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". ( )

Title: Echoes Among the Stones
Author: Jaime Jo Wright
Pages: e-book
Year: 2019
Publisher: Bethany Publishers
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
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!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

Let me first say that Echoes among The Stones is a riveting mystery! This is the fourth book by Wright — I have read them all — and it is evident that she has been perfecting her writing craft. The result is a dual timeline book that keeps the reader guessing and wanting more with each successive page. The book is set in small town Mill Creek, Wisconsin today and 1946. Wright’s depiction of a time in America following WWII is not all rose-colored nostalgia. There were definite challenges for the men returning from the fight and their families. Two women are at the center of the mystery past and present — Aggie and Imogene. Each are stuck in their grief. so mired that they cannot get on with the future. I felt a kinship with these two women as they navigated lives filled with sorrow. I also liked the secondary characters with their quirks and charms. As the book progressed, the mystery deepened causing me to suspect just about everyone. I loved the twists, turns, and surprises Wright threw along the path.

While Echoes among The Stones is a fascinating and atmospheric mystery, the theme of grief was what spoke to my heart. I finished this book just 2 days before the anniversary of my first child’s loss. Tyler was stillborn, leaving my husband and I with unfulfilled hopes and dreams. While I have not spent the last 31 years stuck in that grief, the book was a good reminder that God shares our pain, hides blessings in the hurts, and does not leave us without hope. The message was subtly woven throughout the book. Wright handles loss and its accompanying grief with a sensitive hand. No platitudes, just a deep sense of understanding and empathy.

So if you are looking for a good mystery to curl up with, you should choose Echoes among The Stones. I promise it will deliver that and much more. You will get a story to ponder long after the last page is turned.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and Bethany House. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

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. ( )