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Ellie Kline #0.5
Cold Start
Trouble might be her only name...
From an elite Charleston, South Carolina family, Officer Ellie Kline is the black sheep in the family. Her parents have always tried to protect her, especially since she was kidnapped at the tender age of fifteen. But with her eye on being promoted to Charleston PD detective, it’s her mission to protect and serve the people of her beloved, dignified city. And protect she does. She can’t help it if she goes overboard sometimes, losing partners and getting suspended.
Instincts honed from the evil that once tried to possess her, Officer Kline can spot a crime in progress almost before it happens. So when a little girl is behaving oddly, Ellie will do everything in her power to make sure she doesn’t suffer the same fate she did at the hands of a monster.
From an elite Charleston, South Carolina family, Officer Ellie Kline is the black sheep in the family. Her parents have always tried to protect her, especially since she was kidnapped at the tender age of fifteen. But with her eye on being promoted to Charleston PD detective, it’s her mission to protect and serve the people of her beloved, dignified city. And protect she does. She can’t help it if she goes overboard sometimes, losing partners and getting suspended.
Instincts honed from the evil that once tried to possess her, Officer Kline can spot a crime in progress almost before it happens. So when a little girl is behaving oddly, Ellie will do everything in her power to make sure she doesn’t suffer the same fate she did at the hands of a monster.
21 pages, ebook
First published January 14, 2020
About the author
Mary Stone
250 books2,211 followersTo download my FREE BOOK, click here: https://authormarystone.com/free-book...
Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.
Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.
Nestled in the tranquil Blue Ridge Mountains of East Tennessee, Mary Stone has transformed her peaceful home, once bustling with her sons, into a creative haven. As her family grew, so did her writing career, evolving from childhood fears to a deep understanding of real-life villains. Her stories, centered around strong, unconventional heroines, weave themes of courage and intrigue.
Mary's journey from a solitary writer to establishing her own publishing house marks a significant evolution, showcasing her commitment to the literary world. Through her writing and publishing endeavors, she continues to captivate and inspire, honoring her lifelong fascination with the mysterious and the courageous.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 4, 2021
This is a novella/prequel giving the reader an introduction to Officer Ellie Kline from Charleston South Carolina PD. She's had 3 partners and all of them asked to be transferred to another partner. She is aggressive and it bothers her male counterparts who describe her as a show-off. In this novella, Ellie is assigned a new partner, Jacob Garcia. Their first day on the job she is convinced a little girl she sees in a donut shop is in peril. Just an instinct, but Jacob doesn't see any reason to agree. Ellie has him follow the woman anyway, who is keeping a tight hold on the little girl. Later we discover why Ellie has such a sharp sense in these circumstances, and how Jacob will learn to trust Ellie's instincts. She also confesses to Jacob why she was drawn to law enforcement.
It certainly piqued my interest. I'd like to read more about spunky Ellie and her adventures on the job with Jacob.
It certainly piqued my interest. I'd like to read more about spunky Ellie and her adventures on the job with Jacob.
May 10, 2020
This is a great bonus story/prequel. I just finished book two of the Ellie series when I saw a link to this story. In general it is a great short story because it has action and shows the characters solving cases. What made this a great story for me is that it shows Ellie being her normal kicka** self and how it intimidated other partners. Then it showed her first meeting, case and opening about herself to Jacob.
This story is fast paced but it provides a great deal of information about two of the main characters and their dynamic in this series. I loved it.
This story is fast paced but it provides a great deal of information about two of the main characters and their dynamic in this series. I loved it.
January 11, 2026
4 Stars
‘A determined detective haunted by her past, Ellie Kline investigates chilling cold cases while being stalked by the relentless killer who once shattered her life.’
Cold Start is Book #0.5 in the ‘Ellie Kline’ Series by Mary Stone - where we follow Charleston PD detective Ellie Kline - a survivor of a teenage kidnapping. The series blends gritty police work with the haunting pull of Ellie’s unresolved trauma. Each book dives into chilling cold cases, but the real hook is Ellie herself: fiercely determined, deeply human, and constantly walking the razor’s edge between justice and obsession.
Ms. Stone masterfully choreographs fast-paced plots with layered character development, keeping you invested and guessing until the final page. The recurring shadow of Ellie’s past adds a slow-burn tension that makes the series quite addictive - think procedural precision meets psychological depth.
Start at book one, you’ll thank yourself later - Ellie Kline will be your next obsession.
Happy Reading…
‘A determined detective haunted by her past, Ellie Kline investigates chilling cold cases while being stalked by the relentless killer who once shattered her life.’
Cold Start is Book #0.5 in the ‘Ellie Kline’ Series by Mary Stone - where we follow Charleston PD detective Ellie Kline - a survivor of a teenage kidnapping. The series blends gritty police work with the haunting pull of Ellie’s unresolved trauma. Each book dives into chilling cold cases, but the real hook is Ellie herself: fiercely determined, deeply human, and constantly walking the razor’s edge between justice and obsession.
Ms. Stone masterfully choreographs fast-paced plots with layered character development, keeping you invested and guessing until the final page. The recurring shadow of Ellie’s past adds a slow-burn tension that makes the series quite addictive - think procedural precision meets psychological depth.
Start at book one, you’ll thank yourself later - Ellie Kline will be your next obsession.
Happy Reading…
June 10, 2021
Having read the first three books if the Ellie Kline Series, I received an offer for thus prequel through Book Funnel. A short read, it provides the partnering of Ellie Kline with Jacob Garcia, her forth partner. While many of the details alluded to in this novella were revealed in Books 1 - 3, it was interesting to see Ellie's first kidnapping case and her early interactions with Jackson. I recommend Stone's prequel to each of her series , but it should be read immediately after Book 1. Not sure why the offer came so far into the series. So, on roti the next book in the series.
July 14, 2022
A short, slice of life of Officer Ellie Kline. I liked Ellie in the first book so I was interested to see more of her early career. There's not really any detecting, more just action as Ellie chases down suspects and has suspicions about a young girl she meets. It was alright - straightforward plot. Officer Jacob Garcia makes an appearance when the two are partnered together after Ellie's third partner abandons ship. It was pretty short so there's not really a lot of depth, but it was an alright little story. 3 stars.
June 3, 2020
I really like this series and will read the remaining books. I read this prequel after I read Cold Truth. There is a contradiction in the stories. Did anyone else pick up on it? In the prequel, Kline knew who Chief Johnson was when he came in Danver’s office. But in the Cold Truth she was surprised he knew who she was at the fundraiser and was even more surprised when she saw in the paperwork in the evidence box that he was the officer who hit her when she was kidnapped.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2020
nice little prequel
May 19, 2020
That was wicked short. I did enjoy reading it.
August 18, 2020
This short story packs a powerful punch. Great way to start a series.
November 19, 2020
Cold Start. Introduction to Ellie Kline. In this short introduction you will find out how Ellie and Jacob met and why she became a police officer.
January 25, 2021
This is a very short story it was very fast and fun. It definitely makes me want to read more in this series.
March 17, 2021
Great series
September 3, 2021
No one wants to work with Ellie, do they??? That is, until Jacob teams up with her. But, no matter what, she knows what she knows, doesn’t she??? I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
January 16, 2023
Free book - short story
Gives you some background on Ellie and why she became a cop. And a little bit about her patrol partner, Jacob.
Gives you some background on Ellie and why she became a cop. And a little bit about her patrol partner, Jacob.
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September 11, 2025No Rating.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews