I love cozy mysteries and this was a fun read. I am not much of a sewer so I just looked past all the references. This was not my favorite but it was pretty good. I think anyone who likes cozy's will enjoy this book.

This was a nice start for the series. I've had this book and been meaning to read it since it came out. Even though some of the names aren't easy to pronounce, I thought it was cool that the people on the peninsula were of Finnish descent and continued some of their ancestors' traditions. That was what made Hatti, the main character, decide that she wanted to open a knitting store inside her stepdad's bait shop. Since he and her mom were away on a second honeymoon, I'm guessing that the shop will open in the next book.

As a couple of the characters mentioned, this book did seem like "And Then There Were None." Was someone killing off the older people who lived in the Lighthouse Retirement Home? The first body was the man whose mother had left the lighthouse and a trust fund to the county for taking care of the older lower-income residents. How many more would die before Hatti and her friends could figure this mystery out? I actually did guess the killer fairly early on and kept wondering when the people--especially Hatti-- would realize--then I had to remember that I'm a reader of these mysteries and the main character was new at all of this mystery-solving. Of course she might end up trusting the wrong people. ;) I really liked all the main characters and definitely found myself caring about what happens to them next, so I do plan to read on in the series.

A cozy view into the heritage of Fin-Swedes or is it Swede-Fins...A lighthouse and trust fund bequeathed for the care of the senior citizens IF the only living heir does not return. So of course the wildly successful "prodigal" returns in the 11th hour. Martin returns to claim his rights and it turns out that he gets to lay claim to a son he never knew he had. Hatti knows that it doesn't look good for anyone involved and does her best to help the new deputy to organize the clues. Great group of seniors and loads of quirky characters including the Sheriff who drives a sports car he has to be wedged in to. Looking forward to finding the other installments as well!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. This was a great book, a very fun cozy mystery! I can’t wait to continue on with the series!

This cozy mystery was just the perfect book to read for an afternoon. I really enjoyed it. The characters were well-written and well-defined. They seemed like real people. Now, of course, their names were not American names as it was set in a Finnish village. That made this novel stand out, because the names of people and places were different from what I was used to. Also, the author threw in different foods that are popular there and explained them. I found that very interesting. I also found the storyline interesting and not boring at all. I am looking forward to book #2 to come out!

I enjoy crafts like knitting and cross stitching so I gravitate toward books about crafters. This was a nice, light mystery with interesting characters and cultural traditions that I'm unfamiliar with. My only complaint is that the Finnish names can make reading awkward because you have to slow down to figure them out. Other than that, I like this series and would probably read more Ann Yost books.

This is book one in a new cozy series set in the upper peninsula of Michigan. There is never much crime in the small village and when Hattie finds a dead body on the shore near the lighthouse it is a shock to the community. This is a knitting cozy but the mystery is nicely written. I think the biggest complaint about the story was the difficulty with not only the names of the characters but the towns. I realize that Ms. Yost has the story set in a Finnish village but I did have some trouble with pronunciation in my head. The story is wholesome and fun to read. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Great start to a new series!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were delightfully eccentric, the location was lovely and the story kept me guessing until the end. I received a copy from NetGalley and the publisher and this is my honest opinion.

A fun cozy mystery. It’s a fairly light-hearted read. The ladies of the retirement home give this story it’s sparkle. The mystery and plot were pretty much standard cozy mystery fare, but that was not a detriment to my enjoyment of the story. This book is rooted in “Finnish” traditions in the U.P. I liked this author and would read her books. Clean book with no foul language.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely fell for Hatti. She's amazing! Max is a bit of a mystery. I like him though. Keep Google close at hand if you aren't brushed up on your Swedish or Finnish. There are words you'll find yourself looking up. I liked it though. This book puts you in a culture that I at least would not have expected. The story itself kept a good pace. The characters were a delight to get to know. I had a hunch as to who the baddie was but Ann Yost is excellent at keeping you from being sure of yourself as she continues to challenge and mislead you. Not only that, but nobody is safe. You like everyone but will they be the baddie? Will they get killed? Seriously, you keep guessing because she will kill or save with no remorse.

Some things made this book feel like it wasn't the first in the series to me but it is. I enjoyed learning more about the Upper Michigan Peninsula as well as about sub-cultures. It's always a fun thing for me when I learn a little something. Because I'm me, I actually looked it up to see if this was fiction and learned that this at least isn't. The highest concentration of Finnish Americans live in Michigan's Upper Peninsula making up 16% of the population.

The scenery is described beautifully and I find myself wanting to go for a visit. Set in summer, it's the perfect summer read to take you away from your every day.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ann Yost, and ePublishing Works for allowing me the chance to read this book and share my thoughts and opinions with others.

I received a free copy of A Pattern for Murder (The Bait & Stitch Cozy Mystery Series, Book 1) by Ann Yost in exchange for an honest review. Hattie Lehtinen has recently moved home to process the sudden and unexpected end of her brief marriage. Hattie lives in a lighthouse with several local seniors. The lighthouse, if not claimed by the direct heir of the benefactress before a year is up, was bequeathed to the town, along with five million dollars, for the purpose of becoming a retirement home. At the eleventh hour, however, the heir shows up and announces his intention of ousting the residents and selling it to a developer. When the heir is found murdered the next day, the local police are ill-equipped to perform the investigation. Hattie begins her investigation because it seems like law enforcement is looking only as far as an easy answer. As Hattie’s investigation progresses, a local senior goes missing and more murders are discovered. Was the killer motivated by money, by passion, by desperation, or by something else entirely?

This was a great first book in the series. It was fun getting to know the quirky characters. You may even want to read future books to find out how things work out for the townsfolk.

#APatternForMurder(theBait&StitchCozyMysterySeries,Book1) #NetGalley

I did finish the book, but I really didn't want to bother. The clues were very obvious and the killer was easily identifiable early in the book. It was a slow slog through this one.

"A Pattern for Murder" is the first in a new craft-centric mystery series: The Bait & Stitch Cozy Mystery Series by Ann Yost. In this series, Hatti Lethiten has returned to her hometown in the UP (Upper Peninsula, MI) to restart her life after her marriage falls apart. A knitter, she plans to open a knit/yarn shop in her family's existing bait shop in town. Finnish-American pride runs strong in the town and amongst the local "cast of characters." Life is fairly easy going in this town until a prodigal son returns to claim the local lighthouse that was left to him (& had been turned into a local retirement home). Before long, this man is found dead on the beach below the lighthouse and confusion ensues as the local sheriff & deputy try to solve the case. Not satisfied with how the case is progressing, Hatti dives into solving the case and larger family mysteries. Along the way, the story is infused with both Yooper culture and Finnish culture and also a bit of knit knowledge. Having spent time in the UP, I could picture the locales & the culture shared in the story. This is a fun entry into the "cozy mystery" genre.

A Pattern for Murder is the 1st book in the Bait & Switch Cozy Mystery Series, and my first book by this author. This book has more twists and turns, that kept me reading page after page. Just when I thought I figured out the mystery, I'm wrong. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love fun cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Light humor and interesting details.
A cozy murder mystery with lots of information about the Finnish culture.