Spinning in Her Grave

A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery, Book 3

By: Molly MacRae

Narrated by: Emily Durante

It's time for Blue Plum's annual historical festival, and everyone-including Kath and her spunky fiber and needlework group, TGIF-is getting in on the action. Expert spinners are being gathered, and a businessman has approached Kath about using the second-floor windows of her store for part of a reenactment. But the reenactment ends in real-life bloodshed when local baker Reva Louise Snapp is shot-with a bullet from a modern-day gun.

Kath has her theories about who wanted to end Reva Louise's life. But there's also talk of a sniper stalking Blue Plum, and Kath's shop is suspected to be the murderer's hideout. Now Kath, her TGIF pals, and the gloomy ghost, Geneva, must unravel the mystery quickly, or someone else might be left hanging by a thread...

©2014 Molly MacRae (P)2014 Tantor

Love this series

This is always a wonderful series and this book is no different. Always a joy to listen to on Audible.

Fun, Adventurous, Romantic, but not Silly

What made the experience of listening to Spinning in Her Grave the most enjoyable?

I love Molly MacRae's books, but this series is a hoot. You never see the odd moments, the blind acceptance of a ghost and a very likeable ghost, at that, until you are caught up in them. Molly is masterful at bringing you on the journey of the main character, without making you feel like a voyeur, or that you are being told how things are from her perspective, without involving your imagination and fun too. You root for people, but you want to know more about her grandmother, Genevieve and a cat with now, the purrfect name.

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

While I am never on the edge of my seat, I stopped knitting, more than once, because I was so drawn into the story.

Which scene was your favorite?

Anything involving Ardis and Genevieve. Just a hoot.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Nothing extreme. Just fun and I did not want this book, and hopefully this series to end. I love Blue Plum and it's inhabitants.

Any additional comments?

It's a fun read/listen. It's not complicated, overtold, or boring. It's just a lovely way to while away a cold day with tea and knitting and some alone time. While this book is not life-changing, why should it be more than fun, entertaining and just a wonderful listen. I do not think it is frivolous in the least, but I am aware it is not ground=breaking. This book is a marvelous story you can join in. Exactly what a lovely fiction read should be.

Loved It!

What made the experience of listening to Spinning in Her Grave the most enjoyable?

Spinning in Her Grave continues the adventures of Kath Rutledge, owner of the Weaver’s Cat. Spinning and murder turn the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee upside-down in this Haunted Yarn Shop mystery. I love Geneva, who does the haunting, and Kath’s big orange cat. Spinning in Her Grave is a quick, cozy mystery… full of fun without a lot of gore… definitely not a heavy read or listen. I found the Audible version to be entertaining while working on my own needlework. I’m on to Plagued by Quilt and look forward to Knot in the Usual Suspects, which will be available in September 2015.

The best yet!

What made the experience of listening to Spinning in Her Grave the most enjoyable?

after reading books one and two, the reader is comfortable with the cast of characters. Plus the fact that this is probably the best storyline so far and you have a very enjoyable listening experience.

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

i thought I knew how the book was going to end. However, there were a number of clues given to us that did keep me wondering. I enjoyed this very much.

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

i love the emotion she brings to the scenes. Whether it is exasperation, frustration, or sarcasm, her reading hits the mark every time and quite often makes me laugh out loud!

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

the scenes between Kath and Mel were very touching. Mel is probably my second favorite character. She is likable, her personality is perfect. Her situation in this book makes me want to support and comfort her. However, this is something she wouldn't appreciate!

Any additional comments?

i recommend this book. I look forward to reading more stories in this series.

Shooting at a Cat

Blue Plum is having its annual historical festival in Spinning in Her Grave, Molly MacRae’s third Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery. This festival highlights local arts and crafts, so The Weaver’s Cat features prominently in the festivities, with the members of TGIF, Thank God It’s Fiber, the select group of fabric enthusiasts, doing special demonstrations on spinning yarn from various types of fiber, even including dog fur. The town always holds a special play to commemorate the “Piglet War” of 1859, but this year the new head of the play wants to spice things up, with guns stationed throughout the town. But Kath, the new proprietress of The Weaver’s Cat since her grandmother passed away and left her everything, is less than amenable to having guns pointed out her upper window and rejects the request. But then as the play progresses, Kath overhears teens talking about how realistic a dead person in the play performs her job, but Kath knows better. Reva Louise Snapp, a highly unpopular woman who has caused all sorts of trouble for anyone who dares to go into business with her, is definitely dead.

As previously mentioned in Last Wool and Testament, Kath has inherited not just her grandmother’s property, but also her special gifts, which includes being “a little bit of a witch,” to quote “Crazy Ivy,” in her letter to Kath in the first book in this series, As such, Kath gains insight into the emotions of those who recently have been in close contact with a fabric when she touches the fabric. Further, she has inherited Geneva, the ghost who lives in the attic of the Weaver’s Cat, and who has fun trying to help Kath solve the murders that she has become known among her friend for doing. The gift of recognizing emotions tied to fabric shows Kath terrible confusion and anger coming out of Reva Louise. Outed as a thief with a record for embezzling from a church where she volunteered, of all places, Reva Louise evidently has made few friends. And what the police assume to be manslaughter as a result of a gun’s accidentally going off proves to be intentional murder, with the killer’s having committed this murder from the upstairs window of The Weaver’s Cat. Someone has just messed With the wrong group of people! With this personal connection, Kath determines to work with her TGIF friends to find the solution, since they have no faith in the police department’s ability to do so.

This book is a great addition to the Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery series. The books are all enjoyable and have great characters as well as plot. The storyline was creative, with an interesting solution. I especially love the details of the relationship between Kath and Geneva. The ghost will listen in on conversations and relay details to Kath. She likes to speak out about ongoing conversations, which causes all sorts of problems for Kath, who tries to avoid looking strange by seeming to talk to the air while not upsetting Geneva by ignoring her altogether.

I really loved the narrative of Emily Durante, who does an excellent job performing this book and playing the parts of the different characters of the world, whether female or male, live or ghost. I could readily picture every action and word of each one in ttee book.

To someone new to this series, i recommend that a new listener start with book one, Last Wool and Testament, but Spinning in Her Grave; will not leave listeners completely lost if they start with this third book in the series. And those continuing the series will get plenty of enjoyment from the book. It kept me going with fun fascination, and I give the book five stars!

Great Series

Any additional comments?

I have followed Molly MacRae's "Haunted Yarn Shop" mysteries from the beginning. This is my first foray into "cozy mysteries" but I have become a fan. I look forward to every new installment.

A great cozy mystery

This is a great cozy mystery full of fun and fiber. It is great for driving, knitting and overall decompressing.

Okay

Not too interesting or engaging, okay for a background when doing chores, bland characters and too many.

Quick cozy mystery

This was a fast paced and quick cozy mystery. By the time I got reaquainted with the characters and met the new characters, The mystery was solved. The star of the series as far as I can see is Geneva. She gets the best lines and is a great character. Overall the book was okay. I will probably get the next one.