I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I must apologise that it has taken me so long to supply my review. Severe chronic illnesses have affected my life in recent years and have left me unable to write reviews. I have still read the books, left myself notes, but can’t give the level of review I usually give. It is my hope to return to that level in the future, and will include posting detailed reviews here, to my blog, to Amazon Australia, and Goodreads.

Please accept my apologies, along with the following basic review:


Another great book from an author favourite of mine. It never ceases to amaze me how she comes up with original, unique, and entertaing tales intertwined with everyday life and crafting. I love this series. Highly recommend.

When Martha hears that her friend Birdie wants to move to a commune, she wants to learn more about it. During a visit to the Mystical Feather Society, they find the leader dead in their RV. Martha is determined to discover the truth about the Society and what happened to Royal St. Germain. A fun cozy mystery with friendship and quilting.

This is one cozy mystery series that I get excited about when the next book comes out. It never lets me down and this was no exception. I just love the main female character. She is so down to earth and smart. The supporting characters are great as well. I never get tired of reading what they are up to (this time looking into a commune/cult). It is always something interesting and the author takes the time to research and describe everything so well. I enjoy learning more about the Jewish religion as well. This is a great series.

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one day, full of interesting characters and plot twists. I recommend for any cozy mystery fan.

Martha hosts a quilting group at her home and is stunned to learn one of her fellow members has decided to sell all her belongings and move onto the Mystical Feather Society's property in the mountains. The commune is clothing-optional and the people there believe they can see auras and contact the dead via seances. Martha knows Birdie and her husband are making a huge mistake and sets out to prove it to them.

Things don't go as planned when Martha and some friends visit the commune to see what it's like. They discover the dead body of the cult leader. His followers claim he's beloved, but others claim he is evil and may be responsible for the murders of several past group members who disappeared and were never seen again.

This is a fun cozy mystery involving a cult, which is a topic that isn't often covered in cozies. The characters are unique and funny. Who doesn't love a little dog named Zsa Zsa and a sister with no filter when she speaks? "Knot of This World" is the second book I've read in this series, and I plan to continue reading more.

This was a fun cozy. I love crafting cozies, and this one was fantastic. The characters had great development, and the mystery was great.

I love the name Birdie as a character or nickname. Luckily, Birdie and hear hubby have a good friend in Martha, who ably investigates a murder connected with a cult like society.

Knot of this World by Mary Marks is the eighth book in the Quilting Mystery series. Martha fears that her friend and fellow quilter Birdie has joined a cult. When Birdie and her husband plan to move to the commune, Martha enlists some friends to go along with hopes of changing her friend's mind. When the commune's leader is found dead, Martha adds solving the murder to her list. This is an enjoyable series with an eclectic mix of characters. The mystery had a few twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end!

Martha Rose is stunned when her long-time friend, Birdie Watson, shares the news that she and her husband, Denver, are planning to join the Mystical Feather commune. Even more horrifying, Birdie and Denver plan to donate all of their quite wealthy assets to the commune as part of their commitment to Mystical Feather. Martha and the rest of the Tuesday morning quilting group are determined to investigate the commune and ensure that Birdie isn’t being scammed. What they didn’t expect was to end up in the midst of a murder investigation. Can Martha and her friends uncover who the real murderer is?

Martha and her friends are a hoot! We spend a lot of time with Jazz in KNOT OF THIS WORLD, as well as well the local psychic, Paulina Polinskaya. I continue to love Martha’s loyalty to her friends and her insight into others is often quite on target. Mary Marks throws a lot of red herrings at Martha as the murder mystery facing her has multiple suspects with a wide range of motives.

KNOT OF THIS WORLD is the eighth book in A Quilting Mystery series and may be my favorite one yet! Mary Marks has created a cast of characters that make me want to visit and share in their family Sabbath dinner together. I love how the diverse personalities learn to get along despite some very different characteristics too. Even Giselle, Martha’s brash and outspoken (and sometimes downright rude) sister, is able to assimilate into the group, albeit sometimes with a bit of an awkward silence while everyone sorts out how to react.

KNOT OF THIS WORLD is another stunningly good cozy mystery from the very talented Mary Marks. Cozy mystery readers will relish this charming and sometimes a bit outrageous series as Martha and her friends have nary a dull moment. Warm friendships, intriguing mysteries to solve, quilting tips aplenty, and tasty food galore are all interwoven into one darned good series! KNOT OF THIS WORLD is a must read for cozy mystery lovers!

*in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

Knot of This World by Mary Marks has Martha Rose worried about her friend, Birdie Watson and her husband. They have returned from wintering in Arizona to announce to the quilting group that they are selling their properties and joining the Mystical Feather Society in Ojai. Martha worries that this group is a cult, and her friends will be left with nothing once they turn over all their money. She suggests that they visit the Mystical Feather Society to alleviate their concerns. Martha, Birdie, Denver, and the others arrive to find the society members conducting a séance inside a yurt. They decide to head to down for lunch and return later hoping the group will be finished. They arrive at the RV to find the door open and the society’s leader, Royal St. Germain dead inside. When two of their expedition ends up under suspicion, Martha dives into the investigation. Knot of This World is the 8th A Quilting Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series. Martha Rose is a middle-aged protagonist who has Fibromyalgia. The author accurately portrays how this disease affects a person even down to how the bottom of your feet hurt. There is an eclectic cast of characters in this series from Martha’s forthright sister to Jazz with his pretty pooch. Quilting and food dominate the story. Martha’s quilting group get together each week to work on their quilt projects, chat, and eat. I like hearing about the different quilt designs and how the quilts are created. Martha is creating a Sunbonnet Sue quilt for her granddaughter, Daisy. Martha and her fiancé, Crusher are Jewish so Jewish traditions are included like Friday night Shabbat dinner. The mystery had some interesting components. Martha was worried about her friends joining the Mystical Feather Society and she soon learns that she was right to be concerned. The more Martha digs, the more secrets she uncovers. Of course, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department nor the mysterious John Smith of the FBI appreciate her help. I wish this whodunit had been more challenging. The solution was obvious early in the book. I enjoyed following Martha and her friends on their quest for the truth. There was just the right amount of humor scattered throughout the tale. Knot of this World is an entertaining cozy mystery, and I look forward to Martha Rose’s next adventure. Knot of this World is a character driven cozy with a charismatic commune controller, stitching Sunbonnet Sue’s, cult controversy, missing members, furtive FBI fellow, disrobed devotees, and fretting friends.

This is the first book that I have read by this author. This book is part of a series - and I did not have any issues following along. I would like to go back and read the other books since the characters were so much fun to read about. The series follows Martha - and her posse of quilters. In this book Birdie returns with her new husband and they announce that they are selling all their worldly possessions to join a group (more like a cult). Martha and the other quilters are keeping busy investigating the cult leaders murder and trying not to fall in any traps.



This book has well developed characters. It has an original storyline. I did not feel lost with it being the last book in the series. It does touch on psychics. I hope to read more from this author.



I received a copy of this book through the Great Escape blogging program -- all thoughts are my own.

This is the 8th book in the series and the first one I have read. I really enjoyed the book and I'm going to go back and read the others. The mystery is well written and the characters are really well developed and likable. The book has enough twists to keep you engrossed.

The latest addition of Knot of This World to the "A Quilting Mystery" series is stimulating with heartfelt emotion. It is not high action, with incomprehensible twists and turns. It is filled with all things that make a cozy mystery, a cozy, an excellent mystery, an enjoyable and relatable cast, and enough energy to keep readers happy The characters, most quilters, mostly Martha and Birdie, give readers a sense of family, friendship, and camaraderie. There is a beautiful mountain location that would be awe-inspiring to see, and a mystery worth the time and effort to solve. And if readers are into quilting, they will love all the tips and talk about quilt making.

This is the first book in this series that I have had the pleasure of reading. I was entertained throughout. There are plenty of suspects and a few red herrings. There are twists but not the kind that confuse and bemuse but the type that allows the reader to understand that not everything is straight forward. I would have liked to see and learn more about the quilters group and the quilting in general but overall enjoyed learning about those who played a more prominent role.

The plot was lively and easy to follow. The writing was top-notch. The story was captivating without being over the top. The killer was uncovered, but not without a few anxious moments for the characters. Justice prevailed, and the murder was solved. Knot of This World made me want to try my hand at quilting once again, the quilters group sounded amazing, but the talk of the food for the Shabbat had me wanting to cook for my family. All-in-all a delightful read that I highly recommend to readers who love quilting, food, and good storytelling.

Knot of this World is the 8th book in the series and I had no problem reading the book as a stand alone novel. But I recommend reading in order as they are such good books.

Protagonist Martha Rose, is a strong, educated woman, and the side characters are realistic, slightly quirky too like her friend Birdie, Pauline the physic and of course Jazz. The characters are well rounded and enjoyable.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I even learnt something about Jewish customs, a lesson in Tarot reading, interpreting aura colour and quilting tips which is always a bonus.

I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Quilting and sleuthing abound in this cozy mystery with Martha Rose the lead. She has plenty of help with her friends, her fiancé, Crusher, and her FBI friend, John Smith. Old friends are about to give up all their worldly positions and be spirited away to an isolated mountainside. It's rumored that others have gone there, but were never heard from again. She asks her friend, Pauline, a psychic, and another psychic to come with them as they go check out the place. Her intent is to convince her friends, Birdie and Den not to be lured in. A murder does that for her.

There are twists and turns, a lesson in Tarot reading, interpreting aura color, and dealing with police who want nothing to do with psychics. Birdie and Den discover friends from years gone at another commune and extend the welcome mat for them and others who now have nothing. There are many surprises and twists, with things and people not always as they appear.

This is well-written, with interesting and likable characters. This is the 8th in the Quilting Mystery series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone. There are mentions of previous homicide investigations Martha has been part of, but only in passing and they don't affect this mystery. If you like cozy mystery, you'll enjoy it. If you like psychics and tarot cards, even better.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Mary Marks and I have a lot in common. We are both over 70, were quilters, have a challenging disability,and have a 'glass is half full' outlook. In an interview with Terry Ambrose, (Author Interviews July 13, 2017), Marks says " I’m quite astonished by this success so late in life, but also very grateful. I’m living proof it’s never too late to try something new and follow a dream.” How inspiring.

Knot of this World is Book 8 in the Quilting Mystery Series. While Marks, a pantster - one who allows the characters to tell her their story-- she also is one who allows current issues to become part of the plot. In Knot of This World, tw0 of my favorite of her quirky characters, Birdie and Denver Watson, might be the target of elderly fraud. Birdie, a lover of communes, plans to sell everything and relocate a the spiritual community located in Ojai. When Martha Rose and a few others drive to Ojai to investigate the Mystical Feather Society, a murder occurs. The corpse is found in the Watson's RV. Obviously they are suspects. Obviously the games afoot.
I really enjoy the protagonist Martha Rose. She is not, repeat not, a little old lady. Yes, she is older but is not, repeat not, inclined to embrace the concept "golden oldie".. She is engaged, social, family based, and dare I say it? sexy. Her social circle is open, welcoming people age, social strata, gender identity. If the person is kind they are welcome to her quilting circle and to her support if needed. While I understand Marks character, Lucy is drawn to reflect the generational marriage attitudes, I wish the character could have better communication with her spouse. The marriage feels more like a "Lucy Ricky arrangement' than a healthy 21st century one.

Cults are part of the California culture. Marks gives a delightfully wry take on this phenomenon.
Highly recommended for quilters and readers of a certain age. .

Full disclosure: I received this ARC edition from netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for this opportunity.

Martha Rose is a quilter and an amateur nosy nelly. What a great series this is! The world building is amazing. I love the banter between the characters. It is very amusing. The whodunit has so many twists and turns, I will never figure it out. I spent a very relaxing weekend with this book. I loved it. I definitely recommend reading this series.

There’s nothing I can say about author Mary Marks that her legions of fan don’t already know. She’s a suburb writer, and each new book she writes serves as proof.

In, KNOT OF THIS WORLD, Ms. Marks touches on a subject I don’t recall ever seeing in a cozy mystery. Cults. Having just watched a couple documentaries on that very subject, I was curious to see how the author handled it. I was pleased to see the story didn’t dig too deep into the subject, making it interesting, but still within the confines of the cozy format.

This was a mystery up to the standards of which I have come to expect from this author. Extremely well executed, there were twists and turns that led down wrong ways and dead ends, all of which served to make KNOT OF THIS WORLD a hard one for me to solve.

With delightful characters, mystery, mayhem, and plain old great storytelling, KNOT OF THIS WORLD is an out of this world read!

I enjoy the Quilting Mystery series, especially because of the relationships between the main characters. Martha Rose is a fifty something divorcee, who has some pretty good skills in investigating. She has solved almost a dozen murders, some that had stumped law enforcement. She is an ordinary woman, a bit overweight, a new grandma and someone that I can definitely identify with. This story has her and her friends investigating murder/unexplained disappearances/embezzlement at a commune or cult that one of her friends is considering joining. It takes several visits with her friends to unearth the clues as to who the culprit(s) were. Can they solve the crimes without putting anyone else in danger?

The character development is wonderful in this series. I have read all the books and love how Martha has grown and changed from the beginning of this series. Living with her fiancee Yossi Levy, an ATF officer and quilting with her group of friends and her sister, has her getting help from multiple sources when investigating. Gisele, Martha's half-sister, is the comic relief in the story. She has no filter at all, and the questions she asks, along with the comments she makes have me smiling and shaking my head. Mary Marks has written a mystery with several suspects, clues, twists and red herrings, that had me quickly flipping the pages to find out who done it. I thought I had it figured out, and I was partially correct, but the final showdown was still exciting. The dialogue is fun, sometimes snarky, but definitely entertaining.There are some other things I like about this story. The reader will pick up information about quilting as well as the Jewish faith. Martha also deals with fibromyalgia, an inflammatory musculoskeletal disease that is considered to be an illness that primarily affects the central nervous system. I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend this book and series to those who enjoy a well-written crafty, cozy mystery.

Birdy is back in the quilter's group after returning to California from wintering in Arizona with her husband, Denver. She brings with her shocking news. They are selling all of their homes and possessions and retire to the Mystical Feather Commune. All of the money from the sales will be submitted to the Commune's trust for its sole and exclusive use. Smelling something fishy, Martha convinces Birdy and Denny, and a small group of friends, to take an impromptu trip to visit the Commune and meet its fearless leader, Royal St. Germain. Only, the surprise is on them. It seems Royal has disappeared and their trip was in vain. As the group decides to pack back up and head out, they find Royal dead in the vehicle they used to make the trip - Birdy and Denny's Winnebago.

In an effort to help expose Mystical Feather Society as a fraud, Martha finds herself eyeball deep in another murder. This one happens while she are in the same area but the clues to the murderer aren't as clear. Two of the "friends" on this journey of Operation Debunk aren't who they say they are and land themselves on the suspect list. Meanwhile, additional suspects present themselves or Martha speculates their involvement and potential reasons. I had an idea who may have been involved but the author did such a great job presenting several contenders that I wasn't sure until the very end.

I love all the characters in the Quilting Mysteries by Mary Marks. The relationship between Martha and Crusher is sweet and I’m honestly glad she is with him. He is so devoted to Martha and her to Crusher. The quilting group is a riot and totally has Martha’s back. I really feel like they are all my friends since we’ve now been together for eight books.

Mary Marks does another wonderful job building up the mystery and keeping the reader on their toes. The truth of the situation is revealed at the perfect time and I was not disappointed. 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 in the series are subtle and don't overshadow the mystery. The entire novel is engaging; never a dull moment.