What do you think?
Rate this book
Under the cold Stones
When a homecoming turns into a perilous search for the truth
Estranged from her family for over twenty years and having blanked out many of the reasons that made her leave, after the death of her mother, Daydee returns to her hometown in Illinois.
Having inherited land and a cemetery business, Daydee begins to refamiliarize herself with the people in the town, many of whom regard her with suspicion. But as she finds our more about her mother and her affairs, she realises much has been hidden from her. Her properties had been used for illegal gains, clearly some of the town’s folk have been in on it, and her mother’s collaborators want everything kept under wraps.
Having worked as a call girl for much of her life, and wise to the ways of men, Daydee battles with her reputation and begins to make friends. But when she makes a chilling discovery in the cemetery and she unveils what looks like a grievous crime, she is in danger and will require all her hard-won courage and wits to win over.
Estranged from her family for over twenty years and having blanked out many of the reasons that made her leave, after the death of her mother, Daydee returns to her hometown in Illinois.
Having inherited land and a cemetery business, Daydee begins to refamiliarize herself with the people in the town, many of whom regard her with suspicion. But as she finds our more about her mother and her affairs, she realises much has been hidden from her. Her properties had been used for illegal gains, clearly some of the town’s folk have been in on it, and her mother’s collaborators want everything kept under wraps.
Having worked as a call girl for much of her life, and wise to the ways of men, Daydee battles with her reputation and begins to make friends. But when she makes a chilling discovery in the cemetery and she unveils what looks like a grievous crime, she is in danger and will require all her hard-won courage and wits to win over.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2017
101 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Dan McNay
11 books4 followersDan McNay has lived in LA 25 years and for a lot of that time has worked at USC. He has been active in numerous writing workshops and studied in USC’s Masters of Professional Writing Program. He has purchased millions of dollars worth of computers for USC, won the staff speed calculator competition at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, paddled around Catalina Island with a bunch of Boy Scouts, sold used and rare books in the French Quarter, collected blood from unborn calves in a Utah slaughter house, lectured on Robbe-Grillet, worked the night shift in Monterey, San Francisco & Tucson, and owned and ran a cemetery in Illinois- not necessarily in that order.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 14, 2018
"The long, hard road"
There were times when I wanted to quit this book and yet I persevered. It took an awful long time to get anywhere but along the way there were glimpses of glorious imagery that sparked memories of the past. As Daydee reminisced, or postulated what the townsfolk would think of her choice of outfit, I found myself nodding. Yeah, I remember days like that. Small town people can be so parochial and predictable. If all the packaging was stripped away the story would be boring. With it, at times it was magical. This guy can write. Now he needs to work out how to get the same feel to a story in about two-thirds of the pages. If he does that, watch out. It will be a winner.
There were times when I wanted to quit this book and yet I persevered. It took an awful long time to get anywhere but along the way there were glimpses of glorious imagery that sparked memories of the past. As Daydee reminisced, or postulated what the townsfolk would think of her choice of outfit, I found myself nodding. Yeah, I remember days like that. Small town people can be so parochial and predictable. If all the packaging was stripped away the story would be boring. With it, at times it was magical. This guy can write. Now he needs to work out how to get the same feel to a story in about two-thirds of the pages. If he does that, watch out. It will be a winner.
March 9, 2017
From the off this book grabs you with its authentic style and the interesting predicament of the protagonist, a prostitute returning to her hometown after the death of her mother. There is a steady ranking up fear, tension and suspicion as she reencounters the locals and learns about the bad goings on in the Illinois backwater. That her mother was involved in illegal activity is not the only thing the heroine discovers - she also learns about her own past, something that will lead to a serious confrontation with the powers that be. This is atmospheric, entertaining fiction that cuts close to the bone.
May 2, 2017
I loved this book.very different,dark,funny,sadwith agood ending.A woman with amazing strenght.
At times I wondered where the story was going.it all came together in the end. You know it is special when at the end you wonder if they all lived happy ever after.
At times I wondered where the story was going.it all came together in the end. You know it is special when at the end you wonder if they all lived happy ever after.
May 2, 2017
Under The Cold Stones by Dan McNay
I couldn't hardly quit reading once I started. It had me wondering what would happen next. I enjoyed the story & plan on reading more from this author.
I couldn't hardly quit reading once I started. It had me wondering what would happen next. I enjoyed the story & plan on reading more from this author.
May 3, 2017
Good Book
It kept me guessing at what would happen next, a good read. So much that goes on in every day life.
It kept me guessing at what would happen next, a good read. So much that goes on in every day life.
December 23, 2017
It was ok...
This was not one of those books that you just couldn’t put down. It was ok, dragged a bit and then seemed to wrap up suddenly in the last few pages with loose ends hanging....
This was not one of those books that you just couldn’t put down. It was ok, dragged a bit and then seemed to wrap up suddenly in the last few pages with loose ends hanging....
March 21, 2017
Under the stones
When l first started ,l had second thoughts, but l pushed threw. I will admit it got better and it turned out to be a decent book.
When l first started ,l had second thoughts, but l pushed threw. I will admit it got better and it turned out to be a decent book.
August 16, 2024
Was a quick read; overall enjoyed it
April 27, 2017
Well written
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are accurate in some small towns I know. Unfortunately people like this do exist.
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters are accurate in some small towns I know. Unfortunately people like this do exist.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews