I must apologise for taking so long to leave my review. I really enjoyed this book. It is book two in a series that I have read book one of, but I also feel it could be enjoyed as a stand alone. Though the reader would be doing themselves an injustice if they didn't buy/read book one too.

Ms Hartwell has a wonderful way of weaving a descriptive world around the reader... then slipping a crime or two in to make it interesting.

Great book, would definiately recommend it, and this series, to others. I just hope there will be more to the series soon!

The book takes place in a small town in Connecticut. Josie Blair has moved there from New York when her Aunt passed away and stayed to run Miss Marple Knits a yarn store and take care of her elderly Uncle Eb. She has made a few knitting friends Evelyn, Helen and a few others. A new antique store is opening next door but there is a murder and Josie starts investigating and of course stirs up some trouble for herself.

I really enjoyed the interaction of the characters. They are fairly well fleshed and even though I had not read the first book I was able to figure out the dynamics of the characters easily. I want to go back and read the 1st book.

This was a great book. The second in the series--and I already can't wait for more. The characters and setting are already established, yet the book could be read on its own.

I was pleasantly surprised at home much I liked this book. It was well-written and kept me engaged. I liked all the characters. I did not realize it was part of a series, but I'm definitely interested in reading more.

ARC from Kensington Books via Netgalley

Josie Blair rents the space attached to her yarn shop to an antiques dealer, who is killed one evening as Josie and some of her knitting friends are gathered in her shop. The dead man’s business partner is suspected of the crime, but Josie has her doubts and decides to look into matters on her own. This is a great cozy with a likable cast of characters, and a setting that I absolutely loved. I’m a crocheter, not a knitter, but I still wish I could visit Miss Marple Knits.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book.

I love cozy mysteries that involve knitting, books, and food. This is the second in a knitting shop mystery, and I loved it even more than the first in this series. Josie is living with her cranky uncle and has taken over her Aunt Cora's knitting shop. She herself does not know how to knit but she has good friends in the ladies that love the shop and were friends of her aunts. When her new tenant is found dead Josie starts to investigate.

I really enjoyed being back in Dorset Falls and I look forward to going there again, many times. Hear that Ms. Hartwell! Keep writing!!

Rarely do I give a book 5 stars.
It wasn't difficult to decide to honor Sadie Hartwell, Josie and the fun residents of Dorsett Falls with my 5 star rating.
Here's what I liked loved about A Knit Before Dying.
If I was choosing the best plot of the year it would go to Sadie.
Best integration of title to the plot. I don't want to give anything away but this author does an amazing job of weaving or in this case Knitting the title into the plot of the story.
Best integration of theme of series to the plot I don't think I've read a book with a better integration of the theme. The knitting theme is woven through out the book/plot. The author provides patterns at the end.
The cast of characters in A Knit Before Dying are fun and endearing.

Josie gets some help from Miss Evelyn is an elderly bit of a snoop. Always ready to jump cook a casserole or jump in and help Josie out in her sleuthing. Or instigating a little matchmaking.

Josie's uncle Eb is just a character who plays tricks on a neighbor all because of a years old family feud.

Then there is Lorna the cook and waitress of the local diner. Lorna plays a huge part in the plot/story by providing food for Josie and Uncle Eb. I don't want to 'spill the beans' so to speak but the story ends with Lorna becoming the owner of the local diner. Will we see Lorna as a main character in a future installment? We can only hope! I would love to see some of Lorna's recipes included.

There is a brewing romance between Josie and her neighbor
Mitch. I suspect that things might begin to simmer in book 3.

Although A Knit Before Dying is book 2 of the series it is written as a stand alone book. I have not had the chance to read book 1. I was not at all lost.

The only negative I can mention is the wait for book 3!

If your a fan of good and clean books you need to check this
book out!

I received a complimentary copy from Great Escape Tours.

A Knit Before Dying (Tangled Web Mystery #2) by author Sadie Hartwell is a delightful cozy mystery featuring our heroine, Josie Blair, and her yarn shop, Miss Marple's Knits (side note: I love, love, love the name of this shop!!!). One of Josie's new next door neighbors is found stabbed to death on the floor of his antique shop, and Josie must help clear the name of his business partner. Well-written and a quick-paced read, even though A Knit Before Dying is the second in the series it can certainly be read as a standalone. I haven't read the first in the series yet but enjoyed this lovely cozy so much that I'll be doing so asap! A+

Princess Fuzzypants here:
I love when a good cozy has both characters you can like and a ripping good mystery. This book has both. When Josie's new tenant is murdered before he even opens his shop, Josie is convinced the "obvious" suspect- the man's business partner who is discovered standing over the body- is innocent. The obnoxious niece and the sleazy reality tv producer seem like good candidates but all is not what it seems and it takes some very particular skills to unlock both that murder and another mystery from years before.
I like Josie. She is smart and capable but still very human. She has an irascible uncle who provides some amusing secondary entertainment. Her friends and her colleagues are a great bunch of characters and the usual cozy "nasties" are also there in force.. The story has enough twists and turns to satisfy the hard core mystery lover and just when it appears all is revealed, it is a false ending and there is more to discover much to Josie's chagrin. I love when a book can come back on itself to reveal another darker conclusion. Just when you think you have it all worked out....
I give this five purrs and two paws up.

I had completely forgotten I had read the first book in this series and it took a while for what few details I remembered to come back to me. I have a feeling that even less will come back to me about this book. The characters and what happens just aren't memorable or interesting. At least the older women had a quirky hobby in the first book, that's gone here. Eb is not cutely curmudgeonly, but unpleasant and even cruel. There's also some repetition, especially about a dinner Lorna is preparing. There's not really much active sleuthing.

I was engaged enough to finish the book.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I can't knit to save my life, I'm all thumbs but I'll have to give this mystery series (two, so far) two thumbs up. The knitting theme is nice but, for me, the mysteries, both past and present, were very satisfying. Add a host of great characters, especially Josie who runs Miss Marple Knits and her Uncle Eb. Josie has left New York to settle in small town Dorset Falls and is managing a knitting shop for her great aunt, though she can't knit. Murder comes on the scene when one of the owners of the new shop next door is found dead and his business partner is named the prime suspect. Full of twists and turns, all in all, a great series. I'll be looking forward to reading the next one.

This was a fun read. As I stated above, this is the first one in the series that I've read, even though it is the second book of the series. However, the author provided enough background information to make it possible to read this as a stand-alone without overdoing it for those who may have already read the first book.

I enjoyed our main characters. Josie seems pretty well-rounded with a good head on her shoulders. While she's curious and she asks questions, she doesn't seem to go looking for trouble (which, in my opinion, is a good thing). I also enjoyed Evelyn, Lorna, Helen, Mitch, and the rest of the supporting characters.

This is my first "fiber arts" cozy mystery and I enjoyed it. I felt that the author did a good job balancing out the inclusion of the knitting and the yarn shop without it being smothering for those (like myself) who are not into knitting or crocheting.

The mystery itself was interesting and had plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. I didn't see the final twist coming, tho' given that there was still about 15% of the book left after the supposed climax, I knew something else was going to happen. I just didn't know what!

The only real complaint that I have is that I would have liked it if we'd found out where the body of one of the victims had actually been buried. It's alluded to, but we never really know for sure.

All in all tho' it was a fun read and if the author publishes more in the series, I'm definitely up for reading them!

** Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley who provided me with an ARC. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions are my own. **

A KNIT BEFORE DYING by Sadie Hartwell
The Second Tangled Web Mystery

Josie Blair is adjusting to life in small town Connecticut. A shop owner and new landlady, Josie's happy to see new life coming into the too quiet town. One of her new tenants has just moved in next door and the competition is on between two of her older friends to see who can snag this eligible antiques dealer. There are rumblings of trouble, however. Dougie, mayor and owner of the general store, is cutting corners at the g.s. and Diantha is still spewing venomous hatred at Josie. But everyone is in for a bigger shock when Josie meets her second tenant standing by the very dead body of his partner.

Josie Blair and her friends are back, breathing new life into Dorset Falls. Of course, since this is a mystery series the book also brings new death. In the second book in the Tangled Web Mystery series Sadie Hartwell takes on secrets from the past, combining an old missing persons case, with a new murder. Could they be related? Trouble at the general store, the ongoing feud between her uncle and Mitch's grandfather, and Josie's own inability to knit create a multidimensional story. Hartwell leads readers through a gamut of emotions including curiosity, anger, concern, and joy combined with laughter. I especially love Jethro and the pranks of the two crotchety old men!.

It's great to be back in Dorset Falls. We're given a fine mystery as well as a story about friendship and community. A KNIT BEFORE DYING is a book knitters will love, but you don't have to know how to knit to enjoy this book, heck, even Josie, our protagonist and owner of Miss Marple Knits, doesn't know how to knit. The book is about more than just knitting and yarn. It's about reaching out, trying new things, and creating new relationships.

Josie Blair wasn’t sure how moving her life from New York to the small town of Dorset Falls, Connecticut would work out for her, but things are going well. She is very happy with the success of her shop, Miss Marple’s Knits. She wants nothing more than to see the floundering town come to life with even more businesses. So, Josie is more than delighted when a new antique shop opens right next door. The new owner seems nice enough, but when she finds him dead in his shop, she doesn’t know what to think. The police arrest the man’s partner, but Josie is convinced there’s more to his death than anyone suspects.

As Josie does her own investigating, stumbles upon an old murder mystery that happens to be connected to her friends in Dorset Falls. She wonders if the old murder case may have something to do with the new one. She can’t leave it alone and continues to snoop around.

There’s also a side story involving Josie’s uncle Eb fighting with his old friend Roy, who happens to be the father of a man Josie is more than interested in. Josie and Mitch are getting closer all the time, but Eb and Roy are major stumbling blocks.

The story is more mystery than romance, which is good. The reader becomes engrossed in playing sleuth right along with Josie. There were so many different possibilities.

The author expertly combines both history with the present day. It’s done in an intriguing manner. It kept my interest from the beginning and never let go. I wanted to know what was going on and who was behind it all.

This is the second book in a series, but they do stand alone. However, it’s more fun when you get to know the characters right from the start. Beautifully developed characters who we met previously along with some new ones made for an entertaining read.



FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A strong continuation of a wonderful cozy series. We get a smattering of flirting and some goofy senior citizen pranks again, as well as a strong mystery plus a bonus cold case.
Josie returned home to care for her Uncle Eb, who really doesn't seem to want being cared for. She is not Suzy Homemaker by any means. She doesn't cook or knit, although she did inherit a yarn store. I really appreciated her attempts to learn on her own, not ask for help more often than most needed, and how strongly Josie held up during some very trying times.
Being a first time landlord (or is it landlady?) and trying to revitalize Dorset Falls' downtown, tragedy strikes the very first day when her new tenant is discovered, by Josie, who else, lying in a pool of blood, murdered by one of his own antiques.
This series is populated by very strong and well developed characters.
The author weaves in humorous moments to keep the mystery from becoming overly dark.
The relationship between Josie and her friends makes this a most enjoyable cozy community and series.

A Knit Before Dying by Sadie Hartwell is the second cozy mystery in A Tangled Web Mystery series. Josie Blair owns Miss Marple Knits as well as the building next to it in Dorset Falls, Connecticut. Josie has recently leased to Lyndon Bailey and his business partner, Harry Oglethorpe for Nutmeg Antiques and Curiosities. Josie purchases a box of beautiful (and one a little unusual) handcrafted doilies from Lyndon after he arrives. The day after the weekly knitting meetings, Josie heads over to give Lyndon some brownies. She walks in to find a stranger looking very pale standing in the middle of the shop. Josie goes to where the man is looking and finds Lyndon on the floor behind the checkout counter stabbed with old sheep shears. The stranger is Lyndon’s business partner, Harry. The police quickly zero in on Harry as the killer. Josie feels the solution is not so simple. She exchanges her knitting needles for a magnifying glass as she searches for clues and suspects. Who could have wanted to harm Dorset Falls newest citizen?

A Knit Before Dying may be the second book in A Tangled Web Mystery series, but it can be read alone. I do, though, recommend the delightful Yarned and Dangerous (first book in series). I was hooked with Yarned and Dangerous and could not wait to get my hands on A Knit Before Dying. I thought A Knit Before Dying was easy to read and had nice, relatable characters (there is a nice mix too). I appreciated the small-town setting and the yarn shop (I want to buy up all the beautiful yarn). The book has a nice, steady flow which keeps the book moving toward the conclusion. One of my favorite characters is Josie’s uncle, Eben Lloyd. He is such a character. I found myself laughing at his antics (his practical joke was very clever and amusing). My rating for A Knit Before Dying is 4.5 out of 5 stars (I loved it, but I did accurately solve mystery before reveal). I thought the mystery was intriguing with its complexity and uniqueness (hooray). Many readers will be surprised by the outcome (I loved it). I did feel that food was given too much attention. I do not need to know each and every item that the main character eats (I have been seeing this a lot lately in cozy mysteries). The romance element was light and nicely handled (thank you Ms. Hartwell). The ending is sweet and I loved who is teaching Josie to knit. I will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in A Tangled Web Mystery series.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this book.

This second installment takes us back to Dorset Falls where Josie is getting more comfortable running Miss Marple Knits even though she still has knot learned how to knit a stitch. She and Uncle Eb are also getting used to living together, him creating his “thingamajigs” and she making sure he eats and taking care of the house. She also has new tenants in the store next to hers. Lyndon Bailey is opening an antique store. His partner Harry Oglethorpe will be on the road searching for more items to sell.

While welcoming Lyndon she notices a box of vintage doilies. She doesn’t know what she’ll do with them yet but she can’t resist especially at the price Lyndon is asking.

But before any other customers can gaze at his treasures Josie finds Lyndon dead the next day. A pair of sheep shears protruding from his chest. His partner, Harry, has arrived in town just in time to become the police’s prime suspect. Josie disagrees and quickly finds herself tangled up in another murder investigation.

The characters I loved are all back in this one. Josie, a smart and determined woman is an wonderful leading lady. Her Uncle Eb plays a major prank on his neighbor Roy, and Mitch is there to help Josie get to the bottom of it. Their relationship also takes a small step in the right direction in a surprising and absolutely perfect way.

The author has added some interesting new characters as well. Harry trying to prove his innocence. Lyndon’s niece, Taylor arrives in town with a television producer claiming to be her uncle’s heir. We also learn about Bea Ryder, the woman who made the doilies. She disappeared from town many years ago and the case is still open.

Ms. Hartwell blends a old mystery with a new one and cleverly draws the reader into both. I was so impressed with how she connected everything together while giving us so many delightful twists. Life around Dorset Falls in knit right into the mysteries too. I found this book very hard to put down and would have read it all in one night had I not needed to get a little sleep.

The story contains enough of a backstory and would read well all on its own, but I recommend reading Yarned and Dangerous too!

I totally enjoyed my return trip to Dorset Falls. The characters are so engaging and the mysteries were quite a test to solve. Maybe by the next visit Josie may have learned to knit and maybe even purl. I hope we don’t have to wait too long.

A Knit before Dying by Sadie Hartwell is the 2nd book in the Tangled Web series. I loved this book and can not wait for the next adventure. Josie Blair leaves New York City to take care of her cranky great uncle Eb and ends up take over her aunt Cora's yarn shop. Sadie rents out the space next door, which she now owns, and the new renter is found dead. Wanting to save her business, Josie tries to solve the murder, and there are plenty of suspects.

Once I started this book I did not want to put it down. This book is filled with twists and turns, and don't forget the hunky neighbor next door. I recommended this book for anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries, and you don't have to be a knitting fan to enjoy this book.
This review is based on the ARC provided by the author and/or the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. G

Enjoyable second entry in the series.

Setting: Less physical description than in the first novel, but we learn more about some of the secondary characters (Eb and Roy).

Characters: Generally likable, although roy and Eb are still irritating and discovering that they are perpetuating a multi-generational grudge was disappointing--I was hoping for a juicy argument when they were much younger, maybe over the size of a fish or something equally silly. I do enjoy Helen and Evelyn and wish we'd get to know them a little better. I wish Josie didn't quite jump to conclusions (she did about Kai, and while he does turn out to be a jerk, her conclusion that Kai was teasing Harry with the reality tv show was silly--she met Harry for 5 minutes and could assume that he was interested in a tv show from that? Also, her jumping to the conclusion, ill founded as she later does find out, that she would be responsible for the antique store and its content,s when she already knew there was a niece who inherited and a partner who would inherit, is just a ridiculous passage and should have been edited out.)

Plot: OKay story, but the series could easily tip into stereotypical land: don't go to Dorset Falls, pop. a few thousand, because murders happen left and right (a la Cabot Cove and Murder, She Wrote). I did appreciate that the murderer of Bea was not who we were led to suspect.

Pacing: Well paced, with no dragging.

Overall, a pleasant series and while this second entry is not earth shaking, it's a good summer read.

Cathy Lamb novels are exquisite . She is one of my favorite authors and this book is truly wonderful.
In this story a cookbook binds generations of a family through love, heartbreak and death. It is beautifully told with stunning details and all the heartfelt compassion of her other works. Each women's story is heartwarming and compelling
The journey of the family takes the reader first to Odessa to Munich to London and, finally, to Montana where the story ends. You will absorb each page and not want this book to end.
I highly recommend No Place I'd Rather Be for your re. reading enjoyment. Thank you with gratitude for the ARC which did not influence my review.