A Midsummer Night's Seam

Annie’s Quilted Mystery #3

by Rachael O. Phillips

Emma Cotton and Kelly Grace travel to the Big Apple, little do they know the cast of characters - or the danger - they will encounter. They are pursuing their next suspect, Kevin Crawford, a well-known off-Broadway actor, who may have been involved in the death of their friend Rose fifteen years ago.

Crawford was seen in a heated argument with Rose shortly before her body was discovered. Now Emma and Kelly, owners of Cotton & Grace quilt design shop in Mystic Harbor, Mass., must prove Crawford murdered Rose or eliminate him from their list of suspects.

The plot thickens when the young actor serving as Crawford's understudy is snatched from the theater where A Midsummer Night's Dream is being produced. And the mystery deepens when the young man's body is found floating in the Hudson River a short while later.

Is Crawford involved in this death as well as Rose's? Or is his life also in jeopardy? Emma and Kelly must piece together the details of this latest crime before they lose the most promising piece of evidence in the quest to find their friend's murderer.

The investigation is hampered by Crawford's sudden infatuation with Emma, and the interference of Dottie Faye Sinclair, Emma's millionaire aunt. Emma must endure the romantic advances while sidestepping Dottie Faye's meddling ways in what turns out to be a minefield of intrigue.

Will Crawford turn out to be the key that unlocks the mystery of Rose's death? Or is he an unwilling actor in the greater drama being played out in the city that never sleeps? Emma must put her own life on the line to discover the answers.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Rachael Phillips, a church music director, began her unplanned writing career when the church secretary demanded newsletter articles, or else. She has written more than 400 articles, newspaper columns, devotions, and stories along with several books. Rachael enjoys speaking at women’s meetings and conducts writing workshops. She and Steve, her high school sweetheart and husband of thirty-eight years, live in Upland, Indiana. They have three grown children and five grandchildren.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I hadn't bought this series at a library sale, I wouldn't read past the first book. I didn't realize the whole dang 12 book series was one story. Oh, each has its own story, but it appears that you have to read all 12 to find out who murdered the friend.

These 2 main characters are just stupid and unbelievable. They own a shop in a small town - how can they possibly afford to keep leaving town to track down clues and spy on people? And, I get grief, but it's been over FIFTEEN years since the friend died. Move on.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope the series keeps up the same pattern that it has been, because this was my favorite one yet! It had way more suspense and tension than the previous two which made it that much more fun to read.

[Louise M · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book, A Midsummer Night's Seam by Rachael Phillips, is dreadful. I bought this not knowing it is the third of a series of twelve. The saga is about some women who decide to find out who murdered their friend years ago. You need to read all the books in sequence to grasp this meandering tale. The characters are not credible. The structure of the chapters is poor. There is no suspense or rise in tension. Worst of all, the protagonist, Emma, keeps referring to her friend, Kelly, as her partner when that woman is married with her own family. Exceedingly odd! This is not a cozy mystery. It is a total waste of time. If you have the choice of this book or a case of dengue fever, choose dengue fever.

[Camisa]

Interesting read but not sure I like no solution to why they were in NYC to begin with. I realize this is probably a series but this was a turn off for me.

[Diane Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

[Sarah Marchuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great mystery I couldn’t put it down and I stayed up till 3:30am reading it all in one setting.

[Shelley Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy read. Nothing to gripping or complicated

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Annie's Quilted Mystery series. You don't technically have to have read the previous 3 books, but it's recommended.

[Cindy Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still no answer to mystery of girls death

[Debra Pickle · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I am now really into this series and keeping up with the quilt blocks at the end of each book only to find out that I now cannot get the rest of these from the library ?!? This is the first time I ever remember running into this problem when only part of a series is available. The sweet librarian helping me search couldn't believe it either. So, lesson learned: make sure entire series is available before even starting the first one.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma, Kelly and Aunt Dottie go New York City to look for their friend, Rose murderer. They are tracking down all the students in Rose's class.

[Jennifer Nash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay book. Well written, but I didn't really like it. The characters were okay and so was the storyline.