Review + Tour GIVEAWAY: Thread Herrings by Lea Wait

Thread Herrings
By Lea Wait
A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery #7
Kensington, 2018


Summary

Angie’s first auction may turn out to be her last—when she bids on a coat of arms that someone would literally kill to possess . . .

Tagging along to an estate sale with her fellow Needlepointer, antiques shop owner Sarah Byrne, Angie Curtis impulsively bids on a tattered embroidery of a coat of arms. When she gets her prize back home to Haven Harbor, she discovers a document from 1757 behind the framed needlework—a claim for a child from a foundling hospital. Intrigued, Angie is determined to find the common thread between the child and the coat of arms.

Accepting her reporter friend Clem Walker’s invitation to talk about her find on the local TV news, Angie makes an appeal to anyone who might have information. Instead, both women receive death threats. When Clem is found shot to death in a parking lot, Angie fears her own life may be in jeopardy. She has to unravel this historical mystery—or she may be the next one going, going . . . gone . . .

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My thoughts

People kill out of anger, jealousy, resentment, because
of an old grudge…. Murder isn’t logical,
except in the mind of the murderer.

Thread Herrings by the talented Lea Wait is a top-notch cozy mystery, first class all the way. The narrative is well written, filled with fascinating historical detail, and flows at a steady pace. There’s no fluff or filler; every word is important. Reading the previous stories in this series would have given me a better connection with the regular characters, but Thread Herrings easily stands alone – and the mystery itself is outstanding. From setting to characters and plot, I loved everything about this story. It’s also a clean read, no profanity or graphic scenes.

I’m a southerner who would move to New England if my family would agree, so the Haven Harbor, Maine setting was a huge attraction for me. Lea Wait’s love for her state shines in this story as she so vividly conveys scenes and state history that drew me right in. Each chapter begins with an interesting quote, many from needlework samplers of the past.

The story begins with Angie and Sarah on their way to an antique auction, where Angie is drawn to a well-worn coat of arms. The author brings in a lot of detail relating to auctions, which I found enjoyable. What starts out as a fun trip and shopping experience soon builds into danger and non-stop action, making the story hard to put down. Angie’s investigation into a friend’s murder is complicated when she has to go into hiding because of death threats, relying on the online investigative skills of her delightful friend, Ruth. More fascinating history comes into play as two prominent Maine families, with ties to England and a foundling hospital in the 1700s, are linked to present-day events, including murder. The mystery theme itself is captivating, elevating Thread Herrings to the top of the cozy mystery genre.

Lea Wait is an excellent author and I’m eager to read more of her mysteries, including her other series involving antique prints. Thread Herrings goes on my favorites list.

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Great Escapes Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

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Lea Wait lives on the coast of Maine. A fourth-generation antique dealer and the author of the Agatha-nominated Antique Print Mystery series, she loves all things antiques and Maine. 

She also writes historical novels for young people set in (where else?) nineteenth-century Maine. 

Visit her at leawait.com.

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