After Aggie Dunkirk’s career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her rambling old home. She didn’t plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene–even going so far as to re-create it in the dollhouse. Mystery seems to follow her when she finds work as a … as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the cemetery. Forced to work with the cemetery’s puzzling, yet attractive archeologist, she exhumes the past’s secrets and unwittingly uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep quiet–even if it means silencing Aggie.
In 1946, Imogene Flannigan works in a local factory and has eyes on owning her own beauty salon. But coming home to discover her younger sister’s body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the newly burgeoning world of criminal forensics and not particularly welcomed as a woman, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister’s case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice . . . even if it costs her everything.
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Echoes Among the Stones is a poignant, gripping suspense that probes the depths of grief. This dual timeline goes between 1946 and present day, weaving together the stories of Imogene Flannigan and Aggie Dunkirk. In post-WWII Mill Creek, Imogene tries to solve her sister’s murder. And in present-day Mill Creek, Aggie tries to figure out who wants to keep her from working at the cemetery.
Jaime Jo Wright weaves these stories together seamlessly, dropping hints and clues in one storyline and following through on an explanation in another. Just when you think you’ve begun to piece together what’s going on, Wright throws you a curve ball.
And she manages to keep the suspense going throughout the novel, making it a fast read. You won’t want to stop reading from the moment Imogene discovers her sister’s body. And the characters’ struggles with grief make the emotion raw and personal, giving you a vested interest in seeing a happy ending.
Speaking of happy endings, there was one ending I wasn’t too happy about. But I can see why Wright chose that ending. And I can appreciate that she chose something that fit the character rather than preconceived expectations. Even fictional novels need a bit of truth.
Which is why I love this novel’s cast. The supporting characters and the family connections add something special to the main characters’ journeys. Make them relatable and raise the stakes. And the ginger archaeologist makes everything better.
Jaime Jo Wright earned a spot on my TBR when I read The House on Foster Hill.. With Echoes Among the Stones, she solidified her place as a must-read author.
Echoes Among The Stones by Jaime Jo Wright is a marvellous dual timeline Christian suspense that will completely consume your heart, soul and emotions.
One character straddles the two timelines. She is a teen in 1946 and a grandmother in present day. The past intrudes on the present as old crimes need solving and laid to rest.
The novel is a study in raw grief as lives are suspended in a moment in time. No matter where you go, you cannot outrun grief. “Time healed no pain.” Two leading characters are battling grief. For one, it suddenly interrupted life, for the other she knew it was coming. For both, they cling to their loved one and are shaken to the core.
The reader sees the effects of grief. Some characters are angry at God. “How does God allow something this – this heinous?” God does not ‘allow’ pain, man has free will. God walks alongside us in our pain. He is there in the middle, He does not leave us alone.
There are those who point others to God. If we push Him away, we push away hope and we miss out on His blessings. “Your outcome changes significantly if you do believe in God’s goodness.” No matter what happens in life, God is still good. We must focus on His goodness and trust that He will see us through.
I tried to solve the cold case and present day crimes. I failed… again. Jaime Jo Wright has constructed a cleverly thought out plotline that kept me guessing. I loved her characters, especially Mumsie, with her love for her sister, her tough exterior and her heart of gold.
Jaime Jo Wright’s stories are always wonderful. I love them all.
I would like to share a powerful quote to finish:
“The raw grief reflected in her eyes… Grief made its own indelible mark on a person’s soul… There was never a good time for Death to visit. There was never a time that Grief would leave.”
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Since this is a Jaime Jo Wright book, I expected a spooky suspense. What I found was a riveting and hauntingly beautiful story about surviving loss and honoring loved ones. This one will stay with me.
Each time I read a Jaime Jo Wright novel, it is my new favorite! And this one is no exception. Readers will immediately fall in love with Wright’s characters who are engaging, quirky, and sassy. The story draws the reader in, and I can tell you that I was engrossed from start to finish! Wright is one of my go to authors, and I can’t wait to see what she has for us next!
As far as I’m concerned, author Jaime Jo Wright has become the premiere writer of suspenseful time slip stories. This is her best to date!
The characters in this book are very human with all the flaws that go along with that. The spiritual aspects are “normal”; not pushed in any way. Wright deals with a few touchy subjects and does it gracefully.
While eerie, I could read this book after dark, which I can’t with her others. Thrilling and goose-bumping raising with all the twists and turns, I couldn’t read fast enough to find out who dun it. Fascinating, uncanny, yet with forgiveness and even a light romance, I highly recommend Echoes Among the Stones be added to your library.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
“And then I read her book, now I’m a believer!” were my thoughts after I read Jaime Jo Wright’s first book. The House on Foster Hill reminded me why I so love mysteries and the dual timelines were just icing on the cake. Since then, Wright has consistently amazed me with her writing and with her fourth book she has proven herself “Queen of Dual Timeline Mysteries”. I do believe, however, that Echoes Among the Stones may be her best book yet because it explores a subject that all of us have known or will know eventually. Sooner or later, each of us will experience grief and this book shows the different layers of grief, how it affects people in different ways as they deal with the pain and loss, and finally, how healing can occur.
The two stories in Echoes Among the Stones center around Imogene Grayson in 1946 and her granddaughter Aggie Dunkirk in present time and their individual journeys to deal with the griefs that have consumed them all of their lives. Aggie’s return to her grandmother’s home in Wisconsin shines light on a mystery that has plagued Mumsie for over seventy years and now threatens Aggie’s life. Along with this mystery there is sweet romance for Aggie with an archaeologist but it is the faith message you will find yourself remembering. Wright shows the certainty of grace and redemption with her depiction of Mumsie’s deep, unwavering belief and Aggie’s questioning faith. She also makes some notable observations about grief and healing that are certainly worth remembering!
“There was never a good time for Death to visit. There was never a time when Grief would leave.”
“You go ahead and let the grief consume you, because then it will heal you, free you, and the good Lord can move into its place and show you promise.” …..”And the footprints of those who’ve gone before you? They’ll still be there. Memories to warm you when you’re old.”
Echoes Among the Stones is outstanding Christian suspense and I wish that I could give it more than five stars!
I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House Publishers. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
Another great Jamie Jo Wright book! Aggie is at rock bottom in life, still grieving her mother and her grandmother has sent for her help. Pushing herself through to the next day, Aggie heads to her grandmothers to find more than what she had expected, as well as long kept secret that affects her grandmother. This secret may just explain a few things about her families past. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and really liked that the story line is written between Aggie as well as her grandmother Genie and when this tragedy of a secret happened. I want to thank the author/publisher for the free copy, in exchange for my honest review.
“Grief isn’t wrong, but it can paralyze. It can thwart a life. A person can choose to let time stand still, and while they hold the pieces of the past, the hope of their future passes them by.”
Another thought-provoking and incredibly well-written split-time novel by Jaime Jo Wright! This book really delves into the process of grieving and the consequences of unresolved and unprocessed grief. It’s emotional, raw, and quite relatable. The characters Imogene from 1946 and Aggie from the present time are quite similar and unforgettable. I really liked Collin from the present day and enjoyed his quirks as an archeologist. I wish I had gotten to know Ollie from 1946 a bit better through Imogene’s eyes. If you’ve read the author’s previous book The Curse of Misty Wayfair, this book is not as eerie though it still has an unsolved murder as the basis of the plot and the way the author unravels the murder mystery is a masterpiece in itself. If you enjoy split-time novels that unearth resolution to cold cases, you will absolutely love this book.
I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
If Jaime Jo Wright were a FiveStar restaurant, her books would be an epicurean delight. Not only are they sumptuously written but they satisfy and feed our souls.
Ms. Wright understands human nature and she uses it to tell a remarkable tale full of mystery that haunts her characters.
Death and mourning are not easy topics to write about. In Echoes Among The Stones, Ms. Wright takes us through the characters’ grief and there is resolve and hope on the other side.
This is a dual-time story, so we get to peek into the modern world of Aggie Dunkirk, her Mumsie and Collin O’Shaughnessy, an archeologist who is “Mr. Darcy mashed with Doctor Who.” We see how these lives are connected to post World War II Mill Creek, Wisconsin. There we meet Imogene Grayson and her family in the aftermath of her sister Hazel’s murder. Grief is what connects Imogene and Aggie, for Aggie has lost her mother to cancer.
“You can’t come back from sorrow, “ Aggie whispered. “ It locks you in a prison and leaves you there.” Her voice caught as the agonizing pain she’d shoved deep inside made its way into her chest, constricting it with every pent-up sob she hadn’t cried. “I know Someone who holds the prison key.” Words said by Collin and meant to be comforting.
The mystery jumps across the decades to impact many lives. But some truths are universal. “Death didn’t give a person a choice. It just came and stole. Death was a thief.”
Collin is again the voice of wisdom and faith. “All I can say right now is that we sell God short when we look at the pain. Instead, we should focus on what He’s provided us to help us heal.”
But not all is somber contemplation or deep truths. Along the way, Ms Wright provides some light moments with The Three Stooges, church ladies who visit Mumsie, and Aggie evaluates herself as “a burnt marshmallow that once had been sweet but had come too close to the fire and was left crispy and unwanted.”
Ms. Wright manages to come up with new stories to tempt us and this one is the icing on the cake.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
WOW! Jaime Jo Wright has done it again! A masterpiece story that will hold your attention from the first to the last!! Not a creepy book even though the beautiful cover is a graveyard. The mystery itself was something I had to get back to. I had to see what was happening next. The characters captivated and charmed me.
From the book; “Aggie pulled her near and rested her cheek against Mumsie’s hair. This is why I came, she whispered.” Oh the emotions in this one statement!
Both stories in this book are unique and the spiritual aspects I absorbed. When a person dies I’m glad God made it where we can remember them and their good works for years and years. Grief is a terrible thing it seems but somehow God gives us hope.
You will definitely want to read this story that has mystery, grief, emotions to galore, forgiveness and most of all hope. I strongly recommend this book to my friends that love to read. This will definitely be a keeper book!
I received a copy of this book from Bethany House on the behalf of the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Jaime Jo Wright has done it again, crafting a marvelous mystery in her signature style as she blends notes of suspense, romance, and spiritual truths across dual time periods. A swoon-worthy Scottish archaeologist makes a dashing entrance in present day while a humble farmer-turned-soldier with a war-torn spirit tugs at your heartstrings back in 1946. Imogene and Aggie are relatable, endearing heroines that spill their gut-wrenching grief across the pages beneath Jaime’s pen. Her characters feature a raw, multi-faceted depth of heart, soul, and spirit that transported me into their worlds. I’ve rarely encountered such well-developed characters in this genre. Echoes Among the Stones will rivet you to the very end! Don’t miss out on this masterfully written novel!
I loved this dual timeline novel by Jaime Jo Wright! It wasn’t as creepy as her previous works (and I mean creepy in the very best way) but was more of a puzzle, a cerebral and emotional journey that brings the reader face to face with the legacy grief can have, and with the hope that can overcome it. I especially enjoyed the development of Mumsie. Being able to see her character arc span decades brought a rich dimension and perspective to the tale. The ending was completely satisfying without being artifically neat and tied with a bow. Those struggling with grief will find this a particularly meaningful read. And since none of us can escape grief at some point… that means all of us.
This was amazing read because we, the reader, can identify with grief one of the main themes of this book. Both Aggie, in present day and Imogene in the past are struggling to cope with losing someone close to them.
In both time settings, an unsolved crime is also the center of attention for the charters. In 1946, our idea of Forensic Science today did not exist and seeing how the police dealt with the murder was interesting seeing that most books deal with the subject matter in present day.
In the end I believe that the character Mumsie, gave the best advice: “.. the footprints of those who’ve gone before you? They’ll still be there. Memories to warm you when you’re old.” Meaning, we never are meant to forget our loved ones that have passed, but we learn to live life again with our memories of them.
Jaime Jo Wright continues to write mysteries that keep one turning the pages to find out what will happen next. Like Ellery Queen of years ago, she lays out the clues and keeps the reader guessing the villain until the end. “Echoes Among the Stones” is a tragic story not only because of the death of a beautiful young woman but also because of what happened to many of the men who returned home from WWII as broken shells from their experiences.
I am looking forward to the June release of her newest book.
If there was one thing I would change in this novel it would be the name of the protagonist “Aggie”. I continuously tried to pronounce it”Angie”.
A hauntingly beautiful time-slip novel that examines all the ways grief and loss can keep us captive. Combining mystery, suspense, history, romance, and the unbreakable ties of family love, this novel is Jaime Jo Wright at her best.
A cold case reaches into present day. A grandmother and granddaughter struggle to find common ground. A young woman overshadowed by grief finds a reason to embrace life. An entertaining page-turner with some moving moments. I enjoyed it!
After reading four Jaime Jo Wright novels, I’m pretty sure it’s impossible for her to write a disappointing book. Her storytelling is engaging, her atmospheric prose never fail to give me goosebumps, and her characters are unique and multifaceted.
“Echoes Among the Stones” features my favorite Wright characters to date, sassy spit-fire Imogene/Mumsie and charming archeologist Collin. He has a British accent, y’all! Enough said.
I absolutely loved Echo Among the Stones by fellow Wisconsin author, Jamie Jo Wright. It’s the perfect read for October, with its spooky overtures.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Present:
Answering a call for help, Aggie Dunkirk finds herself in the small Wisconsin town her grandmother, Mumsie, lives in. While she’s there, helping Mumsie, Aggie takes a job at the local cemetery working with an equally frustrating and attractive man, Collin, an anthropologist hired to help sort out the graves and determine which body belongs where after a flood.
Still grieving the loss of her mother from cancer, Aggie is unprepared for the strange and creepy occurrences she unearths. And almost as disturbing, Aggie’s attraction and reliance on her working partner grows. Will Aggie nip her feelings for Collin in the bud, or will she allow them to blossom? Will she move past old family issues to get to heart of the mystery of Hazel Grayson, a misplaced woman, long buried in the cemetery?
Past:
Imogene walks into the attic bedroom of her family home and a horrific scene of the murder of her sister. In spite of the effort of law enforcement, Imogene works on her own to define the suspects and comprehend why would anyone kill her gentle, sweet sister.
Taking a job at the local munitions plant where her sister worked, Imogene strives to uncover any clues or connections, which might lead to apprehending her sister’s killer.
With the aid of a morbid diorama and recorded testimony, past meets the present as the mystery slowly unravels to answer the question of: what happened to Hazel Grayson?
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fast-paced, heart-wrenching, slightly spooky, and emotional novel, masterfully told in a split-timeline. This is the first book I’ve read by Jamie Jo Wright, and it won’t be the last!
Readers of suspense, mystery, historical fiction, and Christian fiction will find themselves drawn into this richly-layered and well-written novel.
My puzzle loving self was totally entranced by this book and all the little pieces sprinkled along the path as the two story lines wove together. As I read about Aggie and Imogene’s life I totally enjoyed the “who done it?” element. I also loved the exploration of the generational effects of grief. Healthy grieving versus hanging on to what was so tightly that one cannot embrace the love in front of them. A tragic tale tinged with hope.
Jaime Jo Wright’s Echoes Among the Stones drops readers into a seventy year old mystery. Set in two time periods, the story revolves around Imogene Flannigan, whose sister is murdered. Flash forward as Aggie Dunkirk tries to put the pieces together and figure out why the murder was unsolved. But someone keeps sending warning signs to say that past secrets should be left buried.
I love mysteries, the kind where anyone can be a suspect and readers don’t know who to trust. Echoes Among the Stones delivers a twisted and complex mystery with a cast of equally complicated characters. Aggie’s job working as a cemetery secretary adds to the intrigue as she moves in with her grandmother AKA Mumsie. Mumsie has secrets that span her entire life.
Even with the overarching mystery steeped in death, the story brings some deep themes to life. The characters are amazingly dynamic, and Aggie learns to deal with her grief from Mumsie, who let regret and sorrow consume her entire life. Aggie’s odd relationship with Colin, the might-be-British eclectic archaeologist, is quirky and endearing. He’s definitely a character! Flipping into the past, readers will love Imogene’s spun, determination, and loyalty. She refuses to give up on finding out the truth about her sister’s murder while everyone else seems to moves on.
Move Echoes from the Stones up on your TBR list if you are a fan of mysteries. This is the story you won’t want to put down, so block off your schedule accordingly.
I received a complementary ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.