Knit or Dye Trying (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery)

Knit or Dye Trying (A Riverbank Knitting Mystery)

Business is booming for Libby Beckett and her fabulous Maryland shop, aptly named Y.A.R.N., but when a town festival brings a fatality with it, Libby gets all tangled up in murder. As spring comes to Collinstown, the village launches a food festival to draw a new group of tourists. Libby, proud owner of Y.A.R.N., has planned a yarn event to provide an alternative option to a foodie weekend. Artisan fiber dyer Julie Wilson—known for her work with animal-friendly, plant-based knitting fibers such as bamboo and hemp as well as her brilliant use of color—will hopefully draw a crowd with a special dyeing workshop. The festival begins, but it draws more than crowds. First a flock of sheep parades down the street, herded by farmers protesting Julie’s antiwool stance. Then Julie’s celebrity chef sister appears, and the siblings resume a long-standing rivalry. Despite all this, Julie’s workshop has sold out. Libby is thrilled, and they’re preparing for a full house. But the night before the event, Julie is found alone in the warehouse event space—dead. The witty “Watch Julie Wilson Dye” workshop title now has a terrible new meaning—and it’s up to Libby to catch a crafty killer. Praise for The Riverbank Knitting Mysteries “Delightfully clever! As warm and cozy as a handmade sweater. Readers will love Allie Pleiter’s new series.”— New York Times bestselling author Krista Davis “Allie Pleiter skillfully knits together endearing characters, a leap-off-the-page setting, and a delightfully perplexing mystery with this debut.”— USA Today bestselling author Laura Bradford “Allie Pleiter’s first Riverbank Knitting Mystery has all the elements needed for a successful series, particularly a great hook.”—Criminal Element “Pleiter excels at creating characters you care about, and On Skein of Death is no exception. . . . A well-plotted mystery, clever red herrings, and intriguing layers give the book its focus, and the lovely hint of romance potential will appeal to spark-loving readers like me without alienating mystery purists. I can’t wait for the next book!”—Reading Is My Superpower “Even those who have no particular interest in knitting or crafting will doubtlessly enjoy On Skein of Death.”—Brianne’s Book Reviews An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and firm believer that “pie makes everything better,” Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and nonfiction, working on as many as four books at a time. The bestselling author of more than fifty books, Allie has enjoyed a twenty-year career, with over 1.5 million books sold. In addition to writing, Allie maintains an active writing productivity coaching practice and speaks regularly on the creative process, publishing, and her very favorite topic—the Chunky Method of time management for writers. Chapter One   My best friend, Margo Payne, was watching me closely.   That's not unusual. Margo always eyes my every bite when I taste a new goody from her shop. I'm used to my role as Unofficial Treat Taster for the Perfect Slice pie shop coming with a side of scrutiny. As friendships go, it's a pretty sweet trade-off.   Margo should know she has no reason to worry. I've loved every new creation she's ever made. In fact, I love the treats in her pie shop as much as she loves the yarn in my yarn shop. It's a marvelous little circle of admiration-perhaps it's a triangle if you add in my English bulldog, Hank, who is as fond of Margo's goodies as I am. Hank may be Y.A.R.N.'s official shop mascot, but the way he stares longingly across Collin Avenue toward Margo's windows, I could make an argument that he's also the official Perfect Slice Pup.   I was sitting in my knit shop, Y.A.R.N., on a Thursday afternoon in April. Surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colorful yarns, amazing textures, and gorgeous needlework, I happily tasted delicious pie made by a good friend. I'd say this was a wonderful day, but the lovely truth is that days like this are delightfully ordinary. The gathering table at the center of my shop is often filled with good food-brought by Margo, myself, my mom, or many of my customers. I'm often surrounded by knitters who are more like friends than patrons, by the historic beauty of my hometown of Collinstown, Maryland, and by the sheer bliss of doing exactly what I think I'm here on earth to do: make beautiful things with yarn and help others do the same.   But I digress-back to the pie. I took one more bite before putting Margo out of her misery. "Relax. It's delicious."   She exhaled as if my rave was ever in question. We've been friends-true-blue-tell-it-like-it-is friends-since high school. She knows I would tell her if it didn't meet my high expectations for Margo's pies (it has never happened). I love everything she bakes, and my dress size-which, no, I will not reveal-proves it.   "How did you manage it?" I asked with my mouth full. In this particular instance, the pie was more delicious than I'd imagined.   Margo gave a victorious smile. "Gluten-free pie-well, good