Review

Kath Rutledge owns “Weaver’s Cat”, a fiber and fabric shop she recently inherited from her grandmother. Although is hard for Kath to get used to running a business, it’s the other part of her inheritance that is really making Kath’s life difficult. The shop came with a resident ghost named Geneva who is as moody as a teenager and demands constant attention. Kath has also inherited an unwelcome gift of being able to feel the emotions of others when she touches their clothing or other textiles.

Kath and several fellow fiber enthusiasts take a trip to Debbie Keith’s sheep farm for a yarn demo, but instead find two bodies in amongst the sheep. All of the evidence seems to point to a murder/suicide, but the victims are known to several in Kath’s group and not everyone is buying that theory. Kath may find more answers about how to deal with her psychic gift, and with some help from Geneva, maybe even solve the murder if only she could find her grandmother’s secret dye journal.

Dyeing Wishes is the second book in the Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery series, but when reading it, it seems more like the first book in a series. There are still many unknowns in Kath’s life. She is still getting to know the people in the town and learning the ins and outs of “Weaver’s Cat”. There are a lot of characters in the book, which is a little confusing at first, but at least Kath is trying to sort everyone out, too, so other characters give her and the reader some welcome background information. My favorites of all the characters are Kath and also her friends Arlis, who flawlessly manages the shop for Kath, and Thea, the self-proclaimed “Loud Librarian.” Some of the others like Debbie are less likeable, and some seem two-dimensional. I don’t feel I got to know Kath’s potential love interest Joe or Joe’s brother Cole “Clod” Dunbar, the deputy investigating the deaths. When Cole is investigating or interacting with the other characters, he seems like a caricature and not a “real” person. 

There were times during the book that my attention began to wonder. What saved the book for me are the scenes between Kath and Geneva. Throughout the book, Kath is still trying to learn more about Geneva, including who she was when she was alive and why she is living in the attic. This mystery is more interesting to me than the crimes being investigated. Geneva adds a lot of personality to the book and she is my favorite character, moods and all. Although Kath is still getting used to sharing her space with a spirit, I think Geneva and Kath make a great team. While I hope Geneva finds some peace, she is an integral part of the book and needs to stick around!

I think the book is lacking some focus, which hopefully will come in later books. The idea of Kath learning to run the shop and getting to know new people, while dealing with a ghost would be plenty to fill a book. Throwing in psychic powers and a secret, mystical journal into a story with a full cast of characters is just too much. If future books find a way to better integrate all these elements, this could be an interesting series to follow.

Fans of Annette Blair or of Anne Canadeo’s Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries may enjoy this mystery.

Reviewed by Christine K.