One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman

 One for the Hooks

Book Summary

One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman has Molly Pink acquiring yarn for the store when she witnesses a drone drop a sack of smelly seafood onto Sloan Renner, a local realtor who does a variety of other jobs as well.  Sloan was helping Miami Wintergarten turn her inherited home into a short-term rental which has her neighbors up in arms.  Molly’s ex-beau, Barry asks for Molly’s help on the case.  Molly has a way of acquiring information that the local police cannot.  Molly has some personal issues to deal with as well.  Her son, Peter shows up with luggage and a pregnant girlfriend.  It seems he needs to a place to live since his latest television project fell through.  Mason Fields, Molly’s layer boyfriend, has a proposition for Molly that could change her life.  Can Molly hook the killer while dealing with her personal drama?

My Thoughts

One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman is the 14^th A Crochet Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  I thought One for the Hooks was well-written with developed characters.  I like that Molly Pink is a mature woman who is a clever and capable.  I was not a fan of the way Molly dealt with her son, Peter in this book.  I thought she would set down some rules for the pushy son and his cold girlfriend.  Molly most do some soul searching when Mason makes her an offer.  The whodunit had multiple suspects (a whole neighborhood), misdirection, and a unique method of murder.  One detail early in the book is all that is needed to solve the crime (I am not telling you which one).  I enjoyed following Molly and Dinah as they dug up information and got themselves into trouble in pursuit of justice.  Barry, of course, wants Molly’s information, but he is reluctant to share.  He also does not always appreciate her theories (you would think he would have learned to trust her by now).  There are cute pets, gorgeous yarns, fun with friends, plus book and yarn events.  I enjoyed the one-of-a-kind scarf project that Molly came up with using the yarns she purchased for the shop.  Adele was even more over-the-top than usual thanks to her vlog.  Her outfits match her ego (loud and large).  I laughed often while reading One for the Hooks.  I am eager for the next A Crochet Mystery after reading the ending.  One for the Hooks is an entertaining cozy mystery with ritzy yarns, a significant other’s suggestion, a problematic progeny, a daring drone, a curious killing, sensational Serendipity scarves, and the plucky Molly Pink.

One for the Hooks is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other thirteen A Crochet Mystery novels here.  You can find Betty Hechtman's other novels here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will be back tomorrow with Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner.  It is the 3rd A Shepherd Sisters Mystery.  I hope that you have a perky day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Hooks Can Be Deceiving by Betty Hechtman

Good Day!  Hot Fudge Murder by Cynthia Baker will be released on January 29 along with Ellie's Redemption by Molly Jebber and Death by Chocolate Malted Milkshake by Sarah Graves.  Tonya Kappes' next A Kenni Lowry Mystery is Diggin' Up Dirt and it will be out soon (I am waiting for the exact date).  Kenni meets Finn Vincent's parents.  Something unexpected crops up and it could be a crimp in Kenni & Finn's relationship.  

Hooks Can Be Deceiving by Betty Hechtman is the thirteenth A Crochet Mystery.  Molly Pink is called into her boss’s office at Shedd & Royal Books & More.  The Craftee Channel is creating a new program called Creating with Crochet, and they want to film the premiere show in the yarn department at the bookstore.  Adele is confident that she will be chosen to host the new show with her explementary skills.  Rory Graham, an actress, is picked to host Creating the Crochet.  When Rory visits the store, she confides in Molly that she may have exaggerated her crocheting abilities (basically, she cannot crochet).  Molly cleverly pairs Rory with Adele who believes she is destined to be the actress’s sidekick on the show.  The Tarzana Hookers meet for Happy Hour each day and they have a new addition to the group.  Marianne Freeman joined the group three weeks prior with her companion, Connie Richards.  Molly befriends the Marianne and is worried when she fails to show up one evening.  Molly arrives at Marianne’s home to find Detective Heather Gilmore on the scene with Molly’s ex-boyfriend, Detective Barry Greenberg.  Connie is dead from electrocution and Heather is quick to accuse Marianne.  Barry has his doubts, but he is not the lead detective.  He enlists Molly’s help (talk about a shocker) in ferreting out the truth.  He wants Molly to ask questions only (that’s a laugh).  Molly works in her sleuthing in between her duties at the store, coming up with a make it and take it for the pilot program, keeping Rory on track with her lessons instead of doing a “dance break” every five minutes, keeping her furry companions in kibble and preparing for the upcoming taping of the show.  The killer is not happy with Molly’s investigation and attempts to threaten her away (obvious he does not know Molly).  Can Molly clear Marianne before filming of Creating with Crochet begins?

 

Hooks Can Be Deceiving is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery.  I thought the book was well-written with steady pacing.  Hooks Can Be Deceiving can be read as a standalone.  I like that Molly is a mature main character with an active life.  She has her son, her fur babies, her job, friends and she has started dating Mason again.  The story has humor courtesy of Adele with her outlandish ideas and fashions choices.  She is the perfect choice to host the children’s hour, but I am baffled why the children must register (Adele has an elaborate system in place).  I wish my local bookstore had a yarn department like Shedd & Royal Books & More (it sounds like a great place to spend an afternoon—books, tea, snacks and yarn).  The mystery is clever with a unique method of murder.  The mystery can be solved by the reveal, but I have a feeling some people will be surprised by the killer’s identity.  The ending did feel a bit rushed as the author hurried to wrap up the storylines.  While Adele was not as prominent in this story, the animals were (too much).  I would have liked the author to include descriptions of the yarns carried at the store.  I am not sure how I feel about the relationship between Mason and Molly.  His lifestyle and Molly’s do not seem compatible (she is more down to earth while he has fancy cars and dines in high end restaurants).   We will have to wait and see how it plays out.  I Hooks Can Be Deceiving is an engaging and spirited cozy mystery.  I am giving Hooks Can Be Deceiving 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  I am curious to see what trouble Molly will get herself into next time in the fourteenth A Crochet Mystery. 

Thank you for reading my review.  I am featuring With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander tomorrow.  The first book in The Carnton Series.  I hope you have a day filled with glee.  Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

On the Hook: A Crochet Mystery

I love this colorful cover!  Eye catching!

Happy Saturday!  I hope you are having a delightful and relaxing day.  The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable will be out on May 29 along with A Passion for Haunted Fashion by Rose Pressey.  The Hawaiian Discovery by Wanda E. Brunstetter will be available on June 5.

On the Hook by Betty Hechtman is twelfth tale in A Crochet Mystery series.  Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers (get your mind out of the gutter—they are referring to crochet hooks) have decided to get back to their roots.  They are crocheting baby blankets for infants that are surrendered at the police department, fire station and local hospitals.  Adele Humphries loves her new husband, but she is less than thrilled with the cramped living situation since her mother-in-law moved in to their cozy condo.  Elise Belmont has recently acquired her real estate license and is anxious to show her first home, but she does not want her husband, Logan to know.  They are only in the house a few moments when Elise hustles them out the door because Logan is on his way with clients.  On the news that night, Molly sees that Logan found Timothy Clark, owner and actor, dead in the house (oh dear).  The next day Detective Barry Greenberg (one of Molly’s ex’s) shows up asking about a scarf found at the crime scene—oops, it seems Molly’s scarf was left behind in the hurry to exit the house.  Adele is in a further tizzy because the victim was her acting coach (really).  She has been taking lessons without her husband’s knowledge (she told him she was taking yoga—I am shocked he bought it).  To avoid spilling Elise and Adele’s secrets, Molly must solve the case before Barry can prove the scarf is Molly’s.  Molly contacts Mason Fields, attorney and another ex, for legal advice and assistance.  It also gives them a chance to reconnect (sparks are flying) and clear up a few misconceptions.  When not working at the store and stitching together the clues of the case, Molly has been roped into helping Rhoda’s brother-in-law, Leo.  He is a widow who is clueless with women and Rhoda is tired of him moping about her house (Molly is a soft touch).  Can Molly unravel the killer’s identity before Barry proves the scarf belongs to Molly?   

On the Hook is not a standalone book.  It is best to read A Crochet Mystery series in order, so you can understand about Molly, her family, the Tarzana Hookers, and her relationships with the men in her life.  On the Hook contains good writing and has a fast pace (which I liked).  The mystery, though, took a back seat to Molly’s love life.  Instead of a love triangle, we have a square (Leo, Barry, Mason and Molly).  The mystery was straightforward and the solving it is a cinch.  Adele is her usual over-the-top self with her outlandish outfits and crazy ideas.  She is even more zany than usual with her desire to become a host of a crochet show.  Adele’s little ditty will have you in stitches (it is creative and hilarious).  I admit to having trouble getting into On the Hook.  There seems to be a more zany antics than normal in this installment.  There is quite a bit going on in On the Hook with the murder, crocheting blankets for charity, Adele and her acting ambitions, Elise keeping her real estate license hidden from her husband (it made no sense why), Molly’s mother using her house for rehearsals, Barry trying to get Molly to answer his questions about the scarf, Mason and Molly going out, Molly giving Leo lessons, Sam living with Molly, the various animals that live with Molly, the bookstore, Dinah and her situation with Commander Blaine (her husband).  While it is humorous, I wanted more mystery and less Molly stonewalling Barry (which lost its humor after a while).  I am giving On the Hook 3.5 out of 5 stars.  While On the Hook was not my favorite book in A Crochet Mystery series, I am curious to see what happens next with Molly Pink.  Do you think she will ever pick between Barry and Mason? 

Thank you for reading my review today.  I will return on Sunday with my thoughts on The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman.  May you have a fulfilling day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader