Category: art theft

Mainly Needlepoint Series by Lea Wait

Screenshot 2017-05-20 23.09.26Lea Wait has four daughters and husband.  Her husband is a painter and she is a writer.  In addition, this series she writes both mysteries and historical novels.

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Twisted Threads

Synopsis

Screenshot 2017-05-20 23.30.45 After leaving a decade ago, Angie has been called back to Harbor Haven by her grandmother, Charlotte, who raised her following her mother’s disappearance when she was a child. Her mother has been found, and now the question of her whereabouts has sadly become the mystery of her murder.

The bright spot in Angie’s homecoming is reuniting with Charlotte, who has started her own needlepointing business with a group called Mainely Needlepointers. But when a shady business associate of the stitchers dies suddenly under suspicious circumstances, case. . .

Book Reviews and 4.6 stars

This was a sad story.  Not only did Angie’s mother disappear when she was small, but she never knew her father.  Her Grandmother by all accounts was a wonderful person, but her Mom just disappeared.

Unfortunately, there is someone prying upon the Mainely Needlepointers and that is just awful.  I have serious issues with an individual who will steal from a poor, old people who are just trying to make a living.  Angie resolves it, read and find out how!

Threads and Evidence

thread of evidence

Synopsis

Angie Curtis and the Mainely Needlepointers are familiar with the Gardener estate. The crumbling Victorian mansion, known as “Aurora,” has been sitting vacant for nearly twenty-five years–and some say it’s haunted by the ghost of Jasmine Gardener, the teenage girl who died there in 1970 under mysterious circumstances…

Harbor Haven is abuzz with excitement when Hollywood actress Skye West decides to buy Aurora and sell off its furnishings.  Angie is intrigued when Skye asks her to appraise the estate’s sizable collection of needlepoint pictures.

Book Reviews

Not only did they find some interesting items in the Gardener estate. The ladies also find a mystery.  It is a very interesting book and well written. This book was better, much, better than the first one. I really enjoyed it and everyone who reads this book will as well. However, we got to get some outsiders or the population is going to go down quicker. Can’t wait for the wedding!

Thread and Gone

Synopsis

Angie Curtis and her fellow Mainely Needlepointers know how to enjoy their holidays. However, Mary Clough drops in on the group’s Fourth of July supper with a question about antique needlepoint she’s discovered in her family Colonial-era home, Angie and her revelers are happy to look into the matter.

Their best guess is that the mystery piece may have been stitched by Mary, Queen of Scots, famous not just for losing her head, but also for her needlepoint. If they’re right, the piece would be extremely valuable. For safekeeping, Angie turns the piece over to her family lawyer, who places it in her office safe.

Book Review and 4.5 stars

This was interesting to me, because I didn’t realize the Mary, Queen of Scots was famous for her needlepoint.  (I guess she had to do something while she was imprisoned.) Unfortunately has with everything else that has value, it pull all types of thieves to the piece.  What happens is awful, and the murder is someone who no one would suspect, but value is placed on the piece and the murder wants the piece of materials.

 

Tightening the Threads

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Synopsis

Sarah Byrne is an antique dealer who has never spoke about  the truth about her past to anyone—not even friend and fellow Mainely Needlepointer Angie Curtis. However now the Aussie finally has the one thing she’s searched for all her life—family. She has a  long-lost half-brother, Ted Lawrence, a wealthy old artist and gallery owner in town, are ready to reveal their secret connection . . .

Unfortunately, Ted’s adult children are suspicious of their newfound aunt Sarah—especially after Ted, in declining health, announces plans to leave her his museum-worthy heirloom paintings. So when Ted is poisoned to death during a lobster bake, everyone assumes she’s guilty.

Book Review and 4.5 stars

The writing is very sequential and I was totally unaware that the Ted was going to announce the fact that they were family.  Family is very important, but it is also very hurtful.  Non of the children have seen one another for over a decade and they have a new aunt to deal with, something that no one wants!  Especially since this new aunt will get a piece of the estate and it apparent that the children all want and need the original will to stand.

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Book Review: A Story to Kill

A Story to Kill by Lynn Cahoon

lynn cahoon 4Synopsis

Cat Latimer, a former English professor,  is back in Colorado, hosting writers’ retreats in the big blue Victorian she’s inherited. She has turned it into a bed and breakfast.  It was an  extremley interesting surprise, because it is from none other than her carousing ex-husband! Now it’s an authors’ getaway!
The bed-and-breakfast is open for business, and the guest from the first retreat are arriving.  One of them is bestselling author Tom Cook who is among its first guests. Cat doesn’t know why he came all the way from New York, but she’s glad to have him among the quirkier—and far less famous—attendees.

Cat’s high school sweetheart Seth, who’s fixing up the weathered home, brings on mixed emotions for Cat…some of them a little overpowering. However, her uncle, the local police chief, whom she’ll call for help when there’s a surprise ending for Tom Cook in his cozy guest room. Will a killer have the last word on the new life Cat has barely begun?

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Book Review: Trash ‘n’ Treasures Mysteries Series by Barbara Allan

Barbara Allan is the joint pseudonym of acclaimed short story writer BaScreenshot 2017-04-09 19.26.32rbara Collins (Too Many Tomcats) and New York Times bestselling mystery novelist Max Allan Collins (ROAD TO PERDITION). They have joined forces to write Trash ‘n’ Treasures to write about Brandy Borne and Her mother Vivian.  I have to wonder which author defined Vivian.  The story is very interesting and very enjoyable.

 

 

Antiques Swap

It happened at Serenity’s swap meet, right after Brandy Borne and her ever-more-eccentric mother Vivian finished shooting the pilot for their very own TV show, Antiques Sleuths.
Vanessa turns up at each and every meet when Brandy Boone and her mother go to purchase material for their reality show. Sure, Vanessa was furious that she caught Brandy in Wesley’s embScreenshot 2017-04-09 19.23.00.pngrace. However, now with a new murder in their world, now Brandy–along with her notoriously nosy mother and their sleuthing shih tzu Sushi–are determined to dig for the whole truth.

Book Review and 4.3 stars

I liked the book, but I don’t like Vivian, she is just a little to out there for me.  However, Vivian does have a way of lightning up the story a bit.  I strongly encourage you to read the book, it will definitely keep you entertained.

Antiques Frame

Brandy Borne and her interesting mother, Vivian have a hit reality TV series, Antiques Sleuths.   But another “hit” enters the picture, after a rival bidder becomes a one-woman show at their televised auctions—and it’s the estranged wife of Brandy’s police-chief beau, Tony! When I say she is always around she is always around.

Brandy’s mom—her daughter, Brandy,  is  now wearing basic jailhouse orange— and Vivian is working overtime to help resolve this situation. Brandy and Vivian race to solve the problem.  They are aided only by Sushi, their loyal shih tzu, and police dog Rocky, the wacky mother-and-daughter sleuthing team must learn the killer’s identity.

Book Review and 4. 4 stars

There is one thing about this series that I haven’t been able to understand: that is do Brandy Borne and her mother like each other.  My thought is that they do like one another, but I also Screenshot 2017-04-09 19.23.25.pngthink tha they need each other to keep their world from crashing down.  I think most people will enjoy this book.  They characters remind me of people I meet everyday.

 

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MTW Book Reviews #12, #13, and #14

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I was given an ARC from Henery Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of all of Ritter Ames’ books. In addition, during the week of Mystery Thriller Week I will be posting an interview of the author.

Counterfeit Conspiracies (A Bodies of Art Mystery Book #1) by Ritter Ames

Synopsis

This is Ritter Ames first book in her Bodies of Art Series and was a fascinating read for me.

Laurel Beacham, who is the main character,  is an art recovery expert. She knows how identify and put together an art piece that would put any art thief to shame.  Laurel was born in the lap of luxury, but her father lost the fortune due to gambling anscreen-shot-2017-01-25-at-11-33-27-pm-1d drinking.  She works for the Beacham Foundation because she loves art and feels the need for it to be returned to its rightful owners. This assignment has not gone according to plan since her boss called off her vacation and sent her on this disastrous mission. While she is on assignment, Jack Hawke’s appears and some more opportune moments and helps her get out of some tough situations.

My Opinion and Rating 4.2

This book was a great read and is a real page turner.  I’m not sure about Jack, he just seemed to a little out their for me, but the plot was fast paced with some adventure, murder, guns blazing and some interest characters.  The characters, Laurel and Jack were fun to read about and it will be interesting to see how they develop.  In addition, there was Nico who assists Laurel in her recovery cases. He is definitely a tech genius that provides tools for Laurel as well as transportation.

Marked Masters (A Bodies of Art Mystery Book #2) by Ritter Ames

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In Ritter Ames’ second book in the A Bodies of Art Mystery Book,  Laurel has been promoted to the head position of the London branch and has solved a case, but she can begin to enjoy her  success before she is  involved in a much larger case WITH the enigmatic Jack Hawkes as her partner.   The   action in Marked Masters made it impossible to put down for long as the characters and excitement provide the reader with lots of reason to continue reading this wonder full book.  I highly recommend it!

My Opinion and Rating 4.5

I liked this book a little better as is evident by the rating, but that doesn’t mean the first book wasn’t good.  I enjoyed both books and sincerely encourage individuals to read the series as it continues to develop. The main item I liked was that laurel can take care of herself and while it is nice to have Jack around, Laurel knows how to handle herself.

Abstract Alias (A Bodies of Art Mystery Book #3) by Ritter Ames

Synopsis

screen-shot-2017-01-25-at-11-33-34-pmLaurel Beachum and  her team are still on the trail of a mega art heist, but the suspects are nowhere to be found.  After a while, during a New Year’s Eve celebration in London, two of  the suspects shows up  at the party.  The suspect also find Laurel and Jack in the crowd within minutes of the other, and now a chain of events take them from  London to Florence and eventually ending in Cologne.  Instead of trying to find the missing art, suddenly the case include a rash of forgeries, deaths and a kidnapping.

The characters of Laurel and Jack are developed more in this story and we find out more about their background and families.  It is very interesting.

My Opinion and Rating 4.6

This book is a real page turner and will keep you up late at night because of the surprises that Ms. Ames places   at some very interesting places in the story. This book s a wonderfully written,  a fast paced mystery that will grab and hold your attention.   While the first two books in this series are well written, entertaining reads, this one provides a lot of background information.  I strongly encourage you to read all of this series!!

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