ARC Arrival: A Stitch Before Dying by Anne Canadeo

A Stitch Before Dying

by Anne Canadeo

When Maggie Messina, owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, is invited to give knitting workshops at a Berkshires spa resort, she manages to negotiate a cottage that fits all five of the Black Sheep for what promises to be a weekend of knitting bliss. But while the friends are expert at counting stitches, they haven't counted on murder.

Guests and staff at the Crystal Lake Inn are as varied as a mixed bag of yarn, but most colorful is certainly the owner, charismatic self-help guru and former psychiatrist Dr. Max Flemming.  The doctor may have told all in a revealing autobiography, but from his ex-wife to the widow of his former business partner -- both employees at the inn -- Max seems mired in shadows from his past.  And when a killer strikes during a mountaintop retreat, the Black Sheep wonder what the good doctor might be hiding.

The police seem to be following the wrong thread.  But while Maggie's workshops have given the knitters a unique view of the tensions at the little inn, can they make sense of a crime that is as complexly stranded as a Fair Isle sweater?  When the killer murders a second time, the Black Sheep wonder if they've dropped a stitch and put themselves in mortal danger.

About the author:  Anne Canadeo began her Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series with While My Pretty One Knits.  She is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestselling Cape Light series, which she writes as Katherine Spencer.  A novice with needles, she finds many similarities between knitting and writing -- inspiration, persistence, and good things happening by accident.  Anne lives in Northport, New York.  You can contact her at anne@annecanadeo.com.

~I received a copy of this book for review from Gallery Books.  Watch for my review in early January.~

 

A Stitch Before Dying
Publisher/Publication Date: Gallery, Dec 28, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4391-9139-2
288 pages



Knit, Purl, Die by Anne Canadeo (Book Review)

Title: Knit, Purl, Die
Author: Anne Canadeo
Publisher: Pocket Books

My synopsis: The Black Sheep knitters have once again found themselves in the middle of a murder - or was it an accident as the police seem to think?

Gloria Sterling seemed to have it all - money, smarts, looks, much younger, devoted husband and a new circle of friends - the Black Sheep knitters. She sailed into their group seamlessly even though they sometimes felt they were not in her league.

Suzanne is ecstatic when Gloria decides to sell her house and asks Suzanne to be her agent. Unfortunately, the first time she shows the house they find Gloria floating face down in her swimming pool. Together with Dana, Maggie and Lucy (the Black Sheep knitters) they try to make sure that Jamie, Gloria's husband, keeps it together. As Jamie shares Gloria's secret dark side, other information makes the girls think that maybe Gloria did not have an accident, but was killed because of some of her secrets. Question is - which secret was the one that got her killed?

My thoughts: This was a great cozy mystery. It was the second in the series (A Black Sheep Knitting Mystery) but read very well as a stand alone. It does give a spoiler for the first one though, so if you like to read things in order you should read While My Pretty One Knits first. I really like these women characters, who were all strong in their own rights. Maggie is a widow and a business owner, Lucy is divorced and had a graphic design business out of her house, Dana is a local psychologist, Suzanne is a realtor with a husband and kids. When they got together to knit, I was so envious. (I do know how to knit, but don't get much time to experiment with it. I do go to a stitching zone when I needlepoint/cross stitch though!) I wasn't just envious of the time though, but of the friendships that they share. They were very much in tune with each other and knew how each other would respond in certain situations. Having girlfriends like that is a real bonus! It is sort of hailing/freezing rain out right now and this would be the exact kind of book that I would curl up with!

There are also some good recipes in the back that are referenced in the story as well as some great websites to find knitting patterns on!

About the author: Anne Canadeo began her Black Sheep Knitting Mystery series with While My Pretty One Knits. She is the author of more than 30 books, including the bestselling Cape Light series, which she writes as Katherine Spencer. A novice with needles, she finds many similarities between knitting and writing -- inspiration, persistence, and good things happening by accident. Anne lives in Northport, New York. (back cover)

~I was provided with a copy of this book from Pocket Books for review.~


Other blogs participating on this tour:
My Book Views: http://my-book-views.blogspot.com/
Brizmus Blogs About Books: http://brizmusblogsbooks.blogspot.com/
Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
Renee’s Reads: http://www.renees-reads.blogspot.com/
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Pam’s Private Reflections: http://hip2bhomeschooling.blogspot.com/
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Frugal Plus: http://frugalplus.com/
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Readaholic: http://bridget3420.blogspot.com/
My Guilty Pleasures: http://www.mgpblog.com/
Just Another New Blog: http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/
A Book Bloggers Diary: http://abookbloggersdiary.blogspot.com/
Books Reviews by Buuklvr81: http://www.buuklvr81.blogspot.com
Reading at the Beach: http://ilratb.blogspot.com/
Foreign Circus Library: http://www.foreigncircuslibrary.blogspot.com/
The Cajun Book Lady: http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/
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Wendy’s Minding Spot: http://mindingspot.blogspot.com/
Books, Movies & Chinese Food: http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/
Pudgy Penguin Perusals: http://kayespenguinposts.blogspot.com/
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Marta’s Meanderings: http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com/
Chaotic Book Obsession: http://chaoticbookobbsession.blogspot.com/
Savey Spender: http://saveyspender.com/
Libby’s Library News: http://www.libslibrary.blogspot.com/
Booksie’s Blog: http://booksiesblog.blogspot.com/
Jeanne's Ramblings: http://www.jeannesramblings.com/
I Read: http://sumanam.wordpress.com/
Bless Their Hearts Mom: http://blesstheirheartsmom.blogspot.com/
Steph the Bookworm: http://www.stephthebookworm.blogspot.com/
Sharon's Garden of Book Reviews: http://sharonsgardenofbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Book Dilettante: http://bookbirddog.blogspot.com

Knit, Purl, Die
Publisher/Publication Date: Pocket Books, Jan 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4165-9812-1
288 pages