Lea Wait takes us to a Mainely Needlepoint mystery which is full of Thread Herrings. Angie Curtis, Needlepoint business owner, buys a needlepoint embroidered coat of arms and a foundling document from 1757 drops out of the back. A friend is killed; someone is searching for her. Why? Angie starts researching who the foundling was and what the connection was with families now. Follow her steps through the red herrings.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I had no idea how dangerous it could be to go to an auction and buy something. Angie finds a tattered family crest at her first auction and quickly discovers a 250 year old piece of paper stuffed behind it. It seems innocuous but when a local reporter does a filler piece on it, asking for anyone with any information to come forward, neither of them expect what happens next. First death threats and then the real thing when the reporter is murdered right before she and Angie have a lunch date.
More death threats follow and then her car is blown up. Whoever is responsible is serious. Neither Angie nor her friends and family are safe until someone can figure out why all this is happening. It just does not make sense. It is just a slip of paper that shows centuries ago, there was an illegitimate birth in an old Maine family.
When the killer is revealed and the reason explained, it still seems a rather trivial excuse for murder. But then murderers do not need to make logical sense. The fact that the suspense grips the reader by the throat and does not let go makes this an exciting and enjoyable read.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Every time I return to Lea Wait’s Haven Harbor, it feels like coming home to good friends. In Thread Herrings, the story centers around Angie and Sarah, whose adventure begins with a visit to an auction. While Sarah successfully bids on several items for her antiques shop, Angie impulsively purchases a embroidered coat of arms which she soon discovers is surrounded by a centuries-old mystery. A piece of paper and a ribbon tucked into the back of its frame lead to questions relating to a child left at a foundling hospital generations before. Curious, Angie attempts to track down information about both the coat of arms and the child.

At the invitation of a reporter-friend, Angie appears on a local television show appealing to the public to help identify the family to whom the coat of arms belonged. Soon thereafter, the studio receives death threats against both Angie and the reporter, Clem. When Clem is murdered, Angie once again has to solve a mystery before she becomes the next victim. As always, the mystery is solid. And I really enjoyed learning more about the inner-workings of auctions and ancestral searches. The narration, too, was spot-on and added a lot to my enjoyment of this story. Thread Herrings is yet another excellent offering in the Mainely Needlepoint series.

Thread Herrings

by Lea Wait

How could a faded and deteriorated needlework piece featuring a coat of arms possibly be the motive for murder? Join Angie as she goes to her first auction with her friend Sarah, an antiques dealer. When Angie buys a large, framed work of needlecraft that others pass over, she is getting more than she bargained for—including trouble and danger.

Thread Herrings’ author Lea Wait delves into the world of auctions, Maine history, and embroidery samplers in this interesting cozy that ties several modern day crimes into a mystery from the 1700’s. Angie, whose business, Mainely Needlepoint, is located in the small coastal town of Haven Harbor has returned to the frigid north from a stint as assistant to a private investigator in Arizona. With that background she takes more chances than perhaps are wise. An appealing setting, a plot with plenty of twists and turns, and characters that are likable wrap up this cozy mystery like a package just waiting to be opened by the reader.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #7 in the Mainely Needlepoint Mystery Series, but works surprisingly well as a standalone

Publication: October 30, 2018—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

I was certainly nervous. The haddock I’d eaten for lunch was swimming circles in my stomach.

True, February in Arizona was warm and bright, but nothing was warmer than this room full of friends on a snowy night in Haven Harbor.

Tonight’s snowstorm would only result in four to six inches. (My friends in Arizona would have been freaked out by that much, but in Maine it was only borderline “plowable snow.”) Nothing to worry about.

Angie's first experience at an auction has led her down an interesting path. The burning question remains why the issue with something dating back to 1757. Her friends and grandmother and Tom all become involved. Mainely Needlepoint in Haven Harbor is now the focus of someone who has already killed once. Angie is afraid, not only for herself, but for her friends and family.

The story is well-paced and the relationships for Angie highlighted, sometimes with a sense of despair. The tension Angie feels and her fears come through, as well as Patrick's hope to protect her. There's a bit of history woven in, romance for Angie and Patrick, as well as for Sara, and the mystery to be solved. This is the seventh in the series, but my first. It can easily be read as a stand-alone. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy this one, and likely the whole series.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Thread Herrings by Lea Wait is the seventh story in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series. Angie Curtis is the manager of Mainely Needlepoint in Haven Harbor, Maine. Angie is accompanying her friend, Sarah Byrne to an auction in Augusta. Angie has not been to an auction previously and is looking forward to the experience. Angie is intrigued by a half-finished vintage framed needlepoint coat of arms that is not in the best condition and she spontaneously bids on it when none of the other participants show interest. At home, Angie removes the needlework from the frame and finds a pale silk blue embroidered ribbon along with receipt from the London Foundling Hospital dated October 26, 1757 for a child baptized Charles. Angie wants to learn more about the coat of arms and the child, but she is unsuccessful at the Maine Historical Society. She has lunch with Clem Walker, friend and television reporter, who suggests doing a human interest feature and appeal to the public for information. Instead of receiving helpful material, both ladies receive death threats. Soon Clem is found shot dead in car in Haven Harbor and Angie’s car goes boom injuring someone close to her. Angie goes into hiding, but she this does not deter her from investigating. Can she identify the culprit before he finds her?

Thread Herrings can be read alone if you have not indulged in any of the previous novels in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series. Angie goes to her first auction and her friend, Sarah kindly explains auction protocol. Since I have not been to an auction, I found it interesting. I had no idea there was a buyer’s premium added to the hammer price (winning bid). I could tell the author did her research on the London Foundling Hospital, land patents or grants, the billet or receipt for the child and mementoes parents left behind as identifiers (to later claim the child). Lea Wait incorporated the information in a way that made it easy to understand. Ruth Hopkins helps Angie with genealogy research, but we see very little of the other Mainely Needlepoint group. Patrick West is in town and Angie hides out in his finely appointed carriage house. Personally, I am not a fan of Patrick and I keep hoping they will break up. Patrick comes across as superficial (especially when he was discussing the yacht that could only sleep eight). Angie needs a partner with more depth and who is interested in sleuthing. The mystery plays out with clues interspersed up to the reveal. Angie must solve the mystery via phone since she is unable to go out in public which is a unique way of investigating the crime. Readers are unable to play along and solve this whodunit. I could have done without the frequent (I stopped counting after six) mentions of Angie’s gun (a Glock). Angie does manage to indulge in cooking, dining out friends (before the death threats), drinking fine wine, playing with Trixi (her kitten), watch movies, handle business details and check in with Gram. As the action heats up in Thread Herrings, you will find yourself riveted. You cannot help but keep reading to discover how the story plays out.

It’s February in Haven Harbor and Angie and her friend, Sarah Byrne, are going to attend an antique auction. Sarah is looking for items for her antique store, while Angie is attending to see what an auction is like and possibly find some needlepoint items. At the preview for the auction items, Angie finds an interesting embroidered coat of arms. It is in poor shape and Sarah tells her it is probably not worth anything, but it calls to her. When she wins the auction, she takes the piece home and removes it from the frame. In the backing of the piece, she finds a piece of ribbon and a folded piece of paper that is a receipt for baby Charles who was left at the London Foundling Hospital in 1757. Angie's curiosity kicks in and she decides she would like to find out who Charles is and if he has any relatives living in Maine. This decision sets in motion a chain of events that finds a friend of Angie's dead and her life threatened until she is basically under house arrest for her own safety. It is great to see the familiar characters from previous books all present to varying degrees and willing to help her with her research.

This is a great mystery, both the historical and the present day murder. Patrick and Angie are still moving forward with their relationship, but Patrick seems to be a bit overbearing in this book, perhaps due to his desire to keep Angie safe. It was really interesting to see how Ruth is able to use geneology to trace the baby left at the hospital and tie it to a political family. Are they ashamed of their past and want Angie to hush up? There are some red herrings, some obscure clues and lots of computer work used in the pulling together of this mystery. Once again, each chapter begins with an example of work from old samplers worked in colonial and later eras. If this does not interest you, you can skip over it, but I enjoy learning about the needlework of the past as it paints a picture of community, relationships and history. I pretty much figured out who the killer was about halfway through the book, but the motive was left until the end. This book has a lot of tension and suspense as well as relationship building and interactions between the Mainely Needlepointers. I recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers, especially if you enjoy more than one storyline that comes together beautifully at the end. The publisher, Kensington Publishing Corporation, generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.

A different but good kind of read for me. I am not normally a fan of Historical books. And this one really isn't but there is a lot of history revolving around this story.

I think that Lea Wait has drawn me into being more interested in
history. The story and the plot is carefully woven to keep the reader interested and turning the pages.

I was interested in the antique shop detail. The description and detail about the antique auctions was spot on. I've bought and sold a few antiques and enjoyed auctions. I was taken back and some fond memories were brought to my mind.

You'll find a good mystery to try and solve as you turn the pages and you just might become enchanted with the characters.

Although Thread Herrings is 7th in the series you'll have no trouble following along. You might want to go back and read the earlier 6 as I plan to.

I enjoyed Thread Herrings and plan to read more books by
Lea Wait.

I received a complimentary copy.

What do you do when you live in a tourist area during a blustery cold off season?
You might be surprised. There seems to be quite a bit of activity around Haven Harbor, Maine.
For those who run shops based on collectibles and antiques, the off season is a time for education, research and adding inventory.
Angie Curtis is still figuring out her life and one new experience is attending an auction. If you have never been to one, this is an education in the language and rules.
Why do people bid on other people's cast offs? There are as many reasons as there are for why people commit murder.
Angie feels something for an old, abused piece of needlework, an embroidered coat of arms.
When she takes it home and takes it apart, she discovers a mystery.
She asks friends for help discovering the meaning of a ribbon hidden behind the embroidery, which sets off an unexpected chain of events. It also causes the death of a high school friend, turned news reporter.
Full of interesting historical information, this book helps us understand more of Angie's character.
Danger comes to Haven Harbor. Can her circle of friends keep Angie safe?

Cozy mysteries are always full of interesting trivia. This one takes it up a notch.

Who knew purchasing a threadbare needlepoint sampler at an auction could be so troublesome. There's a coat of arms on the sampler, unusual because coats of arms usually were found in England, not in the United States. Angie discovers a document dated from the 1750s behind the framed needlepoint work. It was a claim for a child who had been left at a foundling home in England. Her news reporter friend Clem talks Angie into going on TV to talk about the sampler. Next day, someone is dead.

This is a good addition to a pleasant and enjoyable cozy mystery series. Some interesting facts about foundlings. I look forward to reading the next one in this charming series.

This is book 7 in the "Mainely Needlepoint Mystery Series. " I have read each book in the series and enjoyed each book . I love the author's vivid descriptions of life on Maine and the close charcters brought together by a love of Needlepoint and solving murders.
In this next in series our protagonist Angie is drawn to a historical piece of Needlepoint at an auction.. She is fascinated by its origin and by the needlework that went into creating the piece. Little does she know that that piece will threaten her very existence .
When she takes it home she removes it from its frame and discovers a receipt dated October 1757 for a child named Charles who was left at a hospital, and a beautifully embroidered ribbon. Angie learns the hospital was located in London, the ribbon was a called billet, and anyone would need it to reclaim the child. Clem Walker, Angie’s friend and TV reporter interviews her and asks for anyone with information about the needlepoint to contact the station. Within minutes of the airing, the station receives a death threat for Clem and Angie receives a threatening message through her website.

Angie and Clem arrange to meet the next day to discuss both received threats. When Clem doesn’t show up for lunch, Angie receives a call from Haven Harbor PD’s who tells her Clem was found dead in her car .
Her friends and a state trooper in the homicide department, insist she doesn’t return to her home. She agrees to stay with her boyfriend, Patrick West, for the next few days. The next day, her Gram’s new husband, Reverend Tom, is injured in a car explosion. Very scared and now afraid for her life she’s forced into hiding.
Angie is determined to learn the history behind the coat of arms and still works to solve the crimes.
Wow this is a exciting book ! I loved the twist and turns, the well crafted story and the surprising set of clues that left me guessing. I enjoyed it so much I read it through to the end.
Thank you for the ARC. My opinion is my own. The author is a wonderful writer and I look forward to the next in series.

It’s February and everyone is quietly performing their winter tasks, which means Sarah is visiting several auctions and restocking her shop. Never having been to an auction, Angie goes along – and here we are treated to information about estate auctions from a dealer’s perspective, and see the pieces during the viewing. While Sarah finds pieces that she can resell and use as stock, Angie finds a not-particularly well-preserved piece of needlework, a coat of arms, a rarity in New England. Bidding on the piece, Angie is the winner – and takes the unusual piece home, full of questions.

Taking the piece from the frame, Angie finds clues and a mystery hidden behind the piece, all needing more investigation. Discovering the two old Maine families whose items provided the lots for the auction, and some preliminary searching bring Angie to Portland to the history museum, information gathered there gives her new places to search and free hours have her contacting a high school friend turned reporter, and we are off.

A one minute spotlight on Angie and her questions about the piece lead to several death threats, the death of her friend Clem, Reverend Thom’s injuries when her car explodes, and danger everywhere. With strangers looking for her in town, footprints around the carriage house that shouldn’t have been there, and a strange couple questioning Sarah about Angie’s piece of embroidery, the questions are never ending. But, frustrated and tired of hiding, an email left by the enquiring couple, a few chance connections made after a news story and cooperation from Sarah bring them face to face with the killer – not quietly as Angie has to use (for the first time) her gun to get Sarah out of danger and be sure the killer is caught. Of course, as in all of this series, insets of work from old samplers worked in colonial and later eras, and the solid feelings of community, friendship and plenty of snow, sea smoke and cold all combine to paint the quaint little town in winter clothes. Wait brings a sense of the place solidly forward while keeping everyone aware of the fact that murder never makes real sense to anyone BUT those willing to kill for something – and in this story the motive of retribution for hurts perceived and done for years was just as silly, even as the tension, questions and information came hard and fast.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-a6v /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

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.

I have read almost all of the books in this series. I enjoy the plot lines and the characters. The whodunnits almost always keep me guessing until the end. However, in addition to the great writing, I really enjoy that the series is set in Maine (the state my husband is from) and that it involves needlework as the “hook” that grounds the series.

I am a needleworker and can verify the the needlework comments are spot on. When I ask my husband about points regarding to Maine, he tells me Ms. Wait really knows the state.

In this book, an older and tattered sampler becomes a point of contention. Our sleuth, Angie Curtis has bought the sampler and when she takes it apart, she finds some interesting and, previously, hidden parts of a “puzzle”.

It’s when Angie publicizes this information and asks for help in identifying the, that things begin to happen which threaten her and murder happens.

The book can be read stand-alone as it doesn’t rely on previously known facts. I enjoy the series so much, I still recommend that you read it in order. That way you can see how the characters and their relationships with one another have grown.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

What an introduction to this author and her series! Ms. Wait really knows her antiques, the business, needlepoint, embroidery, and related samplers and mourning art. The beginning of each chapter includes a child's accounting of a coat of arms (or family crest) embroidery, including familial information.

Haven Harbor, Maine, protagonist Angie Curtis of the Mainely Needlepoint shop is invited by her antiques shop owner buddy, Sarah Byrne, to accompany her to an auction. It is her first experience with an auction and the author does a fine job of detailing procedures. During the preview, Angie spies an embroidered coat of arms that catches her fancy. It's when Angie gets her prize home and removes the frame that she discovers a billet (receipt) for Charles from the London Foundling Hospital in 1757 on a lovingly embroidered ribbon. (The billet is meant to match the receipt at the hospital in order to reclaim the child.)

No problem to read this as a standalone, story-driven plot. Mainely Needlepoint support characters provide historical and genealogical information, along with her grandmother (the latter of whom raised her). Fascinated, Angie begins to research and investigate along with the help of a former classmate, Clem Walker, a TV personality who persuades her to appeal to the public for information. The TV short results in death threats and shortly Clem is murdered and her grandmother's new hubby injured when he attempts to move Angie's car. Angie is forced into hiding and takes her kitty but continues to quietly push for new information.

Certainly an opening that grabs the interest quickly and manages to weave informative and educational tidbits into an intriguing, engaging and well-developed plot. The Maine winter descriptions, while brutal, certainly lent an ambiance to the storyline. The antagonist is worked out through persistent and dogged analysis and is not entirely a surprise, but the motive and conclusion comes off a tad weak.

I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. I thoroughly enjoyed the history and heartily recommend to any who participate in needlework or crafting of any kind. Will also interest any who read cozy mysteries, suspense, and women sleuths. I'm looking forward to Book 8! 4.5/5

Threads Herring is the 7th book in the Mainely Needlepoint series, and another great adventure with Angie Curtis and the gang. Angie goes to her first auction with her friend Sarah, owner of an antique shop. Angie bids on an old coat of arms embroidery, and wins. Soon after Angie goes on her friend Clem's news show to ask for help identifying the coat of arms. When Clem is murdered and Angie is targeted the murderer must be found. I love this series, but the mystery and ending was not very exciting in my opinion, but I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysterious, give this book/series a try. As always it's better to read the series in order.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thread Herrings is the seventh book in the A Mainely Needlepointer Mystery series.

I learned more about needlepoint, Maine, auctions, and people in general.

What I found refreshing was that the sleuth did not intentionally make decisions that would put her in harm’s way and that I was constantly saying – are you slow or don’t grasp the severity of your situation?

I like Angie Curtiss. I like her background and current desire to run a needlepoint/gift shop.
The author did a good job of having me care what happens to the players involve.
I also enjoyed that the police were not depicted as incompetent or had grudges against the characters in the book.

I was intent on learning why would someone kill over the coat of arms needlepoint.

Kept me interested throughout the story.

It's February in Haven Harbor ME, and things are quiet in Angie Curtis' needlepoint business and in her friend Sarah's antique business. Sarah, however, uses the quiet months when there are no tourists to attend auctions and stock up for the busy months. Angie is excited to participate in her first estate auction, with an eye to possibly purchase a historical sampler or two. She quickly finds that those included are out of her price range, but what catches her eye is a poorly framed and deteriorated embroidery of a coat of arms. She is fascinated because it is unusual to see such an embroidery in America. The bidding is fierce, but no one else is interested, and Angie wins the piece. When she takes it apart, she finds an envelope with a "billet" dating back to 1757 describing the admission of an infant named Charles to a foundling hospital and an embroidered ribbon. Incurably curious, Angie sets out to find out what foundling hospital, what happened to Charles, and how the embroidery ended up in Maine. To this end, she enlists all her friends at Mainely Needlepoint, and even mentions it to her friend, Clem, at the local TV station. Clem thinks it would make an excellent short piece for her broadcast. Little do they know that the show will lead to death threats, murder, a bombing and Angie going into hiding.

Lea Wait has written another entertaining mystery in the Mainely Needlepoint series, packed with local color and quirky, interesting characters. As a long time visitor to Maine (both summer and winter) Haven Harbor is authentic to me. I always get good ideas for places to visit, this time the sampler collection at the Saco Museum. There is more than a dash of developing romance this time, both for Angie and Sarah. I highly recommend the entire series and hope for more.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley.com for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

I've enjoyed Lea Wait's Mainely Needlepoint cozy series from the beginning. I've painlessly learned a lot about Maine through these books-- from its fascinating history to its landscape and weather to the customs of present-day Mainers. And I am happy to announce, Thread Herrings is the best of the series so far.

I loved the reminder of how much fun attending auctions can be, and I can imagine many other readers being tempted to attend their first one from Wait's description of Angie's experience at the beginning of the book. But the one thing that takes center stage in Thread Herrings is the mystery. Angie's friend is shot to death on her way to meet Angie at a local restaurant. From strangers asking locals where she lives to death threats by email and other means, it's clear to see that Angie's life is well and truly in danger and Wait skillfully ratchets up the suspense (and the need to read faster to make sure Angie doesn't come to harm).

And guess what? Wait doesn't create this palpable tension by having Angie do something stupid! I can't tell you how refreshing that is. Angie gets a bad case of cabin fever, but when the local and state police tell her to stay put and stay inside, she does it-- and the book is still scary and suspenseful. (There are authors who need to make note of this because I'm not the only reader who can't stand characters who are TSTL-- Too Stupid To Live.)

The reveal at the end of Thread Herrings is a satisfying one, and now I have to settle down and wait for the next installment. It can't come fast enough for me.