Hilda Hopkins, Murder She Knit (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
Don't bother unless you like books with knitting in it. I was hopeful and rather liked the police in the story but it was a weak storyline and almost read as though there had been a challenge at a knitting group to write a mystery/murder about a knitter. Or it was written for Women's Weekly... am I being dismissive there of a magazine? Maybe - at least in the stories it prints - it used, many years ago, to have some good recipes or knitting patterns though, but haven't read it for many years. This is a fabulous crime thriller and excellent guide to machine knitting! The author, a handy machine knitter herself, has her anti-heroine use her craft skills to make lifelike effigies of her victims. Yes, Hilda Hopkins is a serial killer, albeit retired and widowed! As a fun black comedy like story of murder and machine knitting it can;t be beaten. It reads well and cracks along at a great pace. The police procedures are spot on and the nitty gritty details, from death by knitted garrotte to disposal of bodies are all plausible and accurate. Plus there is the knitting instruction!This book will appeal to anyone who likes a good laugh or even a malevolent smirk. If you ever felt ignored or overlooked, judged poorly due to your outward appearances, then you will associate with Hilda. Forever overlooked as some harmless little old lady, this woman is lethal! She is also cunning and clever, but perhaps a little too clever for her own good as she escapes from police custody and keeps one step ahead of the lwa with her wits and streetsmarts... and her knitting!
What do You think about Hilda Hopkins, Murder She Knit (2011)?
A quick, fun read loaded with real small town England. Beware, this granny isn't knitting Shreddies.
—Zeph
Fun, cute, read. Not award-worthy, but mindless, easy fun.
—LooZMaRiaN
