Series:
Knit & Nibble (Book 9)
St. Patrick’s Day takes an unexpected turn for crafting
magazine editor Pamela Paterson and the members of her knitting club when a
member of a prominent New Jersey family is found dead…
The Listers have been part of Arborville society for
generations—though seventy-something Isobel Lister doesn’t fit the role of
upper-crust heiress. She’s always been a colorful character, and her fun-loving
spirit is on display at the senior center celebration as she performs some
beloved Irish songs. But just minutes later, her body is found backstage.
It’s hard to imagine who’d target such a harmless
eccentric, but Pamela finds herself suspecting everyone. There’s the Wiccan who
thought St. Patrick wasn’t so saintly; the woman upset about cultural
appropriation who feels the commercialization of shamrocks is a sham; the two
men Isobel was seeing, who could have been green with jealousy—and old friends
and family who may have feared Isobel would spill their secrets. But Pamela’s
on the case, and that means for the killer, the jig will soon be up...
This is the first book I've read in this series or by
this author. As a knitter and a lover of all things Irish, I couldn't help
picking this one up when I had the opportunity. The story opens as Pamela, a
widow and craft magazine editor, and her friend Bettina, a reporter for the
local paper, attend a senior center St. Patrick's Day luncheon. Bettina is
there to cover the event for the paper. The fun and fellowship are evident, and
the "Irishness" ramps up when local singer Isobel Lister arrives to
perform a series of Irish songs. Not everyone enjoyed the performance,
including at least one who walked out. Shortly after she finishes her
performance, Isobel is found dead in the back room.
Pamela, Bettina, and the others in their knitting group
have earned a reputation for solving mysteries. Pamela and Bettina are
determined to figure this one out. I haven't read the others in this series but
I wasn't very impressed with their methods. One or the other would seize on a
possible suspect; then they would create some wild scenario that led up to the
murder with no objective evidence for their suspicion. Then they would talk to
the suspect, realize they had it all wrong, and move on to the next suspect.
Rinse and repeat. I never got the feeling that they knew what they were doing.
A second death threw everything they thought into turmoil, leaving them
scrambling for answers. The eventual solving of the deaths felt anti-climactic.
I enjoyed getting to know the variety of characters. Bettina
is a fashionista, and her outfits are described in detail. She is a woman with
a big heart and a talent for drawing people out - a good thing for a reporter.
She and her husband, Wilfred, are an adorable couple, and we hear all about the
fantastic meals he cooks. Pamela is a widow with a grown daughter. Her husband
has been gone for fifteen years, and she has begun dating again. Pamela is the
editor of a craft magazine, and I am intrigued by the articles she is editing
for it, especially the Civil War story.
The Knit & Nibble group members are introduced, and
each has a unique personality, so it is relatively easy to keep them straight. I
liked hearing about the projects they worked on. There were some upsides to
Pamela and Bettina's focusing on suspects, and that was watching them
"question" them. There was one character who was angry about the
"misappropriation" of the Irish culture and dropped a few tidbits
that were interesting to read. There was the Wiccan who wasn't happy about some
of the conflation of various holidays. I liked seeing Pamela and Bettina learn
about Ostara and its influence on Easter. I already knew this as I have a
family member who is Pagan, and I'm always happy to see a little education slip
into a story.
There are a few romantic elements. There's the end of one
romance, a hint of a missed opportunity in another, and a new man that shows
promise. I liked the new man, who clearly understands who he is after losing
sight of what is important.
There were a few irritating things about the book. Most
of it deals with repetitiveness. Every time Pamela gets a plate, bowl, or cup,
we are told it's her wedding china. It's meant to be used, not saved for a
special occasion, or so we are constantly reminded. The food is always
described in detail, as are Bettina's outfits. It almost felt like the descriptions
were needed to make up the word count.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but I'm not sure I'm
invested enough to seek out the other books.
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