A CRAFTER HOOKS A KILLER

June 23, 2019

A Crafter Hooks a Killer: A Handcrafted Mystery

by Holly Quinn

About the Book

A Crafter Hooks a Killer: A Handcrafted Mystery

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series

Crooked Lane Books (June 11, 2019)

Hardcover 274 Pages

ISBN-10: 1643850121

ISBN-13: 978-1643850122

Digital ASIN: B07MGS1XDW

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?

Most cozy mystery readers I know also love the themes that come with different series.
Sammy Kane is a shopkeeper who runs a store dedicated to crafts made by local artisans.
She also hosts community events in her cozy space. This was not always her dream but she took it on after the death of her best friend from childhood.
Now the town is getting ready for a book signing appearance from a celebrity author, sort of a more well known Carol Duvall.
When the author shows up a few days early, requesting a private aside with Sammy, everyone's curiosity is piqued. When that same author is discovered murdered before she can tell Sam what she discovered, and news reporters from all over the nation descend upon this small town, you can imagine how chaotic life becomes. Add to that, Sammy and Ellie's parents arrive for a visit and Detective Nash actually seems to be open to allowing Sammy to investigate alongside him. Maybe he thinks keeping her close is just easier than trying to keep her safe as she investigates on her own.

This series is close to my heart because it takes place close to my real life area and I also wish I was part of a crafting community like this. I was close to my sister and cousin growing up and miss that bond. We never did the Nancy Drew investigating though.
This case does tie back to Sammy's old school days and her closest friendships.

With a current investigation to solve, a mystery about the secret message the murdered author never had a chance to relay, and some relationship tensions as well, this book kept me glued to the pages, not wanting to take a break until all was explained.
Craftily written, you'll also get caught up in this well knotted tale.

About the Author

Holly Quinn has published two stand-alone fiction novels in another persona.
She graduated from Carroll University in Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in business and a minor in marketing. This is her second Handcrafted mystery.
Visit her @ www.authorhollyquinn.com