The Silence of the Llamas

March 4, 2013
Smalltown squabbling turns to cold-blooded murder in Canadeoâs diverting fifth knitting mystery (after Till Death Do Us Purl). Maggie Messina, owner of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop in Plum Harbor, Mass., is set for a relaxing afternoon at the grand opening of Laughing Llama Farm when her yarn spinning demonstration is cut short. When a group of llamas are shot by a paintball gun, owners Ellie and Ben Krueger immediately have suspects in mind. The shooting wasnât an isolated incident, but one in a string of vandalisms. Competition with a rival alpaca farm and speculation over an upcoming vote on zoning laws provide ample intrigue for possible culprits. As tensions rise and a dead body surfaces, Maggie canât help getting involved. The antics of Maggie and her friends will keep readers turning the pages. Tempting recipes round out the volume. Agent: Bob Mecoy, Bob Mecoy Literary Agency.

February 1, 2013

Yarn shop owner Maggie Messina is heading to the country with her knitting group for a relaxing day at Laughing Llama Farm. The opening day at Ben and Ellie Krueger's farm was supposed to be their dream come true, but instead the fiber festival devolves into chaos when someone shoots at the llamas. Maggie's group soon learns this is not the first time the Kruegers have been victims of harassment; their conflicts with local land preservationists and other farmers make for a long list of suspects. When the malice turns deadly, Maggie and her knitters struggle to discover who would want to harm such gentle beasts and drive their friends away. VERDICT In her fifth appearance (after Till Death Do Us Purl), Maggie and her group are as efficient with their investigation as they are with their knitting needles, and the issues of land preservation give a focal point to the story.

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