Unsavory Notions

Unsavory Notions photo

When you join Annie's Quilted Mysteries, you'll automatically receive exciting new stories beginning with this book. Frequency of shipments noted by media type. Cancel anytime.

Choose an option

Choose one of the options above!

Emma Cotton and Kelly Grace, owners of Cotton & Grace quilt shop in Mystic Harbor, Massachusetts, have followed many strange trails in their search for the murderer of their good friend Rose Peterson. 

But they never expected one of those trails to lead them to Amish country in upstate New York. Will the killer be found amidst the simple, nonviolent folk in Fort Plain? Their instincts say no, but one sign of a good sleuth is to follow all leads, no matter where they take you.

Now Emma and Kelly, along with Emma’s flamboyant aunt Dottie Faye Sinclair, are knee-deep in buggies and bonnets as they search for an elusive suspect in the unwelcoming folds of the Amish community.

The hunt proves difficult among the tight-lipped community, but it becomes even more complicated when death by cherry pie derails the trio. Emma and Kelly must decide whether the suspect of a fifteen-year-old murder case has struck again, or if the killing is purely a coincidence.

The vivacious Dottie Faye provides much-needed comic relief as the crusaders poke into every nook and cranny of the town’s Amish underbelly, hoping that a killer will jump out.

Will their pursuit bring them closer to justice for Rose? Or will it instead push them into the path of disaster?

The Characters

Meet Emma Cotton, a busy 41-year-old who runs Cotton & Grace Quilt Designs with her good friend, Kelly Grace. Emma is an artistic, warm and caring person who expresses herself through her unique quilt designs. But behind her easygoing demeanor lies a troubled heart that is haunted by the suspicious death of her childhood friend, Rose. Known for her unwavering loyalty to those she cares about, it comes as no surprise when Emma decides to pursue a clue found in an old quilt once belonging to Rose that could finally bring her dear friend's killer to justice.

Kelly Grace, petite and outspoken with strong Irish roots, is a 41-year-old mother of two. She's had a love for quilting since she was old enough to thread a needle. As co-owner of Cotton & Grace Quilt Designs, Kelly has a shrewd business sense that balances Emma's visionary side well. Like Emma, she also wants to solve the mystery of Rose's untimely death, but she worries about the emotional toll it takes on Emma and what Rose's killer might do to try and keep them from learning the truth.

Rose Peterson was a 26-year-old graduate student studying textile and apparel design when she mysteriously died 15 years ago. The local police ruled her death "accidental" almost immediately, despite evidence to the contrary provided by Rose's two best friends, Emma and Kelly. Shortly before her death, Rose had confided to them that she felt like she was being watched and that one of her students frightened her. Who was stalking her? And did they have a hand in her fatal fall?

Originally from Mississippi, 66-year-old Dottie Faye Sinclair is a self-proclaimed "Southern belle living in Yankee territory." Always full of drama, Emma's spunky aunt loves to be the center of attention and has been known to drive through downtown Mystic Harbor, Massachusetts, with her confederate flag flying from the window of her white Cadillac -- just for kicks. A widow with no children of her own, Dottie Faye loves Emma like a daughter and would do anything for her favorite niece, including fund the investigation into the mysterious death of Emma's childhood friend, Rose. But Dottie Faye has one stipulation: She must be allowed to "help" with any undercover detective work. Will her less-than-subtle approach land them in more trouble than they can handle?

A lifelong resident of Mystic Harbor, Tokala Abrams is a wife, mother of two boys, and lead chemist for a pharmaceutical company. She is a core member of the Nimble Thimbles quilting group that meets weekly at the Uncommon Threads fabric shop in town. A loyal confidante to Emma and Kelly, she and the other "Thimbles" support the women in their sleuthing efforts and often help them piece together the clues they uncover.

At 45, Dr. Eric Hart is a physician who moved to Mystic Harbor five years ago, after his beloved wife passed away. Since his arrival, his focus has been solely on raising his 10-year-old daughter and building his practice. His office is located in the historic downtown district, not far from Cotton & Grace Quilt Designs. He and Emma cross paths often at Grounds for Suspicion, the local coffee shop, and she counts him among her trusted friends. He proves to be a valuable ally as she begins her investigation, but as dangerous events occur he becomes increasingly concerned for her safety. Is his concern purely that of a friend, or do his feelings run deeper?