Threaded For Trouble by Janet Bolin

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Sandra Murphy

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Check out details on how to win a copy of this book at the end of this review.

In Dire Threads, readers were introduced to Willow Vanderling, her BFF, Haylee, Haylee’s three moms (yes, three), and the town of Threadville, Pennsylvania, aka Elderberry Bay. Now they’re back with more machine embroidery, yarn to knit or crochet, fabric to sew, and classes to hold.

Felicity Ranquels is in town to present a new Chandler Champion embroidery machine to Darlene Coddlefield, winner of Chandler’s national contest. It’s a mystery why Chandler hired Felicity—she can’t sew, micromanages and has no people skills.

When Darlene is found dead, murdered by the Chandler machine (with human help of course), suspects abound. Darlene has tirelessly worked for various charities that feed and clothe children. She just forgot to mention they’re her children. Although the bereaved each grieve in their own way, seeing Darlene’s husband, Elderberry’s fire chief, Plug, find consolation in the arms of the kid’s au pair shocks Willow. After all, he’s been a widower for less than twenty-four hours.

Image source: Berkley

To change the settings on the sewing machine would take some knowledge of sewing, computer and electrical skills but that doesn’t shorten the list of suspects. Darlene’s list of enemies is long.

Plug doesn’t have many fans either. He’s a lazy fire chief, declaring nightly fires set in open fields “accidental” while Isaac, his Deputy Chief thinks arson. Arson comes closer to home when the Coddlefield house is ablaze with Tiffany the au pair and Felicity found inside, hands tied to the bed in the hope they wouldn’t escape the smoke and flames.

Everything comes to a satisfactory conclusion at the Harvest Festival as Willow, Haylee, and Haylee’s three moms all go undercover, although not incognito, to find a killer. Watch the romantic spark between Willow and Clay, Smallwood and Gartener and enjoy the talk of crafts. Avoid the slimy Mr. Chandler at all costs. Come to think of it, avoid Felicity too.

To enter to win a copy of Threaded For Trouble, simply email KRL at life@kingsriverlife[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “Threaded”, or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 18, 2012. U.S. residents only.

Sandra Murphy lives in the shadow of the arch, in the land of blues, booze and shoes—St Louis, Missouri. While writing magazine articles to support her mystery book habit, she secretly polishes two mystery books of her own, hoping, someday, they will see the light of Barnes and Noble. You can also find several of Sandra's short stories on UnTreed Reads including her new one Bananas Foster.