Last Wool and Testament: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, Book 1

The plot is engaging and unusual, for sure. The characters are interesting. You definitely want to read on to see how the whole thing plays out. While I liked the protagonist, I also found her to be EXTREMELY IRRITATING! You know those people who can't stop saying "sorry" all the time, even when people are being ride to them and stepping all over them. That's our heroine. She needs some sense of self worth and a dash of moxie. Like I say, Iike the heroine. She needs to poke her finger in the eye of rude people stepping over the line, and quit apologizing every two sentences.

I've read two books in this series. They're easy reads with some interesting characters and the mysteries are fairly decent. However, I am quickly getting annoyed at the resident ghost who too irritating to be entertaining anymore. I'm also a bit frustrated with supposedly intelligent heroines who are so cowed by relatives or neighbors that they seem to lack any backbone to stand up for themselves.Not sure if I'll continue to read anything in this series.

First in the Haunted Yarn Shop mysteries, this book introduces us to Blue Plum, Tennessee and The Weaver's Cat yarn shop, and the many and varied characters in the town. Kath has just come back to town after the death of her beloved grandmother, Ivy McClellen, to discover herself locked out of her grandmother's house. Since she inherited all of Ivy's things, this comes as a shocking surprise, especially when she's told that her grandmother had sold her home and was just renting. Not only that, but the owners expect the house emptied out within the week for the new owners. When a dead body is found, real trouble ensues!Kath calls upon the knitting and fiber group from Ivy's shop, TGIFs--Thank Goodness It's Fiber--to help her find out what has happened. She also gets a little "help" from an unlikely source, an emotionally charged ghost from the past.This is a fun cozy with a great deal of potential. Though I really enjoyed the story, it felt a little bit unfinished--like more of an introduction for future books. The ghost was a bit annoying also as she was more of a whiner than a fun addition to the story. Though she moves from an empty house into the yarn shop eventually, and I think her presence there may be intriguing in the future. So, this book interested me enough to give the next book a try.

Kath had no idea when she came home for her Granny's funeral that she'd have to fight to prove ownership of her Granny's house, let alone inherit a lonely ghost who was convinced that she'd killed the cottage's previous owner. I'm hoping that the camaraderie of the members of TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Fiber) club at the fiber shop gets more like what I'm used to in some of the knitting and crochet books. The ladies are all nice to Kath, and they did get together to solve the case. I'm sure it's just going to take getting used to a different group of them. I did like Ardis who took Kath under her wing. She was Granny's manager who had worked closely with her. Geneva, the ghost cracked me up! She really came in useful more than once, but it was hard for Kath not to talk to her when others were around--only Kath could see and talk to her. I did like how they sleuthed out the clues at the end with Geneva's help. The showdown was fairly quick but good. I had honestly guessed the killer fairly early on, but maybe I'm just getting better at this, lol.

Kath Rutlegde has returned to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee to settle her grandmother's affairs in Molly MacRae's "Last Wool and Testament", the first book in this series. Her grandmother, Ivy McClellan, died, but she owned her house and a shop called The Weaver's Cat that dealt in fibers and fabric. Ivy was also the founder of the TGIF (f is for fiber!) group of fiber and needlework artists who regularly meet at the shop. Unbeknownst to Kath, she has inherited the shop and wants her grandmother's house, but a surprise awaits her there.A murder has occured in Blue Plum and people are accusing Ivy McClellan of committing the crime. Kath knows that her gentle grandmother wouldn't kill anyone, but Ivy is looking like the chief suspect in the murder. Kath finds a place to stay thanks to one of her grandmother's friends, but Kath soon finds out that there is someone else occupying the little house, too. A sad, whining ghost appears to Kath but isn't a threat or menace. More than anything else, her constant complaints get on Kath's nerves. The ghost isn't out to do harm, but winds up helping Kath in her unofficial investigation into the murder in order to clear her grandmother's name.This is a highly enjoyable cozy mystery and anyone who does any kind of needlework or knitting or anything in the fiber arts should enjoy the story. Good character development that makes the reader care about what happens to them, ghost included.A very nice cozy to curl up with.

This book has it all, if you love cozy mysteries. There is murder, there is a depressed ghost in mourning, there is a yarn shop, a mysterious cat, and lots of characters both savory and unsavory. Blend it all together and you get a well written whodunit that has the perfect pace of a getaway car or a snail depending on what's required. Loved everything about this book and cannot wait to move onto the next one in this series. Well done Ms MacRae.

I'm still trying to decide if I liked this book or not. So, me it seems that it went on and on.I had the murderer figured right at the beginning and then had to read until it The author ended the story.Yes it was cute, and entertaining, but would I recommend the book, probably not.

I enjoyed this book and found it to be well written and plotted. It has its unusual features such as the 'haunting' and I enjoyed the fact that the protagonist sometimes reacts as a typical human being, often not wisely. The plot advances at a good rate with extra revelations deivered in a believable fashion.The 'haunting' adds to this book and promises much for future books. Some of the characters are also ripe for further development and I am looking forward to learning their stories.

This series is always enjoyed by a family friend who can't get enough! She always has the next one on her wish list! Arrived promptly.

Nice light read...just what I needed for a cold dark winter weekend. Great to snuggle by the fire with. .

wonderful rainy Sunday afternoon reading

Could have done without the ghost !