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Ben Abbott Mysteries #2
Stonedust
Ben Abbott is back in StoneDust, a complex, richly plotted, and enthralling mystery that tests this witty, literate realtor and fledgling detective as never before.
The Fisks' weekend party, a "sleep-over" for select couples, remains the talk of the town long after Reg Hopkins' body turns up in an isolated covered bridge. For Reg may have paid the party a fleeting visit--before dying in a way everyone swears was impossible. Ben, who used to play backyard baseball with Reg and all the party guests, must take up the matter with a hometown cast of friends, foes, and family--including his ninety-year-old Aunt Connie, the rising politician and his sometime lover Vicky McLachlan, the comely and ambitious State Police Detective Marian Boyce, and a pair of deadly housebreakers. Soon everybody's getting much more in the way of kicks than they bargained for.
The Fisks' weekend party, a "sleep-over" for select couples, remains the talk of the town long after Reg Hopkins' body turns up in an isolated covered bridge. For Reg may have paid the party a fleeting visit--before dying in a way everyone swears was impossible. Ben, who used to play backyard baseball with Reg and all the party guests, must take up the matter with a hometown cast of friends, foes, and family--including his ninety-year-old Aunt Connie, the rising politician and his sometime lover Vicky McLachlan, the comely and ambitious State Police Detective Marian Boyce, and a pair of deadly housebreakers. Soon everybody's getting much more in the way of kicks than they bargained for.
250 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1995
8 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Justin Scott
104 books90 followersAlso writes as Justin Scott, Paul Garrison, J.S. Blazer, and Alexander Cole.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 25, 2020
I had trouble getting through this one.
Reg - a recovering alcoholic - crashes a party and is found dead in the owners' kitchen of a heroine overdose. The owners of the house and the three couples with them - 8 people in all - try to cover up Reg's death. Janey - Reg's soon to be ex-wife - doesn't believe that Reg would be taking drugs or alcohol. She wants Reg to be clean so that she can collect the insurance money.
The general story concept is fine, but the book dragged on too much for me.
Reg - a recovering alcoholic - crashes a party and is found dead in the owners' kitchen of a heroine overdose. The owners of the house and the three couples with them - 8 people in all - try to cover up Reg's death. Janey - Reg's soon to be ex-wife - doesn't believe that Reg would be taking drugs or alcohol. She wants Reg to be clean so that she can collect the insurance money.
The general story concept is fine, but the book dragged on too much for me.
January 13, 2019
Must read
Again I stay up very late because i can't stop reading. Ben Abbot and his fellow citizens come to life. I never guess whodunit and I'm normally fairly good at that. There's nothing better than finding an author thar you know will hook you on page one and keep it up until the last word
Again I stay up very late because i can't stop reading. Ben Abbot and his fellow citizens come to life. I never guess whodunit and I'm normally fairly good at that. There's nothing better than finding an author thar you know will hook you on page one and keep it up until the last word
March 16, 2022
Further development of Ben Abbott and other Newburyport characters
AN investigation of a friends death from a heroin overdose leads Abbott to suspect foul play and to take the time to piece together the events of his friends last few hours.
He learns some surprising details about his friend and gradually comes to understand the crime.
AN investigation of a friends death from a heroin overdose leads Abbott to suspect foul play and to take the time to piece together the events of his friends last few hours.
He learns some surprising details about his friend and gradually comes to understand the crime.
December 23, 2022
Skikkelig driv i en kan-ikke-legge-fra-meg-stemning. Selv om man etterhvert tenker «hm, nå kommer det vel ikke mer?», så går det tre sider og joda, det var fortsatt spennende
April 27, 2012
Ben Abbot, a stockbroker turned estate agent, is asked to investigate the death of his friend Reg. This involves asking questions of people who have been friends since childhood, unearthing long held secrets and ruining the lives of others in order to bring justice to Reg.
Rereading my review stirred no memories of the actual book so I looked up a synopsis of this novel. This helped stir some memory but not enough to really bring it to mind so I guess I didn't enjoy it that much. Certainly not enough to read anything else by this author.
Rereading my review stirred no memories of the actual book so I looked up a synopsis of this novel. This helped stir some memory but not enough to really bring it to mind so I guess I didn't enjoy it that much. Certainly not enough to read anything else by this author.
August 1, 2008
STONEDUST - Ex
Scott, Justin - 2nd in series
The second novel in the Ben Abbott series. The Fisks' party, a "sleepover" for select couples, remains the talk of the town long after Reg Hopkin's body turns up. For Reg may have paid the party a visit. Ben, who used to play backyard baseball with Reg and all the party guests, takes up the case.
Liked it eve better than the 1st book.
Scott, Justin - 2nd in series
The second novel in the Ben Abbott series. The Fisks' party, a "sleepover" for select couples, remains the talk of the town long after Reg Hopkin's body turns up. For Reg may have paid the party a visit. Ben, who used to play backyard baseball with Reg and all the party guests, takes up the case.
Liked it eve better than the 1st book.
December 9, 2010
Interesting case solved by Ben
July 11, 2012
Liked it better than the first. Gonna read another Scudder book then back to the third book of this series. May have to try his other books.
October 12, 2013
Good mystery story.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews