Murder in Merino by Sally Goldenbaum

Murder in Merino by Sally Goldenbaum ISBN-13: 9780451415370 Trade Paperback: 334 pages Publisher: Obsidian Released: May 5, 2015

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Izzy Perry is busy helping the Knitters make a throw to celebrate her aunt and uncle’s fortieth wedding anniversary, and she’s finally selling the cottage she lived in before she got married. A mysterious but friendly vacationer to Sea Harbor, Julia Ainsley, wants to buy the home even though she’s never been inside.

On the day of the open house, a body is uncovered in the cottage’s backyard. Julia’s name and phone number, found in the victim’s pocket, instantly make her a person of interest. Soon, though, the spotlight of suspicion widens to include old friends. Now the Seaside Knitters must unravel the real reason Julia has come to town and this leads to a tragedy, long buried, slowly coming to the surface.


My Review:
Murder in Merino is a cozy mystery. It's the eighth in the series, but you don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, and this story didn't spoil the previous mysteries.

This author really puts the warm and cozy into her cozy mystery. The main characters are very nice, caring people. They also react realistically to events. The author shows the impact that a murder can have on a small community and how past decisions can come back to bite you. The heroines asked reasonable questions, were good listeners, and looked into angles where the police might not have access but the Knitters did because they were friends of the people involved.

About halfway through, I had two strong suspects based on suspicious hints more than clues. The clues didn't narrow things down much until nearly the end. Once the final clues were found, it was clear which of my two suspects was the murderer and why. The mystery of Julia also kept me fully engaged in the story.

There was no sex. There was a minor amount of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this warm, cozy mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


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