The Quick and the Thread: An Embroidery Mystery by Amanda Lee

                    I have yet another cozy mystery!  These are truly my favorite books.  They are definitely what I gravitate to most.  I do not know how many I have read over the years, and I do not plan on stopping any time soon.           

                This cozy mystery series is set in an embroidery shop.  The main character, Marcy, has just moved to Tallulah Falls, OR in order to open the shop she has dreamed of for quite some time.  Her friend Sadie, who encouraged Marcy in the venture, has a coffee shop in the same area.  Actually, it was Sadie who let Marcy know there was a space for rent.  With her shop open, friend nearby, and a possible new love interest, Marcy feels her life is heading in the right direction.  Then she finds the body of the shop’s old tenant, Mr. Enright, in the storeroom.

                It would be distressing enough to find a dead body, but Marcy feels especially bad since Mr. Enright tried to talk to her the night before.  Believing he was drunk, Marcy avoided him.  Now Mr. Enright is dead and the only clue Marcy has of what he wanted to say is a partial phrase Mr. Enright scratched into the wall before he died.  To make matters worse, Marcy’s landlord, Mr. Trelawney, is shot dead not too long later.  Marcy is certain the two deaths are connected.  The police want the cases to be closed, but Marcy cannot leave things alone.  She must figure out what is behind the deaths.

                During the investigation Marcy begins to make some new friends.  First is Reggie, the local librarian who helps Marcy with her research.  Reggie is married to a member of the police force, Manu.  He takes what Marcy and Reggie learn and brings it back to the police in an effort to keep the cases open.  Then there is Vera.  She is actually a customer, but Vera comes to the shop nearly every day to stitch and Marcy becomes close to her.  I cannot forget to mention Ted.  He is the chief detective who keeps stopping by the shop to “check” on Marcy.  With the man Sadie set Marcy up with, Todd, also floating around, I sense a love triangle forming.

                There is one more character who is important.  No matter what happens, this character is always there to offer love and support to Marcy.  It is Angus, Marcy’s faithful dog.  She rescued him from a puppy mill and they have been together ever since.  Even though they are devoted to each other, the question is, can Angus protect Marcy from a murderer?

                I zipped through this book. The story moved along well and it was great to take outside and read. I will admit, I got confused with the whole development company situation, but overall I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next in the series.