Book Review: Knit or Dye Trying by Allie Pleiter

As spring comes to Collinstown, the village launches a food festival to draw a new group of tourists. Libby, proud owner of Y.A.R.N., has planned a yarn event to provide an alternative option to a foodie weekend. Artisan fiber dyer Julie Wilson—known for her work with animal-friendly, plant-based knitting fibers such as bamboo and hemp as well as her brilliant use of color—will hopefully draw a crowd with a special dyeing workshop.

The festival begins, but it draws more than crowds. First a flock of sheep parades down the street, herded by farmers protesting Julie’s antiwool stance. Then Julie’s celebrity chef sister appears, and the siblings resume a long-standing rivalry. Despite all this, Julie’s workshop has sold out. Libby is thrilled, and they’re preparing for a full house. But the night before the event, Julie is found alone in the warehouse event space—dead. The witty “Watch Julie Wilson Dye” workshop title now has a terrible new meaning—and it’s up to Libby to catch a crafty killer.[summary via publisher]

Knit or Dye Trying is the second book in Allie Pleiter's fabulous Riverbank Knitting Mysteries. It's Spring in Collinstown, and yarn shop owner, Libby, is looking forward to another event, this time with yarn dyer, Julie Wilson, who works on plant-based fibres only. However, the event comes to a crashing halt when Julie is found dead.

Being a yarn dyer myself, I was immediately drawn to this series. I love knitting, and everything fibre related. It's not often that I see the occupation of "yarn dyer" in cozy mysteries, and it was with absolute morbid curiosity that I was glued to every page, waiting to find out who killed Julie!

Allie Pleiter writes absolutely vivid, beautiful and tantalizing cozy mysteries, and her newest is no different. Building on the first book, we learn more about Collinstown, especially as Allie goes head-to-head with the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Politics aside, I just love her description of everything in Libby's Y.A.R.N. shop! I practically wanted to reach in and touch the fibres!

Knit or Dye Trying is a fantastic addition to this series. The mystery kept me guessing right up to the final donouement, and I didn't want the story to end! From a yarn dyers point of view, she gave such interesting coverage of the process, that I'm sure many knitters will want to try dyeing yarn for themselves! Whether you love yarn, or just love a really good mystery, this series should definitely be on your must-read list!