This is the third book I have read in this series, and I enjoyed every one of them. While it is fiction, it does have some non fiction bits and pieces. And I really loved the phrases that were at the beginning of every chapter most of them stitched on samplers. Some were amusing, others thought provoking.

The story was very carefully crafted around a murder mystery. It was well-written with an interesting assortment of characters. In this particular book, I did guess before the final reveal who the murderer was, but i didn't have a motive in mind. It did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.

I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

A lovely christmas cozy that features a knitting community, celebrities and death. Even Santa Claus makes a surprise appearance on a lobster dock. A dash of romance and the book is a complete quick read

This was a fun mystery! I didn't love the last book so I was a little nervous going into this one but I shouldn't have been. I thoroughly enjoyed it. There are Hollywood stars and drama, lots of Maine Christmas fun, some kitten hijinks, and a murder mystery. I had some suspicions as to the who but the why was quite a surprise and I really enjoyed getting there. I loved catching up with Angie, Sara, and the rest of the Mainely Needlepointers. This is a great cozy series with a fun Maine atmosphere and a likable community of characters. I liked Angie and think that Trixie is good for her and keeps her from getting too much in her own head which has been a complaint I've had in previous books. I'm already looking forward to picking up the next book in the series!

Thread the Halls
(Mainely Needlepoint #6)
by Lea Wait

Paperback, 320 pages
Published October 31st 2017 by Kensington Publishing Corporation


Goodreads synopsis:
Christmas in Haven Harbor, Maine, means family, trouble, and murder . . .

This Yuletide season, there's no time for Angie Curtis and Patrick West to linger under the mistletoe. Patrick's being needled by his mother--movie star Skye West--to set the stage for a perfect white Christmas as she brings her costar, screenwriters, and director home for the holidays. With his mother's long list of wishes, Patrick's becoming unraveled. To help, the Mainely Needlepointers offer to decorate Skye's Victorian mansion and create needlepoint pillows as gifts for the guests.

But not long after the celebrity celebrants invade Haven Harbor, an unscripted tragedy occurs. Then some questionable Christmas cookies make Patrick sick. Before Santa arrives at the town pier on a lobster boat, Angie and the Needlepointers need to trim down the naughty list, catch a cold-hearted killer, and wrap up the case 


***

4.5 Stars

Another great book by Lea Wait. And a Christmas one at that!

I am not sure how I missed reading this title. So, I am going backward in time to catch myself up. I was taken aback in parts of this book for Angie. My stomach fell as she was accused of something two different times by two different people. Even though it was quickly wrapped up with one, I almost wished that Patrick would have been a tad angry at her even though the whole incident wasn’t her fault. I am trying to be vague here and not spoil a key part of the plot.

Another thing that bothered me a bit was that Angie always goes to the Christmas celebration at her Gram’s church, but it was expected of her to be at this movie star’s party. A nice host would have scheduled her event for a time that didn’t correspond with a big event in town. And Ethan, you need to talk a bit more dude, you are like the ghost of Haven Harbor just floating in and out with scenes without speaking.

It may sound like I am really down on this book but I am totally not! I am the biggest fan ever and just want to see more of my favorites get their air time. There are only a couple of Mainely Needlepointers who make it into these books and I sure would like to see more of them featured like Ruth the closet erotica author was in this one.

This is a great mystery, the suspense really catches you off guard and once you start you just can’t put it down. One of my favorite cozy mystery worlds.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Angie and the Mainely Needlepointers are getting set to have a quiet Christmas season when Patrick West, Angie's boyfriend, drops a bombshell and asks for favours. His mother, actress Skye West, has decided to come home to Haven Harbor for a white Christmas. Not only that, but she is bringing home some people she is working with on her recent, troubled movie. He needs help decorating the mansion, making needlepoint gifts for each of the guests as well as inviting them all for Christmas Eve. There go Angie's plans down the drain. She had wanted to have a quiet Christmas with Patrick, but any time with him is a gift after all he has been through so she helps him get everything ready for his mother’s arrival. Skye and her entourage arrive but before they spend one night in Maine, one of them is found dead in the snow. While trying to keep Christmas on track and find the killer, Angie becomes a suspect, not only in the murder, but in poisoning Patrick as well. There is a definite chill in the air and it’s not from the typical Maine winter weather. There is a killer nearby, she just needs to figure out who before it is too late.

Angie grows more in each story. She is really getting comfortable running the needlepoint business and her own needlepoint skills are improving. Whenever a dead body shows up, she tries to stay out the investigations but she ends up right in the middle anyway. Angie’s relationship with her grandmother is so special and I love when she laments about being an adult and not having her grandmother around to make her hot cocoa or whatever else she needs. Skye and Patrick are rich and used to getting what they want, so they take some getting used to, but they are not rude and malicious. Skye is a mother first, so whenever something happens to Patrick, she goes all mama bear, not always thinking about how she treats others. I am enjoying the relationship of Angie and Patrick, but he needs to think more about her, than his mother. I hope that improves as the series goes forward. I had a niggling in the back of my mind about one of the characters as the story unfolded and I was right in my suspicions. The motive for the murder was the one sticking point so the twist at the end was a great way to wind up this mystery. The story was well paced, with some surprises and that huge twist. Each chapter begins with a tidbit about needlepoint or a bit of a historic sampler, but you do not have to read them if that does not interest you. Another great entry to this series. I recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, especially those who love to learn about the area the story takes place.

Despite all the murder and mayhem, I would absolutely love to spend the festive season in Haven Harbor, Maine. It seems like the perfect small town, where everybody knows their neighbours, unique businesses thrive, and the whole community comes together to enjoy Christmas. It’s also the perfect setting for a Christmas-themed cozy murder mystery. In Thread the Halls, Angie Curtis is looking forward to spending Christmas with new boyfriend Patrick West. That is, until she finds out that Patrick’s movie star mother Skye West and some of her Hollywood pals (or maybe “frenemies” would be a better word?) will also be home for the holidays. When one of the celebrities is murdered and it seems that Patrick is also being targeted, Angie has to step up and solve the crime, while also ensuring that her extended friends and family enjoy a magical festive season. Christmas and all things Christmassy are weaved throughout Thread the Halls, which makes it a perfect read for those of us who love festive crime capers. All of the Hollywood crowd seem like potentially dodgy characters and there is more than one odd stranger in town, meaning that Angie has plenty of suspects to vet if she is to identify the killer and clear her own name. It’s no surprise that the reasoning behind the murder is nicely convoluted, with plenty of red herrings obscuring the eventual solution to the mystery.

It's barely a week before Christmas, and the stars are going to descend on Haven Harbor. Patrick West, Angie's boyfriend interest, is the son of a famous movie star who is taking a hiatus from filming in Scotland and coming to Maine for the holidays. This demands a lot of work from local townsfolks and Angie's Needlepoint friends as they ready the Aurora mansion for Skye West. The death of a co-star and attempt on a friend's life has Angie investigating once more, instead of concentrating on her Needlepoint business. I enjoyed the Maine setting at the holidays and found the familiar characters enchanting as usual.

I enjoyed the plot, characters, and location of the story. This is the second book of the Mainely Needlepoint series that I have read even though it is the sixth in the series. Angie is looking forward to a quite Christmas, she doesn’t get it. Someone is killed, Patrick is poisoned, and life must still go on. Haven Harbor is idealistically set for Christmas and murder just throws a spin on the season.
I enjoyed the plot’s twists and turns, the characters, and the holiday traditions. A great holiday story that can be read anytime, I suggest besides the obvious, July to cool you off on those hot beach days.

Lea Wait has done it again! She's provided an engaging mystery solved by an intrepid female main character with the help of her fellow needlepointers. It will definitely appeal to anyone who enjoys needlework. The cast of characters are familiar to those who've read other books in the series, but the reader sees new facets in each as the series continues. Wait's mysteries don't have an easily identifiable culprit which is a welcome change from other recent titles in the genre. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing Pre-pub access!!

This is book 6 in the Mainely Needlepoint series. In this next in series we return to Haven Harbor Maine and to our favorite characters. The traditions and beautiful location all add to the enjoyment of the books. Our protagonist Angie is eager to celebrate Xmas back in her home town. Her boyfriend soon spoils Xmas with a visit from his Diva movie star Mother. As the story progresses a murder occurs. Angie is back on the case while taking care of her Gram, catching up on Needlepoint and trying to hang onto her hopes for Xmas.
I enjoyed the sleuth and was surprised at the end. A strong ending to a great mystery story. Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

There's a really nice sense of place in this book (Haven Harbor, Maine). Angie is looking forward to a quiet Christmas with her boyfriend Patrick when his film star Mother announces she's home for the holidays with some members of her movie set, one of whom ends up murdered. The needlepointers are a nice addition to the plot and its interesting learning about local Christmas traditions. Its a fast pace and enjoyable read.

The writing was fine, but I couldn't connect with the characters in this story. This wasn't a good read for me. I can generally finish a cozy within a day or two but I couldn't with this one. I would recommend it to others because it is a solid cozy just not for me.

Angel has been dating Patrick West so when his Film star mother calls and says that she's coming home for Christmas and needs to have the house decorated and food catered, Angel helps out with her team of needlepointers getting the house ready. On the evening of their arrival, Patrick and she take a walk in the snow and find one of the guests shot to death. Things get even more frighting with snowstorms and near deaths but Angie manages to keep from being plowed under.

So much fun and a great read for the holidays.

Christmas is hitting Haven Harbor and the Mainely Needlepointers are helping Patrick West in setting up a perfect Maine Christmas for his mother Skye and her co-workers. But someone has murder on their mind when one of the guests winds up dead, and Patrick ends up poisoned as well. Someone is doing a good job of pointing the finger at Angie! Whose the Grinch this year and will Angie figure it out in time?



It's such an adventure to go back to Haven Harbor and see what everyone is up to and this book didn't disappoint. The group had their ups and downs but that happens with any friends. I have loved this series since the first book and it grows every time I get a copy to read. This one was full of holidays and good friends celebrating while also trying to figure out who is trying to do in Patrick and a guest of Skye's! I don't want to spoil the ending but if you haven't read these books you are truly missing out!

This one was a little different than the others from this series but I enjoyed it. 

Angie just wants to have a normal Christmas as it will be the first one since she came back home, but it seems fate has other plans. Her boyfriend's mother Skye, an actress, is coming home with her crew as they are having some problems on set. She wants everything decorated, catered and all sorts of extravagant things done for Christmas by the time she gets there and for while she is there. Patrick is stressing out a bit and ask Angie and her needlepointers for help. This was not the plans that Angie had for the days leading up to Christmas.

Then one of the actors ends up dead and chaos of the holidays ensues plus trying to figure out why anyone would want to kill Paul. Then Patrick, Angie's boyfriend is poisoned and then Angie is under suspicion for the murder. It's not turning out to be a very merry Christmas the way Angie had hoped. 

I really like Angie and the gang of needlepointers they are a pretty cool lot. Even though Skye can be a bit extravagant as she is an actress she can also be pretty cool and I really like Patrick too. It just has a great cast of characters. 

The motive for what was happening I couldn't figure out though I guessed who had done it pretty early on, I just was baffled as to why and there was a little surprise that caught me off guard towards the very end it kind of went along with a bit of the storyline with the screen writers. :)

I have really been enjoying the holiday cozies this year and this was another good one!

Thread the Halls is the sixth in the cozy mystery series A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery by author Lea Wait but the first one I’ve read. It’s set in Haven Harbor, Maine where Angie Curtis is busy preparing for her first Christmas in the town in ten years. She plans on spending a quiet Christmas with family and friends as well as her boyfriend, Patrick. However, when Patrick announces his movie star mother, Skye is heading to the town with some of the people from the movie she is working on, all her plans for a quiet holiday are thrown out the window. Suddenly, she and her friends are helping Patrick to prepare for the arrival, decorating and needlepointing gifts. And if that isn’t bad enough, the media gets wind of the arrival and a rabid fan is determined that Angie introduce her to Skye. However, almost immediately after the celebrities arrive, one of them is murdered, not that any of the others seem to be upset. Then Patrick is poisoned and Angie finds herself chief suspect.

Thread the Halls s a fun fast read. It was pretty easy to spot the culprit but that really didn’t make the story less enjoyable. It is more about the spirit of Christmas and the importance of friends, family, and traditions especially at the holidays. The best part of the book, at least for me, was a paragraph at the beginning of each chapter giving a small history of needlepointing going all the way back, in one case, to Shakespeare. These included quotes from real samplers (some seemingly quite morbid by today’s standards given that many were created by children as young as nine) as well as short biographies of the creators. A well-written cozy just in time for the holidays.

Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Angie Curtis is getting ready for a quiet Christmas with her grandmother. She's seen a lot of changes over the past year in a small Maine town, including taking over a needlepoint business and cautiously beginning a romance with the son of a movie star who lives in the little town when she's not jetting around the world. Christmas this year is intended to be a serene and contemplative holiday.

But her boyfriend Patrick's movie star mom changes all that with her arrival, with some members of the cast and crew of her current film in tow. She turns everything upside down just as graciously as she possibly can. The story quickly develops two layers: the lovely and luxurious holiday the movie people create, and the chaotic resentment-filled underside of the celebration. Film stars and local folk alike get caught up in both sides of the events.

Murder and mayhem ensue -- but the nor'easter coming into town with bitter cold, snow, wind, and loss of electricity is what really brings everything to a head.

There are likeable characters, interesting issues, and entrancing descriptions that make this book a pleasure to read from start to finish. I look forward to the next installment.

I really enjoy this mystery series. The heroine, Angie Curtis is appealing and the setting, a small town in Maine. While I liked the focus this book put on the town and life in Maine, the mystery was a bit thin.

I enjoyed that we got plenty if back story on the town and on some of the recurring characters. I also liked the setting, Christmas time in plenty of snow. However I knew who did it very early on. The biggest question was motive, which was kept concealed until near the end.

Readers who enjoy the Mainely Needlepoint series will love this book for all the character development. If you are new to the seres though, start with one of the earlier books.

The needle workers are busy in Maine with the Christmas season and with Patrick's famous mother coming into town for the holidays. No one anticipates the murder of one of her guests. Angie is piecing together the clues along with the police. This is a great series and in this book we get some great history of the Maine coast. Book 6 in the Mainely Needlepoint offers a cute pattern and a great cozy for you to enjoy.

I've been a fan of Lea Wait's antique dealer mystery series for years but only recently read one of her needlepoint mysteries set in Maine. This is a fun and engaging series, even more so if you enjoy needle crafts like needlepoint or cross stitch as I do. But the great thing is that you can pick any of these up and dive right in even if you haven't read others in the series. Recommended for fans of cozies, needlework and mysteries!