Cozy Mystery Book Review: Death Among the Stitches

Death Among the Stitches

Death Among the Stitches is a creative entry into the craft-themed cozy genre from experienced handicrafter and mystery author Betty Hechtman.

• Series: A Crochet and Crumpets Mystery (Book 1)

• Written by: Betty Hechtman

• Publication date: January 7, 2025

• Mystery type: Crafty cozy mystery

California girl and crochet enthusiast Annie Sara Hart inherits a yarn shop in Franklin, Indiana from her uncle. Having never owned anything before, she decides to visit and see what it’s like before putting it on the market and returning to her regular life. But when Annie Sara arrives in small-town Indiana, she finds interesting locals and an intriguing mystery she can’t seem to ignore.

Death Among the Stitches is a good crafty cozy with a quaint setting and unique characters. It was written by Betty Hechtman, author of the Crochet Mysteries and the Yarn Retreat Mysteries. Hechtman is an enthusiastic crafter with extensive experience in the cozy genre (more than 30 books), and it shows in Death Among the Stitches.

Like Hechtman, the book’s amateur sleuth, Annie Sara, is no stranger to handicrafts. She is an avid crocheter in her late twenties who works at a Malibu children’s boutique and makes commissioned stuffed animals for clients in California. Annie’s employer (and friend/sidekick) is Gray Hanover, the 25-year-old daughter of a celebrity represented by Annie’s talent manager father.

Annie is the curious sort. She isn’t as happy as she could be in her life and job. So when she inherits an old red schoolhouse converted into a yarn shop in Franklin, Indiana, she eagerly decides to check it out. When she arrives in Franklin, Annie is quickly charmed by the shop and crafters living in town.

She is also intrigued by the mystery of what happened to the woman who owned the yarn store before her uncle. The woman was murdered, and the culprit was never caught.

Eventually, Gray joins Annie Sara in Indiana. Together, they meet new people and start living a very different life from the one they are used to in California. Annie begins fixing up the yarn shop to put it on the market and asking questions about the murder victim.

I enjoyed the characters in Death Among the Stitches, many of whom are crafters like the sleuth. I especially like the sidekick Gray, who is equal parts spoiled and vulnerable. It will be nice to watch her character arc in future books.

The mystery was well done and not too easy to solve. The book ends with a pattern for a fun craft. I’m looking forward to continuing on with this series to see where it goes.

Death Among the Stitches is a wonderful new crafty cozy. I would recommend it to crocheters, knitters, and other project enthusiasts who like crafts mixed in with their cozies.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced reading copy of Death Among the Stitches by Betty Hechtman from Severn House and Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

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