Three Tangled Threads

It’s been a hectic holiday season in small town Glen Lake, North Carolina, and after managing her mom’s busy needlepoint shop, Nina’s Nimble Needle, Shelby Phillips is looking forward to a relaxing January–but a killer has different plans…

All of Gwen Lake is ready for a month of restoration–including the actual lake. Every January, the lake level is lowered for dock repairs and other maintenance. This year, however, an unwelcome surprise surfaces: a woman’s body…bound with what appears to be needlepoint thread, likely from the Needle’s “Holiday Magic” supply…

To add to the shock, the victim is wearing one of the local yacht club’s famous doubloon replicas around her neck, meaning she’s a Gwen Laker. Still, who is she? Helen Thompson, creator of the doubloons, retired history teacher, and talented Needle regular, would know best, but unfortunately, she’s on a treasure hunting cruise.

Shelby is looped into the case when a quirky bit of information enables her to help identify the woman…as Helen herself. Why would anyone hurt sweet, widowed Helen? It’s a knot Shelby and the shop’s stitching group, “Not Your Average Grannies,” aka the NYAGs, intend to untangle.

The pattern gets more intricate when Shelby helps Helen’s grumpy stepson and his vexing daughter clear out her craft-filled home–and unravels a trove of secrets. To crack the case, Shelby will have to keep her discoveries to herself. And when two nosy true-crime podcasters show up, she’ll need to throw them off the trail, with help from the NYAgs, and the one man she may want a future with—unless a killer snips it short.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs