Series: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, #1
Publisher: Signet
Released: September 4, 2012
Source: Review copy from the publisher
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Kath Rutledge is about to learn the true meaning of TGIF – Thank Goodness It’s Fiber…

That’s the name of the spunky group of fiber and needlework artists founded by Ivy McClellan, Kath’s beloved grandmother. Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver’s Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that’s only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother’s affairs.

There’s been a murder, and it turns out her grandmother was the prime suspect. Before she can begin to clear Ivy’s name, Kath encounters a looming presence in the form of a gloomy ghost. It turns out the specter has just as much interest in solving the murder as Kath. So, with a little help from the members of TGIF – and a stubborn spirit from beyond – she sets out to unravel the clues and hook the real killer.

This was an okay cozy mystery for me. It had a slow start, and I couldn’t get into the story until at least the half-way point. Once I did, I thought he mystery itself was good, and the culprit was not easy to figure out.

When Kath Rutledge’s grandmother dies, she heads back to Blue Plum, Tennessee, for the funeral and to settle the estate. Kath is Grandma Ivy’s only heir, so she expects to get the yarn shop and the home on Lavender Street in the will. But, surprise! Nothing is ever easy. Not only is there a snag in her inheritance, but Kath also finds out her grandmother was the suspect in a recent murder.

Part of my issue with the book was that none of the characters really grabbed me. The protagonist Kath was so-so. I thought her reactions to certain situations were a little unrealistic, like how nonchalant she was about finding a ghost in her cottage. Still, there were plenty of fun moments between characters, in particular ones with Kath and Deputy Cole “Clod” Dunbar.

This is the debut in the Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery series, and I’ll probably continue with the next book. The shop isn’t the only thing Kath inherits from her grandmother, and I’m interested to see where that part of the story goes.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.