It looks like a seaside cottage—probably a hundred years old—and has to be the friendliest looking shop I’ve ever seen.
The front window is filled with amazing yarn, some draped over branches, some floating on a pile of autumn leaves. The whole thing teasing, coaxing, beckoning you to come inside. And to make it perfect, there’s a cat sitting on top of a pile of ruby red merino yarn. As I soak in the luscious yarn, she stands up, stretches, and stares at me through the window.
What is that sweet calico kitten seeing? A flushed woman in running shorts, her tee-shirt rimmed with sweat, dots of perspiration lining her brow and a Chicago Cubs’ hat working overtime to keep a mass of dark hair in place? Not a pretty sight to a cat, no doubt. I smile at her—the cat—and I swear she smiles back. An invitation to come in?
Several women pass me by, talking yarn and needles, and push open the green door. Without a second thought, I follow.
A woman with streaked blonde hair and perfect bones walks toward me from behind the counter. “I’m Izzy Perry,” she says. “Welcome to the Seaside Yarn Studio.”
“Julia,” I say, my eyes now taking in walls lined from floor to ceiling with cubicles holding every kind of fiber imaginable. I finally look back into her smile and return it. “Friends call me Jules.”
“Yes, I know. Jules Ainsley.” Then she warms her words with a gusty laugh that floats all the way up to the tin ceiling.
“I guess in a small town…” I begin, trying to explain how she knows my name.
“Yes,” she says. “No secrets in small towns. Sea Harbor gossip tells me you’re staying at Mary Pisano’s B&B. And Mary loves having you. She’s intent on keeping you here as long as possible, so be aware of that. Are you having a good time in our town?”
“Good time?” I try not to show surprise at the question. I haven’t come for a good time, not really. “It’s a great little town,” I say carefully.
I can tell there are questions hidden politely in Izzy’s words. Am I a tourist. A visitor or someone’s relative? Or on vacation—here for a few days, a week of fun.
What will I say if she presses me further?
But she changes the subject, perhaps sensing my discomfort. “You’re a knitter,” she says. “I can see it in your eyes. And you’re clearly a runner. I hear you have pretty much toured our entire cape on foot.”
“I’m a little obsessed. It’s the best way to see a town, to discover what makes it special. And it helps me sleep.”
Izzy agrees. She’s a runner too, she says, and suggests a new route I might want to explore. “It meanders along the beach and eventually you’ll find your way back to Ravenswood by the Sea and Mary’s famous lemon mint iced tea.”
I feel the need to run a few more miles so thank her for the suggestion, mentally recording the directions and promising aloud to return to the shop later to spend a healthy portion of my life’s savings on some of her luscious yarns.
As directed, I run down Harbor Road, then detour east along the access road to a stretch of beach as smooth and silky as some of the yarn I’d coveted in Izzy’s shop. How had I missed this spot? It was perfect for the time of day. In seconds the sounds of the sea are filling my mind and lifting my spirit.
No secrets in this town, Izzy had said. It had simply been a conversation piece—one you toss out without thought.
Izzy was wrong. There are secrets here. Every town has secrets. And especially Sea Harbor, at least in my mind—and in my heart.
I pick up my pace, waving to a ruddy-faced fisherman pushing his boat off shore, and close my eyes, letting the wind whip my hair against my cheeks, the salty spray stinging my bare arms and legs.
When I open my eyes again, I’m nearly at the end of the beach. A pile of granite boulders is strewn haphazardly into the sea, bringing the stretch of beach to an end. To my left a narrow road meanders up a low hill, bordered by a jungle of unkempt bushes and trees that anchor the hill’s soil. I head up the road, noticing a line of houses on the side, their roofs peeking out above the trees and bushes.
And then I stop.
Suddenly.
Frozen in place. A car honks, urging me to the side.
I walk to the edge of the road, staring up at the houses. No. Staring at one house. I stand there forever, my mind digging into the past.
And the present.
And then I know with utter certainty that Izzy Perry is wrong. Sea Harbor does have secrets.
And I am about to uncover one of them.
One that may change my life forever.
When Jules Ainsley is implicated in the murderer of a well-loved bartender in Murder in Merino, the seaside knitters temporarily put aside the planning of Nell and Ben’s fortieth anniversary party to find the truth behind the murder that shakes the whole town. In their search, Nell, Birdie, Cass, and Izzy spare no one—not neighbors or friends, not visitors or shopkeepers—as they probe into a past long buried, seeking a murderer who may be walking right alongside them on Harbor Road.
You can read more about Jules in Murder in Merino, the eighth book in the “Seaside Knitters” mystery series, published by Penguin. The first book in the series is Death by Cashmere. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY
Comment on this post by 6 p.m. EST on May 8, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of MURDER IN MERINO or ANGORA ALIBI. Two winners will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Sally Goldenbaum is a sometime philosophy teacher, a knitter, and an editor, and the author of more than thirty 
novels. Sally became more serious about knitting with the creation of the Seaside Knitters mystery series and the birth of her first grandchild. Her fictional seaside friends are helping her probe the intricacies of women’s friendship, the mysteries, heartaches and joys of small-town living, and the very best way to pick up dropped stitches on a lacy knit shawl.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
This is a new to me series that sounds like a delightful read. I love the setting, and even though I don’t knit, I think the mystery sound cozy and inviting.
This is just my cup of tea! Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh does this ever sound really good!
this cover is making me want to go back to Martha’s Vineyard!!!
Another new series to be added to my book list! I love it already! Thanks, Dru!
Absolutely wonderful premise. Looking forward to reading this books.
I do enjoy this series. Thanks for the chance to win!
This book sounds just wonderful, I’d love to read it
I love this series. The people come to life and you want to be there with them.
Great series.
Another to add to my wish list to be read.
Thank you for the chance to win Sally and Dru. This is such a fun series!
This series is new to me, I’ve got to add it to my tbr list, from what I just read it looks like my type of book. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sounds great want to read love to read
I love this series , thanks for the giveaway !
Thanks, Kathy.
I’d love to win!
Good luck, Sarah (my REAL name)–
This sounds like a great series! Thanks for the chance to win
Thanks, Dawn. Good luck.
What great comments! Thank you all. I want to see if you like Jules. I didn’t at first…and then, well, things happen. (Sorry for being a little late to join in. A crew of painters arrived at our house this morning!)
This sounds really good! I’d love to read it! Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks for the opportunity to win this book! I’ve been reading this series from the beginning and can’t wait to read this one!
Although I am a long long time cozy mystery reader, i have not read this series. It sounds like this would be a great story to read and I would love to win a copy. Thanks for the opportunity.
I love to find new readers, Pat. Hope you enjoy visiting in Sea Harbor.
Definite TBR soon,
If the writing in the book is as effortless-seeming as this Day in the Life post it will be a pleasure to read it. I can hear the author laughing at me now “effortless indeed”. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Carlr–your comment brought a big smile to my face!
I’m not much of a knitter, but that hasn’t stopped me from enjoying reading about them. Wow, 8 in the series so far. I better getta readin’. 🙂
Small towns, knitters, and friendships—all great things to develop into a cozy mystery. Would love to win this book!!
I don’t know how I missed this series.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
What a wonderful introduction to this book. Thanks Dru, would love to win and read.
Judy–I’m glad you mentioned that, because I don’t think you need to be a knitter (I’m not a very good one–but I love the colors and feel of yarn!).
Thanks Ronna, Kaye and Annette. I’m glad you found us!
This does sound a very good cozy series. Thank you for the chance!
CaroNWong@aol.com
This is the coziest comfiest series ever! I eagerly anticipate each new book. They all make me miss living in New England!
I’ve not read any of this series yet—but you now have me interested. Thanks for the review.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I am going to look up this series and would love a copy of either book . Thanks for the opportunity.
It’s so nice to have new readers stop by. I wish you luck in the drawing–and I hope you enjoy getting to know the seaside knitters (and Jules, too).
I liked meeting Jules and reading a bit from her point of view! Thanks for the chance to win!
Love This Series. Thanks
Sounds as if this will be another winner.
Thanks, Kari, jholden and Barbara. I hope you enjoy the book.
Sally
Not only do I want to read this series, and this book, I would love to be viewing the scene (in person) as depicted on the cover of this book. I absolutely love that cover; it is so inviting and I sometimes buy books due to the cover. I can’t wait to get this book; maybe I will be lucky to win a copy, but it will be on my list to order “just in case”, 🙂
Loved the blog post so much.
Thank you,
Cynthia
Cynthia, what a lovely note. Thank you! I love the cover too. The artist, Doug Martin, has kept such a distinctive theme running through the series. Good luck with the drawing, and I hope you enjoy getting to know the seaside women–I certainly have!
sally
I’m intrigued. It has every bit of suspense as the books before it. And I am right there, watching just a few feet away! Can’t wait!
Thanks, Jane. I really liked this book. I hope you do, too!
I would be interested in reading this. I am a knitter also.
I have read most of the series but I have missed the last 2 books. I will have to play catch up on them. I am a knitter and I catch myself just thinking about the colors and textures of the different yarns. I love the pictures you have on the newsletter. That is an awesome picture of the baby. Thank you for the giveaway.
Hi Debra–so glad you are here. (And thanks of the comment on Dax. He’s pretty cute, isn’t he?
I love this series. I’m reading Angora Alibi now.
Hi SueAnn and Sharon,
Thanks for signing in. Hope you enjoy the new books.
Sally
A cat posed on red wool. What a great image.
I am neither a runner nor a knitter, but this post was so compelling it makes me want to find out what happens, and to check out the whole series (any maybe try to crochet again!). Thanks for the chance to win.
Love this series! I can’t wait to read this one!
Libby–it’s a striking image, isn’t it?
Sally–I don’t run either, and am a passable knitter (but I love the yarn colors and feel of soft silky fibers–I’ve a closet filled with it. And ‘someday’ they may turn into sweaters and hats……
Lindar–thanks for your nice affirmation!
Thanks Sally for interacting with my readers. I’m looking forward to reading this book.
contest is closed.
Love this series – so glad there is a new addition to it