Middle Sister's Mid-Month Read

 It's that time of year, when my favorite series publishes a new book. I was very fortunate to be able to read a galley of Sally Goldenbaum's latest Seaside Knitters Society Gull and Bones. For those unfamiliar with the series, it revolves around four friends--one octogenarian, one sixty-ish and her niece in her 30s, plus another 30-something young woman. Which woman spearheads the 'investigation' into a mysterious death changed in each book in the early entries in the series, but in the last few, it's been a concerted effort of 4 minds to solve the crime, often with Nell being the one to weave all the tidbits each has found into a resolution.

It's clear Ms. Goldenbaum is, understandably, still processing the death of her own husband last year, while she was writing the previous book. In both, the murder victim is someone we the reader like, and in one instance, someone who has been a familiar face in previous books. That saddens me in a way, but is understandable, of course, especially given her own loss. Creating 5 or 6 new characters and a backstory for each and why someone would want to murder them may just be too much right now. Exploring characters she knows so intimately after a dozen years might be easier, and challenging in its own way. But the murder of an old friend is a little harder to read. There are a few new characters, but most are ones we've met in previous books. Annie is the one new character that is a central focus, although her past and her motivations are not fully revealed despite a lot of discussion about her by our knitters. This book also features a lot less knitting than usual, missing the cosiness that time spent in the studio and fleeting discussion of different yarn types and weights brought to other books.

In Gull and Bones, the entire town of Sea Harbor is getting ready for a giant celebration for the 100th birthday of Angus MacPherron, the town's "old man of the sea." But the celebrations haven't even started when a murder occurs. I'll admit that this time, I knew who had done it, and why, early in the story, and I also knew what the final reveal would be, also very early. Spoiler alert--dollars to doughnuts, I also know what the boy baby will be named when he arrives. Despite that, and the slightly depressed tone of the novel, I enjoyed Gull and Bones and spending time with Nell, Izzy, Cass, and Birdie, and their families and friends, as I always do. I wish Ms. Goldenbaum continued strength as she journeys forth. There was no preview of the next book, which I'm a little worried about. Is it an indication that we will no longer visit Sea Harbor in future books?