Seam Ripper Riddle, The: A Cozy Mystery of Unpicked Clues and a Torn Truth

?? Vintage sewing tool expert and restoration specialist Ripley Stitch is curating a historical sewing implements exhibit when the exhibit's major donor—a ruthless fashion historian—is found dead in her workshop, an antique seam ripper mysteriously embedded in a priceless Victorian gown. The police suspect a tragic accident, but Ripley notices the ripper's blade shows modern sharpening marks and the damaged gown reveals hidden layers of fabric that tell a different story. With her restoration business under scrutiny and the textile community in an uproar, Ripley must carefully unpick the layers of deception. Assisted by her conservation colleagues and the handsome textile analyst examining fabric degradation, Ripley uncovers a scheme involving garment forgery, stolen historical costumes, and a sophisticated operation altering museum-quality pieces. From suspicious stitch removal patterns that reveal multiple handlers to fabric fading that doesn't match the era, every torn thread tells a story. But when Ripley discovers the victim was systematically "authenticating" forged historical garments for insurance fraud, she realizes the killer is protecting a fashion legacy more valuable than any single piece. With the exhibit opening imminent and the real forger still cutting corners, Ripley must stitch together the evidence before her own reputation gets permanently torn apart.