My dogs just stared at me again with those sad faces when I left the house today. It really gets me, but I plugged on. I usually walk them into town every morning, but this summer I’ve been riding my bike. An old clunker I picked up at yard sale, but it takes me where I need go. The Black Sheep Knitting Shop, mainly. The perfect pit stop on a hot day. I cool off and hang out with Maggie and my knitting pals. I even bring my knitting projects in a little bag on the back of the bike seat. Maggie is happy to fix my stitching glitches and get me up to speed on all the juicy gossip, too.
There’s a lot to chat about today. Police cars are parked across Main Street, in front of the Plum Harbor Movie Theater. The body of the theater owner, Jimmy Hubbard was just discovered there. Who would want to hurt Jimmy? A quiet man, he was so friendly and pleasant to everyone.
Our friend, Edie Steiber, who owns the Schooner Diner, says it was probably a robbery gone bad, though the police don’t know for sure yet. Edie is shaken by Jimmy’s murder, but even more distracted today by her own troubles. Edie’s niece has been visiting a psychic several times a week and paying the fortune teller loads of money. The psychic, Cassandra Waters, claims she can channel messages from loved ones who have passed on, and Edie’s niece lost her teenage son about two years ago. Edie is sure the psychic is a fraud and a cheat, taking advantage of her poor, grieving niece. But she has no way to prove it. . .or stop it.
I don’t know how it happened exactly, but before you could say “Ouji board” Maggie agreed to help Edie debunk the phony fortune teller. In fact, Maggie offered the help of our whole knitting group. Once Suzanne and Dana heard about it, they were totally up for the plan. We’d invite Cassandra to give a group reading in the knitting shop on the night that we usually have our meeting. Knitting and chatting go perfectly. Why not knitting and talking to spirits? Everyone thought it would be a lot of fun. (Except for Phoebe, who has such an active imagination and doesn’t want to stir up any restless spirits.)
Right after I got home and just before I started working, I called Cassandra for an appointment. She sounded smooth as a strand of silk and cashmere blend yarn on the phone. What else would you expect? Of course, I started to wonder what the psychic will say about my life once she looks at her cards. Especially in the romance department. Matt and I have been living together for over a year now. We’re absolutely and incandescently happy. But we’ve never had “the conversation” about our future – the one all my friends say I have to spring on him because a guy will never bring it up on his own. I keep imagining that Matt will surprise me with a ring in some cute, clever way. Inside an ice cream sundae or maybe even a ball of yarn? My friends say, “Dream on, Lucy. Real life never happens the way it does on the movies.” Should I ask Cassandra what to do, or is that just too embarrassing?
Cassandra must hear a lot of embarrassing questions. Questions that are even more secret and sensitive than mine – a dangerous way to make a living, I’d say. Maybe I’ll skip that topic. I’m still eager to meet and unmask her. And as the saying goes, “You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time.” But I do believe that this time, Cassandra Waters will find she just cannot fool The Black Sheep knitting gang.
You can read more about Lucy and her friends in A Murder in Mohair, the eighth book in the “Black Sheep Knitting” mystery series, published by Simon and Schuster/Gallery Books. The first book in the series is While My Pretty One Knits.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on December 25 for your chance to win an autographed copy of A MURDER IN MOHAIR. (US entries only, please.) Good luck everyone!
About the author
Anne Canadeo lives and knits in Northport, New York, with her husband, daughter, and canine office assistant. She is the author of the Black Sheep Knitting mystery series, and writing as Katherine Spencer, she has also authored the popular Cape Light and Angel Island series. You can Anne on Facebook.
Another must readd!!
Love this series! Thanks for a chance to win the newest book.
I will be adding this cozy series to my reading list! Thank you for the chance to win.
myrifraf (at) gmail (dot) com
I love this series. So happy to see a new one.
I have not read this series yet but the covwer is very cute. Thanks for the chance.
I have not had chance to read this series. Cover is cute. Thanks for the chance.
Love this series , this book is on my TRL
All these series with yarn and knitting makes me wish I were better at it!
A new series for me!
Not sure how I missed this series or author. I’m adding the Black Sheep Knitting mystery series to my Wish and TBR Lists Thank you for the chance to win a copy of A Murder in Mohair.
How have I missed this series? I would love to win thus one.
A new-to-me author to try. I love the cover and the story sounds like one I would really enjoy. Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
I love small town settings full of fascinating characters! This reads like a gem!
Ohhh! This looks like a must read. A new author. A new series. How exciting is that?!? Love these “In the life of” tidbits. There is so much to love about this book and series. Small town. Colorful characters. Love the “Black Sheep Knitting” group name. It is punny. They try to do good. My TBR list has grown again. My book dealer is going to be so pleased.
I’ve never read a book in this series, but I would like to! Thanks for a chance to enter.
I try to read your blog every faithfully to find new authors and series and reviews that I trust. This book sounds as if it belongs on my TBR list! Thank you, Dru.
This looks like an interesting read. Toss my name into the magic hat Dru. I hope I’m the lucky winner this week.
Thank you Dru for introducing me to a new series and author. I love working with yarn and remember in high school when the big fad was for girls to wrap mohair yarn around the boyfriends rings so they could wear them on their finger instead of chain. Fingers crossed that I am the lucky name drawn. robeader53@yahoo.com
Thank you for this chance to win your book. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for this captivating novel which interests me greatly.
I love this series. The characters are well drawn so I feel like I know them and like them! Always an interesting read about the Black Sheep group. Great name! And I learn a lot as they work on their yarn projects.
This series sounds so wonderful, especially this one – a dead theater owner and a very expensive psychic – Looking forward to seeing who wins. Congrats on the new release – blessed Christmas! thank you for the chance to win, as I have not yet read any other books in this series.
Sounds like a great read.
This book sounds intriguing, can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the giveaway. Merry Christmas to all!
And why do I have a bad feeling about Cassandra’s future?
Love knitting and gossip! Can’t wait to read this novel.
Another great sounding cozy series. Adding this to my TBR list. Thank you for the review. Dru. 😊
Sounds good, and would love to win,ty for the chance
Thanks for the chance. Merry Christmas!
Just love the cute cover on this new book! My mother loved to knit and she also loved kitties and is now in heaven, but reading this book will definitely bring back all my awesome memories of her! Sounds like an awesome exciting cozy!!!! Can’t wait to read it!!! Thanks for the chance to win dearest Dru!!! God bless you!!!!
This is a book and series are being added to my TBR list.
Have read books by this author. Love the knitting mysteries! Hope I win. Thank you, Dru -and Merry Christmas!
I have read one book in this series and enjoyed it very much. I love the yarn arts, so these books are a double treat!
This is a new-to-me series. It sounds great!
Sounds good.
I’ve enjoyed this series and can’t wait to read this installment
Would love to win. I’ve read quite a few of these and I read A Dark and Stormy Knit this year. Great series.
I love this series! Thanks for the opportunity.
I haven’t read your series yet but I sure would like to…you’re on my list. Merry Christmas and thank you for the contest,
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
Contest is closed.