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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The feeling I had by the time I closed this book was not unlike the feeling one gets from stepping off a roller coaster after the ride. My legs were shaking and my heart tripped along inside my chest. Wow. What a ride! Full review is at my website.
Imogene “Mumsie” has been haunted by the death of her younger sister Hazel back in the mid 1940’s, and even at the age of 92, she is still obsessed with finding her murderer. Even after all of these years, the lack of closure in her sister’s death has forever rocked her world – she even has her dollhouse that re-enacts her death scene.
Agnes “Aggie” Dunkirk has hit rock bottom, and with her recent job loss has moved in with her aging and eccentric grandmother Mumsie, whom she hasn’t seen in eight years. The loss of her mother two years ago has affected her life as well. Aggie has taken a job in the town cemetery to help map it out after a flood, which Aggie really finds to be beneath her skill level and a bit distressing as well. Collin O’Shaughnessy is a handsome archeologist who has been hired to help with the cemetery plotting for potential exhumations. Colin is very witty and does a superb job of distracting the two women after disturbing things are left for them to find.
I like this time split novel because it is just a bit different. Mumsie’s character exists in the earlier time frame as a carefree young woman and as an elderly woman in the present time frame. She was my favorite character, so it’s a bit unsettling that her obsession has pretty much taken over her life. I also enjoyed the slow buildup of suspense – I really did not figure everything out until the very end. There was nothing predictable about this novel and I loved that. Strange things kept happening, but the culprit was not found until the bitter end. I thought it was interesting that there was a WWII munitions plant smack dab in Mill Creek, Wisconsin, which was probably a genius idea of the government to place it in the middle of farm county. Who would look for a munitions plant there? This story was more like a puzzle than it was a whodunnit, which was probably an intentional way to keep the creep factor in check. Faith and grief meld together to form a cunningly crafted mystery to keep me turning the pages and having difficulty putting the book aside. This may be the best of Jaime Jo Wright’s books so far!
I received this book complimentary from the publisher I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
In the words of Imogene Grayson, “Holy joe!” Jaime Jo Wright has done it again with this fantastic time split novel, and she’s the queen of them if you ask me. Echoes Among The Stones has taken first place for my favorite one, EVER.
The dollhouse element in this one was really unique and so creepy good, absolutely perfect for reading late at night when everyone else is asleep. I loved the grandmother/grandaughter dynamic, and watching them grow together through this mystery was so touching. This book showed how finding the answers we desperately want and think we need cannot fill that void that only ultimately only God can fill. Have some tissues close by for this one!
***Disclaimer – I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. A positive review was not required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A phenomenal story of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. It’s a story of love, betrayal, and loss. I was taken to two generations of women that were equally haunting and I might as well have walked among the tombstones with both of them. I love each book of Jaime Jo Wright’s even more than the last!
Beautifully written, Echoes Among the Stones is a powerful novel of grief, emotional pain, healing, and a young woman’s lifelong search for her sister’s murderer. The author seamlessly includes a time-slip plot guaranteed to keep the reader frantically turning those pages til way past bedtime! With a variety of colorful, multifaceted characters, and just a smidgen of romance, this novel is a must read for all who-dun-it lovers!
I love all of Jaime Jo Wright’s books, but this one is my favorite!
Echoes Among the Stones, by Jaime Jo Wright, is a gripping, time-slip novel that skillfully intertwines mysterious events of the past with puzzling events of the present to create a unique story that is eerily chilling and absolutely captivating. With undeniable talent and imagination, Ms. Wright has crafted a novel that is simply impossible to put down. Pulse-quickening scenes, ominous settings, and enigmatic characters ensure that this book is thoroughly intriguing and utterly entertaining.
Whether set in an old farmhouse, a cold attic room, or a flooded corner of the town cemetery, the scenes in this book unfurl with a contemplative precision that is emotionally stirring and cleverly appealing. With excellent pacing throughout the novel, important facts and details are thoughtfully uncovered, revealing the truth behind the secretive and disturbing events the characters encounter. The quest to make sense of the unsettling and frightening circumstances makes for an extremely riveting reading experience.
This novel also abounds with purposeful themes that uplift and encourage. When presented with alarming truths and baffling secrets, the characters possess a spirit of perseverance and strength that is remarkably inspiring. As they struggle with fear, loss, and insecurities, the characters manage to grasp meaning and pursue hope. No matter what secrets are revealed or what facts are discovered, the characters learn to open their hearts to the healing power of faith, forgiveness, and family.
With terrific talent and careful attention to detail, Ms. Wright has fashioned an unforgettable novel. Echoes Among the Stones is an incredibly fascinating story from beginning to end. The absorbing mystery, meaningful themes, and thrilling suspense are intensely satisfying. It is a well-written, engaging, and relevant novel, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.
*I was given a copy of this novel by the publisher. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.
Aggie has just lost her job and been called to the bedside of her grandmother, Imogene or Mumsie as Aggie calls her, who has broken her hip. Upon arrival at her grandmother’s house, she discovers her grandmother lied to her and is in good health for someone in her 90s. Aggie has also accepted a job as an administrative assistant at a nearby cemetery. Her grandmother has found a skeleton in her backyard. Then, other events begin to happen that cause Aggie to begin asking questions about her aunt’s death in 1946.
Imogene Grayson lives on a farm with her sister and her parents. Her two older brothers have returned from fighting in WWII and are living on their own. Imogene arrives home one afternoon to make an awful discovery. Her sister, Hazel, has been murdered and Imogene is the first to find her body. Imogene is consumed with grief over the death of her beloved sister. When the local police make no arrests, Imogene decides to take a job at the local factory where Hazel worked in the hopes of gaining some information about her sister, who her coworkers were, anyone she interacted with there. Imogene vows justice for her sister.
The story has a mystery that begins in 1946. The chapters alternate between the present day and the past as the author deftly weaves the past and present together to form a cohesive, intriguing plot. Mumsie has been waiting seventy years for justice for her sister, and she finally has answers as the story concludes. Her sister’s death and the ongoing crusade to find her killer has shaped Mumsie’s whole life. Mumsie and Aggie are both dealing with grief of a loved one lost. These two characters are very similar in personality, although Aggie would be loath to admit it! I could see their interactions playing out in my mind as I read the story, enjoying the humorous quips. Jaime has become one of my favorite authors. I can hardly wait to see what riveting tale she will release next!
My heart went out to these characters
The beginning of the book hooked me right with the first chapter. Jaime Jo Wright dove right in and took you into the deep end with her! The ending of this book was so beautifully written. Even days later, I am still pondering the message it contains. That alone is the measure of a good book for me… the fact that days later I haven’t moved on. I enjoyed the book overall but it did lag a bit for me in the middle. I kept reading though because I had to find out what happened to Hazel. And I was glad, in the end, that I kept with it (because wow… that ending!). Mumsie is one of those characters who can be difficult to like at times, but you just know that she needs you not to give up on her. I loved her relationship with Aggie.
The past, the present, and future, all bound by grief…
There are some reviews that are nearly impossible to write. Not because you dislike the book, but the exact opposite. Sometimes it’s hard to rein in your thoughts and get them organized in a way that makes sense because some books are just so emotionally involving and thought provoking. Echoes Among The Stones is one of those books. You see, author Jaime Jo Wright takes on a topic that is all-consuming and not often delved into with such depth in Christian fiction. That subject is grief.
Why is grief so hard to talk about? It’s something that has touched everyone in one way or another. But it’s also so very very personal. As Mumsie says in the book “Death deals a wicked hand. We all respond differently, and not always the way we should.” But Jaime Jo Wright does indeed take it on, with a sensitivity and kindness wrapped in the pages of an entertaining suspense novel.
Echoes Among The Stones is heartwrenching in the pain it lays open for the world to see, but, it is also beautiful in its wisdom and gentle nudges towards faith even when it seems like God couldn’t possibly be there.
The book itself is very well written, Jaime Jo Wright being one of the most talented Christian fiction authors that I’ve ever read, and it’s a real page-turner that’s impossible to put down. But Echoes Among The Stones is much more than its technical form and entertaining qualities. It’s also its message, how it makes you feel, how it makes you think, that makes it the lovely, though bittersweet, book that it is…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Wright gives readers a story that they will not be able to tear themselves away from in Echoes Among the Stones. From the very beginning I was hooked. Chapter One, for example, was pretty short. But Wright packs a punch in a short time, and I couldn’t tear myself away. For those of you who may need a little longer to get hooked, read chapter two. Mumsie and Aggie are almost like oil and vinegar. I feel like if I had a Mumsie in my life, I would always feel like I wasn’t good enough, and constantly be questioning what Mumsie was talking about. It seemed like she was talking in code sometimes. Even so, throughout the story she did have several words of wisdom, and she kind of grew on me as the story went on.
Now, I do have to mention that this book has a creepy factor. It’s not as intense as her previous books, but there were several creepy moments for me. The one that sticks out the most is when the dollhouse came on the scene. I won’t divulge more information than that, but let me just say the hairs on my arms were standing up for a few moments! The thing is, Wright can creep me out without totally scaring me, and that’s what makes her books so uniquely amazing.
I also have to mention how much I love Collin’s character. I giggled every time he said some non-American catch phrase. I think he might be my favorite hero from Wright’s novels. He was just so charming, and everytime I hear someone say “love”, I’m going to think of him!
Like each story, Wright brings the past and present together in a remarkable way. I loved both storylines equally, and actually like that we found out a little bit about how they intertwined early in the story. I will say once I hit about 2/3rd’s of the way through, there was no way I was putting the book down until I reached the end. Work and family didn’t matter lol. I need to get to the end!
I’m a huge fan of Wright’s novels, and this one just reminds me why. She writes eerily wonderful storylines, all while giving readers a beautiful message of God’s love. The only bad thing about finishing this book so fast is that I have to wait until the next one releases!
Well, I definitely started my reading year off with a bang! Echoes Among the Stones is my first Jaime Jo Wright book but it certainly won’t be my last. This is a complex split time story skillfully woven around the murder of a young woman and her sister who can’t let her go. I was spellbound from the first line to the last word.
Jaime Jo Wright writes the type of books I love – atmospheric stories filled with mystery and emotions with characters that I can care about. Echoes Among the Stones is just that sort of novel. A split-time tale set in both 1946 and the present day, the narrative focuses on Aggie Dunkirk and Imogene Grayson who Aggie knows as her grandmother Mumsie.
Imogene’s story begins with the death of her beloved sister and follows her attempts to discover the killer. Aggie’s story begins when she moves to live with Mumsie and takes a job as secretary for the town’s cemetery. As one strange and frightening event after another occurs, Aggie and her new archaeologist friend endeavor to discover how the events are connected and who might be responsible.
I absolutely adored this darkly fascinating story and enjoyed how the author connected the past and present. The plot moved at a perfect pace, teasing me along the way. Characters were well rounded and seemed quite lifelike. The book was a definite page turner and I hated to put it down for even a minute until I reached its end. Of course I was also disappointed that I reached that point so quickly. I am eager for Wright’s next offering. It will definitely be on my must read list.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the author and provided by Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Jaime Jo Wright is a master at time-slip novels! She can weave a tale…or two, that will keep you engaged throughout the entire story. They come together perfectly, but will keep you guessing until the end. I enjoyed every page of this magnificent tale. Aggie and Mumsie are a fantastic duo that you will quickly learn to love. Along with the mystery, this tale reminds us that although grief is an important part of life, it can also steal life. If we allow it to control our emotions and never let go, it will take our future. Such an incredible story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Oh my word! If you have not yet had the opportunity to read a book by Jaime Jo Wright, you must put her books at the very top of your to-be-read pile, right now…all of them! With every book I read by this author, I marvel at not only her inspiring storytelling skills, but also the unique storylines.
Echoes Among the Stones, the most recent release, is an incredibly well-plotted story that will grasp the reader from the first page and keep you awake until the wee hours of the morning. Promise.
Aggie Dunkirk loses her job, and feeling somewhat aimless travels to her grandmother’s home in Wisconsin. A bit eccentric, Mumsie seems to be obsessed with a crime that happened when she was still a girl. So obsessed that Mumsie created a detailed and scaled scene of the crime in an old dollhouse.
Finding a job cataloging gravesites after a recent flood, Aggie begins to discover some puzzling connections of the graves and the old crime. Though a bit distracted by the handsome archeologist the city hired to help with the historical items, Aggie persists in a bit of amateur sleuthing, an activity someone wants to stop.
In 1946, a young woman returns home from work to find her murdered sister lying in her attic bedroom. Imogene Grayson is determined to find out who killed her sister, no matter how long it takes or who it might lead to. Imogene remembers everything she saw, things the local investigators set aside as not pertinent to the case. Things the investigators did not have the forensic tools to investigate. Imogene refuses to give up, not even if she spends a lifetime trying.
I very highly recommend Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright. Sad that I could only give it five stars!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions therein are solely my own, and freely given.
With a gripping plot, a unique historical setting, memorable characters, and subtle inspirational messages woven in, Jaime Jo Wright has once again penned a riveting, convoluted story. The book cover sets the stage perfectly and establishes a gothic feeling for the tale. Wright excels at penning dual timeline stories. I admire her ability to take two different, but related, stories and tie them together and make them not only work, but intertwine cohesively. She’s also a master at creating complex, multi-layered characters. Her ingenious and intricately woven stories pull me right in from the beginning and won’t let go.
The main characters in this story were vividly drawn and engaging. Imogene is tenacious in trying to solve the mystery of her sister’s murder, Aggie is thrown into her grandmother’s obsession, and Collin is a calming, leveling force in the tale.
“Sometimes . . . you must step outside of your own strength and realize there’s a greater Strength waiting to hold you.”
“You can’t compare your grief to another’s. It’s yours to hold, and yours to heal from.”
Wright fills her books with enough suspense, mystery, and intrigue to keep the reader turning pages far into the night. She throws in enough romance to provoke some sighs and also adds inspiration in the form of redemption, healing, and mercy.
“. . . don’t let grief tie your years up into a lifetime of regrets. Let the good Lord take care of your aches and heal you. So that you don’t miss out on the good—on the blessing He hides in the middle of all that hurting.”
This story drips with atmosphere and enough creepiness to keep you on the edge of your seat. I would recommend it to those who enjoy dual-timeline suspense with a touch of romance. 4.5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House. All opinions are my own.
Once again Jaime Jo Wright excels at creating a mystery spanning two ears that immerses readers in the plot. And in Echoes Among the Stones, she sets the story around a cemetery. Yet this book didn’t have as much as an eerie feel to me (but there were still plenty of questions to answer).
Wright has quickly become a must-read author for me because of the way she weaves themes seamlessly throughout her book. Her newest deals with grief and the different ways in which people grieve their losses.
In the midst of grief is the promise of hope and the strength of faith. I love that Wright gives readers both the mysterious and suspenseful (a puzzle to solve) while also injecting light into these somewhat darker stories. Life may be bleak and gray, but readers can rest in the promise of better things to come.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This is an excellent Split time novel. If you like murder/mysteries, I highly recommend this book. Honestly, I was clueless as to who did it until the end. That’s how well this book is written. It was a shock at the end for me. The story kept me riveted until the very end. It has just the right amount of creepiness and mystery. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated are my own.
Another Jaime Jo Wright masterpiece! The way she weaves a story in and out of time seamlessly is as much a mystery as her stories! This book, a time slip between modern day and the war-torn 1940s, carefully tells the story of Mumsie, a woman who has been existing, but not living, completely tied to her younger years. When her granddaughter Aggie comes to help her recover from a “broken hip” the past and present are quickly tied together.
Imogene is a young woman living in a world of grief after the untimely loss of her sister. Unwilling to accept apathy, she is determined to find answers on her own.
With the help of the somewhat mysterious Collin, Aggie works in modern day to piece together the story that Imogene is living in the 40s.
You will thoroughly enjoy learning the inner workings of each character as Mumsie, Aggie, and Collin work together to build a story that is definitely worth reading. As with all of Wright’s books, may not always be suitable for bedtime reading!