Hounds of the Basket Stitch by Anne Canadeo (Black Sheep & Co #11)

Hounds of the Basket Stitch

(Black Sheep & Company Mystery #11)

by Anne Canadeo

Hardcover, 265 pages

Published October 29th 2019 by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Goodreads synopsis: 

The Black Sheep Knitters come to the aid of two sisters--one a victim and one a suspect . . .

Maggie Messina knows that knitting is not only enjoyable, it also calms both the mind and soul. She's happy to visit two sisters, Holly and Rose Piper, and teach them some simple stitches, while the rest of the Black Sheep knitters tag along. Dana Haeger has known the young women since they were children and is the closest thing to family the Pipers now have. Dana is especially concerned about Rose, who has been easily overwhelmed ever since a car accident many years ago. She is at her best managing the houseful of hounds that she rescues and shelters, while Holly runs the family nursery and remains devoted to Rose's care. The lesson goes well, but the knitters are troubled about the sisters living alone in such a remote corner of Plum Harbor.

Their worst fears are realized when Holly is attacked in her greenhouse and the building set ablaze. Rose is found unconscious nearby, her dogs running wild. When she wakes, her memory is blank. Holly is hospitalized and unable to offer even a clue. The Black Sheep suspect a mysterious drifter who had talked his way into a few days of wages, and just as quickly, disappeared. Or was it their estranged half-brother, Toby, full of family grievances and eager to make a claim on the estate? Or, heaven forbid . . . was it Rose? Hovering over all these questions like an ominous shadow is a dark secret from the sisters' past.

While it seems everything is unraveling, the knitters will need to keep their wits as sharp as their needles to prove Rose's innocence and stop a killer from striking again.

***

4.5 stars

This is the eleventh book in the Black Sheep & Company Mystery series by Anne Canadeo.

This story centers around Holly and Rose Piper and the Black Sheep Knitters. When Holly is attacked in her greenhouse a whole slew of strange things start cropping up. The step brother from Hades shows up wanting his share of some inheritance he actually was paid for years earlier but he wants more since he is not the best with keeping money in the bank. Then someone sabotages the breathing equipment in the hospital nearly causing Holly’s death for a second time. This gal definitely has nine lives. 

The main character here is Maggie Messina. She is a part of the Black Sheep Knitters. The mystery here is pretty intricate and you need to pay attention to all the characters and who they are so when you get to the end you know who the bad guy is. There are a ton of twists and turns that keep us completely invested in the story. I loved the cast too and they weren’t as featured as I assumed they would be. Since this is the first book I have read in this series, I figure they have been more played up in previous books.

The only thing I had a problem with was the fact that at the end there is a dog in the knitting shop and for those of us with pet allergies, we wouldn’t be able to buy yarn from this store. Overall a very good mystery and cast that puts this series on my must read list.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.