Knot on Your Life

Betty Hechtman

Oct 2019 · A Yarn Retreat Mystery Book 7 · Beyond The Page

About this ebook

In a new Yarn Retreat Mystery from national bestselling author Betty Hechtman, Casey Feldstein will have to unravel an assortment of tangled clues to solve a knotty murder mystery . . .

 

“A cozy mystery that you won’t want to put down. It combines cooking, knitting and murder in one great book!” —Fresh Fiction on Yarn to Go

 

The yarn retreat group visiting scenic Vista Del Mar has already planned their own activities, so part-time dessert maker and retreat host Casey Feldstein is looking forward to a stress-free weekend. But the rustic locale is also playing host to a mindfulness retreat for Silicon Valley start-up entrepreneurs along with a flock of bird-watchers, and soon everyone at the resort is getting wound up. And when Casey discovers the dead body of one of the tech gurus on the rocky shore of the Pacific, she begins to suspect that what looks like an accident is actually a calculated murder. 

 

With so many suspects to choose from and mysterious connections emerging between members of the groups, Casey will have to knit together a colorful array of clues as she wrangles with Vista Del Mar’s prickly manager and the curmudgeonly local police lieutenant. And as she closes in on the likely culprit, she’ll have to tie up the loose ends of her investigation before the killer can stitch her full of holes . . . 

 

Includes a fun, easy knitting project and a mouthwatering muffin recipe!

 

More Praise for the Yarn Retreat Mysteries:

 

“If you haven’t read this series yet, I highly recommend giving it a go. The mystery will delight you, and afterward you’ll be itching to start a knitting or crochet project of your own.”  —Cozy Mystery Book Reviews

 

“The California seaside is the backdrop to this captivating cozy that will have readers heading for the yarn store in droves.” —Debbie’s Book Bag on Yarn to Go

Ratings and reviews

I really enjoyed this novel and this series! We join Casey as she coordinates a new retreat and tries to stay out of a new mystery. Casey inherited her Aunt Joan’s home and business when she died unexpectedly a short time after Casey came to stay with her at Cadbury by the Sea. Casey works several part time jobs, so life is never dull. I like Casey and situations she finds herself in. The characters are as well-defined as necessary, and the intriguing plot is finely planned and executed. The setting sounds gorgeous; to sit at the ocean at the edge of the continent would be amazing! Before leaving Chicago for California, Casey’s favorite temp job was as an assistant to a private investigator, Frank. That job and friendship with Frank prepared her for things that just seem to happen around her. Yarn2Go is the business Casey’s aunt left to her. Casey is learning more about various fiber/ yarn arts as she coordinates retreats. They are held at Vista Del Mar Resort and Spa, an unplugged place where many retreats are held. It is hard on some of the folks to leave behind internet, TV, and phones. This retreat is to honor one of the ladies’ birthday, and as avid knitters, they want to learn to crochet and work on a pattern to take with them. It is the easiest that Casey has done, as they arranged their side trips. The group in the meeting room next to theirs is on a Mindfulness retreat, a bare-bones schedule planned by the resort manager. When the head of that group sees what Casey is offering, he is willing to pay her directly for what her ladies have – goodie bags, snacks, and a project they can take home after Casey showed him how knitting can be a mindfulness task. She and Crystal, her instructor for the weekend, will give a group session special for them. Casey’s group is unhappy to see the mindfulness group, as they work together during the week. Madison, the birthday lady, is manager of a shared workspace, similar to what used to be called executive suites. Most of the leased spaces/ offices are startups, including the group of four men and one woman next door. After her initial group session, Casey went to the ocean to do some quiet knitting. Only minutes later she glimpses something off to her side, goes to look, and as she hears sirens in the distance, checks out a man below a rocky area who is bleeding profusely. She finds a weak pulse as the first responders arrive, but he dies soon afterwards. No. She is not getting involved with another death, accidental or otherwise. Even if it is someone from the mindfulness retreat group. This fun 7th in series is a roller coaster ride of LOL wit interspersed with a gathering of women, quirky characters, drama amongst the resort’s owning family and management, Casey and her boyfriend’s stolen moments, and of course, Casey trying to not help solve the real cause of death. There are what appear to be solid suspects, but nothing prepared this armchair sleuth for who it really was! I highly recommend this delightful story to all who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries, knitting and crocheting, an oceanside setting, and a healthy serving of humor. From a thankful Heart: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

This is really a great series. The books are very well written with engaging characters that develop through each book. This mystery is full of twists and turns and is not predictable. The subplot is intriguing and I really can not wait for the next book. You don't have to be a knitter to like this book. I totally recommend you read this book (and series). Is the next one out yet???LOL

diveram kisku

About the author

Betty Hechtman is the national bestselling author of the Crochet Mysteries and the Yarn Retreat Mysteries. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago and has a degree in Fine Art. Since College, she has studied everything from improv comedy to magic, and has had an assortment of professions, including volunteer farm worker, nanny at a summer resort, waitress at a coffee house, and telephone operator. She lives with her family and stash of yarn in Southern California. You can learn more about Betty and find excerpts from all her books at BettyHechtman.com. She blogs on Fridays at Killerhobbies.blogspot.com, and you can join her on Facebook at BettyHechtmanAuthor and on Twitter at @BettyHechtman.