Murder in Merino by Sally Goldenbaum is the 8th book in the “Seaside Knitters” mystery series. Publisher: Obsidian, May 2014

It’s autumn in Sea Harbor, and as the tourists leave, a mysterious guest arrives. When she’s implicated in a crime, the Seaside Knitters must quickly table their knitting project and search out a motif for murder.

Fall is usually a relaxing time in Sea Harbor, but it’s turning out to be a busy season for Izzy Chambers Perry. Not only is she helping the Seaside Knitters make a magnificent throw to celebrate the fortieth wedding anniversary of her aunt and uncle, but she and her husband are finally selling the cottage she lived in before she got married and had a darling baby girl. To Izzy’s surprise, newcomer Julia Ainsley seems determined to buy the home—although she’s never set foot inside.

But on the day of the open house, things take a dark turn. A body is uncovered in the cottage’s backyard. When the police find Julia’s name and phone number in the victim’s pocket, this slender thread of evidence makes her a person of interest. Soon the spotlight of suspicion widens to include old friends and town leaders as a tragic happening, long buried in the sleepy seaside town, is slowly brought to the surface.

Before the joyful anniversary celebration can be realized, the Seaside Knitters must work to unravel the real reason Julia Ainsley has come to their town—and the tangled and troubled ties from the past that bind friends and townsfolk together.

As always, the author transports me to Sea Harbor in this character-driven drama with her wonderfully creative storyline that leaves me hungry for more time with Nell, Izzy, Cass, Ben and the rest of the gang. A stranger arrives, a murder with close ties to the past and a secret long buried threatens their harmony that is until the Seaside Knitters jump right into an investigation that will either close or open a door for some of the residents. I love the comfortable tone in this evenly paced whodunit that boasts good conversations and a feel good atmosphere. I’m looking forward to the next chapter in the lives of Nell and her friends in this delightfully charming series.