Seams Like Murder (Crochet Mystery, #10) by Betty Hechtman

Seams Like Murder (Crochet Mystery, #10) Reviews

• 
  Mayda

  As usual, Molly is running in all directions. She has supposedly chosen Mason as the number one man in her live, but that relationship is complicated by his ex-wife and somewhat hostile daughter, both currently living with him. And Molly can’t completely erase Barry from her life or her thoughts. Molly is also gearing up for the opening of Yarn University at the bookshop. All that seems to take a back seat when she again begins her own investigation into a suspicious death. With as little time as she usually spends at work, it’s a wonder she still gets a paycheck. And as much trouble as she gets herself into, it appears she still needs both guys, Mason the lawyer and Barry the detective, in her life just to keep her safe. These books may follow a similar formula, but they have me hooked into looking forward to the next one as soon as I finish the one I am reading.
• 
  OpenBookSociety.com

  
  http://openbooksociety.com/article/se...
  
  Seams like Murder
  A Crochet Mystery, Book #10
  By Betty Hechtman
  ISBN 978425279441
  Author’s website:
  www.bettyhechtman.com
  Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
  
  Synopsis:
  
  Knitting and crocheting books are selling like crazy at the bookstore where Molly works, so to keep the customers coming, she sets up a series of classes where the Tarzana Hookers can pass on their skills to others: a Yarn University. The only problem is the teacher of the most popular seminar—Sheila—is getting a massive case of stage fright about being in front of a crowd.
  
  To ease Sheila’s nerves, the Hookers plan a practice class at crocheter CeeCee’s mansion. But before the lesson begins, Molly and the gang stumble upon a dead body in the apartment above CeeCee’s garage. Now, Molly must unravel the clues to find a killer quickly—or school might be out forever.
  
  Review:
  
  Seams Like Murder is a delightfully character driven mystery; tenth in A Crochet Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. Catching up with this eccentric group of ‘Hookers’ is a LOL blast! Molly Pink and the ladies hooked my attention from the beginning, and the biggest challenge I faced (other than who the bad guy/gal is) was the courage to let go, make the final stitch and tie off.
  
  Cee Cee Collins is the star in the Tarzana Hooker’s crochet group. Literally. Now an Academy Award nominee, she brings an even greater air of excitement to the group. Molly has been organizing the Yarn University for the Indie bookstore where she was recently promoted to assistant manager. Several of the regular crocheters were prepared to teach a class in various aspects of crocheting. One of the volunteer instructors had cold feet, so to help give her confidence and practice addressing a group, the Hookers met at Cee Cee’s home to give Sheila a practice run in her special ‘Hug’ pattern and colorful technique. Cee Cee’s ‘love interest’ Tony planned to produce and film a web-based soap. Cee Cee’s guest suite could be used for some of the taping, so she was going to give a quick tour of the over-the-garage suite to the class when they opened the door to find a dead body. Was there a reason she pushed Molly to go into the suite first when they were met with a bad odor upon opening the door? Other than fear, of course…
  
  Molly runs head-on into another mystery, and try as she might to stay out of it this time, people just keep trying to drag her in. Molly’s former gentleman friend, Barry, a homicide detective, was brought into the mix at Cee Cee’s request so the paparazzi wouldn’t follow the usual first response teams that would arrive. He and Molly’s current love interest, Mason, high-powered attorney, agree on only one thing, that she stay out of murder investigations for her own well-being.
  
  Mason, injured in a serious car accident several weeks’ prior, had his own challenges at present. His daughter who resents him dating Molly moved in with him to take care of him while he was still recovering. Then his ex-wife moved in, supposedly because her boy toy and she split up and she needed a place to stay while her home was being remodeled.
  
  One of the things that make this series are the characters! Molly is a fairly normal woman who was widowed young. Her adult sons still come and go, and her ‘herd’ of animals needs to be checked on regularly. Molly’s pets, and the stories of how she acquired them, endear her to this reader! Molly’s best friend Dinah seems as normal as Molly. Either could step off the pages of the novel as friends one has known forever. Mason and Barry both are strong men who are young enough to have fun and old enough to have stability. One could have a little empathy with Sheila. Many of us have known at least one Adele or Babs, or even Esmaya, but hopefully not all at the same time! They are each colorfully depicted and uniquely memorable.
  
  The plot was fascinating and didn’t seem one that could easily be solved. The plot twists kept this reader on her toes! Every bit of the plot is plausible; the author has a great imagination to plan and execute a mystery so well! I admit that I had no clue who the real bad guy/ gal would be, and had not even imagined … Wow! Just – wow! There are LOL funny scenes, my favorite of which is one that I could see as what ‘could only happen to me’. If one likes to crochet, spend time with pets, and read cozy mysteries that include a great balance of serious (respecting the murder) and humor, along with a cast of real characters, try Seams Like Murder. I highly recommend it, as well as the earlier books in the series. Sometimes we need to find humor even on the rainiest of days, and Betty Hechtman’s novels are wonderful treats for torrential downpours or summery sunny weather.
  
  *OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
• 
  Fred

  Seams Like Murder is the tenth book in the A Crochet Mystery series.
  
  The Tarzana Hookers are planning a Yarn University, but, Sheila, who will be leading one of the classes is very shy and isn't used to speaking before a group. Molly Pink has planned for a run-through to be held at CeeCee Collins' home. At the end of the meeting CeeCee wants to show them the apartment above her garage, where she and her gentleman friend, Tony, plan to have little studio where they can tape projects and post them on the internet. But what they do see is the body of a female who is unknown to any of them.
  
  So Molly and the other hookers have to get busy and find out who the killer might have been so that they can get back to putting the finishing touches on their Yarn University project.
  
  Most all of the regulars are back once again to provide the reader with an enjoyable and lighthearted experience.
  
  For any readers that aren't crocheters, there isn't a lot of crocheting talk, to put you off the series.
  
  Recipes and a couple of crochet patterns are included in the book.
  
  Looking forward to the next book.
• 
  Linnea

  Love the characters. And all the pets. I am still thinking the love interest may change.
• 
  JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book)

  Molly Pink is Event Coordinator and Assistant Manager at Shedd & Royal's Bookstore in Tarzana. She's trying to put together Yarn University, where people can learn different types of crochet. Unfortunately, one of the Tarzana Hookers, as the club calls itself, is having a bad case of stage fright. Sheila is shy anyway, but her projects are so lovely that Molly has convinced her to teach a class. When they decide to do a "practice class" over at their friend CeeCee's mansion, they come across a body in the apartment above the garage.
  
  Molly is once again drawn into a murder investigation, to no surprise of Homicide Detective Barry Greenberg, who once had a relationship with her; and to the delight of Mason Fields, her current boyfriend and celebrity defense attorney. Mason was injured in a car accident, and is now itching to get back into the game, as it were.
  
  When Molly finds the body, she notices a clue no one else does, but while it doesn't mean anything yet, she can't get it out of her mind. But she has other things to worry about: Mason's ex-wife and daughter are staying with him, and they don't want her anywhere near him (while he wants her there); Adele is driving everyone crazy with her wedding preparations (though no date has been set); and other problems concerning her best friend Dinah, and Barry.
  
  But Molly still wants to do her job well, so tries to put it out of her mind, yet can't. Her innate curiosity is driving her to figure things out, and she enlists not only the help of Dinah, but also Barb, a woman whom she met through CeeCee and has decided she wants to be a member of the club. While Molly's problems escalate, so does her certainty that this young woman was murdered by someone she knows, but she can't prove it. And if she doesn't figure it out soon, she won't have to worry about anything else...
  
  I have read every book in the series so far, and have gone with Molly from the loss of her husband to where she is now. I won't lie and say I've enjoyed every book (I haven't) but I have delighted in spending time with Molly in this one. She's struggling to organize her life (yeah, sure) and of course, isn't able to have everything the way she'd like. She's too busy trying to solve another murder (with help, of course) and stay out of the eye of Barry, who doesn't like her investigating. She's also trying to navigate her new relationship with Mason, but his ex-wife and daughter Brooklyn keep getting in the way. What Molly needs is a vacation (when?).
  
  So we watch as she does her best, gleaning clues along the way and trying to be supportive to her friends. It's an interesting combination, and there is plenty going on to keep one interested. While I can't like her son Peter (who could be kinder and more understanding to the woman who raised him), there are others who stand by her side, and it's nice to see.
  
  In the end, when everything starts to come together, it's a climax you don't expect and one that is surprising as well, which is how it should be. It's satisfying and makes for a pleasant reading experience. Recommended.
  
• 
  Anna Hanson

  Clean sweep
  
  Molly’s friend Sheila is anxious about teaching a class for the newly-formed Yarn University at the bookstore, so the Tarzana Hookers gather to support her in a practice class, held at CeeCee’s. Learning that CeeCee’s boyfriend Tony wants to do crochet videos for the group, they all troop over to the guest house to see the space, only to discover a dead body on the floor. Amid the chaos that ensues, Molly has to find ways to continue to help Sheila’s confidence, console CeeCee, deal with Mason’s ex and unfriendly daughter, handle Adele’s usual drama, and keep Mrs. Shedd from worrying about the Yarn U idea failing - oh, and figure out who killed the woman. Can she manage it all, on top of her own crazy household of pets?
• 
  Theresa

  Betty Hechtman is always an auto-buy author for me. I have read all of the books in this series prior to this one and I always love coming back to the Hookers. Betty Hechtman does the cozy mystery genre so well. I feel like I am a part of the Tarzana Hookers--laughing with them, wanting to dig around for answers with Molly, shaking my head at Adele all the time, etc. "Seams Like Murder" did not disappoint in terms of mystery and I was surprised by the ending as well. This book sucked me in and was enjoyable from start to finish. It's always a joy to get lost in this series. Can't wait to read the next one!
• 
  Barb Martin

  Molly and her fellow Tarzana Hookers nearly trip over the dead body in "Seams Like Murder." This one ended up in CeeCee's guest apartment over the garage, and the body is fairly ripe by the time they find it.
  
  Molly's clues are fairly straightforward in this installment of the cozy crochet mystery. We have an addition to the Hooker group. Molly and Mason are still trying to canoodle (Please, make it stop. I want Barry).
  
  Fans of Betty Hechtman's books will enjoy this frivolous little romp of a mystery.
• 
  Margaret

  As in the summary, the driving force of going to various venues is Sheila's stage fright about conducting a class.
  This issue is more or less without resolution--something for book 11 perhaps?
  Nevertheless a readable and enjoyable mystery.
• 
  Hannah

  I enjoyed this book a lot. I wish it had more crochet in it (although, it had an awful lot, lol). The mystery was very confusing, and I kept getting the characters confused. On the whole, however, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
• 
  Dorian

  Comedic elements get better and better
  
  I don’t usually review, just rate, but as I’ve moved through this series, I finally decided I just need to declare my love for Hechtman’s ability to write a comedic scene. That is all. Five stars!
• 
  Linda Haring

  Fun read. I have enjoyed all of them so far and will continue to do so. Love the quirky characters in the Tarzana Hookers.
• 
  Michele

  This one had me guessing til the end!
• 
  Traci Haley

  I ended up reading this one out of order, by accident, and as a result, found it only "okay". Still, this series is good enough that an okay book is still enjoyable to read!
• 
  Traci

  This was a very decent read, and I'm glad I stumbled on this series. This is the tenth, and most recent, book in the series so I have some backtracking to do, but that's OK.
  
  I thought the mystery was excellent and I didn't figure out who the culprit was. In fact, I was quite surprised at the reveal, though it did make sense. There's just enough clues sprinkled throughout the story that could point you in that direction, but you have to be paying really close attention.
  
  Molly is a very likeable character and her group of crochet buddies are a great bunch of people, even though some of them really have trouble making decisions-- I found their dilemmas irritating and distracting. Molly is a little too understanding and patient, but that's clearly how she was developed over the course of the previous books.
  
  I like this author's writing style and will definitely be reading more of the series. I found this book to be much more engaging than the Hannah Swenson and Stephanie Plum novels. Maybe that's because I'm a crochet addict myself!
• 
  Sheila McCarthy

  REally enjoy this mystery writer's books. They are charming, quite humerous and of course the mystery is good as well. And you really should read them in order. FYI
• 
  Silvara Wilde

  Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at
  Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.
  
  I received this book for free from Berkley Prime Crime in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
  
  
  I liked how many things were going on in the book. Besides the murder, Molly was planning a yarn event with lots of different classes. One of the teachers had a bit of stage fright, and another was constantly trying to be in charge. Besides that, her current boyfriends daughter and ex-wife move in with him, so there was all that drama. AND her ex-boyfriend seemed like he was trying to win her back.
  
  I had no idea at all who the killer was. My only theories were completely wrong, and even the pages leading up to the reveal I didn't quite guess it right. I liked all the characters, how different their personalities were. A few of them were annoying, the kind I would try to avoid in real life. But that didn't detract from the book at all.
  
  There is a lot of mention of crochet projects, and the fact that the main character is in a crochet group. But the book doesn't really get into any details of how to crochet, or anything. It was just a personality facet.
  
  
  Patterns And Recipes Included: Sheila's Hug, Adele's Hug, Vegetable Stew, Molly's Delicious Drop Biscuits.
  
  
  This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon
• 
  Lisa Ks Book Reviews

  SEAMS LIKE MURDER is knot to be missed by Hecthman fans!
  
  Ten books in, and going strong, author Betty Hechtman still has some surprises up her sleeves. Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers find that out very quickly in this latest installment of the Crochet Mysteries.
  
  Fast paced, and full of surprises, SEAMS LIKE MURDER had me quickly turning the page in anticipation of each new chapter, and I was never disappointed. Each chapter only served to entice me to keep reading until the exciting conclusion.
  
  Ms. Hechtman know exactly what her fans want, and she once again delivers!
  
  Take a peek at the back of the book for recipes, crochet patterns, and a look at GONE WITH THE WOOL, the newest Yarn Retreat Mystery by Betty Hechtman.
  
• 
  Danielle Mccoy

  Do you ever read a series and then it takes a while for the next one to come out and you become convinced the books aren't that great. Well that was the point I was at when I started this book, basically reading it because I had read the previous ones. I was pleasantly surprised that I really did love these characters. The book moved fast, had a good balance of mystery to personal story and I didn't figure out who did it half way though the book. In fact it was almost to the big reveal before I figured it out. I would highly recommend this book - if you've read the rest of the books in the series. If you haven't I would suggest starting at the beginning because it really is good storytelling.
• 
  Jeanie

  Another great novel in the Crochet Mystery series! It is, as always, a fresh, new mystery that kept me guessing through the end. The characters - eccentrics included - are unique. This group of 'Hookers' is the best!
  The plot is exciting and drew me in from the first page. The author brings several possible suspects to light. As hard as Molly tries to stay out of the way of the investigation, those around her pull her in. Her love interest, in the meantime, has one of his daughters staying with him to help him recover from a serious car accident. Then his ex-wife comes to stay as an uninvited guest while her home is being remodeled.
  There are wonderfully LOL moments and serious, suspenseful moments that make this the best in series so far! Looking forward already to the next one!
• 
  Karen

  Molly Pink is ready to tour her friend Cece's apartment soon to be turned into a studio when she and her friends come across a dead body. Her detective friend Barry arrives on the scene and reminds Molly it's his job to investigate, not hers. With being assistant manager at the bookstore and trying new classes with her crochet friends including her "french toast buddy" Adele, Molly has enough on her plate. However, once Cece's friend is accused of the murder, Molly is convinced her sleuthing is needed once again.
• 
  Jo Dunn

  Cute little craft-based (yarn) novel rife with likeable characters, a "not-to-complex" murder mystery, and a few lightweight romances. A quick read incorporating a hobby I enjoy (crochet/knitting)! A bonus at the back of the book - (a beef stew recipe and two crochet patterns) was a fun surprise! Enjoyable, not too heavy and held my attention. 4*
• 
  Kathie

  Another great summertime read. Or it would be good to read in front of a warm fire with a quilt. Good mystery. The characters are inspiring because they actually make plans to do crafts and actually get them finished!
• 
  Joan

  I like to crochet and enjoy this series on a bookstore and crochet group in Tarzana. I used to live in that area so I think it adds to my enjoyment knowing the places she talks about. Very fun read. The way the killer was caught seemed a little far fetched to me though.
• 
  Pat Kiser

  I enjoy the series. Molly Pink is appealing but this book has too many less than appealing characters for my taste.