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.

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.

Aggie has moved back to Mumsie’s hometown to take care of her. Mumsie is her grandmother. Aggie gets a job at the local cemetery, straightening out the records. She is working with an archaeologist who is also trying to figure things out in the old cemetery. It soon becomes apparent that her grandmother is holding onto a mystery from her youth. Aggie gets interested in it too and it leads them through some dark places. This is an interesting mystery that flips back to Mumsie’s (Imogene’s) youth when the event occurred and Aggie in the present. I really enjoyed this one!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Wright continues to deliver intriguing time slip mysteries, but goes a little different this time.

Aggie Dunkirk reluctantly agrees to return to live with her grandmother after she receives a letter that she broke her hip. Of course, once she is there, she finds that her grandmother lied just to get her to come. Even so, after losing her job in real estate because her team didn’t keep up their licenses, she doesn’t have much of an option. She takes a job as a secretary at the town cemetery where she will work alongside an archaeologist to remap the burial plots after a heavy rain has disturbed several areas. But as they begin work, strange things begin to happen. Files at the cemetery go missing. A skeleton appears in her grandmother’s yard. Bone fragments are delivered to both her and the archaeologist. And maybe most mysteriously of all, a pink rose continues to appear on the grave for a woman named Hazel Grayson. She wishes she could talk about it to her grandmother, but she has been acting even stranger than usual.

Decades prior in 1946, Imogene Grayson’s world is turned upside down when her sister Hazel is murdered. She worked in a beauty salon, but always dreamed of being a glam girl in Hollywood. Hazel’s death shatters her core and devastates her. Her brother is a deputy sheriff in charge of the investigation, but isn’t making much progress. Genie decides to begin her own investigation and starts working at the artillery powder plant where Hazel used to work. Shortly after, the post office is bombed. Then the town hall is burned down. One day on her walk home, she is almost run over by a black pickup truck. It seems that someone is out to make sure she doesn’t find out the truth about her sister’s killer.

Having read all of Wright’s books, there were some comforting similarities that I’ve found in her previous writing. She always manages to reveal a twist that occurs in the past setting that completely shifts the train of thought about what happened. However, this particular book had something a little different too. One of the main characters is common to both time periods. She is young in the past and elderly in the present, but it is her story. This subtle change really brought the story out a little more.

A common theme in this book is learning to put your faith in God and not in a relationship. Both Aggie and Genie had such strong relationships with someone that was taken from them and it utterly devastates them both. Only when they finally manage to let God have control are they actually able to move forward. This is a hard truth to accept, but many will find this book useful.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

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.

If your're looking for a way to stay awake, Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright would definitely keep you up! With a murder, a dollhouse recreation of the murder scene, and mysterious events, this book is a spooky read that made it hard for me to sleep until I finished the book and figured out the mystery. It is written in two different time periods which helped tell the same connected story from two different people’s perspectives. Although I did enjoy this book, there were parts that got a little too violently detailed for me. Just a warning for anyone highly sensitive to violence like I am. Also, there is one part of how the book ends that I really wanted to be different. It makes sense, but still, it wasn’t the ending I wanted to see. However, it was a very exciting book full of many different suspects, history, and a little bit of romance. I would recommend this book for those who enjoy detailed mysteries, and time slip novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book is a dark read, with mystery covering seven decades. I am not a mystery reader, so it was hard for me to get through this book. There were some parts that were lighter, but for the most part, the overall sense of the book was a dark, foreboding plot. If I had paid closer attention, I would not have chosen to read this.

Imogene made a promise to her sister that she would find the person who killed her sister. Ever since Hazel was murdered, right after World War II ended, it has been Imogene's mission to find out who committed the crime.

When Imogene's granddaughter's (Aggie) career fell apart in flames, Imogene writes to Aggie, telling her that she has a broken hip. Aggie comes to Imogene's home, thinking she was going to be taking care of Imogene. Instead, she gets a job at the flooded cemetery helping an archaeologist sort out who is buried where and bringing the records up to date.

There is enough intrigue to keep a reader involved in the book until the very last page. The writing is excellent and the character development only adds to the story. For those who love mysteries, Jaime Jo Wright is worth picking up anything she writes.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and time switch to keep readers on their toes.

My thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley.com for providing the copy I read for writing this review.

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 book is the finest work that this author has written which says a lot because her previous novels were terrific, award winning books. This time-slip story isn't quite as creepy as the others were, however, it effectively tackles grief, a cold case murder and the power both have over lives. It more of a psychological thriller in some ways.
Agnes, or Aggie as she's called, comes to stay with her Grandma Mumsie for various reasons. Their relationship starts out 'prickly.' Are they able to develop a bond that will help solve the mystery of an old, unsolved crime?
Jaime Jo Wright is not only the queen of time-slip novels; she's also a master at gently weaving the power of faith into her writing. Darkness is always overcome by Light.
This book starts out slowly as the author continues to ramp up suspense and create characters that I, personally, beg Wright to showcase again in a future book. Please!!! Once the plot unfolds, strap yourself in for a wild ride - and a jaw dropping ending. Normally I race through Wright's books but due to major health problems, that couldn't occur this time.
In short, this is one of my go-to authors. Her books NEVER disappoint and are eagerly anticipated. I highly recommend this one. @jaimejowright @bethanyhousepublishers @bakerbooks #bookstagram #echoesamongthestones

Jaime Jo Wright has delivered another atmospheric story for lovers of Gothic-style suspense—partly set in a graveyard, no less! But as well as delivering some chills and thrills, she also delivers a poignant story about the ways we process and deal with grief—or not, as the case may be. Not only is the historical storyline set in the immediate aftermath of World War II, as the young men who return from war try to settle back into civilian life, but both Imogene (historical setting) and Aggie (contemporary setting) have recently lost a family member—in Imogene’s case, in brutal circumstances.

Counterbalancing the darker side of this story is archaeologist Collin O’Shaughnessy, who brings his professional and personal insights to the story with a gentle touch of dramatic flair and an eclectic collection of colloquialisms. He is, in a word, charming. If I may be allowed two words, I would say quite charming! And his role as an archaeologist works on a literal and metaphorical level: “I’m just an archaeologist, Love…I help uncover dead things and bring their stories back to life.” This applies to the characters who are buried under the weight of their grief as much as it does the characters who are buried in the earth.

While both stories kept me firmly in their grasp, I did find this a less intense read than Wright’s previous novels. It was intriguing more than suspenseful for me, and I wasn’t convinced by a few aspects of the mystery when all was revealed. But that won’t stop me eagerly anticipating the next offering from Jaime Jo Wright.

In present day, Aggie Dunkirk loses her job and reluctantly travels to visit her grandmother Mumsie. She starts a new job working in the town’s cemetery but finds herself thrust into a haunting mystery with her grandmother at the center. Plus, she has to deal with a quirky archeologist and can’t deny her growing feelings for him.

In 1946, Imogene Grayson finds her sister’s dead body and has to deal with painstaking grief while she tries to solve Hazel’s murder. When all leads only turn over more mysteries, Imogene struggles with moving on.

Can these two women solve the puzzles in their own eras without losing their lives?

Echoes Among the Stones is another gothic delight by Jaime Jo Wright! She is an excellent storyteller and this fourth novel proves it.

I loved the time switching between 1946 and present day. The two eras link together for an amazing mystery. The plot is solid and will keep the reader turning the pages to find out what happens next. This novel has a little bit of everything—romance, intrigue, and suspense.

My only negative comment is that there were times when the descriptions overtook the page and I found myself skimming. However, the story held my interest.

The imagery used throughout was superb. These descriptions place the reader right into the cemetery and you find yourself holding your breath as you wait for the mystery to unfold.

The characters jump off the page and resonate with the reader. Well done!

I give Echoes Among the Stones four gravestones. The story will keep the reader guessing to the very end!

**An e-copy of this book has been provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Jaime Jo Wright is a master of split time suspense! Every book keeps getting better, characters so relate-able and suspense that drags you in and doesn't let go. I love reading part of the story in the present and then it picks up in the past with the exact timing to carry the story on. The writing is fast paced and keeps you reading late into the night to find out all the answers.
The characters are well developed, they feel like people from my neighborhood. The inter-personal relationships of the characters builds into the story, helping the reader delve deeper into the story as well. The reader instantly becomes invested into the lives of the characters, pulling for good news and yelling at them to avoid the danger.
Jaime Jo Wright has another heart pounding, page turning suspense story that keeps you guessing and questioning until the end. You will not regret starting this story, unless you have to put it down before you finish. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Echoes Among the Stones is present day story of Aggie, who is still grieving the loss of her mother when she is informed her grandmother, Mumsie, has been injured. Aggie goes to stay with and care for her grandmother and also starts a new job at the cemetery cataloguing graves.

Meanwhile, back in the post war 1940's, Imogene's sister Hazel has been murdered. While Imogene begins investigating Hazel's death and becomes obsessed with finding her killer, Aggie is finding that the graves in the cemetery don't quite add up. As things escalate, both Imogene and Aggie find themselves in danger.

Aggie and Imogene both also have a chance at romance in their respective timelines. Do they dare take that chance or does their grief destroy any possible happiness?

The main theme of this book is grief, and how we deal with it. Do we let it imprison us or do we move forward? Do we ever let the people we love go? At what point is grief healthy and when is it unhealthy?

This book made me think about my own losses, about losing my Dad last year, and about how the little things, like making a recipe he enjoyed, made me feel like he was right in the room with me.

I liked this book very much. It seemed slow at times but Imogene was dealing with all the stops, starts, and roadblocks of a cold case, and that is a slow process. You definitely feel Imogene's frustration as she searches for answers. When the answers finally come, they are quite shocking.

Gosh, this lady can write. Wright has a style of writing that draws you into the heart and soul of the places her characters dwell. It's simply breathtaking. It's not so much the characters but the storyline, it's themes and the general melancholic atmosphere she creates which captures one's attention.

How one deals with grief underpins this story. And it's fascinating the perspectives two of the characters, Mumsie and Collin, bring to it. Mumsie or Imogene Grayson is an elderly widow who still grieves her long lost sister, Hazel. Her story line, set in the years immediately after WW2, tell of Hazel's death, Imogene's commitment to finding her killer and her unwillingness to enjoy life until that person is found and appropriate justice dolled out.

Aggie Dunkirk is Mumsie's late-twenty something granddaughter who has returned to live with her in her final years. She soon discovers Mumsie's longing for resolution of Hazel's death, seventy or so years on. She happens to take up a job at the local cemetery where she meets Scottish archeologist Collin and they together become amateur sleuths in trying to close this long open chapter in Mumsie's past.

Strange and dramatic events occur in both storylines that keep them moving along and have the reader questioning whether they are somehow linked to the murder and the killer. The events also serve to throw Aggie and Collin closer together and Mumsie and Ollie Schneider likewise. It was interesting that I found both Collin and Ollie to be very alike. It frustrated me for much of the book, however, I believe it was a very deliberate ploy of Wright's.

Wright's characters aren't immediately likeable in this story and the four of them just mentioned are definitely a slow burn. On ending the novel my thoughts aren't about the characters but this theme of grief and how it really can imprison if not intentionally dealt with. For Mumsie she almost made a conscious decision to hold onto it. It was her way of holding onto her sister, the injustice of her murder never being resolved and feeling responsible for not being able to put it to bed for her sister. For Aggie, who has recently lost her mother (Mumsie's daughter), she is stuck in the thick of it, unsure of how to cope without her dear mom and unable to see a future without her being a part of it.

The story ties up well at the end. A lot happens in the last 50 pages with a number of surprises so keep reading. I found the pace at times to be a little too slow together with going over the same ground multiple times and wonder if the story could have been a tad shorter to maintain more suspenseful momentum but once again, Wright's story telling in managing such a powerful theme keeps you turning the pages.

I'd suggest this will feature prominently in next year's awards season.

I received an early e-book version from the publisher via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review.

In this split-time romance, we hear from two women, Aggie and Imogene. When Imogene’s sister is murdered, she vows to never let go until the murderer is caught. In doing this, Imogene holds on to her grief in such a way that she practically stops living. Aggie is close to doing the same after her mother’s death.

The grief was by far the biggest aspect of the novel for me. The brutally raw emotions of both women was the driving force behind the plot.

Mumsie, hands down, was my favorite character. Even though Aggie takes everything Mumsie says as some sort of dig against Aggie, their dynamic worked. Mumsie’s one-liners hit the mark time after time.

With both women struggling to work through their grief, the suspense plot took a back burner for me. I wasn’t concerned so much about who was responsible when things started going sideways for Aggie. Instead, I wanted to see how the characters would finally work through their problems.

Occasionally, Aggie felt a bit over the top, but as everyone deals with grief in a different way, I can’t judge that against her character.

The setting, pacing, and plot worked well together to draw the story full circle and into a solid conclusion. Beautifully written, in traditional Jaime Jo Wright style, Echoes Among the Stones was a page-turner from the get go.

I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Echoes Among the Stones opens in 1946 in Mill Creek, Wisconsin. The war is over and Imogene's brothers have come back home. With her family reunited, Imogene expects to go on with her life. This changes when she finds her sister, Hazel, has been murdered. Seventy years later Imogene tells her granddaughter, Aggie, she has broken her hip and needs her to come to help her. Imogene and Aggie have been estranged, but the timing is perfect as Aggie's real estate career has just ended. She has accepted a job as a cemetery secretary in Mill Creek and her life goes in unforeseen directions. The story is told alternately by Imogene and Aggie.
This is a profound and moving story that takes a close look at the gripping power of grief. Even after seventy years, Imogene still struggles with Hazel's unsolved murder. Aggie's mother died two years ago and she finds it difficult and painful to move on. Both the protagonists and the secondary characters are well defined as are their relationships. Imogene and Aggie are more alike than not and this sometimes creates fiction. There is much mystery and suspense in the narrative. Who did kill Hazel and why? Is it possible to solve this mystery after all this time?
I found this to be a beautifully told story. The narrative is packed with substance. Secrets are revealed, relationships examined and emotional barriers are broken. This book is well worth reading. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and The publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It sounds redundant to say a Jaime Jo Wright book was intense, but, honestly, “Echoes Among the Stones” was intense! As one character wisely states, death is personal and so there is no way this book could have been different.

<i>"There were voices here. Old voices hissing to be heard, tapped in the vault of time.</i>

In her latest novel, Wright explores the theme of grief, that paralyzingly feeling that ravels you into a deep hole of darkness and fear. How do we climb out? How do we find hope? Better, where? It is not in ourselves and this is just the biggest challenge, putting ourselves out there when the world has hit you on every side.

And in the tiny town of Mill Creek, Aggie Dunkirk will find her defenses challenged as she spends time with her quirky tigress of a grandmother, who has more to her story than Aggie ever knew, as well as by an archaeologist with an undefined nationality due to his annoyingly pent for contrived accent. No need to say what an endearing set of characters Wright put together ;)

And the mystery... the dollhouse idea was ingenious! I love how Jaime Jo Wright weaves strongly together her mystery thread with history.

Echoes among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright was a tad slow for me in the beginning but the ending totally made up for it. The book has two parallel stories. Present day is Aggie who comes to stay with her grandmother. Aggie is dealing with the loss of her mom and struggles with God. Aggie has lost her job and is working at the cemetery. She works with an archeologist who was the love interest that I just could not find attractive or endearing. His ‘Love’ got on my nerves.

The story with Imogene from 1946 was fascinating. Imogene’s sister was murdered in her bedroom. The author revealed clues throughout the story as Imogene was trying to help solve the mystery. I was disappointed that we didn’t learn more about what happened to Ollie. Otherwise this was a wonderful ending to the two parallel stories.

I received this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review.
You can see my full review at More Than a Review dot com where I rate the level of sex, violence, language and drug/alcohol use in books.

This is the third book I have read by Jamie Jo Wright, and I really enjoyed the first two. But this one didn't flow as well for me. It is a split time between World War 2 and contemporary. Both story lines revolve around the murder of Helen Grayson.

I felt the pace in this novel was rather slow and left me feeling as though I would never get to the end of the story. I also felt the suspense was drawn out and didn't keep me riveted like her previous novels.

I did enjoy the three main characters: Aggie, Imogene and Collin. They were well developed and realistic. Also the role the doll house played in both timelines was quite unique.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.