Needled to Death (Knitting Mysteries)

Book Description

Taking a troop of tourists to Vickie Claymore's alpaca farm doesn't earn knitter Kelly Flynn a warm welcome. Instead she finds Vickie splayed out on her original hand-woven rug, her blood seeping into the design.

Customer Reviews:

Needled to Death.......2007-09-18

The series by Maggie Sefton on kniting mystery stories are a fun read, especially for kniters. I have read the first one, Knit One, Kill Two, and just finished this one, Needled to Death. I think they get better as the series continues. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Love this series.......2007-09-09

This is the second of the series featuring cpa Kelly, who continues to feel at home in her aunts cottage in northern CO. I love to knit and spin and really like these books as light reading. "Needled to Death" gave me some tense moments, due to thinking that Kelly really should have been looking over her shoulder more when alone, but the author did not choose to put her in the kind of danger I imagined.

Could Have Been Better.......2007-06-07

Kelly Flynn is staying in Fort Connor, Colorado until she settles the estate of her late aunt and cousin. She was left a great deal of property and it may take months to settle the estate, and Kelly is beginning to think she may never leave. She is doing accounting work from her house, making friends, and enjoying learning how to knit. Since she is learning about different types of wools, she volunteers to take a group of tourists to visit Vickie Caymore's alpaca farm. To her shock, she finds Vickie's body. As the police investigate the murder, Kelly helps Vickie's daughter Debbie settle her financial matters. Debbie is convinced that her stepfather killed her mother because she was in the process of divorcing him, but he swears to Kelly he didn't do it and she begins to believe him. When the murderer strikes again, Kelly realizes she has to do what she can to stop the killer before someone else is killed.

While it had some good points, I found "Needled to Death" to be a disappointing mystery. For the most part, Kelly was a good heroine - still dealing with her aunt's death and trying to decide if she should stay in Colorado or go back to Washington, D.C. I loved her golf ball stealing dog, Carl. Her tentative romance with Steve was sweetly done. Some of the secondary characters such as Debbie, Jayleen, and Burt were well written. But much of the book was unbelievable. Kelly constantly worries about money, wondering whether she can afford to quit her D.C. job and work as a consultant in Colorado, yet she never seems to work instead spending her time knitting with her friends, drinking coffee, or playing softball. And considering the size of the estate her aunt left her, including a ranch in Wyoming with plenty of cattle, the constant fretting about money seemed overdone. The writing is sloppy - having characters named Burt and Curt confused me. As for the mystery itself, while the identity of the murderer may come as a surprise to readers, the second murder is so obviously telegraphed that readers will know which character is doomed long before the murder takes place. The book has some major editing issues - early in the book one of the suspects approaches Kelly at her cottage after she came home from Vickie's funeral, but at the end of the book she says he approached her while she was still at the funeral. That's sloppy writing and editing.

With some good editing and tighter writing "Needled to Death" could have been so much better.

Fun to read.......2007-05-26

This is a delightful, light mystery. The characters would make lovable real-life friends. The descriptions of the colors and textures of the yarns make me want to run out and learn how to knit just so I can experience the fun these characters have with their hobby.

Long on the Cozy Chitchat and Knitting, But Short on the Mystery.......2007-03-01

"Needled to Death" is the second offering in the Knitting mystery series by Colorado author Maggie Sefton. Set in the summer, a few months after accountant Kelly Flynn has arrived in Fort Connor to deal with her murdered aunt's estate, the mystery revolves around the death of Vickie Claymore, an alpaca rancher. Kelly and her friend Jennifer volunteered to escort a knitting tour group to visit Vickie's alpaca ranch, only to find Vickie's body in her ranch house with her throat cut. Kelly finds herself further involved in Vickie's affairs when she is hired by Vickie's daughter Debbie to help her prepare financial documents for her mother's estate.

Meanwhile, Kelly continues on her journey of learning to knit, with lots of cozy camaraderie with her knitting buddies at Fort Connor's House of Lambspun. Being an avid knitter myself, I really enjoyed reading of Kelly's growth in knitting. I enjoyed the information about alpace ranching woven into this tale. Also, Kelly and her friends take a trip to Wyoming to inspect the ranch which Kelly inherited from her cousin.

This book was a very quick read, and the continuing development of the character of Kelly and her friends kept my attention. The book was a cozy and enjoyable one to read, I was just a little disappointed in the lack of development of the mystery. I hope that the next book in this series has a bit more mystery to it.

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Needled to Death

Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739460765

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Needled to Death

Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1405637323

Average customer rating:

Needled to Death

Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1405637315

Customer Reviews:

Good Story, Bad Cover.......2007-03-20

Good story that is hard to put down, although it moves a bit slow. The character, Declan, is a bit whiny, but, Rose is delightful. The thing that bothers me the most is the book cover. Most people probably don't think the cover of the book matters, but, sometimes it's what sparks your first interest. If I hadn't read the synopsis, I would not have purchased this book. The cover gives the reader the impression that this book is of lower grade. Also, the cover actor is not attractive and doesn't even remotely resemble the description of the character in the book. I think there would be more readers if the cover were more appealing.

I could have been five, but it fell short.......2006-01-19

I loved reading this book, I thought Rose was a great character, she was funny, sarcastic and tough when it needed done. But, Declan was such a big whiny baby. Could it be more about him?! Yes, fame and fortune come with a price, but hey people seem to live with it. He acted like he was the only one that this had ever happend to. All else was good.

Nice Afternoon Read.......2005-12-08

`The sexiest dead man alive' by Jane Blackwood has a mix of romance, hot tempers and grieving parents. Declan has been hiding out in his fortress for two years and then hires Rose to be his personal chef. Rose was hired for the job without ever meeting her new boss but has the `hots' for him by just his voice. The secondary story of parents dealing with their little daughter's death was heartbreaking. This was pleasant afternoon read. I would recommend this novel and A Hard Man Is Good To Find by Jane Blackwood.

Quirky and endearing love story.......2005-08-01

Declan is a famous singer and songwriter. He lived life in the fast lane, and after a fatal tragedy left his brother dead, he decided to take a breather, and then allowed the world to think he was dead.

Fast forward several years, and his career as a songwriter continues, though in secrecy. He writes songs for dying children, and when one of his songs garners a lot of attention, he is afraid that his insular life will change. Coincidentally, he has just hired a sexy new chef (he was tired of all those TV dinners).

He lives the dark, and communicates with Rosalie via sound system. She has never met him, but really likes the voice. When she goes to investigate an odd noise, and finds the security guard out cold, she runs into his room, and discovers who her mystery boss is. Soon the two are involved in a passionate relationship that is soon threatened when a private investigator is hot on Declan's tail regarding that song.

Though Declan loves Rosalie, he does not want to thrust her into the public out of fear that it will destroy her life as it did his brother. He is also a little disconcerted that she appears to have taken her status as his former chef to make a name for herself (though she denies all rumors that they were intimate).

Will Declan get over his fears and welcome Rosalie into his heart? The plot is inventive and fresh and the characters quirky and endearing. Each chapter begins with a menu item which no doubt is on the menu at Rosalie's restaurant. You won't regret picking this one up!

Funny, Funny, Funny.......2005-07-06

I loved this book! I have passed it around to all my friends, and they have all enjoyed it. I will read just about anything, and this is one of the funniest ever. Yet it doesn't forget the romance, or the plot. This book has it all. If I find myself in a bad mood, all I have to do is pick it up and start reading anywhere, and the bad mood is gone.

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SEXIEST DEAD MAN ALIVE -- BARGAIN BOOK
JANE BLACKWOOD
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M8RGZC

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Keep The Giraffe Burning
John Sladek
Manufacturer: Wildside Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1587154196

Book Description

If you're interested in expanding your wine horizons to include the reds, such as Merlot, Pinot Noir, or Cabernet, Red Wine For Dummies will help you through the maze of red wines. Wine connoisseurs Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan have tasted their way through the wine-growing regions of Northern California and France (as well as Oregon, Washington, New York, Australia, South America, and South Africa). The result of their ventures is a handy guide featuring more than 1,000 red wine recommendations, tips to help you pair red wine with food, a complete glossary of wine jargon, and a helpful wine vintage chart. You won't want to explore the world of red wine without this handy reference at your fingertips.

Amazon.com

The authors of Wine for Dummies and White Wine for Dummies have produced a handy primer on the fundamentals of red wine. After a brief introduction to the varieties of grapes and the seven classic types of red wine, the reader (and taster!) is introduced to the world's greatest offerings, including less recognized wines from Chile and Australia. The familiar Dummies-style "Part of Tens" includes 10 wine-tasting exercises using affordable vintages.

Customer Reviews:

Self asserted Dummy.......2005-11-30

I'm glad to see that so many people do not mind applying the term "dummy" to themselves when it comes to trying new things. Even though the black and yellow cover clashes horribly with my copies of Emmerson and Tennyson on the bookshelf, I am not ashamed. I would hope that the self-professed "snob" who wrote one off these reviews has the sense not only to use his large vocabulary with caution, but also to spell "label" properly when communicating how snobbish s/he is.

Easy to understand, complete in its coverage.......2004-12-13

As I wrote in a previous review of The Sommelier's Guide to Wine, I am just beginning my introduction to the fascinating world of wine. While the former book has been invaluable, so has this - Red Wine for Dummies.

As always, the language is very accessible and the subject material easy to understand, even when some of the more difficult or intimidating aspects of wine are discussed (such as when and why to decant, picking a wine, a guide to wine terms, etc.)

The descriptions of the grapes themselves are marvelous. For example, here is the description for a Zinfandel (yes, Zinfandel is a red grape - White Zinfandel [all apologies to those who like it] is a wine made by ruining the grape): "The Zinfandel grape gives good color to the red wines made from it, along with bramble-berry fruit flavors and aromas and a spicy character. The intensity of the wine varies according to where grapes grew and how old the vines are; some very old (80 to 100 years) vineyards make wines that are full bodied and dense with flavor. More typically, Zinfandel makes wines that are medium bodied, with succulent fruit and medium tannin." Sure there are descriptions in fancy wine magazines that are more complete, but chances are you wouldn't have the slightest idea what they're talking about.

This book also covers regions where wines are made, climates, soil, and everything that goes into producing a good red wine. It's a superb book for a beginner.

Easy and logical to follow.......2002-11-27

Liked the presentaion of the information - like most of the Dummy series, the book is well researched and useful even as a quick reference or to read through cover to cover.

Writing you can use.......2001-09-20

What a joy. This quick, fun read is well worth your time.
Wine for Dummies is like having your own personal expert with a sense of humor.
I live in Europe and applied this book to my "studies" of wine by buying bottles and tasting. The lessons in the back are fun and fantastic.
Good reading and tasting!

You get what you pay for.......2001-02-05

I must start by saying that I am a snob. I am also a lover of wines of all types. But I am NOT a "Wine Snob." I am not impressed by fancy talk, great names or, especially, high price tags. That being said, I think this book has a LOT of good information in it, but anyone who buys this book is selling themselves short, and a good many people will outgrow this volume in short order. Wine can be a "Highbrow" and intimidating subject, but that veneer has been eroding steadily over the past few decades as the Wine industry has been trying to increase its market share vis a vis beer, and the supply-side of the market has expanded exponentially. The fact is, wine is easy to enjoy and simple to understand at its basics,and the wine snobs of old have known this for quite some time. Great wines are affordable by most these days, availability is better than it has EVER been, and information about wines is practically dripping off each bottle. All of the info you need to understand the wine world is included in the "Big name" wine books these days, and it is as accessible as ever. I would recommend spending a bit more money for a new or used copy of the wine atlases of Oz Clarke or Hugh Johnson, (check online auctions)and every couple of years purchase a buying guide by the same authors. You will have much more information for the money, it will serve you longer, and you don't have to identify yourself as a "Dummy." Frankly, I think the term is relative and ought not be self applied. At any rate, you shouldn't be paying someone else to lable yourself as such, regardless of how well the moniker fits.

Amazon.com

Revised for the '90s, the second edition of Good Dog, Bad Dog serves up the same sound training philosophy--one grounded in love, praise, and affection--found in the original and offers updated and expanded information that enables you to tailor Fido's training according to his temperament. Authors Mordecai Siegal and Matthew Margolis introduce readers to the five basic canine temperament types--strong-willed, shy, high-energy/outgoing, calm/easygoing, and aggressive--and then discuss every aspect of training, from housebreaking, sit, stay, and heel, to down-stay, come when called, and problem behavior, providing "customized training techniques to match the various personalities." A new chapter on bonding with your dog and an expanded dictionary of training behavior for more than 100 breeds makes Good Dog, Bad Dog a training treat good for dogs and owners alike. --Stefanie Hargreaves

Book Description

A best-selling classic since 1971, this practical guide to home training has been completely updated and expanded, with customized tips for one hundred different breeds.

Customer Reviews:

Good Dog, Dead Dog.......2006-10-10

Before I give my review, a few facts. Dogs are the first domesticated animal, with humans selectively "designing" canis familiaris, beginning somewhere around 14,000 to 200,000 years ago. So it should come as no surprise that with that kind of conjoint relationship, we selected for attentive behavior. They've helped us hunt our food, herd and protect our flocks and us, and acted as companions.
What's it all mean? It means that most dogs are really easy to train. Almost anything works. Food rewards, placing the animal into the desired position, operant or classic conditioning (clicker training) or punishment. The operative word in that last sentence is "most." I've read most books on dog training and almost any of the techniques offered will work with some dogs. But you don't want your dog trained! You want your dog obedient. It sits. Terrific. Does it sit when it wants to or when you want it to. Do you say sit, sit, sit, sit.... Do you plead with your dog to come? Do you have to lure your dog with a treat that's visible? Then you don't have an obedient dog. You have a dog that has been trained to do certain things and it will do them when it chooses to. I call those dogs dead. Because the first time that dog gets out of the house and sees little Tommy riding his scooter, your dog is going to take off and get run over. The dog is going to think, hmmm, piece of cheese or run after Tommy (or a bunny or another dog or an ice cream truck)Tommy often wins the toss.
We seem to have developed a softer, kinder view of training. Hooey. K9 cops, the military and SAR dog trainers don't use these techniques. Why. They are not reliable and when you tell your dog to sit/stay or come, you want reliable. Your dog's life may be at stake. One of the more popular books, talking about R+, which means positive reinforcement, slips in a sentence in the middle of the book, that goes something like, "of course in certain situations where the dog's life may be in danger, corrections may be necessary..." As to Dolphins trainers who use clickers or whistles and are trying to convince you that the same techniques can work with dogs, don't you believe it. Let me see them go through their paces, with the tank filled with food fish. You are training so that your dog will ignore distractions and pay attention only to its handler, you. That's what this is all about. If you don't mind being pulled down the block or fighting your dog for your favorite position on the couch, then pass this book up. And if you are not prepared to really, really correct the dog when it lunges at another dog, then just go watch some tv. This book tells us to do with dogs, what we do(or should do) with our children when they don't pay attention. (No, I am not advocating choke collars for kids - but come to think about it, it's not such a bad idea!) The dog is "corrected" with a brief, but clearly recognizable (to the dog) snap on a choke collar. And when the dog does what we ask it to, we make an exaggerated and very loud, GOOD DOGGIE." We don't hit the dog, we don't destroy it's spirit, we are teaching the dog that it needs to do what it knows how to do, when we want it to do it. And the book makes it clear that there are different kinds of dogs and therefore different approaches. Pay attention to what kind of dog that you have. You don't correct an adolescent Lab the same way I would correct a 7-year old poodle you just took home from the pound, and I wouldn't correct a very sensitive, "soft" or scared dog the way I would a dog that is obstinate. This is a 5 star book. It isn't the only book you should have, though, It leaves out hand signals and I use them extensively and it leaves out, as one reviewer points out, the "leave it" command. It also leaves out the "get the tire" , "get the bone," "get the toy" and "move over" commands which I've taught my GSD after she went through obedience training with this book. Use food for tricks. If the dog doesn't do the trick, no harm done. But when you say, "Fido come." Fido should come - immediately, without a pause, without looking around, without deciding whether there's something else it would rather be doing. Once your dog has basic on-leash obedience training, the sky is the limit on what the dog is capable of.

Do not purchase.......2006-04-20

These books relies entirely on the use of aversives (collar choking) with dog training and does not use strong positive reinforcers like food. The methods are 50 years outdated and did not work at all with my dog. If you really want to know how your dog learns and how to teach him what you want him to do, buy Jean Donaldson's Culture Clash, perhaps the best book ever written about dogs.

Out dated methods.......2005-03-03

There is some basic good information in this book, but there are many out dated methods also. I like using positive techniques and this book suggests otherwise for some dogs. It also fails to mention many more of the techniques that we are using today. I would not recommend this book unless you have more background knowledge in dog training and can tell the good from the bad.

Uncle Matty's the best!.......2005-01-15

I live in Southern California where we hear Uncle Matty on the radio, and I got one of his trainers to come out and work with our dogs. It works!!

Missing some key points.......2003-05-28

This book is great if you have a dog that is having problems with obedience. It keys on different dog personalities and ways for the dog to become obedient. However, this book falls short on several items. For example, it fails to give the importance of hand signal commands and verbal commands at the same time. (It does list it on some commands but not all). My two golden retrievers listen more to our hand commands than they do our words and tone. Secondly, it misses some other minor, but important commands. My favorite is the "Leave It" command, that is not listed in this book. We use this one on walks, when our dogs want to pick up every leaf and piece of paper left on the ground. This has to be one of the most effective commands that I have needed.

I would highly recommend getting a couple of dog training books rather than one. I haven't found one that gives me all the information that I need. If you are looking for a great second book, I would recommend "Good Owners, Great Dogs". Happy training.

Customer Reviews:

intro.to ornamental pheasants.......2000-11-17

As a novice pheasant keeper,this book brought to my attention the importance of proper care of your birds and feeding diet, Its not just food & water! That there should be a reason for one to keep these wonderful and (some endangered) birds,making a profit is not one of them. Breed to improve there odds of existence Thank You R.C.R. Howman. Joseph Correia

Book Description

Colorful and sometimes complex textiles are still produced in many parts of the world using only the simplest tools and equipment. The Art of the Loom focuses on eight areas of special interest--Navaho weaving in North America; Bedouin textiles in the Middle East; West African narrow-strip weaving; Indonesian textiles; "kasuri" resist dyeing in Japan; inlay weaving in Nepal; brocaded motifs from Guatemala; and Peruvian tapestry weaving--and describes the fibers used, the methods of spinning and dyeing, the types of loom and the techniques of weaving. Examples of the best textiles from each area are supplemented with numerous photographs of spinners, weavers, and dyers at work, and diagrams showing how the various effects are achieved. As well as providing students and anthropologists with a valuable insight into working methods in a wide variety of traditional communities, this book and the exciting textiles it illustrates will be an endless source of ideas and inspiration for practicing weavers.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Inspiring.......2003-11-14

The Art of the Loom is really inspirational for a beginning weaver like myself. There are beautiful color and black and white photographs of stunning pieces from around the world and throughout time, and people weaving on many different types of traditional looms. There are also illustrations explaining how much of the weaving is done, although many of them were difficult for me to digest as I am brand new at weaving. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in traditional and multi-cultural weaving.

The Art of the Loom: Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing Across the World

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The Art of the Loom: Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing Across the World
Ann Hecht
Manufacturer: Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P0PRB2

Customer Reviews:

Passionate and Fantastic.......2002-05-03

I was assigned this book in a U.S. Literature tfrom 1929 course. I loved it. I found Hammad's constant use of the words "drops of this story" intriguing. It seemed to me that it was representative of the piece itself. She was giving the reader little drops of her own personal story, so when she shifted to another part of her story she let the reader know.She is a passionate and gifted writer. Her insight and honesty make "Drops of this Story" a compelling piece to read. Please write more Hammad.

A thoughtful and lively story.......2000-12-17

I enjoyed reading Hammad's book because her voice was so authentic. I think her story would be particularly valuable to immigrants and the children of immigrants because many of the issues she faced are common to people in similar situations. While I've decided to use this book in a college composition class next semester, I did hesitate somewhat because of the very "spoken" (read "ungrammatical") language of the text, but I think her messages outweigh any language concerns. I also strongly believe that the Palestinians' story is one that needs to be shared, and Hammad does a nice job of introducing it in a personal way. A couple of things I did find annoying, though, were the unending references to those "drops" and also a couple typos within the text that should have been caught by an editor before going to print. All in all, though, it's a quick and enjoyable read that encourages thought.

Palestinian Homegirl "Drops" the Ball.......2000-10-31

Suheir Hammad shows a lot of promise as a poet. Her collection of poetry titled BORN PALESTINIAN BORN BLACK is both a refreshing and intelligent voice from a seldom heard Palestinian American minority. Unfortunately, as a memoirist, she still has a long way to go to develop an ear for good and engaging prose. DROPS IN THIS STORY is not only a painfully thin volume but it also lacks cohesion and depth. Suheir's publisher would have done her a favor by handing her back this manuscript and telling her to come back in ten years when she had something better to say.

Hammad routinely ripples the water on the surface many subjects that beg for deeper analysis. From sexism and bigotry to her parent's ill fated attempt at finding her a suitor. From her father's alcoholism to cutting her long virginal hair to simply being-an-American-while-looking-like-a-Puerto-Rican-and-not speaking-a-lick-of-Arabic. Instead of delving into these funny and painful experiences in her coming of age story , Hammad sticks them to the pages of her memoir like post-it notes, reminding the reader of events that don't connect.

What the reader is left with is scattered pages from some one else's diary that never quite bridges the gap into becoming a real memoir.

Hammad routinely talks about her DROPS--this constant "wetness" that begs her to write, demands that she write...but the story as it was published isn't memorable. One reflection in DROPS recants the story of a waiter asking Suhier what she does:

"I'm a writer," she says

"What do you write about?" he asks.

"Myself," she answers to which he retorts,

"How boring."

'Tis

Beautiful story @ a Palestinian woman in search of herself!.......1999-05-09

Drops of this Story is a deeply moving and emotionally written book about what it is like to be Palestinian, a woman of color. In her search for identity, Suheir writes of her madness and fears, strengths and beauty, pride, culture,and longing. Her beautiful spirit sings with each word that she writes. A True Writer!!

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