A small town cozy with crafts as a background. A dead body and the S.H.E. girls just have to do their own investigation. You'll laugh and cheer them on. You'll keep guessing as the suspects get eliminated.

A Crafter Hooks. killer is a well written cozy mystery. I enjoyed the plot and the quirky characters. Mystery fans will enjoy this book. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

Thanks Net Galley for the chance to read. This book was an easy read. The characters were well developed. There were a lot of twists and turns in the plot that made you want to see what was going to happen next. I think that I wanted a little more action in this novel but then I had to remember that a cozy mystery does not have as much action as an action adventure novel. I had to remember which genre I was reading. I would recommend this book to anyone who is first, a fan of cozy mysteries, and second, a crafter.

Great book! Was drawn into the story from the start and did not want to put the book down. Sammy Kane, her sister Ellie and cousin Heidi try to uncover who killed the ‘Queen of Crafts’ days before an event at Sammy’s store, the Community Craft. Sammy constantly gets in the way of Detective Nash, but in the end together they solve the crime. The writing is vivid, characters are likable and the bond between sisters and cousin is real. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next in the series!

This book is so much better than the first book in the series. The characters are fleshed out with more distinct personalities and the main character has been softened a bit. The author definitely captures the contentious mother/daughter relationship that so many women endure with overbearing mothers. The mystery was extremely well plotted and was quite intriguing. I am quite glad I came back for a second book in this series and look forward to the next book!!

When her best friend Kate died, Samantha Kane took over Community Craft in memory of her friend. Jane Johnson, the best selling author, is coming to the store for a book signing. Sammy is excited and anxious when she meets the celebrity, but her world comes to a standstill when Jane tells her that she has news that will shock her. The situation gets worse when the author is murdered and Sammy finds her body. When the investigation turns up Kate’s barrette in the deceased author’s possession. Samantha is determined to get answers. Who did this? Was Kate murdered? Unfortunately Detective Liam Nash tells her not to interfere. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two. Their bickering made me smile. Sammy gets her group of friends together to help her. I admire Sammy. She’s a true friend. She will take care of those she loves and works hard for her community. I liked these characters. They are a close knit group who care for each other and for the truth. Heartsford is the perfect location for this cozy. It’s filled with interesting characters. I found that A Crafter Hooks A Killer was an emotional journey. I could feel Sammy’s pain. The ending was powerful. Holly Quinn’s writing pulled me into the action.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

Sammy Kane is preparing for a book signing for the best selling author Jane Johnson. When Jane arrives in town she comes to meet Sammy. Jane asks Sammy to meet with her privately as she has something to tell her that will change everything. When Sammy arrives at the meeting point she finds Jane dead. Sammy knows that Jane was working on a book that is discussing best friend, Kate, who died in an accident a few years earlier. Sammy can’t help but think that Kate’s death may not have been the accident that everyone was lead to believe. Sammy has to know the truth behind Kate and Jane’s deaths.

I like the first book in the series but I really liked this book. Sammy’s character is much more developed and complexed in this book. The secondary characters of Ellie and Heidi and Detective Liam Nash also seemed more developed and the relationship between the detective and Sammy is not as volatile. The mystery is well paced and has several twists and turns along the way. Although I did figure out the killer earlier on I kept second guessing this person as more red herrings were placed. I look forward to the next book in the series.


I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

A Crafter Hooks a Killer
(A Handcrafted Mystery #2)
by Holly Quinn (Goodreads Author)

Hardcover
Expected publication: June 11th 2019 by Crooked Lane Books


Goodreads synopsis:

Sure to delight fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton, A Crafter Hooks a Killer is the second installment in Holly Quinn’s Handcrafted mysteries.

Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane suspects that a tantalizing thread links the deaths of her best friend and a bestselling author. But can she weave together the clues?

Samantha “Sammy” Kane is settling into her new life in idyllic Heartsford, Wisconsin, running her late friend Kate Allen’s craft shop, Community Craft when one early June day, bestselling crochet author Jane Johnson visits Heartsford. Captivated by Community Craft, Jane devotes a chapter in her new book, Behind the Seams, to the store. Sammy is honored, though satisfaction quickly turns to shock when she finds Jane strangled to death―her cold hands clutching a copy of her most recently published book, with the words “THE END” raggedly scratched into the cover.

Heavens to Etsy! Not only must Sammy contend with the author’s inauspicious demise, she has to untie some knotty details from her own past. It turns out Kate’s death was not what it seemed, and instead somehow hooked to Jane Johnson’s demise. Handsome Detective Liam Nash is on the “skein”, more than happy to see the shop owner again, if less than enamored by her sleuthing interventions. But this was Sammy’s best friend―she has to know.

Fortunately, Sammy has a “lace” in the hole. As a child, she formed the S.H.E. detective team with her cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie. Having already reconstituted their partnership, the S.H.E. team searches for a pattern behind the latest death. As the case starts to unravel, will Sammy and team be able to sidestep Liam quick enough to stitch together the clues?


***

4 stars

Cozy lovers and crafters of all kinds will love this new offering from Holly Quinn. The second book in the Handcrafted Mystery series. It was a well done mix of crafting and mystery. Sammy Kane steps once again into a mystery as she has discovered the dead body of of a famous crochet book author, Jane Johnson, who was coming to her shop to do a book signing of her new crafty title. Sammy owns her best friend, Kate’s, business Community Craft. She has been keeping it going since the death of her best friend which took place before the start of this book.

It was interesting to try and follow the clues as they were dropped throughout the book. A hair clip from the 80’s only she and her best friend had created turns up in the position of the author and becomes an fascinating catalyst to spur Sammy into trying to find out what had really happened to the author and was her best friend’s death really accidental and connected?

I hadn’t read the first book in the series and that didn’t keep me from enjoying the book or knowing the backstory of characters. The author did a wonderful job of reintroducing the characters to us as she went along so no one would be left behind while trying to navigate the story.

The story was alluring and makes you want to keep reading to discover the truth Sammy is searching for. I enjoyed the characters that came back from the past and reintroduced them into Sammy’s life. And watching the relationship between her and the detective Liam Nash was humorous and sweet.

It was a good mix of everything in this book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone. Can’t wait to pick up book one and see how Sammy handled the first dead body she managed to trip over. :)

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Although Sammy tries her best to stay out of trouble it always seems finds her, by allowing her curiosity to get the better of her, saddle with her impetuousness, she is a trouble magnet. When Jane Johnson the famous bestselling author was murder just before their meeting, she just couldn’t leave it alone now that her curiosity has been aroused. Sammy isn’t sure about Detective Nash feelings towards her, she knows she is strongly attracted to him but at times she thinks he hates her but little does she know that she is way off the mark. Now, as they join forces together investigating the connection of her best friends Kate’s death to that of the present day murder of the queen of craft, they explore more than where clues lead. An interesting and intriguing mystery with a few twists, a great read.

A Crafter Hooks a Killer is a good cozy mystery. I enjoyed the story, but there were times when the story seems to drag as it goes over backstories or long self monologues. Well written and entertaining. Some of the plot is easily guessed, other parts are more suspenseful and surprising.

I loved the resolutions in Holly Quinn's 'A Crafter Hooks a Killer' in her A Handcrafted Mystery series. The characters were engaging and surprisingly deep. Sammy's loyalty and doggedness are her best features. Along with her cousin Heidi and sister Ellie they look into the murder of an author who was doing a book signing at Sammy's shop. Throwing in an attractive detective, plenty of options for a villian and a completely surprising and satisfying ending which brings some closure to the death of Sammy's dear friend Kate, all combines to make a winner. I highly recommend the series and look forward to more.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Samantha Kane owns the craft shop, Community Craft. She bought it after the previous owner, her friend Kate, died in an accident. She's doing well and helping the community by displaying their items for sale. She's also excited to be having a famous author of craft books come to her shop to sign copies of her newest book. Jane Johnson is devoting a chapter in her book to Sammy's store, and she's pleased that the author is going to interview her. But she's surprised, not unpleasantly so, when Jane shows up early and unannounced. Jane looks around the store until she's noticed by others in the town and is soon feeling cornered.

Sammy shows her the back way out, but before she leaves she tells Sammy that she has information on Kate, and wants to talk to her. Sammy, stunned, tells her she will meet Jane down by the river. When Sammy arrives, she finds a book on Jane's lap, with a chilling message "THE END" scratched in pencil; and a very dead Jane. After calling the police, she begins to wonder who killed the woman and why.

When Detective Liam Nash arrives, he naturally tells her to stay out of the investigation. But Sammy has a personal reason for wanting to be involved - Kate. She wants to know what Jane wanted to tell her, and if the two deaths might be related. So she decides to get together with her sister Ellie and cousin Heidi and between the three of them - the S.H.E. team - she's hoping she'll be able to find the truth before a killer finds her...

This is the second book in the series and I'm glad I had the opportunity to visit with Sammy and her family and friends. This time out, she's found her place in Heartsford, and is looking forward to hosting a famous author. But unfortunately things don't go as planned and she's left with more questions than the ones Jane was going to ask her.

She's also got other things which are hindering her - her parents are in town for a week and want to spend time with her, and an old crush named Bradley has come back to visit his mother and he, too, wants to spend time with her. So now she's trying to keep her mother from finding out what she's doing (the woman would not be pleased) and trying to pump Bradley for information on Kate's death, since he was living in Heartsford while she was elsewhere.

But along with this she has to deal with Detective Nash. He's not pleased that she's involving herself, telling her she's too impatient and too impulsive. Stung with the truth, Sammy still goes on with her investigation and hopes to find out the truth about Kate. If she unmasks a killer in the process, so be it.

I truly enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Quinn has written characters that have a life of their own. Sammy has a fierce loyalty to her family and friends, and when she does something she knows she shouldn't, she has an immediate sense of remorse (although it doesn't stop her from doing something else next time). Detective Nash is closed off and stoic, but in this book we are given a bit more insight as to why, and it might be a break in whether these two can ever find the grounds to venture toward a future relationship.

The plot is taut and woven through with a few red herrings and plenty of clues; it was intriguing and written well. Watching Sammy sift through the information she received and try to puzzle the pieces together was a pleasure indeed, as I also was doing the same.

When the ending came and the murderer was revealed, while it wasn't a surprise to me, it was done well and the reasons why were plausible; everything meshed together nicely and it was an enjoyable venture into Heartsford and its people. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

Although I love to read mysteries that include Crafting sessions, I found this one a bit muddly. the characters never really came alive to me, and the plot seemed to have so many different twists that I got a bit lost.
Thank you for a review copy.

Cozy mysteries like A Crafter Hooks a Killer have been a staple of my reading diet for a number of years. Both my mother and grandmother enjoyed the genre and before ebooks were a big thing, my mother would tuck used books into every package she sent me. Those paperbacks often ended up read multiple times because my reading options were limited when I didn't want to read in translation.

For me I read and enjoy the puzzle aspect of the genre: trying to piece together the clues and figure out who did it, preferably before the sleuth in the book. I also like an interesting main character with a comfortable voice.

A Crafter Hooks a Killer checks my requirement list for a good cozy. The reason for the main character's sleuthing is compelling enough to suspend disbelief. She has sufficient access to the information of the case and doesn't act like a total idiot while sleuthing. The mystery itself is introduced in a timely fashion (no slow start setting the stage) and has sufficient suspects to keep me intrigued.

As it is craft related, the book adds a pattern for an afghan at the end. I am unsure why the author also chose to add some recipes, but this is common. Their presence or absence makes no difference to me as a reader.

My rating for this book is a solid 3 stars. The things that keep me personally from rating it higher are unlikely to bother the average reader. So if you enjoy the genre overall or if you're a reader looking for a distracting read with a bit of puzzle to engage your mind, this book is likely to fit your needs well.

I don't want to risk a spoiler by explaining too much, but for me some aspects of the solution contribute to making the book a slightly less satisfying read than some others in the genre. It isn't something that breaks genre convention--this sort of situation isn't unusual in cozies, but for me it contributes to how much I enjoy the reading experience.

The author also makes copious use of italics and emphasis in the writing. Again, most readers don't care, but for me excessive use of italics for thought (especially when coupled with thought tags) is disruptive. When the POV is primarily third person limited, I already expect everything I'm being told to be filtered through that character's perspective, so the usage reminds me that I'm reading and pushes me out of a story.

Adding emphasis frequently to change the weight of words in lines generally also annoys me. In these cases, my brain feels compelled to reread the line several times and try to comprehend why the author finds that so significant. And when it is used frequently, it loses its power anyway.

Finally, the majority of the book is written in third person limited point of view. However, sometimes in the middle of a scene that has been primarily one character's perspective, a few lines will crop up that are clearly from another character. The book lacks the narratorial voice to instead be omniscient. These small breaks generally seem unnecessary--they aren't providing key information that couldn't be shown in another way--and disrupt the flow.

But the average reader probably doesn't recognize the distance or feel compelled to compare the stress placed on words to be annoyed like I am. And most never think about these trivial shifts in POV and they aren't severe enough to make me dizzy from hopping heads. While these factors contribute to lowering my rating, the average reader is likely to rate the book higher and enjoy it more.

Note: I chose to download this book from NetGalley for review purposes. The copy I read was a prerelease version and some things may be fine-tuned in the final release.

When I saw this one available on NetGalley, I had to give it a go, being from Wisconsin. And Holly Quinn did not disappoint with the composition of her scenes, making me feel like I was in one of the various small towns in Wisconsin. She was also spot on with how good the cheese is here, compared to most other states!

Quinn had excellent dialogue between the characters, keeping it to how real people talk, and adding in some of the states colloquialisms. Her characters were also well developed. Even if you haven’t read the first book in the Handcrafted Mystery series, A Crafter Knits a Clue, she had all the characters fleshed out enough that you weren’t questioning what had happened in the first book.

Sammy’s relationship with the detective was a bit more love/hate than love/love, which is common in other cozy mysteries. At times it was a bit much for me, how quickly she became mad with the detective. But whenever I have strong emotions towards a character, I feel as if the author is doing an excellent job writing them. It’s just if this was real life, perhaps Sammy would not be someone I would hang out with all the time.

The mystery itself was well written, with lots of clues and some misdirects. I was convinced it was one character until close to the end of the book. And with all of the cozies I’ve read, this doesn’t happen too often anymore.

I would definitely recommend this book, and am excited to see where Quinn takes this series.

A Crafter Hooks a Killer is the second book in Holly Quinn’s A Handcrafted Mystery series. The likable characters are well developed in this well-crafted cozy whodunit. The author provides lots of red herrings, and twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Other than some adult language, this fast-paced mystery is a clean read.

Samantha “Sammy” Kane moved back to her hometown, Heartsford, Wisconsin, and took over her best friend, Kate Allen’s, craft store instead of allowing it to close after Kate’s untimely death. Community Craft is a store that stocks handmade goods made by locals, where artists give lessons, and local craft groups meet. She has a golden retriever named Bara who provides her with companionship and comfort. Sammy’s sister, Ellie, and her husband, Randy, have a young son named Tyler; their parents have moved to Arizona; Sammy’s cousin who’s more like a sister or close friend, Heidi, a nurse at the local hospital, is dating Officer Tim Maxwell, who works for the Heartsford Police Department. While in grade school, the girls created S.H.E. (Sammy-Heidi-Ellie), their childhood “detective agency.”

Community Craft is preparing to host a book signing for Jane Johnson’s previous bestseller. Jane wants to interview Sammy for an upcoming book and discuss some sensitive information her research uncovered about Kate that she says could change everything. Sammy suggests they meet at the reflection bench by the river’s dam where a waterfall cascades so they’ll have privacy. After stopping at Liquid Joy for two iced coffees, Sammy arrives at the bench only to discover the bestselling author clutching her latest book but not breathing. Sammy is determined to find out what Jane had discovered about Kate and decides to search her room at the Pine Haven Bed and Breakfast before the authorities and reporters arrived. Before she can figure out how to enter the locked room, Detective Liam Nash and Officer Tim Maxwell arrive. When Sammy tells Liam that Jane had information about Kate, he reluctantly agrees to allow her to consult on the investigation if she agrees to contain her impulsiveness, follow his rules, and only investigate what and when he tells her she can. Even though she’s glad he’s letting her consult, she still intends to involve the S.H.E. team. As clues are uncovered, Sammie wonders if it was possible that the two deaths were linked.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Sammy is back at it and if you read the first book you'll know that there is one really big unanswered questions regarding Kate's unfortunate and deadly accident. Was it really and accident or was the last killer trying to pull the wool over her eyes. On top of that, Craft Queen and published author, Jane Johnson; is conducting a book signing and is giving tribute to Kate and what she had created with the Craft Connection store in the next crafting book. Jane tells Sammy that she must meet with her, that something about Kate's accident wasn't accidental. Of course this is where the murderer comes in before Sammy has a chance to learn what Jane knows. Now she has two mysteries to solve, plus an old crush is back in town, and she still isn't sure about Detective Nash and his infuriating charm. This has been a great series so far, new characters are introduced in just the right way and the theory behind a craft store that is also like a community center is novel and heart warming. Definitely a page turner!

This book was not my cup of tea.. It just did not grab me and I did not like the main character. Just because I did not enjoy it, others may, so I will not post my review publicly.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Thanks to the author and netgalley for the advanced readers review copy.

It took me a lot longer to read this book then is norm, I was easily distracted from the story plot. Personally, I felt like it was a slow burner, the suspense of who did it was a little lack lustred and a little disjointed.

That being said, I did enjoy reading about the S.H.E investigation team and Sammy’s need to run in head first and not think about the consequences. The development of the love/hate relationship between Sammy and Detective Nash was also extremely entertaining.

** I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

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

I always love a good cozy, and this one has all the makings of a great series. A strong heroine, perfect love interest, a dog, small town vibes and a network of friends to help out. I will say that Samantha does come across TOO strongly at times; I almost couldn't read a scene where she lied her way into a house for evidence. Somehow it just made me too uncomfortable!

I really liked that this was a mystery within a mystery. There were two crimes, but the connections weren't clear until right at the end. It's all wound together rather well, and I'm sure other cozy mystery lovers will enjoy it!

I haven't read the first book in this series, but you don't really need to. This one stands alone like all great cozies. It was a fun book with a satisfying conclusion; four stars.