Molly Pink first appeared in Hooked On Murder and one of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Molly.

What is your name?
Molly Pink.

How old are you?
Well, I just hit the big five-oh, but I’m not upset since 50 is the new 30.

What is your profession?
I’m now the assistant manager of Shedd & Royal Books and More. I’m also in charge of the yarn department. It’s part of the “More” in our name. It’s not that I am a wizard with yarn, though since being part of the Tarzana Hookers my crochet skills have definitely improved. Actually my co-worker, Adele, knows more than I do about yarn and the position should have gone to her. There was just a slight problem – she has a thing against knitters. I agree that crochet is the superior yarn craft, but our department has to welcome all yarn crafters, including knitters.

Do you have a significant other?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. I’m a widow so I don’t think my late husband Charlie Pink is in that position anymore. There are two men in the new chapter I’ve started in my life. I’m not looking to get married again, which is fine with Mason Fields. He’s an attorney who specializes in naughty celebrities. He’s divorced, officially anyway, but that didn’t erase the relationship with his ex. Mason’s fun, and we have sort of a no strings thing going. Then there’s Barry Greenberg (sigh). We were together for awhile, but he’s a homicide detective married to his job. I had a problem with his tendency to make unilateral decisions. But there is still something there and we keep getting thrown together since I seem to be forever getting into the middle of murder investigations. . .

What is his name and profession?
See above.

Any children?
Peter is the older. He’s a very ambitious talent agent who wishes I’d stop embarrassing him. Samuel is my younger son. He’s a musician/barista and moves in and out of my place. He tends to bring animals with him and when he moves out, they don’t.

Do you have any sibling(s)?
I have a brother who lives far away and so far has stayed out of my adventures.

Who is your best friend?
That would be Dinah Lyons. She’s older than me, but it doesn’t seem to matter. She is my partner in crime who loves to play Dr. Watson to my Sherlock Holmes. She teaches English at the local community college.

Cats, dogs or other pets?
Do I have pets? Ha! It started with Blondie. I adopted her when Charlie died. We were both feeling abandoned. She’d been adopted once and returned to the shelter. Blondie looks like a terrier mix with wiry strawberry blond fur, but her personality is absolutely not. I call her the Greta Garbo of dogs. She like to be alone.

Then there’s Cosmo. He’s a little black mutt who looks like a mop. When Barry and I were a couple he and his son adopted Cosmo. But I had a house with a yard, so he stayed with me — and when we broke up I got custody, though they have visitation rights.

The two cats came with Samuel. The black and white one is known now as Mr. Kitty and the grayish calico goes by Cat. They were older when Samuel adopted them and are very grateful to have a forever home.

Felix was the last to join the family, also courtesy of Samuel. The small gray terrier mix lives up to the breeds rep. He’s feisty and does what he wants which includes occasionally peeing on somebody’s foot.

What town do you live in?
I live in the San Fernando Valley community of Tarzana. The name is no accident. The area started out as a ranch and was owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It is smaller than neighboring Encino and Woodland Hills and I like to think it has a more independent spirit than either of those communities. I love that I can be on busy Ventura Boulevard fighting traffic and then five minutes later be on a trail in the Santa Monica mountains watching a hawk ride the wind.

House or building complex? Own or Rent?
I still live in the house my sons grew up in. It might seem large for one person, but as I mentioned Samuel moves in and out and then there’s my mother. She was in the girl group the She La Las. Though they only had one hit a long time ago, they are back touring again. My living room is their unofficial rehearsal hall. Peter is always trying to talk me into downsizing to a condo, though he seems to forget that he uses my garage to store all his sports stuff including a jet ski and a kayak.

What is your favorite spot in your house?
I would say my yard. Thank heavens I have those redwood trees to mostly block the view of the monster house in the yard behind me which was the scene of a recent murder.

Favorite meal? Favorite dessert?
I don’t know if it’s actually my favorite, but scrambled eggs are my go to option. I seem to be making them for Barry Greenberg all the time. One way or another, he’s always showing up at my place. I know I’m not supposed to care anymore since we’re not a couple, but I know he lives on fast food and it’s no big deal to scramble a few eggs and put some toast and maybe a little salad on the side.

Dinah and I have been known to drown our troubles in vanilla ice cream with caramel sauce.

Favorite hobby? Favorite color?
That’s easy. Like I said I belong to the Tarzana Hookers and we meet at the bookstore. We’re crochet all the way.

Turquoise. I think I picked it up from my mother. She and my father lived in Santa Fe for awhile and she fell in love with everything turquoise.

Favorite vacation spot?
It would probably be Maui if I’d gone on that trip with Barry Greenberg. If he hadn’t just made those plans without even telling me everything might have been different.

Favorite author?
I can’t answer that. I work in a bookstore and I don’t want to play favorites.

Favorite sports team?
Ah, I don’t really care about sports.

Movies or Broadway?
My go to is an old romantic comedy and a bowl of caramel corn.

Are you a morning or a night person?
I think I’m a 24/7 person since people show up at my house at all hours.

Amateur sleuth or professional?
Even though I’ve solved quite a few murders, I guess I’m still an amateur since no one pays me to do it. That’s what makes you a professional, right?

Whom do you work with when sleuthing?
Mostly it’s with Dinah, but Mason Fields has been my cover on occasion.

In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
My day always starts with taking care of my menagerie. Dogs need to go out and the cats need to stay in. Everybody has to have food. Then it’s coffee and off to the Bookstore. There is so much going on there between the events we put on and the Hookers meeting there for happy hour, that the days is gone before I know it. And then one way or another I seem to get into some kind of trouble.

Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Hooks Can Be Deceiving. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends December 15, 2018. Good luck everyone!

You can read about Molly in Hooks Can Be Deceiving, the 13th book in the “Crochet” mystery series.

The Tarzana Hookers crochet club is ready for its close-up! But Molly Pink may be getting too close to a case that will land her on the cutting-room floor.

Molly Pink’s excitement level is off the hook: The Craftee Channel’s new cable talk show “Creating with Crochet” has scheduled an upcoming taping at the bookstore. While she’s there, TV host Rory Graham is to work with the Tarzana Hookers on a Make and Take bracelet project to draw bookstore customers to the yarn section. It’s a win-win. . .or so it “seams.”

The situation gets a bit knotted when channel producer Michael Kostner confides to Molly his concern that Rory may have oversold her ability as a crocheter. When the producer’s worst fears are realized, it’s up to Molly to make sure Rory comes through.

Guiding Rory through crocheting-for-beginners will have to wait, though, as Molly suddenly has to untangle the mysterious death of a new Tarzana Hookers member. Marianne Freeman and her live-in companion, Connie Richards, haven’t exactly been gabby since they joined the Hookers, but Connie’s voice is silenced permanently when she is electrocuted while walking on a wet lawn—electrified by an old radio plugged into a faulty extension cord. The fingers point at Marianne, but Molly is fast on the case to protect one of her own. Was Marianne the killer. . .or the intended target? Why does her younger brother want to keep her from talking to the cops? And why is this whole case starting to remind Molly Pink of an old TV movie?

Crochet patterns and sweet recipes included!

Purchase Link
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About the author
Betty Hechtman writes two national bestselling yarn related mystery series. Hooks Can Be Deceiving is the thirteenth Crochet Mystery featuring Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers. Inherit The Wool is the sixth Yarn Retreat Mystery and features dessert chef Casey Feldstein who puts on yarn retreats at a slightly sinister hotel and conference center on the tip of the Monterey Peninsula.

She’s also written newspaper and magazine pieces, along with short stories and screenplays. She is an avid yarn crafter and lives with her family in Southern California. For more information visit her website at bettyhechtman.com or on Facebook.

All comments are welcomed.