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Last Wool and Testament–mystery and fiber arts
Last Wool and Testament
by Peggy Ehrhart
Author Peggy Ehrhart is a multi-talented person as is reflected in her writing. A former professor with a Ph.D. in Medieval Literature, her writing is excellent. I usually get quickly bored with novels that describe repeatedly and at great length what the characters are eating and the locations of their dining experiences. This is not the case with the Knit and Nibble Mystery series. Although the protagonist Pamela Paterson has the same toast and coffee every morning, all the other meals, even the simple ones, are beautifully described with interesting details.
The author is also very interested in crafts, so Pamela is a work-from-home associate editor of Fiber Craft magazine. She reviews books for the publication and chooses and edits submitted articles. She frequently works on pieces that involve archeology that show how the fiber arts have been important through the ages.
Pamela with her friend and neighbor Bettina are the backbone of a group called Knit and Nibble who meet weekly in member homes to knit, chat, and enjoy a special dessert prepared by the host. Pamela and Bettina are frequently involved in various investigations when crimes occur in their town of Arborville, New Jersey.
The Knit and Nibble series is one of the calmest, gentlest, cozy mystery series I have read. There are indeed murders to be solved—two in this book, but there is so much emphasis on friendship and community relationships that it is a low stress book. Pamela and Bettina follow some leads, but they don’t constantly put themselves in danger as the protagonists in many cozy mysteries often do. There is a big emphasis on looking at the mystery as a puzzle and putting the pieces together as they discover clues, often though observation.
In Last Wool and Testament, an artistic neighbor specializing in fiber arts is killed shortly before she was to have a showing at a local gallery. There are a number of possible suspects, but just as they narrow the field to one, he is also murdered!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 4/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1.This is the 12th book in the Knit and Nibble Mystery Series. I have not read all of them; but I have enjoyed a number of them, and I recommend the series. Reading some of the earlier novels would be helpful, but the author does give background to each character when they appear in this book.
2. At the end of this book, the author includes information on Intarsia, a special knitting technique, and then refers the reader to her web page that has even more information along with illustrations.
3. She also has recipes for three of the dishes the Knit and Nibble group enjoy in the book and has photographs on her web page of the steps involved in cooking them.
Publication: April 29, 2025—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
Two pieces remained, themselves quite inviting—each edged with a puffy ridge of golden-brown crust, layered with mozzarella-streaked tomato sauce, and dotted with lustrous rounds of pepperoni…Then he flipped the box’s lid back to release an aroma that combined tomato, garlic, and olive oil with the seductive lure of fresh-baked yeasty dough.
Pamela hadn’t actually thought that until she heard herself say it. Clearly, the act of walking had set her mind free to roam as well, and it had been mulling over the journal images she had studied anew before heading out the door.
By the time all six dishes had been filled, the layered chunks of pudding remaining in the compote evoked a stratified landscape disrupted by a seismic upheaval.
A Literary Tea Party: Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and Book Lovers Everywhere
A Literary Tea Party
by Alison Walsh
A Literary Tea Party, subtitled Blends and Treats for Alice, Bilbo, Dorothy, Jo, and Book Lovers Everywhere, is a delightful book tantalizing the senses with beautiful color photos and delicious themed recipes. The Table of Contents categorizes the recipes into Savories, Bread and Muffins, Sweets, Homemade Tea Blends, and Tea Alternatives. Each recipe is then listed by its themed name and the book or author associated with it. For example, Savories includes Poetical Egg Salad Sandwich referring to Anne of Green Gables.
Although many of the books referenced are childhood favorites, this is not a children’s recipe book. The recipes are of various difficulty levels and although they generally are aimed at sophisticated tastes, the whole tea party atmosphere is so special it would entice children to sample something a little different. Most recipes include a photograph, a quote tying in the literary reference, a note about the recipe, a listing of ingredients, and clear directions followed by a serving note that again references the literary work. Sometimes important cooking notes are added and highlighted. For some recipes a tea pairing is included. There is also a section of the book which gathers five or six recipes together into a theme for a tea party. Some draw on recipes that refer to one book. Some refer to a theme such as murder and draw from a variety of authors.
The author, Alison Walsh, displays her creativity and artistic skills in the various dishes she shares as well as her photography. Walsh is a self-taught food blogger (Alison’s Wonderland Recipes) who also loves books. In the process of writing A Literary Tea Party, Walsh researched the science behind cooking and devoted herself to developing her culinary skills. The result is a beautiful book that any food lover or book lover would appreciate; it is a magnificent combination of culinary and literary interests immersed in a refined, but fun, atmosphere only achievable in a tea party setting.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Skyhorse Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Cooking and Food
Publication: June 5, 2018—Skyhorse Publishing
Memorable Lines:
Note that accompanied “Candied Nuts with Meadowcream” from The Legend of Luke: A Tale of Redwall by Brian Jacques: Most Redwall recipes are simple, rustic dishes, and dessert is no exception. In fact, sugar doesn’t even make an appearance in this recipe. Instead, lightly honeyed spiced walnuts are the star of this dish, accompanied by a generous helping of Redwall’s famous meadowcream. This dessert’s cozy flavors and homey feel make it a perfect Redwall dish!
Note that accompanied “Dark Chocolate Earl Grey Lavender Truffles” from “The Naval Treaty” by Arthur Conan Doyle: There’s nothing more British than Earl Grey tea or Sherlock Holmes, so why not bring them together? These dark chocolate truffles use cream steeped in tea to get that distinct Earl Grey flavor.
Note that accompanied “ Fairy Dust Star Cookies” from Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie: This imaginative take on the linzer cookie features a raspberry jam center and silver sprinkles. Delicately sweet with an otherworldly twinkle, they’re a dessert even Tinker Bell couldn’t resist.
Murder with Cinnamon Scones–set in the tearoom of my dreams
Murder with Cinnamon Scones
by Karen Rose Smith
Murder with Cinnamon Scones is the tale of an art dealer’s death, suspicions placed on those he loved, and the struggles we all go through in trying to make sense of our lives. As with most cozy mysteries, this one is set in a small town trying to survive. In Willow Creek, Pennsylvania, as January surrounds the town with cold and some intermittent snow, small business owners are cooperating to draw in more tourists through Quilt Lovers Weekend. Daisy, who owns Daisy’s Tea Garden, is one of the leaders of this group. She finds her time divided between running the tea shop, investigating a murder to clear her friend Tessa, and developing friendships with two handsome men. She also devotes time to her two teenage daughters, the quilting weekends, her extended family, and her cats. Oh, and she also has to stay alive!
As busy as Daisy is, she still has the time and skills to maintain her tearoom as a successful business. With an emphasis on customer service, the tearoom draws visitors and locals for its delicious formal teas as well as soups, breads, and more casual tea service. Daisy and others at the tearoom are constantly experimenting with recipes, and the various types of teas mentioned in the book are so appealing. If this weren’t fiction, I’d be eager to visit this delightful tearoom housed in an updated Victorian house.
I highly recommend Murder with Cinnamon Scones for a good mystery, a surprising resolution, and interesting characters and settings. In it lies a poignant reminder that in relationships, things are not always what they appear to be. I’m glad it is part of a series because I was sad to reach the end of the book.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #2 in the Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery Series, but works well as a stand alone.
2. Look for recipes in the back of the book.
Publication: May 29, 2018—Kensington Books
Memorable Lines:
“Quilting shouldn’t be about finishing. It’s about putting your heart into each stitch and just relaxing and doing your best in that moment.”
“You should know by now,” Rachel said, “that should and shouldn’t after the fact do no good when you’re a mom. You just start from where you left off, and you try to do better.”
Oh, to be nineteen again, and to know exactly what to do or what was right, Daisy thought.
education pathways 