“Regardless of where faith may take us and what the good Lord has in store, we’ll never stop hearing their voices. The voices of the ones we’ve loved before. Their voices will always echo, here, among the stones, and in our hearts. It is how it was meant to be.”

Jaime Jo Wright has the right stuff when it comes to writing dual timeline stories! Unlike her novels before this one, we know what event took place. She pieces the past with the present in a way that captures the reader and forcing them to follow along a trail of solving a 72 year old cold case and tugging at hearts with a depth that surprises me every time. I know I lost track of time in the real world because I NEEDED to keep reading. It was like unfolding delicate rose petals only to discover there was so much more under the beautiful surface! It’s hard to write a review without giving too much away; I want the reader to discover all the good stuff for themselves. This one is just as completely captivating as the first three books! The ending was shocking as she reveals the culprit, I had no clue and I was asking myself if what I read was really what I read! I love every twist, every turn and every chilling layer she revealed. I quickly became part of the Aggie, Mumsie, Collin, Ollie, Sam, and Ida’s lives. Really there’s nothing I don’t like about this book & I think the reader is in for a real treat with “Echoes Among the Stones”! I highly recommend this to readers who like trying to solve cold cases, love suspense, and want the kind of depth in a story that keeps you turning pages well into the night!

*I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House on behalf of the author and was under no obligation to leave a favorable review. All opinions are my own. *

Echoes Among the Stones is an incredible book! I loved the plot and characters as the two timelines are parallel and then combine. Aggie and Imogene are well rounded characters that were relatable and interesting. I loved the mystery element with all of its twists and turns. The only reason this book did not get a five star from me was that I am not a fan of supernatural elements and that was quite heavy in Imogene’s story. Even though I don’t love that in books, I still enjoyed her timeline. A solid 4 star from me!

Echoes Among the Stones is a poignant, gripping suspense that probes the depths of grief. This dual timeline goes between 1946 and present day, weaving together the stories of Imogene Flannigan and Aggie Dunkirk. In post-WWII Mill Creek, Imogene tries to solve her sister’s murder. And in present-day Mill Creek, Aggie tries to figure out who wants to keep her from working at the cemetery.

Jaime Jo Wright weaves these stories together seamlessly, dropping hints and clues in one storyline and following through on an explanation in another. Just when you think you’ve begun to piece together what’s going on, Wright throws you a curve ball.

And she manages to keep the suspense going throughout the novel, making it a fast read. You won’t want to stop reading from the moment Imogene discovers her sister’s body. And the characters’ struggles with grief make the emotion raw and personal, giving you a vested interest in seeing a happy ending.

Speaking of happy endings, there was one ending I wasn’t too happy about. But I can see why Wright chose that ending. And I can appreciate that she chose something that fit the character rather than preconceived expectations. Even fictional novels need a bit of truth.

Which is why I love this novel’s cast. The supporting characters and the family connections add something special to the main characters’ journeys. Make them relatable and raise the stakes. And the ginger archaeologist makes everything better.

Jaime Jo Wright earned a spot on my TBR when I read The House on Foster Hill.. With Echoes Among the Stones, she solidified her place as a must-read author.

(review goes live on the blog on Dec. 6 at 5 PM)

With her trademark ability for weaving fascinatingly creepy tales of healing and forgiveness, award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright brings out the "creep factor" with skeletons, cemeteries, dead bodies, and a very unique dollhouse in her latest dual timeline novel, Echoes Among the Stones. The slower pace to the beginning of the story allows readers to start piecing together the various clues through many twists and turns, which leads to a surprising conclusion.

When she arrives in town to visit her grandmother, Aggie’s unexpected new job as a cemetery secretary brings up buried secrets. As Aggie searches for answers in present day, the readers find out clues as Imogene's 1946 storyline follows the mystery behind the death of young Hazel Grayson, and suddenly the past collides with the present.

Jaime Jo Wright emphasizes hope, healing, and forgiveness through God’s incredible grace throughout the novel. For readers who have been hesitant to read Jaime Jo Wright’s books in the past due to their “creepy” nature, Echoes Among the Stones would be the perfect book of hers to start with since it does not have quite as dark of a tone as her previous books. Echoes Among the Stones is highly recommended for readers who enjoy dual timeline stories filled with suspense and the perfect amount of creepiness.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Jaime Jo Wright’s Echoes Among the Stones drops readers into a seventy year old mystery. Set in two time periods, the story revolves around Imogene Flannigan, whose sister is murdered. Flash forward as Aggie Dunkirk tries to put the pieces together and figure out why the murder was unsolved. But someone keeps sending warning signs to say that past secrets should be left buried.

I love mysteries, the kind where anyone can be a suspect and readers don’t know who to trust. Echoes Among the Stones delivers a twisted and complex mystery with a cast of equally complicated characters. Aggie’s job working as a cemetery secretary adds to the intrigue as she moves in with her grandmother AKA Mumsie. Mumsie has secrets that span her entire life.

Even with the overarching mystery steeped in death, the story brings some deep themes to life. The characters are amazingly dynamic, and Aggie learns to deal with her grief from Mumsie, who let regret and sorrow consume her entire life. Aggie’s odd relationship with Colin, the might-be-British eclectic archaeologist, is quirky and endearing. He’s definitely a character! Flipping into the past, readers will love Imogene’s spun, determination, and loyalty. She refuses to give up on finding out the truth about her sister’s murder while everyone else seems to moves on.

Move Echoes from the Stones up on your TBR list if you are a fan of mysteries. This is the story you won’t want to put down, so block off your schedule accordingly.

I received a complementary ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I kept thinking I had it figured out. Only to find out that I was wrong. Good story. Will definitely get this for the library!

A gripping, engrossing and poignant suspense novel that kept me on the edge till the end.
I loved the well crafted plot, the character development and how well the writer describes the raw emotions.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Thank you to Bethany House for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.

I love the atmosphere that Wright creates right away in her books. The creepiness mixed with a full blown mystery always hooks me right away. I liked with this book how the past timelines mystery was introduced in the beginning. This helped me to want to read on to figure out exactly who did it.

I also appreciate how her mysteries are a slow build. I find myself theorizing about what I think happened/who did what while reading her books, and I find myself not figuring things out until the very end. And that's a great thing for me.

This book was a slow burn, and I did struggle with that a bit. I think the present story line could've moved a little quicker.

ECHOES AMONG THE STONES by JAIME JO WRIGHT is a mystery thriller in which the author deals with the effects of grief on two women, Imogene, who lost her sister Hazel in 1946, and her granddaughter, Aggie who has lost her mother. It is a sad story, but an enlightening one, as we see these women who are so alike, working through their feelings, as they look for truth and justice and the strength to carry on living.
The story takes place in Mill Creek which is a small town where everyone knows everyone else's business. Here we see how, when the men come back from the war in 1946, the whole town seems to have changed and nothing seems the same.
When Aggie comes back to Mill Creek she has not only lost her mother but also her prestigious real estate job and ends up working in the Mill Creek cemetery with Collin O'Shaunessy, the rather unusual and interesting British archeologist.
The characters in both timelines are fascinating and full of secrets and there is a good Christian message running through the story.
I am not going to tell you any more for fear of spoiling things for you.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

'There was never a good time for Death to visit. There was never a time when Grief would leave.'

Jaime Jo Wright's debut novel a few years ago was a wonderful book and I determined to follow her and eagerly anticipated each novel. Her trademark dual time line novels are like reading two books at once. She is quite good at weaving these two stories together, while at the same time, creating very mysterious plots.

This time around, the story takes place in 1946 and the present day. A gruesome murder has taken place and never solved, while in the present day, the murder seems to be at the very heart of the plot and it is life changing for those involved. Watching how Wright unfolds her stories is incredibly interesting and quickly draws the reader in. Recommended.

*My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a preview copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Jaime Jo Wright's novel Echoes Among the Stones alternates view points between Imogene Grayson, a young woman whose sister is violently killed just as World War 2 ends, and her granddaughter, Aggie Dunkirk, who finds herself back in her hometown after her career takes a downturn. Aggie and a half-Scottish archaeologist named are thrown together to sort out a cemetary's plots after flooding makes it hard to know which plots have been used and which haven't. Strange things start to happen and the threats only make Aggie more desperate to solve the mystery, while also trying to figure out why her grandmother "Mumsie" continues to guard a secret from long ago.

At first, the two alternating stories were so unrelated that I almost put the book down. Add to that the fact that the main character, Aggie, seemed a bit shallow. Since I was reviewing the book, I committed to finish the book, and found that finally, halfway through, I DID want to see how it ended. And, the author does bring it to a satisfying ending. However, I'm personally not a fan of historical fiction from the World War 2 era. Plus, I thought the plot line about the cemetery a bit disconcerting. Not my favorite book, but a decent read if you're looking for clean fiction with a hint of Christianity.

Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.

Sigh.
This is one of those books that is so good.
I didn’t really want it to end, but I had to have answers.
What makes it even better, is there are some Dee truths thrown in, things about life. About learning to live through grief, how to move on, how to really live again. Important, valuable truths we can all use to help in our own journeys. Because, after all, each one of us has our own hard story in our own little journey of life.
This is a dual time story.
It’s Imogene’s story. She finds the murdered body of her sister Hazel. The grief nearly causes her to be overcome. She carries that with her for a long time...about 70 years.
Then it’s also the story of Aggie. Called to the side of her aged Mumsie, and helping the town solve an unsolved mystery.
I loved reading in both time periods, and seeing how it all fit together.
This story has many unexpected elements, and kept me guessing until the end.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Another page turner by Jamie Jo Wright. Full of suspense while trying to piece the details together. Jamie does a wonderful job of showing the readers how devastating grief can be. Lots of twist and turns. Just when I thought I had the plot figured out details changed.

This book was hard to get into and seemed to drag. I did but like the dark tone and speaking with the dead. The dual time line was confusing at times and the characters not very appealing. The mystery was not easy to solve which was a positive. Readers that enjoy dark mysteries will enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.

Jaime Jo Wright's latest novel, Echoes Among the Stones, releases on December 3. Like her previous work, Wright's latest novel weaves the stories of two women across generations, exploring how a person's reaction to tragedy can affect the trajectory of life.

In the small town of Mill Creek, Wisconsin, a murder has gone unsolved for decades. The loss of her dear sister has consumed Imogene (Genie) Grayson's life for over 70 years. Unable to move beyond her grief, Imogene does everything she can to track down her sister's killer. When the case is closed, unsolved, she recreates the crime scene and lives it over an over again, hoping that in remembering, she'll find some clue that will finally put an end to the event that changed her life.

70 years later, Genie's granddaughter, Aggie Dunkirk, is also dealing with grief--the loss of her mother to cancer has altered her life, causing her to lose focus...and her job. Heading back to Mill Creek at the request of her grandmother, Aggie takes a job at the local cemetery mapping the graves. When an unmarked grave presents a mystery to solve, Aggie and the archeologist assigned to the task, Collin O'Shaughnessy, find themselves uncovering clues to the 70 year old mystery of Genie's sister.

As in Wright's other novels, the plot and the intersection of the two women's lives across the years captures the imagination of the reader. More than just a 'good story,' this novel asks readers to delve deeper and consider how their own grief might be holding them captive. At the end of the novel, Genie tells Aggie, "Let the good Lord take care of your aches and heal you. So that you don't miss out on the good--on the blessings He hides in the middle of all that hurting." We all have a choice...to live in the "shadoes of grief and longing," or to move on--to walk in the path that God has set before us. The story of Genie and Aggie challenges readers to choose to heal as we see the devastation the choice to remain in the hurt brings.

What I Loved: Wow. Just wow. Wright has not disappointed me yet. Echoes Among the Stones was the sort of mystery that left me guessing all the way until the end. The unique mystery kept me coming back to the book while I was reading, and the characters kept me enthralled in it long after I finished. 
The treat with dual timelines is that you get two stories for the price of one. And both were highly engaging. I loved the characters and interwoven plots. 
I honestly can't say enough good things about this one. The spiritual message was centered on healing after the death of a loved one. I felt that it was realistically done. It wasn't cheesy or shallow. I could feel the pain of the character and also the hope they come to find in the end. 

Rating and Recommendation: I give it 5 stars and highly recommend it to those who enjoy mysteries with light suspense and dual timeline novels. 

~ I received a copy from Bethany House through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one.

Wright weaves a good tale which isn’t easily solved—something I personally like in a suspense novel. While this book still had darker tones to it, it wasn’t quite the same as Foster Hill, which deals with human trafficking. This was, rather, an almost-obsession over a cold-case murder.

I really enjoyed the two storylines from the past and present. I was just as into one story as the other. I feel she painted a very realistic picture of the aftermath of WWII and the soldiers.

There was a spiritual thread woven through, the main emphasis on dealing with grief. It was never clear where Aggie herself stood spiritually, even though she did make progress in coming to terms with loss.

I felt the romance was a good balance—for some, I imagine it had a slow start, as the interest didn’t really begin until a good portion into the story. My loyal heart kind of broke a little (no spoilers, though). I don’t remember any uncomfortable scenes between any of the couples.

There was a crude comment about “going to the bedroom” (nothing happened, it was just a comment). And there was also a little weirdness going on with Imogene visualizing and speaking to Hazel (or, Hazel speaking to her…). And then a “god-awful.”

*I received this book from NetGalley and happily provided my honest review*

Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright is a unique blend of grief, murder, and hunt for justice that the novel begs to be savored. First, I believe Wright's strongest point of this novel is the ability to dive into grief. As someone who lost her father four years ago, I have had a hard time moving on from losing him. So many novels that I have read lately that have claimed to deal with grief through the characters didn't ring true to me, but Wright actually allows the heroine to show how much it affects her. It doesn't go away in a couple of days. Sometimes it lingers. I really liked how realistic Wright made grief. The plot is different and took a while for Aggie and Imogene to solve the crimes in their time period. In the present time period, they finally solve the murder of 1946. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and couldn't wait to see how the murder was solved. Wright does a wonderful job at creating multi-dimensional characters and diving into a plot that is original and completely unpredictable. I was shocked at finding out who killed Hazel. Didn't see that coming. I have enjoyed all four of her novels, and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I received a complimentary copy of Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.