Thread on Arrival: An Embroidery Mystery

Amanda Lee

Dec 2012 · Embroidery Mystery Book 5 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Embroidery shop owner Marcy Singer gets hung up on a tapestry that may lead to sunken treasure and be the motive for murder....

When Marcy’s friend Reggie, Tallulah Falls’ local librarian, asks her to teach an embroidery class as therapy for domestic abuse victims, she gladly agrees. One of the women wants to flee from her abusive husband but is afraid to leave her elderly father-in-law behind. And she thinks Marcy can help.

The elderly gentleman shows Marcy a tapestry his grandmother made, which he believes reveals the location of pirate treasure off the Oregon coast. He’ll move to a shelter—provided Marcy takes the tapestry to keep it safe. But when the police arrive the next day to escort him out, they find the old man murdered and the house ransacked. Does someone want that treasured tapestry desperately enough to kill for it?

Ratings and reviews

AudioBook Review Stars: Overall 4 Narration 4 Story 4 Let me start with saying that if you are a cozy lover – this is a wonderful series – I’ve read (or listened to) most of the titles in this series – and the development of the characters, the town and the tidbits of Maine life and weather are not to be missed. And, with the author’s passing last August, the final (and 9th) in the series is already out and ready to order – so get on it!. In this, the eighth in the series, the story shows the community spirit as it rallies around a resident who has fallen on hard times. Not a community that is blessed with riches and plenty of money – like most fishing-reliant areas along the coast it is tourism, hard work and a reliance on friends, family and goodwill to get through the lean moments. It’s how Angie had taken a small group of residents who all appreciate and have a talent for needlework, and built a thriving cottage industry with a website presence and a reputation for ‘getting it done’. And Ike had hit on seriously hard times, with not quite enough to survive on, manage needed repairs to his home – a house badly in need of them. But, Ike, like many of the residents in town is always willing to share what he has, and has taken in a young homeless man, Leo, to share what he has. It’s not that Leo is a local, in fact no one knows much about him, and while Angie and the Mainely needlepointers are curious and concerned, they never hit the point of overbearing – even with Angie’s history as a PI, or the general ‘newness’ of Leo. And soon things get worse as it is Leo who discovers that Ike has been bludgeoned to death in the garage they shared, and he’s the main suspect. It will take lots of digging – which Angie is more than prepared to do, a ton of unearthed red herrings, until finally the culprit is revealed. And that was a set of twists, turns and plenty of moments to think on the “is it X or Y or Z” instead of everything being handed out quickly and simply. Narration for this story is provided by Christina Delaine, my first listen to this narrator. Her voice is clear, melodic and easy to listen to: she pauses appropriately for information to “sink in”, and her narration from Angie’s point of view (always a treat) keep the story flowing forward. Bits of information from history, the scenery and even the moments of friendship, community and the town allows the listener the ability to get lost into the story, following along as if one were there on the scene. A lovely pairing of narrator and book, this is a wonderful option for those who are more commonly readers but may want a ‘different feel’ for a bit. I received an AudioBook copy of the title from Tantor Audio for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility. Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

About the author

Amanda Lee is the national bestselling author of the Embroidery Mysteries.