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.

Molly and the hookers are off for a girls trip. However, Molly‘s part-time job as a PI has her working on her getaway. Can you manage both a getaway and a case at the same time? As long as Molly doesn’t drop the case or a stitch, or the killer doesn’t get to her first, she mayjust survive the weekend.

I love the name of the crochet group in this book. It always makes for a good chuckle, but it’s a story that keeps me coming back. The author always has a great mystery that we’ve together full of red herrings, and kissed me guessing until the end. Each entry reads fine as a standalone so this is your first one, don’t worry you’re in for a good read.

Molly and your favorite characters are back and there is more than one mystery to solve. I loved Molly's relationship dramas. I am holding out hope for some final resolution to this aspect of her life. The cases kept me guessing. There was humor to go along with the mystery. Just when you think it can't possibly go more awry...

2 1/2 stars. A light cozy featuring a woman who is hosting a crocheting weekend for a group while doing a side job of finding a klepto who is stealing small but meaning trinkets from a couple hosting a party nearby. The mystery is solid but takes a while to get going.

Molly Pink, an interesting woman, who manages to combine side jobs investigating crimes for a lawyer but she somehow manages to keep secret from most of her friends and family, a busy schedule with a crocheting group and also working at a bookstore. I didn't quite buy that she would be able to keep her clandestine side job from her family, some who live with her. Some of the crochet group are a bit annoying but others are engaging.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.