Pretty linens, classic Chanel, a family mystery, a foreign affair, leafy green biofuel, a cardboard boat, and a coniving co-ed. There is a mystery thread within another mystery and then pieced to gether by Iris Buckly and her best friend Madison Morris. They did as good a job on solving both as they did in creating a one of a kind cardboard catboat complete with a "darling apron" for the sail. This story follows the cozy pattern perfectly with not one story going on but multiple that are stitched up at the end. The characters are woven in and out of the chapters in such a way that you are never at a loss to understand who they are and how they relate to each other as well as the story line. I was able to work my way through one aspect but with the number of characters and motives I did not see the finished product until the end. A well put together mystery and I look forward to reading another Apron Shop Mystery soon!

This is the second book in the delightful new cozy series " The Apron Shop Series" by cozy author Elizabeth Penny. I had loved the first in series and was delighted to read this for review. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own.

In this next in series our protagonist Iris Buckley and her grandmother are busy with their successful apron shop called Ruffles, and Bows. The live and work in the charming village of Blueberry Cove, Maine. Iris receives a offer from a wealthy elderly resident Eleanor to come look at linens she wants to sell. When Iris arrives she finds the once stately home in poor repair and Eleanor renting out rooms to a local environmental group . Eleanor ask Iris to help her investigate how her Mother came to own such expensive vintage linens and Iris agrees. When a body is found down a cliff of one of the environmentalists Iris is on the case to help Eleanor and find the answer to the murder.

This is a charming series with great charcters, a charming setting and a wonderful well crafted sleuth. I love learning about aprons as they are part of a past long gone . The author has all the elements of the perfect long running cozy series. I highly recommend this series for your reading enjoyment..

Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney is the 2nd book in the Apron Shop mystery series, and another great addition. I was not sure if I would like this series, because sewing and aprons are not my thing, but I really enjoyed it. Not only is this book an enjoyable cozy mystery, the characters and plot is very well written. I am looking forward to reading the next adventure of Iris and her grandmother, Anne. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another summer in Blueberry Cove, Maine with Iris Buckley and her grandmother who are the owners of an apron and linen shop, Ruffles & Bows finds Iris in the thick of another murder mystery. The victim is part of a research project from Belgium who are renting rooms at one of the island's former grand houses, which is now in decline. The owner is a friend of Iris' Grammie and inherited it from her late parents. The story uncovers a subplot involving the provenance of some items found in the home.

I enjoyed this second installment in the series. While I read the first, this can easily be picked up as a standalone. The descriptions of the town were enticing--the intimate charm reminded me of some in which I've traveled and lived, complete with a local festival and parade and active Main Street shopping district. The characters were the main focus of the book. The mystery was what I like in a cozy--light with an easy pace

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book. My review is voluntary.

This is the 2nd book in the Apron Shop series and it's a winner. The book is a well written cozy with highly enjoyable characters. I particularly enjoy Anne (Grammie) and I really enjoyed Elizabeth ( I'm hoping she continues to be a part of the series). The setting, Blueberry Cove is absolutely some place I'd love to visit along with the apron shop. I highly recommend this book and series.

4.5 stars

This is the second book in the Apron Shop mystery series by Elizabeth Penney.

When I first heard about this concept for a mystery series, I was a bit skeptical. It is all based around an apron and linens shop called Ruffles & Bows. I guess I couldn’t fathom how such a shop would be sustainable nowadays. But the great stories the author puts out around this concept has just made me love the concept. I am a believer now. I even wonder if I could make my own apron to use at home while I cook.

This story follows Iris as she goes to visit an elderly citizen of Blueberry Cove named Eleanor who has started renting out rooms in her lavish mansion to some Ag related professors who are growing algae. Then one of them ends up dead and Ivy and her friends discover the body while rock climbing.

This story was pretty complex and there were a lot of variables to take into account. Just when I thought I had fingered the bad guy, I discovered I was wrong! I love following the action and suspense and seeing how it all washes out in the end. I love how the cast keeps growing and we learn more and more about the citizens of Blueberry Cove and their rich history. Just a fun series to follow.

If you like cozy mysteries, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

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.

Iris Buckley has just gotten a call about a load of vintage aprons and linens that sound perfect for her shop. But arriving at Shorehaven Estate draws her into mystery and intrigue when she stumbles onto a dead body. Juggling a healthy romance, her friends, and the intrigue behind a hidden set of valuable jewels, Iris must also work to help solve the murder before another person is killed.

Iris and her friends are great, strong, loyal women. They are always there for each other, but are not cliquey, welcoming newcomers into their circle.

I also loved the romances. Iris and her boyfriend Ian are in a stable, healthy, loving relationship, and are really sweet together. Her friends have very sweet relationships with their partners as well.

I love a small town setting for a cozy mystery, and this fit the bill perfectly. There's even a festival going on, involving a fashion show, a crazy lobster bib contest, and lots of other events and drama.

The mystery was centered around science and seaweed, which are not really what I'm looking for when I'm reading a light fun cozy mystery. I had some trouble keeping track of who was who sometimes with so many characters and so much intrigue.

I loved the main characters a lot, they kept me really involved in the story. The mystery itself had a great dramatic conclusion, but the subject material wasn't really my cup of tea. This was a good read, and I would wander back to this series at some point I suspect, mainly because of the main characters.

Thread and Dead is my first exposure to Elizabeth Penney and Blueberry Cove in Maine. I love cozies, Agatha Christie and these small towns, so I was quick to lose myself in Thread and Dead.

Blueberry Cove sounds like one of the prosperous towns in New England with millionaires' cottages that are Gilded Age mansions by any other standard. Blueberry Cove felt like a mix of Newport, Rhode Island and Bar Harbor, Maine with the delicious lobsters, the wealthy towns with high quality shops, families that have lived in the area for generations, and the emphasis on high end tourism. But beyond the memorable location, the strong female characters from Iris Buckley and her grandmother to their solid circle of friends. The camaraderie of the women and their romantic leads gives Elizabeth Penney's novel a lightness and cheer.

Iris Buckley has a fondness for classic cars and the classic looks of the 20s, 40s, and 50s. She is inquisitive but unfailingly polite - an unkind neighbor might call her a snoop. Iris lost her parents in a car accident as a child and was raised by her grandparents in Blueberry Cove on a sprawling piece of land that has been in the Buckley family for generations. At the start of Thread and Dead, Iris and her grandmother have a new and thriving business in high quality linens, aprons, etc and they are always looking for the better quality vintage items. Iris receives a call from Eleanor Brady with an invitation to purchase vintage linens found at Shorehaven, a fabled cottage estates. Eleanor asks Iris to help sell a trunk of clothing from Eleanor's mother who had worked as a nursemaid before marrying the son of the house. The trunk has early Coco Chanel and Iris is intrigued. She agrees to help dig up more about the history of the items and about Eleanor's mother's past and undertakes to protect Eleanor from her unscrupulous nephew.

Unrelated to Eleanor's history, a young research fellow is a murder on the cliffs of Blueberry Cove just as Iris and her friends are rock climbing. As near witnesses, Iris and Madison start their unofficial investigation of possible suspects. Could it be someone related to the seaweed research project? Is it a local of Blueberry Cove? Who has a motive? Who might be next?

Iris, Grammie and Madison ferret out the clues and the truth - always with politeness and good taste.

Thread and Dead is the sort of book I'd lend or recommend to friends looking for a summer escape. I have to read the first book in the series and will be keeping my eye out for anything else by Elizabeth Penney. In the time of this Covid 19 pandemic, books like Thread and Dead are a special joy! Granted, her books would be fun even in the best of times.

I really enjoyed this, my second virtual visit to Blueberry Cove, Maine. Iris and her Grammie own a delightful shop named Ruffles and Bows where they sell lovely old fabrics and aprons. It's the eve of the town Lobster Festival and the tourists have arrived. Iris gets a phone call from Eleanor Brady, the reclusive owner of an old, once elegant cliff house on the edge of town. She has an offer for Iris that is perfect in its timing. Stock is getting low at Ruffles and Bows and the offer is for the purchase of sets of elegant sheets, some lovely aprons circa 1930. Iris can't wait to take them home. Then Eleanor asks her to facilitate the sale of a couple of trunks full of pristine designer clothing including Chanel. This trip was very much worth her time and Iris leaves a happy camper with just one small concern - she has met Eleanor's nephew, her only relative, and he gives her the creeps.
Eleanor has rented out her spare rooms to a real hunk, a man from Belgium named Lukas de Wilde who is in town as an environmentalist along with his group. It isn't long before death takes a young woman who was his assistant when her body is found at the base of the sea cliff. Tragic accident? ot was it homicide? With the help of her boyfriend, Ian and various friends and family, Iris investigates. One big question leads her into Eleanor's family tree when Eleanor posits the question of how did her mother, an immigrant nursemaid, afford those lovely clothes before she married Eleanor's wealthy father? Can Iris connect the various threads if, indeed they are connected.
I loved the setting, the characters of Iris and Grammie, the puzzle and the misdirections. I guessed wrong. It all came together in a very satisfying mystery. The next in the series is already on my TBR list whenever it's published. I'm ready and eager to read it.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetHalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Something Fishy Is Going On
This book is part of the Apron Shop Cozy Mystery series. In this episode, the town is having a lobster festival and there are all sorts of things going on. There is murder, sabotage, vandalism, and much worse going on. As different crimes are revealed, our group of sleuths becomes targets. The story is long and intricate, but never boring. There is some information shared about fabric and aprons, but not nearly enough. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, moved at a good pace, and there were two mysteries that moved the plot along (one involves the murder, the other involves a family’s past).

At first, everyone assumes the murder is an accident – who would want to kill the smart and enthusiastic teaching assistant? But as Iris soon finds out, the girl was not as nice as she pretended to be and there were definitely a few people who had a motive. I have to admit, I changed my guess several times before the conclusion of the story and even then, I was surprised at how the ending played out.

This book isn’t “action-packed” and there is a significant amount of time spent on building friendships and digging into Eleanor’s past, but it was still a nice read that kept a nice, easy pace.

There were a lot of characters in this story. Maybe too many? I have to admit that there were times when I couldn’t keep straight of who was who. There were A LOT of people to keep track of – including all of Iris’ friends and their respective love interests, the academic group staying at Shorehaven AND the people of Blueberry Cove. It was probably one of the larger cast of characters in a cozy mystery that I’ve read in awhile. I wonder if it might be easier for me to remember who was who (and who was dating who) if I had read the first book, but *shrugs* it is what it is.

Although there were so many characters, I did enjoy all of them and their interactions with each other, especially the women. The female characters in Thread and Dead are very well written – they each have very distinct personalities and I’m sure the more I read this series, the more I’ll be able to tell them apart. I loved their girls’ nights – it was fun to see a group of girlfriends just enjoying and supporting each other, ignoring age gaps and backgrounds. They were all welcoming and seem like exactly the type of friends you want in your life.

And that’s not to say the male characters weren’t interesting too. Again, there were A LOT of them, but they had some good, solid (and different) personalities (at least they did whenever I could remember who was who without looking at my notes). Some of the characters that were introduced in this book sound like they’ll be sticking around Blueberry Cove, so it will be interesting to see if they come up again in future stories.

The main character, Iris, was very well written. She’s very genuine and likable. She’s a bit less reckless than most cozy mystery amateur sleuths who just seem to race headlong (and alone) into dangerous situations – Iris always tries to have a backup plan, which is a nice change of pace. I was even interested in her business and could imagine a cute little shop in a small town selling aprons and linens. And yes, now I want a cute apron of my own.

Speaking of the small town – Blueberry Cove is definitely somewhere I want to visit. A Lobster Festival? Sign me up! The food descriptions had me drooling and I was dying to see if Iris would have a change of heart and learn to like seaweed (yep, you read that right – I said seaweed).

*** Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Fun and well-written second book in the Apron Shop Mystery series. Great characters and a clever mystery kept me interested and engaged until the end. I definitely recommend.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.

Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney is the 2nd book in The Apron Shop Series. It can be read as a standalone for those who have not indulged in Hems and Homicide. I thought this cozy mystery was well-written with developed characters. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of Blueberry Cove, Maine. She brought the city alive with her vivid word imagery of the shops, people, the boats, the cliffs, and the ocean. I like the cast of strong female characters in this series. Iris Buckley is a friendly and intelligent woman who loves vintage items. Iris co-owns Ruffles and Bows with her grandmother, Anne Buckley. They also share a farmhouse nearby. I like the close relationship Iris and her Grammie share. Iris has close female friends in Sophie, Madison, and Bella. It is great how they are there for each other and have women’s nights that include Grammie. Eleanor Brady was a delightful addition. She is a lively woman for her age with a mischievous sparkle in her eye. Her nephew, Craig is a bully who thinks only of himself. I am glad that Eleanor has good friends to watch out for her. The death of Hailey Piper has multiple suspects. It could be a local or someone with the Farming the Sea project. There are good clues to aid the reader in solving this multifarious mystery. The second mystery involves Eleanor’s mother, Claudia de Witte. Eleanor’s mother worked as a nursemaid, but she had designer clothing. Both mysteries were entertaining. I did feel that the first half of the book was a little slow. There seemed to be more eating and chatting than sleuthing. That soon changed as the action ramped up. The Apron Shop Series is character driven. The great characters are what draw the reader in. I just love the descriptions of the vintage bed linens, aprons, and clothes. I collect vintage aprons, so I was drooling over the trunk of aprons Iris scored for Ruffles and Bows. I cannot wait to read Bodies and Bows in the spring. Thread and Dead is a charming cozy mystery with antique aprons, comfort cuisine, a mysterious mother, sprouting seaweed, classic couture clothes, and Lobster Festival fun.

This was a fun mystery with a fairly unique premise. I didn't realize I wanted a vintage apron collection but it appears that I do! I would love to visit Iris' shop and explore all the vintage aprons and linens as well as meet Grammy and the rest of the game.

I did enjoy the murder mystery and liked digging through the suspects and motives. However, what really kept me turning pages was the mystery of Eleanor's mother. I really wanted to know more about her story and what had brought her to Shorehaven. I do love vintage clothes and secrets and this had a bit of both!

One of my favorite things about a cozy mystery is when they get together a team. This definitely had an ensemble cast between Irish, her grandmother, her boyfriend and all of her friends. I did struggle a bit to keep track of which friend was who and what they each brought to the table. I liked the different women but they just seemed to blend a bit.

This is the second book in the Apron Shop series and I enjoyed my time in Blueberry Cove. Iris is likable and doesn't fall into Too Stupid to Live territory even when she is being noisy. While it didn't suck me in quite as much as some other books I've read recently it was a fun mystery and introduced me to a town that I'm looking forward to revisiting again soon.

Thread and Dead is the second book in Elizabeth Penney's The Apron Shop Series. Iris Buckley and her grandmother own an apron shop, Ruffles and Bows, in the quaint little village of Blueberry Cove, Maine. It's July and Iris is gearing up for the town's annual Lobster Festival when she gets a call from Eleanor Brady, a wealthy spinster, asking if she's interested in buying some of her vintage sheets and linens. Iris immediately says yes and heads out to meet the woman at her historic mansion. The mansion is in dire need of repair and Iris can see why Eleanor might need to sell some of her lovely belongings. To further help her financial situation, Eleanor has also rented out some of her rooms to an environmental group. Eleanor has a few questions about how her mother, a nursemaid, came to be in the procession of so many expensive things, and Iris decides to help her look into her family history. The next day, Iris finds the body of one of the interns from the environmental group dead at the bottom of a cliff. With the help of her friends, she is determined to solve the case before the killer strikes again.

This was a light and enjoyable read, with likable characters, strong female friendships, and two intriguing mysteries. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions instantly bought the town of Blueberry Cove to life. I could easily visualize the quaint shops, the mouthwatering seafood, the ocean, and the Lobster Festival. Iris is a very likable character. She's genuine, down to earth, and loyal. She's surrounded by a wonderful group of strong, supportive women and their girls' nights were fun to read about. I thought she was a good sleuth. She acted responsibly and always took someone along with her to investigate.
I love the idea of an apron shop and can't wait to see how Iris and her grandmother's business grow in the upcoming books. The descriptions of vintage clothing, aprons, and linens were very enjoyable to read about and added to the story. Overall, this was a delightful read and a good addition to the series. I look forward to the third book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Kelp, the new kale? Interesting tale of workplace backstabbing. This parallels with another story of family secrets with some surprises. Clever cozy mystery kept me guessing. Fun interludes with the apron and cardboard boat contests. Sweet romances, too.

THREAD AND DEAD by Elizabeth Penney
The Second Apron Shop Mystery

As Blueberry Cove, Maine is gearing up for Lobster Fest Iris Buckley is excited to be offered antique linens from one of the elite "summer cottages". In addition to selling some linens, Eleanor is renting rooms in the once glorious mansion to a team of environmentalists, much to the chagrin of her nephew and sole heir who wants her to sell. While rock climbing nearby Iris and her friends discover the body of one of the environmentalists. Does her murder have something to do with the seaweed farming project? Or something closer to home? It couldn't have anything to do with Eleanor's request that Iris help her look into her mother's mysterious past, could it? In addition to running Ruffles & Bows and enjoying the Lobster Fest activities Iris decides to do all she can to help Eleanor as well as find justice for the murdered young woman...no matter the cost.

More than one mystery can be found in the pages of the second Apron Shop Mystery and I love how they're intertwined, not only with each other, but with the everyday life of the characters. Things don't come to a halt because of a dead body. While Iris does ask questions and directly agrees to help Eleanor find out more about her mother, she also runs her shop, participates in town events, and hangs out with her friends.

I really like Iris Buckley and her friends. They are supportive and fiercely loyal. I especially like how Grammie is always included in the girls' nights and is, in general, treated as one of the gang. And a gang it is with several couples in the mix. The couples add an interesting dynamic as there are several romantic relationship quandaries here. And while couples have a major role, the women aren't dependent on the men and can save the day themselves.

There's an interesting juxtaposition of old and new in THREAD AND DEAD. Not only do we have the old in the antique linens and clothes, as well as the mystery of Eleanor's mother, and Shorehaven, but we have the new of seaweed farming and technology to preserve Maine's coast and waters, not to mention cuisine. We also have the combination of old and new in Iris and her habit of wearing vintage fashions as well as solving mysteries old and new alike.

THREAD AND DEAD is a delightful mystery featuring good friends and a wonderful cat. Its blending of vintage and modern make an appealing twist in a charming series.

Thread and Dead by Elizabeth Penney is the second in The Apron Shop series. This was the first one I have read but was able to get current quickly.
This is enjoyable, easy to read Cozy. It has great characters, a terrific setting, I mean Blueberry Cove, who wouldn't want to visit and on top of it, a lobster festival! Oh, and there was a murder.
You get plenty of suspects and plot twists that have you wondering to the end and like in a lot of families, drama.
But you also get friendship and love of family and humor.
I'm already looking forward to the next in this series!
I was given an ARC by St. Martin's Paperbacks and NetGalley for an honest review.

There's a lot going on in Blueberry Harbor, where Iris and her Grammie have an apron and linen shop. For one thing, there's the upcoming Lobster Festival, for another there's an aqua culture company in town. Iris finds herself wrapped into two mysteries when she goes to Eleanor's B&B to look at some vintage linen- Eleanor asks her to look into her heritage so that she can understand how her mother came into Chanel clothes etc. Then, yikes, Iris finds young Hailey dead! Of course Iris, her friends (including love interest Ian) must look into both things. Then odd stuff starts to happen at the B&B- no spoilers! Cozy readers know that there will be some red herrings and twists. I was a fan of the first book in this series (don't worry- this is fine as a standalone) because of the characters and setting and that's still true. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A fun cozy with a good heroine.

Really fun read! Love the romantic pairings in the group. Great book! Really enjoying the series!! Love the aprons and linens store that Iris and her Grammie have.