On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Only Skein Deep (A Knitting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
15th in Series
Setting – Colorado
A Berkley Prime Crime Mystery (June 6, 2017)
An Imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Release Date -(May 1, 2018)
ISBN-13: 978-0425282533
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425282526
Kindle ASIN: B01LWLFTN1
Kelly Flynn and her boyfriend, Steve, couldn’t be happier as they await the birth of their bouncing baby boy. Kelly’s got a built-in group of fiber arts specialists, the Lambspun Knitters, who are working away on blankets and booties. As they sit around the table crafting their keepsakes, the story of Giselle Callahan is a popular topic of conversation.
Giselle is the young wife of Henry Callahan, a Fort Connor banking scion, who traded in his previous wife of forty years for a newer model. Giselle’s prowess as a skilled country club golfer and social climber puts her on someone’s hit list. When she is found dead on the greens at the golf club, Kelly and her Lambspun crew worry that a vicious killer is in their midst. They must work fast to bring an unhinged murderer to justice on the back nine before Kelly’s very special delivery…
DELICIOUS RECIPES AND KNITTING PATTERN INCLUDED!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Followers of this series knew this book was going to be about the birth of Kelly and Steve’s baby. I just wish the author would have presented this story differently.
This story followers Kelly through the last days of her pregnancy. Her daily trip to Pete’s/Lampspun where she either works on her spreadsheets or a cap she is knitting for Baby Jack. Everyone stops by to ask her how she is doing and her response is usually about Jack playing soccer and not ready to come out. She also is not happy that she had to give up her high octane coffee and is not thrilled with any of the teas she has been trying to replace it with. Kelly also attends a few baseball games where she is asked the same questions with the same replies. Her dog Carl is only mentioned a couple of times. I would have loved to read about his reactions to a new little person coming to his house. Maybe that will be in the next book.
There were also three things about weddings that really upset me, but I will not say more so I don’t spoil the story for anyone else.
While there is a murder on the golf course, it really wasn’t a mystery to solve. During Kelly’s daily stops she checks in with Burt to see if his police contact has any leads. She hears a few things that she passes along to Burt. I had this one solved very early in the story. The big reveal comes again when she is at Lambspun while talking to someone who saw something relevant.
Don’t get me wrong I don’t expect a woman in the ninth month of a pregnancy to be trying to chase down a killer, but she could have done a little legwork on the case. Most women with a pregnancy as easy as Kelly’s work right up to the baby is born. All her friends treated her like she was an invalid. Running errands was just too much for her, really??? She is a healthy woman who is pregnant. She was doing daily exercises. I have been there 4 times. I am glad her friends were looking out for her but most of it was pretty over the top.
I love these characters, this theme, and this setting but I didn’t like this story. There was way too much repetition. I found myself skimming instead of reading until the last couple chapters. The last book in the series was more character driven too with a little mystery on the side. The next book is Dyeing Up Loose Ends
So all and all this story was a miss for me but I did enjoy catching up with the characters. The first three and the last three chapters saved the book from getting a 2-star – a dreadful detour – rating.
I do not recommend reading this book on its own because it does not show you what a talented storyteller Maggie Sefton is. Start at the beginning and get to know these characters. You will love them.
About The Author
MAGGIE SEFTON is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Berkley Prime Crime Knitting Mysteries. UNRAVELED
She was born and raised in northern Virginia, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English literature and journalism. Maggie has worked in several careers over the years, from a CPA to a real estate broker in the Rocky Mountain West. However, none of those endeavors could compare with the satisfaction and challenge of creating worlds on paper. She is the mother of four grown daughters, currently scattered around the globe. Author of the nationally bestselling Knitting Mysteries
Check out her website here.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Only Skein Deep was a miss for me too. I found it lacking in mystery. I know people like to coddle pregnant women (sometimes), but I thought it was over-the-top in the story especially for someone as active as Kelly (she loves sports). Great characters and delightful yarn descriptions. I loved the earlier books in this series. I believe it is time for the author to start a new series. Maybe something with a paranormal element (and lots of yarn).
I am glad it wasn’t just me. I agree, time to start something new.
Thank you for your review on “Only Skein Deep” by Maggie Sefton and your recommendation of reading all the books. Appreciate the chance to win a copy!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Thanks for the informative review.
Oh, this sounds like a good cozy, I used to have tons of ‘skeins’ around as I crocheted a lot. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
wfnren at aol dot com