Black Sheep & Company Mystery

The first in a new series spinning off from Anne Canadeo's popular Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries, as four knitting friends and sleuthing heroines take some big steps in their lives. Maggie has changed the name of her shop to The Black Sheep & Co and the group is preparing for Lucy's wedding, but first there's a murder for them to solve on their girls only getaway to Maine! A relaxing girls' getaway turns deadly for the Black Sheep Knitters when a pushy killer is on the prowl. As their beloved Black Sheep member Lucy Binger prepares to tie the knot, the closely knit group decide they need a weekend to unwind before the big day. Suzanne Cavanaugh has just the spot-her friend Amy lives in a luxury New England community on Osprey Island, renowned for its famous cliff walk and spectacular ocean views, and she would be happy to host the knitters. Shortly after their arrival, however, the idyllic setting turns into a crime scene. The body of a prominent resident of Osprey Shores is discovered on the rocky coastline below the cliffs and evidence suggests his fatal misstep was no accident. The well-known victim was not so well liked, it turns out, with many enemies eager to send him into an early-and permanent-retirement. When the investigation focuses on Amy's husband, the knitters step in to untangle the clues. But with this crafty killer on the edge, the Black Sheep must walk a fine line-and look before they leap to any deadly conclusions. Story Locale: The books are set in Plum Harbor, Mass. (where the knitting shop is) and the main characters go to the fictional island entitled Osprey Island (reminiscent of Block Island, MA).

When a fellow Black Sheep Knitter is suspected of poisoning her coworker, the group puts down their needles and takes up their friend's defense . . . Suzanne Cavanaugh has just about had it with her office rival at Prestige Properties. It's bad enough that Liza Devereaux is constantly needling her at work, but when she shows up at one of Suzanne's open houses to poach potential buyers, it's the last straw. No one in the office fails to hear the two snarling at each other. When Liza is later found dead in her office cubicle-poisoned by a diet shake-Suzanne becomes the prime suspect. It's soon discovered, though, that Liza had double-crossed so many around town and stashed their dark secrets in her designer handbags that anyone could be the culprit. The Black Sheep Knitters have no doubt their friend has been framed-but they need to prove it. Stirred to action, they get together to catch a sneaky killer who's trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes . .

The Black Sheep Knitters come to the aid of two sisters-one a victim and one a suspect ... Maggie Messina knows that knitting is not only enjoyable, it also calms both the mind and soul. She's happy to visit two sisters, Holly and Rose Piper, and teach them some simple stitches, while the rest of the Black Sheep knitters tag along. Dana Haeger has known the young women since they were children and is the closest thing to family the Pipers now have. Dana is especially concerned about Rose, who has been easily overwhelmed ever since a car accident many years ago. She is at her best managing the houseful of hounds that she rescues and shelters, while Holly runs the family nursery and remains devoted to Rose's care. The lesson goes well, but the knitters are troubled about the sisters living alone in such a remote corner of Plum Harbor. Their worst fears are realized when Holly is attacked in her greenhouse and the building set ablaze. Rose is found unconscious nearby, her dogs running wild. When she wakes, her memory is blank. Holly is hospitalized and unable to offer even a clue. The Black Sheep suspect a mysterious drifter who had talked his way into a few days of wages, and just as quickly, disappeared. Or was it their estranged stepbrother, Toby, full of family grievances and eager to make a claim on the estate? Or, heaven forbid ... was it Rose? Hovering over all these questions like an ominous shadow is a dark secret from the sisters' past. While it seems everything is unraveling, the knitters will need to keep their wits as sharp as their needles to prove Rose's innocence and stop a killer from striking again.