It has been too long since I read a book in this series but I was able to jump in right where I left off. Angie is a bit grittier then the usual cozy main character. She's not sure what she wants to do with her life, she's lonely, and just generally at loose ends. While she's not necessarily the most likable of my cozy character she's probably the most realistic even if she does get in her own head a bit too much sometimes. This was an interesting read. I really enjoyed all the tidbits about life in Maine and what's common in a lobster bake and things like that. I also loved the chapter headings that featured old samplers and even gave a tiny bit of information about the girl who had made it. The mystery didn't have the most surprising reveal but I didn't mind because getting to the end was so enjoyable. I'm already looking forward to the next book!

The Mainely Needlepointers are back in another wonderful story. Angie Curtis runs the store and has a band of helpers to make the creations she sells. Her grandmother started the story and has given it over to Angie to run.

Angie has come back to Haven Harbor from Arizona where she worked as an assistant for a private investigator. Somehow she can’t stay away from a good mystery. She sees the man who the town call The Solitary come ashore and her curiosity gets the best of her. She follows him and finds he visits Dave, one of her needlepointers.

Also in the harbor is a yacht belonging to a man and his wife who want to buy the island The Solitary lives on. The only problem is the island is also home to Great Cormorants and they are a threatened species. Before any sale can take place, The Solitary is found murdered. Thus, starts Angie’s investigation into how it happened.

This is the second book I have read in the Mainely Needlepointers series. I definitely want to read the others.

This is the first one in this series that I have read and it wasn't bad.

When Mainely needlepointers Dave Perry and main character Angie Curtis find hermit Jesse Lockhart dead on King's Island they begin the search for the murderer to avenge his death and save the island as it's a sanctuary for endangered Great Cormorants.

Basically there I've just reworded the blurb and may have made it sound weird but it's an entertaining cozy mystery that has good characters and a lovely setting. I will be looking for the rest of this series as I do love me some cozies!

*Huge thanks to Lea Wait, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*

Angie is settling back into Maine after life as a private investigator in Arizona. There is a lot of sadness here, when a combat vet comes to Maine for a bit of the quiet life, only to wind up dead.

This book follows Jesse Lockhart who lives alone on King's Island. When Angie Curtis spots him landing in Haven Harbor she wonders who he is and what he's doing? She follows him as he goes to the Post Office and is even more cuirous finding out only that he gets his mail at Haven Harbor. Later when she goes to see Dave she learns alittle more about Jesse as he almost runs into her as she visits Dave. Angie still trying to get use to being alone finds out from Jesse that he needs their help. Someone wants to buy King's Island where Jesse lives with Cormorants a special bird.

After Dave gets hurt attempting to talk to Jesse to let him know what is going on it's up to Angie, Dave and the other needlepointers to find out what is going when Jesse winds up dead. This leads to Angie talking to Patrick West whose Uncle wants to buy the island to turn into a summer retreat. The big question being who wanted Jesse dead and why?

This book had so much going on the mysterious Jesse Lockhart and who he is? Then the Wests coming back into town was always a nice treat for everyone whose gotten to know Patrick and Skye. This one really had me wondering who the killer was and why go to the extreme or killing someone trying to protect birds! I also found myself feeling bad for the realtor and his wife who really need the income of selling the property! Definitely great for bird lovers and mystery buffs alike! I have loved this series from day one and don't think I will quit to the last book is written hopefully with lots of great mysteries still to come!

Angie Curtis has moved back to Haven
Harbor, Maine. Angie is living alone now
that Gram has gotten married and moved
In with her husband and her cat, Juno.
Angie has taken over the Mainely Needlepoint
business that her Gram had run. Angie is
doing well with the business and looking to
expand with internet offerings. She is
making new friends and getting
reacquainted with former friends.
Angie meets Jesse Lockhart, known as
" The Solitary " as he lives on King's
Island which is three miles across the
water from Haven Harbor. The island is
a sanctuary for the Great Commorants
that Jesse protects.
A very wealthy newcomer to the area
wants to buy the island to build a residence.
This would destroy the bird sanctuary.
This man is flying in Jesse's cousin to help
get Jesse to sell. The claim will be that
Jesse is incompetent to live out on the
island by himself.
Dave Perry (Jesse friend) who needlepoints
with Angie takes her and they boat out to
the island to talk to Jesse. Dave gets shot
by an arrow that Jessie shoots at him.
While Dave is in the hospital, Jesse is
found murdered. Will the sale go through
now with ease without Jessie blocking it??
An interesting cast of lively, colorful, diverse
and very realistic characters. This is a town
divided between those who want to bring
new growth in the economy versus those
who want to save and protect the bird's
nesting island.
Who killed Jesse? What will happen to the
island and the birds?
Dave had three kittens in his barn when he
went into the hospital. Angie adopts Beatrice
nicknamed Trixie. Patrick adopts Bette, the
tuxedo cat and Gram cares for Snowy until
Dave is home.
Each chapter starts with a verse , description
of a sampler from the 1800 era plus a brief
history of the stitcher or a quote from a stitchery
publication.
This is book # 4 in the Mainely Needlepoint
series. It can be read as a stand alone.
I volunteered to read this eBook. Thanks to
Kensington Books via NetGallery for the
opportunity. My opinion is my own.

The author has found a niche that is interesting and it is therefore stronger now than it was when it began. The plot has tension and brings in aspects of small-town, coastal Maine life

This mystery is a good, relaxing weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only complaint is that I wish there was more about needlepoint in it.

Interesting murder/mystery based in Maine and involving the survival of threaten birds. Lots of twists and turns with an unexpected conclusion. Good character descriptions and well described interactions. Very good, quick read.