Death by Cashmere

Seaside Knitters, Book 1

By: Sally Goldenbaum

Narrated by: Julie McKay

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

The new mystery series that spins a yarn about knitters and murder in a seaside village.

Not long after Isabel "Izzy" Chambers opens up a knitting shop in the sleepy fishing town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, a diverse group of women begins congregating each week to form the Seaside Knitters.

Izzy raises some eyebrows when she rents the apartment above her shop to Angie Archer, whose reputation for loose behavior and a quick temper has made her unpopular with many locals. But could any of them have wanted her dead? Angie's body is discovered drowned in the harbor, her long red hair tangled like seaweed in a lobster trap.

An official investigation rules the death an accident. There are speculations of too many whiskey sours, a slippery wharf, a dark night... But Izzy and the Seaside Knitters smell something fishy. When several strange incidents occur above the shop, the women decide to take matters into their own hands. But before long, their small-town sense of security is frayed, and the threat of more violence hangs over this tightly knit community...

©2008 Sally Goldenbaum (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Great first book in a new series

Couldn't put it down. Interesting characters and complex plot. Great first entry. Hope the next will live up to this one. Narrator does a fine job as well

Good storyline kept me listening.

What did you love best about Death by Cashmere?

The beautiful visual description and details given to the scenes and characters garments allowed me to picture everything in a colorful way.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

This was not a thriller but it did keep my attention, not on edge.

What about Julie McKay’s performance did you like?

Julie McKay was great, her voice made it easy to follow each characters.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book was easy to stop and pick back up which I like.

Any additional comments?

I purchased the series because I enjoyed the girlie sleuth storyline.

Wanted to love this

Is there anything you would change about this book?

What's not to love about knitting and the seashore? Well the plot drug out the story and never really engaged the listener. I think the author should have introduced the murder victim in more detail so we care more about her murder. I cared more about the Cashmere sweater than the victim.

What does Julie McKay bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Julie did a fine job of reading an unremarkable story.

Do you think Death by Cashmere needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I will probably not bother to read additional books in the series.

Any additional comments?

This series reminds me of Harlequin Romances (without the steamy parts). They are easy to listen too, predictable, and do not task your brain. If that's what you are looking for then you will probably enjoy Murder by Cashmere. If you want interesting characters and a riveting plot, look elsewhere.

A good start to a new cozy

Although the summary for this book makes it seem like a young Izzy is the main character and POV you'll follow, she's actually not. The "main" character you follow around the most is Nel, an older woman and friend of Izzy. I found this to be a little misleading, but Nel did 90% of the investigating & crime solving. Izzy, Birdy & Cass are also main cast, but less so. This book is a bit of an ensemble cast which hops around to different POV's. It gets a little confusing sometimes, but I'm hoping by book 2 things get a little more smooth.

Good Story

This was a pretty good story. Looking forward to hearing the next book. Hope the rest of the series is just as good.

Just okay, and I'm an avid knitter

I love cozy mysteries and I love knitting. This book should have won me over easily. But it was just okay. I didn't yearn to get to it or finish it. I won't listen to any more in the series.

I enjoyed this

I wish it came with recipes, patterns ,and pictures of the knitting and meals otherwise I really enjoyed listening as I knit a pair of socks.

blah

I wanted to like this book because I enjoy cozy mysteries. However, this book was a complete bore. There were too many undeveloped and stereotypical characters. The plot was repetitive and put me to sleep a few times. There was also too much talk of food. The author needs to decide if she wants her theme to be about knitting or food. Also, there was no interaction with the police authorities which made it seem like the knitters were the only ones capable of investigating the murder. The only good thing about this book was the narrator. She has a nice voice. However, her voice worked against me because it lulled me to sleep. I won't be reading the next book in this series, and I regret that I wasted a credit on this one.

Fantastic Cosy Mystery

What did you love best about Death by Cashmere?

It moved it did not drag like some books do and it kept you guessing till the very end

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes, I did not even begin to suspect the murder until much farther along than most that I have read

Which character – as performed by Julie McKay – was your favorite?

Nell and Izzy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The who this was very moving for me

Any additional comments?

a real keeper.....best I have read in a while!!!!

Predictable but pleasant fluff

I knew who did it long before the big reveal, but it is pleasant fluff for a quick summer read.

Absolute utter drivel

I have tried very hard to keep listening to this book, but after 3 1/2 hrs and yet another pompous, self-righteous statement made by one of leading characters..I thought .... " I really don't like you". If it had just been one thoroughly unlikeable character , I may have persevered but quite frankly the whole lot of them grated. I just wanted a pleasant story to listen to whilst I knitted and the thought of a story around the craft interested me..sadly the 'knitting aspect' is thinner than 2ply yarn
I live in a village myself and there are those who thrive on gossip.. I stay well clear because gossip is insidiously nasty, and this book has incensed me no end as the author of the book 'puts a pretty it's okay dress on' the issue of this dreadful group of women who basically gossip, judge and speculate on everything and everyone.
A murder has taken place and one of the characters is complaining about 'how awful this death is ruining their summer' - how tragic!
I don't return many books, I listen to audible pretty much everyday, listen to an eclectic mix of genres...but this book has been returned. The narrator did not help me warm to the characters at all. Cannot recommend this utter drivel...look for something else.

Brilliant

Easy listening to cheer you, well written with characters I've got to live in just the one book can't wait to listen to the next in the series.