Thursday, April 23, 2015


MURDER IN MERINO
and
A FINELY KNIT MURDER
by
Sally Goldenbaum

MURDER IN MERINO
Book 8 in the Seaside Knitters Mystery series 
by Sally Goldenbaum


Prepare for more knitting, murder, and mayhem with the next in the national bestselling Seaside Knitters mystery series. Autumn brings a mysterious new guest to Sea Harbor, and when she’s implicated in a crime, it’s up to the Seaside Knitters to search out a motif for murder.

It’s a busy fall for Izzy Chambers Perry. Not only is she helping the Knitters make a throw to celebrate her aunt and uncle’s fortieth wedding anniversary, she’s finally selling the cottage she lived in before she got married. Luckily, newcomer Julia Ainsley wants to buy the home—although, strangely, she’s never been inside.

Then on the day of the open house, a body is uncovered in the cottage’s backyard. Julia’s name and phone number, found in the victim’s pocket, instantly make her a person of interest. Soon, though, the spotlight of suspicion widens to include old friends and town leaders, as a tragic happening, long buried, slowly surfaces.

Now, before the anniversary celebration can occur, the Seaside Knitters must unravel the real reason Julia has come to town—and untangle the troubled ties from the past that bind friends and townsfolk together.

KNITTING PATTERN INCLUDED

MY REVIEW


I’ve had this series in my TBR (to be read stack) for ages, but it took the publisher sending a copy of MURDER IN MERINO to review for me to finally read one. I’m very happy this happened. Ideally I would start at the beginning of a series, however I started here with book 8. Author Sally Goldenbaum helped a lot with me learning the characters quickly by putting a Cast of Characters list in the front of the book. Such an awesome idea!

In MURDER IN MERNO, author Goldenbaum doesn’t have the “finding of the body” scene until well into the book. I liked this. I enjoy getting to know about the characters and surroundings before getting into the investigation. Also, with this book, there is no mention on the cover blurb as to who the victim is. It was fun getting to be surprised.

Ms. Goldenbaum knitted a wonderful mystery filled with surprises. From page to page I never knew for certain what would happen next. When the pieces fell into place, I was pleasingly shocked with the outcome.

After the story, check out the back of the book for a great knitting pattern and a delectable sounding recipe for Seafood Salad!

It may have taken a while for me to start into this series, but I’ll for sure have it on my required reading list for now on. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A FINELY KNIT MURDER
Book 9 in the Seaside Knitters Mystery series 
by Sally Goldenbaum


In the newest mystery from the national bestselling author of Murder in Merino, the sleuthing skills of Izzy Chambers Perry and the Seaside Knitters are tested as death mars the beginning of the school year… 

Seaside Knitter Birdie Favazza is thrilled that her granddaughter Gabby will be visiting for the fall and attending the Sea Harbor Community Day School. Gabby loves the school, with its newly-adopted progressive curriculum, and she loves that the Seaside Knitters are teaching knitting as part of the enrichment program. It’s a huge success, and on crisp autumn days, girls camp out on the terraces, knitting up hats for charity.

But not everyone is happy with the direction the school is taking. Outspoken board member Blythe Westerland has sparked tempers with her determination to unravel the current administration. Then, on the evening of an elegant school event, Blythe’s body is found near the school boathouse.

With a killer on the loose, Birdie is determined to keep Gabby safe. Working together, the Seaside Knitters carefully unravel the layers of Blythe’s complicated life, bringing faculty members and town residents under scrutiny. Before the cast-off rows are made on the students’ projects, the knitters will need to stitch together the evidence to see if a murderer has been walking beside them all along.

MY REVIEW


I just finished book 8 in this wonderful series and was thrilled to be able to move right into this one. After reading MURDER IN MERINO (book 8), the member of the Seaside Knitters are now one of my favorite groups of characters to read. I have no idea how to knit, but I would enjoy just sitting with them and talking. Author Sally Goldenbaum has done a magnificent job in the creation of the diverse group.

The descriptions in the story (I dare to guess, the entire series) are so fantastic, I could feel the sea breeze and smell the aromas from the restaurants and cafes.

Ms Goldenbaum also continues to pen a story with remarkable mystery and intrigue. This is only my second book by this author, but comparing this book and to the one before, her writing just continues to evolve.

I really enjoyed the fact that the murder in A FINELY KNIT MURDER came later in the story, as it did in book 8. I like the buildup and getting to know the person, good or bad, that gets killed. Spending time with them makes the death more real for me. I look forward to reading books 1 - 7 to see if this is how the author always writes it.

As always, check out the end of the book for a knitting pattern and a mouthwatering recipe! 

If you haven’t read this series, I would encourage you to give it a try. And don’t worry, you don’t have to know how to knit to enjoy. 

Both of these great titles are 
available for pre-order for their 
Tuesday, May 5 release date! 

As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

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Whodunit Wednesday Solution


The Week of the Queen Anne Festival

   All three are lying, and Thursday alone is a festival day.

   If Chiswick's statement is true, then they are all liars, including Chiswick. He would thus be a liar telling the truth, which is impossible. Chiswick's statement is therefore false, and Chiswick is a lair. At least one clause of his compound statement is therefore false. 

   Since Chiswick's statement is false, Green's claim that it is true is also false, and Green is also a liar. Thus his other statement that Tuesday is the festival day is false. Hunter's first statement is false, since Chiswick and Green are both lying. Hunter is therefore also a liar, and Wednesday is not a festival day.

   Thus, all three are liars. This means the first clause of Chiswick's statement is true. For the statement as a whole to be false, which it is, the remaining clause must be false, so Friday is not a festival day either. 

   Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are the only possible festival days. Since at least one must be a festival day, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday are not festival days, then Thursday must be the only festival day. 

Oh my goodness! Now my head hurts! 
How did you do? Did you guess it?


3 comments:

  1. Thanks, Lisa. Love the cover of Murder in Merino. This week's whodunit was too much for me! :)

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  2. Yay! I did have the right answer! But it did make my head spin!

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  3. I got the right answer also, but it was really tough!

    ReplyDelete