Knits, Knots, and Knives (A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery)

Knits, Knots, and Knives (A Craft Fair Knitters Mystery)

It will take the Ninth Street Knitters all the sleuthing skills they have to untangle the threads of a dyed-in-the-wool killer. For once things seem to be running smoothly for knitting enthusiast Lia Geiger. Her daughter is living on her own and happy with her new job on the alpaca farm. Plus, Lia and her Ninth Street Knitters have been knitting for the Civil War reenactment being held on the grounds next to the Crandalsburg Craft Fair. It’s all fun and battle games until one of the “injured soldiers” turns out to be the very real victim of a murder, and Lia’s friend and neighbor falls under deep suspicion.   Suddenly, the good folks of Crandalsburg are spinning all kinds of yarns and pointing fingers at one another. Lucky for Lia, she has the combined wits of the Ninth Street Knitters to help her ply the truth from this crafty killer. Praise for A Wicked Yarn "Knit together an interesting older protagonist, an astute knitting group, a friend accused of murder, a daughter with secrets, and you have a purl of a mystery."—Sherry Harris, Agatha Award nominated author of the Sarah Winston Garage Sale mysteries and the Chloe Jackson Seaglass Saloon mysteries "Such a cozy combination—knitting and murder. A delightful, well-crafted mystery!"—Essie Lang, author of the Castle Bookshop Mysteries "This heart-warming mystery knits together family and friends in pursuit of a cunning killer."—Maya Corrigan, author of the Five-Ingredient Mystery series "Charming, crafty, and so very cozy! Emmie Caldwell has stitched together an entertaining, well-plotted mystery that’s as cozy as a favorite sweater. The clues are artfully woven into the story, and Lia and her daughter, Hayley, are a dynamic sleuthing duo. A Wicked Yarn is bound to delight fans of crafting cozies!"—Sarah Fox, author of Much Ado About Nutmeg Emmie Caldwell is the national bestselling author of the Keepsake Cove Mysteries, the Pickled and Preserved Mysteries, the Craft Corner Mysteries, and the Maggie Olenski Mysteries, written under the name Mary Ellen Hughes. A native of Wisconsin, she's lived most of her adult life in Maryland, which has inspired many of her stories. Chapter 1 Let's hope for the best." Lia turned to her petite next-door neighbor, Sharon, and shot her a look of sympathy, aware of all Sharon's husband had been dealing with lately. As they began their stroll of the Schumacher grounds together, however, Lia couldn't help feeling excited. The long-awaited day of the annual Battle of Crandalsburg reenactment had arrived. As a relative newcomer to the town, this would be Lia's first experience with the event, and as a vendor with the Crandalsburg Craft Fair she would be a participant of sorts, not just an onlooker. The Schumacher barn, owned by the family for generations and the regular home for the craft fair, was historical, having been used as a hospital during the actual Civil War battle. Each year that scenario was re-created inside, and vendors' booths, including Lia's Ninth Street Knits, had been moved outdoors, a short distance away. In addition, all the vendors had added Civil War-era items to their usual fare. For Lia and her fellow Ninth Street Knitters, that had meant weeks of knitting woolen socks and scarves from patterns followed by women of that period. Most would be worn that day by many of the reenactors, while some socks would be available to buy at Lia's booth. "I feel like I should be wearing a hoopskirt while I'm making these," Maureen had said at their last meeting, with the others agreeing. Lia herself had often felt transported back in time as she knitted at her home, the cozy pre-Civil War house she'd moved to after her husband Tom's untimely death. That feeling returned as she and Sharon entered the living history section of the grounds. A woman stirred porridge in a large pot that hung over an open fire. She looked up and smiled at them. No hoopskirt for her. She wore a plain, long cotton dress with an apron. A kerchief held back her hair. A young man dressed in suspendered Union blue pants and gray shirt sat outside a tent playing a whistle-like instrument that reminded Lia of the recorder her daughter, Hayley, had learned to play in fourth grade. A second man whittled at a piece of wood nearby. Lia and Sharon paused to listen to the high-pitched notes, Lia recognizing "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground." "I'm glad the weather is cool enough for those woolen shirts and jackets the men have to wear," she said. "Yes, lucky for them that the battle occurred in October," Sharon said. "They'll have to do a lot of running in those heavy uniforms." "And the women have to work in those long dresses over campfires. And in the sun." "Makes you wonder how they all managed back then, doesn't it?" Sharon asked. "But it's been kept as historically accurate as possible, that is, until Sprouse took over." Lia nodded. She knew about the shift in leadership of the reenactors that had caused disruption lat