This has been one series I always returned to fondly, largely because it's set in a New Jersey town like the one I grew up in. The main character, Pamela Peterson, is almost too perfect, although I find her hands-off relationship with her own daughter a little weird. She never asks Penny about her date, or her plans; their relationship seems quite unaffectionate and distant. Pamerla's house sounds lovely, and she has an envious job. Her best friend and next door neighbor, Bettina Fraser, is overall a relatable character, and her husband Wilfred is a delight. I wish we saw more of him in the stories, and a little less of the overbearing Bettina we have in this story. If my best friend was as pushy about my dating life as Bettina is with Pamela, I'd tell her to back off.

But the author has a few peccadilloes that are usually annoying but bearable. This time, however, those peccadillos are downright annoying. Before I go into details, a summary. I absolutely loved how the book began, with the murder already having taken place, an unusual plot device that worked well. How many times can our amateur detective find a body? And as amateurs, it gets difficult trying to find new ways to get them involved so they can solve the mystery. However, I found the involvement of Pamela and Bettina In this mystery just too contrived this time. It felt forced and didn't ring true. Coco's instant reliance on Bettina and Pamela as her best confidants just felt weird. The coincidence of Ingrid's planner being right there for Pamela to see was also a bit contrived and it's never addressed in the ending. A simple sentence that Ingrid must have taken the planner out when talking to Nestor would have sufficed, but as it read, it was just odd that a 1985 planner was the only planner in Ingrid's house. And honestly, would anyone really tell strangers that they could just take whatever they wanted from her dead mother's house? They didn't even know her mother.

The murderer and the reason why the murder took place were easy to figure out early on in the book, but I usually enjoy visiting Arborville, so I continued reading. And that's when the author's reliance on repetition really started bothering me. In past books, she has overused phrases like "wedding china cup" or "Pamela's serviceable compact car" far too many times throughout the story. This time, the same sentence and situation that are used over and over and over is Pamela looking through the lace curtain on the oval window of her front door to see Bettina's crimson hair. That same situation with almost the exact same wording must appear about half a dozen times in the book. Why not try "Pamela opened the door to see Bettina waiting impatiently" or "Pamela lightly ran downstairs to answer the door. Bettina sailed into the house carrying a pastry box high like a prize," or something, anything, else.

But the reason I have to pan the book is because the author spent 6.5 pages describing exactly how Pamela made her dessert for the Knit and Nibble night she hosted at her house. Six and a half pages! This is not a cookbook, it's supposed to be a murder mystery. Literally every step was described in excruciating and needless detail. I could not believe that this scene went on as long as it did. Where was the editor? I recommended this series to someone last month as a comfort read, and if they pick up this latest book to read, they will probably never ask me for a book recommendation again.

There were other things that irritated: Roland has become distinctly unlikeable, and you'd never get me over for knit night no matter how scrumptious the desert Wilfred made if he's coming. And for the first time, other family members are mentioned offhandedly, and with just one sentence. Pamela reads an email from her mother; we didn't even now she had a mother who was still living, and then a sister is mentioned. With Penny moving to grad school near where Pamela grew up out of state, the author is clearly setting up the next book to take place there, with secondary characters to replace Bettina, Wilfred, and the knitters. But it was a surprise to see those characters mentioned in just one sentence each, with no previous mentions in earlier books. Pamela has always been a lone person, and for me, that's been a little bit of her appeal.

I'll read the next book in the series, I'm sure, but the publisher really needs to get an editor involved. And Roland needs to lighten up.

Pamela and Bettina are back again. This time a fiber artist named Ingrid Barrick has been murdered. She lives near Pamela and Bettina. They are drawn into the intrigue. Bettina attends a wake for the woman and drags Pamela with her. They overhear some arguing and this starts them on their sleuthing trail. There is an irate neighbor who hated the woman because her garden was full of plants that attract bees. And this woman is allergic to the pollen. Could this be a motive for murder. Another neighbor idolized the woman. Could she have let her admiration get the better of her. Ingred had a tapestry that had made her famous and recently, she had been doodling a lot of bees which seem to link to this tapestry. Who hated Ingrid dead?

Pamela and Bettina and a funny pair. Opposite personalities, but they complement each other's strengths and make a great pair of sleuths. The plot is fun. Especially trying to figure out why the tapestry is important and trying to figure out the murderer. The writing style is easy to read. This is a fun escape. What a great cozy!

I liked this story, the mystery is interesting. I wish it didn’t spend so much time discussing the food, the dishes used, etc. #LastWoolandTestament #NetGalley

I was able to figure this one out a whole page before the reveal, I know, I am a master detective, ha ha.

This was a twisty mystery, every time I thought I had it figured out, I was proven wrong.

I absolutely loved the ending and I am excited to see where that takes us. I am hopeful it doesn't take forever.

When I first started this series, the repitition and minute details annoyed me. Now they are comforting parts of visits with Pamela and Bettina. The mystery kept me second guessing myself until near the end. I also appreciated the little plot twist for Pamela. I find myself wishing I could spend the day in Arborville with the two sleuthing neighbors.

This had a clever plot twist at the end. The series is very predictable in that Nell will be annoyed when murder cases are discussed, Bettina will be colorfully dressed, there will be lots of details and the same ones regarding Pamela's breakfast, coffee routine and how she wakes up her computer. The series would be better served if those details were offered once in the book to catch new readers up but not repeated throughout and instead replaced with more in-depth content. I had to skip several books in the series before this title since my library quit purchasing them. I see Richard and Pamela's nonromance was right where it was left several titles ago. Fans of the series will enjoy this latest entry. It won't disappoint. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc.

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

Welcome to this 12th episode of the Knit & Nibble Mystery series! One can enjoy this cozy mystery whether a knitter or a baker of tasty nibbles of homemade treats like those served at the knitting group. I find something interesting in every cozy in the thriving community of Arborville, New Jersey.

Pamela, a middle-aged widow, and her best friend Bettina are long-term homeowners in their well-established neighborhood. Bettina’s husband is retired, and Wilfred has become the chef and baker in their home.

Bettina and Pamela have helped solve several murders. Even when trying to not get involved, they end up in the thick of it. Pamela’s daughter, Penny, didn’t want her mother involved. There were cases in which Pamela and Bettina could have been seriously hurt or worse. Penny had already lost her father to a construction accident and didn’t want to lose her only beloved parent.

The police think that the very recent death of well-known fiber artist, Ingrid, was the result of a robbery gone wrong, but at least one of her friends won’t believe it. Bettina knew some of Ingrid’s neighbors, being only a short walk away. She met several of them when writing articles for the Arborville Advocate, a weekly free paper.

Coco, one of Ingrid’s closest friends, invited Bettina and Pamela to Ingrid’s funeral, then to the celebration of her life at an artist’s studio. Bettina hoped they would hear something that might point to a murderer. Most of the attendees were artists, set apart by attire, appearance, and attitudes. Refreshments were primarily pizza and wine, and one of the activities was dancing. They overheard a disagreement between two men behind a screen. One was trying to talk the other into excluding a substantial portion of Ingrid’s early career, and when the man doing a retrospective of her life and art refused, was given a veiled threat.

Later, they met Nestor, a long-ago lover of Ingrid and the father of her only daughter, Mari. They recognized his voice as the man who wanted the specific time period in Ingrid’s life to be omitted. The man writing the retrospective a travelling professor, Eilert, who had met with Ingrid a while before her death and borrowed many items regarding her art career for use in his future publication. Eilert contacted Pamela, having learned she was an associate editor for the Fiber Arts magazine. He wanted to write about Ingrid for the publication prior to his retrospective, both for his career and as the writer of Ingrid’s works.

Pamela and Bettina, with input from Coco, researched and asked questions about aspects of Ingrid’s life. They learned she began as a fashion designer before developing a love of and talent for fiber arts, including rich, yet troubling, tapestries. Pamela’s daughter, Penny, while at a vintage shop in a nearby town, unknowingly purchased one of Ingrid’s designs from the nineteen eighties.

Ingrid’s love of bees and butterflies was evident in her art, in many recent doodles, and in her front yard. Years earlier, she raised various plants that attracted beautiful butterflies, including monarchs, between their migrations. The “weed garden” also nourished the bees of a nearby beekeeper. Could her severely allergic neighbor have killed her accidentally, demanding the yard be changed? Or were the police correct in assuming that she was killed by an intruder?

This is one of the best mysteries in the series so far! There were several interesting elements, between insects, artwork, and various writings Pamela evaluated, copy edited, or reviewed for Fiber Arts. Descriptions of various food dishes awakened this reader’s appetite as Pamela savored new dishes of Wilfred’s and fellow nibblers, discerning ingredients and seasonings through the flavors. Ingrid’s murder was a challenge to consider, especially without an obvious motive. The regular characters continue to grow throughout this series, and I noted differences in Pamela this time, one being her changing attitude about her next-door neighbor, Richard. She had resisted going out with him throughout the series. She will always love her husband, but finally has a sense of peace after a long period of grieving.

When the ladies had a few more pieces of the puzzle, a new motive became real until the suspect was killed in a similar fashion. The real killer was a sad surprise, regarding who killed Ingrid and Nestor and why. I was very satisfied with the ending. I am looking forward to the next in the series, and highly recommend this mystery.

Last wool and testament - Peggy Earhart
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately I broke my iPad so I cannot give a review, however I will be looking out for this one when it’s released. Thanks

“Last Wool and Testament” is the twelfth book in Peggy Ehrhart’s Knit & Nibble Cozy Mystery series. This series is the very definition of cozy full of pets, food, and knitting. I love the little details of Pamela Paterson’s life (including her remote work, relationship with her daughter, and would be relationship with her next door neighbor) and her friend and neighbor Bettina Fraser (I want a husband to cook for me like her husband does!) and of course the Knit and Nibble meetings. The mystery is a good one – a local fiber artist is found dead in her ransacked house – with just the right amount of suspects and a surprise or two along the way. If I have one complaint about this book it is that it depends to be a bit too descriptive – we really don’t need a description of how Pamela makes coffee and how Bettina doctors it every single time they drink it!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I love this series and have read it since the first release. This 12th in series is a delightful cozy with a intriguing sleuth.

The Knit and Nibble fiber group is busy on spring projects when another artist is murdered. Together they put on their investigation talents and began to find important clues to solve the murder.

The characters are charming and the friendships richly important to all of them. The theme of community, kindness and service to others shines in this series. I enjoyed this next in series and look forward to the next book.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author. I highly recommend this series.

Peggy Ehrhart continues her Knit and Nibble mystery with Last Wool and Testament. Arborville, New Jersey, has hit spring and Pamela and Bettina are busy with knitting in their group Knit and Nibble. Then a neighbor Ingrid Barrick is found murdered in her ransacked house. One neighbor had complained she was allergic to ragweed in Ingrid's pollinator garden. Ingrid was a fabric artist with a large following; her past included a lover who had stolen credit for her designs and a new professor who was writing her biography. Family, art and bees whodunit?

Last Wool and Testament is the twelfth cozy mystery in the A Knit & Nibble Mystery series. It’s spring in Arborville when fiber artist, Ingrid Barrick, is murdered. When the Knot and Nibblers wonder about the death, Pamela and Bettina start to investigate. Tensions are high as they start to look into the truth of what really happened. Will they be able to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer strikes again?

I have loved this series from the beginning and am always excited to see another mystery coming out in this series. This one didn’t disappoint! I loved getting to visit Arborville again and the Knit & Nibblers. Pamela is one of my favorite amateur sleuths and Bettina compliments her so nicely. It’s easy to get pulled into the coziness of this series and I am always sad when another book is over. The mystery in this book pulled me in and kept me guessing as the story twisted and turned. I enjoyed this read and look forward to seeing what comes next in Arborville.

Pamela and Bettina somehow find themselves in the middle of yet another murder mystery. When a fiber artist seems to be the victim of a home burglary gone bad, Bettina covers the story for the local weekly newspaper. Having gone along for the ride, Pamela sees things that she and Bettina are soon finding suspicious.

What is the fiber artist a victim of foul play as a result of her home being broken into? Or is there something more sinister going on? That’s exactly what PAMELA and Bettina are going to find out. If it wasn’t a murder and they spook the murderer enough to make them their victims.

This is a cute series that includes recipes and knitting projects. If you’re a knitter, this one’s definitely for you? Come for the mystery stay for the recipe recipes and projects.

It was going to be a solid 5/5, an excellent cozy mystery but there was also a small stone in a well oiled machine that forced me to see an important character under a different light.
That said it was a well plotted and entertaining story in one of my favorite series. I loved the story of Ingrid, the artistic world, was glad to catch up with the characters
Entertaining, solid mystery
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Book 12 of A Knit and Nibble Mystery series. Pamela and Bettina are busy as bees this time. Artist Ingrid Barrick is found dead at her house. Its up to them to unravel the mystery. #12 is just as fresh and exciting as the first. Great character development. Good story plot. Very enjoyable! Thanks #Netgalley and #Kensington for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

Pamela and Bettina find themselves drawn into another murder in their small town. While the police seem stymied, Pamela and Bettina try to figure out the suspects. When one of the suspects is found murdered, they need to rethink the scenario to come up with the killer and motive. A well written mystery, but a lot of the scenes are of the two women having coffee each day. This is a long running series and I sense this may be the last book. I've enjoyed the books overall. This one doesn't disappoint.

Pamela and Bettina are once again doing a lot of nibbling and a little knitting in this latest installment in a long running series that will also be fine as a standalone. This time out, they're looking into the death of Ingrid, a fiber artist with (ahem) a few secrets. This is as much about the friendship between the women as it is the mystery but that's pretty good too. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans.

In this 12th installment of Knit & Nibble Mysteries Pamela Paterson and Bettina Fraser befriend Coco, an elderly 'flower child' when they become curious about the murder of Coco's neighbor, Ingrid Barrick.

Arborville, New Jersey is a small town and it seems Pamela and Betina know just about everyone. They waste no time coming up with a suspect list including Ingrid's neighbors and ex-romantic partners. The situation becomes a bit more complicated when a person on their suspect list is murdered.

Even a murder or two can't stop the Knit & Nibble group's weekly meeting. This week the meeting is to be held at Pamela's house and her nibble dessert recipe is included in this book. Also included is a knitting pattern.

Reading this series is pleasant but not exciting. I'm a bit tired of reading about the dishes that both women use in their homes and Bettina's daily outfits. Maybe that's just me?

This book has been my first in the "Knit & Nibble" series and my first of this author.

I can definitely say that I have thoroughly enjoyed it. The writting style was nice and the flow of the book was really smooth. I couldn't put it down! A nice, cozy and a quick read. 🤗

I loved that introduction to these series of Mysteries and if you are like me who is looking to read good mysteries in between heavy fantasy reads, this is a book you would like to pick up.

I will definitely pick up the whole series now. 🙌🏼

Pamela Paterson and her bestie, Bettina Fraser, are back in their twelfth Knit and Nibble adventure, and although a little different to the usual cosy set-up is still a great read. The victim, in this instance, is already dead, but the opinion at the regular knitting group leads is that the local police force have got it wrong, again! Clues are discovered, discussed, and dismissed by Pamela and Bettina as they try to find the real reasons for the death and who was actually responsible. There are a few changes happening in this book, and I'm looking forward to reading about what happens next.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cosies, but the opinions expressed are my own. I enjoyed this very much, and the two recipes at the end of the book both sound delicious. There is also a knitting pattern included.