Fourth in the lively Yarn Retreat Mystery series, this adventure set in Monterey caught my attention because it involves the monarch butterflies. These gorgeous large orange and black butterflies travel between Mexico and various American states each year, feasting on plants like milkweed. GONE WITH THE WOOL sees how even knitters and crochet fans can value butterflies--at the risk of death.

Casey Feldstein has moved to the coastal town of Cadbury. She runs retreats for keen craftsmen, a business started by her late aunt. The town is about to host a festival for the migrating butterflies, and Casey is wondering whether to keep a secret involving a lost heir and a handmade teddy-bear. But first she has to soothe petty rivalries among her crafts ladies and organize weaving classes. There are some remarks about illness after eating muffins, so I was expecting a poisoning mystery, but in a somewhat unlikely move a person in a crowded festival event falls over with a knife sticking out of her back. Looks like someone took those rivalries more seriously than everyone realized.

Despite the yarn theme I found as much attention is paid to carrot cake and warm corn muffins, with the police in time- honored fashion advising our heroine to keep her nose out of the investigation. This of course is impossible. If for no other reason than twenty-five women are bound to gossip over the weaving. There is no Wi-fi at the craft retreat, and information is exchanged the old-fashioned way. I also enjoyed the sense of place, with scenic vistas, the time of year and the casual attitude to fallen trees all described. Cadbury sounds like a gorgeous place to visit for a festival, or a retreat of any kind. The people are all quite normal and friendly, encouraging children to make costumes and paper butterflies, caring for their heritage. Who would have thought that the town harbors a vicious killer?

At the end of the tale are a couple of patterns and a recipe for muffins. I've previously enjoyed HOOKED ON MURDER in Betty Hechtman's Crochet Mystery series and GONE WITH THE WOOL follows a similar pattern with crafts, friendships and tangles galore. Fans of this author will devour her latest offering and if you're a newcomer you may be inspired to pick up needles.