This story brings “unidentifiable scent of creativity!”
Great cozy mystery that I was unsure in the beginning, but Allie Pleiter is one of my favorite authors, so I gave it a try. I'm not a knitter, but the setting makes you feel right at home and very comfortable. Likable characters and interesting plot development.
“I knew right then and there that somehow, some way, I’d make sure the mystery of Perle’s death would be untangled.”
I received an ARC of this book for review. I was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions in this review are my own.

ON SKEIN OF DEATH by Allie Pleiter
The First Riverbank Knitting Mystery

Libby Beckett is on the edge of major knitting success hosting famous Nordic knitting designer Perle Langager at her shop Y.A.R.N. The three day event will feature talks, demonstrations, and Perle's latest creation-knitting needles with a unique Danish design. Perle seems more nervous in her demands than diva, and Libby willingly helps the young woman. When Perle can't be found, Libby joins in the search only to find the knitter strangled with yarn. Spurned on by a need to find justice for the young woman with such promise, Libby decides to do whatever she can to catch a killer!

Libby Beckett is a smart, take charge woman capable of reinventing herself and able to withstand the challenges brought to her doorstep in the first Riverbank Knitting Mystery. I love her passion for knitting and the desire to spread the love of that art form. And yes, it IS art. She has a best friend who keeps her in pie (I am a bit envious) and, although she'd try to deny it, a good love interest. I like the developing relationship between Libby and Gavin, egged on by her mother and his daughter.

The mystery is ingenious and deftly plotted. Morals and integrity are integral to the characters and the plot shaping behavior and making the murder even more distressing. There's humor and fun as well as a charming dog named Hank!

ON SKEIN OF DEATH with its interesting characters and charming setting is a solid start to a new series. I can't wait to see Libby take on King George in her next adventure!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Libby Beckett is living her dream of opening up her Y.A.R.N. shop to spread her joy of yarn crafts with the masses. Y.A.R.N. stands for “You’re Absolutely Ready Now” but she wasn’t ready to find Perle Langager dead. Perle was a famous Norwegian knitting celebrity who had come to Collinstown, Maryland to lead several events at Y.A.R.N. Perle seemed very nervous and distracted when she arrived but was looking forward to each event. Sadly she was found strangled with a skein of red yarn before a big event and Libby knows she needs to untangle all the suspects and unravel all the clues to knit her life back together so she can continue to live her dream.

I really liked Libby. Her passion for yarn and knitting just oozed out of her. I loved the way she encouraged an overwrought businesswoman to try knitting to alieve her stress. The woman was hooked after her first lesson. She also taught a 13-year-old girl anxious to learn to knit. Libby also realizes sorting out clues is easier with a pair of needles in her hands. You will rarely find the woman not knitting up some wonderful creation.

Ms. Pleiter has surrounded her protagonist with a wonderful supporting cast. Her mom and “the Gals” bring a lot of humor to the story, you never know what these ladies are going to come up with. That young 13-year-old knitter, Jillian is the daughter of Gavin, Collinstown’s mayor, and Libby’s high school boyfriend, who just may want to rekindle their relationship. But it was Hank the completely stole my heart. Hank is an English Bulldog, who is the shop’s mascot and quite the model of doggie sweaters. He is also good to have around when you’re feeling blue or in a bit of trouble. Libby is truly blessed to be Hank’s person.

This book suffers from first book-itis. It is really hard to introduce all the characters so readers get invested in their lives and try to give readers a complicated mystery. There were a few star suspect choices and I was able to knit and purl the clues and picked out the culprit pretty quickly. I was waiting for an epic twist to prove me wrong but that didn’t happen. I am sure now that we know the characters the mystery in the next book will be more complex.

I will say though that while the mystery was light I really enjoyed this story. The setting is delightfully described and if Y.A.R.N. was a real place I would be there in an instant to add my own words of inspiration to store blackboard. Y – You A – Are – R – Really N – Nice or Y- You A- Are – R- Raving N – Now, okay those are just off the top of my head. I also liked all the characters and want to know them better. Lily is very creative and I am excited to see what her next project will be.

On Skein of Death has given the Riverbank Knitting Mystery Series a firm foundation to build on. I am looking forward to returning to Collinstown and Y.A.R.N. soon.

I love to make a start on a series from book one instead of partway through so as a lover of cozy mysteries, I jumped at the chance to read this, On Skein of Death by Allie Pleiter.

I got to meet divorced Libby Beckett, who has returned to Collinstown, Maryland, her hometown. She is opening Y.A.R.N., her very own knitting shop. Y.A.R.N. is short for "You're Absolutely Ready Now." When a prominent Norwegian knitting designer, Perle Lonager is found murdered with a skein of red wool wrapped around her throat, her head acutely tilted, Libby steps in to do some detective work and sleuthing.

I really enjoyed this intriguing story and I liked Allie Pleiter's portrayal of Libby who had so much passion for her dream shop. Libby's English Bulldog, Hank played a good part, too. The supporting characters were also well-drawn, such as Margo, Libby's friend and the owner of "Perfect Slice" just across the road from Y.A.R.N., who is known for her shortbread and pies. The mystery itself was well done; there was plenty of viable suspects and the madcap tale delivers on humour, courtesy of Libby’s mum Rhonda, and Rhonda's friends, the Gals. With a soupcon of romance in the mixing pot too, I'm already looking forward to seeing what's in store for Libby and Hank in book 2. Even those who have no particular interest in knitting or crafting will doubtlessly enjoy On Skein of Death.

Thanks to Great Escapes Book Tours, Allie Pleiter and Berkley Publishing for a complimentary copy of On Skein of Death at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Do you enjoy a cozy mystery? Then grab a copy of On Skein of Death. Not only will you be trying to figure out who dun it, you’ll enjoy the mystery along with the laughter.

Author Allie Pleiter paints a lovely picture with her descriptions of the yarn shop, Y.A.R.N., of the town of Collinstown, and the quirky people of the town. I especially enjoyed “meeting” Libby’s mother and her group of friends,the Gals. They’re so cute. I would love to visit, have a cup of coffee, and have them show me some new knitting techniques. That’s how real it felt.

On Skein of Death is a great start to Pleiter’s newest series, A Riverbank Knitting Mystery. I recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Thoroughly enjoyable new series that interweaves a charming world with a great mystery. Hank the English Bulldog is to die for! Looking forward to a great series. Allie was featured on Fresh Fiction https://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=11365. Thanks to the author, publisher and net galley for a free copy for an honest opinion.

4.5 stars

I’m already a huge fan of this author’s contemporary romances, particularly her Wander Canyon series with Love Inspired. So when I heard that she was going to release a cozy mystery series too, I got super excited! I knew it would be good, and I was right – you instantly feel ‘at home’ in the story. There’s even a dash of romance to appease my swoon-loving heart, and I’ll definitely be keeping my eye on those developments as the series progresses.

Pleiter excels at creating characters you care about, and On Skein of Death is no exception. Libby is very likable, and her enthusiasm for knitting is infectious. You can tell the author is a true knitter as well, just by the little things here and there that add to the realism of Libby’s character. Libby’s quirky mom Rhonda and ‘the Gals’ bring humor & heart to the story, and I was very much drawn to Gavin (the town’s mayor & Libby’s high school sweetheart) & his young teenage daughter Jillian. There is certainly still some deep affection between Gavin and Libby, and the not-always-subtle matchmaking attempts by Jillian and Rhonda (and their unlikely friendship) made me grin. And of course I can’t overlook Hank the loyal dog, a good sport to model doggie sweaters & an all-around good friend when needed.

I’m not a knitter (can’t to save my life) but I loved Libby’s Y.A.R.N. nonetheless – because I do enjoy crocheting on occasion & I love visiting a yarn store where I can drool over all the pretty colors and imagine the beautiful things I could make were I better at handcrafting haha. My heart went out to Libby when her much anticipated celebrity knitting event unraveled around her, and I felt her anxiety over how it would all turn out for her store and the town. While the murderer turned out to be the person I initially suspected, I was not at all certain that I would be right in the end. The author stitched together lots of layers that made plausible suspects out of several characters, and right up to the very end I was still second guessing my initial opinion.

Bottom Line: On Skein of Death by Allie Pleiter grabbed my attention right away and kept me invested in the story until the very end. Knitters and yarn enthusiasts will love Libby and her yarn shop, as well as how the author’s expert knowledge and passion for the art shine through the character interactions and Libby’s engaging first person narrative. Some of the information gets a little repetitive at times but not enough to be that distracting. A well-plotted mystery, clever red herrings, and intriguing layers give the book its focus, and the lovely hint of romance potential will appeal to spark-loving readers like me without alienating mystery purists. I can’t wait for the next book!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

On Skein of Death is Allie Pleiter’s first foray into the cozy mystery genre. From the authors note to the characters names and even a dog sweater pattern, the authors love for knitting is evident throughout the book.

One of the things that draw me to cozy mysteries is the small-town setting and the characters, and this book is rich with both. There is also just the hint of a possible romance (which I’m sure will be developed as the series continues), a curmudgeon who is Libby’s nemesis, good friends, an adorable dog, and a murder.

While this is an enjoyable story that introduced me to the town and people of Collinstown, the mystery fell flat. That may just be because I’m an avid suspense reader, but it could also be because it became obvious early on (at least to me) who was behind the crime. There were a couple of red herrings thrown in there, but they were so glaring they didn’t throw me off the trail.

However, the mystery isn’t usually what draws me to cozies (despite it being part of the genre), and I will definitely be visiting Libby, Gavin, Jillian, and the rest of the crew again.

**Content warning: For those who are fans of Pleiter’s inspirational books, will want to not this clean cozy mystery does contain a few curse words.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The first book in a new series of cozy mysteries, this is a feel-good book. Libby moves back home to open her Y.A.R.N shop (stands for You're Absolutely Ready Now), after divorcing her wandering husband. We have a charming knitting store, a lovely small town, a murder of a big name knitting artist. There is a nice relationship between Libby and her mother and her mother's knitting buddies.. This all comes together to create a light, fun read. This all comes together to create a light, fun read.

On Skein of Death, Allie Pleiter’s first Riverbank Knitting Mystery, has all the elements needed for a successful series, particularly a great hook. Libby Beckett is a recent divorcée who has returned to her Maryland hometown to make a fresh start in familiar surroundings. Locals and tourists are drawn to Collinstown and adore the picturesque, welcoming main street. If you’re tempted to pop Collinstown in your GPS, alas, it’s a fictional town. Libby sinks her sizable divorce settlement plus her heart and soul into her new hometown enterprise.

The series hook is Libby’s colorful, warm, inviting shop Y.A.R.N., aka You’re Absolutely Ready Now. The shop’s name embodies Libby’s zest for living in the moment, carpe diem if you will.

Y.A.R.N. is a comfort space. More than just comfortable, the shop exudes comfort with deep cushioned chairs, bright warm lighting, tables to gather at, and thick rugs underfoot. It smells like good coffee, frequently of baked goods, and of the particular but unidentifiable scent of creativity. Not a speck of chrome to be found here, just deep shelves and bins in every nook and cranny.



This isn’t just a place where you just duck in and grab what you need; it’s a soothing haven where you linger and discover. Where you sit for an hour and no one cares—in fact we love when you do.



Y.A.R.N. is the thing I was born to do.

Y.A.R.N. is a refuge for those who wield knitting needles and crochet hooks. Libby needs a sensational event to put Y.A.R.N. on the map and she’s sure she’s found it in the person of Norwegian knitting sensation, Perle Lonager. Everyone loves Lonager’s exquisite Nordic designs. What makes them irresistible is how good they look on Lonager’s favorite model and companion, Henrik.

The fact that he appeared to be a modern-day drop-dead-gorgeous Viking didn’t hurt either. Photographs of him in Perle’s sweaters, the sleeves pushed up just enough to showcase muscular arms, only added to the appeal. Her pattern books boasted shots of his piercing blue eyes peering soulfully out from under Perle’s slouchy beanies.

As Libby quips, “why can’t hot guys sell knitting?” Libby has planned a whole weekend of events to showcase Perle Lonager’s talents and “the mayor of Collinstown even decrees a Collinstown Yarn Day to celebrate.” Since the mayor, Gavin Maddock, was Libby’s high school boyfriend, George Barker (Libby’s nemesis and the president of the local Chamber of Commerce) accuses her of trading on a personal relationship to garner publicity for Y.A.R.N. Barker is quite annoyed when Libby’s unstoppable mom and her gal pals yarn bomb every tree on Main Street with hand-knitted scarves.

Finally, the big day arrives. Perle, Hendrik and Derek Martingale, Perle’s publisher, descend on Collinstown. Inexplicably, something seems off with Perle. Libby decides to talk to Perle before her appearance in the town theater. Libby’s a good listener, maybe she can help. Unfortunately, it’s not to be.

There, slumped up against the back wall, was Perle. Her head cocked at a gruesome angle above what looked like a skein of read yarn wound around her neck, twisted tight around one of her needles in a lethal tourniquet. A set of the large needles lay at her feet, their mother-of-pearl beauty marred by bloody red smears on the tips.



Perle Lonager couldn’t hear us—or anything—because she was dead.

Perle was murdered by a deadly combination of her personally designed mother-of-pearl needles and red yarn from Y.A.R.N. This is a disaster for Libby. Not only is she personally sad at the demise of one of her knitting heroes, but showman P.T. Barnum’s adage—there’s no such thing as bad publicity—does not hold true in this case. Libby takes a financial bath after refunding countless tickets for Perle’s canceled events. The sooner the murder is solved, the sooner Y.A.R.N. can move on from the tragic event, so Libby decides to lend a hand. It helps that Police Chief Frank Reynolds is a friend. There’s no dearth of suspects—is Henrik really the studly Scandinavian he purports to be? What about a young relative of Perle’s who shows up for the festivities? Libby’s detective tool bag includes guile, persuasion, generosity, tact, and even bribes (a timely hamburger for a hungry witness).

On Skein of Death sees Libby juggling many crocheted toques—she’s a dog mama to her English bulldog Hank (also “Y.A.R.N.’s official mascot), her busybody mother is relentless is fostering a romance between Libby and her old boyfriend and current mayor—not to mention the demands of Y.A.R.N. Libby makes a likable and believable sleuth and I’m looking forward to a return visit to the charming town of Collinstown.

I love cozy mysteries and this book did not disappoint. It has knitting, murder, and Libby, the knitting shop owner that gets caught up in the whole mystery.

Can't wait to see what the rest of the series brings to the table. Looking forward to possible romance between Libby and Gavin.

Libby Beckett is thrilled to be opening her new yarn shop in her hometown of Collinstown, Maryland. It’s everything she ever wanted. To add to her excitement, a renowned celebrity knitter, Perle Langager, has agreed to appear at events for Libby’s shop. This will not only put her shop on the map, but it will do the same for Collinstown. Libby’s excitement is off the charts until tragedy strikes.

Perle is brutally murdered with yarn and Libby demands answers. Her business is suffering and so is her town.

This is a very good entry into a new cozy mystery series. This one is called A Riverbank Knitting Mystery series and it’s off to a fun start. I know absolutely nothing about knitting, but I really enjoyed this book and now I want to learn to knit. LOL

It’s a fast-paced mystery with several potential suspects. I admit I did guess the culprit early in the story, but the ride getting to the end is intriguing.

The characters are quirky, lively and witty. I was a bit surprised that the police didn’t find Libby to be too intrusive in the investigation but that’s how it is in cozy mysteries. The amateur sleuth always manages to get in the middle of things.

Overall, a sweet cozy mystery series with lovable characters. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series and getting to know the characters even better.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was not for me. I had a hard time just getting into the book over all. The author does a play off of all things yarn in the book including a teenager and a group of “old” ladies set to have fun with yarn and trees. The book is told in a first person telling. I liked Gavin he seemed to face a lot and was always looking out for Libby. Libby was store owner turned detective which made things very interesting. The author did keep the book a clean read. I guess in the end I expected a different ending but over all the story was ok.

On Skein of Death by Allie Pleiter is the debut of A Riverbank Knitting Mystery series. Libby Beckett is newly divorced and has taken her settlement to fulfil her dream of opening Y.A.R.N. Her dream is threatened when the three-day event she organized is canceled after the Norwegian knitwear designer is found murdered. Libby cannot rest until she learns the identity of the guilty party. There were some elements I liked and others that I did not. I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions of the yarn shop, the yarn, the finished creations, and the gorgeous knitting needles. I also liked the picturesque descriptions of Collinstown, Maryland with its charming shops and friendly residents. The story is told in the first person which leads to a lot of internal thinking by Libby. There is repetition of information (details about characters and especially the murder). The whodunit was straightforward. Perle Langager is murdered in a fashion that suits the story. There are a limited number of suspects with the guilty party extremely obvious. I kept hoping for a surprise character or twist. The reveal wrapped up the mystery leaving no lingering questions. There is humor scattered throughout courtesy of Libby’s mother and her gaggle of friends. There is romance as well between Libby and her old high school beau, Gavin who is the current mayor. This is relaxing tale that will appeal to readers looking for lighter fare. On Skein of Death is a blithe cozy mystery with creative yarn art, a cute canine, a dead knitwear designer, a sleuthing shop owner, plenty of pie, and creative knits.

A charming whodunit involving a knitting store that is playing host to a designer, her almost fiancé, and her publisher. When Y.A.R.N. shop owner Libby Beckett lands famous Norwegian designer Perle Langager for a weekend of events, she’s over the moon. So are the knitter’s who live in the surrounding area. With a nice size crowd, the event starts, but ends on a horrible note. Libby finds Perle dead in the auditorium, a prize pair of knitting needles are next to her, covered in blood. With three main suspects, the police, with Libby’s help are determined to solve the case before the blood is dry. It’s a case of fake identities, angry relatives, and more.
I’m not a knitter, so the knitting parts didn’t interest me as much as they would other crafters, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story none the less. I love the relationship between Jillian and Libby’s mom, they really struck up a great friendship with the pair learning a lot from each other, and scheming to get Libby and Gavin together.
It was fairly easy for me to deduce the culprit, but it didn’t detract from the story, the writing is good, the characters are well developed, and I can’t wait to see where the overall story arc goes.
**I was given an ARC of this story from the publisher and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars

I think I've finally found the perfect knitting-themed cozy series for me. I had a big smile on my face as I turned the last page of Allie Pleiter's debut Riverbank Knitting mystery, On Skein of Death. It is a wonderful blend of mystery, character, setting, and knitting.

In the other knitting-themed cozies that I've read, knitting is usually nothing more than the hook to entice readers to buy the book. You're lucky if the characters look at a skein of yarn or pick up a knitting needle once or twice during the course of the book. But On Skein of Death has knitting firmly woven into the story. If Libby's shop were real, I'd be making a bee-line for it and would undoubtedly spend way too much money there. When Libby can't sleep or needs to clear her mind so she can think, she picks up her needles and knits. She teaches a thirteen-year-old to knit and encourages a stressed-out businesswoman to take up needles, too. There are also dollops of yarn bombing and illusion knitting. But it's not only instances like these that put the knit and purl into On Skein of Death, it's the language Pleiter uses. She lets us know that knitters rarely get upset at delays because delays are just opportunities to whip out knitting projects and add a few rows. Libby also finds out that this investigation has "more twists and backtracks than it does to turn a sock heel."

But before you begin to think that there's nothing but needles and yarn to On Skein of Death, there's an interesting group of suspects for Libby to learn about. Was the killer the strange young man who showed up to the first event? Was it Perle's "what's in it for me" beady-eyed editor? Was it...? I enjoyed the mystery even though the identity of the killer was no surprise. (Unfortunately, I've watched too many episodes of Forensic Files.)

Pleiter has also created a stellar cast of characters that bodes well for future books. Libby's outlook on life and her passion for her shop and knitting will warm your heart. She's also good at making friends and developing useful contacts, and she's not one to take unnecessary risks. Gavin Maddock is Collinstown's mayor and Libby's high school sweetheart, and Gavin's thirteen-year-old daughter Jillian is a little jewel. Libby's mother Rhonda and her friends (known as "the Gals") provide plenty of humor. and then there's Frank the police chief and his receptionist Angie whom I hope to see more of in future books. Good gravy, I forgot one of the most important characters! Hank the English bulldog is Y.A.R.N.'s mascot and quite skilled at modeling sweaters and being your best buddy when you're in dire need.

As you can see, I've fallen head over heels for On Skein of Death, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book in the series. You really don't even have to be interested in knitting to enjoy this book. Find out for yourself!

Allie Pleiter has written a delightful cozy mystery. A good plot and a great cast of characters. Mystery fans will love this book.

I was really excited to dive into this one, as I couldn't wait to see how one of my all time favorite authors was going to tackle one of my all time favorite genres. I have to say this didn't end up being quite what I was expecting, but it was still an enjoyable read, and I have high hopes for the rest of the series.

I've long appreciated how Allie Pleiter always writes in an atmospheric style that really brings the setting alive to the reader, and I adored how the town, it's vibrant cast of characters, and the precious Y.A.R.N. shop easily brought a vivid picture to my mind. I felt like I was right there experiencing everything alongside Libby, and I always enjoy when an author can pull this off so effortlessly.

Anyone reading this one can easily tell of the author's love for knitting, and the close knit knitting world, and I learned a lot about different techniques and the like through the many mentions throughout the story. It made an already cozy story seem that much cozier, and I hope to see more of this in future books of the series. I also loved that this one really doesn't center around romance at all, and instead most of the focus is on the mystery and the shop itself, although I think there definitely could be potential for more romance in the upcoming books.

While this one did have a lot of elements I really ended up enjoying, it didn't end up being quite the five star read I was expecting. I obviously knew this wasn't going to include the same type of content as her books published in the Christian market would, but I thought it would overall be pretty squeaky clean. While compared to many other cozy mysteries I've read in the past few years, it was more on the clean side, it still had numerous content pieces added that I definitely could have done without.

Lastly, I unfortunately felt the mystery element was extremely obvious and I kept hoping I would be proven wrong in the final conclusion, but that wasn't the case. I was really hoping it was going to be a different character than I'd initially expected just to throw another twist or turn into the series, but I was left pretty disappointed with how everything ended up coming together in the end.

Final Rating: 3/5.

An enjoyable read, but not quite what I was expecting. I'm hoping I'll feel much more positive about the future books in the series.

Thanks so much to Berkley Books for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Berkely) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

Gosh, this book is the cutest. I'm a sucker for yarn, cozies, and lovable puppies. For that reason, this book has it all. Would very much recommend for those who love these things, too.

This was a fantastic cozy mystery. I'm not a knitter, don't really know much about it, so I was a little unsure about this book. But it's by Allie Pleiter, one of my favorite authors, so I figured I'd give it a chance. It blew me away. I loved it! It's one of my favorite cozies in recent memory.

There was something very comforting about the way this was written. I felt right at home in these pages. Libby's first-person narration was so welcoming and her upbeat attitude put a smile on my face. Her enthusiasm for knitting was contagious. She also made a great amateur sleuth. She was a little reluctant about it at first, but she really grew into the role.

On Skein of Death is sure to delight knitters and non-knitters alike. I can't wait to visit Collinstown again. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.