Heart of Stone

In the waning days of a lazy August holiday, Ellie Stone is enjoying a bright Adirondack-lake morning. Nearby, two men plummet to their deaths on the rocks below, just a few feet short of the water of a dangerous diving pool. A tragic accident, it seems. But the state police quickly establish that the two victims--one, a stranger to the lake and, the other, a teenaged boy from a nearby music camp--surely didn't know each other. That anomaly is strange enough, but what really perplexes Ellie is the out-of-place station wagon parked twenty yards from the edge of the cliff.

Wading into a slippery morass of fellow travelers, free-love intellectuals, rabid John Birchers, and charismatic evangelicals, Ellie must navigate old grudges and Cold War passions, lost ideals and betrayed loves. She sticks her nose where it's unwanted, rattling nerves and putting herself in jeopardy. But this time, it's her heart that's at risk.

From the Trade Paperback edition.


Genre: Cozy Mystery

"James Ziskin has written another great read, imbued with a rich cast of characters and a tight plot that bristles with tension. Ellie Stone is the perfect protagonist--extraordinary but with enough girl-next-door charm in her that she instantly becomes a friend. This is one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors, and it belongs on every mystery lover's to-be-read list." - Allen Eskens

"Ziskin's expert plotting, living, breathing characters, and beautiful command of the language make Heart of Stone one of the best books I've read this year." - Jennifer Kincheloe

"Heart of Stone is the best Ellie Stone mystery yet, and that's saying something. The plot rockets along, fueled by colorful characters, intriguing clues, and Ellie herself, who is witty, vulnerable, and one of the finest and most fun amateur sleuths in crime fiction. I've read every Ellie Stone mystery, and I can't wait for the next." - Mark Pryor

"Ellie Stone can hold her own (and her Scotch) against anyone, but what happens to a tough girl reporter on vacation when her defenses are down? When a lakeside accident doesn't add up, Ellie takes on the story. "Heart of Stone" is a big-hearted crush of a novel, brimming with rekindled kinship, forgiveness, love, and characters who will make readers feel true heartbreak." - Lori Rader-Day

"Ellie Stone has quickly become one of my favorite sleuths as she careens into the modern world, demanding her rightful place--and getting it--no matter how hard anyone tries to deter her or how much jeopardy she puts herself into." - Larry D Sweazy