Iris Buckley is the sleuth in the “Apron Shop” mysteries. One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions. So, let’s get to know Iris.
What is your full name?
Iris Anne Buckley
How old are you?
28
What is your profession?
Fabric designer and now, owner of a vintage apron and linens shop.
Do you have a significant other?
Yes, and he’s gorgeous!
What is their name and profession?
Ian Stewart. He’s a carpenter.
Do you have any children?
No
Do you have any siblings?
No
Are your parents nearby?
I’m sad to report that they died in a car accident when I was 8.
Who is your best friend?
Madison Morris has been my best friend since grade school, and she’s awesome. Madison pushes me to try new things that scare me but are fun, like rock climbing.
Do you have any pets?
My furry friend is an inquisitive and smart orange tabby named Quincy.
What town do you live in?
Blueberry Cove, Maine, located mid-coast near Camden and Belfast.
Would you say you live in a small town or a big city?
A town so small many people don’t know it’s there. And the ones who find us feel like they’ve discovered a hidden gem.
Type of dwelling and do you own or rent?
I live with my grandmother and business partner, Anne, in a beautiful old Cape Cod farmhouse. It’s been in our family since the mid-1800s.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
The back porch swing, which overlooks the flower gardens.
Favorite meal and dessert?
Ooo, tough one. Since it’s summer, I’ll say lobster, with melted butter and a side of clam chowder. Dessert is Maine blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream.
Do you have any hobbies?
They seem to be related to my business, namely designing and sewing vintage-inspired aprons.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Right where I am.
What music do you listen to?
Classic rock, best enjoyed while driving coastal roads in my vintage Ford Falcon.
Do you have a favorite book?
No, I love a lot of different authors.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Taking a motorcycle ride with Ian and then stopping at a clam shack for takeout.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
*** Reap When You Sew ***
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Amateur, and I work with my grandmother, Madison, Ian, and the rest of my posse, Sophie and Bella.
In a few sentences, what is a typical day in your life like?
Quincy wakes me up–too early–and I stagger downstairs and drink lots of coffee. Then Grammie and I head into town and open the shop, Ruffles & Bows, at nine. I often grab lunch with my friends, and after work, Ian and I hang out. Or Grammie and I host girls’ night at the farmhouse, where we eat scrumptious meals and drink wine. I love my life.
Thread and Dead is the second book in the “Apron Shop” cozy mystery series, released August 25, 2020.
Tragedy strikes in Thread and Dead, the second book in Elizabeth Penney’s cozy mystery series―and now everyone in Blueberry Cove, Maine, is on pins and needles. . .
Iris Buckley is busier than ever this July, with the town’s annual Lobster Festival fast approaching. In just a matter of days her apron shop Ruffles & Bows, will be jam-packed with tourists eager to lay eyes on its world-class collection of aprons and linens―and Iris’s inventory is running low. Then, just when all hope seems lost, Iris gets a call from Eleanor Brady, a wealthy, reclusive spinster who just happens to have trunks full of vintage fabrics. Would Iris like to come down to Eleanor’s cottage estate Shorehaven and have a look?
Before long Iris is on the scene―and on the case. Turns out that Eleanor has rented Shorehaven to the handsome, charismatic environmentalist Dr. Lukas de Wilde and his flock of students. What begins as an apron-scouting endeavor soon morphs into a full-blown murder investigation when Dr. de Wilde’s beautiful young teaching assistant turns up dead. Now it’s up to Iris―along with her partner-in-love-and-crime Ian Stewart―to unravel the mystery before the Blueberry Cove killer strikes again.
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About the author
Elizabeth Penney is the author of the “Apron Shop” series and the forthcoming “Cambridge Bookshop” series for St. Martin’s Press. Elements that often appear in her more than 30 novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts. She is represented by Elizabeth Bewley at Sterling Lord Literistic. Visit Elizabeth’s website at elizabethpenneyauthor.com.
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