Knit One, Die Two by Peggy Ehrhart returns us to Arborville, New York in mid-September. Pamela Paterson is hosting the latest Knit & Nibble meeting where Caralee Lorimer will be joining them. Caralee is learning to knit for her role of Madame Defarge in A Tale of Two Cities with the Arborville Players. Her catty behavior does not endear her to the members of the group. Pamela notices bruises on Caralee’s arm and is told that some items fell on her in the auditorium storage room. Later that evening, Pamela overhears Caralee and Craig Belknap, a fellow actor, arguing over the hedge. The next day, Pamela hears sirens and find them at the auditorium where the actors are rehearsing. Caralee was found in the storage room under a mound of furniture. The police rule her death accidental, but Pamela has her doubts. Pamela, with help from her best friend and neighbor, Bettina Fraser begins asking questions around town. When Caralee’s knitting is returned to them, the group discovers names in Morse code. Did Caralee discover something that led to her death? When not working on articles for Fiber Craft magazine or taking care of Carina and her six rambunctious kittens, Pamela talks to the residents listed in the knitting. Can they prove Caralee was murdered before the killer strikes again?

Knit One, Die Two is the third book in A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. I do recommend reading the series in order since background information is lacking in Knit One, Die Two. The book is nicely written, but I wish the pace had been livelier. Peggy Ehrhart is a descriptive writer who goes into detail on cooking, baking, feeding the cats, clothing, going to the grocery, etc. An example is “she added a few tablespoons of sugar to the flour mixture, then poured in melted butter and stirred until some of the flour mixture formed buttery lumps”. This is just a portion of the paragraph describing Pamela making cobbler. These types of descriptions are included for all the items cooked. I would have liked more action in the book and less focus on everyday tasks. I like the main characters of Pamela, Bettina, Wilford and the other members of the Knit & Nibble club. They are a friendly bunch of people. I did not understand Pamela’s obsession over when her neighbor would return from his out of town excursion. She likes her new neighbor, Richard Larkin (though she does not want to admit it), but I did not feel it needed to be mentioned so frequently. The mystery is lackluster. Only Pamela believes Caralee has been murdered. Pamela, with Bettina as her sidekick, question various people around town (food is usually involved). The reveal of the killer is not a surprise nor is the murder weapon. I wanted more focus on the mystery and less on food, kittens, grocery shopping, and chatting. The kittens are adorable and add humor to the story. The recipe for Pamela’s peach cobbler is at the end of the book along with a knitting pattern for a sachet. For those readers who prefer laid back cozy mysteries with more cozy than mystery, you will find Knit One, Die Two enjoyable. I just wanted a little more oomph.

It is always fun to return to the "Knit & Nibble" knitting group and this 3rd in series is a fun addition to this well loved series. I have read both previous books in the series and recommend the series quite highly for all who love cozy mysteries. This series has the perfect blend of a historic beautifully setting of Arborville NJ, kind people,, good friendships and always a fun sleuth. The group of knitters are fun , likable friends who this reader always enjoys reading about. Pamela created her Knit and Nibble group and they meet weekly in each other's home to knit, share treats and catch up with each other's lives. Its a friendly group of women that any one of us would be lucky to be friends with. In This next in series the author added six kittens which are such a fun addition to the series.
The mystery was very multi layered with clues abound throughout. The victim was the newest member of the knitting group and Bettina and Pamela are determined to find out who the killer is. They are all on the case and soon suspects and clues abound as they grow close to the conclusion of the case.
I loved this next in series . This has all the elements of a fun cozy read that I enjoyed cover to cover.
Thank you for the ARC . My opinion is my own.
Very well done to the author and I hope this series will continue.

Pamela Paterson’s weekly Knit & Nibble group -- a collection of knitters who gather in the home of one of their own to knit for two hours a week while enjoying a tasty snack -- has a new if somewhat disruptive member. Caralee Lorimer is an actress who’s just moved back to the town of Arborville, New Jersey after years spent living in Manhattan. She lives with her Aunt Margo now and works at the local diner while also lending her talents to the Arborville Players, who are currently in rehearsals for a stage production of A Tale Of Two Cities. For her role as Madame Defarge, she’s joined Knit & Nibble in order to work on her knitting skills, which any aficionado of classic literature will know plays a large part in the proceedings of Dickens’ tale.

Her knitting will play a large part in this story too, as Caralee will soon be found dead under a fallen pile of once-precariously-stacked furniture before rehearsals one night. The police rule it an accident, but Pamela isn’t so sure. From a conversation she’d had earlier with Caralee, Pamela is inclined to think that someone wanted the actress seriously harmed, if not dead outright. When Pamela’s best friend’s husband discerns a pattern to the seemingly haphazard heap of knitting Caralee had been working on, Pamela soon finds herself investigating a long list of suspects with a motive for wanting to get rid of the younger woman.

I was pleasantly surprised to make the acquaintance of Pamela who, as an introvert, is quite unlike the usual culinary cozy heroine. Generally content to stay in her shell and uncomfortable with prolonged casual social interaction, she’s not the kind of person to take on an investigation lightly, especially given the disapproval of some of her nearest and dearest. Fortunately, she has Bettina Fraser for a best friend. As a small-town reporter and decided extrovert, she’ll happily go where Pamela hesitates, and their partnership is a true delight.

Knit One, Die Two included a knitting pattern as well as the following recipe:

QUOTE
Pamela’s Peach Cobbler

4 cups peaches, peeled and sliced
5 tbs. sugar, divided
2 or 3 tbs. rum or bourbon (optional)
1 ½ cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ cup plus 2 tbs. melted butter, divided
⅓ to ½ cup heavy cream
9-by-12-inch baking dish (exact size isn’t crucial)

Butter your baking dish, fill it with the peaches, and sprinkle 1 tbs. of sugar over them. Use more sugar if you wish, but the cobbler dough is also sweet. Sprinkle on the rum or bourbon if you are using it.

For the dough, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Using a spoon, not a mixer, blend in ½ cup of the melted butter and 3 tbs. sugar. Add heavy cream, a bit at a time. You want a soft dough but you don’t want it to be runny.

Drop the dough in patches on top of the fruit using a spoon or your fingers. Pat it down to smooth it, but it’s not necessary to cover every spot and it’s okay for the dough to be thicker or thinner in places. Chill the cobbler in the refrigerator for at least half an hour.

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Take the cobbler from the refrigerator, brush the top with the remaining melted butter (you might need to remelt it) and sprinkle on the remaining 1 tbs. of sugar. Bake the cobbler for half an hour or more. You want the top to look puffy and be lightly browned.

Serve it warm (but not hot) or at room temperature, with vanilla ice cream or heavy cream.
END QUOTE

In her description, Peggy Ehrhart notes that this cobbler works fabulously with any kind of fruit. While peaches aren’t yet in season, I still rather had a hankering for them, so decided to use canned. I thought two fifteen oz. cans would be enough but should err on the side of having too much next time, as I could definitely have used more peach in this otherwise very satisfying recipe. The pastry parts were excellent: not too sweet, and with a perfect texture. The recipe itself was very easy to put together (my youngest even helped brush on the butter!) and the cobbler came out of the oven looking absolutely gorgeous. I’m definitely adding this one to the repertoire.

Next week, we travel even further south for the first in a series I’ve previously enjoyed reviewing for this column, and try out a tempting appetizer. Do join me!

Knit One, Die Two by Peggy Ehrhart is the 3rd book in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series, and another fun addition. Knit and Nibble knitting group and is growing. A new temporary member is Caralee, she is learning how to knit for a play she's in. When Caralee is killed in an accident at the theater, the sleuthing begins. This book was fun, it has so many twists and turns. I found this book to be a quick read, with well developed plot and and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, you don't have to be a knitter to enjoy it. If you love fun cozy mysteries like I do, than I recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

I enjoyed visiting Pamela, Bettina, and the Knit and Nibble gang again! The author has woven together a group of knitters that works well. Throughout the novel is the beauty and history of the community. The mystery was intriguing, as was watching Bettina and Pamela figure out who the real bad guy is. This time we are treated to six kittens, offspring of a cat Pamela ad her daughter took in several months ago.

Pamela is the founder of the Knit and Nibble group in Arborville; they meet weekly to work on their knitting patterns, share suggestions on their projects, make items for charity, and nibble on the treats that are brought each week. It is a unique group that includes a male attorney whose doctor wants him to relax and lower his blood pressure. The newest member is Caralee. She recently returned to town from New York and has a part in the community play group’s new offering, A Tale of Two Cities. Her role is a knitter, so she needs to knit convincingly on stage.

Pamela, a young widow, has a daughter in college and works as an editor for a fiber magazine. Bettina is her best friend; she and her husband Wilfred live across the street. Bettina has connections with many around town, since she writes for free weekly paper distributed around town. She and Pamela are equally curious about mysterious instances, but Pamela’s involvement with sleuthing in the past has upset her daughter Penny, who tries to have her promise to not get involved in any more mysteries.

That seemed an easy thing to promise until she heard a disagreement on the other side of the hedge between her home and the church next door where the community players rehearse. She heard what sounded like Caralee and a man whose voice Pamela couldn’t identify. Pamela was still pondering a situation Caralee told her about. At the church, there is a closet kept for all the sets, costumes, and miscellaneous that the theater group has. For the second time, Caralee opened the door of the room and furnishings stacked up on each other fell, one time getting injured. She tried to reorganize the storeroom to avert a more serious incident.

One evening emergency sirens arrived at the church. Bettina and Pamela learned that a young woman had died in an accident. It was Caralee, and once again, the furniture and settings tumbled atop her. Police deemed it an accident and didn’t do any investigating – but what about the person she had a disagreement with earlier? Caralee’s knitted piece, which looked like a random jumble of stitches, might hold the clue to who her killer was.

I enjoyed the mystery in this novel, as it was hard to solve, and clues were revealed in interesting ways. I also enjoyed seeing mama cat and kittens throughout. I didn’t feel there was new information about Pamela or Bettina or relationships within their group. Including the knitting pattern and a recipe was interesting, yet there was much emphasis on what Pamela, Bettina, and Wilfred cooked and ate and the volume of work Pamela does each day. A little less would still be interesting. I felt it took away from getting to know more about them or working on the mystery. Finding out who the killer was, and why, was surprising. I had considered the person but couldn’t get the motive. I do recommend this to those who enjoy light cozy mysteries, knitting, and kittens, and am looking forward to the next one.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I got an advance copy of this book from the publisher so i was compelled to finish it to provide a review. The book was for lack of better word boring. The main heroine, Pamela, is 40 but acts and lives like she's in her 70s. We're treated to every mundane detail of her day, including but not limited to a list of every single thing she buys at the grocery store and how she eats her meatloaf (with whole grain toast and tomato and cucumber salad for anyone interested). She is a nosy biddy who thinks nothing of repeatedly harassing a young man and accusing him of murder simply because she eavesdropped on what she thought was an argument between him and the first victim.
The murders get solved by accident-the book is more about people eating and gossiping than about the actual mystery.

Knit and Nibble, a local knitting club, has a new member. Caralee is an actor and has joined the knitting club to enhance her role in a local production of A Tale of Two Cities. Although Caralee tries hard her scarf seems to be a mess of irregular knits and purls. Pamela, one of the members, has a house full of kittens. Although cute, she wonders how she will find homes for them. Her kitten musing is interrupted when Caralee is found dead at a play rehearsal.

This is my first experience with Knit and Nibble. It has wonderful characters in a small town setting.

Knit One, Die Two is book 3 in the A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. I love this Cozy Mystery series, it's always a good read and has me guessing on the whodunit without revealing it too early or being obvious. I always appreciate that in a mystery novel.

Pamela Paterson, our leading lady is back and we start out with the Knit & Nibble knitting group meeting up. Their new member Caralee Lorimer is introduced and we learn that she joined so she could play her role in A Tale of Two Cities a bit more accurate since her character is a knitter. It doesn't take long before Caralee winds up dead at rehearsal, and even though police rule it as an accidental death, Pamela isn't sure that's really how things played out. Pamela and her friend start their sleuthing and it has plenty of red herrings and twists and turns along the way.

Knit One, Die Two is a great addition to this series and I can't wait to see what happens next. I love that it mixes in some knitting into the story since we have a few sessions of the Knit & Nibble group meeting. It could do with a touch less of the don't go looking into this Pamela talks but otherwise I loved this novel. If you're looking for a fun Cozy Mystery with a bit of knitting mixed in you should try this series out.

Peggy Ehrhart's Knit & Nibble cozy series has been very enjoyable up to this point. The mysteries to be solved, the camaraderie of the knitting group, the types of articles Pamela has to edit for her craft magazine, even the cooking... everything combined to make a fun series. But Knit One, Die Two is another story.

The mystery is solid, but the repetition is the real killer in this book. Every single one of Bettina's outfits has to be described in detail down to the shoes and jewelry. I lost count of how many times we were told Bettina's dishes were sage green pottery, ditto the description of Pam's favorite mixing bowl, and don't forget both women have napkins they purchased at the craft shop. Then there are the seven cats that are fed multiple times per day. It's not a good sign when I want to start making hash marks on a piece of paper to learn the final totals of how many times the same things were mentioned in the story.

Unfortunately, I have to say that Knit One, Die Two has too much Martha Stewart and too little mystery. I do intend to read the next book in the series, but it will be with trepidation.

This is the 3rd installment in this series. Pamela is a widow with her daughter in college and is an editor for a craft magazine along with founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club. The church next to her house is hosting a play by the The Arborville Players. An actress who is in the play Caralee joins the group to learn knitting for her part in the play. She also dishes about the drama behind the scenes to the group and suddenly Jane and Bettina are investigating the actresses death. The police label it an accident but the ladies are not so sure. I like this group of ladies and the entire story was a fast read. Interesting characters and lots of twists and possible suspects. Recommend.

Always good to visit Pamela and her Knit & Nibble knitting club. New member Carolee is killed in an accident.
Pamela and here gang are sure it was murder. And they are usually right. You will like this book.

Another great book in the series. I really enjoy this cozy mystery series. It has just the right amount of everything. The day-to-day comings and goings of the main character is very relaxing to me. I like the author's writing style. Also, the main character doesn't do a bunch of unrealistic dangerous/stupid things, like in many cozy mystery series. I like that the main character is middle aged. She has a realistic interest in a man and not some crazy back and forth love interest craziness with the main detective or sheriff, like in the majority of cozy mystery series. I'm looking forward to a long series. I wish other cozy mysteries would follow this author's cozy mystery style.

I had started reading thinking I had not read any in the series but a few chapters in I was recognizing the setting as well as the characters. I like this series and enjoyed this book.

When Arborville, New Jersey's snooty theater scene is upstaged by a shocking murder, Pamela Paterson and her Knit and Nibble knitting club must act quickly to stop a killer from making an encore performance . . .

Knit and Nibble's numbers are growing! In addition to a litter of adorable kittens, the knitting club just welcomed their newest member, Caralee Lorimer, who's learning to knit for her upcoming role in A Tale of Two Cities. According to the amateur actress, the behind-the-scenes drama at the theater is getting downright catty, and Caralee wants a reckoning for Arborville's pretentious suburbanites. Her claws are out, and just like her character in the play, Caralee is ready to name names. But before she can finish her snitchy stitches, Caralee is killed in a suspicious theater accident. Someone thinks they've staged a perfect murder, but Pamela and her Knit and Nibblers are ready to pounce on the real killer . . . before it's curtains for anyone else!

The cast of characters are likable and I enjoy the friendship between Pamela and her neighbours Wilfred and Bettina. The addition of the kittens were a great plus, I am a sucker for cats and dogs..The mystery was good, lots of twists and turns and red herrings which kept me guessing till the end. I wouldn't say this is a fast read like some of the cozies I read but one I read over several days.

I look forward to reading the next installment as I want to know what will happen to Pamela and if there'll be romance with her neighbour.Richard Larkin.

I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Caralee joined Pamela's knitting group but isn't part of it for long because she is murdered! Caralee, an actress, has, as cozy victims do, a number of people who would like to see her gone (not dead, necessarily, just somewhere else). Pamela and the knitters (I like Bettina) start poking around when the police rule her death an accident and then there's another death. I'm not a huge fan of the theater cozy but the theater doesn't figure in this as much as food - there's a lot of food (and recipes, btw). Knitting isn't at the forefront either but you might pick up a tip or two. Thanks to net galley for the ARC.

There has been another murder of a member of Arborville's knitting club and Pamela and Bettina are on the case. Pamela has become more likeable in book 3 of Peggy Ehrhart's Knit & Nibble Mystery series, perhaps because her neighbor wasn't around to be unkind to. I enjoy the New Jersey setting and Pamela's surrounding cast of characters (both human and feline) are engaging. The misdirections were well done and had me considering the who in the whodunit. I am encouraged with the improvement in the series and look anxiously forward to more with Pamela's 'love' interest in the next one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

A Cozy Book - Knit and Nibble’s numbers are growing! In addition to a litter of adorable kittens, the knitting club just welcomed their newest member, Caralee Lorimer. Caralee is learning to knit for her upcoming role in “A Tale of Two Cities.” According to the actress, the behind-the-scenes drama at the theater is getting downright catty. Caralee wants a reckoning for Arborville’s pretentious suburbanites. Her claws are out, and just like her character in the play, Caralee is ready to name names. Before she can finish her project, she is killed in a suspicious theater accident. Someone thinks they’ve staged a perfect murder, but Pamela and the Knit and Nibblers are ready to pounce on the real killer before it’s curtains for anyone else!
--
Series: A Knit & Nibble Mystery - Book 3
Author: Peggy Ehrhart
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Hobby
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 288

From Kensington Books comes the third installment, Knit One, Die Two, in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series from author Peggy Ehrhart. This is a well written cozy book with most of the elements that all cozies should have. Ms. Ehrhart's writing is smooth and the plot different than most.

The main character, Pamela is older and a widow with a job unique. She edits articles about crafts for a magazine and is involved in a knitting club with a diverse membership. Pamela is busy, and her heart is in the right place but often finds herself getting involved in criminal investigations that usually involve murder. Other characters throughout this book have odd personalities and quirks that make them interesting and could be expanded upon. The setting, the town of Arborville, NJ is well defined and easy to like.

Unfortunately, this is not the cozy book to start reading in this series, or if you are new to the cozy genre. There is no legitimate background for the reader to grasp that helps to understand who the characters are or keep the reader turning the page. The book is not a fast-paced read; it is lethargic and tedious. There is too much description of the food being cooked or eaten. Also, there is too much detail of boring day-to-day activities such as going to the store to buy groceries that do not move the story forward and detracts from the reader's enjoyment.

Pamela's love interest plays no part in this book and makes a forgettable appearance literally in the last few pages. There is little action leading up to the unveiling of the killer. Although the villain is somewhat of a surprise, overall the book is not exciting. That is not to say the book is totally lacking in entertainment; it does have moments of enjoyment and intrigue.

This book is not for everyone. Readers who like more detail and less action will enjoy this story. Readers who like craft-based cozies such as Holly Quinn’s “A Handcrafted Mystery” or Alexis Morgan’s “An Abby McCree Mystery” series, may enjoy Knit One, Die Two.

ARC provided by NetGalley

I am a new reader to Ehrhart's Knit and Nibble series. I don't know a thing about knitting. I do know a lot about eating. For this reason, the series novel was an enjoyable read. The recipes described were comfort food of from an old fashioned style. Things like meat loaf, and peach cobbler were offered in a tantalizing manner.

The setting of Knit One, Die Two remains the fictional town of Aborville New Jersey. The town is very well imagined, complete with historical houses and a high quality food co-op. The members of the Knitting Circle remain the same, save for Caralee. She is a blunt spoken former NYC actress who is learning to knit. The knitting will serve her role as Madame DeFarge in A Tale of Two Cities.
Caralee is also the first victim in this fast paced novel. Pamela's possible romantic interest, Richard Larkin is off site for most of the novel. This allows Pamela and her cohort Bettina to focus on the mystery. One does not usually consider tales of murder to be warm and fuzzy. However, Ehrhart's inclusion of a kindle of kittens brings a lot happiness to the book. We are halfway through the Knit and Nibble series. Ehrhart has posted that she plans two more adventures for Pamela and the Knitting Nibblers.

The charming story offers enough red herrings to make the puzzle worth while. The repartee among the Knitting Circle is interesting. A new reader would is able to read this as a stand alone.
A welcome edition to the cozy mystery sub genre.

Full disclosure: I received this copy from Kensington Publishers and netgalley.com in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for the opportunity

I loved this novel! It has a great mystery, as well as fun characters. I will definitely be continuing on with this fun series.

Peggy Ehrhart's Knit and Nibble series of cozy mysteries provide some light mystery reading. It's usually rather easy to figure out the culprit, but there are enough other things (food, family drama, cats) to keep one's interest. In this episode, one of the newest members of the knitting group is found dead under a pile of props at the local church where rehearsals were held for a theater production. Pamela and her friends try to learn who killed her. One disappointment was that there wasn't anything new in Pamela's love life, her handsome neighbor being absent from the entire story. Hopefully the next installment will have some developments in that area.

I read the first two books in this series recently while on vacation and enjoyed them, so I was happy to see another book was coming out. This one adds more characters (and kittens) to the cozy, small-town mystery setting with a knitting group at the heart of it. These are light, fun mysteries that don't take themselves too seriously. I hope that Peggy Ehrhart continues to grow this series and flesh out some of the supporting characters and their interpersonal relationships.