveniently speak in exposition right within her earshot. i understand that the craft store element was the hook for the story but i think this section could’ve been cut down as it started to feel dragging repetitive.
the writing style was also very telling instead of showing. for instance, we’re told over and over again by Ruth how much she loves her girlfriend Abigail and is doing everything just so she can return to her. however, imo we didn’t get to know Abigail and see her and Ruth together enough to make me be invested in their relationship.
nonetheless, there were many elements to this book that i really enjoyed.
the premise and setting were super fun. i loved seeing Ruth being creative with her choice of weaponry amongst the crafty wares. plus, New Creations being a pseudo Hobby Lobby (down to the details about barcodes being the sign of the devil) was so funny.
the book definitely began picking up steam once the weird culty stuff started happening. the cult itself was very interesting in how it combines both the stereotypical kind of cult (blood rituals and sacrifices etc.) with the modern version of cults (mega churches and weaponized christianity etc.).
i liked the bits of mixed media interspersed throughout. it was like a fun puzzle trying to work out how it all fit together.
Ruth was a likeable mc. i related to her a lot as someone who was also raised religious but then became disillusioned by and then left the church after developing critical thinking skills. i also appreciated her commitment to being a tote bag baddie lol.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
overall, i think Crafting for Sinners was a decent horror comedy. it was a truly unique, wacky, and wild ride filled with tons of blood and gore, creepy cult rituals, and revenge.
however, i do have a few gripes hence the 3 star rating.
the first 60% was honestly kind of boring and mostly consists of Ruth fighting her way through the store and hiding in tight places while her pursuers conveniently speak in exposition right within her earshot. i understand that the craft store element was the hook for the story but i think this section could’ve been cut down as it started to feel dragging repetitive.
the writing style was also very telling instead of showing. for instance, we’re told over and over again by Ruth how much she loves her girlfriend Abigail and is doing everything just so she can return to her. however, imo we didn’t get to know Abigail and see her and Ruth together enough to make me be invested in their relationship.
nonetheless, there were many elements to this book that i really enjoyed.
the premise and setting were super fun. i loved seeing Ruth being creative with her choice of weaponry amongst the crafty wares. plus, New Creations being a pseudo Hobby Lobby (down to the details about barcodes being the sign of the devil) was so funny.
the book definitely began picking up steam once the weird culty stuff started happening. the cult itself was very interesting in how it combines both the stereotypical kind of cult (blood rituals and sacrifices etc.) with the modern version of cults (mega churches and weaponized christianity etc.).
i liked the bits of mixed media interspersed throughout. it was like a fun puzzle trying to work out how it all fit together.
Ruth was a likeable mc. i related to her a lot as someone who was also raised religious but then became disillusioned by and then left the church after developing critical thinking skills. i also appreciated her commitment to being a tote bag baddie lol.
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
March 23, 2025Kentucky is such a versatile state to use as the setting for a horror novel and Jenny Kiefer has carved the PERFECT niche for herself.
July 9, 2025
Reading Crafting for Sinners feels like being trapped in a gothic attic of grief, much like V.C. Andrews’ Flowers in the Attic—claustrophobic, emotionally raw, and aching for escape. But where Andrews used family as the cage Jenny Kiefer gives us religion, repression, and survival horror set in the most deceptively innocent place imaginable: a religious craft store.
Kiefer’s prose hums with dark beauty. It’s brooding for understanding, like a fairy tale where the wolf wins and the forest never lets you out. Her writing reminds me of the Andersen Brothers’ cruelest stories, the kind where every shred of hope feels like a trap. But still—you turn the pages, gripped by the fragile thread of Ruth’s will to survive with objects on the shelves in her reach while she monitors a medical issue.
There’s a quiet tragedy woven into every chapter. Ruth isn’t just fighting for her life; she’s grieving her autonomy, her identity, and the simple human right to love. The fact that she’s hunted and imprisoned for that love—by a group that claims to follow a god of grace—is an irony that cuts like glass. This book doesn’t just expose hypocrisy; it dissects it, stitch by painful stitch.
Kiefer’s one-liners hit like punches: “a syringe filled with PTSD”, “sulfuric acid giving you an easy escape.” These moments stopped me, made me reread. There’s something alchemical in the way she turns emotional trauma into language.
And then there’s the crafting itself—brilliantly used not as a gimmick, but as a symbol of transformation. Ruth’s resourcefulness is its own quiet rebellion. Every crafty tool she uses is a refusal to die on their terms. Every glue, spool, and scrap becomes a metaphor for stitching together a ‘broken self’ in a world that tried to unmake her.
This is not just a horror novel. It’s a queer, grief-soaked fairy tale about rage, repression, and reclaiming your name. It’s about what happens when love becomes forbidden—and survival becomes a form of resistance.
Jenny Kiefer has written an excellent page-turner, yes—but more than that, she’s written a story that hurts beautifully. The kind you carry with you, like a scar beneath the skin.
As a gay dude who lives in a state with rainbow flags held high, I have a new fear for my sheep who may not have the same experience.
September 1, 2025
Wooooooooow what a ride.
This book made me suffer SO MUCH, and that's exactly what i was looking for lol. I can't wait for it to be released October 7 and have a physical copy. ♥ Can we talk about the amazing art of the cover??? As someone who crochets i love it so much and appreciate every stitch, i'd put it in my wall.
Even with all the tension building up (building up in my muscles... i realized i wasn't breathing sometimes hahaha), the horrifying scenes (body horror, rats... -i love rats BUT you have to read it to understand-) and the obvious rage you get reading about homophobia and how religion can be so toxic and dangerous... IT WAS SUCH A FUN READ. I can't explain it. I cursed so much out loud. It was such an experience and i was so involved in it.
I love reading about cults. And i love when a horror book has a sarcastic main character and you can laugh a little between all the anxiety you're feeling with them. It's like that nervous laugh you get when you are scared of something, like a relief, and it plays with your brain cause you're maybe laughing and suddenly something horrific happens. (And i love being played like that... not irl of course haha).
But what I LOVE THE MOST (and i admire in writers) is when the story is set in a common (but uncommon at the same time) place like a craft store.
You expect an old creepy house, an asylum, a cabin in the woods, idk, the usual set of horror stories. And those are fantastic too... but nope. What Jenny Kiefer did here is another level for me.
You need to be so creative to make that work, and she definitely delivered.
(I can't not say this: Grady Hendrix -my love- entered the chat when this book was written. If you like his books you'll LOVE this one).
It's more a 4,5 for me cause i think some scenes got a little bit... boring, too long, they made me loose the reading rhythm a bit, but overall... it was such a good read, i absolutely recommend it. So goooood.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC!
And thank you, Jenny, for making me suffer!
This book made me suffer SO MUCH, and that's exactly what i was looking for lol. I can't wait for it to be released October 7 and have a physical copy. ♥ Can we talk about the amazing art of the cover??? As someone who crochets i love it so much and appreciate every stitch, i'd put it in my wall.
Even with all the tension building up (building up in my muscles... i realized i wasn't breathing sometimes hahaha), the horrifying scenes (body horror, rats... -i love rats BUT you have to read it to understand-) and the obvious rage you get reading about homophobia and how religion can be so toxic and dangerous... IT WAS SUCH A FUN READ. I can't explain it. I cursed so much out loud. It was such an experience and i was so involved in it.
I love reading about cults. And i love when a horror book has a sarcastic main character and you can laugh a little between all the anxiety you're feeling with them. It's like that nervous laugh you get when you are scared of something, like a relief, and it plays with your brain cause you're maybe laughing and suddenly something horrific happens. (And i love being played like that... not irl of course haha).
But what I LOVE THE MOST (and i admire in writers) is when the story is set in a common (but uncommon at the same time) place like a craft store.
You expect an old creepy house, an asylum, a cabin in the woods, idk, the usual set of horror stories. And those are fantastic too... but nope. What Jenny Kiefer did here is another level for me.
You need to be so creative to make that work, and she definitely delivered.
(I can't not say this: Grady Hendrix -my love- entered the chat when this book was written. If you like his books you'll LOVE this one).
It's more a 4,5 for me cause i think some scenes got a little bit... boring, too long, they made me loose the reading rhythm a bit, but overall... it was such a good read, i absolutely recommend it. So goooood.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the eARC!
And thank you, Jenny, for making me suffer!
June 16, 2025
Ruth is a crafter and has a new commission - a baby blanket project that should pay well. One problem: the woman who commissioned it decided at the last second that she wanted it to be large enough for the recipient to grow into. This means more yarn... which means a trip to her local, religiously-affiliated craft store. Think Hobby Lobby but not a chain.
Ruth's mini rebellion/protest is to steal from the craft store, New Creations, against the advice of her girlfriend. Things go south when the workers at the store decide it's finally time to put an end to her activities.
Kiefer riffs on the Hobby Lobby religious antiquities scandal, Get Out-styled cults, witchcraft, and more. The bulk of the action centers on the craft store. I had a hard time keeping up with the descriptions - a map would have helped, but Kiefer's descriptions could have also been improved. I tired quickly of the setting, and staying in the store for so much of the story seemed to drag rather than build tension. Still, it was a fun premise (and what a gorgeous cover). A quick(ish), entertaining read.
I agree with other reviewers - this is close to being great, but needs some reworking to get there.
***Review of a digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC). The text of an advance edition may differ slightly from the final market version that is distributed for sale. Received via Edelweiss. Projected publication date is 10/07/2025.
Ruth's mini rebellion/protest is to steal from the craft store, New Creations, against the advice of her girlfriend. Things go south when the workers at the store decide it's finally time to put an end to her activities.
Kiefer riffs on the Hobby Lobby religious antiquities scandal, Get Out-styled cults, witchcraft, and more. The bulk of the action centers on the craft store. I had a hard time keeping up with the descriptions - a map would have helped, but Kiefer's descriptions could have also been improved. I tired quickly of the setting, and staying in the store for so much of the story seemed to drag rather than build tension. Still, it was a fun premise (and what a gorgeous cover). A quick(ish), entertaining read.
I agree with other reviewers - this is close to being great, but needs some reworking to get there.
***Review of a digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC). The text of an advance edition may differ slightly from the final market version that is distributed for sale. Received via Edelweiss. Projected publication date is 10/07/2025.
August 22, 2025
**Special thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of this for an honest review via Netgalley!**
Imagine being trapped inside a craft store that you used to work at in your small town that's basically owned by a mega church while you're being hunted by the very people who don't want you in it.
Yeah, that's Crafting for Sinners!
I absolutely ate this book up. There's something so compelling to me about a novel that takes place over the course of one night, and that's exactly what I got in this book. As a queer person myself, I instantly connected with Ruth as a character and truly enjoyed getting all of the flashbacks into her relationship with Abigail sprinkled throughout the story.
I'm the type of reader who isn't usually horrified by gory situations that happen in horror novels, but dang, Kiefer included some descriptions that really had my jaw on the floor as I was reading, that instantly made me feel like I was seeing exactly what Ruth was seeing. The combination of the small-town element and the cult of the church created a really interesting plot that was well-placed.
With that being said, though, part of me wishes that there was just a little bit more to the ending, but overall, this was such a solid read, and I'm excited to read more by this author in the future. There was one specific plot twist that really got me!
Crafting for Sinners is genuinely one of the more unique horror novels that I've read this year, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick thriller-esque horror read that can easily be read in just one sitting.
Imagine being trapped inside a craft store that you used to work at in your small town that's basically owned by a mega church while you're being hunted by the very people who don't want you in it.
Yeah, that's Crafting for Sinners!
I absolutely ate this book up. There's something so compelling to me about a novel that takes place over the course of one night, and that's exactly what I got in this book. As a queer person myself, I instantly connected with Ruth as a character and truly enjoyed getting all of the flashbacks into her relationship with Abigail sprinkled throughout the story.
I'm the type of reader who isn't usually horrified by gory situations that happen in horror novels, but dang, Kiefer included some descriptions that really had my jaw on the floor as I was reading, that instantly made me feel like I was seeing exactly what Ruth was seeing. The combination of the small-town element and the cult of the church created a really interesting plot that was well-placed.
With that being said, though, part of me wishes that there was just a little bit more to the ending, but overall, this was such a solid read, and I'm excited to read more by this author in the future. There was one specific plot twist that really got me!
Crafting for Sinners is genuinely one of the more unique horror novels that I've read this year, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick thriller-esque horror read that can easily be read in just one sitting.
August 3, 2025
Maybe I just need to stop saying I'm not a horror reader, because I read and enjoy way too much horror to keep clinging to this belief.
Crafting For Sinners has an INCREDIBLE premise, and as someone that grew up in an family that wasn't super religious but watched family cling to religion to feel some sense of belonging, a lot of this book hit close to home.
The idea of being trapped in a craft store and fighting for my life against evangelicals that want me dead simply because of my queerness is honestly (and horrifyingly) not that far fetched! I love the idea of Ruth having to fight her way out of a store that once employed her and tried to force her into their mold and ways of thinking. The were some really intense scenes of her trapped in there that really got my heart pumping.
There was definitely more gore than I anticipated (but I am a HUGE wimp, so I'm sure for someone that reads a lot of horror, this is nothing) and the scene with the rats? Ugh. Horrible, but I couldn't stop reading to see how Ruth would get out of it.
My only "complaint" is that I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. I get it, I just didn't love it, haha.
Overall, this was a fast paced, quick read that I enjoyed!
Crafting For Sinners has an INCREDIBLE premise, and as someone that grew up in an family that wasn't super religious but watched family cling to religion to feel some sense of belonging, a lot of this book hit close to home.
The idea of being trapped in a craft store and fighting for my life against evangelicals that want me dead simply because of my queerness is honestly (and horrifyingly) not that far fetched! I love the idea of Ruth having to fight her way out of a store that once employed her and tried to force her into their mold and ways of thinking. The were some really intense scenes of her trapped in there that really got my heart pumping.
There was definitely more gore than I anticipated (but I am a HUGE wimp, so I'm sure for someone that reads a lot of horror, this is nothing) and the scene with the rats? Ugh. Horrible, but I couldn't stop reading to see how Ruth would get out of it.
My only "complaint" is that I wasn't a huge fan of the ending. I get it, I just didn't love it, haha.
Overall, this was a fast paced, quick read that I enjoyed!
July 3, 2025
Ruth did a lot of murdering for someone who had never murdered before. Crafting for Sinners is a fun read. There were parts that were a little gruesome, but not excessively gory. The story itself is entertaining and fairly original. The characters are interesting and somewhat relatable. I say somewhat because sometimes Ruth's thoughts, especially in regard to leaving Devil Kill, made no sense, considering the discrimination she had already faced in that town.
This is a good read, and I would recommend for anyone who likes gruesome kills and witty internal banter.
This book was provided to me at no charge by the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions are honestly and freely given.
This is a good read, and I would recommend for anyone who likes gruesome kills and witty internal banter.
This book was provided to me at no charge by the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions are honestly and freely given.
August 11, 2025
A woman fights for her life using only the items at hand, crafting supplies, against cultists looking to capture her for an unthinkable ritual. In Kill Devil Kentucky, Ruth just wanted to get some more yarn from the craft store but what she found was a conspiracy so rooted into her hometown he predates Kentucky's statehood. Definitely gives off Camp Damascus vibes! While this story has some questionable kills I enjoyed the cat and mouse of it all that had me still guessing when I had only ten pages left. Great read from the author of This Wretched Valley, Highly recommend!
August 1, 2025
oh boy ANOTHER review!! i’d like to thank @netgalley , @quirkbooks and @_jennykiefer for this opportunity to read CRAFTING FOR SINNERS early 🫶🏻
(swipe to see a blurb about the book!)
be gay! do crafts! ✂️ (unless you’re trapped within a church owned craft store in a small southern christian town being hunted for sport for being queer and “sinful”)
it’s been a hot minute since i read any survival horror, and this book did not disappoint! this was one wild ride: reading ruth fight for her life by using items and products found within the craft store.
did i mention she stabs an employee’s eyes out with KNITTING NEEDLES??! 👁️🪡
also, if you’re craving some brutal body horror, this book has that too! it takes a lot for me to react to body horror scenes, but while reading CRAFTING FOR SINNERS, i physically cringed while reading the descriptive scenes of gore and violence.
on a personal note, i could relate to ruth for being a queer individual, who also has diabetes. throughout the story, i kept imagining how i would fight off cultists with low blood sugar, which ruth deals with in this book.
overall, i devoured this story and give it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !! make sure to mark your calendars for ✨oct 7th ✨ of this year— you won’t wanna miss this action packed gruesome novel!
(swipe to see a blurb about the book!)
be gay! do crafts! ✂️ (unless you’re trapped within a church owned craft store in a small southern christian town being hunted for sport for being queer and “sinful”)
it’s been a hot minute since i read any survival horror, and this book did not disappoint! this was one wild ride: reading ruth fight for her life by using items and products found within the craft store.
did i mention she stabs an employee’s eyes out with KNITTING NEEDLES??! 👁️🪡
also, if you’re craving some brutal body horror, this book has that too! it takes a lot for me to react to body horror scenes, but while reading CRAFTING FOR SINNERS, i physically cringed while reading the descriptive scenes of gore and violence.
on a personal note, i could relate to ruth for being a queer individual, who also has diabetes. throughout the story, i kept imagining how i would fight off cultists with low blood sugar, which ruth deals with in this book.
overall, i devoured this story and give it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !! make sure to mark your calendars for ✨oct 7th ✨ of this year— you won’t wanna miss this action packed gruesome novel!
Read
August 4, 2025This is a perfect novel for anyone who has ever worked in retail, specifically hobby-centric chains like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Joann, etc. If you like cult horror, too, then absolutely read this book.
August 17, 2025
This was a solid 4 star read for me! I seriously could not put it down. As someone who knits, crochets, and loves horror books, I absolutely inhaled it. That craft store scene where she steals yarn had me low key cackling. If you are a crafter, you know exactly what store it will remind you of!
August 4, 2025
Great premise!
August 27, 2025
Crafting for sinners
This is definitely gory horror, which is exactly how I like it. If you like gory, visceral, descriptive horror, then this book is for you. Some of the things that happen are so absurd that I tagged it as humorous because I was laughing, but you would need a dark sense of humor to find it funny, which I do. Read at your own risk, trigger warning for gore.
This is definitely gory horror, which is exactly how I like it. If you like gory, visceral, descriptive horror, then this book is for you. Some of the things that happen are so absurd that I tagged it as humorous because I was laughing, but you would need a dark sense of humor to find it funny, which I do. Read at your own risk, trigger warning for gore.
June 22, 2025
Quite a page-turner! I loved the concept, which recalled recent books from Chuck Tingle, CJ Leede, and Grady Hendrix. I also liked how the book reclaimed crafts away from the trad wife realm and how the main character, Ruth, used craft supplies for resistance. This one felt a bit lighter in tone than This Wretched Valley, but there are still plenty of scary moments!
June 9, 2025
ARC for review from Netgalley:
Probably closer to a 4.5 star read, some parts of this book could be edited/cut to make it more succinct and a bit more surprising. A twistish section was a bit too foreshadowed but was mostly well done. Got the ick and literally gagged at at least one point which is VERY hard to get me to do. The main character was very well done and quite and empathetic but realistic lead. Background character felt a little bit like they were there, but everything felt very in the moment and distracted from that. Mostly actually finished this within a day other than the first 10% so a good quick read!!
Happy pride month!!!!!!!
Probably closer to a 4.5 star read, some parts of this book could be edited/cut to make it more succinct and a bit more surprising. A twistish section was a bit too foreshadowed but was mostly well done. Got the ick and literally gagged at at least one point which is VERY hard to get me to do. The main character was very well done and quite and empathetic but realistic lead. Background character felt a little bit like they were there, but everything felt very in the moment and distracted from that. Mostly actually finished this within a day other than the first 10% so a good quick read!!
Happy pride month!!!!!!!
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