A Thread of Darkness

Sally Goldenbaum

Jul 2019 · Queen Bees Quilt Shop Book 2 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

The national bestselling author of the Seaside Knitters mysteries returns to find the Crestwood Quilters on pins and needles when a killer strikes. . .

As owners of the popular bistro The French Quarter, former New York City restauranteurs Picasso and Laurel St. Pierre are the toast of the town of Crestwood, Kansas. Chef Picasso’s culinary creations delight the women of the quilting club, who have embraced him as a friend. But Laurel’s anti-social behavior confuses Kate Simpson—until she spots Mrs. St. Pierre with another man in what appears to be a lover’s spat.

Gossip travels fast in a small town like Crestwood, and rumor has it this isn’t Laurel’s first indiscretion. She also filed a police report accusing Picasso of domestic abuse. And when Laurel’s murdered body is found Picasso is the prime suspect. To prove their friend’s innocence, Kate and the Crestwood Quilters must uncover the secrets of Laurel’s past—a patchwork history wrapped up in Kate’s own teenage years . . .

Previously titled A Murder of Taste

Praise for Sally Goldenbaum’s Mysteries

“Goldenbaum’s Queen Bee quilters charm and delight. I hope these intriguing women will continue to quilt—and solve crimes!”
—Carolyn Hart

“A perfect cozy mystery.”
—Nancy Pickard

Ratings and reviews

A Thread of Darkness is the second novel in A Queen Bees Quilt Shop Mystery series. A Thread of Darkness is easy to read and progresses at a nice pace. There is a good flow as the story moves from scene to scene. While A Thread of Darkness can be read alone, I recommend reading the series in order. It will help you to learn the characters and keep them straight. Po Paltrow, Kate Simpson, P.J. Flanigan, Maggie Helmers, Eleanor Canterbury, Phoebe Mellon, Max Elliott, and Selma Parker are in this charming cozy mystery. Po is the main protagonist. Po is an active woman in her 60s who is happy that her goddaughter, Kate has returned to Crestwood. Kate is settling into town and working as a substitute teacher. She has discovered a passion for photography and Kate is very talented. Kate is also dating P.J. Flanigan, a local police officer. The Crestwood Quilters are working on a quilt for The French Quarter, the new French restaurant in town that offers a mouthwatering bouillabaisse. The author continues to develop the characters. They are a friendly bunch who reach out to newcomers in town. The characters are relatable and the dialogue realistic. Crestwood is like other small towns with cozy shops and gossip runs faster than butter on a hot stack of pancakes. I like the authors vivid descriptions especially of the quilts. There are many cozy moments with quilting, cooking, coffee drinking, and eating. The mystery had a couple of suspects, good clues and misdirection. I like that there were various incidents after the initial murder. This action made the story more intriguing. However, I knew the identity of the victim, killer and patsy before the murder took place. A Thread of Darkness is a pleasing cozy mystery with an affable French chef, a fishy murder, rampant rumors, an applique quilt, and a group of curious quilters.

About the author

Sally Goldenbaum is the author of three dozen novels, most recently the Seaside Knitters Mystery Series, set in the fictional town of Sea Harbor, Massachusetts. Sally was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and now lives in Gloucester, Massachusetts, with her husband, Don and a terrific Aussie, Sophie. In addition to writing mysteries, Sally has taught philosophy, Latin, and creative writing, edited bioethics and veterinary healthcare journals, and worked in public television at WQED-Pittsburgh (then home to Mr. Rogers and his Neighborhood). Sally’s family includes her husband, Don, three wonderful adult children, their fine spouses, and six amazing grandchildren. Visit her at www.sallygoldenbaum.com.