What a book, what a writer. Wright has a unique way of creating her stories, very different! I love her books. This one centers around a granddaughter and grandmother. Aggie, present day and Mumsie {grandmother} the past. …… A brutal murder happened in Mill Creek back in 1946. One that was never solved. Hazel Grayson, the victim who was loved by all and never had an enemy was brutally murdered. Imogene, her sister was determined to seek justice for Hazel. She was consumed with finding her murderer and immersed herself in the case, following every possible lead; to the point that she began to lose her own life through her efforts to find the killer……Aggie after loosing her job and suffering grief from losing her mother came back home to live with Imogene……Thus begins a most unusual story that will have you spellbound until the end. Amazing book with a great ending and the murder solved that happened right after the war in 1946………
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

My mother told me that when the boys came home from the war, people thought the world would go back to the way it was before. But it didn’t. The war lived on in souls for years after, and people were just never really the same again.”
This quote by Jaime Jo Wright in Echoes Among the Stones so aptly captures the mood of Mill Creek, Wisconsin in July of 1946. Wright recreates the ominous heaviness that the war brings to America's hearts. Some people, like the young men who survive, come home brooding or unable to find their way out of the horror now relegated to memory. Others are affected by the loss of family members or the great personality change in a family member who returns. Still others like Imogene and Hazel are also affected second-hand by the war brought to America.
Jaime Jo Wright has penned yet another mystery novel with spooky, ominous undertones that beckon the tentative reader in. Echoes Among the Stones is a time-slip novel, marrying two distinctly different and at first seemingly unrelated plots, no pun originally intended. In the present day, Aggie loses her real estate job and returns to her selfish, demanding grandmother’s home, while working a cemetery job. Collin, the archaeologist who works with Aggie, frustrates her, intrigues her, and challenges her by turns.
There was enough eerie mystery, romance, and humor (“You have all the sense of an addlepated muskrat, ”) plus faith scattered throughout the book that this book is a big winner for me. Also, I loved the way the solution took me by surprise. Look for this book among my favorites in 2019.
Quotes:
"Sometimes...you must step outside of your own strength and realize there’s a greater Strength waiting to hold you.”

"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.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinions, which are solely my own.

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.”

I am a couple of days past this book's release date with my review, but this book just could not be rushed. Jaime Jo Wright is definitely one of my most favorite authors. This book, like her others, has a haunting quality to it that is difficult to describe. Her writing has a way of wrapping itself around your soul allowing you to live within its borders. Deep themes, this time pertaining to grief, are essential elements to Wright's works. No lighthearted beach reads here. These books are best read curled up in your cozy spot with a warm drink nearby and time to immerse yourself in reading and pondering undisturbed.

Echoes Among the Stones tells the tale of Imogene Grayson's efforts to solve the mystery of her sister's violent murder in 1946. It also tells the tale of Aggie Dunkirk's efforts to solve the cold case of that same murder in the present day. Someone is manipulating Aggie to pick up the case while at the same time thwarting her efforts. With the help of of archaeologist Collin O'Shaughnessy, Aggie perseveres as she feels that solving this case will also help explain things she has never understood about her persnickety grandmother. Serendipitously, it may also help her to come to grips with consuming life circumstances that would seem totally unrelated.

I am very grateful to have received this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

This was likely a bad time in my life to request this book, but I did so before life began unraveling. A family crisis made a suspense novel difficult to go to over and over again...but I usually love how Jaime Jo Wright weaves an intricate split time plot twisting page turner. I ended up not really enjoying Imogene's part of the story and as a result eventually abandoned it altogether. However...I discovered that reading only the present day portion of this tale was still mysterious, a little bit gruesome and wholly entertaining. I felt connected to Agnes and present day Imogene as they worked to process their grief, heal their brokenness and eventually move forward together. I liked the steadfastness of Collin and his unwavering faith. I plan to return to this book once life settles back into a somewhat normal rhythm and the storms of life have calmed.

Thank you Bethany House for the free copy

A wonderfully deft treatise on how the sins of the past have future ramifications and framed in the marvelous world of archaeology. Literal metaphors of digging up the truth marry well with the themes of grace, redemption and ultimate justice.

With a strong faith message and intriguing characters as well as Wright's hallmark darkly atmospheric touch, Echoes Among the Stones proves that Wright has definitively carved out a new subgenre for herself in the realm of Christian fiction: that of a resplendently gothic timbre.

I especially liked the wisdom and gravity of Collin who offered a wonderful counterbalance to the darker tenets of the story.

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HOLY SMOKIN’ JOE! Not only is this my favorite genre—historical time-slip—but Ms. Wright creates a miniature doll house for Hazel—a particular passion of mine. And she knows how to spin a gripping story. Add to that the skill to weave two seeming disparate stories into one seamless knitted fabric and this story sizzles!
Characters who felt like friends, scenes that not only invited me in but made me feel like I was in the midst of the action, a compelling plot with double and triple twists that kept me turning page after page.
I’ve never been so physically alone as Aggie but I’ve sure felt it, and I longed for her and Mumsie to find their common ground. I can’t imagine the horror Imogene faced but I admired her strength and dedication to find answers.
Ms. Wright casts her net of suspicion wide, dropping clues of confusion in the twisty trail to the end. Ms. Wright crafts a story, filled with tragedy and suspense and early forensic techniques, that is a treat for her readers.

ROBIN’S FEATHERS
ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Echoes Among the Stones, Jaime Jo Wright

WOW! Jaime Jo Wright never ceases to amaze me!
The way she crafts her stories, with so much depth, dealing with hard issues, like loss, murder, family entrangement, and yet leave you with hope and light at the end, even if we’re not talking about the typical happily ever after story… It’s truly amazing!
I love the way she develops her characters. We get to immerse in their feelings, and it’s so real and relatable that I almost feel like I time travel to 1946 and the present day way and back. There are two main characters: Imogene (Genie) ho has lost her sister in the most brutal way and is trying to cope with it, yet failing, with only desires for revenge, and the helplessness while she tries to uncover the criminal and his motives… And Aggie, in the present day, who just lost her job and is grieving her deceased mother. She finally goes to the small town to take care of Mumsie, her grandmother, whom she hasn’t seen in the last eight years. Misunderstandings, pride, and resentment long time unsolved. As she starts to reconnect with Mumsie, and starts working in the cemetery (the only job available), she discovers a 70 year old mystery that seems to connect her and her grandmother to the mysterious tomb of Hazel Grayson… This will lead her on a self discovery journey even if she’s not aware at first. Aggie is struggling with understanding how a loving God could allow her mother to die, just as Imogene in 1946 struggles the same regarding the brutal murder of her sister.
This book has a strong faith element. I loved how they progress in making sense out of the senseless thing through tiny sparks of faith that will slowly ignite into something more. This book has a deep message of redemption and forgiveness, of learning how God fits in a messy situation (to say it lightly). How God can be the Only one to ultimately bring good out of evil, loss and suffering. I thought the message was masterly imparted, because it didn’t feel forced or preachy at all. And I loved the wisdom through Collin and Mumsies words. The secondary characters (the heroes) in both stories were so relatable too. And yet so different in personalities. I loved Ollie and Collin dearly. They both have an important part in Imogene and Aggie’s lives.
The mystery element, Hazel’s unsolved murder, that will solve at some point in the story will keep you intrigued until the end. I really couldn’t put this book down! At the same time I wanted to know what had really happened, I was also aching for both Imogene and Aggie and rooting for them to make sense of the tragedies through God’s love. It’s not an easy step, and there are many obstacles in the way, but when you reach the understanding that only God can love you in 100% unconditional way, and that He may bring good out of bad and pain, you get a peace that is non tradeable. And that’s what I was wishing for both heroines. I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll have to read it yourself to unsolve the mystery and acompany Genie and Aggie in their self Discovery journey.
A totally recomendable story. Intriguing, emotional, and intense! Even if it doesn’t have the creepy elements of her previous novels, this is a total page turner, maybe even more than the rest. So, what are you waiting for? Get it and experience this amazing book by yourself!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through the Publisher vía Netgalley. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Like her previous books, Jaime Jo Wright once again crafts a story that is complex and interesting. She is a master at split time novels! The individual plots are interesting but there is something truly remarkable about them as the pieces of the individual stories begin to come together into one overarching story. Jaime Jo Wright is never afraid to tackle difficult and messy topics (which I love) and this book is once again bursting with hard subjects and characters that are flawed and grow in fascinating ways. The history is interesting and the spiritual message interwoven flawlessly. This book takes you on an emotional journey and its grip does not let up even when you finish, its message lingering in your mind even after you close the pages. The mystery had twists and turns that kept me guessing and made the book hard to put down! I loved this book, and I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Jaime Jo Wright has done it again! Echoes is an excellent example of brilliant storytelling with a cast of characters that feel so real, they could be your neighbors and friends. I've come to expect a whole package with Wright's books--mystery, humor, depth, spiritual insight, and a touch of romance. I'm pleased to discover that Echoes delivers on all counts. I highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel courtesy of Bethany House and NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

Jaime Jo Wright's flawless writing seams the story of a present-day Aggie and Mumsie, her grandmother, and Mumsie in the World War II years when she was a young lady.

Mystery, suspense, romance all combine together to meld into a story I found myself thinking about at work and wishing the clock would move faster so I could read more pages at home.

The characters are very realistic and the usage of commonplace things that take on a whole new meaning is a hallmark of this talented writer.

While reading, when the chills came over me, I knew this was taking a story to another level. I really enjoyed the piano-string tight suspense.

Echoes Among the Stones is one I'll recommend others to read. It's the perfect novel to stay at home and read on a wintry day. I can't wait for another one to be published.

I received this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to write or post a review.

This is the first book that I have personally had the chance to read from Jaime Jo Wright, but I can say with certainty that it absolutely will NOT be the last. I was completely captivated by this unique tale and could not stand to put it down.

Echoes Among the Stones jumps back and forth between the past and the present. In the past (post WWII 1940s to be exact), we meet Imogene. After the murder of her sister she is on a mission to figure out the truth of what happened. The present time brings us Aggie who has recently come to stay with her rather eccentric grandmother--- a grandmother obsessed with this very same murder, a murder never solved. I am not always a fan of books that jump timelines--- they truly have to be done WELL to keep my intrigued, but this one was absolutely fantastic. It was interesting to view the crime both in the freshness of the events, and then again years in the future where the knowledge of forensics has grown tremendously. It really gave us a full scope of not only the mystery of the murder, but the after effects of the grief that it brought.

Grief was such a huge part of this story and what made it so captivating. Both of the women in the story are dealing with their grief--- Imogene for her sister and Aggie for her mother who had passed away from cancer. I loved this message that while grief was necessary and not in and of itself a bad thing, it is not something that should be held onto... and we see the reasons as we read these stories.

There was a little bit of romance mixed in as well, which I personally enjoyed. And while the actual mystery was solved in the end, not everything was tied up in a pretty bow, happily ever after. That might not be what we all hope for in a book... but it's reality, and again just really went to drive home the issue of what happens when we hold onto grief too tightly.

Overall, this was a fantastic read that I would certainly recommend. There are some Christian themes, but I feel like it's not overwhelming and as such this story could appeal to Christians and non alike.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

It took me a little while to get into this book, I think it was because so much was going on at the beginning. But once I connected with the characters I couldn't put the book down. Jamie Jo Wright is literally the queen of creepy, fascinating, historical, romantic mysteries within inspirational fiction.

Ms. Wright placed so many red herrings within the story that every time I thought I had solved the mystery I was wrong yet again. Even when a big reveal happened I was still wrong.

Everyone of the characters were quirky and charming in their own way. Mumsie has to be the best fictional grandmother, ever. Watching Aggie and Mumsie's relationship develop made me miss my sweet Grandmother.

This quote "Death didn't give a person a choice. It just came and stole. Whether you'd finished what you wanted to do with your life or not. Death was a thief, and there was no justice that could imprison it from stealing again," couldn't be more true.

Overall, this book is one of the best books I've read this year. It is engrossing, edge of your seat action, fascinating, and filled with inspirational nuggets like this one, that will have you reflecting on grief as a whole.

"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. Promise that there is so much more life to live. So many more people to love. And the footprints of those who've gone before you? They'll still be there. Memories to warm you when you're old."

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I anxiously awaited the release of this book and it was worth the wait. The dual time frame provided double the mystery! I liked the way that the two stories intertwined reminding me how both world and family history shapes us. I quickly became attached to Wright’s creative characters. Many of them dealing with grief, learning lessons as some are able to move toward hope. I really appreciated the humor which caused everything from a smile to loud laughing and even reading lines out loud to others. As relationships change, the romance that developed added to my enjoyment. Now I wait for Wright’s next novel, but not as patiently this time. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A book that flashes between the present day and WWII time, between present losses and past loss of a loved one.
The book begins with the return of a Granddaughter and the lie of a Grandmother that she had broken her hip, but Aggie needed to come here, and there needed to be answers to the long-ago murder of a family member.
As the author presented the characters, I kept changing my mind as to who would have done the evil deed, but have to say I was very surprised when the answers finally came.
A little morbid, with the doll house, and then skeletons and bone fragments appearing, but then they all have a hint to what happened.
In the end, I was glad that Aggie came and stayed with Mumsie, and I loved the character Collin!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany, and was not required to give a positive review.

Echoes Among the Stones is the second book I've read by author Jamie Jo Wright and she is quickly making her way on to my favorite suspense author list. Her books are always very unique and tell the story from two perspectives being both past and future characters.

Aggie has just lost her job and is grieving the loss of her mother. She finds herself on her way to Wisconsin to be with her grandmother and work as a secretary for a cemetery. Her main responsibility is to restore the flooded part of the historic cemetery. She never expected to stumble on an unsolved mystery and it seems that even though it happened years ago someone is determined to keep it a mystery and will do whatever it takes to silence Aggie.

In 1946 Imogene comes home to find her sister Hazel murdered in the attic bedroom. As time goes on the case grows cold, but Imogene is determined to bring justice no matter how long it takes. She vows to never forget the details of her sisters life, but is her sister who she really thought she was?

This book was so good not only for the mystery and suspense aspect, but it speaks so much about grief and how it affects those left behind. There were several places that I found myself reading twice and thinking on the words. I'll share one such passage below:

"Greif made its own indelible mark on a person's soul, and only those who toiled through its muck could understand the exhaustion that came with it. Of the final never seeming final."

Most everyone has been touched by grief in someway and if you haven't, you will. Dieing is part of living and learning to grieve and not let it consume your life is so important.

Thanks to Bethany House Publishing for providing me with this complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Echoes Among the Stones is a dual timeline story. In 1946 Imogene loses her beloved sister is murdered in the home. There are plenty of suspects but who did it? Aggie lives in the modern day and is going through grief of her home. She has lost her own mother to cancer but she still has her grandmother who she calls Mumsie. Mumsie is quite elderly but still has a sharp mind. Aggie has a job working at a cemetery. Strange things start happening to Aggie and I am wondering where is the connection between the present and the past?. After all that murder was over 70 years ago. At times I felt the storyline dragged a little but it did pick up and kept me engaged. I could not put this novel down until I knew who the murderer was and who was doing the strange things in the present. There were many twists in the story and I was quite surprised to find out who the murderer was and who was responsible for things happening in the present. If you are looking for a book with a strong emphasis on romance this is not it although it is touched on lightly.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany house for providing me a copy of this ebook to read and review. All the opinions are my own.

There are few things I can trust that no matter what, I will enjoy. One of those things is a Jaime Jo Wright book and another is a big cup of Earl Grey tea to sip on while reading. Wright is not afraid to deal with topics that others might shy away from, and "Echoes Among the Stones" is no exception, as she confronts the topic of grief and how we process through it.

Aggie Dunkirk returns to her hometown after a painful loss of her career, taking a job as a cemetery recordkeeper to make ends meet. This means she must also live with her Grandmother, Mumsie, still dealing with the murder of her sister in 1946. While Aggie is unfamiliar with the story of her late relative, she begins to be drawn into a mystery that spans generations and still causes heartbreak.

As Aggie begins to delve into her new work at the cemetery, it seems someone is out to scare her away, leaving taunting displays in an attempt to persuade her to give up her investigation into not only her relative's murder, but other unspoken community losses from the past.

Aggie begins a tentative partnership with an archaeologist who is brought in to help correct burial records and accurately map plots in the local cemetery.

Wright continues to give readers stories that grab you from the beginning and do not let up until the end. I like that she also has endings that are realistic, meaning everything is not always tied up into a neat ending--as real life can sometimes be. I am never disappointed by Wright's work and look forward every time I know she has a new novel coming out. This book is a very real exploration of family secrets, loss and the ghosts of a small town.

I was an early reader, thanks to Bethany House Publishers and the author. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review.

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 tome 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.

This has been my favorite Jaime Jo Wright book thus far! It far exceeded my expectations. While reading Jaime’s other books, I found myself transfixed but somewhat scared. This book was much more emotional for me. It tackles the grief and numerous emotions we go through when we lose someone we love dearly. Jaime Jo captured the heart of grief beautifully in this split time novel! It is like she peeled back the layers of facades we often put on and revealed our true emotions.

I loved Mumsie and Aggie! Grandmother and granddaughter are more alike than they realize. Their relationship mirrors a lot of what we see in families. We often cannot look past our own fears to see the other person nor to be truthful with them. I found myself seeing myself in both of them at times and loved watching their relationship grow and change.

This book is a must read! It will leave you feeling as though someone understands how you have felt to lose a loved one and stay with you long after you close the last page. This will definitely be a book I will reread for years to come!

I received a complimentary copy from the author through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.