Heart of Stone: An Ellie Stone Mystery
James W. Ziskin's Heart of Stone is an Ellie Stone mystery set in the 1960s. Its reporter protagonist moves deeper into a case while the atmosphere of the era and personal danger intersect.
Work Information
Reporter Ellie Stone steps into a case shadowed by its era.
An Ellie Stone novel from Seventh Street Books. It is confirmed as a paperback original combining period setting, reporting, and personal danger.
Review Summaries
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Readers approach it as a mystery that uses its period background and a woman reporter's viewpoint effectively, with series character development adding appeal.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Seventh Street Books
- Published
- 2016-06-07
- Pages
- 290 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 13.97 x 2.03 x 20.96 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9781633881839
- ISBN-10
- 1633881830
- Price
- 2817 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/Mystery & Thrillers/Mystery/Women Sleuths
WINNER OF THE ANTHONY AWARD ® for Best Paperback Original! WINNER OF THE MACAVITY SUE FEDER MEMORIAL AWARD for Best Historical Fiction! A 2017 EDGAR AWARD® NOMINEE! 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 just a few feet short of the water of a dangerous diving pool. A tragic accident, it seems. But the 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. So how did they come to die together? Wading into a slippery morass of free-love intellectuals and charismatic evangelicals, Ellie’s investigation forces her to navigate old grudges and cold war passions, lost ideals and betrayed loves. As usual, she sticks her nose where it’s unwanted, rattling nerves and putting herself in jeopardy. But this time it’s her heart that’s also at risk.
James W. Ziskin is the author of the Ellie Stone mysteries. Winner of the Anthony® Award for Best Paperback Original and the Macavity Award for Best Historical Novel (Sue Feder Memorial), his books have also been finalists for the Edgar®, Barry, and Lefty awards.
Reviews
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Highly recommended!
Written in Ziskin's lively, accessible, yet literary style, Heart of Stone brings news reporter Ellie Stone into the fascinating, almost forgotten world of elite, wealthy eastern seaboard communists, a phenomenon that ended in the late 1960s. In the course of solving puzzling murders, Ellie must deal with the group's arrogance and condescension; with aa narrow-minded, sexist, small-town cop; with a right-wing political group; and with a religious cult. As with his other novels, Ziskin's story seamlessly and accurately takes us back in time, while keeping the pages turning. It's no wonder that Heart of Stone has received so many prestigious award nominations, including one for the Edgar. Highly recommended!
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What a t grilling ride!
I recommend this to all the silent thrill-seekers out there. It amuses me that Ellis is a saucy and intelligent accidental investigator. Her dogged persuit of the hidden facts make you want to help propeller her to find the truth while wanting to shield her from danger. It still leaves you with a little mystery at the end that you're sure you've figured out. I'm definitely hooked and would like to see what e re she goes next!
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Best Ellie Stone yet. Five stars!
Ellie finds a summer romance and adventure on an Adirondack lake. Absorbing tale, great cast of quirky characters. We learn more about Ellie through glimpses into her childhood and family history. Aunt Lena and Cousin Max provide a warmth in Ellie's life that has been missing in the previous books. It's so nice to see Ellie truly loved. Set against a rich tapestry of musicians, fellow travelers, and John Birchers, HEART OF STONE is Ellie's best mystery yet. Five stars!
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Won't be reading any other novels by this author
Initially the mystery of a connection between two bodies discovered at the bottom of a cliff was intriguing. I kept reading even though Ellie Stone was not a very admirable character. I agree with the reviewer who said she thinks like a man. Her poor judgment did not make her very sensible, sympathetic, or even realistic--too many wild dashes through the woods at night when an escaped murderer was reported to be on the loose in the area. The premise of her involvement in the case was also unrealistic - amazing that other characters would confide in a small-time reporter. The book is full of tiresome stereotypes: redneck sheriff, elitist Jews, creepy John Birch society member, self-righteous Christians. . . The majority of the storyline was misdirection with the resolution of the novel defying reason.
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Good for the author
Was surprised !! Good for the author