I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, knitting, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

I've always been a sucker for punny titles, so "One for the Hooks" grabbed me from the cover and title alone. The ensuing story of a murder most foul was quite the yarn! Molly Pink witnesses the tragic death of her friend, Sloan. Death by drone-dropped sea food. What a horrible way to die! But, why was Sloan targeted? And who was behind the deadly drone? Molly starts to unravel the clues, reaching to the center of the whole mess.

Betty Hechtman does an amazing job of hooking the reader from the beginning all the way through. We get invested in the characters, questioning who would kill Sloan, and wondering if everything is really as it seems. Crocheters and knitters alike will enjoy this knotted tail of a yarn!

"One for the Hooks" by Betty Hechtman is a delightful addition to the Crochet Mystery series, delivering another engaging and cleverly plotted mystery for fans of cozy mysteries and crafting enthusiasts. The story combines crochet, quirky characters, and a well-crafted whodunit that keeps readers entertained from beginning to end.

Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers return for their fourteenth adventure, and Hechtman's writing continues to shine with its warm and inviting tone. The camaraderie among the members of the crochet club adds a cozy and relatable element to the story, making the characters feel like old friends.

The murder mystery at the heart of the plot is intriguing and keeps you guessing. Hechtman cleverly weaves in elements of crochet and crafting throughout the investigation, adding a unique and enjoyable twist to the traditional cozy mystery.

The book earns a four-star rating because it maintains the series' charm and quality but doesn't necessarily break new ground. Some readers may find certain aspects of the plot formulaic if they're familiar with the series.

In conclusion, "One for the Hooks" is a solid addition to the Crochet Mystery series, offering an engaging blend of crafting, camaraderie, and mystery. It's a cozy and satisfying read that will please fans of the genre and keep them eagerly awaiting the next installment.

I have read a few of these books out of order but other than Molly Pink's romances it doesn't matter much. In this book a murder of a real estate agent seems accidental, but Molly is not so sure about that. The neighbors don't want a house in a cul de sac to have daily rentals. But would they kill for that? Molly and her Tarzana hookers are working on a new project for which the pattern is in the book. Molly's son invades her house with his pregnant girlfriend and takes over the whole house. I found I really wanted to smack him. Will Molly finally choose to be with?

Like usual this was a fun read but really didn't expect the ending.

This was a super cozy mystery that kept me engrossed and entertained the entire time. With great characters and storyline this one is sure to please even the hard core thriller readers.


4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This is the first book I’ve read in the Crochet series. But I definitely want to go back and read the previous ones. The characters are well developed and you will find yourself enjoying meeting Molly while chuckling at some of the other quirky ones. The murder mystery is set up so that you are hooked and are happy to sift through the clues to find out the truth. And the end of the book will have you gasping in shock and then smiling. Don’t cheat and skip to the end because the journey through the pages is worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

Cozy mystery lovers will definitely want this on their shelves. The book can be read on its own but you gain so much more out of the characters, plot, and mystery if you've read the several other books in the series. Betty Hechtman has such a delightful writing style, easily weaving humor into the plot through Molly Pink and her various friends (such as the Tarzana Hookers). "One for the Hooks" will immediately draw you right back into Molly's world and will be fun to read from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

I love this series of cozy mysteries and this one did not disappoint. The primary characters are like old friends and I hope the author returns with another as I was pleased with the relationship choice at the end and look forward to seeing it move forward!

Molly works at a local bookstore as an event coordinator and assistant manager. She leads a crochet group and a book club. While checking out some vintage yarn for purchase at a house that is being renovated to become a rental, the Real Estate Agent, Sloan, is attacked by a bag of garbage and dies on the spot. Molly quickly becomes a witness and starts investigating to find out what truly happened and why.

I loved the characters because they were so charming and likable. Molly was a great character because she has a bold personality that always got her into some kind of pickle. I also enjoyed the love triangle between Molly, Mason, and Barry. It kept things interesting. I did find having a yarn section in a bookstore kind of odd, but I overall really enjoyed the book. The book includes the directions to make a serendipity scarf and a recipe for spaghetti sauce. I love books that include recipes! I would recommend this book to other cozy mystery lovers like myself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Molly Pink is assistant manager at Shedd & Royal Books & More. She's also their event coordinator, and a member of the Tarzana Hookers, a group of women who crochet together, usually making gifts for charity. Her friend Elise Belmont confides that she has secretly gotten her real estate license -- because her husband Logan didn't want her to, thinking it might ruin his reputation as a realtor -- and wants to sell a house so she can show him that she's just as good as he is. Conveniently, another friend (and both members of the hookers) Adele wants a home where she and her new husband can have some privacy away from his mother, because the three live in a condo together.

So Elise has a house she wants to show Adele, and Adele insists that Molly come along. The three head out to an exclusive neighborhood, and shortly after arriving, Elise hustles them out because she received a text from her husband stating that he was going to show homes, and she's afraid that this will be the first one on the list. However, in the rush, Molly's custom-made scarf (by her) is left behind. And when Logan discovers the dead body of the owner, Timothy Clark, in the downstairs, it now becomes a crime scene.

When Detective Barry Greenberg -- Molly's ex -- realizes the scarf is hers, he tries to get her to admit it, but she won't, because she's promised Elise that she won't mention the visit to anyone. Now she's stuck in the middle of another murder investigation, tap dancing around Barry, and asking another ex, criminal attorney Mason Fields, for help. Then Molly starts receiving threatening notes, and she knows someone is watching her. But are they real or just someone trying to get her to stop asking questions? Unless Molly's careful, she might find that she's the next one in line to die...

This is the tenth book in the series, and I have read each one of them. While some have been better than most, I did find that I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Yes, it was definitely filled with Molly still trying to figure out if she wants a relationship or not, but having read them all, I understand her reasonings. If others haven't, I understand their confusion. While I absolutely hate love triangles, at least this wasn't exactly filled with that.

What I didn't like about the book is Molly's family just deciding to come over whenever they wanted and turn her house into a rehearsal hall. She has enough problems at her home as it is. Also, she should have gotten Barry's key when they broke up, and the worst is Adele - who somehow has gotten more annoying as the books go on. Enough with the over-the-top crochet outfits. Even I, a woman who loves to crochet, wouldn't even think of wearing it as everyday wear. You actually would look ridiculous. Also, why was Elise's husband calling her to tell her that he was showing a home? Did he do this on a regular basis? Check in with her every time he had a client? It seemed odd...

At any rate, other than this, the book was interesting enough to keep me reading, and there were some fun scenes throughout. But it seemed that some characters were bashing marriage, and I didn't understand that at all. Marriage is compromise and respect for the other person, and you have to learn how to give and take. If you don't do that, nothing about it will work at all. Hopefully, her characters will learn how to do this.

As you can tell, this wasn't one of my favorites of the series but it was still very good. However, as others have stated, the ending was odder than other books, with Molly telling us the fate of the people in the acting classes that Timothy gave (as if we really care about it) and the murderer came out of left field. I prefer that we at least get a few clues here and there. All in all, a nice cozy if you want to relax, but nothing too involved. There are also several of the crochet patterns in the back for those who are interested.

This was a fun read. It was quick and very middle of the road. It feels like a brainchild for those who enjoy a specific sweet romance and some knitting!

It took me this long to read this book because I assumed, I would be missing out on a lot of stuff and I don't want spoilers for the past books in this series. I tried to read all books in order but it's time consuming 😅 So, in a spur of the moment decision, I decided to just take the plunge and I wasn't disappointed! This book has an enjoyable mystery all set in a community made up of such memorable people. I've never been one for romance but this got me good. Molly is such a gentle yet strong character, so sure of herself, so loyal to the people she holds dear. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery and will surely come back for more books from this author

This was my first book by this author but it won’t be the last. Great amount of characters and suspense through to the last page. Thanks to NetGalley for the privilege to read and review this book.

All I can say is anything written by Betty Hechtman I’m gonna read, they are so fun and refreshing, it’s a mystery but it’s not meant to be serious and thrilling it meant to be the way you wind down at the end of the night after a long day and just wanna read something fun.
Being a knitter and crocheter whenever there’s a new book written with those two things included I know I’m gonna enjoy it. One for the hooks was just what I needed when I read it,

Molly Pink is the events coordinator, in charge of the yarn department, and assistant manager at Shedd and Royal Books and More. Adele, in charge of the children’s section and story hour, often butts in and tries to take over.

The Tarzana Hookers, the crochet group that meets at the store, is made up of loyal friends who are willing to crochet for charitable causes.

Molly’s personal life has settled down, too. At one point, she was dating two men—Barry, a police detective, and Marshall, a high-powered celebrity attorney. She’s finally decided on Marshall although Barry turns up with surprising frequency. For one thing, they share a dog. The other thing is, Molly keeps getting involved in murders, strictly as an amateur investigator, of course.

As usual, she really can’t be blamed. A customer mentioned she was clearing a house for renovation and the seller had a lot of yarn to rehome. Molly, and of course, Adele, plus a couple more of the Hookers, make the trek to view the yarn. Adele, now an ‘influencer,’ has to vlog to her many followers every step of the way. Molly can scarcely be blamed when someone is attacked and killed in the backyard. It could have been an accident, a case of mistaken identity, or deliberate.

On the home front, Molly was in for a surprise. It looked like every light in the house was on. If it was a burglar, it was a particularly stupid one. To her shock and surprise, it’s her oldest son and his very pregnant girlfriend. Peter’s lost his job and wants to stay with her for a while. A girlfriend she didn’t know about, a baby-to-be she sure didn’t know about, a job loss, too? By the way, their suitcases are in the car, can they have her bedroom, and can she make herself scarce when he has business dinners or meetings at the house? Investigating a murder to avoid family makes perfect sense.

This is book fourteen in the series. Molly is a wonderful character, someone who could teach you to crochet, will help if you’re framed for murder, and care for your dog if you’re arrested. Her best friend insists Molly is still interested in the police detective and Marshall is pushing her to make a life change, as if becoming a grandma isn’t change enough. It’s all a bit overwhelming.

The mysteries are full of twists that keep readers guessing, laughs to balance the investigation, romance to add spice. At the back of the book, find a pattern for a Serendipity Scarf to crochet and for dinner, the recipe for Molly’s spaghetti sauce.

This was the first cozy mystery of Betty's that I have read and now I will have to go and find copies of the others (for those of you with a giant TBR you will understand my problem). :)

I love that the crochet club calls themselves the Hookers, hilarious. Betty does a great job of leading you in different directions down dead end paths and making you think you have it figured out (you probably don't). Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I loved visiting Molly and friends again! There were plenty of twists in this whodunit and I enjoyed following along in the antics and investigation. This is a great series and I love the crochet theme.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel is an entertaining cozy mystery for readers who enjoy all things with yarn, especially crochet. The narrative is a good combination of character relationship development and an amateur sleuth murder investigation.

There were several aspects of the novel I found interesting. There is the issue of yarn, buying a collection of small skeins of various colors and then coming up with a reasonable way to market them. I like the idea of creating kits, providing samples and some instruction. And the plus is the directions for the project at the end of the book.

Another aspect of the plot I liked was the whole real estate issue. It was interesting to read about readying a house for sale or for another use, such as short term rentals. Professionals in that area can create quite a presentation.

The plot also contains interesting relationship issues. I was rooting for Molly, our amateur sleuth to go with a particular one of the two men in her life. I was a little shocked by her decision at the end of the novel and it left lots of questions unanswered for me.

This is a good cozy mystery and of particular interest to those involved in yarn arts. It is a continuation of a long series featuring Molly Pink but I felt it read well on its own.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Another good addition to this series. i was happy to catch up with the characters, had a lot of fun and the story kept me hooked even if it required a bit of suspension of belief at times.
The solid mystery is full of twists and turns, it kept me guessing.
I enjoyed it and it' s recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine