Death by Cashmere

Death by Cashmere
by Sally Goldenbaum

An Obsidian Mystery
NAL, a division of Penguin Group
August 2008
294 pages plus scarf pattern




Isabel "Izzy" Chambers leaves her law career in Boston and heads to Sea Harbor, the quaint fishing town where she spent summer vacations as a girl. She opens a knitting shop where a diverse group of women begin congregating each week to form the Seaside Knitters.

Izzy rents the apartment above the shop to a returning home-town girl, even though it raises concerns and eyebrows. People thought Angelina was too big for the town and wondered why she would take a job at the local museum. Angelina saw everything in black and white and had a temper. She may have been unpopular with some of the townspeople but would any of them hate her enough to kill?


Have you ever had someone tell you a story where they put in so much detail you just want to shake them and yell, "get to the point already!"? This book was a little like that for me at the beginning. I almost felt like I was dropped in the middle of the story but that cleared up. This was a library book (that's one challenge), a new author (that's another challenge), and a mystery (that's a third challenge) and just interesting enough that I kept picking it back up. I am very glad I persevered. All the details filled in what life is like in the small town, how everyone fit together and how the death (murder?) of one pulls the weave off center.

I was very satisfied with how this one ended, how all the pieces fit together without loose ends or a big rush to the finish. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, Patterns in the Sand.

category: Mystery/Thriller/Suspense type
book 7
I will re-read this one but I won't pay full price for print.





This is a duplicate of my blog post.

Dearly Depotted, 22/81, 2nd round

Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins, new mystery category

Abby's neurotic cousin, Jillian, is finally getting married and Abby has agreed to do the flowers and be a bridesmaid. She wasn't counting on dead bodies. But when the groom's grandmother discovers one under a table, Abby jumps in to investigate. The police already have a suspect - her friend's new boyfriend. But Abby thinks they are too quick to draw conclusions. Oh, and what's going on with her hottie escort?

This is the third in a fun series. I enjoyed this one and the others, but I just don't enjoy books like this as much as I used to. The idea of a amateur detective gets a little hard to believe after a while. And why can't she figure out what's going on with Marco? This is the third book and there's been an attraction between them the whole time. Then she FALLS ASLEEP when she finally gets to spend an evening alone with him? What's up with that? I'm all for taking things slow, but she hasn't even decided if they are dating or not. How long is that going to take?

If you like cozy mysteries, this is a fun series. I like the characters, although Jillian is a bit much, and there's not this shove-it-down-your-throat thing that a lot of the 'theme cozies' seem to have. Yes, she's a florist, but it's not a DIY book for aspiring green thumbs. For myself, I would probably read another in the series if I got the chance, but I'm not going to go out and look for one.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (18/81)

Angelfield House stands abandoned and forgotten. It was once home to the March family - fascinating, manipulative Isabelle, brutal, dangerous Charlie, and the wild, untamed twins, Emmeline and Adeline. But Angelfield House hides a chilling secret which strikes at the very heart of each of them, tearing their lives apart... Now Margaret Lea is investigating Angelfield's past - and the mystery of the March family starts to unravel. What has Angelfield been hiding? What is its connection with the enigmatic writer Vida Winter? And what is the secret that strikes at the heart of Margaret's own, troubled life? As Margaret digs deeper, two parallel stories unfold, and the tale she uncovers sheds a disturbing light on her own life...

I have seen this book floating around for a while and when I saw the cover I just had to purchase it .... It is hard to believe that this is a first novel as it is written so well and grips you from the very first page!!!

This book is definitely a page turner and will have you guessing the whole way through!!! I really loved it ... It did remind me of Wuthering Heights but only not as depressing but surprisingly enjoyable and making you yearn to uncover the mystery ....

The characters are really likeable and the main Character of Margaret is a delight and you really go along with her as she tries to unfold the truth !!! There are many twists and turns in the plot which I loved and just when you think you have it figured you realise that you don't !!! I love reading Historical novels and getting whisked away into that time period !!!

So if you love mystery books, Gothic novels and a little suspense this book is well worth the read !!!

I rate this book 4 1/2 ****

#17/81 GETTING OLD IS MURDER by Rita Lakin

Gladys Gold known as Gladdy is aged 75 and an avid mystery reader. When her best friend Francie dies eating chocolate cake, Gladdy begins to suspect that there is a serial killer on the lose in her Florida retirement community. The story is amusing with all the antics of the elder generation as well as senior romance in bloom. The only shortfall is that not all the minor characters have been fleshed out sufficiently so there are moments of confusion. But overall, a thoroughly pleasant cozy for a snowy cold afternoon.

#12 ON WHAT GROUNDS by Cleo Coyle

This book is the first in the coffeehouse mystery series. The characters are setup well with their interaction and motivations well-defined. At the same time the murder and subsequent investigation are cleverly interwoven with the coffeehouse daily routine.
The author has also interjected numerous coffee techniques and tidbits of coffee history.
However, I do feel that the character's motivations need to be a little more individualized - less of the standard "I'll force them to work and live together to get them back together" type thing. In future books I hope that the "love triangle" is a little better defined instead of just a vague feeling.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I wouldn't say that it was great. I look forward to seeing improvements in the future and possibly might even try some "good" coffee.

4/81 - Withering Heights

Withering Heights by Dorothy Cannell, just for fun category 4/5 stars

Ellie Haskell has shipped the kids off to their grandparents and is looking forward to a little private romantic time with her husband, but things rapidly take another turn. She and Ben have a tiff, her cleaning lady Mrs. Malloy has a feud to resolve, and a stray cousin shows up expecting help.

It seems that Ben's cousin has won the lottery and bought an old historic home complete with a mystery. Ariel, the cousin's daughter, is convinced FOUL PLAY is at work and needs Ellie to come and hold her hand. Oh, and Mrs. Malloy's long lost sister just happens to live in the same village. So it's off to Yorkshire they go, Ben, Ellie, Ariel, and Mrs. Malloy.

I love the screwball humor that Dorothy Cannell always works into her books, and Ellie and Mrs. Malloy make a very funny combination. This book is no exception, with a seance, garden party, an old flame, and various other plot twists thrown in. But it wasn't quite as good as some of the previous efforts. The ending was a bit of a disappointment, and I guessed 'whodunnit' about halfway through. Fun, but not her best. Still, it was much better than the previous book I tried to read, so I enjoyed it.

#10/81 LEAN MEAN THIRTEEN by Janet Evanovich

Lean Mean Thirteen is another Stephanie Plum cozy mystery and so again you laugh out loud at the antics of this incompetent bounty hunter.
Much as Stephanie detests her ex- husband, Dickie Orr, she agrees to plant some listening devices on him for Ranger in the office of his new law firm. Problems develop when after attacking him there, he disappears and she is a prime suspect when he is feared murdered. Mayhem evolves including Stephanie’s arch-enemy, Joyce Barnhardt, pointing the finger of blame at her, who insinuates Stephanie is after his money; an awful lot of money at that.
There are so many typical Stephanie/Lula situations that I nearly peed my pants several times but all is resolve, except of course, her love life.

#9/81 Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

For me, just saying Stephanie Plum's name brings a smile. She is a young woman who wants to seem independent but can't seem to manage her job (a Bond Enforcement Agent) or her love life. The two come together in this book when the daughter of her mentor (Ranger) is kidnapped apparently by Ranger and it sets her on path which is terrorizing and comical at the same. Having both of the men in her life (Joe and Ranger) competing to protect her one minute and seduce her the next, makes me laugh just when I want to cry. Her characters are fully fleshed out, (including Lula) all the details are integral parts of the plots. Stephanie may not be the greatest BEA but she's a hoot!