The Dead Stone

I was not a fan of this author's previous book. I thought it was somewhat juvenile. Dead Stone came out and I thought I would give the author another try. I am glad that I did. While the main character can be a little silly, I loved the whole plot line in this book. Her interaction with the townspeople (who do not realize she is "one of them") is priceless. I especially liked her connection with Hank. The writing is somewhat basic, but the story is told at a fairly good pace and you end up really liking this book. The main character's relationship with her dog also adds to this book. Buy it.

Tally Whyte is a psychologist and a homicide counselor who helps the friends and families of murder victims cope with their loss. One night Tally receives an anonymous phone call from her hometown of Winsworth, Maine telling her to return because the trouble that drove her and her father way is starting up again. Tally and her father escaped their house that was on fire and fled the town. In Winsworth, Tally finds people believe that her father ran off with money from a housing development he conceived and managed. She notices that the development is half built under another name but before she can inquire further, the sister of her best friend is murdered and she intends on helping the family out. Two more murders shortly follow and one of the victims is the person responsible for the housing development not being finished. Since this somehow involves her father, Tally investigates the homicides that were made to look like suicides unaware that she is intended victim number four. The heroine of THE DEAD STONE is a very likeable character who goes the extra mile for people in trouble and puts her own concerns about her father on the back burner to find a killer. There are a lot of suspects who could have committed the murders so readers will find it impossible to guess who the perpetrator is. Vicki Stiefel is a talented writer of psychological suspense who grips her audience from the moment Tally returns home and never lets go until the climax as befitting the work from one of tomorrow's superstars. Harriet Klausner

Vicki wastes no time wrapping you into the net of Tally's past and present. By page 12 I couldn't put the book down. Don't even attempt to figure out the ending as I'm sure you'll be wrong! This book was all I needed to make me a devoted fan of Vicki. I can't wait for her next one!!