Hooking Trouble
Second Chances Op Shop Mystery, Book 2
Tash Carmichael thought learning crochet would be the hardest part of joining Nuntin Creek's Hook and Natter group.
But when strict organiser Lori Wilson is found dead at the bottom of the church hall stairs, a tragic fall seems easy to believe. Lori's knees were bad, the stairs were unsafe, and the town already has a suspect in mind.
Tash isn't convinced.
As the Winter Warmers charity drive continues, missing money, uneasy friendships, and a scrap of orange yarn pull Tash into another investigation. Senior Constable Brad Jenkins warns her to stay out of it, but every loose thread leads to someone with something to hide—and one of them may be willing to kill to keep the truth from unravelling.
Can Tash stitch the clues together before the killer ties off the final thread?
Includes 8 bonus puzzles inspired by the story. They're completely optional and not required to solve the mystery, but they're a fun way to investigate alongside Tash. A printable puzzle pack is also available for readers who prefer pencil and paper.
Hooking Trouble is the second book in the Second Chances Op Shop Mystery series—an Australian cosy mystery filled with small-town secrets, amateur sleuthing, and plenty of second chances.
Things You'll Love
- Australian small-town cosy mystery
- Female amateur sleuth
- Crochet and craft-group setting
- A suspicious fall at a church hall
- Charity-fund secrets and small-town gossip
- An orange-yarn clue
- Op-shop community and recurring characters
- Off-page violence and a cosy tone
- Eight optional story-inspired puzzles
- No puzzle-solving required to enjoy the mystery
Behind the Story
For Tash’s second investigation, a crochet group and its Winter Warmers charity drive provide the perfect cosy setting for tangled loyalties, missing money and a suspicious death that initially looks like an accident. The craft theme shapes the clues and language of the mystery, right down to the scrap of orange yarn that refuses to stay neatly tucked away.
Hooking Trouble keeps the series promise established in Sorting Trouble: a female amateur sleuth, layered Nuntin Creek gossip, Brad warning Tash to leave the police work alone, and eight optional puzzles for readers who enjoy investigating alongside her.
Read a Sample
About the Author
Macie Ryan is the not-so-secret pen name for an Aussie author who plots fictional homicides to creatively kill off the people who annoy her.
Title: Hooking Trouble
Author: Macie Ryan
Publisher: Hey Said Renee Publishing
Release Date: November 15, 2026
Series: Second Chances Op Shop Mystery (Book 2)
Genre: Australian Cosy Mystery / Amateur Sleuth Mystery / Small-Town Mystery / Craft Mystery / Interactive Mystery
Themes: Crochet, charity secrets, community gossip, friendship, responsibility, second chances and amateur sleuthing
Setting: Nuntin Creek, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia
Target Age: Adult
Format: Kindle ebook
Availability: Available for preorder before release and for purchase after publication via Amazon and other retailers.
ASIN: B0HBJDPWZX
Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/4A9W8k
Search Keywords: Australian small-town mystery, crochet club murder mystery, crafting female amateur sleuth, interactive mystery with puzzles, charity fundraiser whodunit, clean lighthearted cosy mystery, op shop mystery
Summary for Search: Hooking Trouble is an Australian cosy mystery set in Nuntin Creek. When a strict crochet-group organiser dies in an apparent fall, amateur sleuth Tash Carmichael follows a trail of missing charity money, uneasy friendships and orange yarn. The second Second Chances Op Shop Mystery includes eight optional bonus puzzles.