Helpful Score: 1
I found this book boring. Too much that did not relate to the main plot. Cute cat on cover, but not much of cat in the book. It took me several days to get through the book which would usually take me less than a day. I kept putting it down and then picking it up hoping it would get better. It did not.
Dollycas's Thoughts
We're back in Arborville just in time for a fundraiser for the sports program at the high school. GO VARKS! The Knit and Nibblers have created 25 stuffed aardvarks to sell in their booth. When the day is winding down Bettina and Pamela realize 2 knit aardvarks have gone missing. Frustrated they start to pack up. When they start to remove the canvas around their table they find one of the missing aardvarks . . . on the chest of a very dead Randall Jefferson, a history teacher at the school. He had been quite vocal in his criticism of the sports program most recently in an op-ed in the paper.
Because of where the body was found and the presence of the fuzzy turquoise aardvark the community blames the group of knitters for the death even though they have no motive. To clear the group the knitters are going to have to knit together all the clues. Will finding the 2nd missing aardvark lead them in the right direction? or will they need a new pattern to follow? Will their snooping lead someone to needle them . . . fatally?
The Knit and Nibbler's knitting group is an eclectic group. All with their own strengths and weaknesses. A new enthusiastic member has joined the group. Holly Perkins is about the age of Pamela's daughter, Penny. A tiny woman with purple streaks in her hair and an unusual knitting project in the works using needles as âthick as drumsticksâ. One member has a big announcement. Pamela is struggling on a decision for a new project after knitting so many aardvarks. I love the characters in this group. They are people I can identify with and would love to be their friend and part of their knitting group. I remember many years ago I pulled out my broomstick thick needles to work on a quick knit sweater pattern and my mother thought I was crazy. Until I finished it and made her one too.
This author has a super descriptive writing style which sometimes can turn me off or goes too far, but everything she describes are things I wanted to be described. The knitting projects, the food, the flower gardens, Penny's vintage clothing finds, and the scenes needed to help solve the murder. It is said the âdevil is in the detailsâ. Peggy Ehrhart is excellent in giving us the necessary details along with dropping the clues judiciously to keep readers and her characters on the trail or divert us to another way of thinking. She also knows how to knit in humor in all the right places. OMG, Pamela's cat, Catrina's antics had me in stitches.
I found the mystery to be well-plotted and entertaining but I hated the people's reactions and actions regarding the knitters. Sad at how judgemental the residents of Arborville were with no real evidence. While I would love to be around the Knit and Nibble group, I am not sure about the rest of the town's residents. Of course, you have this type of people in any town, and I did like that the group took the high road in dealing with the rath.
Strong characters, a captivating mystery, and a great theme are found within these pages. A very enjoyable read. A Cozy Cat pattern and Strawberry Shortcake recipe can be found at the end of the book for all knitters and nibblers. I look forward to book 3, Knit One, Die Two.
We're back in Arborville just in time for a fundraiser for the sports program at the high school. GO VARKS! The Knit and Nibblers have created 25 stuffed aardvarks to sell in their booth. When the day is winding down Bettina and Pamela realize 2 knit aardvarks have gone missing. Frustrated they start to pack up. When they start to remove the canvas around their table they find one of the missing aardvarks . . . on the chest of a very dead Randall Jefferson, a history teacher at the school. He had been quite vocal in his criticism of the sports program most recently in an op-ed in the paper.
Because of where the body was found and the presence of the fuzzy turquoise aardvark the community blames the group of knitters for the death even though they have no motive. To clear the group the knitters are going to have to knit together all the clues. Will finding the 2nd missing aardvark lead them in the right direction? or will they need a new pattern to follow? Will their snooping lead someone to needle them . . . fatally?
The Knit and Nibbler's knitting group is an eclectic group. All with their own strengths and weaknesses. A new enthusiastic member has joined the group. Holly Perkins is about the age of Pamela's daughter, Penny. A tiny woman with purple streaks in her hair and an unusual knitting project in the works using needles as âthick as drumsticksâ. One member has a big announcement. Pamela is struggling on a decision for a new project after knitting so many aardvarks. I love the characters in this group. They are people I can identify with and would love to be their friend and part of their knitting group. I remember many years ago I pulled out my broomstick thick needles to work on a quick knit sweater pattern and my mother thought I was crazy. Until I finished it and made her one too.
This author has a super descriptive writing style which sometimes can turn me off or goes too far, but everything she describes are things I wanted to be described. The knitting projects, the food, the flower gardens, Penny's vintage clothing finds, and the scenes needed to help solve the murder. It is said the âdevil is in the detailsâ. Peggy Ehrhart is excellent in giving us the necessary details along with dropping the clues judiciously to keep readers and her characters on the trail or divert us to another way of thinking. She also knows how to knit in humor in all the right places. OMG, Pamela's cat, Catrina's antics had me in stitches.
I found the mystery to be well-plotted and entertaining but I hated the people's reactions and actions regarding the knitters. Sad at how judgemental the residents of Arborville were with no real evidence. While I would love to be around the Knit and Nibble group, I am not sure about the rest of the town's residents. Of course, you have this type of people in any town, and I did like that the group took the high road in dealing with the rath.
Strong characters, a captivating mystery, and a great theme are found within these pages. A very enjoyable read. A Cozy Cat pattern and Strawberry Shortcake recipe can be found at the end of the book for all knitters and nibblers. I look forward to book 3, Knit One, Die Two.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I'm continuing to enjoy Peggy Ehrhart's cozy series for its marvelous sense of fellowship, its knitting, and its delicious food. I also like reading about the articles Pamela edits for the fictional Fiber Crafts magazine; there's always something to learn there.
Ehrhart has created a strong cast with the members of the knitting group, and the subplots involving various characters can be every bit as interesting as the main action of the mystery-- although I couldn't quite believe Pamela could be so clueless about her cat, Catrina (and no, I'm not a cat owner). I should also probably admit that there's a yarn shop in a nearby town that Pamela frequents that makes me wish I lived there so I could go on spending sprees to add to my yarn stash.
The only thing to dull my enjoyment of Died in the Wool was the identity of the killer. This person popped up so often I felt as though I was caught in a game of Whack-a-Mole. But in the entire scheme of things, this was a minor quibble because all the other elements hit just the right note to keep me smiling and reading. I'm looking forward to my next visit with the Knit & Nibblers.
Ehrhart has created a strong cast with the members of the knitting group, and the subplots involving various characters can be every bit as interesting as the main action of the mystery-- although I couldn't quite believe Pamela could be so clueless about her cat, Catrina (and no, I'm not a cat owner). I should also probably admit that there's a yarn shop in a nearby town that Pamela frequents that makes me wish I lived there so I could go on spending sprees to add to my yarn stash.
The only thing to dull my enjoyment of Died in the Wool was the identity of the killer. This person popped up so often I felt as though I was caught in a game of Whack-a-Mole. But in the entire scheme of things, this was a minor quibble because all the other elements hit just the right note to keep me smiling and reading. I'm looking forward to my next visit with the Knit & Nibblers.
Died in the Wool by Peggy Ehrhart is the second novel in A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Pamela Paterson along with Bettina Fraser have been selling knitted aardvarks at Arborfest all day with the proceeds to benefit the Arborville high school athletic program. During the afternoon, Bettina noticed that two of the little knitted critters have gone missing and, as Pamela removes the canvas from around the table, she finds one of themâon top of a dead body someone stashed under the table. The victim is local high school history teacher, Randall Jefferson who managed to rub many people the wrong way and angered many people for his critical op-ed regarding school sports programs. When the knitting club members and their knitted creations become persona non grata, Pamela must work to unravel the clues. After a search of Randall's home, they come up with two likely suspects. Someone is not happy with Pamela's questioning and leaves her an unusual warning. Pamela will not be deterred, and she soon uncovers the second missing aardvark along with another victim. Can Pamela connect the clues and identify the wily killer?
Died in the Wool can be enjoyed if you have not read Murder, She Knit. The author provided the necessary background on the main character and the knitting club. I had some trouble getting into the book because I found Died in the Wool to be a slow starter. They eat frequently in this book and the food is described in detail (the ingredients, how it is prepared, every item in the meal, sitting down to eat, etc.). There are also detailed descriptions of plants as the various members maintain their perennial beds and purchase new plants. Readers are also entertained with every outfit that Penny Patterson wears to work (she has an interesting wardrobe). The group has a new member, Holly who is very perky. I liked that she is knitting with larger needles and yarn (similar to roving). The ruby red yarn that Pamela picked up for her new sweater sounded beautiful. The mystery had Pamela and Bettina breaking into Randall's home, questioning suspects, tailing thieves and tampering with evidence. Any forensics that could have been obtained from the evidence was lost by the time this group was done with it. There are pointed clues to aid readers in solving the crime and the killer can be pinpointed early in the book. In Died in the Wool more time is devoted to food than the mystery and the murder mystery was lacking in substance. I did get a good laugh when the cat in heat noises were described (it is very distinctive). Pamela had no clue what the caterwauling indicated. There is a knitting pattern at the end for a cozy cat and a recipe for strawberry shortcake. I am giving Died in the Wool 3 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a light cozy mystery with charming characters, then you should check out Died in the Wool.
Died in the Wool can be enjoyed if you have not read Murder, She Knit. The author provided the necessary background on the main character and the knitting club. I had some trouble getting into the book because I found Died in the Wool to be a slow starter. They eat frequently in this book and the food is described in detail (the ingredients, how it is prepared, every item in the meal, sitting down to eat, etc.). There are also detailed descriptions of plants as the various members maintain their perennial beds and purchase new plants. Readers are also entertained with every outfit that Penny Patterson wears to work (she has an interesting wardrobe). The group has a new member, Holly who is very perky. I liked that she is knitting with larger needles and yarn (similar to roving). The ruby red yarn that Pamela picked up for her new sweater sounded beautiful. The mystery had Pamela and Bettina breaking into Randall's home, questioning suspects, tailing thieves and tampering with evidence. Any forensics that could have been obtained from the evidence was lost by the time this group was done with it. There are pointed clues to aid readers in solving the crime and the killer can be pinpointed early in the book. In Died in the Wool more time is devoted to food than the mystery and the murder mystery was lacking in substance. I did get a good laugh when the cat in heat noises were described (it is very distinctive). Pamela had no clue what the caterwauling indicated. There is a knitting pattern at the end for a cozy cat and a recipe for strawberry shortcake. I am giving Died in the Wool 3 out of 5 stars. If you are looking for a light cozy mystery with charming characters, then you should check out Died in the Wool.
