Maggie Sefton

This two-in-one edition of the first two Maggie Sefton mysteries was quite the find. It comprises "Knit One, Kill Two" and "Needled to Death" and both mysteries involve young accountant Kelly Flynn coming back to her hometown of Fort Connor, Colorado from Washington, D.C.

Her first mystery comes with the death of her aunt who was found dead in her own living room. Kelly is able to take time from her corporate D.C. job to help settle her aunt's affairs and is staying in a motel while she does so. Her Rottweiler, Carl, comes with her to her aunt's farmhouse to run around in the backyard while she does her sleuthing. While she has her suspicions about the police story that her aunt's death was a burglary gone bad, as well as a cash withdrawal her aunt took on her home from a sleazy lender, she also comes to grips with the new layout of her aunt and uncle's farm. Part of the farmland was sold for a golf course (and Carl likes to dash through it stealing golf balls), and the original farmhouse is now a knit shop with cafe that serves plenty of high-octane coffee.

Also included is the farmhouse-cum-knit shop, featuring a cast of customers/characters and loads of soft, fuzzy, amazing yarn. This book was written in the mid-2000's as the knitting boom was taking off, and the variety of fibres, colors, and soft textures attests to that time. Kelly begins to dig into her aunt's murder while also voicing her concerns to her aunt's friends that includes the knit shop owner and customers. Who, of course, entice her to take up knitting.

The second book in this set, "Needled to Death," comes a few months later when Kelly has begun to work remotely (novel idea for its time!) in her late aunt's home with Carl. Who has had to give up his penchant for golf balls and is now living in a backyard with a newly built escape-proof fence. The cast of characters expands with a couple of alpaca ranchers (both women!) and a new property of sheep and cattle ranch in Wyoming that also became Kelly's through a family member in the second book.

And by now Kelly is knitting away (as one would suspect), enjoying herself and starting to put down roots in the community. Which leads to the question of how can she quit her corporate job, since her condo is subleased for a little bit, and still live in Fort Connor? I can kinda see where that query resolves itself in the next book or two.

Both books have the murders solved in the "I confess" method by the murderer, and Kelly is a sensible and sensitive young woman. Plus pretty darn smart and open to new possibilities in her life. I'll continue with this series since they are a fun, quick, and knit-themed read.… (mere)

To me, this book started out really slowly. Maybe it is because I didn't read the other books in the series, but the characters seemed flat, especially at first when it was difficult to tell (or possibly care) who was who.

After about 70 pages, I finally started getting into the plot. I figured out who was guilty as soon as the character was introduced. But since it is a 'cozy', that didn't bother me too much.

Overall, an enoyable read once the characters started to show some personality.… (mere)