Purls Before Swine (Clear Creek Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Rocky Mountains
Independently Published (March 23, 2023)
Length: ~250 pages

Synopsis

Autumn has arrived in the Rocky Mountains. The resort that was almost the death of the small town of Clear Creek is trying to mend relations by hosting a local artisan show.

Jemma has been asked to create a display showing beginner projects all the way up to expert. Hoping to knit up attention for the shops in Clear Creek, she agrees. The last thing she expects is to trip over a body in the middle of the exhibits.

Curiosity piqued, she wants to know how someone was killed under the watchful eyes of the resort’s security staff — headed by the man she loves.

Even though her past experiences have taught Jemma she doesn’t want to be anywhere near a killer, when Deputy Chase surprises everyone by asking for her help she can’t bring herself to say no. Because if the killer isn’t bound off before the resort guests leave, someone will get away with murder.

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Review

This has been such a fun series to watch grow. The characters are engaging and complex, the mystery is well crafted, and there is a romance to round things out.

Jemma is a fun character. She has seen the world yet can’t boil water. However, that adds to her charm. Yet, in future books, we might see that change based on some hints in this novel. But then it might have just been me reading between the lines.

It is nice to see cozy protagonists work well with the police. Deputy Matthew Chase seeks her assistance, much to her boyfriend’s objections, because she has a way of putting pieces together and helping solve the crimes. This story is no different, and as usual, she figures out the truth in the end when it is almost too late.

I thought it was an interesting twist to set the crime away from her town. While we still see some activity in her village, especially when it comes to her shop, having the bulk of the story elsewhere just added another layer to this series. The resort is where Brandon is employed (the boyfriend), so it still pulls in elements of their relationship and reflects the ties between the two locations.

I have to admit that I didn’t guess the killer. I went down another path, and I couldn’t have been further from the truth. There are a few clues to help you solve the mystery on your own, but they aren’t obvious. So pull out those detective skills when reading this novel.

This is a fun series that is pushing me to learn how to knit. I don’t know that I will pick up any needles to do that, but it is fun imagining the soft yarn and the possible creations.

We give this book 5 paws up.

About the Author

Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.

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