A lot of people might think I have a very dull life. I’m the chief of police in Archers Rest, a sleepy hamlet on the Hudson River in New York State. I’m a widower with a seven-year-old daughter. I don’t have a lot of hobbies, or late nights out. In fact when I have any free time at all, I’m usually hanging out with a bunch of ladies at Someday Quilts, the quilt shop on Main Street. That might seem odd since I don’t quilt. I can’t even sew on a button. But I’m drawn to the place – and not just because of the cool quilts hanging on every wall. It’s because of the owner’s granddaughter – Nell Fitzgerald. She works there, takes art classes, and for most of the last year, she and I have been dating. And, for even longer than that, she’s been pushing her way on to every investigation that comes across my desk.
She smart and she’s pretty, and she gets in my way sometimes, but even when her interfering gets on my nerves, I have to admit she’s got a keen eye for detail. Maybe it comes from the quilting. All of those tiny features that no one but the maker knows are there. Nell and her grandmother, Eleanor, and all the ladies of their quilt group (because somehow they’ve all managed to become unofficial junior detectives over the last year) can see when a quilt has been made by more than one person, just by the size and length of a stitch.
Somehow that skill has transferred to solving crimes. Nell can spot a clue a mile away. Sometimes it’s a small lie, or maybe an out of place item, sometimes it’s just a gut feeling she gets. But one thing is sure, Nell sees patterns where most people would just see a mess. She tells me it’s because solving a murder is like making a quilt. It benefits from variety. Two heads (or in the case of the quilt group, seven heads) are better than one. And I suppose that’s true.
Outsiders might think that Nell’s “hobby”, as folks around here call it, wouldn’t come into play very much. How many murders, arsons, robberies etc… can a tiny place like Archers Rest have in the course of one year? Well, you’d be surprised. I know I’ve been.
On any given day, I’ll drop my daughter, Allie, off at school and stop by Jitters for a strong cup of coffee and one of her famous muffins. (It’s owned by another quilt group member – they’re everywhere). And just when I settle into my office to read the paper thinking I’ve got a quiet shift ahead of me, Greg, the detective on the force, will holler back about some crazy thing that someone has gotten into, and off I’ll go. Whether I call her or not, Nell somehow manages to find me there, with an idea about what might have happened. Within an hour or so, the other ladies of the group are adding in their own ideas, and before you know it, they’re questioning suspects and searching for evidence.
Sometimes law enforcement in the neighboring towns have a little fun at my expense. But that’s okay. When there’s trouble I have more help than most New York City detectives. And, of course, more quilts. And who can complain about that?
Thanks to Plume, I have one (1) copy of “The Double Wedding Ring” to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends September 24; US entries only per publisher’s request.
You can read more about Jesse in The Double Wedding Ring, the fifth book in the “Someday Quilts” mystery series, published by Plume. The first book in the series is The Lover’s Knot.
Meet the author
Clare O’Donohue is the author of The Someday Quilts and Kate Conway Mysteries. She is also a television producer, specializing in true crime. Her latest novel, The Double Wedding Ring, will be released September 24th.
Visit Clare at her website or on Facebook.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Sounds intriguing! Count me in😃
I LOVE this series, have been reading since the first book and would be thrilled to win this copy! Thanks for the chance.
another series on my Wish List!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
I’d love to win and I’m off to find the first in the series…Dee
I haven’t started this series yet but your review has convinced me it needs to be on my book list! Thanks!
Sounds great, A new series for me 🙂 Would love to read this
I would love to win this!
This is a new series to me! Would love to win it. I am cuirous about the title. My husband and I wear “Double Happiness” wedding rings. It has two characters for happiness.
CarolNWpng(at)aol(dot)com
I don’t sew at all. I would like to read this. I am always trying to read new authors.
I read the first couple of books and loved them.
I have never heard of this series, definately going to check into now! Thanks for the chance to win!
What a marvelous idea about quilters spotting details that others tend to miss.
Yes please Dru, I’d like to enter this giveaway. Quilting mysteries are kind of interesting, as I’ve found out through a number of authors.
I’m fascinated by quilting – I don’t have the patience to do it myself, but I greatly admire those who do, and I enjoy learning about it. I like the idea of a law enforcement character that doesn’t have to go all macho and takes help where he finds it. These characters seem likeable and I’d like to get to know them. Count me in for the drawing.
Love this series and am so glad there’s a new book coming out. Thank you and thank you for the opportunity to win a copy. 🙂
Another new to me series. I think it sounds wonderfully interesting. Quilters are heroic to me.
Love hearing this from Jesse’s side. I know you Quilt, Dru Ann I just admire and read quilt book mysteries. Would love to win this.Thanks for the chance. Ruth Nixon
I’ve never gone further than making a quillow but much admire quilts. I’ll have to check out this series. Count me in for the draw, please. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
I don’t quilt, but find them beautiful and admire anyone who sews them. The book sounds like a fun read.
Yea, Clare! Thanks for helping us out with another serving of a quilt group we don’t have to go out to hang with.
This series is new to me, too, and I’m glad for the chance to win a copy of THE DOUBLE WEDDING RING. Thanks for introducing this author to me!
Sounds like a fun series that must be added to my wish list. Thanks or the giveaway.
This is a new series to me—but I love quilts so I think I will enjoy it.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This series sounds like so much fun, mixed in with the mystery of course. I’d love to read The Double Wedding Ring to get started.
Someday Quilts mystery series is one of my favorites. Nell and Jesse are so right for each other. All of Nell’s quitling friends are so neat to read about. Cannot wait to read this book
Being a quilt lover and also a mystery fan, this sounds like a great book to me. Not familiar with this author but that ends right now as I plan on reading The Double Wedding Ring as soon as possible. I am going to go order the first four books in this series so that if I win this one, I can read right through all of them right away. Thank you for the giveaway. Nice to have a chance to win a book so thank you to Clare and Dru for making that a possibility.
I love to quilt and this series captures my attention.
Needles and thread and I don’t get along, so no quilting for me. Admire all the effort to create one and enjoy books about quilters.
I’m loving the sound of this book. I haven’t read any of the others, but I’d surely love to. Thanks so much for the intro to this series!! I can’t wait to get started… 😀
I’ve never made a quilt but I still would enjoy this book! Thank you for the giveaway!
Thanks Dru – from me, Nell, Jesse and all the Archers Rest gang!
Sounds good, I have added the book to my read list.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
This sounds like a good book and it seems the chief’s widower days won’t be around for very long.
I have a book by this author that I picked up at the library book sale (The Lover’s Knot). I haven’t read it yet. Sounds like a good book.
catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks Clare for dropping by and giving us a glimpse into Nell and her friend’s day.
contest is closed.