The Alpine Quilt - (Emma Lord) by Mary Daheim (Paperback)

About the Book

In her 17th whodunit, Emma vows to find the truth when the members of a quilting society in Alpine, Washington, unwittingly harbor in their midst a crafty murderer who uses poison as a means to an end.

Book Synopsis

"[A] well-paced and compelling murder mystery."--Romantic Times

Quilters at the Burl Creek Thimble Club in Alpine, Washing-ton, are planning a fête to welcome back returning member Genevieve Bayard. But Gen's homecoming is cut short when she dies suddenly at a dinner party. Emma Lord, owner and publisher of the local newspaper The Alpine Advocate, vows to sleuth her way to the truth, and enlists the help of her trusted "House & Home" editor, Vida Runkel. Surprisingly, Vida seems downright unwilling to get involved. To make matters worse, murder isn't the only crime in Alpine. There have been several burglaries, which may or may not be connected to Gen's de-mise. As Emma digs, she uncovers a shocking scandal that may point the finger of guilt at one of her nearest and dearest . . . while changing the history of Alpine itself.

"[Daheim] amiably captures the rhythms and crosscurrents of small-town life."--Kirkus Reviews

Review Quotes

Praise for Mary Daheim and her Emma Lord mysteries

"If you like the 'Cat Who' mysteries by Lilian Jackson Braun, you'll find similar fun here."--San Antonio Express-News

"Mary Daheim writes with wit, wisdom, and a big heart. I love her books."--Carolyn Hart

"If you like cozy mysteries, you need to try Daheim's Alpine series. . . . Recommended."--The Snooper

"Daheim writes . . . with dry wit, a butter-smooth style, and obvious wicked enjoyment."--The Oregonian

"The characters are great, and the plots always attention-getting."--King Features Syndicate

"Witty one-liners and amusing characterizations."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Mary Richardson Daheim started spinning stories before she could spell. Daheim has been a journalist, an editor, a public relations consultant, and a freelance writer, but fiction was always her medium of choice. In 1982, she launched a career that is now distinguished by more than sixty novels. In 2000, she won the Literary Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. In October 2008, she was inducted into the University of Washington's Communication Alumni Hall of Fame. Daheim lives in her hometown of Seattle and is a direct descendant of former residents of the real Alpine, which existed as a logging town from 1910 to 1929, when it was abandoned after the mill was closed. The Alpine/Emma Lord series has created interest in the site, which was named a Washington State ghost town in July 2011. An organization called the Alpine Advocates has been formed to preserve what remains of the town as a historic site.