Cozy Wednesday – Featuring – A Murderous Tangle (Seaside Knitters Society) by Sally Goldenbaum #Review / #Giveaway @sallygoldenbaum @KensingtonBooks

A Murderous Tangle (Seaside Knitters Society)
3rd in Series (with this publisher)
Setting – Massachusetts
Publisher: Kensington (November 26, 2019)
Hardcover: 320 pages
ISBN-10: 1496711084
ISBN-13: 978-1496711083
Kindle ASIN: B07P7CZ44F

Dollycas’s Thoughts 

Climate change is real and environmental activist Tess Bean hopes to get the folks of Seaside Harbor to get on board with her ideas. Birdie’s granddaughter, Gabby is all-in on the efforts but Harbor Club owner Bobby Abbott is not a fan of Tess or her efforts. When Bobby is found dead on the beach below the bar’s deck Tess becomes suspect numero uno. Birdie, Nell, Cass, and Izzy learn their friend Gracie, owner of Easy Lobster and Soup Café is also on the suspect list.

The Seaside Knitters are also planning a Holiday event giving them time to gather and ponder other suspects as they try to get a murderer behind bars before the Christmas Bells ring. The knitters are also concerned about some thefts the local shop owners are dealing with. They don’t think the thefts are connected to the murder, but you never know, they could be.

___

The Seaside Knitters, their spouses, children, and friends gather together regularly for food and fellowship, but sometimes their dinners are focused on the latest local murder. In this small town, where everyone knows everyone, it is hard not to get involved. Let’s face it, they do have an excellent track record. With Gabby so involved with Tess and Gracie a suspect, they have no choice but to do some investigating of their own.

I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. The cast of characters is large but the author gives new readers a list at the beginning of the book to assist them in getting to know how everyone fits together. I love these characters and frankly, I would read their stories even if there wasn’t a murder mystery included. They have become old friends. I can easily picture myself pulling up a chair and knitting right along with them, discussing all the events of the day around town and in their home lives. I would also love to be invited to the Friday night dinners at Ben and Nell’s. This tight-knit group is what makes this series great.

Even though I said it was unnecessary, Ms. Goldenbaum always writes an intriguing mystery and I love that she focuses on a hot topic in the world today. Tess is passionate about her cause but would she kill someone? Would Gracie? There are plenty of clues, twists, and turns to untangle. The group works together to ferret out the answers needed and it is fun to follow them each and every step of the way. I have come to believe that following complex knitting patterns gives these women the brainpower and the temperament needed to solve these mysteries. I didn’t even come close.

Even in the winter Sea Harbor sounds like a wonderful place. There is always something happening. Heck, picking up garbage on the beach even sounds like fun as long as there are no dead bodies 😀

One little thing that really tugged on my heart is that Izzy is dealing with an elderly dog. I have two border collies that are 16 years young but are dealing with the aches and pains of aging too. Izzy meets Tess when she takes her dog to the vet. Tess basically takes over the visit meeting Izzy at her car, carries the dog in, sets the dog down and immediately starts massaging the dog in an amazing and soothing way. You could tell the dog enjoyed the treatment and felt better after. Most humans love their aching muscles massaged so why wouldn’t dogs.

This is another spectacular book from Sally Goldenbaum. The author’s descriptive writing style draws the reader in for a story that unfolds at a comfortable pace. A Murderous Tangle is a mystery filled with cozy characters in a charming small town that will have you a little sad when it ends and anxious for your next visit.