Review: Misses the mark
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 10, 2014
I found this tedious and in the end I just skimmed to get to the conclusion. I enjoy knitting, and mysteries, and cooking, so I expected to like it, but the narrative was poorly done and the set-up works badly, in my opinion. The set-up is that Casey is in charge of running a Sheep to Shawl retreat, but she doesn't really know anything about sheep, or shearing them, or spinning, or even knitting beyond garter stitch. This is handy for the author, since it gives her a reason not to actually *describe* any of these activities. To me, this ruins the whole concept of a "knitting mystery." As a knitter (and potential spinner) I choose a novel like this in order to enjoy the imaginative experience of the shearing, the prepping, the spinning, and the knitting. All of that is missing--the retreat center declares sheep-shearing off-limits, so they just pick up some already shorn fleeces, and then everything else along the way is sort of skimmed over as well.In addition, the main narrative drive is that Casey is running here and there, making and delivering cupcakes, baking desserts for various establishments, and having unpleasant conversations with several different people--all of which was just tiresome to read. Casey was stressed throughout the weekend, since she didn't know what she was doing, and ready about someone's stress-filled life is just not enjoyable to me!Also, the book seemed not to know what genre is was supposed to be--is this a mystery or a romance novel? As much time was spent on Casey's complicated attractions to a couple of different guys (or lack of attraction, in some cases.) At times it felt more like a set-up for a romance novel than a mystery.And then there were some details that were just unpleasant--an ongoing "joke" about the fact that Casey's cat like canned tuna cat food, which is referred to over and OVER again as "stink fish." I'm sorry, but those are just unpleasant words. There was also a plot detail about moldy, mildewed clothing. Again, when I read about stink fish and mildew smells, and then about eating cupcakes on the same page, it is unpleasant. Not cozy!In the end, the pay-off was just not worth it. And the pattern for a shawl with no picture or sketch of what it will look like is not enticing either.