Loom and Doom

Loom and Doom photo

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Maggie Watson, a recent transplant to the idyllic seaside town of Somerset Harbor, Maine, has been tasked with organizing a 25-Mile Antiques Sale and auction as part of the town's annual Arts and Music Festival. She's adjusting well to her new life in her beloved late aunt's hometown, but she's anxious about making her mark as chairwoman of one of the area's biggest annual events. 

Initially, everything seems to be going as planned. Several antiques dealers along the scenic New England coast participate in the sale, and the auction generates a lot of buzz. On opening night, excited tourists vie for their favorite antique pieces at the auction. But when the auction ends, one disgruntled attendee is found in a dark alley nearby, having lost something far more valuable than a bid . . . his life. 

Determined to root out the identity of the killer and ensure a safe holiday weekend for her friends and fellow townsfolk, Maggie learns that the victim was interested in two specific items at the auction: a pair of sprockets and a carpetbag. Both items appear to have connections to a mysterious previous owner with ties to the town. 
As Maggie follows the clues, she starts to question whether the antique items the murder victim coveted might hold more secrets than just their origin. Armed with determination and the fierce desire for justice, Maggie and her friends set out to track down the killer while danger looms close behind. Can they uncover the truth before another unsuspecting victim is going, going, gone?

The Characters

Maggie Watson is 44 years old. She has lived in the beautiful town of Bennington, Vermont, most of her life with her husband, Richard, who was a successful professor of archeology at a nearby university. Together, they built a loving home and raised their daughter, Emily. And then, three years ago, Richard suddenly died. Maggie had thought they'd spend the rest of their lives growing old together in their cozy New England cottage. But with Richard's passing, Maggie's life changed in ways she never anticipated. And now with Emily off at college, Maggie still isn't sure quite how she fits into this new, lonely phase of her life.

Then, when she unexpectedly inherits Sedgwick Manor -- her aunt's 19th-century colonial mansion -- and the adjacent Carriage House Antiques shop, she wonders if this is the change she needs to move forward with her life. So, on a chilly day in mid-September, Maggie and her equally curious cat, Snickers, head to the small seaside village of Somerset Harbor, Maine, and begin an adventure that will change their lives.

June has run the Carriage House Antiques shop for over 10 years and was a close friend and confidant of Maggie's late aunt. She's outgoing and witty, and she has a natural talent for decorating with antique furnishings. Maggie loves June's enthusiastic spirit and caring nature, warming up to her immediately. It's no surprise that June soon becomes Maggie's best friend and "partner in crime" as they dig into the mysteries of Sedgwick Manor.

Maggie's daughter is warm and friendly with a big, bright smile. She's always been close to her mother -- even more so since her father died three years ago. But now she has left Maggie in order to study nursing at St. Joseph's College in Maine. Maggie understands that Emily needs space to spread her wings and become the independent, responsible young woman she raised her to be, but she still misses her daughter.

An avid quilter, Ruth is the president of the Somerset Harbor Historical Society. She extends a warm welcome to Maggie and invites her into this small group of friendly women. Maggie takes an immediate liking to her. Ruth offers to help Maggie solve the mysteries of the antique pieces found in Sedgwick Manor. She has lived in Somerset Harbor her entire life and always seems to know the buzz around town. Ruth knew Maggie's aunt Evelyn very well, and Maggie can't help but wonder if Ruth might also know Evelyn's secrets.