cover image Cast On, Kill Off

Cast On, Kill Off

Maggie Sefton. Berkley Prime Crime, $25.95 (304p) ISBN 978-0-425-24759-4

Preparing for a wedding can be murder, as shown in Sefton’s middling 10th knitting mystery featuring Fort Collins, Colo., financial consultant Kelly Flynn (after 2011’s Unraveled). Kelly, a bridesmaid in the upcoming wedding of two friends, comes to the aid of seamstress Zoe Yeager after Zoe’s abusive husband makes trouble and Zoe’s former employer swears that Zoe stole her bridal gown design and customer list. Kelly barely gets Zoe settled into a women’s shelter before the poor woman is found murdered. Kelly once again turns amateur sleuth while juggling work and rekindling a relationship. Everyone takes an absurd interest in Kelly’s sex life or lack thereof, which leads to many “sly grins” and much juvenile innuendo. Most readers will easily figure out the killer’s identity, and Kelly’s delay in passing along vital information to her police contact will strike many as less than credible. Agent: Jessica Faust, BookEnds. (June)