As spring comes to Collinstown, the village launches a food festival to draw a new group of tourists. Libby, proud owner of Y.A.R.N., has planned a yarn event to provide an alternative option to a foodie weekend. Artisan fiber dyer Julie Wilson—known for her work with animal-friendly, plant-based knitting fibers such as bamboo and hemp as well as her brilliant use of color—will hopefully draw a crowd with a special dyeing workshop.
The festival begins, but it draws more than crowds. First a flock of sheep parades down the street, herded by farmers protesting Julie’s antiwool stance. Then Julie’s celebrity chef sister appears, and the siblings resume a long-standing rivalry. Despite all this, Julie’s workshop has sold out. Libby is thrilled, and they’re preparing for a full house. But the night before the event, Julie is found alone in the warehouse event space—dead. The witty “Watch Julie Wilson Dye” workshop title now has a terrible new meaning—and it’s up to Libby to catch a crafty killer.
Release Date: Apr 5, 2022
Series:Â A Riverbank Kniting Mystery
Book:Â 2
Publisher:Â Penguin Group
Imprint:Â BerkleyÂ
Price: $8.99
Libby Beckett has recently opened a yarn shop in the small town of Collinstown, Maryland. She and the other local merchants are preparing for the first See More Than Seafood Festival showing that the region has much more to offer visitors than seafood. Libby arranges an appearance by Julie Wilson, an advocate for plant-based knitting fibers, and known for her beautifully colored yarns. Unfortunately, Julie is also known for being hard to get along with and for being an outspoken critic of sheep farmers. A parade of sheep down the main street of the town is just the first act against Julie. The night before the festival begins, Julie is murdered, and it’s up to Libby to find the killer.
Knit or Dye Trying is the second Riverbank Knitting Mystery, but the first one I’ve read. There are quite a few characters, but I easily got to know the main characters including Libby, her best friend Margo who owns a pie shop, and Mayor Gavin Maddock who was Libby’s high school boyfriend and currently a close friend. I also enjoyed Libby’s relationship with Gavin’s teen daughter Jillian. Libby is a likable main character. She is kind and caring without being a pushover.
Another plus to the book is Frank, the police chief, and Libby actually collaborate on the investigation instead of her having to go behind his back and then get lectured for interfering. In addition to the investigation and Libby’s personal life, there were also parts of the book dealing with local politics and the town’s sense of community. I really enjoyed this and thought it brought the town and the characters to life. The solution to the murder is more complicated than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t able to guess the details of how and why Julie was murdered. I like the way the overall story wrapped up at the end. I’m not a knitter, but for readers who are, there are instructions for a knitting project at the back of the book.
~ Christine
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