Member Reviews
A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,
Great read for someone looking for something ultra light. I loved the characters and the finding family aspect of the book. I also enjoyed reading more about Judaism.
Having read another book in the series it was nice to visit and sleuth with Martha again. I have come to really enjoy this series and the mysteries the author creates.
I would like to thank Kensington Books for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley. Any reviews I give are done obligation free, and are unpaid… well, unless you count getting this book for free… but we won’t go there. ;-)
‘Knot My Sister’s Keeper’ is book six in ‘A Quilting Mystery’ series and a book I had been hanging out for and was so pleased to get a chance to read. I love this series, have done so from book one – ‘Forget me Knot’ and was not disappointed when I read it.
I will say I found ‘Knot My Sister’s Keeper’ a little different to the other books in the series as there wasn’t as much quilting as there was sleuthing… but the imbalance was minimal and I almost feel like I’m just being a whinger to mention it! :-D Still, there was a feel and undertone to this book that, for me, had it not seem the same as the other books in the series… it was as if the series went off tangent a little. But in all honesty I don’t think it did REALLY go off tangent as the questions sought – and answered – are ones that have been rattling around in the series all along. Maybe it was just the introduction to such a brash new character that did it? It’s not that I didn’t enjoy Giselle. I don’t know... There was just a feel of slight difference to this book that set it apart from the others in the series. Not in a bad way, please don’t think that at all. Just in a way that… well, I guess it could be a new key stone to expanding the series even further. And I would never complain about that! :-)
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would, especially those who have read the other five books in this series. And if you haven’t – go read them and then read this one. And tell me if I am wrong about the feel of the book. :-)
Would I buy this book for myself?
Of course! I mean, on Amazon, eBook prices have gone through the roof and I look at the cost of ANY eBook there now and go pale. I understand paper books costing more for the print run, but eBooks? So when I see that ‘Knot my Sister’s Keeper’ and the other books in this series are still being sold at a sensible price – of course I will keep buying and enjoying them. It is a good series at a decent price. What more could this crafty cosy crime loving lady want?
In summary: I felt the book was a little different to the others in the series, but still just as enjoyable and highly recommendable.
Martha attempts to learn more about her ancestry, and finds herself not only with a half-sister, but also with a murder mystery to solve. Marks really raises the stakes in her latest mystery, and I greatly enjoyed it!
This is book 6 in the Quilting Mystery series. It can be read stand alone but it gives lots of updates from the previous stories. Martha Rose has been looking for her unknown father and is surprised to learn she has a half sister. When she meets Giselle she discovers she lives not too far away in Los Angeles and that her father was there also for much of her life. Now Giselle and Martha Rose decide to look for their missing father. Nicely written and tied into the popular DNA testing advertised so heavily on TV. Lots of quilting tips. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is the sixth installment of the Quilting Mystery series and I have enjoyed them all. This one is a bit different from the others in the series in that the mystery is a 32 year old murder. I think it is also important to know that you do not have to be a quilter, want to be a quilter or know anything about quilting to enjoy this book or series.
Martha Rose never met her father. He abandoned her mother when she told him that she was pregnant, Martha had been told that he died. For a gift, Martha's daughter Quincey, paid for a DNA test for her mother. When she submits it, she finds out that her father was of Irish descent and she had a half sister. The ladies meet and Martha finds out that her father had not died before she was born, but had disappeared 32 years earlier and was presumed dead. Martha and Gisele decide to find out what e to their father. The two sisters decide to combine forces and investigate the mystery of their father's disappearance.
I was engaged in this story throughout. It was very interesting to see the relationship between Martha (Gisele calls her Sissy) and Gisele (called G by Martha) develop. It was very realistic, although a bit quick. Lucy and Jazz were back as fellow quilters and friends as well as Yossi, Martha's fiancee and her daughter Quincey. The police she works with as well as the ladies at the Memory Centre added a bit of the humor to the story. Gisele and Martha played off each other throughout much of the book and I couldn't help but smile and laugh at their antics and interactions. There were a few plot twists and some good red-herrings. I had no idea who the murderer was and almost thought the ladies would never find out. I really enjoyed the details the author included about Jewish rituals and customs. There were explanations of dietary laws, Yiddish words and phrases, celebration of the Sabbath, and life cycle events. When Gisele thoughtlessly made comments using Jewish stereotypes, I liked the way Martha dealt with it. I definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers, in fact, I recommend the whole series. The publisher, Kensington Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas and opinions are my own.
If you are looking for a cozy with a Jewish flair, quilting, and different type of mystery then look no further then this adorable book. Martha was raised believing her father died in an accident only to find out differently years later though not who he was. When her daughter pushed her to do an ancestry DNA thing she agrees. What follows is really quite intriguing as each new secret is revealed. Daddy had some problems I must say. I never could have predicted the ending either. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Author Mary Marks keeps each book in her Quilting Mystery series fresh and exciting. KNOT MY SISTER'S KEEPER is no exception. With protagonist Martha Rose's discovery of a half sister, and investigating the streets of LA, this makes for on of the most adventured filled stories in the series to date. As long as Marks keeps going like this, there is no end in sight to this series!
This is the 6th book in this cozy series. I have read a few others and liked them. I am drawn to crafting cozies and learn many things I will probably never put into practice. This book is a fun read and I thought the plot with the DNA kit was timely and interesting. I am going to be looking for all the books in this series and will definitely read the following books. Thank you netgalley for the gift of the ebook ARC in exchange for this, my honest opinion.
Princess Fuzzypants here: I have been reading this series and have enjoyed the earlier books but for the first time, I really felt connected with Martha. I cannot tell you what changed but I was engrossed in this story. Martha, who has learned that the father she thought had died before she was born actually deserted her mother when he discovered she was pregnant. So, when her daughter “gifts” her with a DNA kit, she approaches it with some trepidation. Now that she knows that things she held as true are not, is she ready to find out more. And she had better be ready because there are tons of secrets including siblings and murder.
Love is also in the air both for Martha and her daughter Quincey. With all the changes going on, there are good changes and bad changes- or at least changes that worry Martha a great deal. I admire Martha. Yes, like so many cozies, she does tend to tick a few of the local cops off but she also works with others who recognize her smarts. I like the way she is a zoftig woman who is still highly attractive to men. I like her spunk and her intelligence and heart.
It is an intriguing story as well. Love and betrayal and responsibility and jealousy all combine to tell the story of a man who loved them and left them once too often. The reader can relate to the myriad of emotions Martha is experiencing as she learns more and more about her past and her future.
I give it five purrs and two paws up.
This was my first book to read in this series, but I was easily able to catch up with the background of the story. This was an interesting, well-written mystery with quite a surprise twist at the end. However, I just did not connect with any of these characters. I might feel differently about that if I’d previously read the other books in this series.
I’m not inclined to follow this particular series, but I might want to read another book by this author with a different set of characters.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This is the first book in this series that I have read, and it won’t be the last, first I am a quilter, and second I found myself laughing out loud, this author is a great story teller.
We hit on genealogy big time here, and getting DNA in an uncouth way, stealing a cup! This story is about finding family, living with family, and getting away from family.
New relatives tracking down their missing father, and surprises and chuckles abound, a great book to unwind with and enjoy!
I received this book through Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
This is book six in this cozy mystery quilting series. This is the first book I have read in the series and I loved it. I enjoy crafting cozies and this is as interesting as it is fun to read. I will be reading the first books in series and look forward to the next book. As a first time reader to the series I was able to be introduced to the characters and understand the background of the series from the author's description.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review. I highly recommend this book for your reading enjoyment.
This is a fun read with lots of quilting in between a well crafted sleuth ( pun on words. ) . I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I was introduced to our protagonist is Martha Rose who is recently engaged. She finds out she has a sister she never knew who is a CEO and also wants to get to know Martha. Together they decided to solve their Father's decades old murder. They make a good crime solving team and I look forward to reading more about these two solving cases together.
The characters all add to the story, the quilting is fun and the sleuth was very well crafted. I enjoyed reading this new to me series very much.
I really enjoyed this book! Only the second in the series that I've read, so far. I couldn't put it down, the story was so interesting and entertaining. The character G was a fabulous addition! I like how different she is than most characters in cozy mysteries. Very unique. The relationship with sissy was fantastic. I can't wait for the next in the series! Loved this book.
I normally don't read a series out of order, but sometimes if a new book to a longer-running series comes out and I've been wanting to try the series, I'll jump in and do that. I'm definitely going to start this one from the beginning. This book was so good, I found it hard to put it down. I quickly grew to like all the regular characters and the idea of the quilting meetings.
Martha Rose was just getting used to being someone's fiancee when she found out she had a wealthy half-sister who lived nearby, who just happened to also be CEO of an oil company. When they got together, they found out they did both have things in common, mainly the desire to find out what happened in the case investigating their dad's disappearance 32 years ago. I thought it was kind of interesting and different for the murder to have occurred that long ago instead of having a current murder to solve. Martha and her new sister, Giselle, become friends fairly quickly despite Giselle's outspoken and seemingly rude comments. Martha found that it was just who she was, but Giselle did try to rein herself in sometimes.
Not only had Martha gained a fiance and sister in a short period of time, she also learned of another couple of someones to join their family. I won't say who they are so that I don't spoil it. The cold case murder involved finding and talking to detectives that had worked the case so long ago. One detective had dementia now, but Martha and Giselle felt that she held the key to what had really happened to their father. They did finally get some closure and the story had a really nice ending. I'm definitely curious to see how this all started out. The author does a nice job of getting readers acquainted with the characters but doesn't let any of the previous murder spoilers slip out, which I definitely appreciated since this was my first in this series to read, but it definitely won't be my last. Very well written and well-plotted!
Knot My Sister’s Keeper by Mary Marks is the sixth novel in A Quilting Mystery series. Martha Rose is bewildered when she receives a DNA kit in the mail from Deep Roots. Her daughter, Quincy sent it as a surprise, so Martha can find out more about the father she never knew. Martha is shocked when she learns she has a half-sister. Giselle Cole, Martha’s half-sister, is a wealthy widow living in Los Angeles and is looking forward to meeting Martha. Giselle is a forthright woman with expensive tastes and an over-the-top personality. Martha learns her grandmother was a quilter and she passed away leaving an unfinished quilt. Martha learns her father was Jacob Quinn Maguire, a painter who disappeared in 1980. Martha and Giselle want to learn what happened to Jacob and set out to get answers. Martha with the aid of her friends stitch together the clues.
Knot My Sister’s Keeper may be the sixth book in the series, but it can be read alone. I thought the story was well-written with a nice steady pace. I thought the story was well thought out and it contains a complex main character with a charming case of secondary characters. Martha is a strong, sassy smart woman with a gift for quilting and knack for solving crimes. I like that Martha Rose is a mature woman who has Fibromyalgia. Many people do not understand the disease or believe it is not real. We get to see what can trigger an episode and the pain Martha experiences. It was interesting to learn more about the Jewish culture and their traditions. It was a nice touch and allowed us to get to know Martha in a different way. Giselle is a dynamic woman, and I was happy to see her outlook changing towards the end of the story. The mystery was multifaceted and there was active investigating (no sitting back and waiting for clues to come to them). I do enjoy a complex mystery (I like the challenge). There are good clues to aid in solving the 32-year-old crime and it was clever how the author incorporated the clues for Martha into the story. I did miss Birdie in this Knot My Sister’s Keeper. There are references to her, but she is not present in the story (she is my favorite secondary character). Quincy is in town, but she is spending her time with Detective Noah Kaplan much to Martha’s dismay. Quincy has a special announcement for the family (oh no). The ending is just beautiful and will leave you smiling. The history of needles is included at the end of the book which I found fascinating. I am eager for the next installment in A Quilting Mystery series. I wonder if Martha will marry Yossi soon?
Knot My Sister's Keeper by Mary Marks is the 6th book in A Quilting Mystery series, and another enjoyable fun book. Martha Rose receives a DNA test in the mail from her daughter. When she receives the results she is shocked to find out she has a half-sister.
Martha never met her father, so is excited to meet Giselle and learn about him. When Martha finds out their father disappeared years ago, they work together to get to the bottom of what happened to him. This book made me laugh out loud at times. Not only is this book funny, it has a great mystery. I was hooked from the beginning, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book. You don't have to be a quilter to enjoy this series.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Knot My Sister’s Keeper is a different book than the rest of them in the Quilting Mystery series. This book is very personal to Martha. After submitting her DNA through an ancestry database, Martha learns that she has a sibling, a half-sister named Giselle Cole. The exact opposite of Martha, Giselle is rich, glamorous, and tactless. What they do have in common is the want of family and to know why their father disappeared without a trace so many years ago. An up-and-coming artist, their father disappeared at the high of his career, never to be heard from or seen again.
The emotional content in this book is heightened due to the personal nature of the situation. Thinking she had limited family members, Martha can’t believe that she has a half-sister. When the gravity of the situation surrounding their father comes to light, the new-found sisters know they have to try and find him. This entire book was an emotional rollercoaster. I liked the unique spin of this book compared to the rest of the books in this series.
Martha Rose is the typical heroine - totally not a crime solver/fighter but makes it her duty to dive in head first whether there's water in the pool or not. Martha Rose puts herself into vary precarious situations and breaks a lot of laws in her quest to find the killer. During downtime in the quest to find their father, Martha still holds the quilting sessions that now include others besides Lucy and Birdie. Giselle, even though she is thoughtless in the things she says does take an active interest in Martha and Crusher’s Jewish customs and traditions, bringing the two sisters that much closer together. The relationship between Martha and Crusher is sweet and I’m honestly glad she is with him. He is so devoted to Martha and she to Crusher.
Mary Marks does another wonderful job building up the mystery and keeping everything a secret. The truth of the situation is revealed at the perfect time and the person responsible is not the person I thought it would be. The writing flows well and is concise. The author's writing style is fluid and smooth and so easy to get lost in. The romantic elements of Knot My Sister's Keeper are subtle and don't overshadow the mystery. The entire novel is engaging; never a dull moment.
Absolutely delightful cozy mystery that seamlessly integrates the love of quilting with an unusual premise. Daughter Dearest sends off for a DNA test for her mother and the results knock her socks off. Martha Rose is surprised to discover she has a half-sister she never knew existed. What's more, Martha's sister, Giselle Cole, is rich. Really, stinkin' rich, but Giselle is an acquired taste. It is Giselle's grandmother who also shared a common interest in quilting providing the familial link.
Giselle actually knew their father until he disappeared when she was eight years old. Martha, of course, is not a total stranger to sleuthing and it's not long before she's off to figure out what happened to daddy, an acclaimed artist. Martha's financé, Yossi, or "Crusher," is an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, and Tobacco and has connections which will prove useful since this constitutes a REALLY cold case. Her dad disappeared more than thirty years ago.
This book is such a hoot! I really enjoyed the author's writing style, that terrific sense of humor. Loved that the protagonist is a middle-aged woman with a few extra pounds and is involved in a hobby she is good at. Her romantic interest is cleverly done with a mature view. Giselle, while a widow, is 180 degrees from the sensibilities of Martha and their contrast makes for some hilarious dialogue. The support characters are well fleshed and contribute to a sense of tight kinship. It doesn't take long before the reader is invested enough that he/she must learn the truth of what happened to daddy as well.
This is the sixth in the series, but would function well as a standalone. The story is well-plotted and progressed smoothly, never lagged, and the conclusion is most satisfying. I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley through a book tour and greatly appreciate the opportunity to read and review. It was totally my pleasure! Recommended to all who enjoy a fun, fast novel.