Crafts and Life

In the coastal town of Haven Harbor, blood runs thicker than water–and just as freely . . .
Antique dealer Sarah Byrne has never unspooled the truth about her past to anyone–not even friend and fellow Mainely Needlepointer Angie Curtis. But the enigmatic Aussie finally has the one thing she's searched for all her life–family. And now she and long-lost half-brother, Ted Lawrence, a wealthy old artist and gallery owner in town, are ready to reveal their secret connection . . .
Ted's adult children are suspicious of their newfound aunt Sarah–especially after Ted, in declining health, announces plans to leave her his museum-worthy heirloom paintings. So when Ted is poisoned to death during a lobster bake, everyone assumes she's guilty. If Sarah and Angie can't track down the real murderer in time, Sarah's bound to learn how delicate–and deadly–family dynamics can truly be . . .

In this book Angie is helping Sarah set up a family weekend for Ted Lawrence (who it appears is Sarah's half-uncle as his father had an affair during the War in the UK and Sarah's father was the result), during the first evening Ted let's it be known about Sarah's new part in the family (unsurprisingly Ted's daughter and two sons are NOT too happy about this!) and Ted also drops the bombshell that he is dying of lung cancer (and a second bombshell that on the Monday he will be changing his will to include his new niece).  Even with this the weekend seems to be going smoothly enough until part way through the clam/lobster bake when Ted seems to suffer a stroke – the weekend goes downhill from there on in and Angie (along with the local law enforcement) needs to sort out the truth from the lies.

4.5 stars