A Measured Thread

A Measured Thread

Fifty years is a long time to keep a secret Looking back on her life, Maggie O’Connor is rightfully pleased. Fifty years ago she left Ireland with a single suitcase and a dream. After a long and satisfying career, she is enjoying retirement on her farm in rural Wisconsin — until she falls. Determined to regain her independence, she hires Isobel, a young woman who is also an emigrant. Helping Maggie clean house, Isobel finds a cache of letters that Maggie wrote to her parents those many years ago and begins to read them aloud to Maggie But the letters contain a secret, one that Maggie has kept for fifty years. A secret that threatens to destroy her life and that of the people around her. With little time left, she must make a choice — give up, or face her past. A Measured Thread is a powerful story that explores questions of guilt, abandonment, redemption, and the consequences of the choices we make. Five Stars from Readers Favorite: The author constructs a plot with many twists and turns, building to an unforeseen ending. The character of Maggie is complex as her past is unveiled, bit by bit. As a retired science professor, she was professionally successful but she harbored painful life events. The author skillfully crafted this main character, as well as Isobel and Vic. Both characters are essential to the story, providing support and solutions to Maggie's current dilemmas. Another charming feature of this book includes the colorful descriptions of Maggie's Wisconsin property in the valley and the visit to her Irish homeland. Author Mary Behan has penned a remarkable novel in A Measured Thread. It is poignant in many ways, fully demonstrating the circle of life. ​ 8. MARY BEHAN was formerly a professor of neuroscience. Now retired from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, she devotes her time to writing fiction, memoir and short stories. Her first book, Abby Girls, is a memoir she wrote with her sister, Valarie Behan, about their childhood in Ireland. She lives with her husband in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin in a log cabin overlooking a tall grass prairie. Visit her at mvbehan.com.