Dangerous Threads

by David Ciambrone

Virginia Davies-Clark must find a quilt missing for seventy years. An award-winning quilt hiding an amazing secret. Virginia Davies-Clark is called back into the service of the Smithsonian Central Security Service and the Department of Defense along with her husband Andy and her friend Donna to locate a quilt. This isn't just any quilt. At the 1933 Century of Progress in Chicago, Sears Roebuck Company sponsored a quilt contest. The Grand Prize was to be $1,000.00. The quilt that won the prize was a pieced called "The Unknown Star" by the maker, Margaret Rogers Caden of Kentucky. The quilt itself was presented to the President's wife, Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. Sometime during FDR's presidency the quilt disappeared and has not been seen for almost seventy years. Virginia questions why the DOD is interested in an old quilt. As she, Andy and Donna start their quest, they find they are not the only ones searching for the quilt and they are attacked by various organizations bent on stopping her. Their adversary list grows as they try to accomplish an impossible assignment. Virginia makes some strange alliances across the country to take down the organizations trying to stop her. Using her wits, cunning, intellect, and guts, she, Andy and Donna attempt to locate the quilt and use any means she can to undermine a bold strategy by her adversaries trying to kill her and her little group. Her conniving, devious and messy strategy brings the villains to an explosive end.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2014

Reviews

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book. I met the author and his wife, and they were extremely pleasant and likable people. They live near me, as does the main character in this book. I was tickled to meet a local author and hoped to find a series that I would really enjoy reading. But I was disappointed in so many ways. Many of the problems could be fixed by a good editor. There was just a ton of awkward phrasing, repetition, and other details that could easily be improved. But I had a hard time believing in the character and plot at all. The basic premise was interesting, and I was willing to suspend disbelief enough to accept a museum curator in Texas as a "secret agent" working for the Smithsonian to track down a long-lost quilt that no one else had been able to find in over 75 years. But her "hidden talents" and the trail of death and destruction that she left in her wake were just a little too much for me to believe in. So much of the action was just way too far-fetched for me to accept, and the book was much more violent than I would expect from something that appeared to be more of a "cozy" mystery. Honestly, if I had not met the author and wanted so much to enjoy his books I would probably have only given this book 2 stars.

[S.j. Thompson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this one twice. I just couldn't get into the story. I didn't like the characters, the premise was ridiculous and I gave up about 25 pgs in.

[Tennye GiOtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery. It reminded me of some great movies I've seen, where some of the action seems a bit far fetched, but keeps your attention. Plus it being written by a local author made it special to me.

[Anne Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally could not close this one and read it straight through til 3am! Really good and incredibly fast-paced. A little bit hard to believe, but still enjoyable. Virginia is quite the character.

[Kathy Yeager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the mystery and the thrill of adventure these characters take. It is easy to read and such a fun book about a missing quilt.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book - both times! Exciting, filled with adventure, I am currently making the pattern of this quilt. This quilt is made by hand. It will take me awhile to get done.