Pamela and Bettina are best friends who just happen to live across the street from each other in New Jersey. On Halloween evening, after an enjoyable night, the friends, including Bettina's husband are relaxing when they hear a scream. They run outside to discover a group of teenagers who appear to have discovered a corpse. The dead woman is a neighbor's sister. She was left on the porch almost like a part of the Halloween decorations. Who would want to kill a professor. Did they mean to kill Adrienne, their neighbor. As the women did a bit deeper, they find a society of feminists that espouse being single. They have no use for men. Could it one of the group or one of the men who are interested in a woman in the group?

This was an enjoyable read. I love cozies and this one comes with a knitting group and all the unique characters you would expect. The story is easy to follow and read. A very fun way to spend an afternoon.

this is book 11 in the Knit and Nibble series. I have only read one of the previous books and had no trouble with the characters or setting of the book. Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser call their crafting group Knit and Nibble, in honor of its two main activities. But on a stormy Halloween night, their peaceful chat over spiced cider and cookies is interrupted by homicide. When the ladies decide to investigate and "help" the police someone in the neighborhood isn't happy.

Book Review: A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart

Rating: ★★★½

I have to start off by saying that I absolutely adore the cover of A Dark and Stormy Knit. It’s whimsical yet eerie, perfectly setting the stage for a cozy mystery. As a fan of the genre, I’ve always appreciated a book that can capture attention before you even crack it open. Now, onto the review!

This latest installment in Peggy Ehrhart’s series follows our favorite crafting duo, Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser, who run the Knit and Nibble group in the charming town of Arborville, New Jersey. On a stormy Halloween night, their usual gathering of spiced cider and cookies is disrupted by something far more sinister: a murder right next door.

The victim? Adrienne’s sister, a vibrant college professor visiting from New York City, is found fatally stabbed on the porch, leaving everyone in the neighborhood on edge. The festive decorations around town make it easy to mistake a real corpse for a dummy, which adds a unique layer to the unfolding drama. As Pamela and Bettina dig deeper into Adrienne's social circles, they find that this is no ordinary case and that the town is rife with secrets.

Having previously read book 4 in this series and ultimately shelving it as a DNF due to excessive descriptions, I approached this new addition with a mix of hope and skepticism. I was pleasantly surprised to find that while the over-descriptive style is still present, it didn’t bother me as much this time around. The pacing felt much better aligned with the plot, allowing me to enjoy the unraveling mystery without feeling bogged down by unnecessary details.

That said, for a book that is marketed as having a Halloween vibe, I was a bit disappointed. Other than the murder occurring on Halloween night, there wasn’t much else in terms of festive atmosphere. I was hoping for more seasonal elements to really immerse me in that spooky spirit. Nonetheless, the mystery itself was engaging and well-constructed. It held up nicely as a standalone read, which is a huge plus for those of us who may not have followed every book in the series.

Overall, A Dark and Stormy Knit offers an intriguing plot filled with twists and turns, though it could have benefitted from more Halloween flair. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a dash of crafting charm, this one is worth picking up—even if you might want to save it for cooler nights when you can snuggle up with your knitting!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

This delightful novel has a mystery that kept me engaged from beginning to end!

The annual Arborville, New Jersey, Halloween parade was interrupted by a storm, sending most attendees home. Bettina and Wilfred Fraser, costumed as Little Red Riding Hood and Big Bad Wolf were relieved when the storm subsided and their power was restored. Pamela Paterson, their friend and neighbor across the street, had attended with them, and afterward joined them for hot beverages and snacks. They heard older teens outside who had gone trick-or-treating after young children went home. Loud, frantic screams began, so they looked outside at three upset teens. They had just left the home next door and found a dead woman on a chair on the porch. They only knew it was not the homeowner, Adrienne.

It was not the first time Pamela had seen a body. She had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, having found others after they were murdered. In several instances, she and Bettina helped police find the killer, especially if they or someone they loved were accused of the murder.

The mystery maintains a steady pace throughout. The background of the murder victim is more interesting than many. Mel (short for Melissa) is part of the “bicycle fish” women’s movement in NYC. Mel’s friends are part of a scholarly group of women called Shakespeare’s Rib. Just as Shakespeare could keep women out of the Globe Theatre by using men to play in women’s parts, men could be replaced in women’s lives today. They set themselves apart from boy-girl relationships. They follow strict behavior standards. All the women are in academia, and they must separate themselves from dating or performing any domestic service. Some women spy on and report those suspected of having a secret man or suspicious relationship.

Bettina and Pamela attended the memorial event as invited by Mel’s sister, Adrienne. They mingled with the attendees, and learned that Mel had been running against Blair to be the new president of the group. Blair was almost universally disliked, as she wanted to make one radical change that upset many members. She might now become president by default. One man dared to show up for the event, briefly, because he wanted to see the people who had “done this” to Mel. Bettina and Pamela considered various motives and even possible suspects for Mel’s murder.

One of their neighbors pointed out that Mel’s killer could have been aiming for Adrienne, not Mel, since the power was out temporarily during the storm Halloween evening. Adrienne was suspected of having been involved with husbands of a few local women.

Best friends Pamela and Bettina, along with Bettina’s husband Wilfred, are regular characters in the series. Other regulars include members of their weekly Knit and Nibble group. Each personality is demonstrated through relatable conversations and behaviors. We are most familiar with Pamela, as the main character. Pamela, widowed young, and Bettina are highly engaging, interesting ladies who have been neighbors for many years. She and Bettina work remotely. Bettina, a reporter, also attends local events for inclusion in the weekly newspaper. Over the course of the series, Pamela has gradually become more confident in expressing herself, both in the murders they look into and in response to changing relationships. Her only daughter currently lives in NYC and is applying to graduate school. Pamela also came to a startling revelation that I hope to see results of in the future!

Those interested in fiber arts might find the articles Pamela reviews fascinating. She is an associate editor for Fiber Craft magazine. She reads and make recommendations on some articles whether or not they would be a good fit for the publication. She copyedits other articles prior to printing. I know little about fiber arts, as it includes many specialties, yet I have found the highlights of the magazine articles interesting.

There are several suspects, and some who seem obvious are actually red herrings. There were no easy answers, except I kept looking at my “pet suspect” after the second murder. What surprised me was the actual motive for the murders. I was very satisfied with the novel and ending, and highly recommend it. A knitting pattern and recipe are included.

This book had all the making of a perfect fall cozy opening up with a Halloween parade and stormy night. Unfortunately for me this book did not hit the mark. I liked it, but didn't love it. There was little connection to the victim or reason for Pam and her friends to be involved in investigating it outside of it being her neighbors sister. There was more focus on Pam's day to day life, food and dinnerware descriptions in very detailed scenes.

I'm captivated by this series. It's both clean and wholesome, yet filled with mystery. The dynamic between Pamela and Betina is endearing, and I'd relish the chance to join the Knit and Nibble group. Eagerly anticipating their next escapades.

Pamela Paterson is relaxing at the home of her best friends, Bettina and Wilfred Fraser, who conveniently live right across the street from her in their small New Jersey town of Arborville. The friends are celebrating yet another successful end to their town’s annual Halloween festivities when urgent screams unexpectedly disturb the night. Heading back outside into the dark, they discover a trio of terrified trick or treaters on the porch of the house next door. The young people had stumbled across an extremely convincing porch decoration that turns out, to everyone’s horror, to be a very real dead person.

Mel Wordwoman was visiting her sister, Adrienne Haskell, when she was brutally stabbed after opening the door to someone she’d believed was only looking for candy. Mel had elected to stay behind and hand out treats while her sister went to a party. A shellshocked Adrienne knows that Pamela and Bettina have had some success in solving murders, so enlists their aid in getting to the bottom of what happened to Mel.

Together, the three women discover that Mel’s life as an adjunct professor in New York City had not been without its controversies. Primary among these was her involvement in a radical feminist group called Bicycle Fish, who believe that men are an entirely unnecessary part of life, among other nonsensical ideas. The group’s members are thus actively encouraged, if not outright expected, to eschew the society of all men. Worse, as Pamela, Bettina and Adrienne discover while going through Mel’s apartment, it looks as if the members of the society spied on one another and reported back to Mel, who kept records on who was seen illicitly consorting with the despised gender.

Could someone from Bicycle Fish have finally had enough and decided to put a permanent end to Mel’s militant ways? Or could the killer be someone much closer to home? When another body shows up in Arborville, with a clue hinting at a link between this murder and Mel’s, Pamela and Bettina will have to race to stop a diabolical killer from striking again.

I loved the many twists and turns that this tale took in its investigation of Mel’s murder. I only wish that there’d been further elaboration on some of those terrific plot twists. While I did find the series’ hallmark passages detailing Pamela’s absorbing work as a copy editor and the best friends’ communal meals as soothing as always, I really wanted more juicy details of the main plot. I did appreciate the further developments in Pamela’s low-key love life, though, as well as the conflict between Bettina and Adrienne over the latter’s uncomfortable interest in Wilfred.

One knitting pattern and one delicious recipe were included with this story. I abridged the recipe for inclusion here, but the original has instructions for making a buckwheat crust as well:

QUOTE
Pamela’s Apple Galette

Pie crust
2 tbsp. butter
¼ cup heavy cream
½ cup brown sugar
4 apples, Granny Smiths preferred, peeled, cored, and sliced (about 4 cups)
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 egg beaten with a bit of water
2 tbsp. granulated sugar

Melt the 2 tbsp. butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the heavy cream and brown sugar and stir to blend. Add the apples. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and the liquid has thickened into a heavy syrup. You might have to turn the heat up at the end to accomplish this. The process of cooking the apples will take 10 to 15 minutes.

Add the vanilla, cinnamon, and salt and stir to blend.

Let the filling cool while you [prepare] your crust. Roll [out your crust] until you have a circle that’s 14 inches in diameter.

Grease [a pizza] pan with a tiny bit of oil or soft butter. [T]ransfer the pastry [to the pan.] Mound the filling in the middle of the pastry, then distribute it so it comes within an inch and a half of the pastry edge. Don’t worry if there’s a bit of liquid. Now fold an inch or so of the dough inward all the way around to make a raised rim. Brush this rim with the beaten egg and sprinkle it with the granulated sugar.

Bake the galette at 400 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. The pastry should be attractively browned. Let it cool a bit before transferring it to the serving plate.

It’s good served slightly warm with ice cream.
END QUOTE

I used a premade pie crust that I flattened and reshaped on the pizza pan itself, and found that that made a great base for this galette. I did forget to add the sugar and cream to the butter before adding in the apples, but that turned out not to be a critical error, thank goodness. I definitely needed to raise the temperature on the apple filling towards the end to thicken it, so was very glad for that tip from Peggy Ehrhart.

For serving, I used a pizza cutter to more evenly and easily cut slices to serve with ice cream. The children of mine who aren’t allergic to apples enjoyed this very much, as did I. I’m very interested in trying this out with other fruit in future, too.

Next week, we travel just a short way north to investigate a witchy death while whipping up a delicious entree. Do join me!

A Dark and Stormy Knit is the 11th book in the Knit & Nibble Mysteries by Peggy Ehrhart. The book starts on Halloween night when a body is discovered by our main sleuther Pamela and friends at a neighbouring house. A mystery surrounds the woman found, if she was the true target and how her inclusion in a feminist group may have added to the death. The sleuthing takes Pamela and her friends outside their quaint New Jersey town to NYC adding lots of great background to the story.
Lots of knitting, eating, coffee drinking and fiber arts article editing is included along with the murder mystery. I had not read any others from the series so I wasn't as invested in the characters as I could have been. I still enjoyed the read!

“A Dark and Stormy Knit” is the nicely done eleventh book in Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit and Nibble cozy mystery series. In this one Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser investigate when a murder takes place next door to Bettina. The murder plot is a good one – at first the murder seems to be because of the victim’s feminist activities but then Pamela and Bettina wonder if maybe the victim’s sister was the ended victim. Truthfully I figure out fairly early who the killer was but it was still fun to read as Pamela and Bettina investigated. Also fun to read where the things Pamela and Bettina did while not investigating. Bettina is a hoot to read about – she’s a newspaper reporter who is fiercely protective of her job and a fashionista who doesn’t understand why Pamela prefers jeans and sweaters. I also loved reading about Pamela’s job at a magazine and the articles she edits – her somewhat tangled love life is also part of the series. I also love the descriptions of the Knit and Nibble meetings – the people attending, the projects they are working on, and the food. Food is a big theme in this series – I swear I gain weight just reading the books! All in all a fun book and series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

This isn’t my first foray into this series, and I have read the first book and a couple of books between then and now. However, I haven’t read any of the recent offerings, and maybe that would have been to my benefit.

I found this book lacking in both plot, mystery, sleuthing and interest. Always awkward when it’s an ARC, because you feel almost guilty! I get we were off to a poor start from the get go with a mystery about a character that none of the leads had even met, and the lack of connection actually shone through with the novel’s tone. There was no urgency to solving the murder, no person at stake for the crime.

This also made the non sleuthing parts, of which there were far too few, seem long and repetitive. Is it possible to have a cozy mystery with all the cozy and none of the mystery?

I definitely know this author has stronger and better books, and I feel like this letdown may have just been a bump in the road. I’d definitely read more from them in the future.

I enjoyed this book, but I’m starting to find the excess detail annoying. For example, the constant descriptions of the china, or the descriptions of how the coffee is made, every single time. I also thought the killer was the killer, I thought it was obvious, there was no other reason for that character to be there. #ADarkandStormyKnit #NetGalley

It's Halloween and the kiddos are out and about. Next door screams are heard. The neighbors visiting sister is found stabbed to death on the porch. Pamela and Bettina along with their group Knit and Nibble are out to solve the myster. Another hit from Peggy Ehrhart! Love this series! Keeps you on your toes! Thanks#Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

A well written, great addition to the series. This book is like meeting up with old friends, meeting new ones and being engaged in a cozy mystery. Great way to spend an afternoon.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Dark and Stormy Knit is the eleventh book in the Knit and Nibble Mystery series. In A Dark and Stormy Knit, the murder takes place on Halloween. The victim is left on a porch, as if it were a scary decoration. Pamela and Bettina investigate the murder.

As with previous entries in this series, the action starts quickly. The atmosphere is nicely set, and there is always a very good description of the setting. The mystery is interesting and nicely built, perfect for cozy mystery readers. A Dark and Stormy Knit is a great book, perfect for relaxing and unwinding.

A Dark and Stormy Knit, by Peggy Ehrhart, is another excellent book in the series! I believe the stories/books just keep getting better. I just love the author's writing style, it’s so poetic - it flows so beautifully. The characters are lovely and you really get a sense of knowing them. The author is very descriptive, and I find reading the small details of the characters’ everyday life comforting. The mystery was good, it takes place around Halloween. I highly recommend this series/book. It is my favorite series of all the cozy mystery series I read (over 80 of them).

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for this wonderful ARC. I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion. I’ve posted this review to my Goodreads, Bookbub, & Amazon accounts.

A Dark and Stormy Knit is book #11 in the Knit & Nibble Mysteries series by Peggy Ehrhart.

A Halloween decoration is actually a dead body, scaring trick-or-treaters. Pamela and Bettina begin investigating. I enjoy the mysteries but my favorite parts of this long running series is getting to really know the characters. I’m a crocheter and not a knitter but this is still fun and I enjoy reading about their projects. They love their nibbling. This was an entertaining mystery that kept me guessing as to did it. I recommend this book.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I became a fan of Peggy Ehrhart since I discovered one of her books a few years back, so I was so glad to be able to read her latest installment in the Knit & Nibble Mysteries. This is book # 11, and I hope this series never ends.

From the cover you can tell that the theme of this book is Halloween, which sets the mood for the book, which has a very intriguing plot, so appropriate for pre-Halloween reading. I love being able to read holiday-themed cozy mysteries, and I am so glad to recommend this installment in the Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser sleuthing adventures along with their “Knit and Nibble” group. They became great friends right from the start of my reading this series, so it is wonderful to travel to Arborville, New Jersey, and also to New York City to join them in another murder solving mystery.

It is refreshing to be caught up in another world with “friends” trying to solve another murder…Trick or Treaters find another body, so the hunt for the killer starts, and I was glad to tag along, though I did not guess whodunnit, which is satisfying!

I highly recommend this book, and also suggest you start reading all the mysteries from the beginning. They provide so many hours of fun.

Thank you to Peggy Ehrhart for writing this and the rest of her mysteries, and to Net Galley and to Kensington Cozies for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book, and posting a personal review.

A Dark and Stormy Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the eleventh A Knit & Nibble Mystery. It can easily be read as a standalone. It has been a little while since I read A Knit & Nibble Mystery. I found the book to be easy to read. I like the neighborhood where Pamela lives. It is a cozy community where Pamela has good friends. Pamela and Bettina meet for coffee every day. How Pamela makes coffee is described in detail each time. Pamela whips up delectable, sweet treats and meals as well. We follow Pamela as she goes through making each item step by step. Pamela works remotely for a fiber arts magazine. She reads prospective articles to see if they would suit the magazine and edits others. Each article is recounted, and I found one to be particularly enlightening. A neighbor’s sister is murdered on Halloween night, and, naturally, Pamela along with the other Knit and Nibble members join in the investigation. The mystery was not at the forefront of the story. Pamela asks questions amidst working, making coffee, knitting, and whipping up tasty treats. The “Fish Bicycle” group was an unusual addition. Those readers who like the cozy over the mystery will enjoy A Dark and Stormy Knit.

A Dark and Stormy Knit is the eleventh cozy mystery in the A Knot & Nibble Mystery series. We join Pamela and Bettina on a stormy Halloween night when they discover a dead body on their neighbors front porch. The victim is their neighbor’s feminist sister visiting from New York. Intrigued by this new mystery and ready to dive deep into it, Pamela and Bettina get to work sleuthing and won’t stop until they’ve uncovered the killer.

I fell in love with this series from the very beginning and am always excited to see a new book coming out. I love Pamela and Bettina as the main sleuths and the town of Arborville is picture perfect, the perfect setting for this cozy mystery series. These mysteries always keep me intrigued and give me nostalgic feelings through their setting and friendships that thrive through this series. I love all of the characters and wish I could join them in their Knit & Nibble sessions. This mystery is some nice twists and turns, but I did guess the murderer a lot earlier than normal even though I couldn’t figure out the motive. It was still a fun and enjoyable read, but I’m used to guessing until close to the end at the killer for the rest of this series. If you are looking for a fun cozy mystery series with great characters and beautiful small town setting this book and series is worth reading. I can’t wait to see what comes next for Pamela and Bettina!

This is the 11th release in this charming fun cozy mystery series. Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley and the author for the opportunity.
My review opinions are my own.

In this next release we have a fun Halloween theme night theme When a murder occurs at a neighbors amid the Haloween chaos Bettina is on the case with her Knit & Knibble group. I loved the well crafted sleuth and red herrings. Bettina is a fun protagnist and this is a foodie delight as well as a fun addtiion to this much loved cozy series. I look forward to the next in series.