For fans of Betty Hechtman and Maggie Sefton,
the latest craft frenzy is Holly Quinn’s Handcrafted series debut.
the latest craft frenzy is Holly Quinn’s Handcrafted series debut.
The Blurb
Sammy Kane just moved back to her hometown to run a craft store. But when the owner of a nearby yarn shop is murdered, Sammy will needle little help finding the killer.
When a heartbroken Samantha “Sammy” Kane returns to her hometown of Heartsford, WI, for her best friend Kate’s funeral, she learns that Kate’s much-loved craft store is in danger of perishing with its owner. Confounding all her expectations of the life she would live, Sammy moves back home with her golden retriever and takes over Community Craft. A few doors down Main Street, fellow new arrival Ingrid Wilson has just opened the Yarn Barn, a real “purl” of a shop. But when Sammy strolls over to see if Ingrid could use a little help, she finds Ingrid’s dead body — with a green aluminum knitting needle lodged in her throat.
Detective Liam Nash is thrown for a loop as every single citizen of Heartsford seems to have a theory about Ingrid’s murder. And nearly everyone in town seems to be a suspect. But the last time Sammy did any sleuthing was as a little moppet. And this is not fun and games. Sammy is eager to help the handsome Liam — who seems to be endlessly inventive in finding reasons to talk with her — and when Liam arrests affable woodworker Miles Danbury, Sammy puts everything on the line to help clear Miles.
As the case comes dangerously close to unraveling, Sammy must stitch the clues together. But the killer has other plans — and if Sammy’s not careful, she may wind up in a perilous knot in A Crafter Knits a Clue, the first warm and woolly yarn of Holly Quinn’s new Handcrafted mysteries.
Detective Liam Nash is thrown for a loop as every single citizen of Heartsford seems to have a theory about Ingrid’s murder. And nearly everyone in town seems to be a suspect. But the last time Sammy did any sleuthing was as a little moppet. And this is not fun and games. Sammy is eager to help the handsome Liam — who seems to be endlessly inventive in finding reasons to talk with her — and when Liam arrests affable woodworker Miles Danbury, Sammy puts everything on the line to help clear Miles.
As the case comes dangerously close to unraveling, Sammy must stitch the clues together. But the killer has other plans — and if Sammy’s not careful, she may wind up in a perilous knot in A Crafter Knits a Clue, the first warm and woolly yarn of Holly Quinn’s new Handcrafted mysteries.
A Crafter Knits a Clue by Holly Quinn
Series: A Handcrafted Mystery, #1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publication Date: October 9, 2018
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover: 330 pages
ISBN-10: 1683317718
ISBN-13: 978-1683317715
e-Book File Size: 2536 KB
ASIN: B078LZ5ZM5
ISBN-10: 1683317718
ISBN-13: 978-1683317715
e-Book File Size: 2536 KB
ASIN: B078LZ5ZM5
The Guest Post
How the town in which the new Handcrafted Mystery Series is set was inspired
A Crafter Knits a Clue, the first book in the new Handcrafted Mystery series, is set in a small town called Heartsford, located in Wisconsin. Why do writers use a fictitious name when identifying a town? For me it’s a necessity. The characters in this new series are completely fictional, and don’t mimic anyone I know personally, or who would cross my path at a local business in town. No, I don’t have an Aunt Milli that acts like so and so… or a friend who looks like so and so… or even a barista that serves like so and so.... Nor is there a place called Community Craft, a coffee shop named Liquid Joy, or a Sweet Tooth Bakery in my town. These beautiful places of Heartsford only reside in my mind, and now dear reader in yours. The reason for the fictitious name is simple — I save myself a lot of heartache that way! I wouldn’t want to come across someone who thinks a character in my book is based on them, because potentially the character will totally misbehave in the text, and then I would get a tongue lashing for the “real” person feeling totally misrepresented. Because, let’s face it. In mysteries, characters always misbehave or at the very least show their quirks. Don’t they? Therefore, when I’m working on a series, everything — including the setting — is fictitious. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not inspired by certain locations within the neighboring communities where I currently reside. I take favorite attributes of different towns, file them away in my mind, and then morph them into one amazing place. For example: see below for a photo of a City Hall which I describe throughout the series. Isn’t it a lovely building?
How did I specifically come up with the name Heartsford then, you ask? I was mulling over a few different names and decided a walk in the fresh air might cleanse the overworked brain. To be perfectly candid, my husband and I then decided to take a stroll through the town of Hartford Wisconsin, and along the way we kept passing signs on the above light posts that said: The Heart of Hartford. And my husband blurted, “Heartsford!” and I replied, “I love it!” Pretty cool, right? Just like that… a town was born. I think you can see one of those signs in the photo too as it’s hanging on the light post in the right corner of the photo. Anyhow, inspiration is everywhere, you just must open your eyes and look for it— and maybe bring your husband to brainstorm! 😊
Thanks for letting me stop by! -Author Holly Quinn
The Author
About Holly Quinn
Holly Quinn is both an avid reader and crafter. Holly sells her artistic creations locally and dreamed of one day opening a gift shop to sell local artist’s handiwork. Instead, she began writing about it and thus her journey of the Handcrafted Mystery series was born.
Visit her @
The Giveaway
Follow the tour, to read other Guest Posts, plus interviews and reviews!
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
October 8 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 8 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
October 9 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
October 10 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
October 11 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 12 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
October 12 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – RECIPE POST
October 13 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 14 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 15 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
October 15 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 16 – Socrates' Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 17 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW
October 17 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - REVIEW
October 18 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 18 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 18 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 19 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 19 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
October 20 – The Book Diva's Reads – GUEST POST
October 20 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 - Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
October 21 - StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
October 8 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – SPOTLIGHT
October 9 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW
October 9 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 10 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW
October 10 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
October 11 – Jane Reads – GUEST POST
October 11 – A Cozy Experience – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 12 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW
October 12 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT
October 12 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – RECIPE POST
October 13 – A Blue Million Books – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 13 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
October 14 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW
October 14 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 15 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW
October 15 – The Montana Bookaholic - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
October 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW
October 16 – Socrates' Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 17 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW
October 17 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 17 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews - REVIEW
October 18 – Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – REVIEW
October 18 – Readeropolis – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
October 18 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT
October 19 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW
October 19 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
October 20 – The Book Diva's Reads – GUEST POST
October 20 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
October 21 - Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW
October 21 - StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
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