A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn is the first novel in A Handcrafted Mystery series. Samantha “Sammy” Kane took over running the Community Craft store in Heartsford, Wisconsin three years prior after her best friend, Kate Allen passed away in a tragic accident. Sammy and her part-time employee, Carter Allen are working on decorating the store for Spring Fling when she gets a call from Ingrid Wilson who owns The Yarn Barn. Since Ingrid had opened her shop, she calls frequently needing assistance. Sammy finds the back door to The Yarn Barn open and legs sticking out from behind the counter. Ingrid has a green aluminum knitting needle jutting out of her throat. Detective Liam Nash, the town’s handsome new detective, is on the case. When he arrests Miles Danbury, a woodworker for the crime, Sammy, with the assistance of her cousin and sister, sets out solve the twisty whodunit. They need to knit together the clues to reveal the killer. Ingrid was not a popular resident which provides an array of suspects. Sammy needs to be careful or she could end up in a knotty situation.

A Crafter Knits a Clue is an engaging cozy mystery. Sammy Kane came to town for her best friend’s funeral and ends up returning to town permanently. The town relies on Community Craft for selling their craft items as well as a meeting place. It is a central hub for Heartsford, Wisconsin. Sammy took over the store and keeps an eye on best friend’s younger brother, Carter. Sammy is not alone in Heartsford. She has her sister, Ellie and her cousin, Heidi. The three of them grew up together and formed an amateur sleuthing club when they were children. I enjoyed the interactions between the three women (some of them will have you snickering). You can tell that they care for each and are supportive. Sammy can be a bit impulsive and brusque (especially with Liam). I did not like the way she dealt with Liam at times (put me on edge). She has her reasons which come to light later in the story. I liked the author’s writing style (conversational) which made the story easy to read especially with its steady pacing. I appreciated that the author took the time to provide the main characters background and establish the town. It helps me to imagine the characters and setting which brings a story to life for me. Ingrid’s home was especially appealing along with the handcrafted items in Community Craft. The mystery was uncomplicated. There is active investigating as the threesome hunt for clues and suspects. There are a few suspects and pointed clues. Readers will have no problem unraveling this whodunit. There are knitting patterns for socks at the end for those of you handy with knitting needles. A Crafter Knits a Clue is a pleasurable start to A Handcrafted Mystery series. I am giving A Crafter Knits a Clue 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). A Crafter Knits a Clue combines family, friends, food and crafts into one charming cozy mystery.

An enjoyable crafting cozy mystery. It has all the basic elements: crafts, a hint of romance, a variety of characters, dead body, several suspects. I will give the next one in this new series a chance.

A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn is set in a small town full of caring folks. Sammy's craft store seems like the center of town with crafters selling their wares and clubs meeting to work on special projects. When a murder occurs in the local yarn shop it seems like so many clues are placed in front of Sammy she can't help but get involved. The cast of characters in this cozy mystery is about as long as there are residents of little Heartsford WI.
The author weaves a lot of clues within this story and just when one suspect appears another one seems more likely to have committed the crime. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of mystery mixed with crafting and a touch of romance. Sammy just can't let a clue get by her and when she has a brush of danger there is a certain Lieutenant Liam Nash who is close on her heels. This book is the first in a new series by Holly Quinn and likely to develop a following.

Review: A CRAFTER KNITS A CLUE

One of the happiest aspects of Cozy Mystery is Community. The way in which a community meshes together, whether in normal circumstances or in the face of need, is heartwarming and inspiring. In this new mystery series by Holly Quinn, even the town's name, Heartsford, is heartwarming! The setting, with Samantha Kane returning to her home town for her childhood friend's funeral, and staying to keep her late friend's shop, Community Crafts, open for business, is a joy, since the shop has brought together townspeople helping others in need. I wish I could find a community like that!

Sammy literally stumbles onto a mystery, and since she's “Johnny on the spot,” of course there's some suspicion. But she's also very clever, and before the investigation is completed, she's going to do her best to demonstrate her sleuthing ability to the town's new detective.

Sammy, Heidi, and Elle solve a murder in this new cozy series. Sammy has come come to the small town of Heartsford, Wisconsin because her friend died. She's taken over Kate's business and is helping her son Carter. There's a lot for her to absorb about the business and then Ingrid, who runs the local yarn shop, is found murdered! Detective Liam Nash has to sort out not only the large number of people who could be suspects but also the trio's amateur investigation. It's a classic cozy and it will be interesting to see how the characters mature as it moves along. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. OH- and there are knitting tips and patterns!

Synopsis:

For fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton, the latest craft frenzy is Holly Quinn’s Handcrafted series debut.

Sammy Kane just moved back to her hometown to run a craft store. But when the owner of a nearby yarn shop is murdered, Sammy will needle little help finding the killer.

When a heartbroken Samantha “Sammy” Kane returns to her hometown of Heartsford, WI, for her best friend Kate’s funeral, she learns that Kate’s much-loved craft store is in danger of perishing with its owner. Confounding all her expectations of the life she would live, Sammy moves back home with her golden retriever and takes over Community Craft. A few doors down Main Street, fellow new arrival Ingrid Wilson has just opened the Yarn Barn, a real “purl” of a shop. But when Sammy strolls over to see if Ingrid could use a little help, she finds Ingrid’s dead body—with a green aluminum knitting needle lodged in her throat.

Detective Liam Nash is thrown for a loop as every single citizen of Heartsford seems to have a theory about Ingrid’s murder. And nearly everyone in town seems to be a suspect. But the last time Sammy did any sleuthing was as a little moppet. And this is not fun and games. Sammy is eager to help the handsome Liam—who seems to be endlessly inventive in finding reasons to talk with her—and when Liam arrests affable woodworker Miles Danbury, Sammy puts everything on the line to help clear Miles.

As the case comes dangerously close to unraveling, Sammy must stitch the clues together. But the killer has other plans—and if Sammy’s not careful, she may wind up in a perilous knot in A Crafter Knits a Clue, the first warm and woolly yarn of Holly Quinn’s new Handcrafted mysteries. (Goodreads)


Review:

I think the thing I liked best about this book is the caring relationships that Sammy has with so many family and friends. You can tell that the core characters love each other and enjoy spending time with each other. You can tell how much Sammy misses her friend, Kate, who has passed away. Many things remind her about their friendship and I found this very touching and realistic.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I really felt like I was in Heartsford. I really loved the concept of the Community Craft. I think it sounds like a great place and I would like to be able to shop there. Plus it adds to the feeling of the loving community that Sammy lives in (except for the killer).

I think this a great start to a new cozy series and I would recommend it to those who enjoy a well crafted cozy. I will definitely read the next one when it is published.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This was just an average read for me - I had a couple complaints about it that led to it being a three star review.

First, the writer writes like we are 6 years old [and that might be insulting to some six year olds] and need a full picture drawn to help explain what she just wrote. Like we were unable to just read it and understand it and move on. It was very frustrating.

Second, while there was no real "language" issues, there was some minor vulgarity that bothered me some. I am sure that it won't bother most people; I know that I am more sensitive to this than most people but I want it noted for people who are like me so they are prepared for it.

Other than those two things, this was a decent read [a pretty average cozy] - there are a lot of characters and most of them are related and so at some points it becomes confusing as to whom just belongs to whom and and who is not related!!

Didn't know who did it until the reveal and that is always a nice surprise [when you read as many mysteries as I do]. I am not sure I'd read another, but this was a nice distraction on a rainy day.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun new series with lots of potential!

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and fits the bill of a traditional cozy mystery. It is full of small town humor and charm. Sammy’s backstory was an interesting part of the book and I enjoyed how the author left us with a little bit of a cliff hanger at the end. It worked for me because now I am super curious to check out the second book when it is out.

Great start to this new crafty cozy mystery series. We meet Sam who along with her sister and cousin manages to get involved in a local murder. With childhood nostalgia they dive in much to the dismay of others while also trying to live their varied lives which just makes things fun. I especially love the lab and Tyler. If you like crafts and mystery then you should try this one. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

First in A Handcrafted Mystery Series, this cozy is an exciting and fascinating read that I enjoyed. The Wisconsin setting sounds beautiful, and those who live here remind me of the family ties, loyalty, and work ethic I’ve encountered in people from small-town Wisconsin. This is the kind of atmosphere that draws people to cozy mysteries and craft groups.
Sammy is the owner of Community Craft Store and has been since her best friend, Kate, died in a freak accident about 3 years ago. The store was Kate’s dream, and she brought the community together through selling locally-made goods and various fundraisers to help people in need. Sammy feels she can never live up to Kate’s talents for inviting people to be their best.
Carter, Kate’s younger brother, is fifteen years younger than Sammy. He is a senior in high school, a basketball star and team captain and helps in the store. He is seeking college scholarships based on his athletic and scholastic talents. He is like a younger brother to Sammy, and they are very close.
When Ingrid, who recently opened a well-stocked yarn shop nearby, calls Carter for help with something, Sammy goes, after checking her emails, while Carter finishes some overhead decorating. Sammy goes to The Yarn Barn and finds Ingrid murdered. Despite how fiber arts crafters love her new shop, very few liked Ingrid. The man the police accuse of the murder is a friend and craftsman to Sammy and she is certain Miles didn’t do it.
Ingrid is a long-lost aunt of Coach, the high school basketball coach. They were just getting to know each other when she died. Days later, Coach is run down by a hit and run driver. Sammy becomes involved with the murder and hit-and-run partly because of Carter and his team and partly because she is convinced of Mile’s innocence. Coach asks Sammy and her friends to help clean out his aunt’s clothing for donation, and the ladies find no clues except a hidden box of cash. Lots of it. As the suspects are narrowed down, the bad guy(s) make plans to keep Sammy from ever asking any more questions.
I like Sammy; she has much more of Kate’s heart that she thinks, as is evidenced through her community concern and trying to clear the name of the friend accused of Ingrid’s murder. She also helps Carter prepare for a fundraiser to help Coach with his growing medical bills. Each of the primary characters are very well defined and 3-dimensional; all are described as suitable to their roles.
This first in a new series cozy mystery drew me in from the start, especially with the murder occurring early in the novel, and it held my attention throughout. I had an ongoing list of who I thought murdered and who attempted murder; the list changed with each plot twist. Sammy’s store sounds like a great place, as I enjoyed the descriptions of various areas of it, including the craft room. All the elements that make a cozy mystery interesting to me are present: an interesting career (the shop), pets (a dog), small-town cozy, a tightly-woven, complex mystery, and characters I would enjoy as neighbors. The ending is satisfactory with some happy surprises. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy craft stores, yarn, and very well-written cozy mysteries!
From a grateful heart: I received an e-Arc of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

I requested this book from Netgalley as it touted if I liked Betty Hectman, I would enjoy this series.

This is set in scenic Heartsford, Wisconsin. Samantha Kane has returned to Heartsford, WI. for her best friend's, Kate Allen, funeral. She remains to run Kate Allen's craft shop, Community Craft. She just didn't have the heart to see the business close after her friend's death. This store is important to the community.

Very quickly we find the murder victim, Ingrid Wilson, owner of The Yarn Barn, is stabbed to death with a knitting needle in her throat.
Sam joins forces with two of her childhood companions, Heidi and Ellie.

I liked the characters and their quirky foibles. The characters had depth and warmth. The small town feel is there in buckets.

This series is on my must read list and I look forward to the next installment.

The sock patterns in the back are an added bonus. I liked that there was both crochet and knitting instructions.

A Crafter Knits a Clue is book 1 in A Handcrafted Mystery series. I've been loving cozy mystery novels lately and grabbed this one fast when I saw it had knitting involved. This was a pretty fun read and I'm excited for the next book.

Samantha “Sammy” Kane came back to her hometown, Heartsford, WI a few years back to attend her best friend's funeral. She found out that her friend's crafting store will close so she decides to stay and run the place so her friend's dream lives on. Sammy is setting up for the Spring Fling town event which draws a ton of business for her shop when she goes to help another store owner for a quick second. When she gets into Ingrid's yarn shop, that's when she discovers someone has killed Ingrid with a knitting needle and the car that sped down the alleyway was probably the murderer. Enter Detective Liam Nash, the newbie in town that is lead on the case. He's a hunk and there are sparks between the two but both want to figure out who the killer is. Liam wants Sammy to stay safe and out of the case, but she seems to have a knack at finding clues. Sammy and her two sisters start to unravel some clues the police didn't spot but after a mystery person comes to threaten Sammy the danger is getting a little too close for comfort. They have to figure out who murdered Ingrid before there's another body on their hands. I'm happy to report that I didn't guess who the killer was which is always a plus for me when reading a cozy mystery.

A Crafter Knits a Clue is an entertaining read that has you hunting through the clues along with Sammy. I loved that the 3 sisters were all part of the sleuthing element. There were a few red herrings that had me pointing the finger at the wrong suspect along with our leading lady. I liked that there will be a romance element in the future novels since I thought Liam was a hunk. There's also 2 knitting patterns at the end of the book for socks which is a really nice touch. If you're a fan of cozy mystery novels with crafty elements intertwined you'll love this book.

A Crafter Knits A Clue is the first book in the A Handcrafted Mystery series.

Samantha “Sammy” Kane returned to her small hometown three years ago to attend her best friend, Kate Allen’s funeral. While there she decided to stay and take over Kate’s Community Craft store. The businesses are all busy putting up decorations for annual Spring Fling. Carter Allen, Kate’s brother, get a phone call from Ingrid, who own the knit shop next door, asking for help with her decoration. Sammy says she can wait for a few minutes, Ingrid is one who feels that everyone should drop what they are doing to help her. A few minutes later she heads over to Ingrid’s shop, only to find her lifeless body, having been stabbed with a knitting needle.

Heartsford has a new police detective and Sammy immediately locks horns with him when the investigation brings about the arrest of Miles Danbury, a local crafter that sells his work in Sammy’s. Sammy is sure that no way is Danbury a murderer and begins her own investigation. She enlists the help of her sister Ellie and their cousin Heidi to aide her. When they were young they were fans of Nancy Drew and called themselves: S.H.E. and searched for lost puppies and figure how hard can it be.

I think the book is well written and provides the reader with an exciting and interesting story. I enjoyed reading about the residents of Heartsford and look forward to learning more about them in future books.

A description of different types of yarn is also included, as is a pattern that can either be knitted or crocheted.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was excited for this book as I’m a knitter and a mystery lover. I really wanted to love this book because of the knitting. However it is hard to relate to the main character, Sammy. She was immature and a little brusque. The series could be a great one with a little bit more development of Sammy. A great thing is that Holly quin included several knitting patterns for socks at the end of the book

Samantha Kane has moved back to her hometown to run her best friend’s store after Kate’s tragic death in a tractor accident. She never thought she’d come back to live in her home town but she’s taken Kate’s little brother under her wing, giving him a job; and small town life seems to suit her.
As a craft store, Community Craft, is also a place for people in the community to gather and enjoy sharing their particular art form. It ranges from painting, woodworking, soap making, crocheting and knitting. They can also sell some of their handmade goods at the store. For these reasons, it’s really a busy and well liked place in the community.
There are other small businesses in the area as well. One day, while going over to help a fellow store owner out, Samantha finds herself in the middle of a murder scene. It is there she first meets Liam Nash, new detective and new to town.
Liam and Samantha take a liking to each other but with Samantha constantly playing amateur detective, it seems all Detective Nash can do is look after her before she becomes the next victim! This creates many awkward moments and some very close calls!

This was truly an enjoyable murder mystery and knitters will appreciate the two bonus patterns added in the end!

This book was provided to me by St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley for my review.

#ACrafterKnitsAClue #HollyQuinn #AHandcraftedMystery #CommunityCraft #Bara #SamanthaKane #CozyMystery #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

This mystery is engaging & well-written. The characters are genuine & likable. Overall, the story has a warm & wholesome feel. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy light mysteries that aren't overly taxing.

A cute cozy mystery! Sammy inherits her friends business and the woman with the business next door ends up dead. Sammy ends in the middle of the investigation. This is a well written plot that and enjoyable story.

A Crafter Knits a Clue is a very strong beginning to the Handcrafted Mystery series. Holly Quinn did an admirable job of world-building, character building, and writing a mystery that kept my attention. A Crafter Knits a Clue is set in the fictional town of Heartsford, Wisconsin. Samantha "Sammy" Kane has returned to her hometown and taken over Community Craft (the much-loved store of her recently deceased best friend, Kate). Sammy and her golden retriever, Bara, are settling into the rhythms of life in Heartsford when Sammy discovers the body of Ingrid Wilson, proprietor of Community Craft's neighbor the Yarn Barn.
Sammy, her sister Ellie, and their cousin Heidi are compelled to investigate when a beloved member of the community is arrested for the murder of the generally disliked Ingrid. Sammy's sleuthing puts her in the path of the newly hired detective, Liam Nash.
Sammy and Liam have a lot of energy sizzling between them. In this first book, they are starting to get to know each other - I expect the heat will turn up between them in future books.
I enjoyed A Crafter Knits a Clue and I hope to read more of the Handcrafted Mystery series as it becomes available.

This was an entertaining cozy mystery that did not waste any time getting to the murder. BAM! Happened right away and we are rolling fast in to what is going on in this small town murder. The whole book had decent pacing. There were a few chapters every now and then that didn't really progress the mystery and was more just about showing Sammy and her friends and family hanging out. Even though those chapters didn't progress the murder solving, it did a nice job showing the small town community and didn't make the story drag.

While this was a very typical cozy mystery, I was so happy to see that the whole I-moved-back-home-because-of-my-horrible-ex-husband troupe wasn't used! There are so many more reasons for moving to a small town or back home and I am tired of the ex-husband being the excuse. Sammy, instead, comes back home for her friends funeral. Her friend, Kate, ran a craft store and Sammy takes it over after Kate passes away. I really enjoyed that reason for coming back home. I wish more cozy mysteries would think of something different like this when their main character moves to a small town.

The actual mystery was pretty decent and I enjoyed watching it unfold. There are a ton of suspects and it had me stumped up to the very end. Sometimes cozies end up being a little too easy to predict and I was pretty happy that that is not the case with A Crafter Knits a Clue.

My biggest problem with this novel was the characters. First off, there are just too MANY characters. I get that we want to show off all the quirky characters in town, but, I'm sorry... my ADD brain can't keep up with 10+ side characters! It was just too many!! Also, I'm not a fan of kids and I found Sammy's sister, Ellie, with her 2 year old baby and new mom attitude annoying. She totally mom'd it up, A LOT! I could have done without the baby all together. I'm sure other people found her and the baby cute, but the sister and her kid just didn't work for me. The main character Sammy is a very caring and curious person and I found her likeable. However, sometimes she was just way too impulsive and reckless. It became a little frustrating and sometimes I was yelling at her to shut up or stop what she was doing.

I always enjoy cozy mysteries that have a crafty side to them. Community crafts is the heart of this book and I am looking forward to seeing what kind of crafty things show up in the future for this series. I don't knit, but I thought it was pretty cool how in the back of the book there is a very detailed description of all these different kinds of yarn, as well as 2 knitting patterns for socks! Looked very user friendly and easy to follow.

Over all, A Crafter Knits a Clue was a fun start to a new handcrafted mystery series. While I had a few issues with characters, the murder mystery was entertaining and kept me guessing. It was a very quick read with lots of crafting going on. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

A Crafter Knits a Clue is the first book in the new Handcrafted Mystery series. Samanatha Kane has recently moved back to Heartsford, WI. She came back for her best friend's funeral but stayed to run Kate Allen's craft shop, Community Craft. The shop sells local artists' work on consignment and also sponsors community fundraisers and other projects. She just didn't have the heart to see the business close after her friend's death, especially since it is so important to the community. Just as the town is gearing up for the annual Spring Fling, tragedy strikes. Ingrid Wilson, owner of The Yarn Barn, is stabbed to death with a knitting needle in her shop. Ingrid was a difficult person...but she didn't deserve to be murdered. Sam joins forces with two of her childhood buddie, Heidi and Ellie. They used to play at detective in grade school. Things are little bit more serious when they are tracking a murderer!

A nice start to a new cozy series! There really isn't anything new here....there are a lot of crafting theme cozies. But, the characters are entertaining, the mystery is engaging and the theme of a local artists' consignment shop works nicely. I like Samanatha as a main character. She's putting her life together and helping the community and herself deal with the death of her good friend. The supporting cast of characters are great! I love how she pairs up with her old childhood sleuthing partners to solve the crime. Hunting down a killer is a lot different than searching out lost puppies and stolen bicycles though!

The mystery moved along at a nice pace with lots of clues, sleuthing and twists. The ending wasn't a total surprise, but the story held my attention from start to finish.

In the back of the book there are several knitting patterns for socks! :) Yay! I love it when cozies have crafting patterns included! As with most cozies, the cover is fantastic!

All in all, while there was nothing especially creative or new about this story, I enjoyed it. Entertaining and interesting! It made for a nice rainy day read. I will definitely be checking out more of this series.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**