Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney

Book Summary

Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney has Iris Buckley along with her grandmother, Anne preparing for the upcoming Lobster Festival in Blueberry Cove, Maine.  Iris is also working on updating their window display at Ruffles and Bows.  Iris is thrilled when she gets a call from Eleanor Brady who has some vintage linens and aprons to sell.  Iris arrives at Shorehaven, Eleanor’s home, and runs into Dr. Lukas de Wilde.  Lukas, along with his colleagues, are paying guests of Eleanor’s for the summer while they work with on the Farming the Sea project with College of Isles.  Eleanor has beautiful bed linens for Iris plus a trunk full of vintage aprons.  There is also a trunk of vintage Chanel clothes in pristine condition that belonged to Eleanor’s mother.  Iris agrees to help facilitate a sale of the clothing for Eleanor as well as learn more about her mother’s history.  The next morning, Iris is reluctantly rock climbing with her boyfriend, Ian and her best friend, Madison.  She stops at a ledge to rest and finds Hailey Piper, Lukas de Wilde’s teaching assistant, dead.  When it appears that the killer has set up Lukas to take the fall, Iris begins digging into the case.  Someone is unhappy with Iris’ curious nature and attempts to derail her investigation.  Will Iris stay alive long enough to judge the first Annual Lobster Festival Bib & Apron Contest?

My Thoughts

Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney is the 2^nd book in The Apron Shop Series.  It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in Hems and Homicide.  I thought this cozy mystery was well-written with developed characters.  I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of Blueberry Cove, Maine.  She brought the city alive with her vivid word imagery of the shops, people, the boats, the cliffs, and the ocean.  I like the cast of strong female characters in this series.  Iris Buckley is a friendly and intelligent woman who loves vintage items.  Iris co-owns Ruffles and Bows with her grandmother, Anne Buckley.  They also share a farmhouse nearby.  I like the close relationship Iris and her Grammie share.  Iris has close female friends in Sophie, Madison, and Bella.  It is great how they are there for each other and have women’s nights that include Grammie.  Eleanor Brady was a delightful addition.  She is a lively woman for her age with a mischievous sparkle in her eye.  Her nephew, Craig is a bully who thinks only of himself.  I am glad that Eleanor has good friends to watch out for her.  The death of Hailey Piper has multiple suspects.  It could be a local or someone with the Farming the Sea project.  There are good clues to aid the reader in solving this multifarious mystery.  The second mystery involves Eleanor’s mother, Claudia de Witte.  Eleanor’s mother worked as a nursemaid, but she had designer clothing.  Both mysteries were entertaining.  I did feel that the first half of the book was a little slow.  There seemed to be more eating and chatting than sleuthing.  That soon changed as the action ramped up.  The Apron Shop Series is character driven.  The great characters are what draw the reader in.  I just love the descriptions of the vintage bed linens, aprons, and clothes.  I collect vintage aprons, so I was drooling over the trunk of aprons Iris scored for Ruffles and Bows. I cannot wait to read Bodies and Bows in the spring.  Thread and Dead is a charming cozy mystery with antique aprons, comfort cuisine, a mysterious mother, sprouting seaweed, classic couture clothes, and Lobster Festival fun.

Thread and Dead can be obtained from Amazon*.  The first book in An Apron Shop Series is Hems and Homicide.  Bodies and Bows will be the third installment in this series and it publishes March 30, 2021.  Visit Elizabeth Penney's website to learn more about her and see what other books she has written.  Elizabeth has written cozy mysteries for Guideposts and Annie's Attic (they are delightful).  Thank you for visiting me today.  I hope I have helped you to find a new book to read and enjoy.  I am sharing my thoughts on A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke tomorrow.  It is 6th book in The Mulberry Lane series.  May you have a lively day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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