There is nothing quite like the "click-clack" of knitting needles or the steady hum of a sewing machine to stave off the winter blues—unless, of course, that peaceful hobby is interrupted by a corpse.
For fans of the "cozy" subgenre, the only thing better than a DIY project is a protagonist who can solve a cold case while finishing a quilt. These seven picks are perfect for those who appreciate the warmth of a well-crafted story.
Grab your favorite blanket and settle in; it’s time to unravel some of the season’s most comforting reads.
Crafting for Murder
Valerie Rankin is determined to stitch her Nova Scotia community together with a new crafter’s co-op, but a killer in Gasper’s Cove is busy ripping the seams apart.
Between battling town council corruption and dodging a mounting body count of those who try to help her, Valerie—alongside her Golden Retriever and a cat-loving ex-con—must unmask the murderer before her grand opening becomes a final curtain call.
Crafting Deception
At the Nova Scotia Crafter’s Co-op, a vintage WWII parachute donation brings more than just nostalgia—it brings a cold-blooded murder.
When her friend Duck is framed for the death of a local bus driver, seamstress Valerie Rankin must untangle the threads of a deadly deception to clear his name before the RCMP closes the case on the wrong man.
Crafting with Slander
Politics in Gasper’s Cove turns fatal when Valerie Rankin finds a mayoral candidate murdered right next to one of her own hand-stenciled campaign signs.
To save her cousin from a smear campaign and a murder charge, Valerie must stitch together the truth behind a web of small-town corruption before the killer finishes the job.
Crafting a Getaway
What was supposed to be a serene sewing retreat at a new B&B quickly unravels into a chaotic catastrophe of double-bookings, food trucks, and corporate rivals.
When her own fiancé goes missing amidst the crowd of suspicious newcomers, Valerie Rankin must sort through the clutter to find him and a potential killer before her getaway becomes a permanent exit.
Crafting an Alibi
In Gasper’s Cove, a "small" secret among the senior crafters spirals into a deadly web of lies when a local is found murdered.
Now, Valerie Rankin and her circle must make a harrowing choice: risk becoming the prime suspects by coming clean, or use their creative problem-solving to trap the real killer before their own cover is blown.
Crafting a Cold Case
A historic snowstorm cuts Gasper’s Cove off from the mainland, unearthing a decades-old murder that refuses to stay buried. Trapped by the drifts and the dark, Valerie Rankin and her sewing circle must thaw out a frozen mystery before the island’s long-buried secrets claim a new victim.
Featured image: Philip Myrtorp / Unsplash
