| A Vase of Mistaken Identity (Thea James Mystery Series, Book 1) | 
 enlarge | Author: Cathy Elliott
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Category: Book
List Price: $11.99
Buy New: $2.98
You Save: $9.01 (75%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (17 reviews)
Sales Rank: 214996
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0825425379
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.6
EAN: 9780825425370
ASIN: 0825425379
Publication Date: April 18, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
When Thea James discovers a puzzling list inside a vintage vase, she finds four names on the list . . . including her own! Follow this small-town antique dealer as she becomes a relentless detective on the trail of a killer in this page-turner mystery. Guaranteed fiction! (20061020)
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| Customer Reviews: Read 12 more reviews...
 Didn't Really Appeal To Me December 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If I would have known my publishing houses, I would have realized earlier that this is a Christian Fiction murder mystery. The book implies that it would be a cozy, with the mention of quilts, cats and tea, but I really didn't get that feel from the book.
Thea James owns an Antique shop in a small town and when the local homeless man brings in a valuable Roseville vase with a list of women's names on it Thea is curious, but when two of the women are either injured or missing, Thea's investigation skills kick into full gear.
The story is quite slow moving and is centered around Thea rediscovering her faith and finding a new man then in actually moving the mystery forward. The ending seems abrupt and convoluted. Didn't really appeal to me.
 A Vase of Mistaken Identity December 11, 2008
`A Vase of Mistaken Identity'
Author: Cathy Elliott
Reviewer: Shari Van Baale
We are introduced to our heroine, Thea James, in the middle of the night, as she awakens suddenly to the sounds of sirens nearby. As it turns out, the sirens are a portent of a series of tragedies to come. Thea owns a family antiques business, The Antique Emporium, in Larkindale, California. When we find Thea away from the store, she is probably either at home with her beloved cat Betty, quilting, spending time with her sister Rosie, with her Gram, or with her Mum. Mum, although not a Brit herself, did marry one, and quickly adapted the appropriate dialect, and all the intricacies of that lifestyle, including enjoying a proper cup of English tea. Thea's Mum is a devoted Christian, and longs for her daughters to follow suit, as her Christianity anchors her in life, and helps her to ride out the storms of life with strength and assurance. It is no wonder that she wants this for her family as well.
One day, a friend of Thea's, fondly referred to as `picker Pete, brings her the usual new box of `goodies', which Thea always pays him for, even if it's just rags and junk. Well this time, there is a bit more to the treasure than just rags...there is an antique rosewood vase, worth quite a lot of money. Curiously, inside the neck of the vase is a slip of paper with several names on it - one of which is Thea's! As she peruses the names on the list, she discovers that they are or were all friends of hers. But what could this possibly mean? She wonders. Then it is discovered that the first name on the list, her friend Hattie, was indeed the reason for the late night sirens - this poor girl was murdered! Is Thea next? And what about her sister Rosie, who is also on the list? Before she can begin to come up with any answers, Thea finds herself being followed one night by a vehicle with only one headlight - but who? She doesn't have any enemies...does she?
Before Thea can get far with the list, she discovers that her cottage has been broken into, and the vase is missing! Thea's dear Uncle Nick, a former police officer, insist that she stay with him and his wife for a couple of days while the cottage locks are changed...and because they just love having her over so much. Soon, Thea finds out that her friend Molly, also on the list, has gone missing. Her mother isn't so sure - she just thinks that the girl is out on a long partying binge again, leaving the girl's children with her mother to babysit. Thea decides to take Gram with her to see Molly's ex-husband and get the lowdown on Molly's possible whereabouts. The husband, however, isn't much help, but Thea realizes that he likely really doesn't have a clue where she is.
Thea's co-worker Lyndi, admits to `borrowing' the vase for her job interview, but insists that the door was already open when she went in to get it. OK, so if she didn't break in, who did, and why? This story is full of questions, and they are all answered in due time, with an enjoyable journey all the way. All throughout the story, an undercurrent of Christianity runs, and it finally carries Thea to a point of self-examination and honesty as to how she feels about God. This is a delightful story with several twists and turns, and keeps your interest the whole way through. I think the author did a wonderful job in creating both 3-D characters, a well-developed storyline and surroundings. The author is a library Info Tech at a community college in northern California, who also likes to collect antiques, is a quilter, an ardent reader, a musician and a mom. She loves to write in her spare time, and I think she does a superb job at it. I hope to read more books authored by her, and I would encourage anyone who loves a good mystery to pick this one up and have a great read!
 Be aware of the type of book this is May 18, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Besides being a stiff amateurish attempt this is a Christian mystery. If this is not your genre don't waste your time
A delightful page-turner May 19, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I could not put "Vase" down, it was so compelling. Cathy Elliott made her characters came alive. I feel like I know them and I care about them. Thea is such a real person - quirky and likeable. I can't wait to read more of her adventures.
Terrific in every way April 6, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a great story with memorable characters, a great sense of place, and a likeable main character, Thea James. The mystery finds Thea as she is recovering from a great personal loss and struggling along her faith journey. Unlike many mysteries, how Thea comes to be involved, how the events unfold, and the ultimate resolution are really plausible and don't seem contrived. I loved Thea's strength, chuckled at her clumsiness, and groaned at her puns. This is a book that you won't be able to put down. You'll want to see how it ends and you'll hate that it's ending all at the same time. I hope Cathy Elliott writes another book soon!
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