"Tightening the Threads" is the fifth book in Lea Wait's "A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery" series. In this installment, Angie Curtis calls on her investigative skills to conduct her own search for the murderer(s) of elderly resident artist Ted Lawrence and Ted's son-in-law. The story takes us into one of the wealthiest and dysfunctional founding families of Haven Harbor.

Of the three books I've read in the series, this latest one is the least entertaining in my opinion. The reader must slog through pages and pages of backstory regarding antique store owner Sarah Byrne's relatives. I wish the author could have found a more interesting method of conveying this information to the reader. The action picked up about a third of the way through the story, which kept me from completely abandoning the book. With the introduction of conflict among the Lawrence family members, the romantic tension between Angie and Patrick, and two murders, the storyline finally grabbed me and held me until the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tightening the Threads is the fifth book in Lea Wait’s Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series and I found this to be an enjoyable read with a well-plotted storyline and relatable characters. This is a quick, steadily paced, smooth read with lots of twists and turns. The reveal of the killer was a surprise to me. This cozy series has become one of my favorites, and I'm looking forward to the next book. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a well-crafted cozy mystery.

Angie Curtis’s good friend, Sarah Byrne, an Australian transplant to Haven Harbor, Maine and antiques shop owner, invites her to dinner and the first thing Angie notices is a large beautiful painting that overwhelms her small apartment. Sarah tells her that local artist and gallery owner, Ted Lawrence, gave it to her, that the artist was Robert Lawrence, Ted’s father, and that it could be worth as much as one million dollars. When Angie asks why Ted would give her such an expensive gift, Sarah reveals the reason she came to Haven Harbor was to discover her roots and hopefully find her family. Ted believed Sarah was Robert Lawrence’s granddaughter and they confirmed his suspicions with DNA testing. Ted asked Sarah to help plan a celebration for his 75th birthday where he planned to introduce her to his three adult children who he had limited contact with. In addition to introducing Sarah to her cousins, Ted announces he’s ill, and is changing his will, leaving all the Robert Lawrence paintings to Sarah. Ted’s children doubt that Sarah is really their cousin and are devastated and angry that she will inherit the paintings, which are worth millions of dollars. During the family lobster bake, Ted becomes ill and he is rushed to the hospital, where he later dies. Before the weekend is over two are dead and everyone who attended the weekend celebration are murder suspects. One of Ted’s children hires Angie, who worked for a PI in Arizona, to help with the investigation.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Thank you for letting me read and review Lea Wait's new book in the needlepoint mystery series and I loved it, I think it's the best one yet in this series, I couldn't put it down. I love the quotations of old samplers including their names, dates and where they're from. Being a needlework person myself, I related to this and it is a joy to read as you don't find many a author who writes about this. I didn't guess who the killer was and the double deaths made it harder to guess who it could be. I'm sorry that one of the deaths was Ted but he seemed not to be a very nice man, especially to his children. I found Sarah's story very interesting and a lot of research must have gone into writing these parts. The only criticism I have is Angie finding bones in her back garden under a smashed wall I found was a little random to the story. Nothing really happened with them and they were re-buried. I didn't understand the point of this part unless it is related to something in her next book, I will have to wait and see! Thank you for letting me read and review this book, I cannot wait for the next one in the series to read.

Angie, owner of Mainely Needlepoint in Haven Harbor, ME, is called to draw on her crime solving abilities when two people are murdered.

This one was hard to put down. It kept me guessing right to the end.

I loved the quotes from samplers at the beginning of each chapter and thought about how much I would love to make another one just as I did as a child. I also wonder what ever happened to that sampler.....

Set in Maine, the Lawrence family is gathering for the 75th birthday of Ted, the father who seems to have practiced benign neglect of his three children after his wife died. None received what he really needed most - a father's love. Enter the child of Ted's brother (Ted had been unaware of his brother's existence) who has found a family she never knew existed until a year or so before. Ted is delighted with Sarah and announces not only that his children have a long lost cousin, but also that he plans to change his will to remember her in it. He also tells them that he is dying of cancer.

Of course, more for Sarah, means less for Abbie, Michael, and Luke. When Ted collapses at his birthday party, is it his age, his illness, or something more sinister?

The next day, his son-in-law drowns. An accident or foul play?

Fans of this series will be happy with this latest instalment. Reading the previous books in the series would be helpful.

As someone who enjoys doing needlepoint I have followed this series since its beginning and I have enjoyed both the characters and the setting. I love the descriptions of atmosphere of Maine - the ocean, the weather, the scenery and the local customs. I always finish these books wishing for a trip to Maine for myself. I like all the local characters, but most especially Angie. She previously worked as an assistant to a private investigator which makes her an independent woman with a smart business sense and a great ability to read people. In this book Angie's friend Sarah , who has recently connected with a long lost brother, becomes a murder suspect when that brother is found dead. Once again Angie finds herself involved in a criminal investigation in order to clear her friend. There are plenty of plot twists and turns to keep you guessing, along with the opportunity to spend time with some favorite characters again. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

The Mainely Needlepoint Mysteries series just gets better and better. Angie and the entire cast of characters are engaging and realistic. Sarah, Angie's friend, enlists her help in throwing a birthday party for local Art Gallery owner Ted Lawrence. But first she shares with Angie that Ted is actually her uncle, with DNA tests to prove it. The mayhem that ensues is suspenseful, thoughtful and a lesson in family dysfunction, in other words - delicious! I'd highly recommend the entire series.

What a disturbing family! Those Lawrence kids were awful. But that fact that they made such an impression means this book is a good one. I have read other books in this series. So it felt like I was visiting friends and catching up with the new gossip and happenings in town. The story is centered on Sarah's unique family tree. But it is Angie that feels like the main character. She seems to have herself in the middle of the drama that becomes a mystery. I really liked the book.

Antique dealer Sarah Byrne enjoys her job and her needlework as a member of Mainely Needlepointers. She’s also realized a dream, finding the family she’s looked for all her life. It turns out wealthy artist Ted Lawrence is her uncle, a fact she’s been keeping to her self. She and Ted may be thrilled, but his adult children are more worried about losing their inheritance when they learn their father plans to leave some pricey paintings to Sarah in his will. When Tex keeps over at a lobster bake and the cause of death turns out to be poisoning, Sarah is the prime suspect. It’s up to Angie and the rest of the needlepointers to finger the real killer. Lea Wait’s delightful Maine series continues to charm readers