Nell Fitzgerald has returned to Archers Rest to work with
her grandmother at Someday Quilts, a popular quilting
shop that offers classes on quilting or
just a place to quilt and gossip. A member of their group,
Susanne, has been invited to teach a quilting retreat at a
new bed and breakfast in upstate New York. Nell is thrilled
to go along to help. It will give her a chance to take a
break from her somewhat complicated relationship with
Archers Rest police chief, Jesse Dewalt.
While it all sounded very exciting for Susanne to be
teaching her first quilting retreat, the problems started
before the group ever left Archers Rest for the bed and
breakfast. Bernie, another member of the quilting group, is
hurt and angry with Susanne because she feels Susanne has
betrayed her in accepting this retreat. It seems that one of
the owners is Bernie's high school love and she still
has unresolved feelings even after 45 years.
Finally, though, the entire group agrees to go and offer
Susanne their support. Things are strange from the moment
they arrive at the bed and breakfast, which is out in the
middle of nowhere and is quite shabby and run down. The
owners, George and Rita, are also quite an odd pair.
George, Bernie's ex-love, seems thrilled to see her again
and there is definitely something in the air between them.
Rita, his wife, and also Bernie's ex-best friend, is rather
abrupt and rude with everyone. On top of that, everyone in
the class appears to have been forced to sign up for it.
Then things start disappearing and returning, which is quite
confusing to Nell and anyone else that notices it. But
that's not the worst of it. George is found dead in the
woods, shot through the heart. Obviously, it's a murder but
with so many possible suspects, it's hard to pin any one of
them down. Jesse decides to come up from Archers Rest to
check on Nell just as their friend, Bernie, has become the
number one suspect in George's murder; at least as far as
the small town sheriff is concerned. As Nell tries to do
her own investigating to help clear her
friend, she becomes the target of someone who has killed
before and will not hesitate to kill again.
Clare O'Donohue has created quite a lovely and entertaining
world with the characters in her Someday Quilt series. While
there are not really any nerve jangling, scary scenes in
this book, it is the perfect book for armchair sleuths. Her
characters are delightful and unforgettable. Treat yourself
to this book and you will most likely want to catch up with
the first two in the series.
A knotty new Nell Fitzgerald mystery in the series that's
beguiling cozy fans and quilters alike. Nell Fitzgerald and
the Someday Quilts ladies are asked to lead a quilting
workshop at a new bed and breakfast in upstate New York.
However, the retreat quickly takes an unexpected dark turn.
When a body is found in the woods, and one of their own is
the chief suspect, the ladies must rely on their craftiest
thinking as they embark on their most personal case yet.
With smart, sassy Nell leading the charge to clear her
friend's name and find the real murderer, The Double Cross
is sure to confirm Clare O'Donohue as a master of the
mystery genre.