Review by Sarah Erwin
Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book and a link to purchase it.
Two Purloined Pillows is book two in Allie Pleiter’s Nimble Needle cozy mystery series. Readers are just in time for a two week arts festival in the small town of Gwen Lake.
Shelby Phillips is the manager of her mother’s needlepoint shop, Nina’s Nimble Needle, and is in charge of overseeing two well-known needlepoint designers participating in the festival: Laura Bitters and Paul Bardo. Each artist has stitched a one-of-a-kind pillow that should be big wins for the Nimble Needle at the festival’s auction.
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This is a fast-paced and engaging mystery with a wonderfully crafty theme. There are lots of possible suspects and red herrings sprinkled throughout. Even though I had my eye on the true culprit, I turned the pages quickly to see the resolution. And what an intense resolution it was!
Shelby is a wonderfully likable character, trying hard to make her mother’s long-time business her own while also honoring her mother’s desire to still have a hand in the operations. This family dynamic is handled thoughtfully throughout the book. I especially enjoyed seeing Shelby develop a working relationship with Police Chief Tallen. So often in mysteries police and sleuths are at odds and so it is refreshing to see a team work together.
It is fun to see Shelby introduce a younger generation to the art of needlework – the story is a celebration of art and creativity for any age and gender and that filled my heart.
Readers can jump in with book two, but I’d encourage them not to miss book one (One Sharp Stich) as they will learn more of Shelby’s back story.
To enter to win a copy of Two Purloined Pillows, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line " Purloined Pillows,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen May 16, 2026. US residents only and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. If entering via comment please include your email address so we can contact you. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section in Kings River Life and in our mystery category here on KRL News & Reviews. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. And check out our new mystery podcast which features mystery short stories and first chapters read by local actors!
You can click here to purchase this book.
Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).
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