About the Book
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 on the rocks below, just a few feet short of the water of a dangerous diving pool. A tragic accident, it seems. But the state police quickly establish that the two victims--one, a stranger to the lake and, the other, a teenaged boy from a nearby band camp--surely didn't know each other. That anomaly is strange enough, but what really perplexes Ellie is the out-of-place station wagon parked twenty yards from the edge of the cliff. Wading into a slippery morass of gone-to-ground fellow travelers, free-love intellectuals, rabid John Birchers, and charismatic evangelicals, Ellie must navigate old grudges and Cold War passions, lost ideals and betrayed loves. She sticks her nose where it's unwanted, rattling nerves and putting herself in jeopardy. But this time, it's her heart that's at risk.
About the Author :
James W. Ziskin is the author of Styx & Stone, No Stone Unturned, and Stone Cold Dead, the first three Ellie Stone mysteries. A linguist by training, Ziskin was director of New York University's Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marim for five years, where he collaborated with an impressive catalogue of writers, journalists, and academics on cultural and educational events.
Review :
"Ellie is one of [our] favorite characters in the genre. Her intelligence and fearlessness belie her youth. She's at once vulnerable yet self-assured, intelligent yet impulsive, liberated yet yearning for a romantic connection. But what really sets Ziskin's books apart is the poetry of his writing... he excels at poetic and evocative descriptions of the fascinating characters and the nostalgic 1960's upstate New York setting." --MysteryPeople
"James Ziskin has written another great read, imbued with a rich cast of characters and a tight plot that bristles with tension. Ellie Stone is the perfect protagonist--extraordinary but with enough girl-next-door charm in her that she instantly becomes a friend. This is one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors, and it belongs on every mystery lover's to-be-read list."
--Allen Eskens, USA Today-bestselling author of The Life We Bury
"Heart of Stone is the best Ellie Stone mystery yet, and that's saying something. The plot rockets along, fueled by colorful characters, intriguing clues, and Ellie herself, who is witty, vulnerable, and one of the finest and most fun amateur sleuths in crime fiction. I've read every Ellie Stone mystery, and I can't wait for the next."
--Mark Pryor, author of The Paris Librarian
"Ellie Stone can hold her own (and her Scotch) against anyone, but what happens to a tough girl reporter on vacation when her defenses are down? When a lakeside accident doesn't add up, Ellie takes on the story. Heart of Stone is a big-hearted crush of a novel, brimming with rekindled kinship, forgiveness, love, and characters who will make readers feel true heartbreak."
--Lori Rader-Day, Anthony Award-winning author of The Black Hour
"Armed with her camera, wits, and a reporter's persistence, Ellie Stone navigates through the 1961 Adirondacks and does what she does best: asking questions and digging up the truth whether anyone likes it or not. When two strangers plunge to their deaths, and a prisoner escapes from a nearby prison, time on the lake quickly turns from pleasure to a mystery that demands to be solved. Ellie Stone has quickly become one of my favorite sleuths as she careens into the modern world, demanding her rightful place--and getting it--no matter how hard anyone tries to deter her or how much jeopardy she puts herself into."
--Larry D. Sweazy, award-winning author of See Also Deception
"Everything you'd hope it would be--gripping, unpredictable, and full of sexual intrigue. Ziskin creates a rich community of multifaceted actors--the volatile zealot, the cold beauty with dark secrets, the irresistibly sexy man from Ellie's past, and many more. A hard-drinking, sophisticated, modern girl, Ellie Stone herself is unforgettable. Alternately steely and vulnerable, Ellie sets off to discover what really happened to two young men found dead at the bottom of a cliff near a peaceful lake in the Adirondacks. Ziskin's expert plotting, living, breathing characters, and beautiful command of the language make Heart of Stone one of the best books I've read this year. You must read Heart of Stone."
--Jennifer Kincheloe, author of The Secret Life of Anna Blanc
PRAISE FOR THE ELLIE STONE MYSTERIES:
"Ziskin's...smart and aggressive protagonist has real personality.. .. superb. Don't miss this series."
--Library Journal STARRED REVIEW
"Ziskin is masterful with his 1960s nostalgic descriptions and his portrayal of the difficulties for women in the workplace during that era. His smart and sassy protagonist, Ellie Stone, is far from perfect. Ellie is, however, liberated, impulsive, and has a personality with heart. The plot is solid with plenty of twist and turns and a powerful ending that will leave readers wanting more."
--Examiner
"Ellie is a refreshing, riotously funny amateur sleuth. Spot-on language and perceptions of the era are a plus."
--Publishers Weekly
