Needle Case Nuisance, The: A Cozy Mystery of Pointed Problems and a Sharp Solution

?? Antique needle case collector and restoration expert Casey Sharp is curating a historical sewing tools exhibit when the exhibit's wealthy benefactor—a notorious collector with questionable acquisition methods—is found dead in her workshop, a rare Victorian needle case mysteriously emptied of its contents around him. The police suspect a heart attack, but Casey notices the needle arrangement forms a deliberate pattern and the victim's collection inventory shows gaps that match recently reported thefts. With her exhibit postponed and the collecting community pointing fingers, Casey must pin down the facts before her reputation gets punctured. Assisted by her antique tools society and the handsome museum metallurgist analyzing metal compositions, Casey uncovers a scheme involving needle case forgeries, stolen historical pieces, and a sophisticated operation altering provenance records. From suspicious patina patterns that reveal artificial aging to metal alloys that don't match the period, every needle slot tells a story. But when Casey discovers the victim was systematically "authenticating" forged needle cases for insurance fraud, she realizes the killer is protecting museum integrity more valuable than any collection. With the grand opening approaching and the real forger still needling the community, Casey must thread together the evidence before she becomes the next target in this pointed game.