Knot Ready for Murder - (Quilting Mystery) by Mary Marks (Paperback)

Martha Rose has finally agreed to marry her long-suffering fiancé, but Crusher has a shock for her. He’s just learned that a marriage he thought was annulled decades ago never was. Even worse, his wife is coming to LA to visit. When Hadas arrives, she quickly makes it obvious that she is not going to let Crusher go easily. But then she is kidnapped. Can Martha figure out what is going on? Or is Crusher now a widower? The previously unmentioned spouse is a trope I hate for being too much like a soap opera, but once we get past that, this proves to be a good mystery. There are plenty of surprises along the way to a great climax. While we do get a new over the top character here, the rest of the cast have been toned down some, which I appreciated. On the other hand, I wish we’d seen more of some of them, especially since this is the final book in the series. Fans who have read the entire series will be delighted with the final chapter, which sends the characters out well. As always, I enjoyed seeing towns I recognized pop up, but I really enjoyed seeing a local pizza place show up. I’ll miss spending time with these characters, but I was smiling when I set the book down.

Knot Ready for Murder by Mary Marks is the 9th A Quilting Mystery. It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on watching the characters meet and become friends. We get to see characters develop over the course of the series. I like that the protagonist as well as the other characters are mature. I want to thank the author for giving us a main character who has fibromyalgia. Readers get to see what someone with the disease experiences (the day-to-day pain, trouble sleeping, the severe migraines). Martha Rose is ready to marry her fiancé, Crusher and announces it to the family at Friday’s Sabbath dinner. Martha soon learns that she spoke too quickly when Crusher tells her that he has recently learned that he is still married. Martha had no idea that Crusher had ever been wed. Crusher’s “wife” is on her way to California with his sister. Martha is looking forward meeting Fanya, Crusher’s sister. Martha soon learns that Hadas, the little “wifey”, has no intention of letting go of Crusher. When Hadas is kidnapped from Martha’s home, she sets out to find the errant wife with help from Fanya and her friends. If Martha wants her happily ever after, she needs to get Hadas to sign the divorce papers. I thought Knot Ready for Murder was well-written with steady pacing. I always love visiting Martha Rose and the Tuesday quilting group. They are a group of quirky characters that provide humor and energy. I learned new information about quilting as Martha teaches Fanya how to quilt plus Jewish customs. Judaism is a fascinating religion. I enjoyed learning more about their traditions. The mystery was fun. Martha Rose was challenged in tracking down Crusher’s missing “wife”. I had a good time joining Martha Rose, Giselle, and Fanya as they set out to locate Hadas. Fanya was certainly a hoot. She is an over-the-top character who is a wallpaper hanger who knows krav maga and is extremely superstitious. Fanya’s antics had me laughing frequently. I loved the epilogue. It was just the ending needed. Knot Ready for Murder was a special story and fans of A Quilting Mystery series will be delighted. Knot Ready for Murder is an entertaining whodunit with a missing mate, a superstitious sister, a frantic fiancé, quilting quips, a disparaging detective, a frustrated FBI agent, and a woman who is eager to wed.