Bead Box Blunder, The: A Cozy Mystery of Strung-Up Suspicious and a Strung-Along Story

?? Bead shop owner and jewelry artist Gemma Beadle is preparing for the annual Jewelry Arts Festival when the festival's head judge—a notoriously harsh critic of beadwork—is found dead in her shop, a rare vintage bead mysteriously lodged in her throat. The police suspect a freak accident, but Gemma notices the bead doesn't match her inventory and the victim's critique notes contain patterns that form a hidden message in beadwork code. With her bead business temporarily closed and the jewelry community buzzing with suspicion, Gemma must string together the clues to clear her name. Assisted by her beading circle and the handsome gemologist analyzing mineral compositions, Gemma uncovers a scheme involving counterfeit beads, stolen cultural artifacts, and a black market for rare semiprecious stones. From suspicious drill holes that reveal modern tooling to glass compositions that don't match the stated era, every bead tells a story. But when Gemma discovers the victim was systematically devaluing authentic cultural beadwork to acquire it cheaply for resale, she realizes the killer is protecting an artistic heritage more precious than any gemstone. With the festival approaching and the real culprit still stringing lies, Gemma must thread the needle of truth before her own reputation gets permanently tarnished.