Two Purloined Pillows
Nimble Needle #2
By Allie Pleiter
ISBN 9781496752031
Author’s website: alliepleiter.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When 30-something graphic artist Shelby Phillips reluctantly returned to her small hometown outside Asheville, North Carolina to manage her mother’s needlepoint shop, she thought it was temporary. But getting entangled in murder investigations has a timeline of its own…
It’s been a little over a year since Shelby started managing Nina’s Nimble Needle following her office-romance and career implosion, and Shelby’s mom has finally handed her the reins—technically, at least. Next, Shelby is excited to oversee two well-known needlepoint designers who will be participating in the town’s first two-week-long arts festival . . .
Laura Bitters and Paul Bardo have each stitched up one-of-a-kind pillows that should be big wins for the Nimble Needle at the festival’s auction . . . until the pillows vanish amid a sudden string of shoplifting incidents.
To add to the knot in Shelby’s stomach, Laura proves highly anxious, while Paul is an egomaniac who believes Laura has been stealing his customers for years. But things go from bad to tragic when Laura behaves oddly at the auction dinner, then collapses—dead.
Soon after, Shelby makes a shocking discovery in Laura’s room at the local inn. Then tests reveal that Laura was poisoned. Resolved to piece together the truth, despite the police chief’s determination to keep her on the fringes, Shelby rallies her personal team, including her sister, Jessica, her friend Deb, and Jake, her potentially more than a friend. As an extra twist, a magazine reporter arrives with unsettling—yet useful—dirt that includes Laura and Paul.
What unravels is a skein of suspects, long-held resentment, bitter jealousy, and betrayal, from which Shelby will have to pull the one crucial thread tied to the killer: a murder-worthy motive . . . (from Goodreads)
Review:
Shelby’s parents returned to Gwen Lake, North Carolina for the annual Gwen Lakes Arts Festival. It has been almost a year since her mom, Nina, has turned over management of Nina’s Nimble Needle, to Shelby to manage. It is also the first year Shelby will be in charge of their part of the festival. Nina gave Shelby last minute warnings about their key – and fiercely rival – guests.
The NYAGS – Not Your Average Grannies – were at the shop most days with their current works in progress, enjoying the local news and gossip. The older ladies were there, looking forward to meeting the special guests.
The shop’s key guests are two famous, rival needlepoint canvas artists. Paul and Laura have many long-time fans who would pay almost any price for their canvases, especially original, hand-painted ones. Laura and Paul are each donating a spectacularly designed pillow for this year’s auction. Each artist designed and painted a canvas especially for their town, then personally stitched them. Their fans are eager to see and bid on the pillows. Proceeds of the auctions would support local arts programs.
Paul came into the shop and delivered many new canvases. He was angry that Shelby, not Nina, would be handling him this year. The mayor brought Laura in. Neither designer was happy to see the other. Gwen Lakes’ “power couple”, Mayor Rose and her husband, Police Chief Tallen were disturbed to discover that Laura’s and Paul’s amazing pillows had been stolen from the Town Hall, where they had been displayed. They had to be located before the auction on opening night!
The pillows were not found, so Shelby put together a special kit from each artist. Shelby met Laura at the ball. Laura was more anxious than usual and appeared to be ill. Shelby noticed Laura slurring her words just before she collapsed. A nearby doctor tried to help, but could not. Laura had passed away amidst the crowd.
Afterwards, Shelby and her best friend Deb went to Laura’s room, where they found a hidden treasure trove of goodies, including an assortment of trinkets and items that might have come from local stores. Chief Tallen, unhappy the friends had gone into her room, took charge of it. Preliminary tests showed that Laura had ingested poison from belladonna berries, tiny fruit of a highly toxic plant that grew wild in the area. It had been added to a smoothie that an unknown person brought her.
Shelby began to learn more about Laura to help find who killed her. Joanne, a writer for her local paper and a freelance reporter for arts events, knew both Laura and Paul. She shared what she knew about them with Shelby. Paul was one of the suspects due to their combative history. There were only a couple other suspects.
I was very pleased with the variety of characters! All were defined best through their conversations and behaviors. Most are engaging, except for Paul and, at times, Cole, a personable young artist who harbored bitterness against Laura. I especially liked Shelby, who loves what she does and keeps an open mind, eager to learn from and help others. Deb, her best friend, is also a delight, far happier with her coffee shop than in her former career as a chemist! I enjoyed meeting Jake, and hope that Shelby sees more of him!
Several wannabe sleuths wanted to “help” Shelby, and she graciously found harmless ways they could. The NYAGs wanted to know the progress, which she couldn’t share. It seemed that the festival would end and the tourists and artists would leave without the killer being caught. While it was preferable to think the killer might leave, yet they wanted justice for Laura. And then…I was very satisfied and happy with the ending! I highly recommend this cozy mystery to those who enjoy various needlecrafts, town festivals, and challenging investigations.
