diff --git a/server/src/main.rs b/server/src/main.rs
index 4068090..73dd963 100644
--- a/server/src/main.rs
+++ b/server/src/main.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate rocket;
+mod error;
+mod nm;
 
 use std::{error::Error, io::Cursor, str::FromStr};
 
 use glog::Flags;
-use notmuch::{Notmuch, NotmuchError, ThreadSet};
+use notmuch::{Notmuch, NotmuchError};
 use rocket::{
     http::{ContentType, Header},
     request::Request,
@@ -14,6 +16,8 @@ use rocket::{
 };
 use rocket_cors::{AllowedHeaders, AllowedOrigins};
 
+use crate::error::ServerError;
+
 #[get("/")]
 fn hello() -> &'static str {
     "Hello, world!"
@@ -52,8 +56,11 @@ async fn search(
 }
 
 #[get("/show/<query>")]
-async fn show(nm: &State<Notmuch>, query: &str) -> Result<Json<ThreadSet>, Debug<NotmuchError>> {
-    let res = nm.show(query)?;
+async fn show(
+    nm: &State<Notmuch>,
+    query: &str,
+) -> Result<Json<Vec<shared::Message>>, Debug<ServerError>> {
+    let res = nm::threadset_to_messages(nm.show(query).map_err(|e| -> ServerError { e.into() })?)?;
     Ok(Json(res))
 }
 
diff --git a/shared/src/lib.rs b/shared/src/lib.rs
index 448f98b..3fff691 100644
--- a/shared/src/lib.rs
+++ b/shared/src/lib.rs
@@ -15,5 +15,21 @@ pub struct ShowResult {
     messages: Vec<Message>,
 }
 
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug)]
-pub enum Message {}
+pub type AttachementId = String;
+
+/// # Number of seconds since the Epoch
+pub type UnixTime = isize;
+
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Default)]
+pub struct Message {
+    pub from: String,
+    pub to: Option<String>,
+    pub cc: Option<String>,
+    pub timestamp: UnixTime,   // date header as unix time
+    pub date_relative: String, // user-friendly timestamp
+    pub tags: Vec<String>,
+
+    // HTML formatted body
+    pub body: String,
+    pub attachment: Vec<AttachementId>,
+}
diff --git a/web/src/lib.rs b/web/src/lib.rs
index d76c6e5..44c63d4 100644
--- a/web/src/lib.rs
+++ b/web/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,9 +8,9 @@ use std::{
 
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use log::{debug, error, info, Level};
-use nm::{show_request, view_thread};
 use notmuch::ThreadSet;
 use seed::{prelude::*, *};
+use serde::Deserialize;
 use wasm_timer::Instant;
 
 const SEARCH_RESULTS_PER_PAGE: usize = 20;
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ mod urls {
 enum Context {
     None,
     Search(shared::SearchResult),
-    Thread(ThreadSet),
+    Thread(Vec<shared::Message>),
 }
 
 // `Model` describes our app state.
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ pub enum Msg {
     },
     SearchResult(fetch::Result<shared::SearchResult>),
     ShowRequest(String),
-    ShowResult(fetch::Result<ThreadSet>),
+    ShowResult(fetch::Result<Vec<shared::Message>>),
     NextPage,
     PreviousPage,
 }
@@ -210,6 +210,19 @@ fn update(msg: Msg, model: &mut Model, orders: &mut impl Orders<Msg>) {
     }
 }
 
+pub async fn show_request(tid: &str) -> fetch::Result<Vec<shared::Message>> {
+    let b = Request::new(api::show(tid))
+        .method(Method::Get)
+        .fetch()
+        .await?
+        .check_status()?
+        .bytes()
+        .await?;
+    let mut deserializer = serde_json::Deserializer::from_slice(&b);
+    deserializer.disable_recursion_limit();
+    Ok(Vec::<shared::Message>::deserialize(&mut deserializer)
+        .map_err(|_| FetchError::JsonError(fetch::JsonError::Serde(JsValue::NULL)))?)
+}
 async fn search_request(
     query: &str,
     page: usize,
@@ -496,6 +509,13 @@ fn view_footer(render_time_ms: u128) -> Node<Msg> {
     ]
 }
 
+fn view_thread(messages: &[shared::Message]) -> Node<Msg> {
+    div![
+        "MESSAGES GO HERE",
+        ol![messages.iter().map(|msg| li![format!("{:?}", msg)])]
+    ]
+}
+
 fn view_desktop(model: &Model) -> Node<Msg> {
     let content = match &model.context {
         Context::None => div![h1!["Loading"]],