Sally Goldenbaum Books In Order

Publication Order of Seaside Knitters Society Mystery Books

Publication Order of Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mystery Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Sally Goldenbaum is a philosophy teacher, knitter, editor, and the author of more than two dozen novels. Her genres include mystery and thrillers, romance and contemporary writing. She was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, a town on the shores of Lake Michigan in the United States. The book writing bug bit her when she met Adrienne Staff, who was also a newcomer in her hometown. It is this budding relationship with Adrienne that would propel Sally to start and finish writing her first book, and they have remained best friends. They combined forces and wrote their first book together, and by putting each other to task, they soon overcame the curse of the unfinished novel.

Sally Goldenbaum is best known as the author of the seaside knitters mysteries. The seaside knitters are four armature sleuths, Nell, Izzy, Cass, and Birdie, and they share a passion for knitting. If you are a fan of cozy mystery novels and you enjoy following detectives as they try to solve mysteries, then you will enjoy reading these books. Apart from the seaside knitters mysteries, Sally Goldenbaum has also written the queen bees quilt mystery series, which consist of four books, the first one being called Murders on Elderberry Road.

The first novel that Sally Goldenbaum wrote in the seaside knitters mystery series is called “Death by Cashmere” and it was published in 2008. This is the book that introduced readers to the four armature sleuths, Nell, Izzy, Cass and Birdie. In Death by Cashmere, Izzy Chambers gives up her life as a lawyer in Boston in order to open the Seaside Knitting Studio in Sea Harbor, Massachusetts, where she spent her childhood. Soon after the shop was opened, an informal group forms around it, including Birdie, who was their oldest member aged nearly 80.

This mystery series spins a yarn about knitters and murder in a quaint seaside village. Izzy raises eyebrows after renting an apartment above the knitting studio to a woman named Angie Archer, who had a bad reputation for her quick temper and loose morals. Many locals were therefore not amused by Angie Archer. But could anyone desire to kill her? When her body is found drowned in a harbor, an official investigation concludes that the death was accidental. However, Izzy and her group of knitters suspect that the death was anything but accidental and they decide to conduct their own investigations.

One thing that might be disappointing in the seaside knitters mystery series is the fact we soon discover that the main character that we follow isn’t Izzy but her aunt Nell, whose character isn’t too appealing. As the proprietor of the Seaside Knitting Studio, one would hope that Izzy would be the lead character. So why are we told that she leaves her plum job as a lawyer in a big city to retire to a sleepy village? Maybe the author should have considered making her the lead character since she is the one who brings together the other armature sleuths.

The pace of the novel is also rather slow, but one should expect that because the story is set in a sleepy seaside village. It takes almost half the novel for the investigations to begin in earnest, which might put the reader off. When the sleuthing begins, we find Nell haphazardly speaking with the right persons but she’s usually too confused to piece together the puzzle pieces and draw the right conclusions. The author also throws in too many characters, all with a possible motive for killing Angie Archer.

The second book of the seaside knitters mystery series is called “Patterns in the Sand”. Sally Goldenbaum introduces us to a young fiber artist called Willow Adams who visits the knitting studio, and she’s immediately embraced by the seaside knitters. There is a monthly arts event that takes place at Canary Cove, and the seaside knitters advice Willow Adams to take her art there for it to be showcased. However, the peaceful summer is suddenly interrupted after the dead body of Nick Peabody is discovered in someone’s garden. Nick owned a well-known gallery in the community, and residents soon realize that they didn’t know him that well. The plot thickens when Nick Peabody’s will is read and we discover he left all his possessions with Willow, his estranged daughter we soon learn. Very soon, the readers will also learn of Willow’s dark secrets.

For starters, Izzy is called to come back to her shops as there’s a “dead” girl inside. However, when she reaches her shop, everyone who is waiting is relieved because the girl is still alive. But the mystery is how she managed to gain entry into the shop since she was still a stranger in these parts. There are many summer tourists in the town, and there is a special art event that has been planned.

When a gallery owner is found dead, people start to wonder who might have killed him. Could it have been this mysterious woman who was discovered inside the Seaside Knitting Studio? Could it have been a fellow artist seen having a heated argument with him? An artist is also killed and people are now worried that the killer might strike again. The community is tight-knit and so it’s easier to lay the blame on a stranger in their midst than one of their members.

The good thing about Patterns in the Sand is the fact that the author keeps you guessing about the real identity of the killer. It’s not until the end of the book that the killer is unmasked. The characters in the book are likeable and we discover that the police are having a hard time solving the mystery. The author also does a good job of describing the setting of the entire story, and you wish that you were there.

There are other books in the series and after you finish reading these first two books in the seaside knitters mystery, you will look forward reading the others. The storyline in each book is quite believable and you can actually visualize your self living in the sleepy community. Sally Goldenbaum has done a good job in writing the seaside mysteries and readers are glad to know that the series continues with more murder mysteries.

6 Responses to “Sally Goldenbaum”

1. Helen Luegge: 1 year ago

   Thank you Sally Goldenbaum for a lovely set of seaside knitters mysteries. I love the pace of the books and
   the interesting stories. Her characters are very believable and lovable friends. I found your books by accident but I have fallen in love with the close “knit” friends. I’m only to book 8 and can’t wait to read the rest!!!

   Reply
2. Barb Scott: 1 year ago

   Trying to figure out the order of this series. Amazon says book 6 is coming next, but there are several out past book 6. Love what I’m reading.

   Reply
   • Graeme: 1 year ago

     Amazon splits her list into two different series. Not sure if its the publishing company that did that or what but the author only lists them as one series so you can just follow the list above

     Reply
3. Florence Sundberg: 2 years ago

   Sept. 9, 2022: I disagree. Everyone and everything circles around Nell. I love all the characters and Izzy is great but limited, IMO. The relationships between all the primary characters is what makes these books so life-like and relatable. I hope that Sally will write more of them even when she goes on to creating other characters in other books. I hope to visit her town someday as I live in Connecticut. Each and every character has a well developed personality without which the story wouldn’t gel…keep them coming Sally!

   Reply
4. Jean Larsen: 3 years ago

   I would like to know when the next Seaside Knitters book will come out. The last one was Crime of a Different Stripe in 2020.

   Reply
   • Graeme: 3 years ago

     Hi Jean – A Dark and Snowy Night is currently scheduled for September of this year.

     Reply