Another winner in Blueberry Cove! I confess when I got the first book in the series, I wondered how well a cozy featuring an apron shop would fare among the rest of them, but Elizabeth Penney is a great writer who creates delightful characters!

Iris Buckley has opened her apron shop in Blueberry Cove, Maine with her Grammie, Anne. With the upcoming lobster festival in town, Iris anticipates a boom in business. Unfortunately, she also stumbles across another body. Woven among the curiosities of seaweed farming, Iris must untangle the truth or be next!

I so want to go to this fantastic little town and join Iris and her group of girlfriends. This series really takes time to focus on friendships and I very much enjoy getting lost in the pages with Iris and her kitty, Quincy. Penney paints a lovely view of a picturesque coastal town with eccentric characters. I literally felt "cozy" reading the first book and this was no different.

I had my suspicions about whodunit, but that's a secret. I have nothing bad to say about this book. I thought the plot was unique and intriguing. I very much look forward to the third book in the series!

It's another fun visit to Blueberry Cove to hang out with Iris, Grammie, and their merry band of Maine friends. I liked this one, though not quite as much as the first in the series. Iris and her apron shop are light-hearted and fun, and I like the relationships between both friends and family members. The murder storyline was fine...it just felt very...open and shut. I wanted a little more nuance to the plotting and characterizations, I think. And there wasn't much tie-in between the murder and the apron shop. But still, a fast escapist read that blocked out the bad news for a few hours, and goodness knows I'm thankful for that.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The second book in the Apron Shop series has everything I love about cozy mysteries. When Iris is invited to visit a reclusive spinster to purchase some antique linens, she immediately adores the older woman and so did I. Eleanor Brady is adorable, and seemingly vulnerable to her nasty nephew. She's also got questions about how her mother, a housemaid, left behind a trunk filled with vintage Chanel. Iris is happy to help her research the family history and she's also pulled into a murder investigation when one of the environmentalists who was renting rooms from Iris for the summer is found dead on nearby cliffs.



Between the murder mystery, the antique linens, and a very entertaining cardboard boat race, I raced through this one.

Oh, how I wish I could visit Blueberry Cove!! The setting of this book completely swept me away—the Lobster Festival, the coast, the quaint shops, THE FOOD. The cast of characters was charming, and I loved how intertwined and complex their relationships were. The two mysteries were intriguing, one involving precious gems, couture, and a questionable family history, and the other a deadly cliffside fall. And I found the idea of seaweed as a renewable energy source to be a really cool detail. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

This is the second book in the series and I enjoyed it even more than the first one.
This has become one of my favorites.
Entertaining characters and a well written whodunit.
I highly recommend it.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Iris is back in another cozy mystery set in Maine. Enjoyed this one, and had a hard time putting it down. Several story lines, that merge quite well. Highly recommend this book and author.

Iris Buckley runs a vintage linens shop with her grandmother in Blueberry Cove, Maine. They do all right and have a close knit group of friends and neighbors. She receives a call from an elderly woman wanting to sell her antique linens, and when she realizes who it is, she's more than eager to meet and strike a deal with her. Eleanor meets her and not only makes a deal for the linens, but also wants Iris to broker the sale of a trunk full of pristine antique Chanel clothing. While not her field, Iris promises to help....and finds more in the trunk they anyone expected.
Iris later comes across Hailey Piper's body, a teaching assistant who was among a group staying at Eleanor's house, while rock climbing with friends....and she just has to snoop into it.
Odd things happen, a little B&E, some property destruction, an assault and the kidnap of Iris and her best friend Sophie to name a few. Iris had put her clues together, but had added them up wrong. The kidnapping gave her all the answers, almost too late.
Ms. Penny provides plenty of clues and suspects, and lots of great characters. Her tale moves right along, and you change suspects back and forth as more information comes out. It's a fun read.
I requested and received a NetGalley Arc to peruse and offer my opinion gratis.

I’ve said this in I think several reviews of cozy mysteries, but characters and the setting make or break a cozy for me. This second book in the series doesn’t disappoint.

Iris and the rest of the characters all have different personalities but they mesh well and the relationships between characters seems genuine.

Coming from someone who has a long-standing interest in historical fashion, I liked seeing how vintage fabrics/clothes were a part of the story.

There were two plot threads in this story and when they came together, the mystery all started to make more sense.

I’ve really enjoyed this series so far.

I enjoyed visiting Blueberry Cove in this latest book. Between a mystery that kept me on my toes, the location and the Lobster Fest, this book kept me engaged to the point that I read too late into the night.

The characters are beginning to seem more 'realistic' and I'm looking forward to seeing the relationships develop further.

I can't wait for the next one in the series.

Thread and Dead: The Apron Shop Series
by Elizabeth Penney
Back of the Book: “Tragedy strikes in Thread and Dead, the second book in Elizabeth Penney's cozy mystery series—and now everyone in Blueberry Cove, Maine, is on pins and needles. . .
Iris Buckley is busier than ever this July, with the town’s annual Lobster Festival fast approaching. In just a matter of days, her apron shop Ruffles & Bows will be jam-packed with tourists eager to lay eyes on its world-class collection of aprons and linens—and Iris’s inventory is running low. Then, just when all hope seems lost, Iris gets a call from Eleanor Brady, a wealthy, reclusive spinster who just happens to have trunks full of vintage fabrics. Would Iris like to come down to Eleanor’s cottage estate Shorehaven and have a look?
Before long Iris is on the scene—and on the case. Turns out that Eleanor has rented Shorehaven to the handsome, charismatic environmentalist Dr. Lukas de Wilde and his flock of students. What begins as an apron-scouting endeavor soon morphs into a full-blown murder investigation when Dr. de Wilde’s beautiful young teaching assistant turns up dead. Now it’s up to Iris—along with her partner-in-love-and-crime Ian Stewart—to unravel the mystery before the Blueberry Cove killer strikes again.”
Impressions: Thread and Dead is part of the Apron Shop series however I read this as a stand-alone novel. I enjoyed this small-town mystery.
Liked: This was a light and easy mystery to follow. I read at night so I apricated being able to fall asleep after reading as well.
Disliked: The character's interactions were cliquey but I also feel this is what makes it a cozy mystery.
Learned: Not all mysteries are the same.
Quotes: This was not really a quote-worthy read.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoy this series. The characters are interesting, and I've become very invested in their lives. The main mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. I also liked the few side mysteries to go along with it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney, to be published by MacMillan USA, August 2020

First, thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan USA for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This is the second book in the series for Elizabeth Penney and it doesn’t disappoint.

What I liked about the book: For me it’s almost always about the characters and how the author builds the interconnection between them, how she introduces them into the plot so that when there is a mystery you are still surprised no matter who is involved. Main character, Iris, owns an apron shop and is invited to take a look at a box of linens by a woman in town and she is excited by the prospect. The woman, Eleanor Brady, much to the consternation of her nephew, has started renting out rooms in her overly large home to some young and competitive entrepreneurs. When one of them turns up dead, the plot thickens.

I liked the mystery, the subplots of vintage clothing finds that added depth to the story, and the way the threads came together – even if it didn’t seem like they would at first.

What I liked less: I felt the author could have developed the subplot regarding the clothing and what was hidden further (without revealing more here) and that that could have been developed into a mystery and a story by itself without the complication of the students.

This is a well-written and fast-paced whodunit that once I started reading, I could not put down because I needed to know the who, the what, the where and the why. The author did a great job in telling this story with bits and pieces scattered that kept me interested and immersed in all that was happening. Besides, the murder, another plot was just as mysterious and then another plot snuck in – all seemingly separate, but yet played hand-in-hand in the telling of this tale. The visually descriptive narrative gave off a small-town atmosphere with fetching dialogue and friendliness among the residents, while the search for a killer remained top of mind. As the story moved forward, it became clear, the who, the what, the where and the why and that created a wonderful and delightfully charming story that put a smile on my face. I do love these characters who are like next door neighbors and I can’t wait to see what adventures are in store for them and vicariously, me.

Thread and Dead is an entertaining and well written cozy mystery. Good plot and cast of characters. A real page turner. Cozy mystery fans will enjoy this book. I received an arc from the publisher and this is y unbiased review.

Iris Buckley, her loyal "crew" and her lovable Grammie become embroiled in a "mystery within a mystery" during a summer Lobster Festival in Blueberry Cove, Maine. The first mystery occurs when a marine biology company intern suffers a tragic fall from a cliff....was it an accident or murder? Eleanor Brady,owner of Shorehaven, the B&B where the company is staying, finds herself in a mystery involving her mother, murder and a cache of jewels. Iris and her friends will have to solve both mysteries to make sure justice is served...without becoming victims themselves.

I love this series! The characters all have their own unique personalities and it's easy to relate to them. The setting, Ruffles & Bows, is a cozy shop that brings back memories. . My grandmother made aprons and it takes me back to my childhood. I enjoy the friendship between the characters and their occasional disagreements. It's real! The mystery kept me guessing and I loved the history, descriptions of vintage Chanel fashions and the linens...it was not overwhelming and enhanced the mystery!

I can't wait to read the next book!

I received an ARC from NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was fortunate enough to read an advanced copy of 2nd book in the series. It's a really easy flow from book 1, but you can read it on its own and be perfectly fine. Aprons, linens, ancestry, seaweed, and of course a murder that needs solving. Iris, her grandmother and friends, each with their own personalities add to another wonderful story. Perfect reading for cozy fans

Cozy mystery for the rainy afternoon, cuddled under a soft, fluffy afghan...a quick read.. The protagonist is sweet, and the other characters are the foil that enhances her story. Read and enjoy.

This was my first book by this author. It's the 2nd book in the Apron Shop series of cozy mysteries. The first half of the book was a little slow, but definitely got better. Overall, a light quick read. I will continue to read this series, as I did enjoy the story.

I love this series! I wish I could actually go to the festival and experience this great town! Eleanor once again is playing sleuth and I couldn't get enough!

Lobster Fest is fast approaching and Iris Buckley is in the thick of things. She agrees to judge a lobster bib contest along with all the duties of operating her shop Ruffles and Bows. When a reclusive wealthy widow calls and asks her if she is interested in some vintage sheets and other antique fabrics, she speeds out to meet Mrs. Brady. The mansion in which Mrs. Brady lives is in dire need of repair and Iris can see why she might want to sell some of her belongings. To help pay the upkeep, Mrs. Brady has rented some rooms to an environmental groups lead by Dr. Lukas de Wilde. When one of his students winds up dead at the bottom of a cliff, Iris finds herself in the middle of academic rivalries and jealousies. Lots of intrigue and a fascinating backstory.