A Stone's Throw

Cobble Cove Mystery #1

by Debbie De Louise

Widowed librarian Alicia Fairmont needs answers…

After her husband is killed in a hit and run accident, Alicia travels upstate to his hometown of Cobble Cove, New York, hoping to locate his estranged family and shed light on his mysterious past. Anticipating staying only a weekend, her visit is extended when she accepts a job at the town’s library.

Secrets stretch decades into the past…

Assisted by handsome newspaper publisher and aspiring novelist, John McKinney, Alicia discovers a connection between her absent in-laws and a secret John’s father has kept for over sixty years. But her investigation is interrupted when she receives word her house has burned and arson is suspected, sending her rushing back to Long Island, accompanied by John.

Back in Cobble Cove, cryptic clues are uncovered…

When Alicia returns, she finds a strange diary, confiscated letters, and a digital audio device containing a recording made the day her husband was killed. Anonymous notes warn Alicia to leave town, but she can’t turn her back on the mystery—or her attraction to John.

As the pieces begin to fall into place, evidence points to John’s involvement in her husband’s accident. The past and present threaten to collide, and Alicia confronts her fears…

Has she fallen in love with her husband’s killer?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery

271 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 17, 2015

About the author

Debbie De Louise is an award-winning author and a reference librarian at a public library on Long Island. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters-in-Crime, and the Cat Writer’s Association. She has a BA in English and an MLS in Library Science from Long Island University. Her published novels include the 6 books of her Cobble Cove cozy mystery series: A Stone's Throw, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Written in Stone, Love on the Rocks, No Gravestone Unturned, and Sneaky's Supernatural Mystery and Other Cobble Cove Stories, her paranormal romance, Cloudy Rainbow, her mystery thriller Reason to Die, her psychological mystery, Sea Scope, and her time-travel novel, Time's Relative. She also published a romantic comedy novella featuring a jewel heist caper, When Jack Trumps Ace and a cat poetry book, Meows and Purrs. Debbie also has a new series, the Buttercup Bend Mysteries, the first one of which is The Case of the Cat Crazy Lady. Debbie has also written articles and short stories for several anthologies of various genres. She lives on Long Island with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stone's Throw is the second book I've read by Debbie DeLouise, but it's the first in her Cobble Cove Mystery series. After reading her suspense/thriller book, I was curious how she'd handle a lighter mystery... and while it was definitely lighter, it packed a solid punch. Once I realized the books take place in Long Island (where I'm from) and upstate New York (where I visit frequently), it became a must read.

Alicia's husband was hit by a car earlier in the year in Long Island where they lived. She knew nothing about his family and decided to locate his relatives in upstate New York. All she was aware of was that they'd been estranged. Upon arriving in Cobble Cove, she's initially concerned about the rudeness she encounters. Slowly, they warm to her, even offering her a job as a librarian rather quickly.

As the story progresses, her home in Long Island burns to the ground, and a weird woman haunts the library. It's not a ghost, but a previous worker who left quite an impression. When a friendly neighbor makes his intentions known, Alicia decides to give love a second chance. Then things take a crazy turn! Alicia meets her husband's estranged family and learns of uncanny connections she has to them already. Who was playing whom, she asks herself? When everything turns to murder, Alicia is forced to do a little investigating... since it appears she might be the next victim.

This story has a slow build, but it's charming and well told, so readers easily enjoy getting to know Alicia. She's kind and generous, but she's nervous and hesitant to embrace her new life. Is someone lying to her? I love the way the author creates characters who seem pure only to find out there are hidden agendas and backgrounds. Nothing is crystal clear, and it's not obvious whom to trust all the time. If you like gently unraveling a ball of yarn, you'll enjoy this mystery. Each new fact builds upon the last one until you suddenly find yourself tightly woven into a very complex plot.

I'm excited to read the next book in this series. It's a solid setting and the characters have lots of potential. Kudos to the author for her storytelling and pacing in this one.

[Lisa Ks Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pulse racing start to a new series!

A STONE’S THROW is an exciting mystery that’s more than just a cozy. There is an element of suspense that is a bit more intense. Author Debbie De Louise know exactly how to catch and hold a reader’s attention.

There was a great flow to, A STONE’S THROW. I kept my Kindle pages flying across the screen as I got deeper and deeper into this tale. I sped through the chapters, enjoying the plots twists that would continue to pop up.

It was intriguing to take a journey with Alicia Fairmount to her deceased husband’s hometown. I also found it interesting to meet the townspeople along with her. It’s fun having the protagonist new to everything just like I am while I’m reading the story.

At first, looking for answers into her husband’s background brought Alicia, and me, more questions than answers. Ms. De Louise had me wanting answers almost more than Alicia did! When things started becoming clear into the truth her husband’s death, and who was responsible, well, it was nothing I had suspected.

Give, A STONE’S THROW a try, and I think you made end up adding a new series to your reading list. I already have them all on mine!

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book – A Stone’s Throw
Author – Debbie De Louise
Publication Date – November 17, 2015
Genre – Romantic Suspense
Type – Stand-Alone  
Cliffhanger – No
Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars

Complimentary Copy generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts - Story
I’m highly impressed with this story and the author. The writing is great and Ms. DeLouise has a gift describing in detail the setting and actions. There were times I felt that I was right there in Cobble Cove with Alicia having some tea and muffins or a PB&J.

I loved these characters and how it all unfolded at the very end. I was expecting a dark twist that probably would have upset me but I was happily surprised and closed this book with a sappy smile on my face.



I do have to add that Ms. DeLouise did a fantastic job at twisting and then unraveling each detail of the mystery and I absolutely loved how it all tied together!


Re-Cap
Alicia just lost her husband six months ago in a hit and run accident and to overcome her grief, she feels that it’s necessary to sweep up some lose ends with his past.

She travels to Cobble Cove and meets John immediately. Both are drawn to the other and they proceed to try and uncover all the mysterious things that are starting to happen since she showed up.
It’s an Agatha Christie meets a small town living!
 
Reason for Reading – Author Request
Story Rating – 5 out of 5 Stars
Steam Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
Angst Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Writing Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Content Flow Rating – 4.5 out of 5 Stars
HEA? -Yes
Would Read More from Author? Yes
Recommend to – Anyone who loves a great love story within a mystery.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alicia Fairmont's husband died in a hit and run 6 months ago. She is alone has taken leave from her job and feels at a loose end. Her husband Pete did have family but they are estranged. Alicia wanted to get to the botttom of the family mystery to solve. I liked Alicia and how she was dealing with her grief.

She goes to the one place that she knows where her husband had lived as a child. Cobble Cove to start her journey into Pete's past to find the little family he has left. A mother and a sister. Cobble Cove is an odd town with a gothic vibe to it. Filled with mystery. It reminded me a little bit of the town Haven from the TV series. Where they aren't exactly friendly to strangers to begin with but they overnight warm up to Alicia. Although she did let herself get backed into corners constantly by the folks of Cobble Cove.

To help with her search she meets a local journalist to help her. John McKinney is also dealing with grief and has moved back to look after his father. John seemed nice enough but I couldn't connect with him. I didn't find him to be sincere in his feelings towards Alicia and I felt that he had a hidden agenda. I found him to be stiff and to formal when speaking.

The town is full of secrets, lies and painful memories. This is different to what I've read in a while. It has promising elements and the writing style keeps a good pace. Although it isn't a writing style I seemed to connect with. I really wanted to like this book because the blurb sounded amazing and the theme of the book intrigued me.

My problem? The deceased spouse theme. There were flashbacks to memories with her deceased husband. Didn't help me at all. This is totally on me as I knew it when I agreed to read it.

Review can also be found @ http://jerisbookattic-reviewblog.blog...

Book received by author in exchange for an honest review.

[Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stone’s Throw is an engaging mystery and I was hooked from page one. At first, the ease and flow of the writing and the well-rounded characters kept my interest. Soon, the suspense took over and drew me in completely. Alicia Fairmont arrives in Cobble Cove to get some answers about her late husband’s past. She uncovers some unexpected secrets and soon has more questions than answers. Alicia’s own safety is compromised and the twists and turns keep coming. The author beautifully blends coziness, suspense and a dash of romance in this stellar debut novel of the Cobble Cove Mystery series. I truly enjoyed this mystery. I am looking forward to reading the next book by Debbie De Louise!

[Joanie Chevalier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alicia's husband died in a car accident and she decides to visit a small town to see if she can learn more about his family. She unravels a mystery behind it all and she meets John along the way and they fall in love. The author has the reader wonder if John is behind some of the mysterious happenings. If you enjoy riddles and trying to solve puzzles, you'll like this book!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this could be considered a cozy mystery, I don’t feel like it’s the typical cozy. It is a clean read when it comes to language, the crimes aren’t written in a gory fashion like in a horror novel, and there are not graphic sex scenes. But this read as more of a mystery to me than a cozy. Not that it really matters because it was an enjoyable novel.

Another way that I felt this was more of a mystery than a cozy, was how quickly the relationship between Alicia and John heats up. In cozies it’ll take at least a couple of books before the amateur sleuth decides to let herself fall for the love interest. In A Stone’s Throw, I think it was less than a week.

At first I was getting a Wicker Man vibe from the story. Everyone would change the subject when Alicia asked about the previous librarian and there would be furtive glances too. The town also had a bit of the Stepford Wives going on with almost everyone being super nice and eager to please. The inn owner was a crab the first time Alicia met her but the next time she was as nice as everyone else. And we have one more cantankerous homebound library patron who shows up later in the book, but she too becomes nice by the end.

As far as the mystery went, I figured a couple of things out early, but I did not see the entire conclusion. And even after it ended I still didn’t feel like one of the main relationships were resolved. I still felt like there was something more hiding with the character, and perhaps that will come up in future books in the Cobble Cove series.

[Stephanie Hobrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

One wonderful story! Kept me awake for two nights trying to figure out what was happening! I never suspected the outcome, but I totally loved the whole book!
Looking forward to reading the next book by this author!

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alicia is picking up her life after her husband dies. His side of the family didn’t show up for the funeral and she wants to get with them for closure. As she finds a few of them and is offered a job she finds out her home has been burned.

As she gets the house settled she goes back to Cobble Cove with John to get answers. They are not as they seem and she gets more mysteries to figure out than answers. She uncovers so many dark secrets.

People are hiding things from everyone.

Characters were good and you didn’t want to trust anyone around town. The author keeps you on your toes.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting romantic mystery

Debbie De Louise wrote an interesting initial novel in "A Stone's Throw." The storyline was catchy and definitely kept the reader guessing throughout how it would progress and end. Just as it seemed the reader had figured some things out, a twist would then be thrown in changing the perspective of the main and mini plots throughout the novel.

The author had several very strong characters who often added to the mysterious happenings in Cobble Cove. Her character description came more from the characters behaviors and actions than via in depth descriptions.

I felt the novel started out slowly and that the first had, in particular, could have been condensed a great deal without taking away from the novel. The plotline picked up a little more than halfway through.

While I enjoyed the novel, and the informative epilogue that brought everything together, I felt that at times there was repetition in her writing, particularly in the first half. The repetition was not in the plot, as even in the first half it continually moved along, but in her word choices. For example, ending sentences and starting the next sentence with the same word or character name.

I did like the authors writing style in how she developed the storylines and kept the reader on their toes. Yet some things were unclear. For example, why was Alicia asking so many questions about Tina from the very beginning when she really had no reason to do so or be suspicious when she had just arrived in town. Thus would have made more sense as the plot progressed, not without reason shortly after her arrival to Cobble Creek even with the job offer.

For an initial novel, Debbie De Louise definitely showed great talent in her main and minor storylines. She created very strong characters that could be related to. She created a good romantic mystery. The other items are things the author can fix as she continues to write, as is the case with all authors.

I do recommend this novel as a beach or rainy day read. It is definitively worth picking up and reading.

Please note: storyline and character wise this novel is a 4*
Overall novel wise in regard to writing style, word usage/repetition, and need for condensing the novel is a 3.5*
Given the rating system utilized, I gave this novel 4*'s. Overall, I believe it is a 3.7*

[Barbara Hackel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a typical cozy, not exactly a thriller...a captivating story!

A STONE'S THROW is a book that has something for any mystery reader to enjoy. It has cozy elements of a library cat and a family's golden retriever who sniffs out a missing person like a bloodhound. It has romance between a widow and a widower. It has a charming town with fun street names and cute cottages and a town square. There is a library and lots of mention of books we all know.There is a crabby lady who lives like a hermit, and a rude and grouchy cop. But there is a case of a hit and run resulting in murder, an arson, a case of indiscretion that resulted in two children by different fathers and an estranged family, a missing person (another murder),and more that make this so much more than a cozy mystery. Everything adds up to a most entertaining mystery book.
I appreciated the fact that the characters weren't all young 20 somethings with vapid speech. The cute town of Cobble Cove is populated with older people as happens in many small towns after youngsters move away to more exciting lives. The cast of characters range from 40's to 80's, and everyone seemed so vital and interesting that I wasn't really aware of this until the end when the town was undergoing growth and development. It was simply a delightful town full of interesting people.
Let me tell you that this book is one that had twists and unexpected turns. I think I actually gasped at one point. It was a captivating book that keeps you guessing up to the end.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alicia Fairmont is still grieving the loss of her husband after he is killed in a hit and run accident. She is determined to learn about his family and heads to his home town of Cobble Cove in upstate New York.

Alicia never expects to uncover so many deep dark secrets in such a small town. She came up with more questions than answers including wondering if her husband’s death was truly an accident. Then, her home is burned down. She fears for her own safety.

This is the first book in the Cobble Cove Mystery series and it’s off to an amazing start. I couldn’t put this one down. It’s an intricate plot with many twists and turns along the way. I was trying to decipher all the clues right along with Alicia. I didn’t fare too well…I was totally off on who did it.

The cast of characters range from quirky to serious. There’s even a library cat in the mix. I trusted no one (except the cat, I always trust cats – LOL) as I was reading along. There’s also a romance mixed in with the mystery. I’m usually more about the mystery than the romance in my cozy mystery reading, but this one worked well and kept my interest from the beginning to the end of the story.

I’m very much looking forward to the second book in the series.





FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 stars rounded up.

This was a great start to the series. We got adequately introduced to the characters and some of their back stories; we visited main locales of the upcoming series; and we were introduced to the author's style of writing.

The characters in this series are definitely interesting. They're fairly well-rounded. We learn some of their back story, but not enough to make them completely flat in the future. They're complex and definitely each have their own issues, but they're interesting.

The mystery was totally interesting and had lots of great twists and turns that I didn't see coming! I didn't know who the villains were until they were revealed. For the most part the book moved along at a steady pace, though there was one point where it dragged slightly.

All in all, a great start to the series and I look forward to the 2nd and 3rd books.

[Lisa Diaz Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars MYSTERY, SUSPENSE, ROMANCE September 9, 2016
A Stone's Throw (Paperback)
A STONE'S THROW by author Debbie DeLouise.... The main character, Alicia Fairmont leaves her Long Island town in search of her deceased husbands estranged family and becomes embroiled with the inhabitants and history of the old town he came from. I like how the author casts suspicion everywhere so that the book becomes a page turner for the reader. I could not put the book down until the end! I highly recommend this book for mystery and contemporary romance readers.
5/5 stars by Lisa Diaz Meyer

[Robin Goodfellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.

A Stone’s Throw, by Debbie De Louise, is a romantic mystery about a woman who learns to decipher truth from lies, even after her entire world shatters. After losing her husband Peter to a fatal car accident, newly widowed Alicia Fairmont decides to take a trip to the small town of Cobble Cove in hopes of discovering more about her husband’s estranged family. Weary from her overwhelming life, Alicia finds comfort in the town. Not only is she offered the position of head librarian and a consistent (if slightly annoying) social group, she meets a handsome writer named John McKinney. But what starts off as a slow-paced haven turns into something more gruesome when Alicia finds out someone had tried to burn her house down. Even more alarming is when she realizes that her husband’s death might not have been an accident. 

I loved the relationship between Alicia and John. Far too often, writers force plot driven romances onto other characters, especially after their ball-and-chains are freshly buried. With Alicia and John, it felt natural; they had the same interests and goals, and it seemed they both found comfort in one another's grief. The town certainly helped things. Life was clearly beating Alicia down, and when Cobble Cove offered her a place to lay her head, she took it. It catered to her needs. 

So you understand why I felt so unsettled. The fact that Alicia was forced to return to the city was a blaring wakeup call which bordered on terrifying. Suddenly, my small town romance turned into a gripping horror, especially with John abruptly thrown into the suspect spotlight. De Louise beautifully delivered the mystery by turning once friendly figures into dangerous shadows lurking beyond the dark. Aside from the detectives and Alicia, I didn’t know who to trust.  

And honestly, even after I finished the book, I don’t believe a word anyone is saying. My friends always say I’m a cesspool of anxiety, so I relate to Alicia in that manner. With that established, I felt that Tina held some sliver of truth. Even with that happy ending, the entire book reminds me of a lullaby sung by a monster. The problem is you don’t know it’s a monster because you're already sleeping. 

Despite my mind betraying me, I admit that some of the mystery felt a bit forced. Even though details in the story foreshadowed something darker, there was no reason for Alicia to become suspicious yet, especially when it came to Tina. Moreover, I felt that Alicia trusted John a little too quickly; even if she considered him a safe space, I would’ve thought she’d take more time to vet him. It's the same when she interacted with Pamela. Alicia can't just take something for face value; it’s just one side of a clearly long and complex family history.

Even so, I enjoyed corner De Louise put me in. It’s a solid mystery that teeters on a gothic tragedy. As such, I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Alicia Fairmont is struggling to move on after her husband’s death. She didn’t know much about his family and they didn’t show up for the funeral. She thinks that if she connects with them it will bring her the peace she needs to get on with her life. She knows he considered Cobble Cove his home she she hopes to find some answers there.

Soon after arriving she meets John McKinney, publisher of the local newspaper and he agrees to help her find out her husband’s mother and his sister. She also meets his father and the library director. The director hears that Alicia is a librarian and quickly offers her a job. While considering the offer she receives a call from home that her home has been burned to the ground. John accompanies her back to deal with all the aftermath. But her mind is still back in Cobble Cove. She wraps up what she can and returns back there to try to get the answers she needs.

Instead of a simple meeting of her in-laws she uncovers secrets, clues and evidence that turn the whole thing into quite a mystery. Many things are not what they seem and everything she learns takes her in a new direction until the last clue puts everything in order.

This is a complex mystery that is very well written. I had a couple of issues about how quickly certain events take place but as I delved further into the story those became minor glitches.

Cobble Cove is an unusual town and not typical for a cozy mystery. It felt very dark to me at times. The town is full of cottages with whimsical street names but there was just a pallor over the town. People are hiding something from Alicia and the story was getting a more suspenseful feel, but never truly veered into the thriller genre.

I liked Alicia but my verdict on John was out until almost the very end of the story. In fact I wasn’t trusting of anyone in Cobble Cove until the final pages. There is a wide variety in the personalities of all the characters, the bubbly townspeople that are on every committee, the shut-ins who have books from the library delivered to them, the detective that was downright rude, Dora,who runs the only place to stay in town, and of course John, his father and Sheila, the director of the library.

De Louise is an excellent storyteller. Her descriptions of time and place took me right into the pages. She includes many twists and turns to keep us as readers motivated to keep those pages turning. Everything wraps up nicely by the end of the story. If I didn’t know this was the first book in the series I would have thought it was a stand alone novel.

This story was different and so much more than I expected when I started reading. It is a very entertaining mystery coupled with a unlikely romance. I will definitely be checking out the next two installments.

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alicia Fairmont's husband, Peter, has been gone for six months, the victim of a hit-and-run accident. Peter never talked about his family, but did say that he had lived in Cobble Cove until he was ten years old. Alicia decides to visit Cobble Cove to see if anybody knows where his relatives might be, as none had attended his funeral and may not even know of his death. In Cobble Cove, she meets John McKinney, who keeps the town records and publishes the local newspaper, the Cobble Cove Courier. She was also referred to Mac and Sheila at the local library for information about Peter's family.

When Alicia visits the library, she is immediately offered a job, as the previous library helper, Tina Deerborn had abruptly left to care for her mother in Florida. Alicia's visit was interrupted when she received a frantic phone call from her friend, Gilly, telling her that her house had been burned and the police suspected arson.

Was Peter's death an accident or murder? Are Peter's death and the house fire connected? What secrets will Alicia uncover in Cobble Cove? With all of the lies and accusations, how can Alicia know who to trust?

Debbie De Louise has made a wonderful start to a fantastic series. The characters and situations are very realistic and there are plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings to keep the reader fully engaged and guessing clear to the end.

[Rachael Tamayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this cozy mystery, I felt that it got off to a slow start.  However, I stuck with it and in the end I'm glad that I did.  It's the first in a series that takes place in an itty-bitty town called Cobble Cove.  It was an enjoyable read with an ending that I was not expecting. To surprise me is not an easy task when it comes to books and movies, and this one I didn't see coming. 

Now, If I had to say something negative, I'd say that it had a slow start, and the dialog was a bit formal for my taste.  It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I found it hard to sink my teeth into, so to speak, because I couldn't connect with it.  I also found that the slowness was due to the inclusion of too many mundane details that left me wanting to rush ahead to the action.  I'm one that likes to be grabbed early, sunk into the plot in the first pages, and I love a fast, action packed pace. This book was a slower, easier read. 

Despite these few things, I really did enjoy this book and in the end I was attached to the characters and left with my mouth hanging open when I found out who the guilty culprit was. As I read, I was sure that I had it figured out, but I was totally off. I loved that I was wrong. 

I  recommend you pick this up, especially if you are a mystery lover.  

[Brian Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing mystery to introduce a new series

I thoroughly enjoyed A Stone's Throw, the intriguing introduction to Debbie De Louise's new Cobbke Cove Mystery Series. When recently widowed Alicia Fairmonr visits her husband's home town to try and make contact with his family, about whom he'd always been very secretive, little did she realise what lay in wait for her in the small town of Cobble Cove.
There are hidden secrets lying in wait for her as she slowly digs into a past that perhaps someone would rather remain hidden. When a phone call informs her that her house has burned down, she has to rush back to assist the police with the investigation ibto the cause of the fire. The police soon find further evidence relating to her husband's death and the mystery deepens even further.
No spoilers from me, except to say that the solution to the mystery lies back in Cobble Cove, linked to the young woman who had been the town librarian until recently. Alicia slowly finds herself falling in love with her new friend, John only to discover that he might be connected to her husband's demise.
It's an enthralling mystery with a real twist in the tale and I can wholeheartedly recommend it. 5 stars from me

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in an amazing series that will keep you glued to the pages! I have already read several others in this series and all of them are well worth reading. They can be read as stand alones--as I obviously did.

Alicia Fairmont's husband was killed in an auto accident--but something is bothering her about it. She does not know any of her husband's family so travels up to Cobble Cove to meet them and hopefully get some answers. She ends up staying there for much longer then she thought she would.

Cobble Cove's head librarian convinces Alicia to take a job at the little library--and there is also John McKinney, the towns newspaper reporter and wannabe author.

Meanwhile her house back on the Island has burned to the ground and she has to go back to see what is up-John goes with her. They come back and that is when she starts to find various articles-a diary and other notes which really have her confused and a bit nervous.

Will she figure out what really happened? Is John friend or foe? What is the deep dark secret that has been in this town for years? There are twists and turns which will throw you off--the ending will astonish you!

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy mystery set in Cobble Cove where everything is just a stone throw away. Alicia goes there in the hopes of finding out more about her deceased husband’s family as this is the town where he attended school and high school. She visits the library on the advice of the inn keeper and is immediately offered a job as the last librarian left to care for her mother. She meets Mac, an elderly part-time worker, and his handsome son. A relationship begins to build between the two as they leave off grieving for their departed spouses. The story builds gradually and you are drawn into the village, its quirks, and then its mysteries. Before it is over you are wondering if Alisha has made a horrible error in trusting the handsome son. Someone torches Alisha’s house, and then the police discover her husband was deliberately run down. They discover the former librarian lied about her name. She was having an affair with John and then they discover she was also with Alisha’s husband. Normally, I do not read cozy mysteries, but this one is excellent. The author writes so well she put you right there. I highly recommend this story,

[Marion Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first of the Cobble Cove books that I have read. I didn't know if I would like one set in a library, I didn't like it. I loved it. It had everything I try and look for in a cozy. Alicia goes to a small town or more like a village town to find out more about her late husband's family. She decides to take a job there at the library. Along the way she meets John and his father. The people in this book ar3e well written and you can fall in love with them. There is also a dog that belongs to John and Mac, and a library cat. It was just a really good read. I can't to see where the next book takes me

[Laurie Pinnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alicia Fairmont needs answers. Soon you will too. What really happened? Who was her husband? Just when you think you have it figured out, things turn in another direction. I read this book in a little over 2 days because I had to get answers. I simply couldn't put it down. I just know you will love this book as much as I did.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page to the last I could not put this book down. Alicia goes to a small town looking for her deceased husband's family whom she has never met . She decides to stay in the small town he once grew up in and finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery . You don't want to miss this one.

[Kathie Poritz -Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in an authors' St. Patrick's Day party. I only meant to glance at the book when it arrived. I was instantly captivated, one page led to a chapter and another until I finished the entire book. I enjoyed the endearing characters, the originality of the plot, and rest of the content. It's a second chance romance, mystery and thriller all in one.

[Marcia-Lee Finocchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Stone’s Throw

Very entertaining storyline, a little slow (I thought) at the beginning, but once you got into the story it was hard to put it down. A lot of twists and turns, and the ending was not disappointing!

[April Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific

A Stones Throw is the first in a series. The depth of characters and twists of the plot make me want more. Superb read that I highly recommend. Looking forward to continuing the books.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

A story about looking for answers about a your late husband's past. Looking for answers and finding more questions then answers. Much of the story takes place in Cobble Stone. Unexplained things keep happening to Alicia.

[Magi Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the plot

I enjoyed the plot of the story. I thought it could have used another round of editing. The Characters and the plot is great.

[Katym521 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this story and loved the characters in it. I can vision the scenes in my head as they are happening. I like the imagery. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.