A TWISTED SKEIN

The Seaside Knitters, who have a long record of solving murders, face a particularly knotty case.

Both octogenarian Birdie Favazza, the Knitters’ leader, and Nell Endicott, aunt of yarn shop owner Izzy Perry and friend to lobster company owner Cass Halloran Brandley, are worried by a sudden schism between twin sisters Rose and Jillian Anderson. Although she’s only minutes older, Rose has always been Jillian’s protector. For reasons unknown, she’s taken a violent dislike to Josh Elliott, a brilliant teacher, birder, and all-around nice guy. Jillian is currently doing a teaching practicum while Rose works at a gallery and both help with a knitting fashion show. Birdie, meanwhile, has followed her name and taken up bird-watching. Walking a path through the woods, she comes upon the lifeless body of Josh Elliott, whose death was no accident. Since everyone in Sea Harbor knows that Rose was no fan of Josh, she naturally becomes a suspect. Sure that their caring, talented friend did not kill Josh, the Knitters start looking at other possibilities. Josh’s students loved him, but his teaching style and the freedom he was given to pursue it did not sit well with all his colleagues. Even some of the bird-watching group seemed jealous of his abilities. Rose, who’s keeping a family secret that goes to the heart of her dislike of Josh, is loath to break a promise to her late mother and reveal it. So it’s up to the knitters to find the truth and expose a killer.

Heartwarming comfort food.