Tragedy strikes in Thread and Dead, the second book in Elizabeth Penney’s cozy mystery series–and now everyone in Blueberry Cove, Maine, is on pins and needles. . . Iris Buckley is busier than ever this July, with the town’s annual Lobster Festival fast approaching. In just a matter of days her apron shop Ruffles & Bows, will be jam-packed with tourists eager to lay eyes on its world-class … to lay eyes on its world-class collection of aprons and linens–and Iris’s inventory is running low. Then, just when all hope seems lost, Iris gets a call from Eleanor Brady, a wealthy, reclusive spinster who just happens to have trunks full of vintage fabrics. Would Iris like to come down to Eleanor’s cottage estate Shorehaven and have a look?
Before long Iris is on the scene–and on the case. Turns out that Eleanor has rented Shorehaven to the handsome, charismatic environmentalist Dr. Lukas de Wilde and his flock of students. What begins as an apron-scouting endeavor soon morphs into a full-blown murder investigation when Dr. de Wilde’s beautiful young teaching assistant turns up dead. Now it’s up to Iris–along with her partner-in-love-and-crime Ian Stewart–to unravel the mystery before the Blueberry Cove killer strikes again.
Praise for The Apron Shop series
“Quirky-meets-fun.”–Woman’s World on Hems & Homicide
“Penney knows the recipe for delivering just what cozy readers are looking for.” —Reviewing the Evidence
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I like vintage. Handkerchiefs, aprons, clothes, you name it—I like to look at it! I get really enthused when protagonist Iris Buckley gets a call from someone who has vintage linens for her to come look through. I feel like I’m right there with Iris looking over her shoulders and enjoying the view!
Ruffles & Bows is owned and run by Iris and her Grammie, Anne Buckley. Iris meets Eleanor Brady, a lovely elderly lady who has some of the most marvelous antique aprons, pristine English linens, and even some stunning Coco Chanel clothing to sell. Iris has no idea what else is included in her exciting purchases, and man, is it a surprise! Gradually, Iris and Anne draw Eleanor into their warm and comfortable fold when they realize her nephew, Craig, is bullying her and she’s afraid of him.
This story shines from page to page. It’s absorbing in different ways—the friends and family connections; the gradual unveiling of Eleanor’s mother’s immigrant journey; and the keen educational murder mystery connected to the seaweed farming project team who is renting rooms at Eleanor’s large home.
I highly recommend this cozy story. I’m eagerly waiting to read book three. Enjoy!
Thread and Dead is the second book in Elizabeth Penney’s The Apron Shop Series. Iris Buckley and her grandmother own an apron shop, Ruffles and Bows, in the quaint little village of Blueberry Cove, Maine. It’s July and Iris is gearing up for the town’s annual Lobster Festival when she gets a call from Eleanor Brady, a wealthy spinster, asking if she’s interested in buying some of her vintage sheets and linens. Iris immediately says yes and heads out to meet the woman at her historic mansion. The mansion is in dire need of repair and Iris can see why Eleanor might need to sell some of her lovely belongings. To further help her financial situation, Eleanor has also rented out some of her rooms to an environmental group. Eleanor has a few questions about how her mother, a nursemaid, came to be in the procession of so many expensive things, and Iris decides to help her look into her family history. The next day, Iris finds the body of one of the interns from the environmental group dead at the bottom of a cliff. With the help of her friends, she is determined to solve the case before the killer strikes again.
This was a light and enjoyable read, with likable characters, strong female friendships, and two intriguing mysteries. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions instantly bought the town of Blueberry Cove to life. I could easily visualize the quaint shops, the mouthwatering seafood, the ocean, and the Lobster Festival. Iris is a very likable character. She’s genuine, down to earth, and loyal. She’s surrounded by a wonderful group of strong, supportive women and their girls’ nights were fun to read about. I thought she was a good sleuth. She acted responsibly and always took someone along with her to investigate.
I love the idea of an apron shop and can’t wait to see how Iris and her grandmother’s business grow in the upcoming books. The descriptions of vintage clothing, aprons, and linens were very enjoyable to read about and added to the story. Overall, this was a delightful read and a good addition to the series. I look forward to the third book.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was happy to be back in Blueberry Cove, Maine, with Iris, her Grammie, and her appealing array of friends–not to mention her handsome beau. This was a well-crafted mystery from start to finish, with a setting so charmingly defined that I could picture every scene clearly in my mind. Women helping women was a strong theme woven throughout this multi-layered story, and the cleverly hidden clues had me guessing all the way. Bring on the third installment, because I am ready for it!
This was another enjoyable read. The character development is great. Iris and her grandmother are down to earth and loyal to one another and their friends. I like that there are strong females characters, both young and old. The mystery was well paced with several red herrings to keep the reader guessing. I look forward to the next installment in the series.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney is the 2nd 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.
I really enjoyed this, my second virtual visit to Blueberry Cove, Maine. Iris and her Grammie own a delightful shop named Ruffles and Bows where they sell lovely old fabrics and aprons. It’s the eve of the town Lobster Festival and the tourists have arrived. Iris gets a phone call from Eleanor Brady, the reclusive owner of an old, once elegant cliff house on the edge of town. She has an offer for Iris that is perfect in its timing. Stock is getting low at Ruffles and Bows and the offer is for the purchase of sets of elegant sheets, some lovely aprons circa 1930. Iris can’t wait to take them home. Then Eleanor asks her to facilitate the sale of a couple of trunks full of pristine designer clothing including Chanel. This trip was very much worth her time and Iris leaves a happy camper with just one small concern – she has met Eleanor’s nephew, her only relative, and he gives her the creeps.
Eleanor has rented out her spare rooms to a real hunk, a man from Belgium named Lukas de Wilde who is in town as an environmentalist along with his group. It isn’t long before death takes a young woman who was his assistant when her body is found at the base of the sea cliff. Tragic accident? ot was it homicide? With the help of her boyfriend, Ian and various friends and family, Iris investigates. One big question leads her into Eleanor’s family tree when Eleanor posits the question of how did her mother, an immigrant nursemaid, afford those lovely clothes before she married Eleanor’s wealthy father? Can Iris connect the various threads if, indeed they are connected.
I loved the setting, the characters of Iris and Grammie, the puzzle and the misdirections. I guessed wrong. It all came together in a very satisfying mystery. The next in the series is already on my TBR list whenever it’s published. I’m ready and eager to read it.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin’s and to NetHalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Something Fishy Is Going On
This book is part of the Apron Shop Cozy Mystery series. In this episode, the town is having a lobster festival and there are all sorts of things going on. There is murder, sabotage, vandalism, and much worse going on. As the different crimes are revealed, our group of sleuths become targets. The story is long and intricate, but never boring. There is some information shared about fabric and aprons, but not nearly enough. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.
Fun and well-written second book in the Apron Shop Mystery series. Great characters and a clever mystery kept me interested and engaged until the end. I definitely recommend.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
THREAD AND DEAD by Elizabeth Penney
The Second Apron Shop Mystery
As Blueberry Cove, Maine is gearing up for Lobster Fest Iris Buckley is excited to be offered antique linens from one of the elite “summer cottages”. In addition to selling some linens, Eleanor is renting rooms in the once glorious mansion to a team of environmentalists, much to the chagrin of her nephew and sole heir who wants her to sell. While rock climbing nearby Iris and her friends discover the body of one of the environmentalists. Does her murder have something to do with the seaweed farming project? Or something closer to home? It couldn’t have anything to do with Eleanor’s request that Iris help her look into her mother’s mysterious past, could it? In addition to running Ruffles & Bows and enjoying the Lobster Fest activities Iris decides to do all she can to help Eleanor as well as find justice for the murdered young woman…no matter the cost.
More than one mystery can be found in the pages of the second Apron Shop Mystery and I love how they’re intertwined, not only with each other, but with the everyday life of the characters. Things don’t come to a halt because of a dead body. While Iris does ask questions and directly agrees to help Eleanor find out more about her mother, she also runs her shop, participates in town events, and hangs out with her friends.
I really like Iris Buckley and her friends. They are supportive and fiercely loyal. I especially like how Grammie is always included in the girls’ nights and is, in general, treated as one of the gang. And a gang it is with several couples in the mix. The couples add an interesting dynamic as there are several romantic relationship quandaries here. And while couples have a major role, the women aren’t dependent on the men and can save the day themselves.
There’s an interesting juxtaposition of old and new in THREAD AND DEAD. Not only do we have the old in the antique linens and clothes, as well as the mystery of Eleanor’s mother, and Shorehaven, but we have the new of seaweed farming and technology to preserve Maine’s coast and waters, not to mention cuisine. We also have the combination of old and new in Iris and her habit of wearing vintage fashions as well as solving mysteries old and new alike.
THREAD AND DEAD is a delightful mystery featuring good friends and a wonderful cat. Its blending of vintage and modern make an appealing twist in a charming series.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
Great book!! I love Iris, her grandmother, and her friends! The shop that Iris and her grandmother run sounds like such an interesting shop to visit with the vintage and stitched linens and aprons. It’s time for the town Lobster Festival in this book and a young student is found murdered on the cliffs. The student was part of an aquaculture group and seaweed farming. Iris and her friends try to figure out the killer and solve another mystery involving Iris’s grandmother’s friend’s mother. Very intriguing storyline with fun characters. I enjoyed reading about the Lobster Festival and trying to figure out the killer. I am looking forward to more books in this series and more of Iris and Ian’s relationship!!
Maine, family-dynamics, friendship, small-business, small-town, murder, greed, amateur-sleuth, law-enforcement
New people in town are staying in the family friend’s inn but one is not unfamiliar, one gets murdered, and one is a real piece of work. Existing romances fit in to make the plot twists and misdirections less obvious during this festive time of lobster appreciation. It’s a good cozy with a wide variety of characters and fun things to learn about. Another nice thing is that the reader is not left floundering if the first book has been missed. A really nice cozy! LOVED it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Even though I figured out the killer pretty early on I still enjoyed this quick read. Learning about the different uses for seaweed was very interesting. I enjoy it in my sushi but I’m not sure I would just go in to the store and pick up a protein bar made with it.
I really enjoyed the second mystery with Eleanor. Could you imagine finding a trunk in the attic filled with such treasure and being able to learn about your ancestry? I hope Eleanor makes a camo in the next book so we know how she is doing.
This is perfect for fans of non-culinary cozy mysteries.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
THREAD AND DEAD by Elizabeth Penney is the second book in the Apron Shop Series.
Apron store owner Iris Buckley discovers the body of grad student Hailey Piper while rock climbing on the beach in Blueberry Cove, Maine. Now Iris is on the job hunting for a killer with the help of her friends Madison, Sophie, Bella, and her grammie, Anne.
Along with a murder to solve, Iris and her group of sleuths are helping the owner of Shorehaven, a rundown resort, solve the mystery of hidden jewels in her mother’s clothing.
THREAD AND DEAD is a fun cozy mystery with a spice of romance between Iris and her boyfriend, Ian, a budding romance between Madison and Anton, and yet another relationship brewing between Sophie and Jake. A fun, easy read that’s perfect for sitting by the fire sipping cocoa.
Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney is the second in The Apron Shop series. This was the first one I have read but was able to get current quickly.
This is enjoyable, easy to read Cozy. It has great characters, a terrific setting, I mean Blueberry Cove, who wouldn’t want to visit and on top of it, a lobster festival! Oh, and there was a murder.
You get plenty of suspects and plot twists that have you wondering to the end and like in a lot of families, drama.
But you also get friendship and love of family and humor.
I’m already looking forward to the next in this series!
I was given an ARC by St. Martin’s Paperbacks and NetGalley for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Apron Shop Series and I’m still not quite sure how I feel about the series. On the one hand, I really enjoy all of the characters. It is a diverse cast and each one is very likable. I enjoy the relationship between Iris and her grandmother as they continue to run the apron shop and grow the business. The friendships are well done and each of the romances feel natural and don’t overpower the story. Where I am struggling with this series is with the mysteries. They are not very strong or what I consider to be prominent in the story. This one had a mini-mystery that wrapped up nicely, but in my opinion, most of the book is about the characters and their relationships. I find I need more mystery and sleuthing.
I voluntarily read a digital advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through Netgalley. The opinions expressed are my own.