Children's book manager prickly Adele Abrams has been at the store longer and resents the responsibility Mrs. Shedd has given to Molly. She is particularly displeased when she sees Molly carrying around the fabled rhinestone clipboard that Mrs. Shedd uses on the store sponsored annual retreat weekend. Mrs. Shedd has had something come up last minute and has asked Molly to take over the "Get Out of the Head and Light Your Creative Fire" retreat where attendees will get to take different workshops covering topics such as Tai Chi, crocheting, writing and acting.

Molly thinks nothing can go wrong, but then one by one things begin to go wrong. First, Molly realizes that this weekend will not be the romantic getaway she planned with detective boyfriend Barry. Then one by one, the presenters cancel or postpone and one of the replacements is Mason, who is also interested in Molly. Then crochet diva Izabella Landers is found dead on the beach.

At first, the police treat the death as accidental: Izabella was allergic to peanuts and they found that she had eaten some peanut butter s'mores just before her death. More and more things happen that make Molly think that maybe the death wasn't an accident, just set up to look like one. Before she can chain two stitches together, Molly finds herself mixed up in another murder, something she promised Mrs. Shedd she'd stay far away from during the weekend.

A Stitch in Crime takes the familiar cast of "Hookers: to the Monterey Peninsula for a little rest and relaxation with their murder. Intent on having everything go well, Molly once again, against the directions of the police, insinuates herself in the investigation and is able to put clues together with conjecture and come up with the right answer.

Her nemesis Adele continues to be as annoying as ever, but also provides an important clue to Izabella's true nature and ultimately helps solve the crime. Molly, a fairly recent widow, is not as interested in committing to a new relationship as Barry is. Mason is more interested in a looser relationship, causing a little unease in Molly, and causing Barry a little unrest when he realizes the two are at the beach retreat together.A Stitch in Crime is a reliable mystery and Molly's latest adventures is sure to be a favorite of crafters.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry