LAST WOOL AND TESTAMENT opens with Kath Rutledge barreling at high speed toward her grandmother Ivy McLellan's funeral. As Kath tries to deal with the death of the woman closest to her heart, she discovers nothing is as it should have been. When she finally makes her way to her grandmother's cottage she discovers the locks changed and a notice from the owner that she needs to clear her grandmother's belongings before new tenants arrive. Kath was certain the cottage was part of Ivy's estate, and had no knowledge it had changed hands. Although a cruel twist, this is far from the last surprise left by the death of her grandmother. In a letter Ivy left, she tells Kath that, with her death, Kath is likely to inherit her powers as "a bit of a witch". To top things off, local law enforcement are looking into the possibility that Ivy may have poisoned an old man before she died. Kath turns to the friends Ivy made through her beautiful fiber shop for help in untangling the mess left by her grandmother's death.

This first in the Haunted Yarn Shop mystery series is a clear winner. Unlike some cozy mystery heroines, Kath Rutledge doesn't suffer from what I call Too Stupid to Live Syndrome. On the contrary she is an intelligent textile restoration professional who is simply overwhelmed by circumstance. Her motives for pursuing the solution to the mysteries are clear and understandable. Molly MacRae has filled LAST WOOL AND TESTAMENT with likeable and quirky characters worthy of respect with the possible exception of the Spivey twins, who encapsulate the worst characteristics of distant yet pushy relatives and are a great addition to the book.

MacRae weaves a tangled puzzle whose ending I just couldn't have guessed. The paranormal elements are light enough in tone that even those who do not enjoy ghost stories will greatly like the book. LAST WOOL AND TESTAMENT is a thoroughly satisfying and entertaining read and I am very much looking forward to book two, due out in Summer 2013.

I also tried one of the recipes (the Rosemary Olive Oil Cake with Dark Chocolate) in the back of the book to great success, and later today will cast on for the hat pattern provided.

Book Summary

Kath Rutledge is about to learn the true meaning of TGIF— Thank Goodness It’s Fiber.… That’s the name of the spunky group of fiber and needlework artists founded by Ivy McClellan, Kath’s beloved grandmother. Though Ivy has recently passed on, the members still meet regularly at her fiber and fabric shop, The Weaver’s Cat, which Kath has now inherited. But that’s only the first in a series of surprises when Kath returns to the small town of Blue Plum, Tennessee, to settle her grandmother’s affairs.

There’s been a murder, and it turns out her grandmother was the prime suspect. Before she can begin to clear Ivy’s name, Kath encounters a looming presence in the form of a gloomy ghost. It turns out the specter has just as much interest in solving the murder as Kath. So, with a little help from the members of TGIF—and a stubborn spirit from beyond—she sets out to unravel the clues and hook the real killer.…