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Hems and Homicide
(Apron Shop #1)
by
Welcome to the quaint village of Blueberry Cove, Maine, where an expert seamstress turned amateur sleuth is getting measured for murder. . .
Iris Buckley is sew ready for a change. After the death of her beloved grandfather, Iris decides to return to her Maine hometown to help out her widowed grandmother, Anne--and bring her online hand-made apron designs to real-time retai ...more
Iris Buckley is sew ready for a change. After the death of her beloved grandfather, Iris decides to return to her Maine hometown to help out her widowed grandmother, Anne--and bring her online hand-made apron designs to real-time retai ...more
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Mass Market Paperback, 264 pages
Published
December 31st 2019
by St. Martin's Press
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Start your review of Hems and Homicide (Apron Shop #1)

HEMS & HOMICIDE by Elizabeth Penney is a well-written cozy mystery. It is book one in the Apron Shop series.
This story takes place in and around Blueberry Cove, Maine. Iris Buckley moved back to her home town when her grandfather was ill. With his death, she decides to stay home and she and her grandmother Anne decide to open a local store Ruffles and Bows to complement Iris’ online retail endeavor. She sells hand-made aprons and they are adding hand-made and vintage linens to the inventory for ...more
This story takes place in and around Blueberry Cove, Maine. Iris Buckley moved back to her home town when her grandfather was ill. With his death, she decides to stay home and she and her grandmother Anne decide to open a local store Ruffles and Bows to complement Iris’ online retail endeavor. She sells hand-made aprons and they are adding hand-made and vintage linens to the inventory for ...more

After her grandfather's death, Iris Buckley moves back to the quaint village of Blueberry Cove, Maine to help her widowed grandmother Anne. Iris has an online apron business and with her grandmother's support, decides to open a storefront. While renovations are going on, she finds the skeletal remains of her grandmother's friend Star who disappeared in the 70s. Then a few days later, a man is found dead in their store. There seems to be a connection between the two murders and Iris is determined
...more

Iris Buckley is happy to be opening a new shop in her native Blueberry Cove, Maine. Partnering with her grandma, Anne, the shop will be a physical location for her internet business selling original apron designs and vintage linens. However, while starting the renovations, Iris discovers a skeleton in the basement. Anne immediately identifies the remains as belonging to her friend Star Moonshine. Anne always assumed that Star just drifted out of town back in the early 1970’s, but clearly somethi
...more

Jul 30, 2020
Chatting About
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2020-cozies-read,
cat,
home-family-hearth,
crafts,
humor,
kindle,
contemporary,
cozy-mystery,
cozy-series,
mystery
Interesting debut cozy! Good mystery that kept me guessing. I like looking at old linens so the apron shop caught my attention. The characters are likeable, and I look forward to reading future stories.

Love at first read, this first installment of the Apron Shop Mysteries, HEMS AND HOMICIDE, had me at page one.
Nothing is better than when I start a book and I just know I’m going to love it all the way through. It truly speaks volumes about an author’s writing ability when they can capture your attention after just a few sentences. Elizabeth Penny is such a writer.
Right off the bat with, HEMS AND HOMICIDE, I knew I liked protagonist Iris Buckley. I got this immediate feeling that she was someo ...more
Nothing is better than when I start a book and I just know I’m going to love it all the way through. It truly speaks volumes about an author’s writing ability when they can capture your attention after just a few sentences. Elizabeth Penny is such a writer.
Right off the bat with, HEMS AND HOMICIDE, I knew I liked protagonist Iris Buckley. I got this immediate feeling that she was someo ...more

Dollycas’s Thoughts
This was a delightful read!
Iris Buckley and her grandmother Anne are excited to be opening their new shop in Blueberry Cove, Maine, selling their hand made aprons and other vintage items. Ruffles & Bows is supposed to open Memorial Day but the building they are renting needs a lot of work before they can open the doors to customers.
Ready to jump right into the renovations they meet with their contractor and Iris’ old crush, Ian Stewart on-site to go over the plans. A trip to t ...more
This was a delightful read!
Iris Buckley and her grandmother Anne are excited to be opening their new shop in Blueberry Cove, Maine, selling their hand made aprons and other vintage items. Ruffles & Bows is supposed to open Memorial Day but the building they are renting needs a lot of work before they can open the doors to customers.
Ready to jump right into the renovations they meet with their contractor and Iris’ old crush, Ian Stewart on-site to go over the plans. A trip to t ...more

This was a solid start to a new series by author Elizabeth Penny. I liked that the premise/theme was unique with the main characters opening a vintage linen shop in their hometown. I enjoyed the relationship between Iris and her grandmother and thought it was well crafted. Iris is also surrounded by three of her best girlfriends, with each one having a different personality the complements each other and completes the group. Where I wasn't wowed was with the mystery. I thought the author did a g
...more

Iris Buckley returns to her hometown of Blueberry Cove, Maine after her grandfather's death. She and her beloved grandmother, Anne, decide to open a storefront apron and linen shop called Ruffles and Bows to add a more personal touch to Iris' online sales. But their plans are halted almost immediately when they find a skeleton at the bottom of the basement stairs. Anne believes it may be her long-lost friend who disappeared in the 1970's. Once the area is cleared to re-open, it seems their landl
...more

I can't believe I've never read anything by this author before, so I'm really glad I was able to read this book. When I looked at her bio page, I decided I'm going to have to check out some of the other cozies I saw there. This book was just awesome! The characters were a lot of fun, and I just loved Grammie, who was so young at heart that she liked hanging out with Iris and her friends. I don't think a girl could ask for better friends than Iris has. Madison was so funny and always up for adven
...more

It always makes me happy when I discover a new cozy mystery series/author that I love from the beginning! Hems & Homicide, book 1 of Elizabeth Penney’s new Apron Shop series, is one such example.
For starters, the concept is so unique – Iris & Anne’s apron shop is exactly the type of vintage-y, etsy-ish shop I would buy from… despite the fact that I have never owned or worn an apron as a general rule lol! The initial murder Iris stumbles upon (quite literally) is decades old and has a personal co ...more
For starters, the concept is so unique – Iris & Anne’s apron shop is exactly the type of vintage-y, etsy-ish shop I would buy from… despite the fact that I have never owned or worn an apron as a general rule lol! The initial murder Iris stumbles upon (quite literally) is decades old and has a personal co ...more

Hems and Homicide by Elizabeth Penney is an entertaining new entry into the cozy mystery genre. Ms. Penney has developed a lovely small town setting in Blueberry Cove, Maine and a new venue by setting this mystery around a apron and vintage linens shop.
Iris Buckley and her grandmother, Anne Buckley, are very likable characters and I enjoyed getting to know them throughout the story. The secondary characters were also likable and helped to develop Iris more for the reader. The plot is quickly pac ...more
Iris Buckley and her grandmother, Anne Buckley, are very likable characters and I enjoyed getting to know them throughout the story. The secondary characters were also likable and helped to develop Iris more for the reader. The plot is quickly pac ...more

Hems and Homicide by Elizabeth Penney is the premiere of An Apron Shop Series. Iris Buckley and her grandmother, Anne are opening Ribbons and Bows in Blueberry Cove, Maine. They are going over the property with Ian Stewart, the carpenter, when Iris stumbles down the basement stairs, knocks over shelves and a skull is exposed. Anne Buckley, Iris’s grandmother, recognizes the scarf around the skull as belonging to Star Moonshine who disappeared around July 4th in 1972. When their landlord, Elliot
...more

After the death of her grandfather, Iris Buckley and her grandmother, Anne, decide to open an apron shop in the small town of Blueberry Cove, Maine called Ruffles & Bows. Iris already has an online apron design company and the shop will add even more business for them. As they work to set up their shop, they are more than a little stunned to discover a skeleton in their basement. They are even more stunned when Anne realizes it’s a friend from her past. When a second body turns up murdered in th
...more

I found this cozy absolutely delightful!
With a genre that is quickly gaining popularity - with new releases around every corner - it is easy to forget some titles.
Not the case with this one! This cozy had a strong main character, Iris, FUN supporting characters (BFF Madison, Grammie etc), a swoony love interest ( Ian), and a puzzling mystery. The mystery was well done, although it spanned years and years - making some of the "clues" a stretch - it was still executed well. A lot of suspects, not ...more
With a genre that is quickly gaining popularity - with new releases around every corner - it is easy to forget some titles.
Not the case with this one! This cozy had a strong main character, Iris, FUN supporting characters (BFF Madison, Grammie etc), a swoony love interest ( Ian), and a puzzling mystery. The mystery was well done, although it spanned years and years - making some of the "clues" a stretch - it was still executed well. A lot of suspects, not ...more

Hems And Homicide is the first book in the Apron Shop series.
Iris Buckley has returned to Blueberry Cove, Maine to help her Grandma Anne settle her grandfather’s estate. Iris decides to take her online business of hand made aprons and open a shop, along with Grandma Anne, selling aprons and the latest and vintage linens. They have rented a storefront from Elliot Parker, who has been badgering the family for years about purchasing some of their property.
The store needs some renovations before ope ...more
Iris Buckley has returned to Blueberry Cove, Maine to help her Grandma Anne settle her grandfather’s estate. Iris decides to take her online business of hand made aprons and open a shop, along with Grandma Anne, selling aprons and the latest and vintage linens. They have rented a storefront from Elliot Parker, who has been badgering the family for years about purchasing some of their property.
The store needs some renovations before ope ...more

*I received a free copy of this book which I voluntarily chose to write an honest review for.
We catch up with Iris just as she has found a building for her new shop. Excited to get started she makes an appointment for her old crush to check it out for a work estimate. The power goes out just as they get started making a trip to the basement necessary. Then she falls down the stairs slamming into a wall which opens up showing a skull inside. Talk about a doozy of mystery this one is old and bring ...more
We catch up with Iris just as she has found a building for her new shop. Excited to get started she makes an appointment for her old crush to check it out for a work estimate. The power goes out just as they get started making a trip to the basement necessary. Then she falls down the stairs slamming into a wall which opens up showing a skull inside. Talk about a doozy of mystery this one is old and bring ...more

Hems and Homicide by Elizabeth Penney is the first book in the Apron Shop mystery series, and my first book by this author. I was not sure if I would like this book, because sewing and aprons are not my thing, but I really enjoyed it. Not only is this book an enjoyable cozy mystery, the characters and plot is very well written. I am looking forward to reading the next adventure of Iris and her grandmother, Anne. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery.
I reviewed a ...more
I reviewed a ...more

One of the best "first in a series" I've ever had the pleasure to read -- a delight from start to finish!
...more

Reviewed at The Power of Words: https://bit.ly/3a8rnkP
I enjoyed Hems & Homicide so much and am glad to start on the ground floor of what promises to be a highly entertaining new series. The illness of her grandfather brings Iris back to her hometown of Blueberry Cove, Maine, and she stays on after his death to open a shop with her grandmother, Anne. Hems & Homicide has that perfect blend of appealing setting, vocational theme, engaging characters, and well-crafted storyline. From beginning to en ...more
I enjoyed Hems & Homicide so much and am glad to start on the ground floor of what promises to be a highly entertaining new series. The illness of her grandfather brings Iris back to her hometown of Blueberry Cove, Maine, and she stays on after his death to open a shop with her grandmother, Anne. Hems & Homicide has that perfect blend of appealing setting, vocational theme, engaging characters, and well-crafted storyline. From beginning to en ...more

Dec 29, 2019
Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
x2019-cozy-mysteries,
x2019-netgalley
My Review: I am in love with this series already. Grammie and Iris make a great team. Add the adorable cat, Quincy and we have a winner.
The author has done an excellent job of keeping the reader involved with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. There is a hint of romance but it doesn't overtake the story at all. Plus, big bonus, no love triangle.
Aside from murder (after all it is a cozy mystery), a clean read that can be enjoyed by many.
I received a complimentary copy from the publish ...more
The author has done an excellent job of keeping the reader involved with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. There is a hint of romance but it doesn't overtake the story at all. Plus, big bonus, no love triangle.
Aside from murder (after all it is a cozy mystery), a clean read that can be enjoyed by many.
I received a complimentary copy from the publish ...more

Hems and Homicide is a well developed story. Elizabeth Penney provides her readers with a book including support of family and friends and a mystery too. The plot is fast-paced and will keep your attention. Iris Buckley and her grandmother, Anne Buckley, have a bond that we all would love to have with our grandmother. This bond is even stronger since the death of Anne's husband and Iris's grandfather. Iris has returned to Blueberry Cove to help her grand mother. She has a business established on
...more

HEMS AND HOMICIDE by Elizabeth Penney is the first book in the Apron Shop series. It takes place in Blueberry Cove, Maine just as Iris Buckley and her Grandmother, Anne Buckley, are trying to open Ruffles & Bows, a new business on Main Street to showcase new and vintage linen fashions an include a studio for sewing groups and classes.
Iris had moved back to her hometown when her grandfather passed. Having lost her parents when she was very young and being raised by her grandparent’s made his deat ...more
Iris had moved back to her hometown when her grandfather passed. Having lost her parents when she was very young and being raised by her grandparent’s made his deat ...more

Hems and Homicide is a cozy mystery featuring Iris Buckley. Iris has returned to her hometown in Maine to open a handmade and vintage apron shop with her grandmother Anne. When they are getting the shop ready, Iris discovers a skeleton in the basement. After her grandmother is investigated as a suspect, she becomes involved searching for the killer.
I wanted to read this mystery from the very first mention because it involves aprons. I love them and have even blogged about my vintage apron collec ...more
I wanted to read this mystery from the very first mention because it involves aprons. I love them and have even blogged about my vintage apron collec ...more

4.5 Stars
This is the first book in the Apron Shop mystery series by Elizabeth Penney.
Iris is ready for a new beginning in the town of Blueberry Cove, Maine. She will be helping out her grandmother with a new shop called Ruffles & Bows. The building where they open the shop is a somewhat popular commodity. Everyone seems to want to open a shop there. When Iris falls down the stairs and dislodges an old coal chute, what stares back at them is the dead body of someone her grandmother is immediately ...more
This is the first book in the Apron Shop mystery series by Elizabeth Penney.
Iris is ready for a new beginning in the town of Blueberry Cove, Maine. She will be helping out her grandmother with a new shop called Ruffles & Bows. The building where they open the shop is a somewhat popular commodity. Everyone seems to want to open a shop there. When Iris falls down the stairs and dislodges an old coal chute, what stares back at them is the dead body of someone her grandmother is immediately ...more

This is a lovely start to a new series set in Maine. The characters are relatable, the location is picturesque, and the killer is elusive.
I always enjoy a good cozy and especially enjoy discovering new series that could be one to follow and I think this is one of those series. We are introduced to Iris and Anne, a close-knit pair that are opening their own apron shop. Now before you start questioning the goods they are selling, Iris has an online presence and there will be more than just apro ...more
I always enjoy a good cozy and especially enjoy discovering new series that could be one to follow and I think this is one of those series. We are introduced to Iris and Anne, a close-knit pair that are opening their own apron shop. Now before you start questioning the goods they are selling, Iris has an online presence and there will be more than just apro ...more

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Hems and Homicide is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Penney. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' cozy set in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed the interplay between main character Iris and her grammie, as well as the genuine BFF Madison. There's a light romance element, a sleazy landlord, ...more
Hems and Homicide is the first book in a new series by Elizabeth Penney. Due out 31st Dec 2019 from Macmillan on their St. Martin's imprint, it's 288 pages and will be available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a fun and engaging 'shopfront' cozy set in a small town in Maine. I enjoyed the interplay between main character Iris and her grammie, as well as the genuine BFF Madison. There's a light romance element, a sleazy landlord, ...more

So excited to have discovered this new cozy mystery series by a new-to-me author! Absolutely love the vintage vibe Iris has going on. The way she dresses, the shop's theme, even the car she drives all contribute to making her one very unique heroine. She even has a kitty sidekick -- Quincy. Happy sigh. I have a certain weakness for marmalade cats. :-)
And Blueberry Cove is such a quaint town with an intriguing mix of characters. Lots of fodder for suspects. The perfect locale for an armchair sleu ...more
And Blueberry Cove is such a quaint town with an intriguing mix of characters. Lots of fodder for suspects. The perfect locale for an armchair sleu ...more
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Elizabeth Penney is an author, entrepreneur, and local food advocate living in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. In addition to writing full-time, she operates a micro soap business and a small farm. Elements that often appear in her novels include vintage summer cottages, past/present mysteries, and the arts.
Elizabeth is the author of the Apron Shop Series from St. Martin's as well as over t ...more
Elizabeth is the author of the Apron Shop Series from St. Martin's as well as over t ...more
Other books in the series
Apron Shop
(3 books)
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