A Crafter Hooks a Killer

April 8, 2019
Quinn’s nicely rendered sequel to 2018’s A Crafter Knits a Clue, finds Samantha “Sammy” Kane, who inherited her late friend Kate Allen’s handcrafting store, Community Crafts, in Heartsford, Wis., preparing to host a book signing for bestselling author Jane Johnson. When Jane wants to share some information she has uncovered about Kate’s supposedly accidental death, Sammy suggests that they meet on a quiet river walk, where they can speak privately, but when she reaches the rendezvous, Sammy discovers Jane strangled, clutching a copy of her own book with the words the end scrawled across the open pages. Determined to discover whether Jane’s death has any connection to Kate’s, Sammy enlists the help of S.H.E., the detective agency she formed years before with her sister, Ellie, and cousin Heidi. After a draggy beginning, the plot picks up, helped along by the strong cast, especially Sammy, who displays a depth of feeling that’s too often lacking in cozy heroines. A pattern for a lap blanket rounds out a volume sure to satisfy aficionados of crafting cozies. Agent: Sandy Harding, Spencerhill Assoc.

May 1, 2019
Samantha "Sammy" Kane is excited about famous craft author Jane Johnson coming to her shop. Sammy has seen how the community craft shop pulls the small Wisconsin town together, and everyone has been involved in the promotion of the event planned to celebrate Jane's visit. Soon after meeting Jane, though, Sammy finds her murdered on a bench outside the library, which is all the more disturbing as Jane had mysteriously claimed to know something about Jane's best friend Kate's death. Sammy, sister Elllie, and cousin Heidi begin to investigate after they find a link connecting Jane and Kate. Sammy's grief over Kate returns as she determines that her friend's death may not have been accidental, but, as she tries to learn more, she encounters a wall of long-hidden secrets. The slowly simmering romance between Sammy and Detective Liam Nash has a chance to heat up a bit here, though Nash is not happy about Sammy's sleuthing. A recipe and crochet pattern completes this appealing cozy, which will attract not only the crafter crowd but also those who enjoy small-town settings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)