"Knot Ready for Murder" by Mary Marks is a delightful addition to the Martha Rose Quilting Mystery series, showcasing the author's talent for crafting engaging cozies with a perfect blend of humor, heart, and suspense. Marks once again invites readers into the charming world of Martha Rose and her quilting cohorts, delivering a story that is both cozy and captivating.

The novel's central conflict, revolving around Martha's impending wedding plans, adds a unique twist to the typical cozy mystery. The revelation about Crusher's past marriage and the arrival of his wife, Hadas, set the stage for a series of unexpected events. Marks expertly uses this loose thread to unravel not only the mystery of Crusher's marital status but also a more sinister puzzle involving a missing houseguest with ties to a previous hit-and-run case.

Martha Rose, with her wit and relatable charm, continues to be a lovable protagonist. Her interactions with the quirky and endearing members of the quilting group bring a sense of community to the story. The camaraderie among the characters is a highlight, providing both comic relief and a genuine warmth that permeates the narrative.

Marks excels at creating a cozy atmosphere while maintaining a sense of suspense. The twin mysteries, one involving the missing houseguest and the other tied to Crusher's unsolved hit-and-run, are intricately woven together. The author skillfully plants clues and red herrings, keeping readers guessing until the satisfying resolution.

The pacing is well-managed, with the narrative flowing smoothly between the unfolding mysteries and the personal dynamics of the characters. The inclusion of quilting details adds a unique and charming touch to the story, enhancing the overall cozy ambiance.

"Knot Ready for Murder" is not only a stellar mystery but also a celebration of friendship, love, and resilience. Mary Marks has crafted a five-star installment in the Martha Rose Quilting Mystery series, delivering a thoroughly enjoyable read that will leave fans eagerly anticipating the next adventure with Martha and her quilt-savvy friends.

Once you start this, the ninth book in the series you better have nothing to do that day. Once you start, you're not going to want to put this one down.
I enjoyed the repeat characters from book to book. I felt as though I knew them.
For those who enjoy quilting there are tips and tricks in the book as well. Great read.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I really enjoyed reading it the plot was interesting and the characters made me want to know more about them. I highly recommend.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't read this book and author. I highly recommend her and her books

Yossi “Crusher” Levy has waited patiently for Martha Rose to agree to marriage. Now, Martha is ready to get married but there’s just one catch… a big one. It turns out Crusher is already married. In his mind, he was merely helping an old friend named Hadas who got pregnant out of wedlock. Unfortunately, getting a divorce or an annulment isn’t as easy as it should be as Hadas is coming to town with Crusher’s sister, Fanya. Trouble is definitely afoot as Hadas is hiding something else. Hadas goes missing soon after her arrival and now Martha has another mystery to solve if she wants any chance of a marriage with Crusher.

Martha is an easy character to like. Not only is she older than many of our usual cozy mystery heroines, but she also has a strong religious faith that is integrated into the story line. Mary Marks also shows us Martha’s own struggles, including her fibromyalgia flare ups that give her issues such as muscle and joint pain. My heart ached for Martha throughout most of KNOT READY FOR MURDER as she repeatedly compared herself, negatively I might add, to Hadas.

KNOT READY FOR MURDER is the 9th book in A Quilting Mystery series. While most of the books in this series stand alone, I would strongly recommend reading at least one or two prior books to understand the strength of the love between Crusher and Mary. Otherwise, the reader will just be infuriated and want to throw something at Crusher for his deception about his first marriage. I have to admit that even after reading the whole series to this point, I was furious with Crusher initially for it and very hurt for Martha. KNOT READY FOR MURDER is one of the more emotionally charged books in A Quilting Mystery series, but is well worth it in the end.

*in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed all the previous books in the series. How can you not like a zaftig older woman who has snared a younger hunk of a man named Crusher. The cast of characters in the books are delightful from Martha herself, to her cat Bumper and her friend Jazz with the Bishon Frise named Zza Zza Galore. In case you have not figured it out, there is a lot of fun and humour and humanity packed into these mysteries and this is no exception.

Martha has finally decided it is time to take Crusher up on his proposal and get married. That is when Crusher drops a bombshell about his marriage 30 years ago that should have been annulled. It is not going to be any problem finding Hadas. She will be arriving shortly with Crusher’s sister from NYC. The problem will be tying her down to sign the documents partly because she finds it convenient to remain “married” and partly because she is involved in some shady and dangerous dealings and she lies through her teeth. Good hearted Martha works overtime to help the diva and is rewarded with snark and deceit in the process.

When Martha does finally get her cornered, she also solves a murder and other assorted crimes. There is a truly satisfying denouement where Martha deftly “plays” Hadas and gets what she has wanted all along. But in true Martha style there will be a few hiccups still before she and Crusher can tie the knot. I think this is my favourite book in the entire series. I give it five purrs and two paws up.

Knot Ready for Murder by Mary Marks is the 9th A Quilting Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on watching the characters meet and become friends. We get to see characters develop over the course of the series. I like that the protagonist as well as the other characters are mature. I want to thank the author for giving us a main character who has fibromyalgia. Readers get to see what someone with the disease experiences (the day-to-day pain, trouble sleeping, the severe migraines). Martha Rose is ready to marry her fiancé, Crusher and announces it to the family at Friday’s Sabbath dinner. Martha soon learns that she spoke too quickly when Crusher tells her that he has recently learned that he is still married. Martha had no idea that Crusher had ever been wed. Crusher’s “wife” is on her way to California with his sister. Martha is looking forward meeting Fanya, Crusher’s sister. Martha soon learns that Hadas, the little “wifey”, has no intention of letting go of Crusher. When Hadas is kidnapped from Martha’s home, she sets out to find the errant wife with help from Fanya and her friends. If Martha wants her happily ever after, she needs to get Hadas to sign the divorce papers. I thought Knot Ready for Murder was well-written with steady pacing. I always love visiting Martha Rose and the Tuesday quilting group. They are a group of quirky characters that provide humor and energy. I learned new information about quilting as Martha teaches Fanya how to quilt plus Jewish customs. Judaism is a fascinating religion. I enjoyed learning more about their traditions. The mystery was fun. Martha Rose was challenged in tracking down Crusher’s missing “wife”. I had a good time joining Martha Rose, Giselle, and Fanya as they set out to locate Hadas. Fanya was certainly a hoot. She is an over-the-top character who is a wallpaper hanger who knows krav maga and is extremely superstitious. Fanya’s antics had me laughing frequently. I loved the epilogue. It was just the ending needed. Knot Ready for Murder was a special story and fans of A Quilting Mystery series will be delighted. Knot Ready for Murder is an entertaining whodunit with a missing mate, a superstitious sister, a frantic fiancé, quilting quips, a disparaging detective, a frustrated FBI agent, and a woman who is eager to wed.

This is the ninth book in A Quilting Mystery series by Mary Marks and I am still enjoying the mysteries, as well as everything Martha Rose and her family and friends get up to. I do recommend that you read these books in order as there is so much character and series development that add to the enjoyment and help you sort out all that is happening. In this book Martha has finally agreed to marry Yossi, but her happiness is short lived. Yossi tells her that a marriage over thirty years ago was not annulled as he was led to believe. Not only that, but his sister and "wife" are on their way to LA. When Hadas and Fanya arrive, the trouble begins. Hadas is kidnapped, Martha's house is trashed and she and Yossi are suspects. Once again, Martha and her sister Gisele are joined by Fanya to find out what happened to Hadas. If they can't find her, Yossi will never get his divorce.

This was a different mystery from many other cozies I have read. Martha, Gisele and Fanya have to find out who is after Hadas and why. They figure out that it ties in with the death of her brother in New York a year ago, but there is so much to piece together. I really enjoyed the investigation and how the ladies pieced things together. Martha is a smart cookie, she is also stubborn, courageous, caring and creative. I really identify with Martha, a 50 something, full figured woman, who has fibromyalgia and recognizes her limitations. Fanya was a great addition to the story, with her skills in krav maga and all her various superstitions. Yossi is not around much in this one, as he is working undercover, but he pops in and out. On the personal side, there is some quilting, with some knowledge shared in the story, and planning of the wedding with her quilting friends. There is also something brewing with Uncle Isaak. As always, Martha's Jewish Faith plays a role with her weekly Sabbath dinners and other customs. The mystery had Martha in some sticky and humorous situations, but never in danger. There were some red herrings along the way and a couple of twists, but I did figure out the killer this time. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of this story at all, and the wrap up was well done tying up any loose ends. I definitely recommend this book and series to cozy mystery lovers.

I love this series as it's always entertaining and features a great group of characters.
This book was highly entertaining and I read it as fast as I could because I wanted to know what was going to happen.
The plot is fast paced, there's plenty going on and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
I was happy to catch up with the characters (loved this group of people), they were as well written as usual.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Knot Ready for Murder by Mary Marks is the 9th book in A Quilting Mystery series, and another enjoyable fun book. Martha Rose is looking forward to marring Crusher, but she needs to track down his first wife, so they can get their marriage annulled. Crusher married a pregnant teen to save her from scandal. Crusher wife and sister are coming to see them. After Crusher's wife arrives, they find her room ransacked, and she missing. This book made me laugh out loud at times. Not only is this book funny, it has a great mystery. I was hooked from the beginning, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book. You don't have to be a quilter to enjoy this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the 9th release of this delightful fun cozy mystery series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. This was a great sleuth with multi layers of clues that I enjoyed from beginning to end. I enjoyed the quilting, the charcters and the fun humor throughout.

Martha is finally getting married to Yoshi. While wedding plans are in motion his sister arrives and brings with her his current wife who he is not divorced from. Antics and recriminations follow as well as a kidnapping. Will Martha be able to solve the kidnapping and have the wedding of her dreams ? This is such a good mystery I will not give away the plot. You have to read and enjoy this well crafted mystery ! A very enjoyable next in series.

Martha Rose is finally ready to tie the knot with Crusher. When she makes the announcement one Friday night at dinner, Crusher doesn't display the excitement one would think he should after spending the previous 8 books asking her repeatedly. Come to find out, Crusher has a secret - a 30-year-marriage-to-someone-else kind of a secret. Crusher's wife, Hadas, and Crusher's sister, Fanya, fly across country to L.A. to handle some business with Crusher but shortly after their arrival, Hadas, is forcibly removed from Crusher and Martha's home. Martha must now try to figure out if Hadas' disappearance is related to the hit-and-run death of her brother or because of another reason.

Martha continues to evolve and improve as a crime solver/fighter. She does the best she can in the situations presented to her, and this situation is personal. In Knot Ready for Murder, Martha manages to accomplish more than those assigned to the murder case. When you have a rapport with people like Martha does, it’s no wonder she gets adults and children to open up to her. She also has resources she can use to assist her in getting the information requires.

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 goings-on in book 9 are but a bump in the road to their happiness. The quilting group is a riot and totally have Martha’s back. I really feel like they are all my friends since we’ve now been together for nine books now. I hope we continue to get more books in this series.

Mary Marks does another wonderful job building up the mystery and keeping everything a secret. The truth of the situation is revealed at the perfect time and the person responsible is not the person I thought it would be. I was completely off-base. The writing flows well and is concise. The author's writing style is fluid and smooth and so easy to get lost in you don't realize how fast you read the book. The entire novel is engaging; never a dull moment.

This is a delightful addition to the Quilting Mystery series! Mary Marks does a masterful job of creating likeable and endearing characters that quickly become friends. This book introduces the reader to new characters who bring with them a couple a mysteries Martha Rose must solve so she can finally marry her long-time boyfriend Yossi. The question is with the help from some previous protagonists and her friends and family, will Martha really be able to solve the mysteries and say, "I do"?

Start this series with book 1 and read your way through but be prepared, you'll want to binge-read the entire series once you start!

My summer wouldn't be complete without a caper that involves quilting. Though this one was definitely light on the quilt making, the mystery was good, the characters were engaging and are what keeps me coming back for more. I certainly hope there are more in this series to come.

I can barely sew on a button or do a hem let alone stitch a quilt. This series is so good none of that matters one bit. Yes, the quilting theme makes me wish I could sew and Martha's quilting tips are nice but the draw for me is a wonderful group of characters placed in top notch puzzles that stump me to the last page.
Martha is planning her wedding now that Yoshi aka Crusher, has popped the question. Just one little, tiny omission on his part and it's a doozy. Way back, thirty years back, Yoshi helped avoid a young woman's scandal. She was pregnant and he agreed to marry her and she would then get an annulment. Such was the agreement but now reality shows up- Hadas is still married to Yoshi - and Martha not only has to sort out that knot but she soon has the woman in question as her house guest. Then things get very complicated. While Hadas is alone in Martha's house, a kidnapper strikes and Martha sets out to find her, get the much needed annulment and make final plans for her trip down the aisle. It will take Martha and her family and friends to sort out this mystery but they all support each other and are a wonderful group of people to spend my reading time with.
After enjoying this chapter of Martha's life I'm eager to find out what will happen in the next mystery that Martha becomes involved in.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Knot Ready For Murder by Mary Marks is book #9 in the series. With every book, I fall more and more in love with this series. I love that the main character, Martha Rose is older and not super thin. I feel like I can really relate to her. I also really like her fellow quilters. We also meet Crusher’s sister, Fanya, who was delightful. Martha shared her addiction, quilting, and brought Fanya over to the dark side. I really liked the storyline. It wasn’t anybody tripping over a dead body in this one. This is one of my new favorite cozy series. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love destination cozies and wish there were more of them! I did find it a little odd how okay she was that he had been married before for such a stupid reason. But aside from that, I liked all of the characters, the focus on Jewish rituals since these books are almost all elusively non-religious or if they are, it's usually Catholic-related. And it did make me want to go back and read the first book in the series - this is my first time reading this series or author.

Although Knot Ready for Murder is the 9th book in Mary Marks's series featuring Martha Rose, it was my first. I had no difficulty finding my feet dropping in so late though no doubt I have missed some terrifically good reads. In this instalment, busy quilter Martha is all set to marry Yossi Levy, aka Crusher. However, there is a spanner in the works; Crusher's wife Hadas who is arriving in Los Angeles with Crusher's sister, Fanya. Crusher married Hadas decades ago but failed to mention it to Martha, nor did he arrange for their divorce. When Hadas's room is ransacked and she vanishes Martha takes matters into her own hands...

Protagonist Martha is likeable, strong and sassy. The mystery and subplot were both well crafted and thought out and I loved the clever methods used that combined the story threads. There were a few good twists although there wasn't much quilting going on. All of the action kept the story rapidly moving toward the conclusion. Delightful and entertaining, Knot Ready for Murder is a highly recommended, quick, light read for all cozy mystery fans.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Oh dear! Just as at last Martha is ready to plunge into saying yes to marriage to Crusher, it is discovered he was married years ago because of an act of kindness.

Who is Martha? Well first and foremost a quilter. But also in recent years she has become a bit of a sleuth when it comes to murders and such like. She is a bit unorthodox in her methods, although fairly orthodox in her Jewish faith, and I love her Sabbath get togethers with family.

There has been one murder, before the story starts.   Hadas, sister of the murdered person, owner of a business, and to be honest not that likeable, makes her appearance. On the other hand, Fanya who arrives with her was a lot of fun and I so hope we see more of her. 

As usual Martha gets herself involved in some unlikely situations, and eventually with lots of assistance I might add from her family and friends, solves the mystery and enables her life to move forward. 

This book felt a little different to the previous ones, I never felt Martha was in any danger and while there were a few red herrings I'd worked out the guilty party early on. I didn't mind that and thoroughly enjoyed all the quilt talk in this book. If this book appeals to you, don't start with it, go back to the first one and start there.

Crusher forgot to tell Martha something very important- he's still married to Hadas. Their wedding wasn't for love but the marriage was never annulled or divorced. Now she's coming to town, along with Fanya. Hadas isn't a bad person but then she's kidnapped-or is she? Martha, our intrepid heroine, just wants to solve this, makes sure that Crusher is a single man, and then get married. Not so easy. I like this series for the people- not just Martha and Crusher but also Birdie and the other quilters. Fanya is a great addition who I hope will stick around. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This might be the 9th in a series but it's thoroughly enjoyable as a standalone. It's a fun read.