“A Fatal Yarn” by Peggy Ehrhart is a captivating cozy mystery that seamlessly weaves together knitting, suspense, and a charming small-town setting. Ehrhart’s Writing style is engaging in evocative, immersing readers in the world of amateur sleuth Pamela and her knitting group. The author’s attention to detail brings the knitting community to life, with intricate descriptions of patterns and cozy gatherings that will delight craft enthusiasts. The mystery itself is well crafted, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. Ehrhart’s Ability to blend the personal lives of the characters with the investigation adds depth to the story, making it more than just a whodunnit. If you're looking for a cousin mystery that combines knitting, suspense, and a sense of community, “A Fatal Yarn” is a delightful choice.

I read cozy mysteries when I just want to relax and this one was great for that! It had everything that a cozy mystery needs, and it kept my attention from the very start.

A Fatal Yarn by Peggy Ehrhart is the fifth book in the cozy A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. Each book of the series contains it’s own mystery that will be solved so they can be read as a standalone or in any order one chooses. However, those that follow from the beginning will see the full character development that carries over from book to book.

The main character of the Knit & Nibble series is Pamela Paterson who is on the older side for a cozy protagonist. Pamela found herself with an empty nest when her daughter headed off to college so she joined the Knit and Nibble knitting group. The group not only spends time together crafting their favorite projects but also cooks up some yummy treats as the name suggests.

Pamela and her best friend and fellow knitter, Bettina, first became involved in what has become a habit for them in solving murders when a body was found at Pamela’s home. This time around however Pamela and Bettina find themselves investigating the murder of the mayor when the agenda he was supporting has had obvious opposition which may have resorted to murder.

I have followed the Knit & Nibble series from the beginning as this one has an endearing quality to me reminding me of my own knitting grandmother. The characters in this cozy series keep me coming back time and again as I always get a good chuckle out of their antics. However, I find myself always coming to the same conclusion of wishing the author would break away from the overly descriptive recipes and knitting and spend more time on the mystery and characters leaving my rating again at 3 1/2 stars.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I really loved this book in a new to my series. Tha characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

I really enjoyed this book. This is the first book I have read from this series. The characters are fun and interesting. The setting of a small town is cozy and quaint. The mystery is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I will definitely read more of this series.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

A Fatal Yarn

by Peggy Ehrhart

I have read four out of five of the books in the Knit & Nibble Mystery Series by Peggy Ehrhart, so I obviously enjoy the series as a whole. All of the books are more calming than usual for a cozy mystery series, rather like knitting is a tranquil activity for many. In A Fatal Yarn, however, the author’s greatest asset, descriptive writing, becomes a flaw in her writing. At first I was just amazed at passage after passage detailing settings and meals. Then I realized that the food descriptions especially had become redundant. I don’t really need repeated retellings of the main character’s preparations of black coffee and multigrain toast to understand that she only has coffee and toast for breakfast every day.

The story revolves around Pamela, a widow who edits articles for a fiber craft magazine, and her friend and neighbor Bettina, a writer for the local weekly paper. In this case, they are trying to prove that Roland, a member of their knitting group, did not murder the mayor. Before they can accomplish that task, they discover that an elderly woman in town did not die of natural causes. Pamela and Bettina follow clues by trailing suspects, interviewing those with connections to the victims, and occasionally putting themselves in harm’s way. The plot was good, the characters quite likable, and the descriptions well executed. I enjoyed it because I like the series, but I would not recommend this book to introduce someone to the series. I wondered, sadly, if this talented author was trying to fill out a word count. Regardless, I still want to read the next book in the Knit & Nibble series.

I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #5 in the Knit & Nibble Mystery Series which does not have to be read in order.
2. Includes directions for a knitted cover for a throw pillow and a recipe for “Lemon Yogurt Easter Cake with Cream Cheese Icing.”

Publication: March 31, 2020—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

Bettina was distracted then by the milkshakes. They arrived in tall glasses filmed with condensation and crowned with a froth of bubbles, accented by straws inserted at a jaunty angle. She pulled her milkshake toward her and sampled it with an eager sip.

Such a human impulse, she reflected, to express oneself with whatever art materials were at hand. And women, whose world was so much narrower in some cultures, had found in crafts like needlework or weaving or quilting or knitting vehicles for their artistry.

As they watched, a rooster appeared in the doorway, a magnificent creature with glossy feathers that shaded from fiery orange on his neck and chest to the iridescent blue-black plumes that formed his exuberant tail. He strutted forth, turning his head this way and that as if to display the proud serrations of his bright red comb and his quivering wattles.

Unfortunately this was not the right book for me. I didn´t manage to keep myself interested in the story, and DNF.

This is book #5 in the Knit and Nibble series. Pamela and other members of the community are surprised and curious about knitted items hanging in trees around the city. These trees are doomed to be cut down and the mayor approves of their demise. When the mayor ends up dead, a member of the Knit and Nibble group is a prime suspect. The group intends to clear their member and find the real killer!

After successfully solving several murders, the Knit & Knibble team are facing a real quandary. One of their own, Roland DeCamp has been accused of killing the mayor. Can Pamela Paterson and her team of avid knitters clear Roland's name?

Just like the other cozy mysteries I love to read, Pamela and her friends are amateur detectives. This doesn't slow them down in any way. With this being the fifth book in the series, I have gotten to know and love Pamela and her friends. To think one of them could have committed murder is all but unthinkable.

So, the task is on. Finding the real killer and keeping Roland out of jail. We do have extra players in this story - the trees that were to be cut down and have a close connection to the mayor's murder.

So, if you are loving this series as much as I am, then be sure to pick up A Fatal Yarn. You will definitely be in for a treat.

Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

You can't beat a cozy mystery that includes recipes. This is an an easy read with interesting characters and a good plot.

What’s with the town’s trees wearing handknit sweaters? Is it public art? An environmental statement? Some anonymous person is covering up the red Xs on trees slated for removal below power lines. The mayor supports the tree removal, but when the mayor is murdered, suspicion falls on one of the Knit and Nibble knitting group and Roland DeCamp, who argued with the deceased, is soon arrested and charged with homicide.

Pamela Paterson from the Knit and Nibble club along with her reporter friend Bettina get to work on not only clearing Roland but finding the real killer. From knitting club meetings to an estate sale, Pamela and Bettina follow the clues, even with danger stalking them.

A Fatal Yarn invites you into a group of friends and knitters. It’s a light read, but the author does get bogged down in detailed aspects of everyday life and routine. And there seemed to be so many secondary characters. I understand this is part of a series, but maybe a bit more reflection that not every reader will start with book one might make the author consider scaling back the number of secondary characters. Perhaps not everyone in a large cast has to make an appearance in every book in the series. Or maybe consider including them more in the current story to help keep their character distinctive. For the reader, especially the one reading the series out of sequence, it may make it easier to keep track of who is who and how they relate to the rest of the characters and story.

The ladies of the Knit & Nibble club are an interesting and fervid bunch. They are not afraid of taking on any difficult task, like that of proving, one of their members, is innocent of murder. The characters are great with Majorie the cool cucumber. Although in my view it needed a bit more excitement and intrigue. It has a bonus knitting pattern at the end and some cool recipes explained within the book. Which I find really interesting, a nice mild read if I do say so.

A fatal Yarn is the latest installment of the Knit and Nibble cozy mystery series. I loved the book and think it's a perfect fit for the series. I like the cast of characters and the setting. The mystery is just right and I found it satisfying. I recommend this book and the series. Thank you netgalley for the gift of the arc. The opinions are my own.

Rich in detail, this was a light mystery that i thoroughly enjoyed. I would love to belong to the Knit and Nibblers as it sounds like such a good group. The characters are realistic and the storyline is good.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A Fatal Yarn by Peggy Ehrhart has Pamela Paterson surprised to see trees sporting knitted creations in Arborville, New Jersey. It seems someone is trying to save trees that are scheduled to be cut down with the mayor’s approval. Then the mayor is found dead in his kitchen and Roland DeCamp, a Knit & Nibble member, is arrested for the crime. Pamela and Bettina team up to clear Roland and find the true killer. A Fatal Yarn is the 5th A Knit and Nibble Mystery and it can be read on its own. I like the characters in the story and the descriptions of the yarn plus their knitting projects. I did find the endless details of how they make coffee and cook or bake various items to be tiring. Every single time that Pamela made coffee, it is described in detail. Pamela’s daily routine is also written about (articles she edited, what she wore, what she ate and drank). The focus of A Fatal Yarn is on the people and their lives instead of the mystery. The mystery is straightforward with a dead guy, a few suspects, and misdirection. Identifying the killer was a snap. I wish the mystery had been as interesting as the knitted wraps around the trees. If you prefer your cozy mysteries to have more cozy than mystery, than A Fatal Yarn is right up your alley. A Fatal Yarn is a lighthearted tale with trembling trees, nifty knitted creations, copious quantities of coffee, tasty treats, and a murdered mayor.

An original story line, knitting sweaters for trees to save them from the axe!!! Well, from being cut down anyway. An excellent cozy mystery that kicks off....of course...with a murder that must be solved before on of the knitting group's members has to do his crafting from behind bars. An entertaining story that is full of characters loyal to their friends and refuse to give up until the real murderer is caught. I read this in a single sitting because I could recognize many of my friends in the characters. Read this whether you are a crafter or not, you won't regret it.

DNF at 25%
I rarely DNF books, so let me explain why I did it with this one.

The first chapter started out fine. A little bit slow, but that was good. Then, after the first chapter, I slowly but surely got lost in the maze of names. There were just so many, I couldn't keep up with it. I felt like there wasn't much introduction to these characters either, so I couldn't connect with them in any way.

I looked the book up on Goodreads then, to add it as currently reading. It turned out this book was book five in a series. This explained the lack of information and the reason why I felt so lost.

I decided to give it another go, to see if I would be able to enjoy it with this extra piece of information in the back of my head, but alas, it didn't work.

Despite me not finishing the book, I am definitely not saying this was a bad book. In fact, it was written well. It's solely the fact that I didn't get any introduction to the characters that made me DNF the book. This is not a book that you can jump in without having read the other installments, whereas if you did, this probably would be a great read!

A lovely addition to this series I love.
The cast of characters and the setting are as lovely as usual, the mystery is solid, full of twists and turns, and it kept me guessing.
I can't wait for the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Who killed the former mayor of the quaint little town of Arborville, NJ? One thing Pamela and Bettina know is that it wasn't their fellow Knit and Nibble member, Roland! This cozy mystery is the fifth in the Knit & Nibble Mystery series by Peggy Ehrhart. Ehrhart fills her book with fun characters and a whodunnit that takes a bit of a surprising twist. I completely enjoyed this book and I love the author's descriptions of the delicious food that Pamela and her best friend and neighbor indulge in - I would love to see her write a series revolving even more around food.

Princess Fuzzypants here: After the Mayor is murdered Pamela and her friends are deeply disturbed when one of their Knit and Nibblers is the prime suspect. Roland’s public argument with the deceased put him in the crosshairs but the Mayor’s ideas to change the makeup of the town were not universally approved. In fact, there were many who disagreed with him, including whoever is knitting sweaters for trees marked for destruction. Pamela wonders if this innocent protest might have led to the killing.
But when she realizes the death of another citizen recently might be connected and the tag sale of the contents of her house might hold the answer, she is drawn deeply, once again, into the investigation. It seems no one is particularly impressed with the local constabulary but those who know Pamela do not want her to be put in harm’s way. We all know that is not going to happen.
Pamela is a smart lady but she can be act without thinking both in her personal life and her sleuthing. I suspect that the decisions she made could come back to haunt not only her but others. We shall have to see what happens in the future. Four purrs and two paws up.