The worst part of reading a book that is the first in a series (and only book so far) is waiting for the second one to come out. This was one of those cozy mystery series that I wasn’t sure was my style but I decided to give it a try anyways. And I’m glad I did.

The main character and her spookier rich friend are extremely likable. And believe it or not, spoiled rich friend will become a really enjoyable character over time. She really starts to grow and change and come into her own. I can see these two becoming close and having some fun storylines. I’m so ready for the next book b/c I want to see what these ladies will get up to next.

Is romance in the air? Looks like it. More murder? Obviously, b/c it’s a coy mystery. But I can tell already that it will be a fun and lighthearted series and I can’t wait for more.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

It was my first Cozy Mystery book ever and I am very happy to have started with this one by Betty Hechtman! I really enjoyed my read. I didn't expect at all the ending and didn't find the murderer so I am very very pleased as the suspense was good until the end!!! I am giving this book 4 stars out of 5 and I can't wait to read another book by Betty Hechtman!

This is a delightful first book in a new cozy series featuring Annie Sara Hart and her friends old and new, human and feline. When we meet Annie Sara, she is preparing to take a trip away from her home in a studio apartment in her father's LA home and her job in an upscale shop ostensibly run by her friend, Gray. Annie's mother died when she was 10 and has spent the time since then doing what others wanted her to do. Her father is a Hollywood talent agent who gets a leg up by 'going above and beyond,' which usually means Annie has to take care of various issues as they arise. Gray is the daughter of two famous actors who Annie's dad represents and Annie has been her companion and problem solver since she was 14. Gray has never had a chance to live her own life either, since her parents expect much of her, especially since she's been spoiled in some ways. Annie is also a crocheter, who sells her amigurumi in Gray's upscale shop. When she learns that her recently deceased uncle has left her a yarn shop he bought in very rural Indiana, she is puzzled about why and plans to sell it. But before she does, she wants to go to see it and to experience what it's like to be in her own space--one that she owns. In spite of the pushback she gets from her father, Gray, and Gray's mother, she is determined to go. Once she gets there, things get a bit strange as she learns that the reason her uncle was able to buy the shop was because the previous owner had been killed. The crime was attributed to people on holiday and was never solved, although gossip runs rampant in the small town. As Annie gets her bearings, she meets people in the town and learns more about the building and the people and sets about preparing to put her place up for sale.

I really enjoyed this book. I mean, a yarn shop with a bookstore and a new tea shop, complete with resident cat? Count me in! In the town there's a bakery I would love to sit and have a cup of coffee in. One or two of the characters could be considered a bit quirky, but mostly they were women who seemed like they'd be fun to sit and crochet with for a while. To be honest, the mystery was a bit peripheral and I wouldn't call Annie a detective, but that didn't matter to me at all. I was immersed in the setting, the mentions of what people were crocheting and knitting, and the treats made by Toby, a baker with Down syndrome. I was also cheering both Annie and Gray on as they learned new things about themselves and stepped out of the world their parents were trying so desperately to keep them in. It was just a very pleasant book and I will definitely read on in the series.

I loved that this book was set in a yarn shop—my absolute favorite kind of place. I also really appreciated how the author portrayed a character with Down syndrome. It was done with such care, showing that people with DS can have fulfilling lives filled with hobbies, jobs, and passions. The depiction of this character’s mother was also well done, capturing the unique worries and challenges that mothers of children with disabilities often face.

While I enjoyed the fact that there was a character arc in the story, I struggled with the main character. She didn’t come across as a very nice person. For much of the book, she seemed to use her "friend," Grey, and treated her more like a burden than an actual friend. Her father, though well-meaning, bulldozes over her boundaries in a way that’s frustrating to read. Honestly, I wanted to shake her at times! That said, the mystery itself was engaging, and the side characters brought so much charm to the story. By the end, Annie does show some growth, which redeemed her for me.

One thing worth mentioning is that the book could have used more diversity. Aside from the character with Down syndrome, everyone seemed to be white and straight. Adding more diversity would make the town feel richer and more vibrant.

I enjoyed this book. The depth of the characters is amazing. This is actually more of a Women’s Fiction than a mystery. The murder is solved but it really is an afterthought. Oh, towards the end of the book it mentions Air Pots…they’re those big coffee, tea dispensers that convenient store’s & restaurants use to get your own… I had to look it up.

If you’re a fan of Betty Hectman stories this book is for you. I liked the main characters and the location of the story. I always enjoy how Betty brings in fiber arts to the story. This one differed a bit with the romance end and left a good lead-in to future stories. I’m invested in the characters and I want another story.

Don’t want to give the ending away so let me just say it was a twist I didn’t see coming.

I hope the actual book will have a recipe and pattern.
Thank you Betty.

Sally Morrison

Annie Sara Hart's background may be touched by Hollywood glamour from her father's job as an agent to the stars, but Annie isn't loving it. She works as an assistant of sorts to her father, which largely means keeping Gray's superstar mother happy. When we first meet Gray, it's pretty clear why Annie may not be loving her job. Gray is both demanding and spoiled, used to the best in life, expecting others to be impressed when they find out who her mother is. So, how they heck does Gray wind up in a small town, sleeping in a small cottage and, gasp, actually working to help out? It seems Annie needed a quick influx of cash and Gray's mother needed someone to monitor Gray's diet. Seems her mother expects Gray to fit into basically a size zero pair of jeans to be acceptable in public as her daughter. Yikes. And this is only a small part of the story.

I won't detail the plot as the blurb for this first book in a new series does an excellent job. What I will share is that the characters, and there are quite a few, come across as likable and real people with real lives, not just cut-out characters. Some are quirky, such as mega-perfectionist Patty and Toby, Jenny's seemingly autistic son who does much of the superb baking at the bake shop. Then there's Liv, who appears to be a major character. She's married to a mystery writer Bill and adores having folks over to eat. Then there's Matt Austin, owner/publisher of the local paper, who appears to be a potential romantic interest. Officer Cooper Smith, a former military guy who still seems rigid at times, is one we'll meet early on, too. And, oh, my, I can't forget Jack, the cat, who seems to have some talents that aren't quite explainable yet. I actually found it relatively easy to differentiate characters as the book went along although I did make a list early on and was glad to have it handy at first. This small town seemed to all come out to meet Annie and Gray. My hunch is that, like me, you'll start off rolling your eyes at Gray but wind up liking her by the end. There are definitely layers there, not to mention a side-story for the future on expectations imposed on the children of stars, such as being stick-thin, in Gray's case. Watching both Annie and Gray slowly, almost apologetically breaking away from their rather controlling parents was fun.

As for the mystery, it appears a former owner of Classy Yarn, the shop Annie inherits from her late uncle, died a rather mysterious death. Not sharing, especially since it takes Annie awhile to get all the details. As it turns out, she wasn't an easy person to like. Prickly and strict on the rules she set for the knitting group who used the shop. Jack was her cat, however, and seems happy to be back in his known home with Annie thanks to Liv's efforts. There's lots of growth and definitely lots of fun and friendship. Thanks #SevernHouse for this early introduction to Annie, Gray, and the rest. Anyone who enjoys character driven books where the characters are likable and have room to grow in future books, should give this one a read. Heck, you don't even need to knit or crochet. The schoolhouse now Classy Yarn shop sounds delightful and can't wait to explore the town more. But, oh, that ending!

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for this early review copy!

This book completely sucked me into the world of restoring this cutesy yarn shop and updating it with everything else I love. It really made me want to be one of these ladies who could come and just hang out and crochet together. A reading room, tea room, crochet?? Sign me up! I'd be there daily. This book had a very slow burn mystery that had a semi surprising reveal in the end. I did enjoy how the mystery was not the center of the book, and the main character wasn't doing stupid things she shouldn't be doing to help solve a mystery as you see in a lot of other cozy mysteries. She was concerned, regularly pointing out her observations, and asking questions in environments that made sense, while continuing the focus on her main task of restoring the yarn shop.

What a fun start to a new series. I am totally in love with Annie Sara and her new adventure. Annie is the daughter of a well-known Hollywood talent agent and has spent a lot of her life making clearly entitled people happy as her father's assistant. When her uncle leaves her a yarn shop in rural Indiana, Annie Sara is determined to check out this place that is hers before she sells it. So begins a journey that is many miles from home, in more ways than one. Greeted by friendly people, a beautiful historic building, a lovely special cat, and the sad history of the previous owner Annie Sara is enchanted with her inheritance and decides to give it a little love before she moves on, but can she? This is a wonderful journey that I was so happy to go on. Can't wait for the next book in the series. Many thanks to #Netgally, #SevernHouse, and the author for a chance to read. #DeathAmongtheStiches #SarahFox #CrochetandCrumpetsMysteries #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader

This is less of a traditional murder mystery and more of a story of self discovery as two girls change their lives from spoilt Hollywood brat and her Girl Friday to small town girls restarting a local business. I loved the descriptions of negotiating with hard headed and determined parents and how the girls forge their own way in overhauling a run down business and making friends in the small town. Yes the murder of the previous owner filters through the book, but it is only right at the end that the crime takes centre stage. I really enjoyed it and recommend it

Death Among the Stitches is the first in the charming Crochet and Crumpets mystery series, and I was captivated from the start! Annie Sara Hart has spent most of her life being her father's gopher, as he works as a talent agent to the stars. When Annie suddenly inherits a yarn shop in small-town Indiana, she takes off to see her new inheritance before planning to sell. The characters and setting provided such warmth and coziness, I found myself smiling throughout much of this well-plotted mystery. Highly recommend this book to those who enjoy cozy mysteries with well-developed characters. Looking forward to book two in the series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman This first book in a crochet series left a lot to be desired for me. I did like when all the characters came together to enjoy the school house setting. I disliked aspects of the two main characters as an adult. Maybe the next book in the series will entertain more if the characters settle in this town. Thank you NetGalley for the early read.

"Death Among the Stitches” the 1st instalment in A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series by Betty Hechtman set in the small Indiana town of Franklin. Meet Annie Hart: newly inherited yarn and tea shop owner and reluctant amateur sleuth.

I loved this story, the mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

Now I want to pick up crocheting again, I love these kind of cozy mysteries.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Severn House and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fun cozy murder mystery set in the world of yarn. Annie Hart, daughter of a talent agent to the stars and his resident gofer, finds a new life when she inherits a yarn store in small town Franklin, Indiana. Things aren’t quite as idyllic as they initially appear in Franklin, however, and Annie soon discovers that the previous proprietor of her shop was murdered with her own yarn. While finding community among the yarn shop regulars, Annie takes it upon herself to investigate the murder.

"**Death Among the Stitches**" by Betty Hechtman is a delightful cozy mystery that beautifully intertwines a charming yarn shop setting with a cast of endearing characters and an engaging murder mystery.

Annie Hart steps into a new chapter of her life when she inherits a yarn shop in the quaint town of Franklin, Indiana. However, the shadow of the original owner's tragic murder looms over her, and Annie feels a compelling urge to get to the bottom of the mystery. As she navigates the town’s secrets and unravels the complex relationships among its residents, she uncovers a web of hidden motives and unexpected connections.

The cozy atmosphere of the yarn shop and the picturesque charm of Franklin provide a warm and inviting backdrop that envelops readers in comfort. The delightful descriptions of yarn, knitting patterns, and soothing tea rituals evoke a sense of nostalgia and whimsy. Annie, as a relatable and sympathetic heroine, resonates deeply with readers. The supporting characters—each with their own quirks and unique personalities, from the quirky regulars at the shop to the enigmatic townsfolk—are depicted with care and affection.

The murder mystery is intricately plotted, offering twists and turns that keep readers engaged and guessing until the very last page. Hechtman masterfully weaves together the various threads of the narrative, creating a suspenseful yet comforting experience.

With its light and cozy tone, "**Death Among the Stitches**" serves as a perfect escape from the everyday stresses of life. The emphasis on knitting, tea, and small-town camaraderie fosters a comforting and nostalgic atmosphere that invites readers to relax and unwind.

This well-crafted cozy mystery truly captures the essence of the genre, making it a wonderful read for fans. It’s filled with everything you could ask for: a charming setting, relatable characters, an intriguing plot, and touches of humor. If you’re in search of a heartwarming and engaging story, I wholeheartedly recommend giving this book a try.

I saw this was a new cozy mystery series featuring yarn and yarn crafting and was super excited. Cozy mystery is a genre I want to get into, but I find some series with dozens of books daunting, and I also knit and crochet. This should have been a perfect jumping in place for me.

Unfortunately, I just really didn’t like the book. Most of the characters are one-dimensional and Annie Sara, the main character, is extremely passive. Literally the only decision she made for herself was “I want to see the property my uncle left me before I sell it.” Her father wants to sell it as soon as she’s looked at it. She agrees to that. However, once she’s there, she agrees with the people of the town to maybe fix the yarn store up a bit before selling it. Then when she goes to see a real estate agent who talks her into more extensive work on the school house, saying it would make the building more sellable. It even comes down to an antique shop owner easily talking her into mismatched chairs, tables, and teacups making the space more sellable and the handyman who owns a gardening space getting her to put in a garden for the tea shop space she’s putting in the yarn shop. He even brought the plants on the chance that she wanted them, even though he lives down the street and it would have been basically no time going to get them if she agreed. It feels like they know they can get her to do whatever they really want. There’s even more weirdness if I got into spoiler territory.

I also don’t understand her and Gray’s relationship. Gray is the spoiled rich girl that she’s basically been assigned to babysit for the past twenty-sone years. I wasn’t excited when Gray ends up in the small town, although she does experience growth at a rapid pace, but Annie Sara ends up saying she sees Gray as a sister, when she’s basically never had any nice thoughts about Gray except that she understands that Gray’s mother is not a nice person to her. When Gray ends up having feelings for a character from the town, Annie Sara just thinks about what she should do to break them up in a way that really makes it sound like she sees Gray as a small child or many a pet she’s pet sitting. It really doesn’t seem like she sees Gray as her own person, let along a sister, even after deciding to be completely on Gray’s side.

With Gray came a lot of food insecurity stuff too that felt really out of place for a book that is supposed to be “cozy.” Gray’s movie star movie mother sees Gray as a reflection of herself, so she wants Gray to lose weight and make another try at modeling. Gray is sent along extremely small meals to subsist on and Annie Sara is supposed to be her keeper for this. It’s not handled well, even if ultimately the idea is that it’s a bad thing. Gray is constantly hungry for a few days, while Annie Sara also starts to eat less so she’s not eating a full or delicious meal right in front of Gray. Every meal is explained in exactly how little they eat and how Annie Sara just wants something from the bakery. If you have any sort of issue with disordered eating, I would not pick up this book.

Finally, Annie Sara, our protagonist in a mystery novel, is just kind of uninterested in the mystery? The owner before her uncle died by being strangled by her own yarn, a thing the reader knows from the back of the book and the book doesn’t get to until like, halfway through. The most she does is ask questions about what happened, but otherwise she just goes along with getting her yarn shop in order. At 75% she’s still reminding herself that the previous owner’s death isn’t any of her business and goes on with her day. She really doesn’t do anything to actually solve the mystery. The mystery also didn’t really have many clues for the reader to be able to figure it out, but I think that goes with Annie Sara being so passive in pretty much everything.

The book also does a weird thing with the writing, where it will often just tell you what a character said instead of using dialogue. So instead of something like ‘Josh said “The chair is blue.” It will be ‘Josh told me about the chair being blue.’ It was usually something that could have easily and more smoothly been said in dialogue. The dialogue was also a little stilted sometimes, usually when a character didn’t speak with contractions, making everything sound overly formal.

Overall, this book obviously wasn’t for me. Other people might find it better, but I can’t really recommend it.

Summary: Annie Sara Hart lives in California and works hard to keep her celebrity boss (and her father, a talent agent) happy. When a relative leaves her a property in his will, she is very curious to see what she owns. When Annie arrives in the quaint town of Franklin, Indiana, she discovers that she owns a former heritage schoolhouse turned yarn shop. She is charmed and decides to work on it to make it saleable. In the interim, she finds joy in small-town life, friendship, and a swirl of intrigue around the former owner of the yarn shop, who was mysteriously murdered there.

Thoughts: This novel has the makings of a charming cozy mystery series. Annie Sara is a likeable amateur detective who finds herself surprised to enjoy small-town life and owning her own business. At first I didn’t know if I would like the addition of Gray, Camille’s daughter, to the storyline but they make a fun duo, with sister vibes. There is a hint of potential romance in there as well, quite sweet with Gray and Officer Cooper. However any potential romance between Annie and Matt needs a little more warmth to make it believable. And of course Jack the problem-solving cat is a crowd-pleaser. I found the ending a little abrupt and off-putting, but otherwise this is a novel that will please cozy mystery fans.

I’m probably the target audience for this book: I knit/crochet, I love a cozy mystery. I’m so here for a clever TV/movie reference. I have a lot in common with the protagonist, at least on the surface. But even with the home court advantage, so to speak, this book was hard for me to get into.

The narrator, Annie Sara, doesn’t have a distinct voice and isn’t likeable - we don't even get a basic physical description of her in the opening chapter, beyond a cursory overview of what she usually likes to wear. Her introduction in the narrative is entirely focused on how much cooler/better she is than her friend, “the epitome of a privileged L.A. celebrity offspring.” Her movements and decisions feel aimless; she takes the path of least resistance in every situation. Everything just seems to conveniently happen to her, including but not limited to a yarn store, a cottage, and a cat. What little backstory we do get feels rote, flat, and unimaginative.

The narrative drags in so many places, with irrelevant details, while avoiding giving us any meaningful insight into the personality of Annie Sara, who is supposed to be our POV character. So, so much telling rather than showing. For example, I was confused when Annie Sara mentioned she’d been having a “flirty” conversation with a character, when nothing said was even remotely flirtatious, she hadn’t talked about him being attractive to her in any way, and there weren’t many indicators of tone or descriptions of body language, etc, to serve as context cues. Similarly, we are told halfway through the book that Gray is Annie Sara's surrogate sister of sorts - did not get that vibe at all from their interactions.

Everyone in the town is a “classic” small-town stereotype. Police officers say things like “Come out with your hands up” and “that doesn’t compute, ma’am”. There’s a hippie lady who smudges. There’s a kindly baker raising a kid with Down Syndrome who has “the world’s sunniest smile.” Etc.

Last but not least, I had a hard time feeling sympathy for the murder victim, or getting invested in the mystery - much like the protagonist herself.

This is a new series for Betty Hechtman. Annie works retail in an upscale California baby store owned by a famous movie star and her daughter Gray. Sarah Annie ( can we just give her one name, both sound too awkward), is left a yarn shop by her deceased uncle on a Great Lake. Before selling she wants to visit the shop, but one of her jobs is also keeping Gray happy and serene. Deciding to visit anyway she learns the shop has a lot of potential and the previous owner before her uncle was murdered. Gray, not able to be without Annie comes out to help her, and they try to solve the murder.
The characters, especially the periphery ones are enjoyable and varied but the two main characters set my teeth on edge. In their forties they are both still afraid to stand up to their respective parents and they run their lives. Nothing is worse than a woman who won’t stand up for herself. Especially at this age. It was a big turnoff for me with this mystery.

#DeathAmongtheStitches #NetGalley is the first in a new series by one of my favorite authors.
When Annie Hart learns of an inheritance, she's quite excited to see what she owns.
Annie's role in life is being a gopher to whatever need her talent agent to the stars has.
This inheritance sparks excitement in her life, and she can't wait to see what's in store for her next.
I enjoyed this book and I love that the characters are so easy to like.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.