As Samantha, “Sammy” Kane tries to figure out the murder of a well-loved author within the craft world, she is also caught up with the death of her best friend, Kate. Was Kate’s death a tragic accident? Or, was her death murder? The author, was in town for a book signing, and alluded to Sammy, she had information on Kate’s death. Before the author could share, she was murdered!

Sammy, her sister Ellie, and cousin Heide, are part of a threesome known as the SHEs. The group began during their childhood and they created an “investigative” club. (This brought back fond memories of Nancy Drew, and her friends). Although, Sammy can be one the impulsive side, her sister and cousin try to keep her safe and inline, not to mention the assistance a good-looking detective! Unfortunately, her inquisitive mind puts her in danger!

With several twists and turns, along with multiple suspects, the question is: To what length will Sammy go to catch a killer, before the killer catches her!

Although, I did not read the first book in this series, I wasn’t lost. The background story is weaved throughout the book. This definitely helped me get a feeling for the characters. This was an enjoyable read and will appeal to those the who enjoy cozy mystery genre. Likeable characters, and a well thought plot have me waiting for book three! I requested this Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book through NetGalley and Crooked Lane books. I was happy to leave a review of my thoughts.

I honestly couldn't put this down--it kept my interest all the way through. There were a lot of good twists and red herrings. Just when I thought I knew who did it, I'd suspect someone else. Then the ultimate twist came at the end. If anyone read the first book, they might remember that Sammy's good friend Kate had started the craft shop, and at the end, her ex-boyfriend had stated that Kate's death wasn't an accident. Of course, when Sammy heard that the visiting author wanted to tell her something about Kate, she was very interested in finding out what it was. Only she was too late when she found the woman dead. Sammy and Liam were at their irritating-each-other best in this book. I really hope they can finally come to agreement sometime, lol. It's a little nerve-wracking to have them constantly at each other, kind of hot and cold if that makes sense. I'm definitely interested in reading the next book now!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

I loved it.. any cozy that involves any type of yarn craft has my interest and this one didn’t disappoint. Great writing and great flow to the story.. I think I found a new author

I love cozies centered round crafts and this book was awesomely centered around a cute little craft store in Wisconsin.. When famous author comes to town for a book signing, but instead of signing books ends up murdered Sammy and the S.H.E detective team must solve a murder. This is the second book in the series but could be read as a stand alone. The character are great and there is a lot going on in personal relationships. I grew up with cousins, so I could relate. The mystery kept my interest and I didn't want to stop reading the book until I knew who the killer was. I would recommend this book especially if you like cozies with crafts

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

A Crafter Hooks a Killer can be read as a standalone if you have not read A Crafter Knits a Clue. Samantha “Sammy” Kane is happy running Community Craft which fosters community spirit and encouraging artists. She is happy to be back in her hometown with Heidi and Ellie. Her budding romance with Detective Liam Nash, though, has stalled out since he has not contacted her since the case was closed. Jane Johnson, the Queen of Crafts, is coming to Community Craft for a book signing which is quite a coup for their small town. But then Jane ends up murdered after telling Sammy she had sensitive information to share regarding Kate Allen’s death. Kate was Sammy’s best friend and she realizes she does not know the details of how she died. I like how the author tied the two whodunits together. Sammy, Heidi and Ellie (the S.H.E. detective team) are quick to assemble so they can unravel this knotty mystery. Despite being told by multiple people to leave the case to the police, Sammy questions various people while Heidi wheedles information out of her police officer boyfriend (poor Tim). There is no absence of case details as the ladies’ work into the two crimes. I liked when Sammy said that she had “a gift for seeking and finding the truth”. Friendship, family, and food are not lacking in A Crafter Hooks a Killer. Holly Quinn’s food descriptions will have your mouth watering. I enjoyed reading about the beautiful painted glasses and crocheted blankets. There are instructions for a lap blanket at the end of the book. A Crafter Hooks a Killer has three curious ladies, two complex crimes, one disgruntled detective and a delightful doggie.

Crafter hooks the killer is a mystery surrounding a murder, that leads back to another possible crime that transpired long ago. With the past and present incidents tangling up as the case unravelled...its time for Sammy to face what she'd been avoiding ever since she came back home.

Pros
Aside from the interesting premise we have great character development and relationships between characters are realistic and something to root for.

The protagonist sleuthing behaviour is believable with her impulsive drive to get to the bottom of the case frequently landing her in trouble with the Police.

I really appreciated this bit since most other cosy mysteries make it seem like Police are incapable while citizens are born detectives. while in this book the police try to shirk her involvement and even warn her with the threat of charges.

It managed to balance the past and present events in a way it wasn't too convoluting to understand and the ending was conclusive and satisfying leaving no questions hanging.

Cons
I didn't really enjoy all the Craft talk, maybe tweaking some details would have made it more wholesome.


In a nutshell, This was an enthralling mystery with enjoyable, fleshed out characters.
The only setback was the info dumping, (or maybe I'm not into crafts that's why I found it a bit deary to read ).

I was so happy to return to Heartsford and Community Craft!  Coming from a small town in the Midwest, the whole idea appeals to me.  Although I've been out of Illinois for many years at this point, I still feel drawn to the whole area.  The people in Heartsford remind me of my family and their friends who still live out that way and that really endears them all to me in a big way.

Sammy Kane is a much more well-rounded character in this second novel.  I had a few issues with her in the first novel, mainly how prickly she could be and the fact she wouldn't let anyone help her do anything, not even her fellow SHE's.  That, thankfully, changed in this sequel.  While she's still very adamant on doing things her way, Sammy is less reluctant to accept help.  I also love that she and Detective Nash come to an understanding in regards to her snooping.  They both know she shouldn't be doing it, but now he at least understands she's not going to stop either.

A Crafter Hooks a Killer is a fun and enjoyable murder mystery with a few twists I hadn't seen coming.  The mystery surrounding Kate's murder - the reason Sammy returned to Heartsford - was a nice addition.  Although the end result didn't make anyone happy, I enjoyed the way it all played out in the end.  Can't wait to see what kind of trouble Sammy and her SHEs get into in the next novel.

This is such a good story. I really enjoyed the first story and it was like a knife in my heart when there was the implication that Kate's death was not an accident. Fast forward and Sammy Kane who is running the Community Craft Store in Heartsford Wisconsin is looking forward to hosting a book signing and meeting the Queen of Crafts Jane Johnson. Sammy comes into the store and Jane has arrived early and wants to talk privately to Sammy. As customers come in and see who is in the store it is apparent there will be no privacy there. Sammy suggests that Jane take a walk down to the rivers edge and relax while she goes to get them a couple of coffees. Jane agrees but tells her that what she has to tell her is about Kate and what she has learned could "change everything". Troubled by these words Sammy rushes to get the coffees and when she arrives Jane appears to be sleeping but in reality she has been murdered. Strangled from behind. This brings Sammy back in contact with detective Liam Nash who is was crushing on a bit in the last book. Liam warns Sammy from the investigation but when she explains the link to Kate he relents somewhat but warns Sammy that she and the S.H.E. (Sammy, Heidi and Ellie) investigators to not do anything rash. Sammy and Ellie's parents are in town and it was nice to see the interaction with her parents and family. This was so gut wrenching at times as it involved links to her best friends "accident". I could not put this down so I could find out what happened. You get so vested in these characters and the story moves at a good pace. Love this series and Sammy, Heidi and Ellie they are all have such heart. Let's hope in the next book a little more romance with Liam. Highly recommend

A cozy mystery with an OK plot and good characters. It's an easy read, but rather boring with a lot of trivial dialogue and everyday life.

Sammy Kane owns a small craft shop in Heartsford, Wisconsin; she took over the business for her best friend, Kate, who died suddenly. She is excited about a famous crafter, Jane Johnson, visiting the shop. When she meets Jane, the famous author suggests that she has news about Kate's death. Then Sammy discovers Jane's body, and she works with her sister and cousin - and her almost-boyfriend, police detective Liam Nash - to solve the mystery.

This is the second book in the Handcrafted Mystery series. I have read both books and thoroughly enjoyed them. Holly Quinn does an especially good job at capturing the small, Midwestern town atmosphere.

I really like Sammy, her cousin Heidi, and sister Ellie. They created a play detective group called S.H.E. (for their first names) as young girls, and they still work together to solve mysteries. I liked this description of one of their S.H.E. meetings:

"The fireflies were just starting to pop their neon glows of brilliance in the blackening sky. The luminosity bounced around the backyard grass and bushes as if the fireflies were putting on a private light show for them. The three S.H.E.s huddled together around Sammy's backyard picnic table with the pages of the manuscript spread between them. Remnants of dried coagulated cheese and corn chip crumbs littered the bottom of the baking dish, evidence of a well-eaten nacho platter" (Kindle location 2784).

Sammy can be impulsive at times and does not take the precautions for her safety that an experienced detective would take. I think this is part of her character though, and her approach to amateur sleuthing.

Detective Liam Nash is as charming as ever, and I enjoyed his scenes with Sammy.

Of course, I also loved Sammy's dog (who often visits her shop), Bara! (I consider all cozy mysteries more interesting if a lovable pet is part of the story.)

The mystery was well done. I suspected the murderer but enjoyed seeing the details unravel. The book is fast paced and I read it in just a few days because I was eager to see what happened!

I recommend A Crafter Hooks a Killer and the Handcrafted Mystery series. Readers who are interested in crafting or small town settings will especially enjoy this book.

Who would want to kill the Queen of Crafts?
A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn is a marvelous mystery set in a small Wisconsin community filled with crafters, farmers, and a killer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story; it is fresh and welcoming.

Samantha Kane
Sam, as her friends call her is our sleuth and the owner of Community Craft. Sam doesn’t have much time for crafting, but she does run a successful craft shop. She is also a curious amateur sleuth, much to the dislike of the local detective Liam Nash.

I like that Sam is honoring her best friend Kate by running Kate’s store and keeping the heart of the community alive. Sam has lots of great qualities, like a great head for business, her love of her town and it's society, the relationships that she keeps with her family, friends, and neighbors. She also isn’t the girl who is always worrying about her looks. I liked Sam and wouldn’t change her at all.

Things to look for (and that I liked)
• The Kanes coming back to visit from Arizona, I enjoyed their bickering with each other.
• Ellie’s common sense and honest attitude about marriage were enlightening (not that I am married or have been).
• Heidi, with her good looks, isn’t always filled with confidence. I also liked the way she doesn’t want to marry Tim if he isn’t the right one. How do you know?
• Marilyn from the Sweet Tooth Bakery is such a gossip; I loved it.
• Deborah, the lady who paints wine glasses and such is a great friend to Sam.
• The budding relationship between Liam and Sam…I can’t wait to see them together.
• The way the mystery of the Craft Queen and Kate Allen death morph into one mystery.
• I love the way that Sam gets people to tell her things and makes it seem like they volunteered it.
• Then we have the S.H.E. detective agency. Sam, Heidi, and Ellie are more like the Scooby gang, but I loved their get-togethers. Those three must have been a handful growing up.

5 Stars for A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn
My rating for A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn is five stars. The mystery, setting, characters, and their interactions were perfectly crafted into this outstanding story, which I adore. I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Oh, and there is a recipe for lasagna along with a crochet pattern for a lap blanket at the end of the book.

I highly recommend this book to all Cozy readers.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn.

Anyways, until next time,
Karen the Baroness
Happy Reading

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

I looked thr first book in this series but just couldn't get into this one. I'm not particularly sure what it was but I didn't get through the book. I may try again though.

I enjoyed this second visit to Heartsford, Wisconsin and the craft store, Community Crafts, owned by Sammantha "Sammy" Kane. She returned to town in the previous book, A Crafter Knits a Clue and has taken over Community Crafts, once owned by her childhood friend, Kate. When Kate dies in what is declared an accident, Sammy honors her memory, keeping her mission going - everybody helping everybody in the community. When craft author, Jane Johnson, contacts Sammy about doing a chapter on Kate and the store for her new book, Sammy can't say yes fast enough. Jane Johnson is a star in the crafting world. After they meet at the store, Jane asks if they can meet again in a quiet location, she has something she needs to talk to her about - Kate and the store. By the time Sammy arrives at the river bench chosen for their meeting, it's too late to discuss anything. Somebody has killer Jane and scrawled THE END on her latest book. What drove a person to kill her and did it it have anything to do with Kate?
Something I like about this series is the childhood 'club' S.H.E. - the crime investigation team of Sammy, her cousin Heidi and her sister Ellie. Unlike so many other cozy series where the police want the amateur sleuth to stay out of their business, Liam accepts the fact that Sammy and the team may have something to contribute to his investigation. Most of the time he has his hands full trying to keep her out of harms way. Luckily they are a pretty good investigative team.
Both the characters and the setting are well drawn and the mystery is strong, full of the expected twists, turns and red herrings. It had me guessing to the very end. Plus, it didn't hurt that Sammy has a wonderful Golden Retriever named Bara. I'm all ready to read the next installment, A Crafter Quilts a Crime coming out February 11, 2020.

Good mystery with fun characters. It felt a little wordy for me at times - that's a matter of personal preference. I prefer to focus on dialogue and action rather than description. I thoroughly enjoyed Sammy and her SHE group. Nice twist with the killer in the end. I'll need to track down book one so I can get caught up on the history with these characters.

Most cozy mystery readers I know also love the themes that come with different series.
Sammy Kane is a shopkeeper who runs a store dedicated to crafts made by local artisans.
She also hosts community events in her cozy space. This was not always her dream but she took it on after the death of her best friend from childhood.
Now the town is getting ready for a book signing appearance from a celebrity author, sort of a more well known Carol Duvall.
When the author shows up a few days early, requesting a private aside with Sammy, everyone's curiosity is piqued. When that same author is discovered murdered before she can tell Sam what she discovered, and news reporters from all over the nation descend upon this small town, you can imagine how chaotic life becomes. Add to that, Sammy and Ellie's parents arrive for a visit and Detective Nash actually seems to be open to allowing Sammy to investigate alongside him. Maybe he thinks keeping her close is just easier than trying to keep her safe as she investigates on her own.

This series is close to my heart because it takes place close to my real life area and I also wish I was part of a crafting community like this. I was close to my sister and cousin growing up and miss that bond. We never did the Nancy Drew investigating though.
This case does tie back to Sammy's old school days and her closest friendships.

With a current investigation to solve, a mystery about the secret message the murdered author never had a chance to relay, and some relationship tensions as well, this book kept me glued to the pages, not wanting to take a break until all was explained.
Craftily written, you'll also get caught up in this well knotted tale.

I was so pleased I was given the opportunity to read this cracking cozy mystery. Initially, I was lured by the wonderful premise as it had a little bit of everything on offer - a quaint setting in a quiet(?!) village, a cute craft shop, a B & B and a bakery selling delicious cakes. Perfect.

I loved the storyline. The plot was so engaging and the pacing was perfect. I was totally engrossed from the first few pages. Although this was book two in the ‘Handcrafted Mystery’ series, it wasn’t a problem as plenty of back-story was given where needed and this did not interrupt the flow of the mystery.

The writing style of Holly Quinn was great for me. There was a good combination of descriptive passages to dialogue. The characters were all very interesting with their own personalities and foibles. My favourites were the protagonist, Sammy and the handsome detective, Liam Nash, with his smouldering, chocolate-brown eyes. Sammy herself came across as fun-loving, effervescent and very down-to-earth.

There was a good mix of general village life to the mystery and I was with Sammy all the way, trying to guess the identity of the perpetrator. I remained in the dark until the very exciting and fulfilling ending.

I will be reading book one in the series - ‘A Crafter Knits a Clue’ - as soon as I get the opportunity.

If cozies are one of your genres of choice, you really must read A Crafter Hooks a Killer.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, at my own request. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Wow Holly Quinn has written another humdinger of a story with a cold case and a new case colliding and leaving you breathless!

Sammy and the Community Craft shop are looking forward to welcoming Jane Johnson aka The Queen of Crafts to a book signing, she arrives a few days early and wishes to speak with Sammy in private, by the time Sammy has got some coffee and arrived at the meeting place she finds the Queen is dead! The only thing Sammy knows is that Jane Johnson said there was something wrong with the accident that killed Sammy's best friend, now Sammy and the S.H.E team (Sammy, her cousin Heidi and Sammy's sister Ellie) start digging into the old case and the new.

Add in distractions in the forms of Ellie and Sammy's parents arriving on the scene and and old crush of Sammy's being back in town (and looking as good as ever, if not better!), Heidi distracted by her relationship with Officer Tim, Ellie trying to juggle motherhood and sleuthing, oh and Detective Nash semi letting Sammy into the investigation and you have a very complex situation without the murder!

I received this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery featuring Sammie, Ellie and Heidi, the S.H.E. investigating team. I also loved Liam Nash, the handsome detective who seems to have a thing for Sammie. I kind of knew who the killer probably was, but was happy when it came as a shock to Sammie and Liam. Fun cozy mystery.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back in Heartsford, Wisconsin, and it’s summertime. Sammy Kane is planning for a big event at Community Craft. A book signing with Jane Johnson, The Queen of Crafts. Jane is also writing a new book that will include one chapter about Community Craft and its original owner, Sammy’s best friend, Kate Allen.

The author surprises Sammy by arriving in town early and requesting a private meeting with her. They agree to meet on a bench by the river. Sammy arrives a short time after Jane, but she is waaayyyy too late. The author is dead and holding her last book. The killer has scratched a deadly message too, “THE END” on the book. Sammy knows the author wanted to talk to her about Kate and the store, but why would anyone kill her over that?

The death brings Sammy back together with Detective Liam Nash which seems to make them both very happy. But Liam tells her to let him handle the case. There is no way Sammy can do that. This case has something to do with Kate and she can’t just back away. She quickly assembles the S.H.E. team (Sammy, her cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie) to help her untangle the clues. Together they are going to chain the information together to find the killer and get to the truth they all seek.

___

I was so excited to get back to Heartsford. I really enjoy the part the community plays in Holly Quinn’s stories. This time when the murder ruins Sammy’s big plans, she starts to plan another event that will benefit the town.

The core characters in this series are strong and realistic. Sammy’s mother gets on my nerves a little bit but in ways reminds me of my own mother in certain ways. I was surprised that the relationship between Sammy and Liam didn’t progress at all, while Heidi and Officer Tim’s relationship is progressing nicely. Ellie is taking advantage of her parents being in town to get a little bit of “me time” while they babysit their grandson Tyler. Even if that “me time” means manning the store so Sammy can investigate. When Ellie can’t step in employee/crafter/friend Deborah takes over and keeps the shop running. Of course, Sammy’s lovable golden retriever returns. That dog just steals my heart. Like my dogs, Bara is usually by Sammy’s side or very close by.

I really appreciate the way Ms. Quinn has laid out this mystery. She gives her protagonist a gift of “seeking and finding the truth” and gives us a detective that is man enough to know her information is important. He does his best to rein her in and keep her safe at the same time but Sammy is pretty headstrong. She may have her S.H.E. team to help, but she and Liam make a good team too.

The plot is full of twists, and I loved the way the author crocheted everything together but I did figure this one out before Sammy. Even with that, I was entertained reading and following along as all the clues fell into place right up to the exciting ending. Holding back saying more but Sammy rocked!

Fun characters, a great theme, not 1 but 2 mysteries all set in my neck of the woods. Books like this one are what first pulled me into the cozy mystery genre. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!