Annie Hart recently inherited a home in Franklin, Indiana. She feels that she's always doing for others and is excited to something for herself. Franklin is a far cry from Los Angeles. Annie knows she won't stay in Franklin, but wants to stay a week or two. She'll probably get it ready to sell and leave it in the hands of a realtor. That was the plan, anyway.

Annie found out that this wasn't just a little house. It was a yarn shop in the front and a small cottage in the back. Apparently Annie's uncle bought it from the previous owner's estate after she was murdered.

It didn't take long for Annie to become comfortable in this small community. She found that the yarn shop was where many of the people came every week to knit and chat. Since it would take a few weeks to get the shop ready to sell, she agreed to continue that tradition.

Annie becomes interested in the unsolved murder of the previous owner, and why the community is so quick to accept that the murderer was not a local.

Annie is determined to identify the murderer and leave the yarn shop in good hands before she returns to Los Angeles. At least that's the plan.

I loved the book and hope it becomes a series.

I love the cover. It’s not typical cozy, and yet it has some cozy elements in it.

I didn’t like the protagonist much. She has a business relationship with her father, which … okay, whatever, but she is a doormatt to Camille and Gray. Later someone mentions that Gray is like her little sister and while Annie turns to that idea, she doesn’t start to behave like a big sister, i.e. she doesn’t stand up to “her sister’s” bully (Camille), but rather keeps worrying about getting blamed by Camille when Gray doesn’t lose enough weight or dates the local cop.

There’s not much sleuthing. Annie suspects a few people, but her snooping consists of tapping into small town gossip. She’s more concerned with cleaning up the yarn room and setting up a tea room. A yarn shop/tea room, now there’s an idea that will only work in fiction. (Never mind that the previous owner apparently had a large empty space in her business.) The same with everyone being convinced a tourist would fall in love with the place and buy it. Tourists generally already have lives and generally stick to just dreaming about buying property and opening a business in their favourite holiday destination.

The murder mystery is not much interesting. The victim died a year previously. The killer is obvious from the first time they visit the yarn shop.

The mystery fails to get exciting. Then someone confesses the murder, but in such an anti-climactic way, you know for sure it’s a set-up and someone else is responsible. Then it just seems silly Annie tries to convince us the killer has been found. Most peculiar, why is everyone in town buying into this confession now? Why aren’t there people doubting this person would ever confess to any crime?

The protagonist of course has a confrontation with the killer, but why did this murder even happen? <spoiler> When Patty remade the penguin why did she not use the stuffing from the original penguin? What did she use as stuffing in stead?</spoiler>

Don’t like the reason Annie decides to stay. It would have been nice to see that she had finally grown a bit of a spine and chose her own happiness, but that’s not her reason.

Death Among the Stitches is the first book in the Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series by Betty Hechtman. Annie Sara Hart spends her days working at a children's boutique in L.A. crocheting stuffed animals for her pint-sized customers, and helping her talent agent father with his demanding celebrity clients. She enjoys what she does, but she really wants to have something of her own. So when she gets notified that her beloved uncle has passed away and left her a piece of property in Franklin, Indiana, she can't wait to see it.

After a bumpy first night in Franklin, where she is forced to stay in the schoolhouse that was turned into the local yarn shop, because her rental car won't start, she begins to explore Franklin and meet the wonderful residents. She soon learns, however, that the previous owner was found dead in the yarn shop. She wonders if this town is as picturesque as it seems. Can Annie figure out what happened to Eleanor before she becomes the next victim?

I loved this first book. It felt like a real tight knit community. I wanted to live there, and be part of the yarn group. I was sad to see the book end, but I can't wait to read the next one!

Death Among the Stitches is the first book in A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series by Betty Hechtman, and I have to say that I was "hooked" from the very first page. Pun intended..

Annie Sara Hart is the daughter of a highly esteemed talent agent in Los Angeles and her best friend, Gray, is the daughter of one of his well-known clients. Annie has been assisting her father for years by keeping Gray company and in line with what her mother's wishes are, including helping her run her own Malibu children’s boutique. However, after learning that her uncle has left her property in his will, Annie Sara decides that she wants to break free from her obligations and visit the property before selling it.

Once in small-town Franklin, Indiana, Annie Sara began to fall in love with the old schoolhouse yarn shop as well as make friends with the members of the local yarn group. She soon realizes that there are secrets surrounding the previous shop owner, Eleanor's, death and the group confirms Annie's worries that Eleanor was murdered right there in her shop!

Can Annie, with the help of Gray and a cat that used to belong to Eleanor, restore the shop and solve the mystery of what happened the night that Eleanor was murdered before trouble comes knocking at the schoolhouse doors?

I really enjoyed this story. The characters were so real and genuine and the setting was a place that just brings a sense of peace. I could see myself enjoying time spent at this yarn shop and making friends here as well. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series and learning more about the characters.

Thank you to the author and #NetGalley for allowing me to read #DeathAmongtheStitches and offer my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed Death Among the Stitches—it was a fun and cozy mystery with just the right amount of charm. Annie Hart, as a reluctant sleuth, was relatable and endearing, and I loved how her curiosity and determination led her through the twists and turns of this small town mystery. The cozy setting of the yarn and tea shop added a lovely touch, and the quirky cast of local characters kept things interesting.

The murder mystery itself was solid, though I did figure out part of the twist early on. That said, the pacing kept me engaged, and Annie’s journey to uncover the truth felt satisfying. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with a touch of humor, this one’s a great choice!

So if an uncle died and left you an old schoolhouse and cottage in another state, would you keep it or would you sell it? That's the question facing Annie Sara Hart, a young woman who lives in a studio apartment in LA that is owned by her father, an agent with some superstar movie clients. Never having owned property herself, Annie Sara wants to at least see what she's inherited before she sells it—and thus she finds herself headed to small-town Franklin, Indiana.

There, she discovers she's just become the owner of an old schoolhouse that was home to the town's only yarn shop, a gathering spot beloved by the locals, who are disappointed to hear that she intends to sell it. She learns that the woman who owned the yarn shop died inside the place, but the townsfolk seem to have conspired to keep her from figuring out why. After discovering an old cottage behind the schoolhouse, Annie Sara decides to stay in town for a while and tidy everything up before she sells.

There's one small problem, however. Annie Sara works in a boutique owned by the shiftless LA-princess daughter of two movie stars, and their loyal agent happens to be Annie Sara's father. The daughter, Gray Hanover, can't seem to function in life without Annie Sara as her sidekick, so Gray ends up going to Indiana and becoming a partner in the yarn shop and perhaps opening a new business its former owner had considered—a quaint tearoom in part of the old schoolhouse. The idea certainly has its charms, but why won't the local knitters and crocheters spill the tea on what happened to the previous owner?

Death Among the Stitches was a pleasure to read, and it had touches of all that I love in a good cozy—flaky town characters, an overzealous cop, and other female entrepreneurs. I was particularly pleased that at the local bakery, the owner gets help with the baking from her son, who has Down syndrome. This book was a fun debut to a new series, and I look forward to seeing more of these characters in the future.

Loved this book. A change of direction, new beginnings, friendships and a little romance set against the backdrop of a yarn shop, knitting group, bakery and and a small town. Solved a murder as well. Great book , 1st by this author but now looking for more.

“Death Among the Stitches” is the wonderfully done first book in Betty Hechtman’s A Crochet and Crumpets cozy mystery series. Some new series take a book or two to really get going but I found that this book, while it certainly sets the scene for future books in the series, hit the ground running. Annie Sara Hart is a great main character – the daughter of a Hollywood talent agent she has spent most of her life looking after Gray Hanover, daughter of two movie stars, she seems to be a bit of a pushover at first but grows as the book goes along. Gray also surprised me – she easily could have been a clichéd character but she too grows as the book goes along. The setup is a nice one – Annie travels to Franklin, Indiana after inheriting a yarn shop from her uncle – she fully intends to tidy up the shop and sell it but she soon makes friends and becomes involved in a murder mystery. I love the various friends she makes, especially Toby. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects to keep readers guessing whodunit. In the end I was sorry when the book was over and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Love Betty Hechtman's cozy mysteries and loved this one which is entertaining adn compelling
Due to health issues cannot will write a proper review at a later time
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mineA more extensive review will follow

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Bryan Hart is the talent agent to the stars and he employs his daughter Annie Sara Hart to help him keep his clients happy. She has been “working” with a VIP’s daughter, Gray since they were in Girl Scouts together. Of late, she has been working at the daughter’s store as “support staff” meaning she did everything.

Now Annie Sara has inherited a yarn shop just outside of Franklin, Indiana that her uncle purchased to turn into a restaurant before he died. She plans to go there for a week to tie up loose ends, put the place up for sale, and return to California.

Franklin is a typical small town where everyone knows everyone and their business. She finds out the previous owner of the yarn shop died but no one wants to talk about it. Then she learned that Eleanor Danton was murdered and her death was blamed on an unknown summer tourist. Annie Sara finds herself intrigued by the mystery of the woman’s death and as she meets her new neighbors she decides to try to find the truth. But the truth could get her killed!

In this first Crochet and Crumpets Mystery Ms. Hechtman introduces readers to an eclectic group of characters. Annie Sara is truly on her own in Franklin but her father does call often to encourage her to hurry up and come home. She meets several Franklin, Indiana residents including Jenny who owns the local bakery, and her son, Toby. Toby is an excellent baker and has Down syndrome. He is sweet and so kind and gives excellent customer service. He is so proud of the wonderful things he bakes, that he can barely wait for Annie Sara to try his cinnamon rolls.

We also meet Don Spenser, a friendly local mechanic who aids Annie Sara when her rental car breaks down. Poor Patty gets migraines but she is an awesome cake baker and decorator but she is a perfectionist so there always seems to be a cake with a wonky flower or letter that needs to be eaten. Jenny, Toby, and Patty are all part of a knitting group that used to meet at Annie Sara’s store. As the story continues we meet the rest of the group and other Franklin residents. All felt true to life but we have just scratched the surface of the people of Franklin, Annie Sara, and Gray. Eleanor had a special cat named Jack. He was able to return to the shop with Annie Sara there and they became quick friends.

I was surprised when Gray came to town with orders from her mother to lose weight. She even had packaged meals delivered and a pair of jeans Gray had to fit into to come home. This was Gray’s first time being out from under her mother’s thumb and she blossomed.

The mystery of Eleanor Danton’s death was always on Annie Sara’s mind. She was trying to determine who she could trust to help her find the truth. The store being vandalized gave Annie Sara plenty of work to do before she could put the place up for sale. The knitting group was happy to help but the store was vandalized again leading Annie Sara to believe she was getting some information that made the killer uncomfortable enough to act. The mystery had more depth than I expected. The motive was unclear until a huge clue was revealed. But it wasn’t until Annie Sara made a keen observation that all the clues fell into place for both of us.

I expected the ending but was surprised by how long it took Annie Sara to make a final decision. I think there are going to be some fireworks ahead.

Death Among the Stitches has laid a great foundation for this series. Ms Hechtman has left plenty of room for the characters to grow as the series continues. This was an entertaining whodunit that leaves me eager for book two to find out what happens next!

Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman is the debut of A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery series. I enjoy cozy mysteries that incorporate crafts, so I was looking forward to reading Death Among the Stitches. The story moved at an unhurried pace (I swear I saw snails zipping by me). I did not like the main character, Annie Sara. I wanted to tell her to grow a backbone and learn to say no. The author needed to flesh her out more. I wish the author had not included Gray in the book (this character was more developed than Annie Sara). The girl cannot please her mother who is a famous actress. I did not like the body shaming (there was so much of it). I did not enjoy the talk about the “diet,” getting Gray to fit into these ridiculously tiny jeans, and Annie Sara afraid to eat regular food in front of Gray. There is also Gray’s romance with Officer Smith. It is just plain silly (a police officer is, of course, no good enough for the daughter of Camille Constatine). The mystery was lackluster. The murder took place long before Annie Sara inherited the schoolhouse. Annie Sara makes a half-hearted attempt to learn what happened to the murdered woman. The clues drop at the end of the story before the anticlimactic reveal. Those who are avid cozy mystery readers will have no problem unraveling the puzzle. I enjoyed the snippets about knitting and crochet. I wish the story had focused more on the craft. My favorite part of the book was hearing about the Hoosier cabinet Annie Sara picked up for the kitchen at the schoolhouse (there was one in our kitchen when I was a child). I like that the history of the cabinet was included. Death Among the Stitches mostly dealt with Annie Sara’s day to day activities. There were repetitive details particularly about the summer people who rented homes and liked to party. I wish Death Among the Stitches had likeable characters, more depth, and an intriguing mystery. I felt that this story missed the mark.

The main character leaves LA and goes to a property inherited from her uncle in a small town in Indiana. I liked her and the humor and coziness this book embodies. It was cute to have this many yarn and crocheting references!

Interesting cozy mystery series. Inheriting a yarn shop far away from Hollywood, give Anne a chance to escape her babysitting duties, but also dumps her into a murder mystery. Enjoyed this one, and look forward to reading more in the series.

I am a big fan of Betty Hechtman’s Crochet Mystery series. At first, I didn’t think I’d enjoy this new series since the characters are much much younger (and I’m an older reader). However, Annie Sera and her friends won me over. The plot was a bit plodding and focused on a cold case. It had a predictable but satisfying ending. I am looking forward to seeing what the characters can do with an active case assuming the focus isn’t always on cold cases. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for review

The advice of “show, don’t tell” has never felt more important 🫣 There was no showing in this entire story. Nothing to visualise. No rhythm to get lost in, no music to the writing. It didn’t take long for me to realise that pretty much every sentence was “I did [x]. Then [x] happened. I thought [x]. I told [X] what I thought. [X] said [x] in response.” Boring in and of itself but there was so much repetition that the story felt m u c h longer than it was, if this hadn’t been an ARC I would’ve just DNF’d. Weird direction, too many characters with no development, bizarre encouraged-disordered-eating subplot, hints at a slightly magical cat that’s never properly addressed in a world that is otherwise not magical at all????? Basically 94% filler followed by an extremely abrupt ending. The final line could’ve been lifted directly from a 9 year old’s creative writing assignment. Definitely not the cozy mystery I’d expected, if you’re looking for a crochet-themed Murder She Wrote situation I’d advise looking elsewhere.

An enjoyable read, with the potential to become the first book in a great modern day America cosy crime series.

I really enjoyed reading this. Yes, I am a textile junkie and yarn lover. Lace knitting is my jam. So perhaps my review is biased... but small town country setting, a yarn store in an historic building, friendly town folk, a relatable main character and "sibling" with the extra helping of a murder mystery - yes please!

The following may sound harsh, but it is meant with the best intention of constructive criticism. Please know I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but...!

It had an okay balance of all of that... though I have to say I found the whodunit clues rather obvious, while the characters were portrayed as overly clueLESS to them. That got rather frustrating as you could tell the reader was having it spelt out for them, while the characters seemed to miss them entirely. And that abrupt ending? Ick. Surely the author could have polished it off a little nicer?

I loved the characters, loved the setting, loved the under current of mystery. I just found it so blatantly obvious. I'd also have liked a little more detail to the every day things. We got the summed up description of the reno, and crafting rather than that “inviting us in to be there doing it too” description other cosy crimes include.

Again, I apologise for sounding so harsh. I guess my inner copy writer saw potential for a smoother read.

From the book nerd side of things, yes it has its usual typos and repetitive text. But it was an ARC I read, so expected. I also found the formatting for Kindle very heavy. Just chunky pages full of text, giving the appearance of heavy reading for what was actually a lovely, light read.

But, despite all my niggling, I DID enjoy it, truly do hope it is the first in a great series, as I would read them!

Definitely one I'd recommend, but with the above feedback.

Annie Sara Hart has just inherited property from her Uncle. Wanting to view the only property that she has ever owned before putting it up for sale, she makes a trip to the small town of Franklin only to discover that the property is an old shop not a cottage. Deciding to stay for a while to tidy up her investment before sale, Annie soon finds herself drawn to the community where everyone knows everyone but no-one is quite certain of what happened in the murder of the previous owner.
I really enjoyed this cosy mystery. It was a good plot with plenty of interesting characters that kept the reader engaged. The pace was smooth with enough drama and plenty of 'twists to the yarn'

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Since she was a teenager, Annie Hart has lived her life at the beck and call of her talent agent father and his famous clients. When she inherits a yarn store from her uncle, she sets out for Franklin, Indiana, to find out what it's like to have something that is hers alone. This being a cozy mystery, the action takes place in a small town, filled to the brim with a cast of likeable characters, and the yarn store comes complete with assorted skeins of yarn and an unsolved murder.

This would have been a 5 star read had there been more actual sleuthing going on. However, I can't really be mad at a book that does so much to set up the relationships between all the characters and creating a lovely setting for their future together. This being the first book in the series, I'm treating it more like a pilot episode where we get to meet the main players and the town where the majority of the action will be happening in later installments.

This book has strong themes of self discovery and the importance of found family. It sets a strong foundation for future adventures.

"Death Among the Stitches" by Betty Hechtman is a delightful debut in a brand new series, and it quickly became a contender for my new favorite among her works. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this cozy mystery, and I was immediately captivated by the charming story of Annie Sara Hart, who inherits a picturesque yarn shop in a quaint town.

Before Annie even arrives in town, the tranquility of the community is shattered by the murder of Eleanor Danton, the previous owner of the yarn shop. Eleanor was found strangled, her own yarn the instrument of her demise.

As Annie navigates the complexities of settling into her new life and taking over the shop, she finds herself drawn into the investigation. With the help of her newfound friends in the local knitting circle, Annie begins to unravel a web of secrets and hidden agendas within the seemingly idyllic community.

Hechtman masterfully blends the warmth and camaraderie of the knitting circle with the intrigue of a captivating mystery. The characters are endearing and relatable, and the setting is vividly brought to life. "Death Among the Stitches" is a charming and engaging read that will have you hooked from the first stitch.

Rating: ★★★★☆

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When Annie Sara receives a piece of property left to her by her deceased uncle, she just wants to see a place that is her own for once. Not her talent agent father’s, not her boss’s business that she runs, something that is finally her own. She travels from California to Indiana to check the place out and has a lot of surprises waiting for her, starting with a yarn shop of her very own… in complete disarray.

While I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about Annie Sara or her social circle when the book started, I quickly became charmed by the town of Franklin and Annie Sara as well. This book did an amazing job of small town world building and connecting likable characters. I loved that the yarn store and crochet/knitting was a star of the book without feeling all-consuming. The tea, baked goods, and books all added to the cozy feel of this cozy mystery. While there were many aspects that felt at home in a cozy mystery, there were many times that I was surprised by the happenings in the story. I can’t wait for this series to continue so that I can spend more time in this world!