Died in the Wool

by Mary Kruger

Book Overview

The first novel in Mary Kruger's "lively" (Publishers Weekly) knitting-themed mystery series set in coastal Massachusetts. Ariadne Evans is the proud owner of her very own knitting shop. And she's... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743484738
• ISBN13: 9780743484732
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 305 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

get caught up in Ariadne's web...

WOW! Buy this now!! The only other novel I've read with such intensity that I finished in two days (I'm a slow reader) was Harry Potter #6. A late-20's divorced single mom (with an adorable kid-and coming from me, that's saying something) finds a dead body of a universally disliked woman in the yarn store she-our heroine, owns. She's the prime suspect and her livelihood is threatened, so she sets out to clear her name and find the real culrpit. There's a tingle of romance in the air between herself and the chief investigating officer (which disappintingly doesn't blossom further BUT that's actually good because #a. it makes the story that much more believable-i.e. no pat Disneyfied ending, and #b. tantalizes the reader into wanting the sequels-nice.) Now, you know our Ari is going to solve it, but get this; it's totally plausible (much more so than Maggie Sefton's knit books) all of it rings completely true and natural. Knitting is lovingly mentioned in sprinkles here and there, though not with as much detail as in Maggie's 'Knit one, Kill Two' BUT if you're a knitter, you already know what the rucous is about and if you're not-dude, what are you waiting for? There's some product placement (remember Minority Report?) which is actually good-it all adds to the realness of it all, and it's written in a lazy daisy meandering style (with heart-racing moments near the end) which fits in perfectly with it's small town setting. It's very of the times with all the internet refernces; the characters are nicely drawn-you'll like some, you'll loathe some and you'll adore Aunt Laura (I want one!!) and the quest to find out who did it will drive you to read the thing in one sitting (bring snacks). The 's' word is used-but only a couple times. This is just fab! There are even patterns in the back-for padded coat hangers and 2 fake fur scarves but I like Maggie's patterns better; an Icelandic sweater pattern would've been a much more suitable inclusion here. Also, this could just be me, but I don't get the cover illustration... But never mind that-DO get this-and not just for knitters, but for anyone who appreciates a good muder-mystery yarn. So curl up in your favorite reading nook and...

Fantastic knitting mystery

I just finished this book and it was absolutely wonderful. In fact, I had to MAKE myself put the book down to get my housework finished. It kept me glued to the book and the plot was wonderful. Enough knitting and yarn to keep me interested but a wonderful mystery that even I didn't solve until I read the ending. The only thing I didn't like was the size of the book...it was hard to hold...wish it would have been a little bit smaller book for my hands. You'll love it. Can't wait to read more by this author. You'll love it.

awesome

awesome book! Alot better than what I expected for a knitting book. It was actually complex. Althogh It did seem at some points that they first wrote the book then went back later and stuck some apropriate knitting jargon in there, but apart from that. I was very happy with the book. maybe now my mom can read it! LOL LOL

Fun read not only for knitters

If you like mysteries and you are a knitter, you will especially enjoy this book and the characters therein. This book is written in an easy and lively way and even though I have read mysteries with more complex plots, this one was not too transparent, and you will not put it aside before you finished it. A little romance was also put in the mix and an older auntie who somehow gets things right without sometimes knowing it. In summary I recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a light and fun read.

fine amateur sleuth cozy

In Freeport, Massachusetts, most if not all locals detest landlady Edith Perry. She makes her opinions on controversial issues known usually taking the most unpopular position; she informs her lease holders that she is raising their rent; finally she is developing property just outside of Freeport over the objections of most townsfolk. The police are not shocked when someone murders Edith using purple yarn. The obvious prime suspect is divorced mother of one Ariadne Evans, owner of Ariadne's Web yarn store, who found the corpse in her establishment. Ariadne has the motive since Edith's rent increase could shut down her business; she had the means as her store contains all sorts of homespun yarns including the murder weapon; finally she had the opportunity as the homicide occurred when her shop was closed leaving her with no alibi. Though police detective John Pierce likes Ariadne, she knows she remains at the top of the suspect list so she begins to untangle the threads hoping to knit a new pattern that displays the killer's identity. The author of the "Gilded Age" mysteries, Mary Kruger provides a fine amateur sleuth cozy starring a likable heroine and a fine detective who has just moved into the town. Ariadne, whose first reaction to finding the body is nice yarn around victim's neck, investigates the murder one thread at a time until she decides to become bait. Thus the audience receives a fine who-done-it though like John wonder why Ariadne, whose daughter Megan already suffers nightmares over her mom's involvement, would risk her life as a Nancy Drew imitator. Harriet Klausner