Thread Herrings (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery)
by Lea Wait
About the Book
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Kensington (October 30, 2018)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 149671671X
ISBN-13: 978-1496716712
Digital ASIN: B079KSZ92D
Angie's first auction may turn out to be her last—when she bids on a coat of arms that someone would literally kill to possess . . .
Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antiques shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms.
Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker's invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one going, going . . . gone . . .
About the Author
Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth-generation antique dealer and the author of the Agatha-nominated Antique Print Mystery series (which I enjoy reading), she loves all things antiques and Maine. She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine. Visit her at leawait.com. Follow Lea on Facebook and GoodReads.My Thoughts
Thread Herrings by Lea Wait is the seventh story in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series. Angie Curtis is the manager of Mainely Needlepoint in Haven Harbor, Maine. Angie is accompanying her friend, Sarah Byrne to an auction in Augusta. Angie has not been to an auction previously and is looking forward to the experience. Angie is intrigued by a half-finished vintage framed needlepoint coat of arms that is not in the best condition and she spontaneously bids on it when none of the other participants show interest. At home, Angie removes the needlework from the frame and finds a pale silk blue embroidered ribbon along with receipt from the London Foundling Hospital dated October 26, 1757 for a child baptized Charles. Angie wants to learn more about the coat of arms and the child, but she is unsuccessful at the Maine Historical Society. She has lunch with Clem Walker, friend and television reporter, who suggests doing a human interest feature and appeal to the public for information. Instead of receiving helpful material, both ladies receive death threats. Soon Clem is found shot dead in car in Haven Harbor and Angie’s car goes boom injuring someone close to her. Angie goes into hiding, but she this does not deter her from investigating. Can she identify the culprit before he finds her?
Thread Herrings can be read alone if you have not indulged in any of the previous novels in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series. Angie goes to her first auction and her friend, Sarah kindly explains auction protocol. Since I have not been to an auction, I found it interesting. I had no idea there was a buyer’s premium added to the hammer price (winning bid). I could tell the author did her research on the London Foundling Hospital, land patents or grants, the billet or receipt for the child and mementoes parents left behind as identifiers (to later claim the child). Lea Wait incorporated the information in a way that made it easy to understand. Ruth Hopkins helps Angie with genealogy research, but we see very little of the other Mainely Needlepoint group. Patrick West is in town and Angie hides out in his finely appointed carriage house. Personally, I am not a fan of Patrick and I keep hoping they will break up. Patrick comes across as superficial (especially when he was discussing the yacht that could only sleep eight). Angie needs a partner with more depth and who is interested in sleuthing. The mystery plays out with clues interspersed up to the reveal. Angie must solve the mystery via phone since she is unable to go out in public which is a unique way of investigating the crime. Readers are unable to play along and solve this whodunit. I could have done without the frequent (I stopped counting after six) mentions of Angie’s gun (a Glock). Angie does manage to indulge in cooking, dining out friends (before the death threats), drinking fine wine, playing with Trixi (her kitten), watch movies, handle business details and check in with Gram. As the action heats up in Thread Herrings, you will find yourself riveted. You cannot help but keep reading to discover how the story plays out. Thread Herrings is available at Amazon, B&N, Kobo.
The next novel in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series is Thread on Arrival which comes out on April 30, 2019. In honor of the tour, Lea Wait is hosting a giveaway. You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below. Make sure to leave a comment on my blog for an extra entry and visit the other stops where you can read their review and an excerpt from Thread Herrings. Thank you for visiting today. I am featuring His Promise by Shelley Shepard Gray. I hope you have a blessed All Saints Day. Take care and Happy Reading!
Kris
The Avid Reader
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 1 - The Avid Reader – REVIEW
November 1 - Cozy Up With Kathy -SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 2 - Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT
November 2 - A Wytch's Book Review Blog – REVIEW
November 3 – The Power of Words – REVIEW
November 3 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
November 3 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT
November 4 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, EXCERPT
November 5 – Here's How It Happened - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 5 – The Montana Bookaholic - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 6 – Rosepoint Publishing – REVIEW
November 6 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 7 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW
November 7 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
November 8 – My Reading Journey - REVIEW, EXCERPT
November 8 – MJB Reviewers - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 9 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 9 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
November 10 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW
November 10 – Handcrafted Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 12 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW
November 13 – Socrates' Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 13 – Community Bookstop – REVIEW
Love this series. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI've not been to an auction either & think the protocol would be interesting to learn.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great series
ReplyDeleteLove the cover and the book looks so good.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
faithdcreech at gmail dot com
Beautiful cover. Looking forward to reading this.
ReplyDeletebrowninggloria@hotmail.com
The cover is fantastic and the storyline sounds good. Good luck with your book.
ReplyDelete