Another great book in the series. ( )

The newest entry in the Knit and Nibble Mystery series has Pamela and Bettina searching for the killer of the mayor of Arborville after an arrest has been made. Looking at what they know about the mayor they find several good suspects--if only they didn't have alibis. Will the alibis hold up with Pamela and Bettina on the trail? Will they find the murderer before getting into too much trouble?

I enjoyed this story. I liked how they are methodical, for them, in trying to figure out the killer. They have made a few mad as they ask their questions. I always enjoy seeing Wilfred again as he supports his wife and Pamela. I also enjoy visiting with the rest of the group. The new secondary characters are interesting. They bring some suspects along with them. A possible tree-hugger and tree dresser, a woman who resells expensive designer clothing, a former mayoral candidate. I, once again, did not figure out the killer until it was explained. I look forward to seeing the regulars again ( )

Pamela Paterson is a widow living in Arborville, New Jersey. She works from home for a craft magazine, and is the creator of the Knit and Nibble group, which are people who go from home to home each week with their knitting projects, and the host feeds the "nibbles." She's wondering who's putting knitted sweaters on trees, but when the mayor is suddenly murdered, the trees take a back seat to her looking into who had motive to kill him, since the person who was arrested is the knitters' own Roland DeCamp, the sole male and quietest of the group. Now Pamela and her best friend Bettina Fraser, who is a newspaper reporter, are on the trail of a killer...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have to say it's the weakest. There were things that bothered me aside from the usual, which is the incessant rattling on of what everyone is eating and wearing. Our protagonist, Pamela, doesn't fall into the "wearing" category because she never wears anything but jeans and cotton tops. How boring. So naturally, she's always mentally commenting on Bettina's scarlet hair (not found in nature) and clothing. Nothing like constantly critiquing your best friend, right?

I've pretty much had it with this series. Besides what I've mentioned above (and in other reviews on other books of this author), Pamela doesn't appear to be as smart as she's made out to be. She's been a widow for seven years, but isn't ready to date again? Does she believe her late husband wants her to be alone the rest of her life? And I don't think much of a man who will give away his pet because his new girlfriend is superstitious. What happens if the relationship doesn't work? Now his beloved pet isn't there, either. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Both of them. My own opinion, people.

I also get tired of the fact that there are no clues leading to the identity of the murderer, but Pamela puts it together like that!...and the conclusion is there. It seems that the author is more concerned with what everyone is eating, wearing, and what dishes they're using to serve on, etc., than the murder or the solving of it. (I also get tired of Nell looking down on people who eat sugar and criticizing them for it. It is none of her business what other people eat).

When my eyes stopped glazing over, I had finished the book. I've read five of these, but I can't say that I will read any more of them. ( )

A Fatal Yarn by Peggy Ehrhart has Pamela Paterson surprised to see trees sporting knitted creations in Arborville, New Jersey. It seems someone is trying to save trees that are scheduled to be cut down with the mayor’s approval. Then the mayor is found dead in his kitchen and Roland DeCamp, a Knit & Nibble member, is arrested for the crime. Pamela and Bettina team up to clear Roland and find the true killer. A Fatal Yarn is the 5th A Knit and Nibble Mystery and it can be read on its own. I like the characters in the story and the descriptions of the yarn plus their knitting projects. I did find the endless details of how they make coffee and cook or bake various items to be tiring. Every single time that Pamela made coffee, it is described in detail. Pamela’s daily routine is also written about (articles she edited, what she wore, what she ate and drank). The focus of A Fatal Yarn is on the people and their lives instead of the mystery. The mystery is straightforward with a dead guy, a few suspects, and misdirection. Identifying the killer was a snap. I wish the mystery had been as interesting as the knitted wraps around the trees. If you prefer your cozy mysteries to have more cozy than mystery, than A Fatal Yarn is right up your alley. A Fatal Yarn is a lighthearted tale with trembling trees, nifty knitted creations, copious quantities of coffee, tasty treats, and a murdered mayor. ( )

A Fatal Yarn has some good misdirection that makes for a mystery to keep readers guessing, and it continues to do something that I really appreciate. So many niche cozy mystery series have a "hook"-- be it knitting, cooking, glassblowing, or any other hobby-- but often those hooks are superficial. Once used to draw readers in, they have little to do with the actual story. Not with Peggy Ehrhart's Knit & Nibble series. Knitting continues to be at the heart of the stories, and I really liked the version of yarnbombing that was used in connection to the tree sweaters.

Pamela Paterson is the heart and soul of the Knit & Nibble mysteries. She's an editor for "Fiber Craft Magazine," and I have the sneaking suspicion that I'm not the only reader who wishes the magazine was real. Many of the articles mentioned sound fascinating. The only thing I don't care for is Pamela's best friend Bettina constantly trying to be a matchmaker between Pamela and Pamela's next-door neighbor. Not every single woman wants or needs a man to be happy, and that matchmaking schtick gets old.

Not only A Fatal Yarn but all the books in this series are perfect comfort reads for trying times. Ehrhart has a writing style that is lush, filled with a dazzling color palette and mouthwatering tastes and aromas. She wants readers to be fully immersed in her world, and she creates a wonderful feeling of community by including all the sorts of little rituals that bind us together. Just one tiny word of warning. If repetition bothers you, don't read these books one right after the other. If you do, you might want to scream after awhile when Bettina dons her pumpkin-colored coat for the umpteenth time or puts her sage green plates on the table yet again. If you aren't bothered by repetition, then dive right in. Peggy Ehrhart's Knit & Nibble mysteries are a feast for the eyes, the taste buds, and the heart. It's a series that I truly enjoy. ( )