This book has it all for cozy mystery fans: an intriguing mystery, lots of humor, close friendships, a spark or two of romance, and the lure of the needle arts. Every time I read one of Janet Bolin's Threadville mysteries, I have the insane desire to buy a sewing machine, even though I know I wouldn't use it. Bolin's descriptions of Willow thinking through new designs as well as the descriptions of finished projects of faithful customers are like catnip to any fan of needle and fiber.

There is humor laced throughout the story such as the scene when Willow agrees to meet a suspect for dinner and finds that she has plenty of bodyguards. Readers also get to learn a bit about what it takes to be a volunteer fireman. As with all the best cozy mystery series, it's the characters who make or break the books, and Bolin has assembled an excellent cast. Felicity Ranquels, representative of the Chandler sewing machine company, managed to be the sort of irritating that I'd like to see make a repeat visit. Just when I thought Felicity was a rather stock character with all the beauty and appeal of a horse fly, Bolin added a twist and gave her the depth that makes me want to see more.

If you're in the mood for a light-hearted mystery with some depth to it, grab a copy of Threaded for Trouble. You're going to have a fun read. ( )

Willow is getting In Stitches, her embroidery store, in shape for the presentation of a Chandler Champion sewing and embroidery machine to a local resident, Darlene Coddlefield. Darlene had won this in a national sewing competition. Chandler has sent a representative, Felicity, to present the machine and is one of the most demanding persons Willow has ever met. As soon as the the machine is presented, Felicity packs the machine up and follows Darlene home to set up the machine. A couple hours there is a small fire in the machine and as Darlene is trying to unplug the machine, it falls on her and kills her. Edna, another shop owner, makes tray of Lasagna and asks Willow to go with her to deliver it to the deceased family. While there they see the deceased husband, Pug, in a passionate embrace with the young nanny of his eight children. One of the other shops owners is trying to get new members for the Volunteer Fire Department and asks Willow and Haylee to become new members. Neither is really interested, but then Pug is the fire chief and just maybe they can look into the death of Darlene. Just as they are getting into the first firefighting class, the fire siren goes and chief Pug and his assistant take off for the fire, leaving the new recruits behind. Three, teen aged boys, just take off. Willow decides that this might be a chance to experience fire fighting first hand. She soon learns that it is Coddlefield home that is on fire. As she is approaching the house she sees another firefighter getting into their car. As she gets to fire scene, one of the children says there is mean woman in the house. No one seems to hear the child, so Willow dons fire apparel and heads into the house.

Now she is sure that something more than a badly wired, brand new sewing machine is the problem. Add to this, Willow has had two on road encounters with the speeding son of Pug. Willow and Haylee must try and find the murderer without themselves becoming the next victims.

Very good series with very interesting characters. I am looking forward to the next book. ( )

In her embroidery store In Stitches, Willow Vanderling presents the Chandler Champion sewing and embroidery machine to the contest winner, Darlene Coddlefield. When within 24 hours Darlene has been killed by that same machine, Willow feels that she has to prove that it wasn't the machine, but some other reason that caused Darlene's death.

The areas that Willow investigates lead her to working with the volunteer fire department (Ms Coddlefield's husband was the Fire Chief) while she continues to conduct the classes at her store.

Besides being an avid reader, I also really enjoy my needlework, so combining the two - a book with Needlecrafts as the back drop - I'm in heaven. There are many series that do this, but this is one of the better ones. I love the characters as well as the descriptions of the activities that are involved as a sideline to the mystery. ( )