Hooks Can Be Deceiving: A Crochet Mystery

Betty Hechtman

Dec 2018 · Crooked Lane Books

About this ebook

Things are getting knotty in this delightful 13th installment in the Crochet cozy mystery series—featuring crochet patterns and delicious recipes!

The Tarzana Hookers crochet club is ready for its close-up . . . But Molly Pink may be getting too close to a case that will land her on the cutting-room floor.

Molly Pink’s excitement level is off the hook: The Craftee Channel’s new cable talk show “Creating with Crochet” has scheduled an upcoming taping at the bookstore. While she’s there, TV host Rory Graham is to work with the Tarzana Hookers on a Make and Take bracelet project to draw bookstore customers to the yarn section. It’s a win-win...or so it “seams.”

The situation gets a bit knotted when channel producer Michael Kostner confides to Molly his concern that Rory may have oversold her ability as a crocheter. When the producer’s worst fears are realized, it’s up to Molly to make sure Rory comes through.

Guiding Rory through crocheting-for-beginners will have to wait, though, as Molly suddenly has to untangle the mysterious death of a new Tarzana Hookers member. Marianne Freeman and her live-in companion, Connie Richards, haven’t exactly been gabby since they joined the Hookers, but Connie’s voice is silenced permanently when she is electrocuted while walking on a wet lawn—electrified by an old radio plugged into a faulty extension cord. The fingers point at Marianne, but Molly is fast on the case to protect one of her own. Was Marianne the killer...or the intended target? Why does her younger brother want to keep her from talking to the cops? And why is this whole case starting to remind Molly Pink of an old TV movie?

Ratings and reviews

I always look forward to new books in this series, as it’s like visiting old friends. Thirteenth in the Crochet Mystery series, this enjoyable novel can be read as a standalone. The author’s trademark humor, at least one character resembling our most challenging co-worker or client, and an electrifying mystery are crocheted together into an exciting, laugh-out-loud story that goes by far too quickly. Molly is head of the yarn department and assistant manager at Shedd & Royal Books and More and hosts many events there. This time is a bit different. First is a book signing by “Missy Z”, who wants to be so anonymous that she will come in only if wearing a disguise. The other is a big deal that Mrs. Shedd wants to be perfectly executed. The Craftee Channel wants to tape the premier show of “Creating with Crochet” during one of the Tarzana Hookers’ Happy Hour groups. Hosting the show will be Rory Graham, most recently from reality TV shows, her “signature” being something she calls Dance Break, a way of keeping people’s focus on her. One little problem: Rory can’t crochet and doesn’t want to. She wants to simply be the star, even though the producer is adamant that Rory shows people how to make the hour-long project. Adele comes to the rescue in hopes of getting on the show regularly. There are two new women; Marianne, who seems to be on meds that keep her off balance, and Connie, who seems to be their spokeswoman. Marianne forgot her crochet project at the shop, so Molly was going to take it to her. Upon arrival, Molly finds police SUV’s and a detective’s car. She hears detectives Barry Greenberg and Heather Gilmore. When the crochet hook drops, Barry hears it and escorts Molly away without leaving Marianne’s project. Barry and Molly were once a couple. Surprisingly, Barry comes to Molly’s later that evening asking for a favor. Since Molly knows Marianne a little, he would like Molly to keep an eye and ear out for anything that could point the finger to a murderer. Her companion, Connie’s, murderer. Not typical Barry at all. Until Molly starts getting threats. The author defines her characters delightfully well. We learn something new every time about the regulars, especially Molly and best friend Dinah, current significant other Mason, “ex” boyfriend Barry, and of course Adele. You’ll have to read about Adele for yourself to believe it; you have worked with or for someone like her. Rory, a millennial star, is in many ways like Adele, but even more self-absorbed. She and Adele provide much comic relief. The crochet group shares each other’s troubles but also has a good time together. I find that Mason’s and Barry’s reflections in this novel are very revealing – one from a man who wants to re-write his legacy, and the other a man who is finally listening to the woman he loves and lost. So many things in this story could be clues! Or they could simply be pieces of fluff like the yarn that pulls apart when being used. There are interesting and confounding plot twists. I couldn’t make up my mind about one suspect even as considering others. I was stunned to find out who the killer was and why; it was not anyone I thought about at all. Not one of the plot twists or clues could prepare for that! I highly recommend this delightful, at times frightening or LOL funny, outstandingly well-written cozy mystery! From a grateful heart: I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

About the author

Betty Hechtman was born in Chicago, Illinois and on a particularly eventful weekend graduated college, got married, moved to Los Angeles, California and now lives in Tarzana. She has a degree in Fine Arts and has had a variety of professions. Her love of mysteries started with Nancy Drew and blossomed when she began to read Agatha Christie’s books. She has been doing handicrafts since she was a child. It is like a dream come true to be able to mix mystery and yarn craft in her books.