This is the first in the Vineyard Quilt Mysteries. Antiquities bounty hunter Julie Ellis and her business partner Hannah Marks are on the run from those that want to harm them. They obtain jobs at the Quilt Haus Inn. Julie as the manager and Hannah as the cook, thinking they'll settle down to a more peaceful life in rural Missouri where Hannah can make creations in the kitchen and Julie can take up quilting again.
But it isn't long before Julie stumbles on a murder mystery when Daniel walks through the door of the inn. He convinces her he's a quilt expert (only quilters are allowed to stay in the inn) but after he's signed in he reveals he's really an archaeologist looking for a sunken ship.
Soon Julie is up to her old tricks as she helps Daniel.
This was a fun book with a unique setting and interesting characters such as the flamboyant Shirley who runs the tea and quilt shop that is part of the inn and gives wild history lessons during quilting time, and Inga, the uptight and meticulous housekeeper who disapproves of Julie.
There were a couple of spots that jumped suddenly from one moment to the next without any warning or obvious space, and one ridiculous plot point (I don't care how much you like to stitch, no one is going to embroider a threatening message). The ending seemed rushed as well. It would also be interesting to read about Julies exploits that got her into trouble in the first place.
At this point there's only two books in the series. I'm looking forward to the next one. Fields has written for Annie's Mysteries before.
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