Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Dangling by a Thread
    Dangling by a Thread
    Dangling by a Thread
    Audiobook7 hours

    Dangling by a Thread

    Written by Lea Wait

    Narrated by Christina Delaine

    4/5

    ()

    Switch to ebook

    About this audiobook

    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 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 . . .
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJul 18, 2018
    ISBN9781977385178
    Author

    Lea Wait

    Lea Wait made her mystery debut with Shadows at the Fair, which was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Shadows on the Ivy, the third novel in her acclaimed series featuring Maggie Summer, is forthcoming in hardcover from Scribner. Lea comes from a long line of antiques dealers, and has owned an antique print business for more than twenty-five years. The single adoptive mother of four Asian girls who are now grown, she lives in Edgecomb, Maine. In addition to the Antique Print mysteries, Lea Wait writes historical fiction for young readers. Her first children's book, Stopping to Home, was named a Notable Book for Children in 2001 by Smithsonian magazine. Visit her website at LeaWait.com.

    Related to Dangling by a Thread

    Titles in the series (9)

    View More
    View More

    Related audiobooks

    Mystery For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      A Body To Die For

      Jul 15, 2021

      A Body To Die For
      4 min read

    • Article

      Ghost Girl, Banana

      Aug 21, 2023

      By the time I was 25, there were only two things I remembered about Mumma. The first was that she smelled of watermelons, the second was that we were happy. We’d taken our father’s name of course, but a name is only half a story. The other half exist

      6 min read

    • Article

      Clandestine

      Jan 10, 2022

      It was 1980 and I was nineteen, barely into what my mother quaintly referred to as the Prime of My Life. From what I’d learned up to that questionable apogee, there will never be enough time before bony-fingered Decrepitude sinks her yellowed nails i

      12 min read

    • Article

      The Island

      Jun 4, 2018

      The Island
      8 min read

    • Article

      Splash

      Feb 9, 2018

      Splash
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Man I Should Have Married

      Dec 29, 2019

      The Man I Should Have Married
      11 min read

    • Article

      Mark

      Jul 15, 2020

      Mark
      4 min read

    • Article

      Too Wild to Love

      Dec 1, 2022

      Too Wild to Love
      11 min read

    • Article

      A Lost Cause

      Dec 6, 2020

      A Lost Cause
      9 min read

    • Article

      Summer Beach Reads

      Jan 10, 2021

      Summer Beach Reads
      7 min read

    • Article

      Maybe It Won’t Be That Bad

      Dec 9, 2019

      Maybe It Won’t Be That Bad
      4 min read

    • Article

      It’s Come to This

      Sep 1, 2021

      It’s Come to This
      16 min read

    • Article

      Reefton Weekend

      Sep 20, 2020

      Reefton Weekend
      4 min read

    • Article

      Guiding Presence

      May 18, 2020

      Guiding Presence
      7 min read

    • Article

      “Really?”

      Jun 2, 2022

      “Really?”
      6 min read

    • Article

      French Connection

      Sep 18, 2023

      French Connection
      7 min read

    • Article

      Commentary: 'We Had A Thing For Cher, And Now We Knew Where To Find Her'

      Oct 2, 2018

      It's been nearly 40 years since I've lived in Los Angeles. I still visit every year or so and am always struck by how surpassingly pleasant it is, and how ... floaty. There's a buoyancy particular to my hometown, one I feel nowhere else. I'm an inch

      4 min read

    • Article

      Speedboat

      Mar 24, 2022

      Nobody died that year. Nobody prospered. There were no births or marriages. Seventeen reverent satires were written – disrupting a cliché and, presumably, creating a genre. That was a dream, of course, but many of the most important things, I fi nd,

      14 min read

    • Article

      The Social Picnic

      May 15, 2022

      The Social Picnic
      2 min read

    • Article

      Too Wild To Love

      Nov 24, 2022

      Too Wild To Love
      11 min read

    • Article

      Until The Sea Closed Over Us And The Light Was Gone

      Jul 1, 2020

      —Dante, Canto XXVI But if the truth is dreamed of toward the morning—El Paso Although it was really last summer’s song,all this summer Despacito played on as slower then I turned myself to gazeupon Juarez. The summer everything hurts my eyes, a dozen

      6 min read

    • Article

      The Last Friend on Earth

      May 4, 2023

      It was as if Doreen Saunders had been waiting for me, passing the time until my arrival. She might as well have been sitting in a rocking chair, knitting needles clicking, jam tarts cooling on the side, the door wide open, waiting for the next visito

      6 min read

    • Article

      A Room in August Town

      Sep 12, 2023

      A Room in August Town
      25 min read

    • Article

      Forgive Us Our Trespasses

      Jun 3, 2021

      Forgive Us Our Trespasses
      4 min read

    • Article

      A Puzzle Of Nostalgia

      Aug 26, 2022

      A Puzzle Of Nostalgia
      5 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Dangling by a Thread

    4/5

    42 ratings8 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Angie, the owner of the Mainely Needlepoint store, is caught up in another murder mystery. Cormorants are nesting on a nearby island and protected by a recluse (Jesse) who lives there. The island catches the eye of a wealthy man who decides he wants to build a mansion there, no matter what Jesse wants. Jesse is found murdered and Angie becomes caught up in a movement to protect the birds and solve the murder. The solution to the mystery is a twist I didn't see coming! I especially liked that the author showed both sides of the sale of the island. The sale would benefit the town's economy, so the sale of the island is not a black-and-white issue. The location, the characters and the mystery all make this a wonderful cozy read.
    • 5/5
      4.5 stars. Angie Curtis 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.
    • 4/5
      This series just keeps getting better and better! Could hardly wait for this book to come out, and read in one afternoon. Love the characters, the plot twists, the location! Can't wait for the next one.
    • 4/5
      DANGLING BY A THREAD is Lea Wait’s fourth entry in her ‘A Mainely Needlepoint’ series.Ms. Wait is a local Maine author and is popular for her adult ‘cozy mysteries’ and her young adult historical fiction titles.I like this particular series - especially the colorful book covers, the clever book titles, and the chapter headings. There is an interesting theme to the series - the Mainely Needlepointers group. The characters are interesting and evolve with each title. The descriptions of the small Maine coastal community, Haven Harbor, are realistic. The plot has tension and brings in aspects of small-town, coastal Maine life. In this title, there is the ‘save the Cormorant’ angle; the sale, development and privatization of coastal islands and habitat; the ever present tension between the super rich and average working class people; and the gulf and tensions between local vs. from-away inhabitants.My only negative comment is about the abruptness of the ending. I don’t have enough of a ‘tying everything together’ feeling. One minute (or page) you are reading about who did what to whom and the next page, it’s ‘the end’. I need/want a bit more detail.
    • 3/5
      Dangling by a Thread by Lea Wait is the fourth book in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series. Angie Curtis has been back in Haven Harbor, Maine for three months. She is the manager of her grandmother’s business, Mainely Needlepoint. Angie is out early one morning, and she notices a stranger docking a skiff. Angie has not seen this man before and follows him as he goes about his duties (does anyone else find this odd). After some inquiries, Angie finds out that he is called The Solitary. He lives on King’s Island and only comes to Haven Harbor every couple of months for supplies. His real name is Jesse Lockhart, an Iraq veteran who was injured in Afghanistan. Jesse is friends with Mainely Needlepointer, Dave Percy (met in rehab). Jesse needs the quiet of the island, and he feels he is protecting the Great Cormorants that nest on King’s Island. The Great Cormorants are a threatened species (just before extinct). They need a certain type of environment to thrive, and King’s Island is perfect for them. A big yacht has docked in Haven Harbor. It belongs to Gerry and June Bentley. They have decided that King’s Island is perfect for a vacation home. Jesse does not wish to sell the island. Unfortunately, he jointly owns the island with his cousin, Simon. Gerry Bentley flies in Simon to woo him into selling. They want to have Jesse declared incompetent so Simon can sell the island to Gerry. When the hear what Gerry and Simon are up to, they head out to King’s Island to warn Jesse. Jesse is on high alert and shoots an arrow at Dave (into his leg). The police go out the next day with Angie and find Jesse dead. Jesse did not deserve to die in this manner. He was a quiet man who was just trying to protect some birds. Angie is determined to find Jesse’s killer. Dave, Angie and friends are also working to protect the island from being developed. Will they succeed in their endeavors? Dangling by a Thread can be read alone. Lea Wait updates the readers on what happened in the previous novels. I must admit that this was not my favorite book in the series. I thought too many pages were devoted to Angie’s thinking and contemplating about life, living alone, the antics of her new kitten, and Patrick West (the man she would like to date). I thought the concept for Dangling by a Thread was a bit weak. Angie had just met Jesse, but she dives in to save his island and solve his murder. A majority of the book is devoted to friendship, family, and Angie’s interest in Patrick West. I give Dangling by a Thread 3 out of 5 stars (I am being a little generous). The murderer was obvious. One little statement gives away the identity of the killer. Some information is repeated a few times (and it was not necessary). I really got tired of hearing about Dave’s poison garden (and it was not used in the murder). The chapters are very short and choppy (it was annoying). I hope the next book in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series is better.
    • 4/5
      STORY LINE DANGLING BY A THREAD:The Maine Needlepointer's are back on the case again in Lea Wait's new novel, Dangling By A Thread. Set in the beautiful and quaint small town of Haven Harbor, Maine, the wealthy are migrating to Haven Harbor and Kings Island. Only time will tell if this is good or bad for small town life.Angie spy's a strange loner on her walk through town; curiosity and her detective instincts win as she does her best to ferret out his identify. Angie discovers Jesse, The Solitary, as he known around town, lives on uninhabitable Kings Island. As a product of war, Jesse has PTSD, and the island helps Jesse cope. In turn, Jesse does all he can to protect the nearly endangered Maine Great Cormorants. Kings Island is one of the last habitats for the Cormorants. Haven Harbor left in part ownership between Jesse and his brother, Simon, becomes a hot bed of controversy.Things in Haven Harbor heat up as Jesse, finds his brother wants to sell the Island to wealthy Gerry Bentley. Needless to say, Gerry, Uncle to Patrick West and wealthy beyond imagination, can buy Kings Island twice over. Patrick West and his famous wealthy actress mother Sky West's story appeared in Threads of Evidence. All books in this series are standalone. However, knowing the back story gives the reader a more in-depth understanding of the characters.When the needlepointers get behind Jesse to save the Great Cormorants, tragedy follows. Regardless of the damage to the Cormorant population and Jesse's mental health, Simon forges forward. Someone in Haven Harbor committed murder to achieve their goal. Everyone thinks the murder of Jesse on Kings Island, will stop the controversy. Grab your hat and hang on, things are heating up in Haven Harbor. Murder, mayhem, tragedy, and of course, community spirit surround Haven Harbor.Where Angie goes, murder seems to follow. Come along with Angie and the Maine needlepointers as they solve another crime in quaint Haven Harbor.CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:To begin this review let me say, Haven Harbor, typical small town USA, has all the nosiness and caring of any quaint small town. Everybody knows everyone and their business. Invariably. secrets are not secrets very long in a small town. Secondly, I loved the needlepoint verses and history of the verses which appear before each chapter. Also, the cookie recipe found in the back of the book will be my next recipe to bake.Author Lea Wait crafted several characters worthy of the term villain in Dangling By A Thread. Development of these characters emphasized the length humans will go to achieve their ends. Ms. Wait had many thread to bring together to create a solid story which she did skillfully. The pace of story never slowed as Ms. Wait penned a nonstop mystery. I found author Lea Wait kept the suspense and intrigue at high peak throughout the story-line and did not reveal the culprit until the end of the book. Surprised by the identify of the killer, my mouth hung open.In concluding this review, I found Dangling By A Thread, a solid well-written cozy mystery which will entertain for hours. Furthermore, the writing was clean, clear, and easy to read and the story-line intriguing. I enjoy books which have continuing characters from book to book. As you read the books, you find yourself knowing the characters and their personalities. Ms. Wait crafts characters which seem real and small towns which could be any small town in America. RECOMMENDATION DANGLING BY A THREAD:STARS 4I found Dangling By A Thread an enjoyable well-written book. Ms. Wait's writing was clean, clear, and easy to read. I would not hesitate to buy this book for myself or a friend.Finally, I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest book review. Books reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion. Consequently, book reviews on line under my name are my opinion.
    • 4/5
      Having just visited the coast of Maine, I really enjoyed reading this cozy set in Haven Harbor. Angie's curiosity gets the better of her when she sees a stranger at the docks and follows him in town. When she realizes that he is a friend of one of Needlepointers, Dave, she questions who he is.The story centers around the stranger who suffers from PTSD and lives a solitary life on King Island where he watches over a threatened species of seabirds. When he is discovered murdered and it turns out that he had recently changed his will to leave his half of the island to Dave, Angie sets out to find the murderer who sees Dave as a threat as well.Loved the story, the characters and the writing. Looking forward to the next visit to the Haven Harbor.
    • 3/5
      I continue to enjoy Lea Wait's series, although I do have to admit that Dangling by a Thread is not its strongest book. There are two reasons for my opinion. First, the killer's identity was rather obvious, and two, the plot had much more to do with relationships and pitching in to help those in need than it did with the actual mystery. That said, there's nothing wrong with relationships and helping others; I'd just like more mystery.As always, Wait knows how to bring her Maine setting to life. Each chapter begins with a quote and information about an antique needlework sampler. (I stitched a sampler when I was a child, but I have a feeling that they're "gone with the wind" now.) You may find it difficult to believe but these headings give quite a look at early life in Maine and other areas, and sometimes these glimpses can evoke strong responses. The author also puts us firmly on location with Jesse's protection of the endangered birds and how miserable the rich can make life for people living along the coast. (After all, the wealthy are the only ones entitled to a good view out their windows and a short commute, right?)All in all, I did enjoy Dangling by a Thread. I found it to be an emotional read-- and not just because kittens destroyed some pieces of needlepoint. Jesse may not have lasted very long, but he made quite an impact on me. Wait hit home runs with her characters, their relationships, and with Maine, but I'm looking forward to more mystery in her next Mainely Needlepoint book.