Book 28, 2023

[chez_jae]

Twisted Threads by Lea Wait

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading my work book at lunch today. It was Twisted Threads by Lea Wait, and it's the first in the author's "Mainely Needlepoint" mystery series.

Angie Curtis left Harbor Haven, ME, years ago looking for a fresh start. Her mother had disappeared when Angie was a child, and she bore the brunt of local gossip. Now, however, her mother has been found, but a missing person case is now a murder investigation. Angie returns to the house where she grew up and to her grandmother, Charlotte, who raised her. Angie learns her grandmother is getting remarried soon, and that she and some of the other locals have formed their own small business, creating beautiful embroidery. However, the man who was acting as their manager has gone incommunicado, and he owes the group thousands of dollars. Feeling at loose ends, Angie decides to put her experience working for a PI to good use and tracks Lattimore down. When he drops dead at an impromptu meeting of the Mainely Needlepointers, Angie finds herself caught up in two murder investigations. Part of her can't help but wonder, however, if there is a connection between the two cases.

This was a somewhat somber story. I've grown used to cozies being more, well, cozy. I liked Angie. She was tough and no-nonsense. I'm not an aficionado of any fabric arts, so I was not in a position to truly appreciate that aspect of the story. Characters were fully realized, and the plot made sense. There were some twists and shocking surprises thrown in to keep things interesting.

Favorite lines:
♣ "I wish I had time to take better care of myself. There's just no time between keeping house and taking care of my husband and working. You're not married, so you have no idea." // Maybe I did have an idea. Maybe that's why I wasn't married.
♣ I wondered when Beatles posters had become antiques, and how many people collected flowered teacups.

This was a good story, but I'm not sure if I'd seek out more in the series. Nevertheless, I'm giving it four stars.


1. Does the mc work at/as one of the following: baker/bakery/sweet shop/tea shop/coffee shop, library/librarian, antique/vintage shop, book store, fashion/boutique, bed & breakfast? No, worked for a PI and will be managing a small business going forward.
2. Does the mc live at her (or his) place of occupation? Sorta-kinda
3. Is the love interest involved in law enforcement? (Police officer, sheriff, detective, PI, FBI) NA, no romantic interest as of yet
4. Does the mc have a dog/cat as a pet? Yes, her grandmother has a cat
5. Is the mc's BFF either a gay guy or a ditzy/zany woman? She doesn't seem to have a BFF.
6. Did the mc find the body? Not really, as the current victim died at the hospital.
7. Did the mc wind up in mortal danger at the end of the book? No
8. Is the mc's mother either: dead, absent, far removed, ditzy and dithering, or overbearing/disapproving/meddling? Yes, her mother is dead
9. If mother is dead/absent, does the mc have another mother-figure (grandmother, aunt, mom's friend, or an older friend)? Yes, her grandmother
10. Is the mc child-free? (Either no children or else grown children--i.e. no small children to look after) Yes, she's child-free