Book Review: Last Wool and Testament

Synopsis from Goodreads: 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.…

Thank you to Nicole over at BookwyrmKnits for recommending this cozy mystery for me! It fit that prompt for the Completely Melanie November challenge #2 perfectly.

This is the first in a series set in the small Tennessee town of Blue Plum, where the main character’s slightly eccentric grandmother has owned and operated a yarn and fiber crafts store but is recently deceased. Kath returns to Blue Plum to settle the estate of her grandmother, but finds things are odd and not as they should be. She decides to investigate further and sets off a string of events that escalate into several deaths and a blackmailing scheme. I loved the small town atmosphere and all of the quirky and fun characters. (If you have an LYS or are a member of a guild, you probably recognize at least a few of these personalities in some way!). The addition of Geneva and Kath’s realization she can see ghosts are a fun plot twist. The plot has plenty of red herrings and unfolds in a way to bring you into the story and the world of Blue Plum itself.

I have to admit I had a moment of deja vu when the book opened because the main character has been working at a museum in Richmond, VA, doing textile conservation (Hello! That was my life during and just after grad school. I wondered if the book was going to mention The Valentine Museum, but alas, it was focused on the state museum – which also has a great collection but not where I worked).

A fun debut to what sounds like a great cozy-type series with a nice balance of mystery/whodunit and fibery vibes all set in a quaint, picturesque small town. If you like this genre, and particularly if you’re a crafter, I’d bet you’d love this one and the entire series. Thanks for the recommendation, Nicole!