Publishers Weekly
08/27/2018
Samantha “Sammy” Kane, the heroine of Quinn’s cute debut and series launch, returns to her hometown of Heartsford, Wis., where she takes over the Community Craft store from a late friend. Another new arrival is Ingrid Wilson. The opening of Ingrid’s Yarn Barn may be a boon to the local knitters, but her abrasive personality apparently angers one person badly enough to kill her. Sammy’s discovery of Ingrid’s body with a knitting needle in her throat in the Yarn Barn prompts Sammy to reassemble SHE, a trio consisting of herself, cousin Heidi, and sister Ellie, who prided themselves on solving mysteries during their school days. When Ingrid’s death is followed by the woman’s nephew, the town’s beloved high school basketball coach, being injured by a hit-and-run driver, Sammy is determined to find out what’s going on. Meanwhile, newly hired Det. Liam Nash does his best to keep Sammy from making herself a target by nosing into the investigation. Cozy fans will look forward to future installments. Agent: Sandy Harding, Spencerhill Assoc. (Oct.)
From the Publisher
Cozy fans will look forward to future installments.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A fun and enjoyable read. For me it’s a Top Pick for the month of October.”
—Night Owl Reviews, Reviewer Top Pick
“Readers of craft mysteries will love meeting Sammy Kane and following her around the small Wisconsin town as she cleverly tracks down the killer of a rival shop owner in this charming new mystery.”
—Sally Goldenbaum, USA Today–bestselling author of the Seaside Knitters Society Mystery Series
“How nice to escape to Heartsford, Wisconsin and join Samantha Kane and her friends as they unravel the clues when a local yarn store owner is killed. The small town setting feels authentic and the characters are all likeable. In this well plotted mystery Samantha manages to weave together the evidence and bring it to a satisfying conclusion. The yarn info and the sock patterns are an extra bonus.”
—Betty Hechtman, national bestselling author of On the Hook
“With characters I want as friends, A Crafter Knits a Clue shines, and I’ll be in line for the next book, too!”
—Nancy Haddock, national bestselling author of the Silver Six Crafting mysteries
“Quirky characters, crafts, a small town full of secrets ...the perfect cozy! I couldn’t put it down!”
—Lea Wait, USA Today–bestselling author of the Mainely Needlepoint mysteries
“A new crafting cozy mystery to love! Holly Quinn puts heart and smarts into protagonist Sammy Kane and the small town of Heartsford, Wisonsin."
—Molly MacRae, author of Knot the Usual Suspects
Kirkus Reviews
2018-07-31
A childhood detective club reunites to solve a murder in small-town Wisconsin.
Samantha Kane has returned to her hometown of Heartsford after the tragic death of her best friend, Kate Allen. She's taken over Kate's shop, the Community Craft store, which sells all types of homemade local crafts. Her part-time helper is Kate's basketball-playing younger brother, Carter. When Samantha responds to neighboring store owner Ingrid Wilson's request for help at the shop, she finds Ingrid stabbed to death with a knitting needle. Sam's cousin Heidi's boyfriend is a cop, but Detective Liam Nash, a newcomer, is put in charge of the case. Sam's immediately attracted to him, but a bad relationship in the past has given her the habit of pushing people away, in this case by wisecracking and sticking her nose into the investigation. When Ingrid's nephew, the town's beloved basketball coach, is run down and badly hurt, Sam's even more determined to snoop. Although Sam's busy getting ready for the town's Spring Fling festivities, her curiosity and deep love for the place lead her to believe that the members of the school-days detective group S.H.E.—Sam, Heidi, and Ellie, Sam's older sister—should hone their skills and return to sleuthing. Because Ingrid was far from popular and not a native to Heartsford, her past is unknown, and she's made quite a few enemies. It's up to S.H.E. to look for motives and check alibis, a painful process when most of the suspects are people they have known for years.
A promising debut that relies on small-town charm, a bit of romance, and plenty of red herrings—though nothing so far that sets it above many other crafting-themed cozies.
