I thoroughly enjoy this series and feel like I should caution you to always have some tasty nibbles on hand as you dive into the latest mystery. Something with strawberries would be perfect, as you'll read. Author Peggy Ehrhart is an expert at not only creating an intriguing mystery but leaving us hungry with her delicious sounding descriptions of food prep and meals. In fact, she excels at descriptions period, whether food, clothing, or a neighbor's garden. While I have to admit to skimming past the descriptions near the end in my haste to discover whodunit, it helps create a solid, colorful, even aroma filled idea of what is about the characters.
And what a bunch of quirky, interesting characters. From Roland the lawyer, with his precise tome-keeping at Knit and Nibble gatherings to the neighborhood bee keeper, you'll enjoy meeting them all. The two main characters, Pamela Patterson and Bettina Fraser, not to mention her extraordinary cook-husband, are both alike in their dogged determination to get justice while opposites in dress and manner. Bettina's clothing, right down to the earrings, are topics of conversation while Pamela, well, is far more casual. Pamela also has an interesting job reviewing and editing submitted articles for "Fabric Craft" magazine and you'll pick up quite a bit of info on the role of fabrics throughout history. Even daughter Penny pops in briefly with friend, Sibyl Larkin, daughter of neighbor Richard Larkin who manages to be a focus of interest in this story almost without appearing. Nope, not sharing. You'll have to read the book. All in all, a fun, interesting cast of characters. Heck, even the ultimate killer was someone I found hard to dislike, leading to a rather sad ending. Again, nope, not telling.
Bottom line, this was a pleasant, intriguing read. I liked the characters and settled into the somewhat leisurely pace of Pamela and Bettina's quest to discover who killed fiber artist Ingrid Barrick.Was it the neighbor who despaired of the allergies she suffered from some of the plants and flowers grown in Ingrid's colorful, rather chaotic garden/lawn? How about the ex-husband? What secret did he not want revealed? Or maybe the author who was about to reveal that secret? Surely not her daughter? How about that random neighborhood beekeeper? Or maybe it really was the result of a random break-in Ingrid interrupted? I'd like to say I figured it out but, well, I didn't, making the big reveal a stunner. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for allowing me this early peek at Pamela and Bettina's adventures. I felt like I could almost smell the delightful scents of Ingrid's garden and see the butterflies and bees frolicking around. Finally, the patterns and recipes at the end are a delight.
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