“Hooked on Ewe” Has Murder with Yarn

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Hooked on EweEden Elliott joins in organizing a fundraiser for the local hospice of a sheepdog trial in Hooked on Ewe by Hannah Reed. The charity event takes place in the MacBride fields in Glenkillen, Scotland, where Eden is staying to work on a romance novel. Her friend Vicki, has inherited half the estate of her wealthy father, along with her half- sister Kirstine Derry, who resents Vicki’s presence in her lifelong home. Thus Kirstine gets upset when Vicki inaugurates her new Skein of the Month Club on the day of the charity event. This club involves a kit of yarn from wool raised on the MacBride farm, dyed by hand, prepared, and spun by Vicki, along with a set of instructions to make a project with the yarn.

As the set-up progresses, Eden finds herself having to deal with the controlling Ila Linzey, who keeps the books for the hospice and seems to think she is in charge of everything. The woman is so demanding and critical of everyone’s actions that Eden eagerly passes over her job to Sean Stevens, the Special Constable, which is a volunteer law enforcement position. As the day progresses, Ila seems to disappear, but no one tries to find her because they are just as happy not to have her looking over their shoulder. However, when everything is over, they go to open the van used to transport the folded up tent, but when Eden opens the side door, the body of Ila tumbles out, with the yarn Vicki made wrapped around her throat.

Eden has become friends with the local detective, Inspector Kevin Jamison, and he asks Eden to consider taking over Sean’s position as Special Constable as Sean goes to police college to become a fuil-fledged officer. So Eden gives up her writing for a time to help investigate the case.

Hooked on Ewe had a clever plot that kept me fascinated. The mystery had all that one could ask for in a detective story, and the local color adds great flavor to the mystery. The storyline kept me wanting to keep listening without putting the book down. I especially loved the depictions of life in a small town in Scotland. These images are beautifully woven into the plot, so they are not just background but part of the book.

I loved the distinctive characters found in the book, each of whom brings realism to her or his identity. Eden, the first-person narrator, has depth and strength of character. We all become ready to kill Ila, long before someone actually does so. Special Constable Sean is endearing in his own bumbling but sweet way. The many other characters come just as alive as the previously named ones.

Angela Dawe performs the audio edition of this book. She really impresses me with her smooth transitions among the American accent of Eden, the Scottish brogue of the locals, and the London accent of Vicki, who grew up mostly in the British capital. Her performance of Eden’s first- person narration effectively conveys Eden’s curiosity and resourcefulness.

I had a great time listening to Hooked on Ewe, which was exciting in its mystery. It had great characters in whose lives we get invested. Further, the setting serves as another character in the book. I do recommend listening to the first book to get a good introduction to the setting. I give this book five stars!

To purchase this book for yourself, click here on Amazon.

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