A Killer Stitch

Well, this was a fun romp through the rooms of Lambspun in Colorado! It was by turns an exploration of spinning, a look at the Christmastime chaos in a knit shop, and the feeling of community that this cast of characters brings.

Our sleuthing friend, Kelly, watches a spinning class take shape while she bravely knits on, hoping to get the scarf finished and in the mail in time for Christmas. Meanwhile, several patrons of both Lambspun and the adjoining coffee shop have Christmas events of their own to plan so chaos ensues. And then a murder happens and the community joins together to help several of their own.

I did like how the subject of alcohol addiction was handled, with insight and compassion, and also how an admonition to maybe find show more some better friends than the ones in the bar made an impact on Kelly's close friend, Jennifer. Certainly Burt showed his wisdom about police questioning, and Kelly begins to pursue some canyon land to build her very own house. Loyal Steve is right there to lend a hand and give an occasional kiss, and Curt's home, kids, and grandkids are able to bring joy for the holiday season.

For the characters, though, there were just way too many of them, especially when you have a conversation between Lizzie, Lucy, and Lisa. There have got to be more women's names that Sefton can use for future installments in this series.

Oh, and the murder itself? Did not see that one coming! Way to keep it all very interesting and full of fluffy yarns. show less

I think this was my favorite of the series so far. Unlike the previous books in which Kelly's main role is to solve the mystery, this book creates some distance between Kelly and murder, as she is helping out a friend and not directly involved herself. I think that it makes the plot more plausible, plus it allowed the author to expand on Kelly's character in a different direction.

The Lambspun community could be set in any small town. That is part of the charm of Maggie Sefton's craft. With the re-emergence of knitting, this series is sure to attract younger readers. The writing is easy to follow and the variety of characters will surely allow readers to find at least one to cheer for. I enjoyed learning more about other characters and how the author kept Kelly at a distance in this story.

If you are looking for a good old-fashioned whodunit set in a small town over the holidays, you won't be disappointed. If you enjoy knitting, you will be further engaged by the pattern at the end of the book.

When the death of a womanizing rancher puts 2 of his former love interests in the sights of the police Kelly Flynn and her knitting friends try to help out. Both woman are emotional wrecks as well as having health issues. I like the characters in this series for not just being amateur sleuths but also being involved in really being supportive. Kelly is also getting her fledgling accounting service off the ground and looking into buying a local ranch to move her alpaca herd from Wyoming. My only question about this series is that the yarn shop where everyone meets up never has any crocheters, only knitters. Huh?

This "cozy mystery" is set in Colorado, in a fictional small town named Fort Connor. Kelly Flynn is an accountant who knits, and most of the story centers on the local yarn shop and the extended web of neighbors and friends who frequent it. There are Lizzie, Lucy, and Lisa, Jayleen and Jennifer, Mimi and Megan, and a host of other ladies who knit and spin and gossip. Oh, did you hear? Derek, a local rancher was killed at his ranch last night. But it is nearly Christmas, and we can use all the help we can get planning a children's holiday party. Megan does make such great pies, don't you think? Derek's death seems to have affected several of the local ladies. Hey, how goes the search for a tennis partner?

It is a book with many, many show more characters, all establishing ties with one another, and every once in awhile, a tid-bit of information about the mystery of Derek's killer is woven into the descriptions of everyday life. This is a "slice of life" novel, because it is not particularly focused on the murder and the questions about "whodunit," but rather it seeks to describe a whole community, with Kelly occasionally asking some pertinent questions, all to help out her friends.

There was not enough plot for me, and I had difficulty keeping the similarly named characters apart. But for someone looking to dip into life in a small community with a strong craft interest, it would be a fine book. Just not for me. show less

Lovely Colorado backdrop, and an almost sensuous love of yarns and fibers set this cozy mystery apart from the usual run. My first read in this series, and I enjoyed it very much. An alpaca rancher of dastardly reputation is found murdered, and there are more than the usual number of lovely young suspects. Kelly Flynn must keep the threads from tangling as she comforts the inconsolable, protects the vulnerable, and tries repeatedly to purchase her dream mountain canyon home. The answer to the murder comes slowly and unexpectedly. Fun.

This is the fourth book in the Kelly Flynn knitting mystery series by Maggie Sefton. It definitely falls into that "cozy" mystery genre. As with the others, I did enjoy this one; however, maybe not quite as much. I felt a little cheated because the author barely introduces the killer until the last few pages of the book. I don't feel like the reader is given a fair chance to figure out who the real killer is. But, beyond that this book has everything that all the other books in the series do -- beautiful descriptions of Colorado (this time in winter), lots of yarn and knitting descriptions, and the characters that I've grown to care about. There is no doubt that there will be another book to follow according to the ending of this one. show more The murder investigation is tied up nicely at the end, but Kelly has just bought her dream home in the canyon, which seems to be haunted. Overall, this is a fun, quick read, especially if you enjoy knitting. show less