The Devil’s Hook is a fun, fast-paced cozy mystery, the second book in the Emory Crawford Mystery series. (You can read my review of The Devil’s Music, Book #1 in the series, here.) The Devil’s Hook is a great follow-up to The Devil’s Music. No sophomore slump here, for Author Pearl R. Meaker.

Emory Crawford isn't your average cozy-mystery sleuth. She's a middle-aged housewife, mother of two grown children, and a grandmother. She doesn't go out looking for mysteries to solve.

The Devil’s Hook begins with a quote from Greenshaw's Folly by Agatha Christie:

"Some commit murder, some get mixed-up in murder, others have murder thrust upon them. My Aunt Jane comes into the third category." (Raymond West about Miss Marple)

Emory Crawford is among those who have murder thrust upon them. In The Devil’s Hook, not only murder but mayhem (in the form of break-ins and kidnapping) is being thrust. These mysteries are intriguing, and held my interest throughout the book. There are twists and turns in the plot, as the surprising motives for the various mysteries are discovered.

The Emory Crawford Mysteries take place in Twombly, Illinois, the home of Twombly College, whose president is Jairus Twombly VI. Meaker's worldbuilding is realistic, and detailed without being too wordy. The characters are distinctive, true-to-life, and likable.

In Book #1, The Devil's Music, Emory's sleuthing was done only to assist her husband Jebbin, a forensics scientist, in his investigation following a murder. As she worked on the case, she kept thinking of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple as she worked the case, asking herself "What would Jane Marple do?"

In The Devil's Hook, Emory is more comfortable doing her sleuthing. The self-doubt I noted in The Devil's Music is gone. Emory is teaching a Crochet class at Twombly College for the optional January Term. Among her students are daughter Madison and wife Amy of the college president. Amy Twombly has a rather unique reason for taking up crochet. I enjoyed Amy's monologue as she explained it to the class on their first day.

I agree with Author Pearl R. Meaker, in the interview on my blog, that Madison is my new favorite character, along with Emory. Madison, a precocious 14-year-old and student at both Twombly High and Twombly College, is the perfect sidekick for Emory — Madison as Nancy Drew, and Emory as Miss Marple.

I recommend The Devil’s Hook to all fans of Cozy Mysteries, especially cozy fans who are also Yarn Enthusiasts.

I really enjoyed The Devil’s Hook by Pearl R. Meaker, and grant it Four Stars out of five!


Note: I received a complimentary copy of The Devil’s Hook in exchange for my honest review. All opinions shared are 100% my own.

Originally published on my blog at Jane Reads. ( )