A Crafter Hooks a Killer by Holly Quinn: Review, Recipe and Giveaway!

A Crafter Hooks a Killer

A Handcrafted Mystery

by Holly Quinn

About the Book

A Crafter Hooks a Killer: A Handcrafted Mystery

Cozy Mystery

2nd in Series

Crooked Lane Books (June 11, 2019)

Hardcover 274 Pages

ISBN-10: 1643850121

ISBN-13: 978-1643850122

Digital ASIN: B07MGS1XDW

Community Craft proprietor Sammy Kane suspects that a tantalizing thread links the deaths of her best friend and a bestselling author. But can she weave together the clues?

Samantha “Sammy” Kane is settling into her new life in idyllic Heartsford, Wisconsin, running her late friend Kate Allen’s craft shop, Community Craft when one early June day, bestselling crochet author Jane Johnson visits Heartsford. Captivated by Community Craft, Jane devotes a chapter in her new book, Behind the Seams, to the store. Sammy is honored, though satisfaction quickly turns to shock when she finds Jane strangled to death—her cold hands clutching a copy of her most recently published book, with the words “THE END” raggedly scratched into the cover.

Heavens to Etsy! Not only must Sammy contend with the author’s inauspicious demise, she has to untie some knotty details from her own past. It turns out Kate’s death was not what it seemed, and instead somehow hooked to Jane Johnson’s demise. Handsome Detective Liam Nash is on the “skein”, more than happy to see the shop owner again, if less than enamored by her sleuthing interventions. But this was Sammy’s best friend—she has to know.

Fortunately, Sammy has a “lace” in the hole. As a child, she formed the S.H.E. detective team with her cousin, Heidi, and her sister, Ellie. Having already reconstituted their partnership, the S.H.E. team searches for a pattern behind the latest death. As the case starts to unravel, will Sammy and team be able to sidestep Liam quick enough to stitch together the clues?

About the Author

Holly Quinn has published two stand-alone fiction novels in another persona. She graduated from Carroll University in Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Science in business and a minor in marketing. This is her second Handcrafted mystery. Visit her @ www.authorhollyquinn.com

Author Links

Website - www.authorhollyquinn.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HollyQuinnbooks/

GoodReads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7940795.Holly_Quinn

Kane Family Lasagna Recipe

·         9 lasagna noodles

·         ½ lb. hot jimmy dean sausage

·         3/4-pound ground beef

·         1 medium onion, diced

·         ½ of a green pepper

·         3 garlic cloves, minced

·         2 cans (one 28 ounces, one 15 ounces) crushed tomatoes or 2 mason jars of Aunt B’s stewed tomatoes

·         2 cans (6 ounces each) tomato paste

·         2/3 cup water

·         2 to 3 tablespoons sugar (helps reduce acid)

·         1 teaspoon dried oregano

·         2 teaspoons dried basil

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper

·         1 large egg, lightly beaten

·         1 carton small curd cottage cheese

·         4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

·         3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375°

1. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a large pot, cook sausage, beef and onion over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, breaking up meat into crumbles. Add garlic; cook 1 minute. Drain.

2. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water, sugar, seasonings, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. In a small bowl, mix egg, cottage cheese, and a dash of basil.

4. Spread 2 cups meat sauce into an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and a third of the cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers twice. Top with remaining meat sauce and cheeses (dish will be full). Bake, covered, 25 minutes. Bake, uncovered, 25 minutes longer or until bubbly. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. 

My Thoughts

A Crafter Hooks a Killer can be read as a standalone if you have not read A Crafter Knits a Clue.  Samantha “Sammy” Kane is happy running Community Craft which fosters community spirit and encouraging artists.  She is happy to be back in her hometown with Heidi and Ellie.  Her budding romance with Detective Liam Nash, though, has stalled out since he has not contacted her since the case was closed.  Jane Johnson, the Queen of Crafts, is coming to Community Craft for a book signing which is quite a coup for their small town.  But then Jane ends up murdered after telling Sammy she had sensitive information to share regarding Kate Allen’s death.  Kate was Sammy’s best friend and she realizes she does not know the details of how she died.  I like how the author tied the two whodunits together.  Sammy, Heidi and Ellie (the S.H.E. detective team) are quick to assemble so they can unravel this knotty mystery.  Despite being told by multiple people to leave the case to the police, Sammy questions various people while Heidi wheedles information out of her police officer boyfriend (poor Tim).  There is no absence of case details as the ladies’ work into the two crimes.  I liked when Sammy said that she had “a gift for seeking and finding the truth”.  Friendship, family, and food are not lacking in A Crafter Hooks a Killer.  Holly Quinn’s food descriptions will have your mouth watering.  I enjoyed reading about the beautiful painted glasses and crocheted blankets.  There are instructions for a lap blanket at the end of the book.  A Crafter Hooks a Killer has three curious ladies, two complex crimes, one disgruntled detective and a delightful doggie.  

A Crafter Hooks a Killer is available at Amazon, B&N, BAM, IndieBound, Powell's Books, and Walmart.  There is a giveaway of one print copy of  A Crafter Hooks a Killer.  Click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck!  The next book in A Handcrafted Mystery series is A Crafter Quilts a Crime (which has a sweet cover) and it will be out on February 11, 2020. Thank you for joining me today and reading my review.  Sconed to Death by Lynn Cahoon is the book I am highlighting tomorrow.  May you have an upbeat day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

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