Good Morning Bookish World :)
I hope you're all doing well, and I want to thank you all for joining me here on The Preppy Book Princess.
Let me ask you, are you a fan of cozy mysteries?
I adore them (as long as they actually are cozy and clean), and I've come to have quite a few favorite series within this genre over the years.
Last year, one of my all time favorite Love Inspired authors Allie Pleiter tried her hand at a cozy mystery series for the first time, and I was lucky enough to get to be on her street team for it.
I didn't completely love the first title in the series, but the second one was a wonderful addition, and I was very much looking forward to diving into the third, especially since it's a Christmas themed mystery.
If you'd like to check out my reviews of the first two books in the series, you can do so using the links below, otherwise keep on reading for my review of the upcoming third title in the series.
It Came Upon a Midnight Shear by Allie Pleiter:
Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Publisher and Author via NetGalley as Part of the Author's Street Team
Publisher: Berkley Books
Publication Date: November 1st, 2022
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Contemporary Mystery/Christmas Read
Series: Riverbank Knitting Mystery
Synopsis:
A murder in her yarn shop's backyard puts Libby Beckett's holiday plans on thin ice....
The holiday season looks merry and bright for Libby and her friends at Y.A.R.N. The store is expanding for a holiday boom, and she's gathered Collinstown's businesses to decorate a community Christmas tree. Dashing "Gallant Herdsman" Vincenzo Marani arrives to showcase the rare vicu�a, whose coat produces the world's most luxurious yarn. It's a perfect yuletide--until Libby's ex-husband, Sterling, turns up in town...and then turns up dead.
The murder unravels Libby's life faster than a hand-knit Christmas stocking. The luxe yarn goes missing, Sterling's domineering family comes to town, and the vicu�a attempt an escape. If Libby can't stitch up a solution to the case, she may be trading in her knitting needles for a set of handcuffs.
(synopsis from goodreads)
My Review:
It Came Upon a Midnight Shear is the third installment in Allie Pleiter's Riverbank Knitting Mystery series, and it ended up being my favorite of the three. I expected to enjoy this one, as cozy mysteries with a Christmas setting are usually my favorite, but it ended up far surpassing my expectations.
It was wonderful to get another visit to Collinstown, and get a first hand view to how all the residents were preparing for the approaching holiday season. Of course it wouldn't be a visit to Collinstown without Libby finding herself in the midst of another murder mystery, and this time it hits even closer to home when the murder is of none other than Libby's ex-husband Sterling. I have to say that I was quite surprised that the author chose to go that direction with the murder, but it added an extra depth to the story as the reader finally gets more information on what caused their marriage to break down, and gets a first hand look at the strained relationship that exists between Libby and the rest of Sterling's family.
I loved the addition of the Vicuna and the "Gallant Herdsman", as I've never heard of this animal before, and I loved discovering the tidbits about how sought after their wool has become for knitting enthusiasts. I don't often feel like I walk away from cozy mysteries having "learned" new things, so that was a fun surprise, and definitely aided my enjoyment of an already great story.
Overall, this was a wonderful cozy mystery with a charming setting, quirky characters, a well rounded plot, and a mystery that kept me guessing right through until the end. I found myself engaged with the story right from the get go, and I didn't want to put it down once I started. I was content with how everything wrapped up, and I hope there's going to be more to come from this series in the future.
Definitely check this one out if you're a fan of cozy mysteries.
Final Rating: 5/5.
Thanks so much to the author and Berkley Books for allowing me to advance read and review this one!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Berkely Books) and the author (Allie Pleiter) via NetGalley as part of her street team. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.
Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)
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