Deadly Threads: A Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery

Near the start of Cleland's well-crafted sixth Josie Prescott Antiques mystery (after 2010's Silent Auction), Josie is preparing for a workshop on vintage shoes and handbags at her antiques shop in Rocky Point, N.H. When her guest speaker, Riley Jordan, fails to show, Josie decides to begin the class without her. A minute later, Josie discovers why Riley is late after looking under a display table, where she's horrified to see Riley's strangled body. Josie teams with Ellis Hunter, Rocky Point's police chief, and Wes Smith, an investigative reporter for the local newspaper, the Seacoast Star, to find the killer, who soon targets one of Josie's employees. Authentic details of vintage clothing and jewelry, vivid descriptions of coastal New Hampshire in the early spring, credible characters, and a dramatic conclusion make this cozy a winner. Author tour. (Apr.)