The Mainely Needlepointers are about to learn that no man is an island—especially when greedy developers want his land . . . Hermit Jesse Lockhart lives alone on King’s Island, three miles east of Haven Harbor, Maine, where he’s created a private sanctuary for the endangered Great Cormorants. But when a wealthy family wants to buy the island and Jesse’s cousin Simon petitions for power of … petitions for power of attorney to force him to sell, Jesse is the one who becomes endangered.
Mainely Needlepointer Dave Perry, who befriended Jesse in the VA hospital, rallies the group to his defense. Angie Curtis and the ravelers stitch “Save the King’s Island Cormorants” pillows and sell T-shirts to pay for Jesse’s legal counsel. But tragically, on a visit to the island, Angie finds Jesse dead. Now the search is on for a common thread that can tie the murdered man to his killer . . .
“Offers a wonderful sense of place and characters right from the very beginning. Highly recommended.” —Suspense Magazine on Threads of Evidence
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The Mainely Needlepoint series by Lea Wait has quickly become one of my new favorites. Dangling by a Thread was full of mystery: an abandoned island, a changed will, a love tryst… all the things that keep me intrigued. Unfortunately, someone had to die, and this time, it has connections to other characters in the series.
Wait has created such a strong background setting. I enjoy reading all about Maine and getting know several of the town’s primary families. Bonds are tested. I was a little concerned about the romantic interests for Angie in this one. Sarah kinda likes Patrick, but now so does Angie. Dave was dangling on the side too. How would it all turn out? I wasn’t happy about the direction it seemed to be taking, but it got better, and then in the end, boom! The whole thing was left unanswered. I’m a major cliffhanger junkie, but this side story just went astray. The main murder plot also ended abruptly, so I had to knock off a star in the end. It was almost like “no clue who the killer is and then in last few pages, boom… the murderer is X, so The End…” done.
I’ll still reading the other 5 in the series because I love the backdrop, and it reminds me of being somewhere I am quite fond of. But hopefully Wait brings the love aspects back somehow, even just flirting would be okay. In terms of the mystery, it was strong throughout (until the end). At least 5 suspects… many had some motives but which one would be the guilty party? And those birds seemed quite menacing but kind at the same time. What’s up with that? All I know… number 5 is on order already. Who’s with me?
“‘Can human nature not survive Without a listener?’”
In this, the fourth in the Mainely Needlepointers series, Angie Curtis has begun to feel more at home living by herself in her Grandmother’s, now her home. She’s moved Mainely Needlepointers into the living room/office and begun to change things a bit to better suit her. Her Grandmother is settling into her own new life as Rev.Tom’s new spouse and feels like Angie may decide to stay longer as her Needlepointers have begun to be more focused on custom work and their online business is expanding.
Through Dave Percy, Angie meets Jesse: a semi-hermit living alone on King’s Island, a cormorant nesting area that he and his cousin Simon inherited from their grandfather, but that Jesse has maintained for years. When someone shows great interest in buying the Island for development and Jesse accidentally shoots Dave with a compound bow, things begin to happen that find Jesse dead and everyone invloved suspect. As Dave recovers in hospital, Angie sets out to try to find just what happened and the results are not quite what everyone expects.
I love Lea Waite’s cosy mysteries. I learn so much about Maine and many other things, and can hardly wait to see the next thing she writes. Highly recommended 5/5
[This was my library system’s ecopy I chose to review]
There was so much about this book that I didn’t like – I have real issues with people that use their money and status to get what they want, regardless of who or what they hurt, and apparently my issues with that carries over to books that have that story-line. And this one has that – as well as selfish people that care little about the nature around them if it means that they get what they want. It just grated on my last nerve throughout the whole book. And the end….sigh.
I really like this series and I will continue on with it – it really had nothing to do with the writing itself and more with the story-line. I am sure plenty of people will love this and not get all fired up about it like I have.
Kinda disappointed this time
I knew what was going to happen and who did it! I’m Never right, so that is a Very Bad Thing!! I’m very sad because I have greatly enjoyed these books up to now.
4.5 stars. Angie Curtis, owner of Mainely Needlepoint, is intrigued by a mysterious loner, Jesse Lockhart, whom some refer to as The Solitary. He lives on isolated Kings Island, alone, and occasionally travels into Haven Harbor for his mail and other necessities. Mainely Needlepointer, Dave Percy, seems to be a friend of The Solitary, but when Angie enquirers about him, Dave Is elusive about the man. One thing’s for sure, Jesse isn’t enthused about anyone who tries to invade his island. He’s protective of the great cormorants that nest there, and won’t have them disturbed by intruders, especially not rich ones who want to buy his island right out from under him. There are a few who would gain from the sale of Jesse’s island. So when Jesse turns up dead, Angie is intent on keeping Jesse’s dream alive of protecting the birds, and of finding out who murdered him.
Dangling By A Thread is another solid mystery by Lea Wait that I enjoyed. In addition to the suspense leading up to the culprit, I was enlightened by the nesting habits of great cormorants and the uniqueness of their wings.
An additional delight of this series is that each new chapter opens with brief facts about an ancient needle-pointer and their work. I looked forward to learning about each and every one.