• Last Wool and Testament

  • A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, Book 1
  • By: Molly MacRae
  • Narrated by: Emily Durante
  • Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (526 ratings)

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Last Wool and Testament  By  cover art

Last Wool and Testament

By: Molly MacRae
Narrated by: Emily Durante
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Publisher's summary

Thank Goodness It's Fiber: That's the name of the spunky group of fiber and needlework artists founded by Ivy McClellan, Kath's beloved grandmother. Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver's Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that's only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother's affairs.

There's been a murder, and it turns out her grandmother was the prime suspect. Before she can begin to clear Ivy's name, Kath encounters a looming presence in the form of a gloomy ghost. It turns out the specter has just as much interest in solving the murder as Kath. So, with a little help from the members of TGIF-and a stubborn spirit from beyond-she sets out to unravel the clues and hook the real killer....

©2012 Molly MacRae (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"This is the first of a new series that should be popular with cozy fans." (Booklist)

What listeners say about Last Wool and Testament

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Not even light reading

I thought this might be a fun book to listen to while knitting. After two chapters, though, I gave up and picked out something else. This gem appeared toward the end of the first chapter: "I sat for another moment, memorizing his face in my side mirror, promising myself that never would I or any of my children, should I have any, ever consider procreating with the likes of, or a close relative to, Cole Dunbar." Only stubbornness made me continue for another chapter. It didn't get better.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good start to a good mystery

This is a good start to a good series. The characters are well written and likeable. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep you from guessing the ending. I gave the story three stars because the author spent too much time in some areas of the book going on and on.

The two cousins, Mercy and Shirley, were so annoying yet they added lots of humor to the story. The narrator did a good job giving voices to all of the characters.
This was worth the credit and I look forward to the next book in the series.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

First Book Augurs Well for the Series

As a first book in a series this one sets up a potentially very good cozy series. MacRae described a town and a number of characters it should be fun to spend time with. Also, she includes a few that we don't want to spend much time with--neither does the main character, Cath--but these add interest, humor, and another reason to come back for a second book with hopes that the twins will get their comeupance. But, like Charlie Brown and the football, I suspect it will be an unlikely but perpetual hope.

I liked the cozily paranormal aspect and wished more had been explored in this first novel. We were given some very tantalizing hints about Cath's grandmother, Ivy, and what she could do, but not enough to know for any certainty what it was. And it may run in the family... but, even with this to intrigue us, we mostly got a long scene introducing the ghost. I have to admit, I really liked the ghost, and I hope to see more of her, even if it's only in a semi-transparent form. One of my favorite tidbits in this story was that Cath thought to entertain the ghost with an audiobook--apparently a heroine with discerning tastes!

Emily Durante did a very good job with the various voices and characterizations, along with good prose reading.

I look forward to the next in the series and hope that the writer and narrator continue their stellar paring.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A mystery with a depressed ghost

Kath Rutledge rushes to Tennessee to the burial of her grandmother, Ivy McClellan, who owned The Weaver’s Cat, a special fabric shop in which a group of women who love all kinds of fabric work, from spinning wool to knitting to all other forms of fabric work in Last Wool and Testament by Molly MacRae. Arriving in the small town, Kath finds all manner of surprises. For one thing, she learns that her grandmother’s house, which Ivy has owned for years, belongs to someone else and the locks have been changed. Yet Kath must get clean out the whole house for the new tenants in just a few days. So since she can’t get into her grandmother’s house in order to sleep, her grandmother’s friend sets her up in another house. The only problem is that Kath learns that the owner of that house, Emmett Cobb, was recently murdered with a nasty poison. And the deputy seems to think that her grandmother is responsible.

That night, Kath opens a letter left for her from her grandmother, to feel shock as she reads Ivy’s message that she has a special gift, that she is “a bit of a witch” with special gifts and has now passed that gift down to Kath. Suddenly given a hint to the source of the nickname “Crazy Ivy,” Kath thinks this are bad enough when she sees a ghost sobbing her non-heart out at the kitchen table. Not believing her eyes, Kath goes to bed, but the next night she meets up again with this ghost, who thinks she has killed Emmett, her one true love, until Kath points out the impossibility of such an action. Now Ms. Ghost urges Kath to take matters into her own hands and solve the murder of Emmett, which may have implications for Kath because it was he who took ownership of Ivy’s house, and she suspects the presence of blackmail.

This book has a really creative mystery to it, with all sorts of elements of intrigue. The plot takes different directions and threads to it. The local cop refuses to take seriously any of the little details that seem strange and out of place. So Kath forms a posse of Ivy’s textile friends to look into the situation and keep their ears open.

The characters in this book are well-written. I found myself becoming very invested in several of the people, including Kath, Ms. Ghost, the cop, the lawyer, and Ivy’s friends.

At first I was hesitant to read this book because I don’t generally like anything related to paranormal books. However, at the advice of others who like this book, I began to consider it, since I really loved MacRae’s Plaid and Plagiarism. But I’m glad I gave the book a chance. As MacRae explained to me, the book is a light paranormal, with only Kath’s being able to see the ghost, who does not come across as creepy or anything.

The audio book is performed by Emily Durante, who does an excellent job. She does great voices for each character, including having some different accents. Not being familiar with Tennessee accents, I can’t say whether they are authentic, but they come across as believable. She suits this book, and I look forward to more books narrated by her.

As a bonus feature to this book, Audible listeners are given a link and a code in which to get recipes and fabric patterns based upon the book. Those getting the book on CD will have those in an insert, and I’m sure visual copies of the book have the recipes and patterns in them too.

Last Wool and Testament was a gamble of a read that really paid off for me. I loved the way the conclusion compares the threads of the mystery to the details of the tapestry that Ivy is weaving and how her plans for her tapestry give clues to the murder itself, even before it is committed. I give this book five stars and look forward to the next in the series.

And for those who already love the series, you’ll be happy to hear that Molly MacRae has signed a contract for another two books in this series!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable cozy mystery

What did you love best about Last Wool and Testament?

This is a light, fun, easy listen. Am looking forward to the next one!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Cute little series...

Molly MacRae has crafted a cute little series. The characters are likable and fun. Nice concept for a light cozy book/audiobook.

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

The worst narrator ever

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I couldn't even concentrate on the story or listen for more than 15 minutes. The narrator has to be one of the worst voices ever.

What was most disappointing about Molly MacRae’s story?

That I couldn't concentrate on the story because of the narrator's distracting voice, enunciation, and accent.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her accent was flat and harsh on my ears, and her voice was awful.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Spooky funny!

Would you consider the audio edition of Last Wool and Testament to be better than the print version?

Very nice book to travel and listen to.

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

So many twists and turns as well as dead bodies. Didn't see who the murderer was until the end.

What about Emily Durante’s performance did you like?

Changes in voices and great voice to keep you listening.

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

When the snakes were in the pantry.

Any additional comments?

Loved this book and couldn't wait to finish it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

good book, made me want to go to this place.

i enjoyed the whole experience. wish i lived in a town like this. Loved it.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly Wonderful

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book. A very light fair which is perfect to knit to. Particularly found the paranormal bits to be engaging. Well done.

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