This is the fifth installment in the cozy series "Knit & Nibble" by cozy author Peggy Ehrhart. I always enjoy returning to this delightful series. This can be read as a stand alone however I recommend the entire series and each reader will enjoy reading this series from the beginning. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Our protagonist Pamela and her "Knit & Nibble" group are trying to figure out who is putting knitted sweaters on the trees in town . The anonymous person has been covering the trees that are marked for removal by the city of Arborville New Jersey. Each tree covered had a red X on it to be marked for removal. Many are unhappy about the tree removal and the knitting activist covering every tree marked is unknown to Pamela and her group of friends all of whom are in her knitting group. When the mayor is murdered it leaves the town reeling and wondering if he was killed because he supported taking down the trees. Pamela and her savvy group of knitters are soon to investigate when one of their own friends is prime suspect number one led to the police by knitting needles and clues. Soon red herrings and suspects abound as their investigation takes a unexpected turn.

I loved this next in series. Each book is fun and has knitting tips knitters will love. The charcters all add to the story and the sleuth was surprising to me to conclusion. I look forward to the next in series.

The Knit and Nibble group meets regularly to knit and chat together. The most recent topic on all of their minds is the murder of Mayor Diefenbach. Meanwhile, the trees in Arborville are mysteriously being clothed in knitted sweaters. Things hit close to home when one of the Knit and Nibble members is accused of murder. Can Pamela Paterson and her group of fellow knitters help save one of their own?

I love the idea of knitting sweaters for trees! Covering up the marks for destruction with sweaters is a clever and decorative idea, one I had to immediately google to see if anyone had tried it. Yarn bombing is apparently a thing, and I love the creativity behind it particularly for the reasons it’s done in A FATAL YARN.

I love the unity of the Knit and Nibble group. They stand by one of their fellow members even when the outlook looks bleak and are determined to help him and his wife during a very rough emotional time. Peggy Ehrhart does a marvelous job at showing readers how true friendship looks in A FATAL YARN.

A FATAL YARN is the fifth book in the <i>Knit and Nibble</i> series but can easily be read as a standalone story. Peggy Ehrhart gives readers all the information they need to jump right in and enjoy time spent with these phenomenal knitting characters. However, be warned- one book my hook you and you’ll want to binge read the earlier books!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

Love this series, added this book to my personal library! It's the 3rd in the series and it picks up where it left off. The characters are warm and familiar.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

The Knit and Nibblers are back and trying to figure out who is wrapping tree trunks in knit scarves to cover up the red x’s designated the trees to be destroyed to protect the power lines above. The town’s mayor supports the project and when he is murdered Pamela wonders if the tree hugger is responsible. But the police arrest fellow knitter Rolland DeCamp because he was witnessed arguing with the mayor. Pamela and Bettina cast on a wider net of suspects and do their best to knit together the clues to purl the right culprit behind bars.

We follow Pamela through her daily life as she works from home as an editor for “Fiber Craft Magazine,” and does a little sleuthing on the side with friend, neighbor, and yarn and nibbler Bettina. Bettina is very pushy trying to get Pamela to date another neighbor but Pamela keeps putting her off. She is just not interested. I am surprised it hasn’t caused more strain in their friendship. It seems that issue has wrapped in this installment and that makes me very happy.

I do enjoy Ms. Ehrhart’s descriptive writing style. She tells the story in a way that brings the reader right into each scene, from her home office with her working on such interesting sounding articles, to the items being knit and the food being eaten. I love the camaraderie between the characters and the way they support each other. The conversations are realistic and you can tell they truly care about each other.

The mystery is on the light side and I did figure it out early in the story but all the drama and daily life kept me entertained right up to the final word. These are characters I love visiting and am looking forward to the next book.

A Fatal Yarn is a great addition to this series. Fix yourself something to nibble on and enjoy.

Another visit to Arborville, New Jersey involves mystery, knitting, wonderful food, friendship, lovable feline & canine furbabies and murder! Pamela & Bettina have to find out who committed a murder and their knitting circle member, Roland is the prime suspect.

Reading this book/series feels like a visit with good friends. The mystery is fast-paced, well-written and the descriptions of Arborville and Pamela's work as an assistant editor for a magazine, the friendships in the knitting group and her cooking skills add to the character's depth. Of course, having two feline housemates makes the books even more cozy. Pamela doesn't take risks and I enjoy the fact that her sleuthing partner Bettina's character is written as strongly as the main character. I do wish Pamela would be a little more open to a relationship with the next door neighbor, Richard Larkin.

Impatiently waiting for the next visit!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

The latest in the Knit & Nibble series finds Roland, the only male member of the knitting group, accused of murdering the town's mayor. Pamela and her friend/neighbor Bettina seek answers! As usual, the book includes lots of food- and fashion-related descriptions, as well as a reflection of small town life. I have to admit the food descriptions left my mouth watering at times! There's just a hint of romance in this one, though I think it's moving way too slowly. Pamela is knitting a lacy lavender tunic for her daughter and I was so hoping it would be the included pattern at the end of the book. But, alas, I was disappointed to find a less interesting pattern instead. This book is a good cozy mystery to keep you occupied during self=isolation!

Another excellent book in the series! This series has become one of my favorites (I read a lot of cozy mystery series). The writing is so wonderful, I absolutely love reading every word. The characters are fantastic. I can't wait for the next. I hope this series goes on for years!

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series! I love the characters and want to be a part of the knitting club! I thought the mystery was good and kept me guessing. Learning about the characters is a great addition to the mystery storyline!

This is the kind of cozy I find perfect on a cold, rainy day. I can barely manage knit one, purl two but that doesn't stop me from wanting to spend some of my reading time with the lovely group of knitters that comprise the Knit & Nibble group. I bet they could get me to at least knit a nice scarf. Solving the occasional crime would be a nice addition. This time, in book #5, something is very odd outside on a tree. Somebody is putting sweaters on trees. Why would a tree need a sweater? Well, there is a group of tree huggers in town trying to stop the mayor et al from cutting them down and the sweaters cover up the red X's marking each doomed tree. Would one of them be upset enough with local plans to murder the mayor? When the police turn their investigation in the direction of a member of the Knit and Nibble group, Being absolutely certain that their friend Rolland DeCamp had nothing to do with the crime, Pamela and her friend Bettina set out to find the real killer and try not to become the killer's next target.
A nice cast of characters, a good puzzle and crafts plus a yummy recipe at the end makes for a satisfying mystery. My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Meet Bettina and Pamela.  Best friends, neighbours, and by happenstance partners in sleuthing.  When Mayor Diefenbach is murdered and their friend Roland arrested, the ladies know they can't leave it up to Detective Clayborn.  While Roland may be the easy suspect, they believe he's not the right one.  They have a hunch, but a hunch won't be enough to get Clayborn off Roland's case!

Ehrhart has crafted an excellent tale, that moves quickly along, grabbing your interest with truly likeable characters, and firmly keeps it till the very last page.   This is my first meeting of the Knit & Nibble club, I'll definitely be joining them again.

[Many thanks to NetGalley / Kensington, and the author for the opportunity to read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.]

Pamela and Bettina are members of a knitting group. Roland, the only male member is accused of killing the Mayor. The Mayor's policies have not been popular so there are plenty of other suspects .

The knitting groups friendship is enjoyable and the characters are likeable. The sub plot of yarn bombing is fun.

A good addition to the series.

A Fatal Yarn has some good misdirection that makes for a mystery to keep readers guessing, and it continues to do something that I really appreciate. So many niche cozy mystery series have a "hook"-- be it knitting, cooking, glassblowing, or any other hobby-- but often those hooks are superficial. Once used to draw readers in, they have little to do with the actual story. Not with Peggy Ehrhart's Knit & Nibble series. Knitting continues to be at the heart of the stories, and I really liked the version of yarnbombing that was used in connection to the tree sweaters.

Pamela Paterson is the heart and soul of the Knit & Nibble mysteries. She's an editor for "Fiber Craft Magazine," and I have the sneaking suspicion that I'm not the only reader who wishes the magazine was real. Many of the articles mentioned sound fascinating. The only thing I don't care for is Pamela's best friend Bettina constantly trying to be a matchmaker between Pamela and Pamela's next-door neighbor. Not every single woman wants or needs a man to be happy, and that matchmaking schtick gets old.

Not only A Fatal Yarn but all the books in this series are perfect comfort reads for trying times. Ehrhart has a writing style that is lush, filled with a dazzling color palette and mouthwatering tastes and aromas. She wants readers to be fully immersed in her world, and she creates a wonderful feeling of community by including all the sorts of little rituals that bind us together. Just one tiny word of warning. If repetition bothers you, don't read these books one right after the other. If you do, you might want to scream after awhile when Bettina dons her pumpkin-colored coat for the umpteenth time or puts her sage green plates on the table yet again. If you aren't bothered by repetition, then dive right in. Peggy Ehrhart's Knit & Nibble mysteries are a feast for the eyes, the taste buds, and the heart. It's a series that I truly enjoy.

A light cozy mystery. Despite two murders, it was light on mystery. No, romance didn't fill in the gaps, food and the minute details of life did. Although the descriptions are well done, I found myself skipping over much of the book. Couldn't decide whether it was because of the current world situation and I am antsy or just too much about nothing.

Was Mayor Diefenbach murdered because he wanted to cut down trees? That's a good question but one thing's for sure- Pamela and Bettina are sure Roland, their fellow knitter, didn't do it. There's more nibbling than knitting in this series (as well as recipes) but you might pick up a hint. The mystery itself isn't too complicated, the characters are fun and it's a pleasant read for fans of the genre. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

4 Stars

This is the fifth book in the Knit & Nibble mystery series by Peggy Ehrhart.

The mystery here is a little far-fetched but nothing beyond comprehension. I love crafting mysteries and this one did not disappoint. I got all the feel good friend moments and the searching for answers moments as well.

There have been a few trees in Arborville tagged for removal and there is a knitter or group of knitters out there trying to hide the marks to save the trees. However, there is one tree hugger who will turn to murder to further their nature loving cause.

Pamela is the main POV character here but she spends quite a lot of time with Bettina trying to solve the mystery of who killed Mayor Diefenbach. The Knit and Nibble knitters club featuyres prominently too. Such a fun group to watch socialize. This is one of the best aspects of the book. I love how they bond together by doing their craft. One of their fellow knitters, Roland, gets pegged as the main suspect.

At the end there is a recipe that almost felt like it was in an awkward place. The ending wasn’t as solid as I normally like. And while I was listening with the text reader, it flowed straight into the recipe. I guess I just wanted a little better “this is the end” moment. I did feel left a bit hanging once the story was over. But in a way that is good since you want to leave them wanting more, right?

If you love a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Pamela and her knitting group are dealing with yarn covered trees and a dead mayor. First I’ve read in this series, so may be why I was not really into this one. A quick easy read, but would have preferred more mystery. Would recommend.

Too Much Fluff and Fill; Too Little Mystery
A Fatal Yarn is the fifth book in Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit & Nibble Mystery series. This is a light and entertaining read. The author’s descriptive writing flows somewhat smoothly and slowly, and the descriptions of making coffee, eating, cooking, and daily routines that are more than a little tedious. The well-developed characters are likable, and the mystery is interesting but other than in a few scenes, it plays a minor role in the book.

Pamela Paterson is a widow who lives in Arborville, New Jersey, and has one daughter, Penny, who attends college. Pamela works from home as an associate editor of a craft magazine and is the founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club. Bettina Fraser is her neighbor, friend, fellow knitter, the chief reporter for the town’s weekly newspaper, and sleuthing partner. The town has been placing red Xs on trees that are to be cut down because they might interfere with power lines, and an anonymous activist group known as the Yarnvaders has been knitting sweaters for the trees to cover the red Xs. When Mayor Bill Diefenbach, who is in favor of the tree removal, is murdered, Detective Clayborn arrests Roland DeCamp, one of the members of the knitting group, because the two men were observed arguing in public and his car was spotted in front of the mayor’s house the evening he was murdered. Pamela and Bettina hope to learn more about the Yarnvaders and want to clear Roland’s name.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

A gal yarn is an entertaining cozy mystery. Good plot and quirky characters. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

I cannot get enough of the knit and nibble group! Although Pamela can annoy me at times I enjoy seeing her unravel mysteries. I wished I lived in a town like Arborville.

This is a fun story with a good plot. Bettina is hostess for the Knit and Nibble Knitting club. During their discussion, Roland thought Diefenbach, the current Mayor of Arborville, had excelllent ideas, whereas Nell said he was distressing becauce he wants to replace the Community Gardens with a high rise. Bettina's husband, Wilford, comes in to suggest it's time for tea and goodies. Pamela announces there is a hand knit sweater on her tree. The Yarnvaders are a secret group trying to save the trees which the the town wants to cut down by covering the red X with a sweater!

After snacks, the police arrive and arrest Roland, one of the knitters. Bettina and Pamela have more coffee after everyone leaves and decide they need to help save Roland. The next day they find that Roland is the prime suspect for the murder of Mayor Diefenbach, who has been murdered in his own kitchen by being hit in the head by something very heavy. Bettina and Pamela figure out several possible culprits, and visit several people who might not like the Mayor. They sometimes get in trouble while questioning, and near the end one of them decides who the murderer is, and puts herself into a very dangerous position.

My major complaint about the book is that there seem to be too many coffee breaks with long descriptions of the dishes and making the coffee as well as cooking procedures. There is a recipe at the end of the book of Lemon Yogurt Easter Cake with Cream Cheese Icing. In the story part there are three pages telling how Pamela made the cake. However, I want to make it clear that I liked the story and the characters.