Most Recommended Books

Track reading, wishlists & new-book alerts

Get
Skip to content
Share:

Crochet Mystery Books in Order

Part ofBetty Hechtman Books in Order

See the Crochet Mystery books in order by Betty Hechtman, with short summaries, character notes, and an easy guide to where to start with Molly Pink.

Last updated: June 30, 2026

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases (at no extra cost to you).

Publication Order

Sort:

16 books

1

Dead Men Don't Crochet

by Betty Hechtman

2008

When a member of Molly Pink's crochet circle is suspected of murder, Molly and the Tarzana Hookers step in. Friendship, gossip, and handmade clues pull them into another cozy Tarzana case.

2

Hooked on Murder

by Betty Hechtman

2008

Molly Pink only meant to manage the bookstore's crochet group, not become the top suspect when leader Ellen Sheridan is killed. Learning to crochet is hard enough. Clearing her name before the real killer strikes is harder.

3

A Stitch in Crime

by Betty Hechtman

2009

Molly heads a creative retreat on the Monterey Peninsula expecting crochet classes and scenery. When one of the teachers dies, the getaway turns into an investigation only Molly and the Tarzana Hookers can untangle.

4

By Hook or by Crook

by Betty Hechtman

2009

A cryptic paper bag, a remorseful note, and a piece of filet crochet point Molly Pink toward trouble. Then a talented crocheter is poisoned, and Molly has to read the hidden pattern before the killer disappears.

5

You Better Knot Die

by Betty Hechtman

2010

The bookstore is opening a yarn department and planning a splashy launch party, but a neighbor's husband disappears before the big reveal. Molly suspects the supposed suicide story does not add up and starts pulling at loose threads.

6

Behind the Seams

by Betty Hechtman

2011

A society wedding should mean cake and drama, not murder on the dance floor. With the bride's family and the paparazzi circling, Molly takes in a prime suspect and tries to sort truth from spectacle.

7

If Hooks Could Kill

by Betty Hechtman

2012

CeeCee Collins gets a talk-show appearance, and Molly's crochet crew tags along for the excitement. When a producer dies from poisoned sweetener and CeeCee's niece is implicated, backstage chaos becomes a murder case.

8

For Better or Worsted

by Betty Hechtman

2013

At the SoCal Knit Style Show, Molly and the Tarzana Hookers finally get crochet a place in the spotlight. Then the organizer is found dead, and one of Molly's friends is framed with a handmade hook.

9

Knot Guilty

by Betty Hechtman

2014

Yarn University is supposed to help the Hookers teach their craft to new students. Instead, a rehearsal at CeeCee's mansion ends with a body in the garage apartment and Molly chasing a killer before class even begins.

10

Hooking for Trouble

by Betty Hechtman

2016

Strange new neighbors and a suspicious scene on a balcony pull Molly into trouble close to home. With no body and few answers, she has to prove she really saw something before a clever killer slips away.

11

Seams Like Murder

by Betty Hechtman

2016

Molly's new Yarn University classes are a hit, but nerves are fraying before opening day. When a dead body turns up at CeeCee's place, the Tarzana Hookers have to solve the crime before the whole venture unravels.

12

Hooks Can Be Deceiving

by Betty Hechtman

2018

A new crochet TV show filming at Shedd & Royal should be great publicity for the store. But when a new friend vanishes and a murder linked to the production follows, Molly has to separate performance from truth.

13

On the Hook

by Betty Hechtman

2018

While the Tarzana Hookers crochet baby blankets for charity, hidden ambitions start causing friction. Then a poisoned cocktail leaves a man dead, Molly's scarf at the scene, and her own name tangled in the investigation.

14

One for the Hooks

by Betty Hechtman

2021

Miami Wilson is fixing up an inherited house when her helper dies beneath a mess of seafood shells. Molly suspects the death was no accident and digs into neighborhood grudges, allergies, and a very odd drone incident.

15

Killer Hooks

by Betty Hechtman

2023

Molly is juggling a granddaughter, her son's worries about a potential investor, and a big bookstore event for a gossip-heavy tell-all. When the author collapses dead mid-reveal, Molly becomes the police's favorite suspect.

16

Murder by the Hook

by Betty Hechtman

2025

With the bookstore closed for renovations, Molly and the Tarzana Hookers head to Pixie for a crochet weekend. What starts as Molly helping her ex catch a thief turns deadly when a groom-to-be is murdered.

Series background & context

The Crochet Mystery books are the series many readers connect with Betty Hechtman first, and it is easy to see why. They take the classic cozy mystery setup, an amateur sleuth, a strong circle of friends, plenty of suspects, and a murder close to home, and place it inside a world of yarn, bookstore events, and Los Angeles area neighborhood life. The result is warm, busy, and very readable.

At the center is Molly Pink, who works at Shedd & Royal Books and More in Tarzana, California. What begins as a practical connection to a bookstore crochet group grows into a full social world, and that group, the Tarzana Hookers, becomes the heart of the series. Molly is not a detective by trade. She is someone with a job, friends, family concerns, and more curiosity than is always good for her. That makes her a natural cozy lead. She notices things. She worries at loose ends. She keeps going when it would probably be smarter to stop.

The crochet circle matters as much as the murders do. The Hookers are not background decoration. They bring gossip, practical help, comic relief, strong opinions, and emotional stakes. When one of them is threatened, framed, or drawn into a case, the mystery feels personal right away. Their projects and meetings also give the books a built-in sense of community, so even when the plot moves into weddings, television studios, trade shows, retreats, or suspicious neighbor drama, the series still feels anchored.

And Tarzana is a good fit for all of it.

Because the books are set in Southern California, the series gets to play with a slightly offbeat edge of glamour without turning into Hollywood satire. Some cases involve talk shows, actors, fancy events, or media attention, but the stories stay rooted in ordinary lives. Molly is usually trying to keep a bookstore event running, help a friend, or get through a weekend without drama, right before someone turns up dead. That contrast gives the series a lot of its charm.

The tone is cozy in the truest sense. These books are not hard-boiled or grim. They are about clever setups, tight social circles, handmade clues, and the comfort of watching a capable amateur work through a mess. Many entries also include recipes and crochet patterns, which makes the series feel even more companionable. If you want a long-running mystery world with a memorable lead, a terrific group dynamic, and plenty of yarn-centered atmosphere, this is Hechtman's signature lane.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

Comments

Did we miss something? Have feedback?

Help us improve this page by sharing your thoughts

We only use your email to notify you about replies.

All comments are moderated.

Discover and track your reading on the go

Track your reading, manage wishlists, and get notified when new books are added.