Cass Halloran was the last of the seaside knitters to sign on as a regular. And at first it was mostly for the food. But since that first gathering, she’s never missed a Thursday night knitting gathering, nor a seaside knitters mystery. Let’s get to know more about Cass.
What is your name?
My name is Cass Halloran. Catherine to my mother.
How old are you?
That depends. My actual birth certificate and my mother disagree. But I suspect I’m forty. Or almost.
What is your profession?
I own a lobster company that my brother and I inherited from my father.
Do you have a significant other?
I do. But significant doesn’t begin to describe him. He set the moon, though I’d never in two million years tell him that. Marriage was never on my bucket list. I worked pretty hard at making men not be significant in my life. Then along came this writer, his hair a bit too long, glasses that slip down his nose. Funny. Smart. My friends fell in love with him first, I think. Then my little goddaughter, Abby. And then, well, I’m not sure. Maybe it was my mother’s novenas. But he became more than a writer and even more than a nice guy who helped his parents in their bookstore or who sang silly songs to Abby or who helped Nell do the dishes after Friday night suppers. That’s all to say that it ended well, and it’s a special life I now have with this man.
And, hey, he loves a woman who often smells like fish. Need I say more?
What is his/her name and profession?
Danny Brandley is an investigative reporter who turned into a very successful, award winning mystery writer (for which I take much of the credit).
Any children?
We are in the process of all that right this minute. It was a big surprise to us (or maybe not). And it has taken over our life. Yoga for pregnant women (who knew?), clinic appointments—lots of them. I nearly canceled the whole project when I looked at my chart and saw the words “elderly primigravida.” Elderly! Not to mention that scary sounding second word.
But it’s all good. Danny will be the greatest father in the world. Kids love him. And I have these three knitting friends who know me better than I know myself, and who hold me up and support me no matter what I do or say. They’ll be there for Baby Hal or Halley or Brandley or Little Lobster. Our baby will have this same amazing extended family, and they will fill our baby’s life with all the good things they’ve brought into mine. And Danny’s too.
Do you have any sibling(s)?
I have a younger brother, Pete. We work together, argue like crazy, boss each other (well, that’s mostly my role) and we would go to the ends of the ocean for one another in half a heartbeat.
Do your parents live near you?
My mother, Mary Halloran, lives in Sea Harbor, near Our Lady of Safe Seas Church where she spends a good part of her life. Everyone loves my mother. She’s small and kind and for the most part, nonjudgmental, and she pretty much runs Father Northcutt’s Church, even accepting the fact that her children don’t always share her kind of devotion.
My father was a great guy. He was one of the many Cape Ann men who “go down to the sea in ships.” And he died there doing what he loved. He was smart and funny and loved his family fiercely, even more than the lobsters he fished for most of his life.
Who is your best friend?
Hmmm. That’s a toughie. May I have three, please? I have these women in my life, and they’ve become family to me. Izzy Perry is closest in age, but 
Nell Endicott somehow seems to defy whatever age she is, and Birdie Favazza is wise and wonderful and definitely ageless. I consider myself an independent person, but I can’t imagine my life without these three women.
Here are the four of us—the seaside knitters—on the Cape Ann breakwater. In winter—how brave are we?!
Cats, dogs or other pets?
Danny and I have an old dog who mostly sleeps.
What town do you live in?
Sea Harbor, MA. It’s on Cape Ann, a perfect place for a lobsterwoman.
House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I inherited a house from Finnegan, and old fisherman friend who died. It’s small and cozy and sits on a bluff in a friendly neighborhood. The backyard faces the ocean, and from the front, we look down on the Canary Cove Arts Colony.
What is your favorite spot in your house?
We have a small screened porch on the ocean side where Danny and I sit and watch the night stars, the early morning sun, the drama of an approaching nor’easter. It’s our safe, happy place.
Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
I like, love, anything that Nell Endicott makes. (I don’t cook much but am fairly adept at opening cans.) She makes a great meatloaf—wine and bacon and other good things. (It’s in the newest Seaside Knitters Society mystery, A Murderous Tangle, and you’ll find it here 🙂
Favorite dessert?
Key lime pie and anything chocolate.
Favorite hobby?
Knitting big bulky hats for my lobstermen.
Favorite color?
Blue
Favorite author?
Danny Brandley
Favorite vacation spot?
Sea Harbor. I know it’s crazy, right? But it’s hard to beat this place.
Favorite sports team?
Red Sox.
Movies or Broadway?
Nell, Izzy, Birdie and I are obsessed with Broadway right now. We saw Come From Away last week. We laughed and cried and came home feeling the goodness in people all around us.
Are you a morning or a night person?
Sleeping is something I love to do, but because of my business, I’ve become a morning person.
Amateur sleuth or professional?
Definitely amateur. And we’d probably not call ourselves sleuths, really. But we’re pretty good at nosing around if there’s a problem in Sea Harbor—and especially if any of our family or friends are caught up in it.
Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Izzy, Nell and Birdie. The best seaside knitters investigative society this side of, well, anywhere.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
It should be easy, right? But my day running the lobster company is filled with so many routine office tasks and fixing lobster traps and buoys, that you would be bored in a minute—and you’d think me boring, too. The days get interesting when Nell, Izzy, and Birdie and I find a neighbor in trouble, or a man found dead near our friend’s lobster shack, or when someone dies after a party we had carefully planned. And that’s when life (and death) get interesting. Stay tuned.
Giveaway: Sally is giving away one (1) hardcover copy of A Murderous Tangle and multiple paperback copies of How to Knit a Murder, limited to U.S. residents. Leave a comment below for your chance to win. Contest ends December 6, 2019. Good luck everyone!
You can read more about Cass in A Murderous Tangle, the third book in the “Seaside Knitters Society” mystery series, released December 3, 2019.
Birdie, Nell, Cass, and Izzy are prepping their coziest handiwork for a holiday gathering in Sea Harbor, Massachusetts. But as murder makes waves in their tightly knit coastal village, can the Seaside Knitters prevent a deadly trend from catching on?
While the Seaside Knitters get ready to showcase their new Danish-inspired event, locals can’t stop talking about Tess Bean—a bright-eyed environmental activist with a way of charming both animals and humans alike. Birdie’s granddaughter is mesmerized by ethereal Tess’s passion for saving the earth and ocean, and even Izzy’s old Irish setter becomes attached to the young woman’s gentle touch . . .
Except not everyone is a fan of Tess and her strong opinions, especially after she starts questioning the “clean” practices of small-business owners. So when a popular bar owner whom Tess publicly calls out for bad practices is found dead from a fall off his club’s deck, it’s not long before she tops the suspect list for murder . . .
In addition to a murderer walking their streets, the knitters are also grappling with an unusual wave of thefts up and down Harbor Road. Now, as Birdie’s granddaughter struggles to protect her mentor’s reputation, the Seaside Knitters must solve a dangerous mystery that not only threatens to unravel the fabric of their community and the approaching holiday, but also the lives of those they care about the most . . .
Purchase Link
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About the author
Sally Goldenbaum writes the best-selling Seaside Knitters Society Mystery series and the Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mysteries. She and her husband recently moved to Cape Ann, MA, where she now spends time walking along the shore with the seaside knitters. To learn more about Sally, visit her website at sallygoldenbaum.com.
A Murderous Tangle is the 14th mystery featuring the four seaside knitters.
All comments are welcomed.
I would be pleased to win any of the books. The protagonist appears to be witty, and the old golden who sleeps a lot is sweet.
Thanks, Gloria. You are an early riser! I hope you enjoy the book.
Sounds like a fun series.
The cover is AMAZING!!
thank you for the giveaway…
I love the cover, too!
Love this series!
I hope you enjoy it!
Sally is a new author. Would really like to read any of her books.
Be prepared to not get anything done because you won’t be able to put the books down till the end
Would love to win a copy. My knitting is very bad but I enjoy reading about knitters. schmokercarol(at)gmail(dot)com
Interesting cozy story. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book. Cover is cute too! Saamm7(at)msn(dot).com
Cass Halloran. sounds like a great sassy lady juggling lobster nets with knitting friends. what a great combo! Would love to read this book!
Good luck. (And I love your name–)
I will have to check this book out. It sounds like would enjoy this book.
I hope you enjoy it, Lois.
I absolutely love reading cozy mysteries and write a review for every book I read. I’ve been wanting to read this book, especially after reading the description and interview. Thank you for the chance.
Hi Jeanne, I am wishing you good luck. I would love for you to give the series a try. (I’m not prejudiced–of course not!–but I do love the women of Sea Harbor.)
I just purchased Murder Wears Mittens. I am looking forward to reading it.
THANK YOU. ENJOY!
I grew up on the water and I knit so this book would be very special to read..
Perfect. I hope you enjoy it.
Oh how I absolutely love 💕 the precious golden retriever on the awesome cover of this new book! 📚 Just looking at him makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and that is the great feeling I get when reading cozies. This is a favorite series of mine….love Sally’s awesome and exciting books! My mom used to knit 🧶 so very many beautiful things…..she passed away in 2009. I always have fond memories of her knitting while reading Sally Goldenbaum’s awesome books! Thank you so very much for the chance to win! I would be thrilled to win a copy! God bless you dear Sally and Dru!!!
Beverly, what a lovely comment. Thank you!
Oh how sweet of you dear Sally to reply to my comment! You truly ROCK! 😊
I love the cover of the book. Sounds like a fun series. Would like to read this book and get to know some of her other books.
I really enjoyed getting to know Cass Halloran and am so glad to learn about this book series. I love the picture of the four women by the sea ~
Celia, thank you! I love the four women at the sea, too. My sister is an artist and gave it to me. She captured Nell, Izzy, Birdie and Cass in such a lovely way.
What a great interview! I can feel the sense of community and friendship in this series. Thank you so much for the chance to win!
Thank you, Autumn. An especially nice comment, because that is one of my goals while writing about the seaside women.
This series sounds wonderful. Thanks for the contest!
Good luck, Carol!
Anxious to read this book, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Hope you enjoy it, Wendy!
Cass Halloran sounds like a great person to get to know. My fingers are crossed I might
win a copy of the book or books.
Good luck, Robin. Hope you enjoy.
I love Sally’s books. Thank you for this chance to win.
Thanks, Carolyn for dropping by!
Yes please, I’d love to be the winner of the Hard Cover book. But in the meantime, the Brooklyn Library actually has it available.
Good to see you here on Dru’s musings, Nora-Adrienne!
Wonderful feature and giveaway and a very interesting interview. Thanks.
Thanks for dropping by Laini. Good luck!
I love this series and like most feel the Seaside knitters are my friends.
Hi Gram. Good to ‘see’ you again. Happy you dropped by Dru’s Musings and thank you for the nice comment.
New author and series for me, sounds good!
And this author loves new readers.Welcome to Dru’s Musings, Teresa. And good luck.
I love this series and characters. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi Doward. Good to ‘see’ you on Dru’s Musings! Goiod luck~
I love the Seaside Knitters!
Thanks, Johnna! And I love your name~
This is one of my favorite series–the combination of knitting, cooking, seaside location and great characters makes this a must-read for me.
Rochelle, that is SUCH a nice thing to say. Thank you so much. (I love Dru’s Musings too, because it gives me a chance to talk to people like you.
I have loved this series from book one and I have this one on hold at this e library. I cant wait to read it.
Hi Kat, thank you! I hope you enjoy A Murderous Tangle.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Good luck, Sandy!
Sally, you know I have thoroughly enjoyed each of your books & can easily imagine sitting in Izzy’s shop knitting with you all. This book was extremely special because my daughter’s school has been collecting plastic for over 2 years now. The program is lead by a wonderful teacher similar to Tess. I’ll need to give her a copy of this book!
Hi Anita! So nice to touch base with you here. And I LOVE that your daughter is having a similar experience to Gabby’s, and has a wonderful encouraging teacher. That’s so important. Thanks for sharing this with me.
I love this series and cannot wait to visit the women again! I love the relationships of these women of different generations. Thanks for the chance to win!
Hi Lori–thanks for dropping in at Dru’s Musings (doesn’t Dru Ann have a great site?) I love your comment and hope you enjoy the book.
Sounds like an interesting read.
Thanks, Terry. Good luck.
New series for me. I’ll have to check it out. I’m learning to knit so it sounds fun.
Welcome to the seaside knitters, Alicia. Hope you enjoy them!
My favorite book series. I was so pleased to meet you, Sally, at The Studio’s knitting retreat two years ago. I’ve got all your books on Kindle, so you graciously signed a bookmark for me. Thanks for the wonderful stories!
Pat, I remember! That was such a fun evening. Thank you for reconnecting. I hope all is fine in KC! My hellos to the Studio crew.
Ohh, I’d love a paperback! Thanks so much!
Hi Sheryl. Good luck to you!
HI SHERYL,
Good luck. Hope you enjoy the seaside knitters.
Enjoyed the Q&A with Cass – more books for my list!
Mary–it’s so nice to be on your list! Hope you enjoy Nell, Izzy, Cass, and Birdie. They are lovely women, if I do say so myself.
Dear friends,
In case I don’t get back here before everyone goes to bed, a HUGE thank you to DruAnn for inviting me (and Cass) to muse with her today. And to all of you wonderful folks who joined in with us.
I wish all of you good luck in the drawing— I will soon be sending books off to the winners. I have a good time with Nell, Izzy. Birdie and Cass, and I hope you enjoy spending time with them, too. I wish all of you a joyful December and the holidays to come.
Thank you again.
Warm wishes,,
Sally
Wonderful that you did this. Always great to learn more about the characters. Cassie inspired me to make a fish stocking cap for my son when the book first came out. My co-worker fell in love with it, and asked me to make one for her fisherman husband. He wears it whenever he goes fishing on the lake.
Molina, I love that hat, too. So wonderful you made it. Any chance you could send me a photo of it? (sgoldenbaum@gmail.com). Happy day to you.
I will be forwarding a photo to you shortly. My son is coming over next weekend and I have asked him to bring the cap so I can take a snapshot.
Great that you have this blog. Always interesting to learn more about the characters. Cass inspired me to make her fish stocking cap when you first wrote about it. I made it for my son and he loved it. I showed it to my co-worker and she had me make one for her fisherman husband. He wears it whenever he goes fishing on the lake.
Hi Sally !
This is my absolute favorite Cozy
series! ❤️ Want to be in that back room knitting with those great ladies. Pray that you’re
enjoying the New England’s Coast this year. Please keep us
informed about future book signings. 🖊 Can’t wait to read
this one!! ❤️❤️
Although I haven’t knitted for years, I love this series and the easy friendship the ladies share! Even better, I feel like part of the group when I read the books! Can’t wait to read this new one.😍
When I read these books they brought me back in time when I knitted for awhile. These stories are so good and I’d be very pleased to win a copy of A Murderous Tangle or a paperback. Thank you to DRU for keeping us updated.
Thanks, Cynthia. Good luck and have a happy day.
Awesome giveaway! I would love to win a book! Thanks for the chance!
Hi Linda. Good luck, and have a happy day.
Thank you, Dru, for a great Q&A with Cass. I can hardly wait now to read the book. Sally Goldenbaum is a new-to-me author. Sally, I have yet to read any of your books but just found our library carries most of the Seaside Knitter’s Society Mystery series!
I hope you enjoy it, Cheryl!
I live lobster, knitting, and New England! I’m looking forward to starting this series!
**** WINNERS ****
A Murderous Tangle is Jeanne Kennedy
How to Knit a Murder are Molina Vaughn, Gram, Gloria Browning, Tricia Conner
Congratulations!