Last Wool and Testament: A Haunted Yarn Shop Mystery

By: Molly MacRae
Publisher: Signet
Publication Date: September 2012
ISBN: 045123782X
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: September 19, 2012

Deputy Cole Dunbar didn’t cotton to people rip tearing through the streets of Blue Plum, Tennessee and Kath Rutledge didn’t cotton to wisecracking cops. Dunbar was going on and on about her grandmother’s death and even thought “it was mighty convenient for her that she did.” Huh? That clod was talking about her Granny’s passing and to top it all off, he called her “Crazy Ivy.” That did it. That man was denser than a pecan pie and nuttier than one too. Kath, a professional textile preservationist, had come home to oversee her Granny’s affairs, in particular to figure out what to do with her business, the Weaver’s Cat.

The Weaver’s Cat was “Granny’s pet” and was home to every fiber fanatic in Blue Plum. Unexpectedly, Kath got an earful from Granny’s cousins, the Spivey twins, Mercy and Shirley. It was a mercy Maude moment when she learned that the locks had been changed at Granny’s Lavender Street house and it now belonged to a Max Cobb. It was a not to worry moment because it just happened that there was a caretaker’s position open at the Holston Homeplace Living History Farm and Granny’s dear friend, Ruth Wood, offered her the position. It certainly did seem opportune until Kath found out one little fact ... Emmett Cobb had been murdered there.

A corpse in the cottage wasn’t Kath’s idea of a good time, but on top of Em’s untimely demise, other strange things began to happen. Kath found a strange, ghostly, ghastly specter of a woman sobbing uncontrollably at her table, asking Em, “Why did I kill you?” Oh, no, Kath didn’t believe in all that New Age stuff, but she sure did believe it when someone broke into her pantry. Odd things started disappearing from Granny’s little Lavender Street house and it looked like blackmail was a mainstay in Blue Plum. What next? Kath didn’t have to wait long for her answer when Mercy Spivey, spouted out, “He was pushed. He’s the murdered kind of dead.” Where was Granny when she needed her most?

This surprisingly sparkling first book in this paranormal series will keep its readers asking for more. The ghost, Genevieve, was a very interesting character, one who actually assisted Kath as she tried to unravel the mystery. Kath was a rather reluctant paranormal sleuth, but once she garnered the assistance of a Blue Plum posse she became a confident one. I really enjoyed this cozy mystery as it had just the right elements that kept me (pardon the cliché) turning the pages. Molly MacRae’s way with words could make me laugh out loud, especially when Kath let loose and hit ... well, I won’t spoil the fun. If you like a little bit of ghostly paranormal and a lot of good time, amusing characters, you’re going to love becoming acquainted with Kath Rutledge!

Quill says: Anyone who loves fabric, fantasy, and a good dollop of fun will adore Last Wool and Testament!