I used to think life slowed down after eighty. Turns out, it just changes its pace. I lived in my little brick cottage on the corner of Maple and Vine, brewed my morning coffee strong enough to melt a spoon, and tended my rose bushes like they were old friends. Then came the storm—a real Texas tantrum that tore through Scenic Woods faster than gossip after Sunday service.

One rogue branch from my old oak came crashing through the ceiling like it owned the place, and before I knew it, I was flat on my back. The good Lord spared me, though not without a bruised hip and a dented sense of independence. My son and doctor ganged up on me, insisting I’d get the best rehab at Sunny Ridge Living Care Facility. I called it “temporary housing,” but they had their minds made up. I told myself I’d stay just long enough to walk without a limp and find someone who served decent coffee.

On my first day, a cheerful woman with more energy than a wind-up toy bounced into my life and said, “I’m Fannie Mae. Ya oughta join our crochet club.”

Now, I hadn’t picked up a hook since Nixon was in office—it was my first and only attempt—but there was something about her smile that made it hard to say no. By that evening, I was sitting in the club room surrounded by a colorful bunch calling themselves the Wise Weavers Crochet Club. Between the chatter, the coffee, and the tangles of yarn, I began to feel something I hadn’t since before the storm—purpose.

These days, my mornings start with prayer and a strong cup of coffee, followed by breakfast chatter with Fannie, who never met a biscuit she didn’t like. After therapy, I make my way to the club room to practice my single crochet. I’m learning slowly, but Fannie says my stubborn streak is tighter than my stitches. In the afternoons, I stroll to the library to “research,” which mostly means surfing the computer for gossip and seeing what’s happening back home. You’d be amazed how many folks list “single and ready to mingle” when it’s their grandkids running the profiles.

Between crochet lessons, mystery novels, and the occasional therapy session, life here stays lively—especially after one of our club members turned up dead. Detective Shepherd Malone came sniffing around, all serious eyes and sharp questions. I helped him untangle the truth, one clue at a time. Turns out, sleuthing and crocheting have a lot in common. Both take patience, attention, and a willingness to pull at loose ends.

Sunny Ridge might not be home, but it’s grown on me like moss on an old fence post. Still, I keep a packed bag by the door—just in case I wake up one morning, decide I’ve had my fill of communal living, and head for the next exit. Independence is hard to give up, after all. But for now, I’ll take my coffee with cream, my crochet with friends, and solve mysteries one stitch at a time.

KNOT BEFORE YOU ENTER – A “Maxine Gerimatter” Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: September 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Maxine Gerimatter, an octogenarian sleuth with all the grit and grace of true Southern charm, is sharp as a tack and fiercely independent, even if life has landed her at Sunny Ridge Living Care Facility. While secretly plotting her escape, she instead finds herself tangled in a crochet club mystery when a member of the Wise Weavers is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Old instincts kick in. As a former research assistant to a private investigator, Maxine knows how to follow a thread, and this one leads to more than just tangled yarn. In a world where Southern hospitality can sweeten a smile just enough to hide the sharpest secrets, Maxine soon discovers grudges, gossip, and danger stitched into every corner of her close-knit community.

With the killer lurking close and danger unraveling fast, Maxine must stitch together the truth before someone else becomes the next victim.

Blending wit, warmth, and a dash of Southern sass, Knot Before You Enter is a cozy mystery that proves you’re never too old or too sweet to sleuth.

Meet the author
Tish Bouvier is a cozy mystery author and haiku poet from Houston, Texas. A retired geriatric and hospice nurse, she writes heartwarming mysteries inspired by everyday resilience and the joy of community. Her debut novel, Knot Before You Enter, introduces readers to Maxine Gerimatter, an octogenarian sleuth with sharp instincts, unshakable curiosity, and a heart of gold.

When she’s not writing, Tish enjoys journaling, playing cozy games, and taking random road trips. She is also a proud wife and mother of three daughters and firmly believes every mystery deserves a satisfying ending (and maybe a good cup of coffee to go with it).