A Stitch in Crime

Antique dealer Thea James becomes first a quilt show director and then an amateur detective in this cozy mystery, newest in the multi-author, 25-book Quilts of Love series. As the first annual quilt show in Larkindale, Calif., draws near, Thea discovers the town matriarch, her friend Mary-Alice, has been injured, and a diamond brooch is missing. When a renowned textile judge doesn’t show and the centerpiece quilt is stolen, Thea starts her own covert investigation. But finding a criminal means questioning friends and longtime neighbors, a task she embraces reluctantly. Her quilt show co-chair dodges responsibilities, her best friend treats her poorly, and someone even threatens her cat. Thea’s sleuthing uncovers an outwardly charming but scheming tourist town rife with all-too-human jealousies. Who would hurt a beloved neighbor and threaten the quilt show outcome—and why? Elliott (Medals in the Attic) touches lightly on matters of faith, focusing more on humor and mystery. Though plots wrap up too conveniently and the hint of romance is never truly explored, fans of inspirational fiction will enjoy the funny, feel-good whodunit. Agent: Janet Kobobel Grant, Books & Such Literary Agency. (Jan.)