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Crow Stone
A compulsively readable thriller that skillfully weaves together past and present to uncover the sinister secrets buried in the ancient stone quarries under Bath.
Kit Parry is reluctant to take the job shoring up the ancient quarries beneath her hometown of Bath — a place as riddled with memories she d rather forget as it is with Roman ruins. The miners certainly don t want her there, and her burgeoning romance with lanky foreman Gary looks likely to complicate matters even further. But when dark developments threaten the spa town s placid fa
471 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 10, 2007
CROW STONE (Suspense-Kit Perry-UK-Cont) – G+
Mills, Jenni – 1st book
HarperPress, 2007, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780007247127
First Sentence: Look at this.
*** Kit Perry, a mining engineer, has returned to Bath, where she was raised but she would rather people there not recognize her. At fourteen, known as Katie and after a difficult childhood with a mother who left and a strict, unpredictable father, she left Bath in a large black car. Now she is back working with a team to shore up the Roman quarries which are putting at risk parts of historic Bath. But the past is never far from the present; especially when her best friend wants her to help him possibly find a lost temple of Mithras and the man leading the investigation is one on whom she and her friends had a crush.
*** Jenni Mills has a wonderful voice. From the very beginning, I was caught up in Katie/Kit’s live and fascinated by the way Mills masterfully intertwined the past (1970s) and the present resulting in a very good, and at times quite suspenseful, story. The relationships are complex and very real; from her insecurity as a child to her frustration of working with male miners who don’t want a female engineer underground with them. Yes, the story could have used editing and tightening up but, overall, it is quite an impressive debut.
Mills, Jenni – 1st book
HarperPress, 2007, UK Hardcover – ISBN: 9780007247127
First Sentence: Look at this.
*** Kit Perry, a mining engineer, has returned to Bath, where she was raised but she would rather people there not recognize her. At fourteen, known as Katie and after a difficult childhood with a mother who left and a strict, unpredictable father, she left Bath in a large black car. Now she is back working with a team to shore up the Roman quarries which are putting at risk parts of historic Bath. But the past is never far from the present; especially when her best friend wants her to help him possibly find a lost temple of Mithras and the man leading the investigation is one on whom she and her friends had a crush.
*** Jenni Mills has a wonderful voice. From the very beginning, I was caught up in Katie/Kit’s live and fascinated by the way Mills masterfully intertwined the past (1970s) and the present resulting in a very good, and at times quite suspenseful, story. The relationships are complex and very real; from her insecurity as a child to her frustration of working with male miners who don’t want a female engineer underground with them. Yes, the story could have used editing and tightening up but, overall, it is quite an impressive debut.
July 18, 2010
Got this through a UK bookclub not really knowing much about the author or book. I was pleasantly surprised - a really strong debut from this author, particularly with the development of the main female character and her interactions within the hostile work environment she finds herself in while pursuing her underground passion. The intertwining storylines are well worked and I found the final resolution very satisfying. Highly recommended author and one to look out for in the future.
July 9, 2011
"An addictive, high quality psychological thriller", "Nail biting suspense" that's what the reviews on the book cover said, don't believe everything you read I got to page 405 before something actually happened!! Didn't grab me at any point and at times it was boring, I only stuck with it as I was sure that something good might happen, alas, it doesn't. There are questions left unanswered and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
July 12, 2018
Brilliant
Absolutely fabulous book. Thought I had worked out who was what but was surprised. Hope the author writes more books! Soon!
Absolutely fabulous book. Thought I had worked out who was what but was surprised. Hope the author writes more books! Soon!
September 24, 2025
I was really looking forward to this read. I found this book in a free book phone booth and the cover caught my eyes straight away and the title too . It's called the Crow Stone and the byline is " the dark of the past, the deeper the secrets " , and that really intrigued me so I thought I'll get this book and I was quite excited to read it.
It's a big book to read, and it is a hardback so it appears quite mighty in size .
So the premise of this story is that Kate Parry is a woman with a past one that she would rather forget. Now she's a successful engineer, she's spent all our life trying to forget the memory of what happened over the long hot summer of her 14th year.
When Kit takes a job shoring up the ancient quarries under the hometown of Bath, however the secret she tries her desperately to bury threatens to work ot's way to the surface, for beneath its sleep facade the old town is as riddled with unwanted memories as it is with the Roman ruins. As the past unfolds , the present has its own problems, her ex-husband is tapping her of money a, and as someone is making it obvious that she's not wanted in Bath. To top it off, her burgeoning romance with Gary the quarry Foreman , forces open doors to the past that she wanted to keep shut.
Then Kate comes across evidence of what could be the archaeological discovery of the decade, the lost Roman Temple dedicated to the mystery cult of Mithras
.
I really wanted this to be a good read because the book seemed an exciting story to read, and I love the city of Bath and the setting of the book in this city worked really well with the archaeological ruins and archaeological dig. But alas, the book was rather slow in it's telling and though it was supposed to be a chilling climax, I didn't find it that chilling.
I liked Kit as a character. I think she needed a little bit more depth to make her truly stand out.. and I found the romance with Gary didn't really have the chemistry that I thought it should've had , so for me it didn't really work that well and the forever appearing Martin irritated me because he didn't really add much to the story so I can only give this book a 3 star rating for these reasons.
I was fascinated by the archaeological side , I found that really interestin
It's a big book to read, and it is a hardback so it appears quite mighty in size .
So the premise of this story is that Kate Parry is a woman with a past one that she would rather forget. Now she's a successful engineer, she's spent all our life trying to forget the memory of what happened over the long hot summer of her 14th year.
When Kit takes a job shoring up the ancient quarries under the hometown of Bath, however the secret she tries her desperately to bury threatens to work ot's way to the surface, for beneath its sleep facade the old town is as riddled with unwanted memories as it is with the Roman ruins. As the past unfolds , the present has its own problems, her ex-husband is tapping her of money a, and as someone is making it obvious that she's not wanted in Bath. To top it off, her burgeoning romance with Gary the quarry Foreman , forces open doors to the past that she wanted to keep shut.
Then Kate comes across evidence of what could be the archaeological discovery of the decade, the lost Roman Temple dedicated to the mystery cult of Mithras
.
I really wanted this to be a good read because the book seemed an exciting story to read, and I love the city of Bath and the setting of the book in this city worked really well with the archaeological ruins and archaeological dig. But alas, the book was rather slow in it's telling and though it was supposed to be a chilling climax, I didn't find it that chilling.
I liked Kit as a character. I think she needed a little bit more depth to make her truly stand out.. and I found the romance with Gary didn't really have the chemistry that I thought it should've had , so for me it didn't really work that well and the forever appearing Martin irritated me because he didn't really add much to the story so I can only give this book a 3 star rating for these reasons.
I was fascinated by the archaeological side , I found that really interestin
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2023
The author is very good at creating atmosphere and the opening scenes really do make you tense and conjure up the feeling of being underground. Sometimes I wish that angst ridden people would open up but I know this is the essence of the story.
Some twists that I didn't expect and I was left wanting to know what had happened to one obnoxious character who seemed to escape without consequence.
Good story, dragged me in and kept me there. Recommended.
Some twists that I didn't expect and I was left wanting to know what had happened to one obnoxious character who seemed to escape without consequence.
Good story, dragged me in and kept me there. Recommended.
December 25, 2018
Not enough mystery dragged on .not one for me..maybe next one
July 2, 2008
"Corax the Raven - the messenger of the gods. Just when you think life is on track, along comes a socking great bird, squawking news of a divine quest. My advice is, shoot the bloody thing....."
The quote at the start of CROW STONE hinted at something with a very dry, quirky sense of humour and it definitely delivers - on the lighter moments, with good characterisation and a tremendous, taut, tense and frequently disturbing plot.
Katie was a little girl in Bath, living with her overbearing father, her mother left them when she was only a toddler. In many ways, Katie's a normal teenager - she watches the teenage boy who lives over the road through the curtains; she's under pressure to keep up her results at school; and her friends are obsessed with clothes, boys and parties. Katie's a little different though, a bit withdrawn, obviously missing her mother - her love is archaeology - she fascinated by the fossils that are found around Bath and by the ancient stone mines that have been dug out under Bath.
20 years later and Katie has grown into Kit, now a mining engineer, back in Bath and working with the team that are trying to shore up those very same mines before there are major collapses. She's always denied her connections with Bath, but the status of the mines and her past in the area get complicated when Katie discovers something that seems significant from an archaeological point of view. She must call in her best friend, professor of Archeology Martin, and together they have to get into an off limits area of the mine to check out the discovery.
The possibility of a much sought after Roman Mithraic temple is not the only secret that the mines hold, and Kit is struggling with being back in Bath, let alone finding the teenage boy has also grown up into the foreman of the works. But what was it that happened all those years ago, where is Kit's father now, and why did her mother leave her?
CROW STONE covers Kit's life as the teenage Katie in alternating chapters with the current day. There's a slow burning, gripping, building tension that comes with this approach. This is not a book where a crime happens up front, instead, something has happened in the past, something is happening in the present and the reader rapidly learns the details of either event. What holds both of these threads together is Kit. She's a fabulous, engaging character, sometimes full of attitude and confidence, sometimes doubting and unsure of herself. There's a lot that has obviously happened in Kit's life and she's handling it in the only way she knows how.
Along with Kit there's a well drawn cast of supporting characters, Gary the young boy over the road now foreman, Kit's dearest friend Martin, the creepy site archaeologist Dickon and the miners who are horrified to have a woman underground.
CROW STONE was one of those books that you opened, read the first chapter and settled down for the ride. It is a first novel for Jenni Mills, and you can't help hoping that there's lots more to come.
The quote at the start of CROW STONE hinted at something with a very dry, quirky sense of humour and it definitely delivers - on the lighter moments, with good characterisation and a tremendous, taut, tense and frequently disturbing plot.
Katie was a little girl in Bath, living with her overbearing father, her mother left them when she was only a toddler. In many ways, Katie's a normal teenager - she watches the teenage boy who lives over the road through the curtains; she's under pressure to keep up her results at school; and her friends are obsessed with clothes, boys and parties. Katie's a little different though, a bit withdrawn, obviously missing her mother - her love is archaeology - she fascinated by the fossils that are found around Bath and by the ancient stone mines that have been dug out under Bath.
20 years later and Katie has grown into Kit, now a mining engineer, back in Bath and working with the team that are trying to shore up those very same mines before there are major collapses. She's always denied her connections with Bath, but the status of the mines and her past in the area get complicated when Katie discovers something that seems significant from an archaeological point of view. She must call in her best friend, professor of Archeology Martin, and together they have to get into an off limits area of the mine to check out the discovery.
The possibility of a much sought after Roman Mithraic temple is not the only secret that the mines hold, and Kit is struggling with being back in Bath, let alone finding the teenage boy has also grown up into the foreman of the works. But what was it that happened all those years ago, where is Kit's father now, and why did her mother leave her?
CROW STONE covers Kit's life as the teenage Katie in alternating chapters with the current day. There's a slow burning, gripping, building tension that comes with this approach. This is not a book where a crime happens up front, instead, something has happened in the past, something is happening in the present and the reader rapidly learns the details of either event. What holds both of these threads together is Kit. She's a fabulous, engaging character, sometimes full of attitude and confidence, sometimes doubting and unsure of herself. There's a lot that has obviously happened in Kit's life and she's handling it in the only way she knows how.
Along with Kit there's a well drawn cast of supporting characters, Gary the young boy over the road now foreman, Kit's dearest friend Martin, the creepy site archaeologist Dickon and the miners who are horrified to have a woman underground.
CROW STONE was one of those books that you opened, read the first chapter and settled down for the ride. It is a first novel for Jenni Mills, and you can't help hoping that there's lots more to come.
April 30, 2015
Really enjoyed this one. I picked it up because I used to live in Bath, and the book is set in the stone mines (now I know the correct term is quarries!) beneath one of the city's seven hills.
The story follows Kit, who lands a job as a mining engineer when the mines are being assessed prior to filling them with concrete to make the surface safe for the housing estates and a school built above. But an MOD site also lies above part of the mine, and Kit suspects the danger has been exaggerated to rush the job through but does not know why. During an illicit underground survey, she and her gay friend Martin think they have found the remains of an old Roman Mithraic temple, but as a woman in a man's world Kit suffers from sexism and bullying at work.
Her life is complicated by the site foreman Gary, an old flame from her teenage years, who used to live in the house opposite and was stolen from Kit (known as Katie in the teenage sections of the story) by her best friend Trish, who later stole her husband too.
The two time lines - adult Kit working at the mine, and teenage Katie who explored the old workings before they were blocked up - interweave to create an interesting archaeological thriller/romance. Kit has a dark past, which comes out gradually as the book progresses, and this part of the story could have made a decent YA book in itself. Woven with the adult parts, it is a sophisticated and gripping read that women especially should enjoy.
Just one question... who is the fair haired girl on the cover?
The story follows Kit, who lands a job as a mining engineer when the mines are being assessed prior to filling them with concrete to make the surface safe for the housing estates and a school built above. But an MOD site also lies above part of the mine, and Kit suspects the danger has been exaggerated to rush the job through but does not know why. During an illicit underground survey, she and her gay friend Martin think they have found the remains of an old Roman Mithraic temple, but as a woman in a man's world Kit suffers from sexism and bullying at work.
Her life is complicated by the site foreman Gary, an old flame from her teenage years, who used to live in the house opposite and was stolen from Kit (known as Katie in the teenage sections of the story) by her best friend Trish, who later stole her husband too.
The two time lines - adult Kit working at the mine, and teenage Katie who explored the old workings before they were blocked up - interweave to create an interesting archaeological thriller/romance. Kit has a dark past, which comes out gradually as the book progresses, and this part of the story could have made a decent YA book in itself. Woven with the adult parts, it is a sophisticated and gripping read that women especially should enjoy.
Just one question... who is the fair haired girl on the cover?
July 4, 2016
Plucked this one up from the library at random.
*some spoilers*
Overall the book was good but there were a lot of sections that dragged a bit which made it a slow read. I enjoyed reading about Katie's childhood as opposed to her older self, Kit (each chapter varied between these two time lines). The overall storyline fell into place nicely and I was pleasantly surprised with how it all tied up at the end.
What bothered me about Kit (her older self) was that she constantly blamed herself for everything that happened to her and never sought help when it was necessary. I understand she had a rough upbringing but why would you not report the occurrences with Dickon, if not to the police, somebody close to her? You're just going to let him get away with that knowing fully well he could harm someone else in a different setting? I just think that's really fucked up.
*some spoilers*
Overall the book was good but there were a lot of sections that dragged a bit which made it a slow read. I enjoyed reading about Katie's childhood as opposed to her older self, Kit (each chapter varied between these two time lines). The overall storyline fell into place nicely and I was pleasantly surprised with how it all tied up at the end.
What bothered me about Kit (her older self) was that she constantly blamed herself for everything that happened to her and never sought help when it was necessary. I understand she had a rough upbringing but why would you not report the occurrences with Dickon, if not to the police, somebody close to her? You're just going to let him get away with that knowing fully well he could harm someone else in a different setting? I just think that's really fucked up.
Read
July 6, 2011I really enjoyed this book. It was a long book for me - sometimes prefer shorter reads but the plot was well done. A lot of moving between times and her friendship and love interest were well done.
As well as this there was a constant tension between the main characters past and present lives and also the environment she was currently in and what she had to deal with.
Well worth the effort. I also liked the getting to know the author section at the back, info about the research she carried out and the list of her 10 favourite books - I'd read about 3 of them but other good ideas for future reading.
As well as this there was a constant tension between the main characters past and present lives and also the environment she was currently in and what she had to deal with.
Well worth the effort. I also liked the getting to know the author section at the back, info about the research she carried out and the list of her 10 favourite books - I'd read about 3 of them but other good ideas for future reading.
August 13, 2013
What an excellent first book.. i was hooked and drawn in from the start...
Set in and around Bath and the quarries i felt really claustrophobic reading about underground tunnels, a network of them..all honeycombing a hill. The plot was really good.. I felt for teenage Katie and admired Kit's determination to stay in her job despite some really dreadful people around her in the mining workforce..
Set in and around Bath and the quarries i felt really claustrophobic reading about underground tunnels, a network of them..all honeycombing a hill. The plot was really good.. I felt for teenage Katie and admired Kit's determination to stay in her job despite some really dreadful people around her in the mining workforce..
February 4, 2011
A really well-done mystery with some interesting twists.
When she's crawling into the caves beneath the earth, she made me feel what the narrator was feeling. I felt those sharp stones digging into my back; felt the frustration and rage when people wouldn't listen; felt the pressing desire to keep the past buried.
Will happily look for more from this author.
When she's crawling into the caves beneath the earth, she made me feel what the narrator was feeling. I felt those sharp stones digging into my back; felt the frustration and rage when people wouldn't listen; felt the pressing desire to keep the past buried.
Will happily look for more from this author.
August 5, 2011
Although, it was a bit slow in places and a bit depressing in others, by the time I got to the last 150 pages I couldn't put it down. I must confess to staying up until the wee hours of the morning just to finish it. The male characters seemed more interesting to me and, indeed, I am not sure I would have made it through the book without Gary and Martin...
All in all, a good read.
All in all, a good read.
August 8, 2010
Romance and engineering. This author thought it would work, this reader thought not. Bored by this novel's technical stuff which is interwoven with good chapters concerning lead character's teenage years. These were the better bits & I found myself skipping on to read them.
July 9, 2011
Archaeology, myth, stone quarries with a healthy dose dysfunctional families crawling around in caves and tunnels. It's an eerie book that draws you in pretty quickly and keeps your interest throughout.
September 11, 2012
Story of a mining engineer who is called to a job which brings back memories of a troubled childhood. The childhood story is revealed in snippets throughout the book. A really good plot overall but I felt it lacked depth and I spotted several errors in the research which disappointed me.
March 15, 2014
Having enjoyed The Buried Circle (set in Avebury), I thought I'd like this too, and did. Set in and around Bath, it too has an archaeological theme, a strong female protagonist and a family mystery but is quite different. A real page turner that keeps the reader guessing until the end!
June 19, 2014
Début plutôt agréable, plus chick lit que thriller, mais tout devient vite si prévisible, et les ficelles sont si énormes qu on se lasse et qu on abandonne. Belle intention mais loupé par manque de finesse.
January 25, 2016
Very interesting since I live near Bath and am interested in archaeology and paleontology. Something of a thriller. Includes dark secrets, so not the best of bedtime reading. I thought that the ending fizzled a little.
September 19, 2010
A peculiar tale...set in a ficticious part of Somerset...keep me turning the pages though
October 21, 2011
A very good read, will be looking out for more from this author :-)
March 15, 2014
I thought that this book was well written,and put your heart at risk as the stories play out in front of you
August 5, 2016
This was such a cool book! The way she wrote it with all the small questions you will have kept me flipping the pages, and the ending was sweet ^_^
May 11, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. The plots interweave backwards and forwards through time and in and out of the maze of tunnels.
June 12, 2012
Excellent read set in Bath about a caver and archeologist
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews