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Down to the Needle
From the day her five-year-old was abducted, Abigail Fisher vows to never stop looking unti l her daughter is safely returned. Despite multiple searches, twenty-three years have passed without a trace of Becky Ann. So when Abigail learns that death row inmate Megan Winnaker is the same age as her daughter, she can't help but wonder if the kidnapper-her ex-husband-had Becky Ann's face surgically altered to prevent identification. Megan Winnaker maintains her innocence, but she will be put to death immediately if she loses her final appeal. As Abigail launches her own investigati on to determine if Megan is truly her daughter, someone wants nothing more than to stop her in her tracks. Suddenly, the house of the witness who landed Megan on death row is burned to the ground. Then Abigail's home explodes in flame leaving her fighting for her life. An alcoholic witness skips town and another is found dead from a drug overdose. To add to her plight, Abi could lose the love of her life when his former love distracts him. While Abi waits for DNA proof, she is desperate to free an innocent inmate who might just be the one who can fill her empty arms once again.
340 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2010
108 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Mary Deal
24 books152 followersMary Deal is an Amazon International bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. After losing her beloved partner of 31 years, she is has written a memoir about surviving the grief period. That book is meant to help others and is due out in a few weeks.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Garner, No. Carolina. Also, her paintings and photography are used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Garner, No. Carolina. Also, her paintings and photography are used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 9, 2019
Why This Book
After reading a few light-hearted mysteries and non-fiction books, I was in need of a strong thriller and suspense novel. I had Mary Deal’s Down to the Needle in my Kindle downloaded book list, as it was recommended by a friend. I flipped through the summary and overview, which convinced me to give it a try last week; I’m quite glad I did.
Plot, Characters & Setting
There are several plot lines in this book, but they weave together in multiple ways in a typical small American town called Seaport. The book kicks off with Abi and Joe, mid-40s to early 50s, covering a string of fires occurring across the city. We learn that Abi has been searching for her daughter, whom her husband had kidnapped nearly twenty-three years ago. Joe stumbles onto an ex who disappeared many years ago, but they’ve found solace in one another as he makes plans to get her off the street. Abi and Joe have their own separate careers and homes, but they consider the possibility of future marriage, assuming Abi can find out if her husband is dead or find a way to divorce him. News outlets are covering the upcoming execution of a young inmate named Megan, who was accused of torching a house eight-years earlier that killed a man’s wife and children. Then Abi finds a few clues which lead them to believe Megan could be her long-lost daughter. The book navigates the path they each take separately, and together, to find their pasts, as well as determine if they can build a future together. New eye-witnesses to the fires step forward and more fires occur. A lead on Abi’s missing daughter unfolds and the discovery of what really happened to Joe’s ex take center stage during this journey -- all ending with some happy, bittersweet and sad news. Let’s just say… ‘Down to the Needle’ is the perfect title for many reasons.
Approach & Style
I read the 381-page novel on my iPad through Kindle Reader. It took about 5 hours over a few days; there are 62 chapters, each fairly short and easy to digest. The story is told in third-person POV with a perspective mostly focused on Abi and Joe. The setting is vividly described, bringing a clear picture of everything, including fires, character expressions and thoughts, homeless conditions, prisons and medical illnesses.
Key Thoughts
One of the best things I enjoyed about this book is the approach Deal takes in evolving the entire story. There are tons of facts and background information that need to be revealed, but it’s moderately paced and deliberately methodical, to the point where you find your eyes bulging as you get a tad frustrated because you can’t wait to see what comes next. It’s full of suspense, keeping you hanging many times – and then a curve ball comes out of nowhere, in a very almost nonchalant way – it shocks you had some of these things just pop up in a realistic way. Some may find that style hard to digest at first, but once you realize you’re on this wild ride, and you really won’t know what will be thrown at you next, you just dive in to see what happens to the hero and heroine(s) in the story – there may be a few heroines, I can’t decide how I feel! You desperately want Abi to find her daughter, have absolutely no belief/trust that Megan could possibly be her daughter, and then you get happily slammed with something that makes you change your mind, over and over again. It’s great… and when you finally learn all that happened, it’s a brilliant evolution and clearly shows the art of a slow-burning build before the fire pops. Deal has strong skills in this area. The story has a little bit of everything and every genre. It is never boring; a few times, you might wonder where it’s going, but you hang on tightly because you know the author has a plan in mind on how to connect it together. It won’t let you down… to the needle.
Summary
Mary Deal is an excellent writer, and I am very glad I read this book. I will pick up a copy of her latest novel, The Ka, in the next few months. I enjoy her character development, complex plots, methodical approach to laying out the setting and descriptions, and ability to weave in just enough confusion and red herrings to keep the pages constantly turning. Kudos!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
After reading a few light-hearted mysteries and non-fiction books, I was in need of a strong thriller and suspense novel. I had Mary Deal’s Down to the Needle in my Kindle downloaded book list, as it was recommended by a friend. I flipped through the summary and overview, which convinced me to give it a try last week; I’m quite glad I did.
Plot, Characters & Setting
There are several plot lines in this book, but they weave together in multiple ways in a typical small American town called Seaport. The book kicks off with Abi and Joe, mid-40s to early 50s, covering a string of fires occurring across the city. We learn that Abi has been searching for her daughter, whom her husband had kidnapped nearly twenty-three years ago. Joe stumbles onto an ex who disappeared many years ago, but they’ve found solace in one another as he makes plans to get her off the street. Abi and Joe have their own separate careers and homes, but they consider the possibility of future marriage, assuming Abi can find out if her husband is dead or find a way to divorce him. News outlets are covering the upcoming execution of a young inmate named Megan, who was accused of torching a house eight-years earlier that killed a man’s wife and children. Then Abi finds a few clues which lead them to believe Megan could be her long-lost daughter. The book navigates the path they each take separately, and together, to find their pasts, as well as determine if they can build a future together. New eye-witnesses to the fires step forward and more fires occur. A lead on Abi’s missing daughter unfolds and the discovery of what really happened to Joe’s ex take center stage during this journey -- all ending with some happy, bittersweet and sad news. Let’s just say… ‘Down to the Needle’ is the perfect title for many reasons.
Approach & Style
I read the 381-page novel on my iPad through Kindle Reader. It took about 5 hours over a few days; there are 62 chapters, each fairly short and easy to digest. The story is told in third-person POV with a perspective mostly focused on Abi and Joe. The setting is vividly described, bringing a clear picture of everything, including fires, character expressions and thoughts, homeless conditions, prisons and medical illnesses.
Key Thoughts
One of the best things I enjoyed about this book is the approach Deal takes in evolving the entire story. There are tons of facts and background information that need to be revealed, but it’s moderately paced and deliberately methodical, to the point where you find your eyes bulging as you get a tad frustrated because you can’t wait to see what comes next. It’s full of suspense, keeping you hanging many times – and then a curve ball comes out of nowhere, in a very almost nonchalant way – it shocks you had some of these things just pop up in a realistic way. Some may find that style hard to digest at first, but once you realize you’re on this wild ride, and you really won’t know what will be thrown at you next, you just dive in to see what happens to the hero and heroine(s) in the story – there may be a few heroines, I can’t decide how I feel! You desperately want Abi to find her daughter, have absolutely no belief/trust that Megan could possibly be her daughter, and then you get happily slammed with something that makes you change your mind, over and over again. It’s great… and when you finally learn all that happened, it’s a brilliant evolution and clearly shows the art of a slow-burning build before the fire pops. Deal has strong skills in this area. The story has a little bit of everything and every genre. It is never boring; a few times, you might wonder where it’s going, but you hang on tightly because you know the author has a plan in mind on how to connect it together. It won’t let you down… to the needle.
Summary
Mary Deal is an excellent writer, and I am very glad I read this book. I will pick up a copy of her latest novel, The Ka, in the next few months. I enjoy her character development, complex plots, methodical approach to laying out the setting and descriptions, and ability to weave in just enough confusion and red herrings to keep the pages constantly turning. Kudos!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
January 22, 2018
Excellent
This story had so many plots, and twist and turns. Characters that were believable & likeable, except for the bad people.
This story had so many plots, and twist and turns. Characters that were believable & likeable, except for the bad people.
March 31, 2013
I spent a cloudy, cold Saturday with this book, and ten minutes into it, I had forgotten the weather and was immersed in the characters and the story. This book has everything, an abducted five-year-old, a genteel and once-beautiful woman, now homeless and with amnesia, a passionately artistic young woman on death row, arson, drugs, murder, and multi-layered intrigue. And as I said, characters so real I felt like I could touch them and smell them. I definitely developed strong reactions to some of them. Read this one, it will be well worth your time.
November 29, 2017
Mary Deal’s "Down To The Needle" gets off to a cracking start with the blaze of a warehouse fire, a warm welcome to the two main characters, Abigail Fisher and Joe Arno. Abi is tagging along with her boyfriend, Joe, who is a photojournalist covering a series of fires in the area, far too many to be accidental. As the flames settle we find that Abi’s five year old daughter, Becky was abducted by her ex-husband, Preston, twenty-three years ago. They immediately disappeared and Abi hasn’t stopped searching for her daughter since. When Abi learns that an inmate on death row, Megan Winnaker, is the same age as Becky it gets her thinking. Could this could be her daughter? She would not put it past Preston to have had Becky’s features surgically altered so she would not be easily recognised. Megan, now on death row for nine years, has always maintained her innocence. There is one final appeal and if she loses, she dies. Abi, obsessed with knowing the truth, sets out with Joe’s help and the assistance of Britto, a sympathetic detective and friend of Joe’s, on her own investigation. But the clock is ticking. If Megan is in fact Becky and she loses her appeal, Abi’s twenty-three year search will have been in vain.
"Down To The Needle" is a great concept: a desperate mother searching for her daughter, then after more than two decades, finding she might be on death row awaiting execution for a crime she says she didn’t commit. And the date for her death by lethal injection is imminent. There’s nothing like a ticking clock to get the adrenaline flowing. I did wonder whether the book’s title, as tantalising as it is, might be a giveaway for how the story ends but nonetheless there is no let up in the pace as one is gripped by Abi’s urgency. There is also a sense of mystery throughout as Mary Deal never allows her reader to know whether or not Megan really is Abi’s daughter. No matter what titbit of information is revealed there’s always an element of doubt. Although it does assist with characterisation, I did find the backstory of Joe’s old girlfriend, Margaret and her sudden reappearance a distraction. The only other minor criticism I have is that throughout the narrative there are statements which came across more like comments a journalist expressing an opinion might make, rather than thoughts you would link to a particular character. That aside, "Down To The Needle" is a page turner that will have you riveted right to the end. And, speaking of the end, the author’s vivid description of life on death row reveals either extraordinary insight or painstaking research.
"Down To The Needle" is a great concept: a desperate mother searching for her daughter, then after more than two decades, finding she might be on death row awaiting execution for a crime she says she didn’t commit. And the date for her death by lethal injection is imminent. There’s nothing like a ticking clock to get the adrenaline flowing. I did wonder whether the book’s title, as tantalising as it is, might be a giveaway for how the story ends but nonetheless there is no let up in the pace as one is gripped by Abi’s urgency. There is also a sense of mystery throughout as Mary Deal never allows her reader to know whether or not Megan really is Abi’s daughter. No matter what titbit of information is revealed there’s always an element of doubt. Although it does assist with characterisation, I did find the backstory of Joe’s old girlfriend, Margaret and her sudden reappearance a distraction. The only other minor criticism I have is that throughout the narrative there are statements which came across more like comments a journalist expressing an opinion might make, rather than thoughts you would link to a particular character. That aside, "Down To The Needle" is a page turner that will have you riveted right to the end. And, speaking of the end, the author’s vivid description of life on death row reveals either extraordinary insight or painstaking research.
May 9, 2018
Incredible! Brilliant! I was sucked in from the first page. A must read!
My Rating: 5+ stars
My Rating: 5+ stars
February 11, 2014
Down to the Needle is yet another tightly woven mystery/thriller by Ms. Deal. Here we enter the world where one woman's twenty-three year search for her kidnapped daughter culminates in a clash of gangs, Aryans, ex-lovers and corrupt officials, all bent on keeping the truth from being revealed. We are taken on a journey with Abi, the mother of the five year old abducted 23 years ago, her companion/lover Joe and a cast of characters that will amuse you and infuriate you in turns.
Deal is a master of dialogue and she brings her characters to life with conversations that are truly real, breathing life into even secondary characters so well that we forget these are fictional people. My favorite, the detective "Britto" is so fully fleshed that I wanted to meet him. He fairly leaps off the pages, into your heart.
The book is well-managed with a definite pacing and rhythm that can only be achieved by a trained storyteller. Author Deal is well-practiced at mystery (evidenced by her award winning book, River Bones), and she draws you into this tale of a woman on death-row and our journey to discover if she is Abi's long lost daughter. Time is against Abi though, for this woman is about to die. In a race to determine the truth, we meet a second cast of rather undesirables and these too are cleverly brought to life. You will cheer and yell at this book, because Deal makes us care that much.
I enjoyed Down to the Needle, despite it being out of my normal genre of supernatural thrillers or urban fantasy. What matters is the quality of the literature and that alone is worth the journey here. I won't tell you what happens. You will have to trust Ms. Deal and take the trip for yourself. But I will tell you to hold on tight, for there are some jaw popping surprises and what would a good mystery be without a bit of a gasp and a twist, hm?
Deal is a master of dialogue and she brings her characters to life with conversations that are truly real, breathing life into even secondary characters so well that we forget these are fictional people. My favorite, the detective "Britto" is so fully fleshed that I wanted to meet him. He fairly leaps off the pages, into your heart.
The book is well-managed with a definite pacing and rhythm that can only be achieved by a trained storyteller. Author Deal is well-practiced at mystery (evidenced by her award winning book, River Bones), and she draws you into this tale of a woman on death-row and our journey to discover if she is Abi's long lost daughter. Time is against Abi though, for this woman is about to die. In a race to determine the truth, we meet a second cast of rather undesirables and these too are cleverly brought to life. You will cheer and yell at this book, because Deal makes us care that much.
I enjoyed Down to the Needle, despite it being out of my normal genre of supernatural thrillers or urban fantasy. What matters is the quality of the literature and that alone is worth the journey here. I won't tell you what happens. You will have to trust Ms. Deal and take the trip for yourself. But I will tell you to hold on tight, for there are some jaw popping surprises and what would a good mystery be without a bit of a gasp and a twist, hm?
June 9, 2011
Have yet to purchase and will reserve my true review for a time later. Though from what I have been given to understand it could just as the title suggests and will give it prior to the read based on a various hue of reasonings. I do like a good mystery and also well written spy and detective novels.
Often I get a feel for a book prior to physically picking it up. How's that you might say! Well as a
poetic prose writer that is what I do with words, titles and like. Carry them around and let them
swim through the houses of my mind. So I'll start the rating at a 3 star as I know Mary is skilled at
her craft and will assure Mary it will likely get a five star rating before I'm done and a more pinted
review.
Ciao,
Glenna or Multiplicity Hall
Often I get a feel for a book prior to physically picking it up. How's that you might say! Well as a
poetic prose writer that is what I do with words, titles and like. Carry them around and let them
swim through the houses of my mind. So I'll start the rating at a 3 star as I know Mary is skilled at
her craft and will assure Mary it will likely get a five star rating before I'm done and a more pinted
review.
Ciao,
Glenna or Multiplicity Hall
January 8, 2018
Story of two girls
This was a story of a mother's amazing journey to find her daughter. In the meantime she helps out another girl which eventually leads to her own daughter.
This was a story of a mother's amazing journey to find her daughter. In the meantime she helps out another girl which eventually leads to her own daughter.
December 4, 2010
Down to the Needle – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Abi reached for a tissue from the box on the credenza and blew her nose. She drew in a breath to pull her emotions together, blinked to clear her vision, and studied the photos spread alongside the aging of Becky Ann. Other than the fact that both were women, no noticeable similarities existed. The computer reconstruction of Becky produced a full, rounded cherub face of someone with a curly head of hair who would weigh more than the lean, gaunt-faced inmate. Megan Winnaker’s eyes were larger and definitely closer together, with a sharp chin and cheekbones. Her lips were well formed and wide. Abi noticed again how flat and smooth Megan’s nose was compared to Becky Ann’s slightly humped bridge. In both the old photo and the computer aging of Becky Ann, the mole on her left cheek was prominent. Abi breathed in again, more in control, and sighed heavily.’
Abi Fisher’s 5 year old daughter disappeared 23 years ago. Even though she has never given up her search for Becky Ann, Abi finds it almost impossible to believe that the young lady sitting on death row could possibly be her. But, even a small chance of finding her won’t slip by without being fully investigated. And to investigate, Abi finds herself meeting Megan Winnaker face-to-face as she sits in prison awaiting the Supreme Court ruling that could grant her a new trial.
Abi had no idea as to what she was stepping into when she first decided that Megan was her daughter and that she was also innocent. Her investigation steps her right in the middle of arson fires that are believed to be set by a group of skinheads that call themselves the Dregs. She discovers crooked cops and finds that the only witness to the accusations against Megan is blind.
Joe Arno has been Abi’s strength in her quest to find her daughter, for several years. He’s always there for her no matter what comes up. But will that support continue after he finds the love from his youth is now living on the streets? Abi feels that she will not only loose her daughter again but also Joe.
Down to the Needle lives up to its name. This story will keep you hoping and even begging the author to let Megan really be Becky Ann and find a way to prove her innocence. I’ve often said that a book kept me on the edge of my seat but that is normally used as a figure of speech. But when I say that about Down to the Needle it’s the actual truth. I found myself actually leaning forward and sitting on the edge of my seat to the end.
2010
iUniverse
326 Pages
ISBN# 978-1-4401-9820-5
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
‘Abi reached for a tissue from the box on the credenza and blew her nose. She drew in a breath to pull her emotions together, blinked to clear her vision, and studied the photos spread alongside the aging of Becky Ann. Other than the fact that both were women, no noticeable similarities existed. The computer reconstruction of Becky produced a full, rounded cherub face of someone with a curly head of hair who would weigh more than the lean, gaunt-faced inmate. Megan Winnaker’s eyes were larger and definitely closer together, with a sharp chin and cheekbones. Her lips were well formed and wide. Abi noticed again how flat and smooth Megan’s nose was compared to Becky Ann’s slightly humped bridge. In both the old photo and the computer aging of Becky Ann, the mole on her left cheek was prominent. Abi breathed in again, more in control, and sighed heavily.’
Abi Fisher’s 5 year old daughter disappeared 23 years ago. Even though she has never given up her search for Becky Ann, Abi finds it almost impossible to believe that the young lady sitting on death row could possibly be her. But, even a small chance of finding her won’t slip by without being fully investigated. And to investigate, Abi finds herself meeting Megan Winnaker face-to-face as she sits in prison awaiting the Supreme Court ruling that could grant her a new trial.
Abi had no idea as to what she was stepping into when she first decided that Megan was her daughter and that she was also innocent. Her investigation steps her right in the middle of arson fires that are believed to be set by a group of skinheads that call themselves the Dregs. She discovers crooked cops and finds that the only witness to the accusations against Megan is blind.
Joe Arno has been Abi’s strength in her quest to find her daughter, for several years. He’s always there for her no matter what comes up. But will that support continue after he finds the love from his youth is now living on the streets? Abi feels that she will not only loose her daughter again but also Joe.
Down to the Needle lives up to its name. This story will keep you hoping and even begging the author to let Megan really be Becky Ann and find a way to prove her innocence. I’ve often said that a book kept me on the edge of my seat but that is normally used as a figure of speech. But when I say that about Down to the Needle it’s the actual truth. I found myself actually leaning forward and sitting on the edge of my seat to the end.
2010
iUniverse
326 Pages
ISBN# 978-1-4401-9820-5
Review Stir, Laugh, Repeat at Amazon.com Stir, Laugh, Repeat
November 6, 2020
Overview.
This book gripped me right from the beginning. Ms Deal ramps up the tension and doesn’t let go.
Blurb
From the day her five-year-old was abducted, Abigail Fisher vowed never to stop looking until her daughter was safely back home. But despite multiple searches, twenty-three years have passed without a trace of Becky Ann. When Abigail learns that death row inmate Megan Winnaker is the same age as her daughter, she begins to wonder if the kidnapper had Becky Ann's face surgically altered to prevent identification. Megan Winnaker maintains her innocence but faces capital punishment if she loses her final appeal. As Abigail launches her own investigation to find out if Megan is truly her daughter, someone wants to stop her in her tracks. Even when facing mortal danger, Abigail refuses to give up her investigation. But can Megan Winnaker really be her long-lost daughter?
Story
The story is complex. There is a subplot involving Abigail’s partner which is equally intriguing and impinges on Abigail’s desire to discover the truth about Megan. Is she really innocent as she insists?
If she is innocent, then how to prove it and get a reprieve in time.
Right up until the very end we are left on tenterhooks.
Characters
The characters were believable, with flaws as well as strengths. Abigail is a strong character but has weaknesses, and several times falls apart.
Megan is confusing at times, as she is supposed to be. She is a girl who faces the death penalty for, as she says, a crime she did not commit. She has been in prison for some years and has fought her own case through appeal courts. No wonder she’s confused and bitter.
Joe, Abigail’s partner, is well-drawn, with his own strengths and weaknesses, especially when it comes to his own sub-plot.
I loved the people in this book and was rooting for Abigail all the way through, longing for Megan to be Becky, her lost daughter, but dreading it in case she were put to death!
Writing
Apart from one or two typos, and incorrect use of ‘lay’, the writing was very good.
Conclusion
Because of the excellent plot, which kept me wanting to go back to the book quickly when I had to put it down, I have overlooked the typos and grammar, which were minor anyway, and given it 5*
This book gripped me right from the beginning. Ms Deal ramps up the tension and doesn’t let go.
Blurb
From the day her five-year-old was abducted, Abigail Fisher vowed never to stop looking until her daughter was safely back home. But despite multiple searches, twenty-three years have passed without a trace of Becky Ann. When Abigail learns that death row inmate Megan Winnaker is the same age as her daughter, she begins to wonder if the kidnapper had Becky Ann's face surgically altered to prevent identification. Megan Winnaker maintains her innocence but faces capital punishment if she loses her final appeal. As Abigail launches her own investigation to find out if Megan is truly her daughter, someone wants to stop her in her tracks. Even when facing mortal danger, Abigail refuses to give up her investigation. But can Megan Winnaker really be her long-lost daughter?
Story
The story is complex. There is a subplot involving Abigail’s partner which is equally intriguing and impinges on Abigail’s desire to discover the truth about Megan. Is she really innocent as she insists?
If she is innocent, then how to prove it and get a reprieve in time.
Right up until the very end we are left on tenterhooks.
Characters
The characters were believable, with flaws as well as strengths. Abigail is a strong character but has weaknesses, and several times falls apart.
Megan is confusing at times, as she is supposed to be. She is a girl who faces the death penalty for, as she says, a crime she did not commit. She has been in prison for some years and has fought her own case through appeal courts. No wonder she’s confused and bitter.
Joe, Abigail’s partner, is well-drawn, with his own strengths and weaknesses, especially when it comes to his own sub-plot.
I loved the people in this book and was rooting for Abigail all the way through, longing for Megan to be Becky, her lost daughter, but dreading it in case she were put to death!
Writing
Apart from one or two typos, and incorrect use of ‘lay’, the writing was very good.
Conclusion
Because of the excellent plot, which kept me wanting to go back to the book quickly when I had to put it down, I have overlooked the typos and grammar, which were minor anyway, and given it 5*
June 10, 2018
Another interesting read from author Mary Deal. The author tackles the hard subject of having a child abducted. That's what happened to Abigail Fisher when her daughter Becky Ann was stolen. Abigail has never stopped looking for her child and decades later she believes Megan Winnaker may be her daughter. Megan is in prison and Abigail is headed in to a twisted thriller trying to find out the truth. This story takes readers down a winding and interesting road as the story unfolds.
May 7, 2019
A magnificent and tight, gripping thriller that leaves you gasping for breath and shaking your head in disbelief as you are faced with the many twists that this read delivers. Her characters have been developed to such degree whereby you could well be reading a true-life story.
There is hope and belief that hasn’t diminished over more than two decades as Abigail’s search finally leads to a female death row inmate who just could be her long lost abducted daughter, Becky Ann.
You don’t have to be a mother to identify with the emotions that churn through Abi’s mind. Any parent would feel the same, though the tenaciousness of a mother should never be under-estimated. The road blocks she most overcome : a heart complaint, her partner, Joe, having his ex coming back on the scene and many more that won’t be mentioned for fear of spoiling the read for others.
A thoroughly enjoyable 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️read that can only be highly recommended to not only lovers of this genre but to readers who want to discover and delve into the mind of talented author Mary Deal.
There is hope and belief that hasn’t diminished over more than two decades as Abigail’s search finally leads to a female death row inmate who just could be her long lost abducted daughter, Becky Ann.
You don’t have to be a mother to identify with the emotions that churn through Abi’s mind. Any parent would feel the same, though the tenaciousness of a mother should never be under-estimated. The road blocks she most overcome : a heart complaint, her partner, Joe, having his ex coming back on the scene and many more that won’t be mentioned for fear of spoiling the read for others.
A thoroughly enjoyable 5 star ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️read that can only be highly recommended to not only lovers of this genre but to readers who want to discover and delve into the mind of talented author Mary Deal.
January 29, 2020
This has been a real rollercoaster of a ride! Deal has created the perfect balance between thriller & mystery in this wonderful tale, her attention to detail ensuring that relationships ring true & each scene is described in vivid detail. When we first meet Abi & Joe their relationship is strong, yet the possibility of a death row inmate being Abi’s long lost daughter puts strain on the couple, which is tested even more by a ghostly figure from Joe’s own past. I think I’ve been through every emotion possible during this read, the sign of a story well crafted.
April 7, 2024
Mary's Marvelous Mystery!
Down to the Needle, by Mary Deal is a mystery, suspense, and thriller all wrapped into one binding. Deal, has the reader questioning and considering many notions throughout her story. She deliberately reels you in and grabs your attention in the third sentence, “The perp torched himself!” Mary adds a lot of color by exposing the reader to many lifestyles such as being; in prison, in an Aryan gang, homeless, a criminal, on the run, and abducted.
Deal seizes the reader by the arm to travel down a path that has unexpected twists and turns throughout. The setting is a quaint town like many along the Pacific coast. Abi, the main character, has had her daughter ripped from her at the age of five and she has been searching for her in every nook and cranny for the past twenty-three years. If that isn’t enough for a mother to cope with, Abi has a serious heart condition that brings her close to death with each breath. The characters that Mary Deal presents come alive on her pages as though they could be your neighbor or co-worker.
As you read this marvelous mystery Mary has the characters engulfed in many emotions that you too will genuinely feel in the small town of Seaport. You will experience tension, anguish, sorrow, rejection, jealousy, betrayal, pain, and suffering as your eyes soak in every word.
Photography and art play key roles throughout this suspense. Deal artistically paints her knowledge and experience of both of these throughout her story, “The simple lines, I’m sure. She found it just about the time she became interested in line art.” Mary even has galleries of her own!
The title that Mary selected for her book is spot on and won’t disappoint you as the plot is played out in this classic psychological thriller. Down to the Needle, has won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Suspense category and the 2017 Bronze Global eBook award and it comes as no surprise to this reader, as it is rightfully deserving. I can assure you I will be reading many more books from Mary Deal and you will want to do the same!
Down to the Needle, by Mary Deal is a mystery, suspense, and thriller all wrapped into one binding. Deal, has the reader questioning and considering many notions throughout her story. She deliberately reels you in and grabs your attention in the third sentence, “The perp torched himself!” Mary adds a lot of color by exposing the reader to many lifestyles such as being; in prison, in an Aryan gang, homeless, a criminal, on the run, and abducted.
Deal seizes the reader by the arm to travel down a path that has unexpected twists and turns throughout. The setting is a quaint town like many along the Pacific coast. Abi, the main character, has had her daughter ripped from her at the age of five and she has been searching for her in every nook and cranny for the past twenty-three years. If that isn’t enough for a mother to cope with, Abi has a serious heart condition that brings her close to death with each breath. The characters that Mary Deal presents come alive on her pages as though they could be your neighbor or co-worker.
As you read this marvelous mystery Mary has the characters engulfed in many emotions that you too will genuinely feel in the small town of Seaport. You will experience tension, anguish, sorrow, rejection, jealousy, betrayal, pain, and suffering as your eyes soak in every word.
Photography and art play key roles throughout this suspense. Deal artistically paints her knowledge and experience of both of these throughout her story, “The simple lines, I’m sure. She found it just about the time she became interested in line art.” Mary even has galleries of her own!
The title that Mary selected for her book is spot on and won’t disappoint you as the plot is played out in this classic psychological thriller. Down to the Needle, has won the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Award in the Suspense category and the 2017 Bronze Global eBook award and it comes as no surprise to this reader, as it is rightfully deserving. I can assure you I will be reading many more books from Mary Deal and you will want to do the same!
June 27, 2020
What a perfect title for this suspense filled novel. There’s Abi with her heart problem searching for her daughter that was abducted when she was but five. Abi's love life, Joe, a photographer, is in a struggle of his own as a former love has been found without her memories in a homeless camp. The news is all about a convicted young, female arsonist named Megan who was found guilty of murder and her case before the Supreme Court. Joe shows Abi the art work Megan did as child when she was here searching for memories. Abi is stunned these look like the artwork of her own daughter—and so the search begins. Is Megan her daughter? Was she falsely identified as she claims? The man that identified her is now legally blind. Abi will finance an expensive operation for him and then he disappears. Arson hits Abi’s house. Is it just a coincidence or is someone after her? Joe’s detective friend thinks Megan is innocent and brings in a young lawyer that concurs. Abi pays for him also. She pushes for a DNA test when Megan sing the name of Becky’s daughter. Then they realize the blood for the DNA was tampered with and the question still remains as the time for the execution draws closer and closer. I would live to write more about this wonderful page turning story, but refuse to be a spoiler. Will the arsonist of years ago turn out to be Megan? But who is the arsonist of today? Trust me, this story really does go down to the needle.
December 29, 2022
I love a great psychological thriller and this is one of them! The book starts out at the scene of a fire, where two characters, Abi and her significant other, Joe, are reporting on it. I was wondering why this was so significant, as the story switches immediately afterward to the Abigail’s search for her daughter, Becky Ann, missing for twenty-three years. When Abigail and Joe begin to investigate Becky Ann’s whereabouts, they find that Becky Ann’s fate might be tied to another tragic house fire, one where a woman, Megan, has been convicted and awaits execution. And, if Megan is put to death by lethal injection, Abi will never find the answers to what might have happened to her daughter.
As a mother myself, Abi’s search for her daughter hits all the right emotions; I empathized with her plight and her horrible, frustrating journey to find the child taken from her. I also found myself rooting for the death row inmate, Megan, but was never sure during the story that I could trust her. The author does an amazing job at creating tension and arousing those questions. It kept me turning the pages, wondering when the other shoe would drop. And it does. There are plenty of twists and drama, centered around the missing girl, the death-row inmate, and a mysterious homeless woman. From the captivating beginning to the satisfying ending, this book is a winner. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
As a mother myself, Abi’s search for her daughter hits all the right emotions; I empathized with her plight and her horrible, frustrating journey to find the child taken from her. I also found myself rooting for the death row inmate, Megan, but was never sure during the story that I could trust her. The author does an amazing job at creating tension and arousing those questions. It kept me turning the pages, wondering when the other shoe would drop. And it does. There are plenty of twists and drama, centered around the missing girl, the death-row inmate, and a mysterious homeless woman. From the captivating beginning to the satisfying ending, this book is a winner. I can’t wait to read more from this author!
March 22, 2024
A Psychological Thriller with Sizzle!
Mary Deal’s psychological thriller sizzles with heart-stopping, unpredictable turns from the first page to the last without let-up. The landscape of Seaport and its outlying areas is an integral part of Abi Fisher’s search for her daughter who has been missing for twenty-three years. Then, Abi is on a crusade to exonerate death-row inmate, Megan Winnaker, from an execution pertaining to an arson-homicide.
Could she be her daughter, Becky? Is Megan truly innocent?
While that alone would provide enough fuel for the aptly titled, ‘Down to the Needle,’ there’s so much more. For starters: Abi and Joe’s co-dependent romance; Joe trying to do right by a former flame, made homeless from trauma; the roller coaster of emotions Abi experiences in cultivating a relationship with a cunning Megan, leading up to her scheduled lethal injection.
Mary Deal exhibits the hallmarks of a gifted writer. So much so, I’d think to myself, “You can’t make this stuff up!” But, she did—effectively blurring the lines of demarcation between fiction and nonfiction: her artistic details drive the plot; her ease with legalese; realistic depictions of a homeless encampment; the lifestyle of gang members living on the fringe; a look at life behind bars.
I highly recommend this sizzler which pulls out all the stops down to the needle and beyond.
Mary Deal’s psychological thriller sizzles with heart-stopping, unpredictable turns from the first page to the last without let-up. The landscape of Seaport and its outlying areas is an integral part of Abi Fisher’s search for her daughter who has been missing for twenty-three years. Then, Abi is on a crusade to exonerate death-row inmate, Megan Winnaker, from an execution pertaining to an arson-homicide.
Could she be her daughter, Becky? Is Megan truly innocent?
While that alone would provide enough fuel for the aptly titled, ‘Down to the Needle,’ there’s so much more. For starters: Abi and Joe’s co-dependent romance; Joe trying to do right by a former flame, made homeless from trauma; the roller coaster of emotions Abi experiences in cultivating a relationship with a cunning Megan, leading up to her scheduled lethal injection.
Mary Deal exhibits the hallmarks of a gifted writer. So much so, I’d think to myself, “You can’t make this stuff up!” But, she did—effectively blurring the lines of demarcation between fiction and nonfiction: her artistic details drive the plot; her ease with legalese; realistic depictions of a homeless encampment; the lifestyle of gang members living on the fringe; a look at life behind bars.
I highly recommend this sizzler which pulls out all the stops down to the needle and beyond.
December 15, 2018
Packed this in at 19%. The dialogue is very stilted and strange between a couple who've been together some time and it has too many mistakes in it. The story itself seemed interesting and I liked that the "heroine" was an older woman and I'd have probably stuck with it if it was only the dialogue issue or only the mistakes but not with both, I'm afraid. People just don't talk like that. I found he was asking her stuff he'd surely have known for years !!! I understand it probably helped explain the history but to do it using their conversation was a silly way of doing so. She also mentions that her daughter would never have been rebellious.....maybe not when she was 5, perhaps, but in the intervening 23 years, who knows ???
She wrote shorts and not short, shown and not shone, confidant and not confidante, impatience and not impatient and respectively not respectfully. This line was a total mess-"Always perceptive, Lindsay's dark floppy curls bounced as she approached, and reached for the door knob. " Lindsay smiled her cute obliging smile and closed the door".........Yes, those rogue speechmarks WERE included as well !! I reached a line where she wrote relived as opposed to relieved and I sighed loudly and called it a day.
She wrote shorts and not short, shown and not shone, confidant and not confidante, impatience and not impatient and respectively not respectfully. This line was a total mess-"Always perceptive, Lindsay's dark floppy curls bounced as she approached, and reached for the door knob. " Lindsay smiled her cute obliging smile and closed the door".........Yes, those rogue speechmarks WERE included as well !! I reached a line where she wrote relived as opposed to relieved and I sighed loudly and called it a day.
March 15, 2018
Sometimes before I do a review of a book I look at all the other reviews. I did that in regard to this book. I cannot for the life of me understand the one star reviews offered of this book. First, in response to those reviews, and in support of all the five star reviews, this is a very well presented book with what I saw as one error in the entire book. When a book is as meticulously presented as this one it deserves no less than three stars. Now to the issue of the story. I will not recount the story for you because to do so would spoil the many twists and turns this book takes in order to enhance all aspects of the story. The story lines are very simple in nature. The manner of arriving at the conclusion of all the various twists and turns is extremely well done. I would offer that this author has done a wonderful job with simple story lines by creating many indirect events within the story. I would offer that this book is well worth reading for any age after tweens and is a good, fast read which will engage the reader totally.
August 16, 2019
Exquisite, heart pumping, extraordinary torture – brilliant
Where do I start? I loved this book, and yet it caused me so much heartache and worry. I am a slow reader, but I take all of it in. I live it.
I felt the pain and suffering of a mother who endured the anguish of losing her daughter aged 5; abducted by her estranged husband, never to be found. Was she still alive? And then, a death row woman, the same age as her daughter, displays characteristics that suggest she could be the long lost daughter.
What follows is a roller coaster ride of emotions that involve proving if the woman is her daughter, and then to prove her innocent of the crime. A switchback of narrative twists, hope, despair, misery… so well written. It has taken me some time to recover – I was exhausted after this read.
I will say no more for fear of spoilers – but – read this book – you will not regret it. I have already bought another of Deal’s books.
Where do I start? I loved this book, and yet it caused me so much heartache and worry. I am a slow reader, but I take all of it in. I live it.
I felt the pain and suffering of a mother who endured the anguish of losing her daughter aged 5; abducted by her estranged husband, never to be found. Was she still alive? And then, a death row woman, the same age as her daughter, displays characteristics that suggest she could be the long lost daughter.
What follows is a roller coaster ride of emotions that involve proving if the woman is her daughter, and then to prove her innocent of the crime. A switchback of narrative twists, hope, despair, misery… so well written. It has taken me some time to recover – I was exhausted after this read.
I will say no more for fear of spoilers – but – read this book – you will not regret it. I have already bought another of Deal’s books.
Read
October 30, 2020Multiple characters, multiple motivations, multiple mysteries; Deal deftly juggles all in this spellbinding thriller.
Abi, a woman with a heart condition, has been searching over twenty years for her daughter Becky, abducted as a child by her estranged husband. Her boyfriend Joe, has been carrying a torch for a woman who left him years ago then disappeared. Deal builds these characters and their relationship from the ground up, fashioning realistic, believable, living, breathing, individuals.
The arrival in town of a homeless woman together with the conviction and looming execution of another woman for arson and murder, sets off a chain of events that cascades and blossoms into a multitude of possibilities involving a wide variety of well-drawn characters ranging from a determined police detective to gang bangers, to neo Nazis.
An exciting tale filled with twists and turns well worth the read.
Abi, a woman with a heart condition, has been searching over twenty years for her daughter Becky, abducted as a child by her estranged husband. Her boyfriend Joe, has been carrying a torch for a woman who left him years ago then disappeared. Deal builds these characters and their relationship from the ground up, fashioning realistic, believable, living, breathing, individuals.
The arrival in town of a homeless woman together with the conviction and looming execution of another woman for arson and murder, sets off a chain of events that cascades and blossoms into a multitude of possibilities involving a wide variety of well-drawn characters ranging from a determined police detective to gang bangers, to neo Nazis.
An exciting tale filled with twists and turns well worth the read.
December 29, 2020
Abigail Fisher has spent her life searching for her daughter Becky who was abducted at the tender age of five years old by her ex-husband and never seen again. While working with her boyfriend, Joe, she becomes aware of a young woman on death row who has been convicted of murder and arson. After following the story and linking several similarities between this woman and her long lost daughter, Abigail dares to think that she may have found her lost child.
This is a nail-biting read, with more ups and downs, twists and turns than a roller coaster. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so let’s just say that everyone Abigail tries to help seems to use her for their own devices. As the days tick away and time runs out, the nailbiting finale made this book unputdownable!
Read this book. You won’t be disappointed!
This is a nail-biting read, with more ups and downs, twists and turns than a roller coaster. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so let’s just say that everyone Abigail tries to help seems to use her for their own devices. As the days tick away and time runs out, the nailbiting finale made this book unputdownable!
Read this book. You won’t be disappointed!
March 7, 2019
I was impressed with this book. I enjoyed the plot. It was a great exciting book with lots of twists and turns that kept me entertained throughout the book. The characters were great and very persistent to find the criminals. I felt the moms pain looking for her lost daughter. The author makes you feel the emotions that someone who has lost a close one to an abduction. It was a great read. I also want to read more from this author.
July 23, 2024
Mary Deal captured me immediately. Abigail's child disappeared twenty-three years ago. Could the woman in the nearby prison, who has been sentenced to death, be that missing child? Abigail's lover, who makes life bearable after so many empty years, discovers his former lover wandering in a homeless camp and feels compelled to help her regain her health and her memory. I kept turning the pages, eager to resolve the multiple mysteries and the love story.
September 22, 2019
Twists and turns keeps the story moving
From beginning to end Down to the Needle keeps the reader hooked. Full of believable characters, twists and turns, suspense and mystery, Mary Deal creates an incredible story. Before opening the book, get comfortable, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, because once you start reading you won’t want to put the book down.
From beginning to end Down to the Needle keeps the reader hooked. Full of believable characters, twists and turns, suspense and mystery, Mary Deal creates an incredible story. Before opening the book, get comfortable, pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, because once you start reading you won’t want to put the book down.
November 15, 2020
Wow!
A great well written story with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! This book is highly recommended for everyone who loves a thriller!
Lots of interesting characters, but introduced at a leisurely pace so it's not difficult to keep track of them.
A page-turner indeed!
A great well written story with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! This book is highly recommended for everyone who loves a thriller!
Lots of interesting characters, but introduced at a leisurely pace so it's not difficult to keep track of them.
A page-turner indeed!
March 4, 2018
Intriguing read
Interesting characters and multiple intertwined plot lines. How far would you go to find a missing daughter? Will the truthiness out in time to save an innocent life?
Interesting characters and multiple intertwined plot lines. How far would you go to find a missing daughter? Will the truthiness out in time to save an innocent life?
March 6, 2019
Beautifully crafted suspense story!
The story weaves in the past and the present of the characters as we learn about Abi's search for her daughter Megan.
The suspense is kept right till the end and we learn why the title is perfect for the story.
Wonderful and detailed writing!
The story weaves in the past and the present of the characters as we learn about Abi's search for her daughter Megan.
The suspense is kept right till the end and we learn why the title is perfect for the story.
Wonderful and detailed writing!
December 17, 2019
A missing girl who's grown up, a homeless woman who might be a lost love, and a litany of unsolved crimes blend together to create a suspenseful book with strong characters. The author also highlights important social issues through her characters' journeys.
April 17, 2023
Love loved this book and I didn’t want it to end. There were so many unexpected twists just when I thought I had it all figured out! I also felt a lot of empathy for the characters I felt I’d come to know; sure there were so unlikeable characters but they were as real and lifelike as the good characters.
A very deeply interesting book if you’re tired of light and airy.
A very deeply interesting book if you’re tired of light and airy.
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