In the latest installment of the Crochet Mysteries, Molly Pink and her friends of the Tarzana Hookers are at a retreat during the renovation of the book shop where they work. It all begins fine, until Molly's beau Mason asks her to help him in finding a thief at his friend's home, which is nearby. Someone in the entertainment industry is getting wed, and the hosts want it all to go smoothly. Mason introduces her as his cousin, and all seems to be going fine there as well until the groom-to-be is found murdered.

Now not only is Molly involved, but her ex, homicide detective Barry Greenberg is handling the case and doesn't like that she's involved...but it doesn't stop him from asking her what she knows. Molly has her hands full with trying to find a killer and keep her fellow hookers from tearing each other's throats apart with fighting. Hopefully, she'll come out of it alive...

I've read these books with interest, but I must admit that Molly's waffling between Barry and Mason had put me off for a while. The reason being is that I absolutely detest love triangles. Think of it this way: if it had been a man stringing along a woman you'd think him a dog or worse. But it seems to be okay in books when a woman does it (shakes her head). I'll never understand.

Getting that out of the way, Molly has come to some sort of conclusion at least. The mystery is done very well, and the clues are there, although they are far between. It's intriguing watching how Molly's mind works and she puts everything together. Even when it seems it might be a waste of time, it isn't. She definitely knows what she's doing.

To top it off, her fellow Hooker and sometimes nemesis Adele is having trouble in her marriage, and wants the other women's help without actually asking for it. She tells them she's left her husband, but has she? It seems the days of roses has left the bush, and she's not so willing to begin again.

With all this to look forward to, along with a jealous girlfriend of Mason's, Molly knows she can't let the case go until it's solved. Nor does she want to. With both Mason and Barry looking on, Molly watches every step...until the one that might be her last...

The/e book was very good, and the plot was excellent. The reason for the murder seemed like it wouldn't be worth it, but then again, I'm not as murderer. Who knows what goes on in someone's mind when they're prepared to kill? The subplot was rather funny, although these women would drive me up a wall if I had to spend time with them.

In the end, it all came together nicely and I did like how it ended (with my own opinions held aside that I disagreed with things); and I enjoyed the tale immensely. For anyone who loves the Molly Pink mysteries, this one is just as good as the others. Recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

I haven't read one of the Crochet Mystery stories in years, and I will admit that it's because I'm not crazy about Molly Pink, the protagonist. I just don't seem to be able to gel with her as a reader. But I wanted to give the series another try, and the latest was made available to me via Net Galley. The bookstore where Molly's crochet group meets is closed for renovations, so Molly and the Tarzana Hookers decamp to Pixie, a nearby resort town, for a relaxing weekend. Mason, Molly's former beau, asks her to accompany him to a pre-wedding reception his client is giving in, of all places, Pixie--what a coincidence. Someone keeps pilfering small items whenever Jerry R and his wife, Lisa, host one of their gala parties, and Mason thinks that Molly can help him identify the kleptomaniac. But then someone is killed, and Molly finds that finding a thief takes a back seat to finding a killer. Still not my favorite series, still not sure I actually like Molly, and liking the main character is a basic requirement to keep my attention. The series isn't gory or terrible, it's just kind of dull to me. But this is book 16, I think, so clearly a lot of people enjoy the Tarzana Hookers and their shenanigans in the LA area.

This beloved cozy series returns with the sixteenth release by cozy author Betty Hechtman. Thank you to the publishers, Net Galley and the author for the opportunity to review. My review opinions are my own.
The Tarzana hookers crochet/kitting club is traveling to a small town to spend a quiet weekend together knitting. Their quiet weekend soon turns into a search for a thief and a murdered groom. One of their own falls under suspicion and soon they are investigating as clues abound.
I loved this next in series. The regular characters all add to the series. I enjoy the comradaeie among the group of friends and how they support each other. The knitting and crocheting is wonderful. The sleuth was as always well crafted to a surprising conclusion. A great addition to the series.

This is such a fun series! As a crocheter, I love reading about others and learning about all of Molly's friends. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. I'm looking forward to the next book!

First off, the cover is absolutely stunning! This is a fun and engaging Crochet Mystery—a perfect blend of murder, crafts, and friendship. In this installment, Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers hit the road for a relaxing crochet weekend in the charming town of Pixie.
The timing couldn’t be better for Molly, who’s been asked by a former flame to help catch a local thief stealing personal items from a friend. Her plan? Attend a pre-wedding party at the friend’s house and catch the culprit in the act. But things quickly take a darker turn when the groom-to-be ends up murdered.
I really enjoyed following the Tarzana Hookers on their latest adventure. The mix of cozy crafting and clever sleuthing makes for a delightful read!

#MurderbytheHook #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a fun cozy mystery novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

This was such a great cozy. It has been a bit since I have read a traditional cozy and this reminded me why I like them so much. The main character is extremely entertaining and the love interests (although very tangential to the plot) were fantastic. The crocheters were fantastic. Wonderful, funny. vibrant personalities. I appreciated the mystery and did not solve it ahead of time, as can often be the case. The book made me want to get out yarn. Great book and would definitely recommend this to others.

Molly Pink works at a store in Tarzana and has a side job as a detective for her ex. The store is closing for renovations so Molly and The Hookers set off for Pixie, California for a weekend of crocheting. Unfortunately, her side hustle has a new job-finding a kleptomaniac at a mansion which just happens to be in Pixie. The story becomes crazier when a guest at the mansion is found dead.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series. I found the story enjoyable although the characters did get confusing. I would recommend this series. #NetGalley

“Murder by the Hook” the sixteenth book in Betty Hechtman’s Crochet Mystery cozy mystery series, finds Molly Pink and the rest of the Tarzana Hookers on a weekend field trip while the store Molly works at undergoes renovations. Molly wants to spend some time relaxing and crocheting but agrees to help her ex-boyfriend Mason to try to catch a kleptomaniac at a gathering celebrating an upcoming wedding. What seems to be a relatively simple case quickly turns much more complicated when someone is murdered and Mason needs her help finding the killer. But will Molly be able to do so before the weekend is over and avoid being in danger?

I really like this series and for the most part I enjoyed this book. Taking any series away from the main setting is a risky venture but I thought Hechtman did a good job with this. The change of setting is a nice one and I enjoyed reading about the house parties Molly attended, as well as the people attending the parties, and the food at the parties (there is a recipe included in this book as well as a crochet pattern). Also well done is the relationships among the Tarzana Hookers – it is one thing to get together as a group to crochet and then be able to go home and a completely different thing to be stuck together as a group for a weekend and I thought Hechtman did a good job with the group dynamics (even Adele who can be more than a bit over the top). The mysteries (the petty thief and the murder mystery) are well done with just the right amount of suspects – I was completely surprised when all was revealed (the clues were nicely placed I just didn’t put them together). The one thing that I didn’t like about this book (which caused me to knock off a star) was the love triangle (love square?) – I found it distracted me at times from the mystery. That may have been resolved, we’ll find out in the next mystery. Otherwise, I enjoyed the book.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

The newest entry in the series continues the adventures of Molly Pink, her crocheting friends, family and her ex-boyfriends. Molly, retired, but still so active is an undercover p.i. for her ex Mason. Her newest assignment is to pose as Mason's cousin and find a kleptomaniac at a swanky party. Molly and her hooker friends(crocheters) travel to the countryside to have a weekend of crocheting. Molly makes an excuse and goes off to find the kelpto but also finds murder. I really like the characters, the humor and the pace of this cozy. Looking forward to the next in the series. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

It's raining men for Molly! The Hookers go on a weekend together while the store is under renovation. It was a refreshing change to have the story take place out of the bookstore. Unfortunately, it featured alot of Adele. Adele is annoying as all get out as the author intends but honestly her rants etc just make me skip sections. I do think if the character were toned down or maybe moves away the books would be better. Her character really adds little value to the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for review.

Murder by the Hook Review

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I requested this book not realising that it was part of a series, but that didn’t matter too much as it read very much like a standalone, and it was easy enough to pick up on the characters introduced.

Molly Pink is a private detective who has been hired to catch a kleptomaniac when a murder is committed. It was a fun read for the most part, and I enjoyed seeing how Molly was balancing her two lives.

Being a crocheter myself I love the thought of a group crochet getaway so that aspect really appealed to me. I also love the fact that it includes a recipe and a crochet pattern at the end!

It did start off a bit slow for me, and though most of the story was brilliant, the ending felt a little rushed and a bit flat for me. It was like it all got finished at the last minute so it was a rush to wrap everything up.

Overall it was a nice cozy read and enjoyable for all the crocheters out there.

Really enjoyed Murder by the Hook by author Betty Hectman, as someone who is starting out with crochet this novel really interested me and held my attention.

This novel is one from a series, which I have not read but I found it perfectly readable as a standalone novel.

I really enjoyed the characters, especially the main female Molly and thought that crochet and murder was a very interesting storyline and very easy to read.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Molly Pink and her crochet group are off for a relaxing break whilst the bookstore that she works in is closed for renovations. Just before leaving her ex requests some help in identifying a thief, which to Molly's delight is close by to where the gang are staying. However all does not quite go to plan when a murder is discovered next door to the group and it is liked to the people whom Molly is investigating.
This was a lovely cosy mystery, enjoyable characters with enough humour and quirkiness to keep the reader well engrossed.

Book #16 in this series of cozy mysteries centered around a crocheting group who manages to get into and out of trouble on a regular basis. I'm a long time crochet addict and relax with an audio cozy while creativity flows from my hook. Betty Hechtman has a winning character in Molly. Throw in a recipe and a pattern and it's tailor made for we "hookers".

In this 16th installment of A Crochet Mystery, Molly Pink and the Tarzana Hookers plan an out-of-town getaway when their favorite bookshop closes for renovations. The plan is a few days of crochet time with no distractions. Plans don't always work out as one would expect.

Not everyone knows that Molly has been working as a private investigator for her ex-beau in addition to her regular job at the bookshop. This time he's asked her to attend a party posing as his cousin to identify a kleptomaniac. It seems like a good idea and convenient because the party is being held very near the getaway location. A good idea until there's a murder and the kleptomaniac suspect list becomes a murder suspect list.

I really enjoy this series and look forward to each installment. The recipe and crochet pattern at the end is a nice bonus

Betty Hechtman's books are the absolute best. Every cozy mystery she puts out that involves yarn or crochet, sign me up immediately. 5 stars!

Murder by the Hook

By: Betty Hechtman

Book 16 of a Crochet Mystery

Publish Date: April 8, 2025

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Crafts and Hobbies/Mystery and Thrillers

#MurderbytheHook#NetGalley

200 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. I have read many of her books in this series and I enjoyed them a lot. Sometimes I am able to figure who the murderer is but not always. I wasn’t able to figure it out this one. As I said before, I have read some of this series but none recently even though I own some. With that being said I found myself falling back into the series with ease and enjoyed myself. I always love how Molly is able to deal with Adele.

In this book Molly and the hookers are going on a weekend outing while the book shop is being renovated. Molly is also working for Mason as a private private investigator on a small project in the same small town. Unfortunately, the investigation doesn’t go well, and Molly feels terrible. As per normal in this kind of book there is a death, and Molly finds herself in the middle of it all. This time things don’t go well for the weekend retreat and the murder investigation. Can Molly solve the murder and save the weekend with the hookers? You will have to read the book to find out.

Molly Pink has a lot going on. The store where she is assistant manager and event coordinator is being reorganized and temporarily shut down. She has arranged for a weekend retreat with the Tarzana Hookers, her crochet group in the town of Pixie. She has also agreed to working for her ex, Mason Fields in her private, private investigator capacity to help find a thief at a wealthy couple's home. The couple is hosting a highly publicized wedding for a celebrity news reporter and his fiancé.
An actress is seeing aliens, the groom is murdered, and the Hookers are located close by with Molly at the center of the chaos.
I received an e-copy of this book from Behind the Page Publishing through NetGalley. This is my unsolicited opinion about the book in the series by Betty Hechtman.
I loved this portion of a sentence, "a lot faster to buy yarn than it was to make something." As a crocheter I agree.
There are a lot of characters to keep track of. There are several people who are involved with the wedding and on a possible suspect list for Molly to watch during her theft investigation. The Tarzana Hookers group are staying at a home close by. Molly goes back and forth between each location. It's kind of much. The murder mystery is interesting as are some of the characters. I don't really have a favorite character. Dinah Lyons is a good and patient best friend of Mollys. Adele is a pain in the neck with her know it all attitude and pushiness. It was overall an enjoyable read and chance to solve two mysteries. The 'romance' part, there was no solving that. I'm sure it will carry on into the next book.
A nice crochet pattern and a recipe are bonuses here. I give this book 4 stars.

The first book I've read in this crochet mystery series, and it won't be my last.

The main character, Molly, is a crafter with a large family and a busy life. She works in a local book/craft shop where a local group of women hang out and craft: the Hookers. On the side, she's a detective working for her ex-fiancée helping to solve mysteries. This mystery: someone from a celebrity circle of friends has been stealing small things including every crafters favorite accessory, stork scissors.

While helping to look for the stork scissor thief, someone gets murdered and it's up to Molly to help solve the murder while also entertaining the Hookers on a crochet weekend getaway that just so happens to be next DOOR to where the murder occurred.

All in all, a great book full of craft talk, mystery and a small dose of romance/love triangle. Also, I enjoyed having a main character that is slightly older with grandkids. I can't wait to see what kind of mystery Molly helps to solve next and what will happen in her love life.