Wild Goose Chase by Terri Thayer

Terri Thayer is the wonderful author who wrote the Stamping Sisters Mysteries and writes the Quilting Mysteries. She is so sweet she sent me this book, the first in the Quilting Mystery series last year and I just couldn’t squeeze it into my reading schedule, not even as a Just For Fun book because last year I was giving the books I read for the challenge away as a prize. Terri wrote a personal message in the book so I will treasure it always on my keeper shelf and never give it away.

It also gave me a wake up call about my reading schedule. I had to make sure I had room to read books off my shelf for series and authors that I loved before I started blogging and receiving review copies. The Finish The Series Challenge and the Off The Shelf Challenge  are also helping with this. There are two more books already released in this series Old Maid’s Puzzle and Ocean Waves with a new installment Monkey Wrench coming out May 8. In fact I am chair dancing because Terri will be here for Cozy Wednesday on May 9!!! So I will definitely be catching up on this series!!

Now let me tell you about this book. I was really getting into quilting at the time of my accident so now reading mysteries like this are a real treat!

Wild Goose Chase (A Quilting Mystery)
Published By Midnight Ink
An Imprint of Llewellyn Publications
1st in the series
Cover Illustration by Cheryl Chalmers
Cover Design by Lisa Novak

Dewey Pellicano, a computer techie, inherits her mother’s quilting shop, Quilter Paradiso. She “would rather swallow needles than be pinned down to a life of quilting.” Dewey is learning the business, trying to computerize the inventory and setting up and working at a booth at a national quilting show. Her employee who happens to be her sister-in-law is driving her crazy as she does not support anything Dewey is doing and just wants Dewey to back to her computer life and leave her alone to run the store.

Then at the quilting show, quilting celebrity, Claire Armstrong, seems like an answer to prayer when she offers to buy the shop. Unfortunately, the famous quilter is found dead before Dewey can accept her offer. Enter a handsome man from Dewey’s past, homicide detective, Buster Healy. Romance was the last thing she on Dewey’s mind. Then another murder happens while Buster and Dewey are away having a very emotional lunch.  She realizes there is no way her life can move forward until she can piece together the clues and to help catch the killer, hoping not to become the next victim.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a wonderful debut to what looks to be a really fun series. Dewey is dealing with so much, her mother’s passing, a sister-in-law that I wanted to leap into the pages and shake a few times, a brother caught in the middle and trying to keep her mother’s legacy alive in a realm that is almost foreign to her.

I was taught to sew by my mother and when other girls were getting cedar chests for graduation gifts I received a sewing table and cabinet. Dewey was never drawn into the sewing and quilting world, although she should love the awesome computerized sewing machines available today. Maybe in a future book.

Terri has created a very complex character in Dewey. Her sister-in-law Kym really pushed my buttons as well as Dewey’s. I am reserving my opinion of her until I get to know her better in future installments. Buster is also a definite character to watch as we see how his relationship with Dewey evolves. The supporting cast of quilters, shop owners, and even security guards at the quilt show were colorful, quirky and added depth and humor to give this series the perfect foundation.

Wild Goose Chase is a mystery as sharp as a rotary cutter. Curl up under your favorite quilt and Enjoy!!

**Before my accident I looked forward to every Spring when Nancy’s Notions held their annual sewing weekend that includes a smaller version of the quilting show featured in this story. The seminars and shopping are excellent!! I saved up all year for that weekend. It is May 3 -5 this year and I can’t remember how many years it has been going on, but I haven’t attended for the past 11 years but went to many before that. If you live near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin or are an avid sewer/quilter it is definitely an awesome event to attend.

*This book was from my personal collection.