Download The Murder Stone: A Novel of Suspense fb2, epub

by Charles Todd

ISBN: 0553586602
Author: Charles Todd
Language: English
Publisher: Bantam; Reprint edition (August 31, 2004)
Category: Thrillers & Suspense
Subcategory: Unfathomable
Rating: 4.3
Votes: 959
Size Fb2: 1808 kb
Size ePub: 1455 kb
Size Djvu: 1158 kb
Other formats: lit lrf azw lrf

Charles Todd Thrillers and Suspense English

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A stunner, exquisitely plotted and characterized, with Todd’s trademark meticulous backdrop of World War I-era England.

A stunner, exquisitely plotted and characterized, with Todd’s trademark meticulous backdrop of World War I-era England. The Great War is still raging when Francesca Hatton’s adored grandfather dies on the family estate in England’s isolated Exe Valley. Among his effects, Francesca is stunned to find an unsigned letter cursing the Hattons and their descendants. Then a stranger appears, accusing her grandfather of murder.

Praise for The Murder Stone. Todd’s mysteries are among the most intelligent and affecting being written these days. Washington Post Book World.

Category: Suspense & Thriller Historical Fiction. Praise for The Murder Stone. a compelling insight into the home front during 1916. A gripping novel of family secrets set against the tragedy of World War I. -Mystery Lovers Bookshop News. Many twists and turns, angst-ridden characters, and an evocative historical setting. About The Murder Stone.

Also by Charles Todd. RESIDENTS OF HURLEY-the tiny hamlet where a bridge crosses the Exe River, a stone’s throw from the gates of River’s End. William Stevens-the young war-wounded rector of St. Mary Magdalene Church and the village choice to marry Miss Francesca. Mrs. Horner-the housekeeper at the Rectory, and neighbor of Mrs. Lane’s.

item 1 Murder Stone, Paperback by Todd, Charles, Like New Used, Free P&P in the UK -Murder Stone .

item 1 Murder Stone, Paperback by Todd, Charles, Like New Used, Free P&P in the UK -Murder Stone, Paperback by Todd, Charles, Like New Used, Free P&P in the UK. £. 0. item 2 Murder Stone, Paperback by Todd, Charles, Brand New, Free P&P in the UK -Murder Stone, Paperback by Todd, Charles, Brand New, Free P&P in the UK. 1. item 3 The Murder Stone: A Novel of Suspense by Todd, Charles Book The Cheap Fast Free -The Murder Stone: A Novel of Suspense by Todd, Charles Book The Cheap Fast Free. item 4 The Murder Stone by Charles Todd. The Murder Stone by Charles Todd.

THE MURDER STONE (Gothic Suspense)- Ex Charles Todd . The plot(s) of this novel doesn't really hold together into an integrated whole. This seventh work by Charles Todd is a stand-alone book in which Ian Rutledge doesn't make an appearance.

THE MURDER STONE (Gothic Suspense)- Ex Charles Todd – Standalone Bantam, 2003 – Hardcover Their grandfather, Francis Hatton, raised Francesca Hatton and her four male cousins, all orphaned at an early age. Each of the cousins has been killed in the Great War, and now Francisca is alone to grieve the death of her beloved grandfather, whom she thought she knew. The book rambled on far too long.

I've read many books in their two mystery series, but this standalone novel of suspense by Charles Todd is a masterpiece. Full of twists and turns and family secrets.

бесплатно, без регистрации и без смс. Charles Todds critically acclaimed novels featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge have been hailed by The Washington Post Book World as one of the best historical series being written today. harrowing psychological drama. Now he stakes out new territory in this mesmerizing stand-alone novel of one womans dark journey through family obsession, wartime secrets, and a chilling legacy

Charles Todd's critically acclaimed novels featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge have been hailed by The Washington Post Book World as "one of the best historical series being written today.

Charles Todd's critically acclaimed novels featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge have been hailed by The Washington Post Book World as "one of the best historical series being written today .

Charles Todd is a pen name used by the American authors Caroline and Charles Todd. This mother-and-son writing team lives in the eastern United States, in North Carolina and Delaware respectively. The authors are best known for a series of novels, set in post World War I England. The books deal with the cases of Inspector Ian Rutledge, a veteran of the European campaigns who is attempting to pick up the pieces of his Scotland Yard career.

Charles Todd’s critically acclaimed novels featuring Scotland Yard Inspector Ian Rutledge have been hailed by The Washington Post Book World as “one of the best historical series being written today.” The New York Times Book Review calls Todd’s mysteries “meticulously wrought...harrowing psychological drama.” Now he stakes out new territory in this mesmerizing stand-alone novel of one woman’s dark journey through family obsession, wartime secrets, and a chilling legacy.…The Murder StoneThe Great War is still raging in the autumn of 1916, when Francesca Hatton’s beloved grandfather dies on the family estate in England’s isolated Exe Valley. Grieving for the man who raised her, Francesca is stunned to find an unsigned letter among his effects, cursing the Hattons and their descendants. Now a stranger has shown up on her doorstep, accusing her grandfather of being a murderer. Ex-soldier Richard Leighton blames Francis Hatton for the death of his mother, who vanished nearly a quarter of a century earlier. Her body was never found, only a shawl stained with her blood. And Leighton is not the only one with a claim on Francesca’s grandfather. On the day of his funeral, unexpected visitors arrive with the mourners, and Francesca is besieged by charges of Hatton’s vicious dealings. Yet there is also a shy young woman who praises his secret generosity.At the center of the intrigue is an unusual white stone that lies hidden in a secluded garden where Francesca once played with her five male cousins, all of them dead now on the battlefields of France. According to the terms of Hatton’s will, the Murder Stone must be dug up and transported to Scotland, where it is to be buried forever. But before Francesca can begin the journey, a series of ominous “accidents” occur, culminating in the discovery of a bleeding body on the Murder Stone itself.Was Hatton the loving, caring protector his granddaughter always believed him to be? Or a vindictive, secretive man who cultivated dangerous enemies? Francesca sets out in pursuit of the truth—and into the sights of someone determined to exact a revenge long overdue. From the Hardcover edition.

Comments:

Wrathmaster

In true Todd fashion, The Murder Stone compounds racing emotions with searches for absolution and is set during WWI. The atmosphere along with the descriptions of psychological anguish and war are some of the best you will find in this genre but unfortunately the serious mystery and supposed suspense in this stand alone novel are overwhelmed by a need for an awkwardly presented romance that never seems real. The characters were also flat with only one I actually wanted to read more about. Admitting these unfortunate negatives has me wondering if I should have just picked up a classic Gothic novel off of my shelves because everything in The Murder Stone has all been done before.

It did give a spirited effort to be an homage to some of the more recognizable cornerstones of the dark twisted sides of the library shelves but it was just too much of a good thing (Wings of Fire (Inspector Ian Rutledge, #2)- another novel by this creative mother and son writing duo was a fantastic homage to some of the greats of late 18th century to early 20th century Gothic writing, you cared about the characters and it had the right amount of mystery and shadowy family secrets to pull you deeper into the pages until the final dark inquiry). Still the premise of The Murder Stone was hard to ignore and the opening chapters and final reveal contained brilliant flickers of what I was anticipating to see (always can appreciate a wicked villain) within this book but the overabundance of predictable secrets, repetitive natures, random blurted out confessions and endless parade of walk-in scene characters (or convenient exits) all felt like a badly acted play with stunning scenery and attention to history in the back ground to keep you entertained and leaving with a few positive words to share later.

Broadcaster

I normally devour anything written by the mother/son team Charles Todd. I am having a very hard time accepting that this is a Charles Todd book.

They are normally masterful storytellers. And I am loath to say this, but this book was absolutely nonsense. From beginning to end. Page after page, the only thing this book consisted of was the main character wondering if her grandfather had killed someone. Over and over and over again. Nothing happens, no information is given and the little tidbits that do come out are all irrelevant. There is scene after scene of her wondering if it could be possible. In the bedroom, in the car, in the house, scene after scene of the main character just sitting there wondering if such a thing could be true.

It was like the authors needed to put out a book but were fresh out of ideas and just decided to write something with no plot, no storyline, no real character development, all for the sake of just publishing a book.

The only reason I finished it was on the strength of the authors' history. I kept thinking they are bound to turn it around at the end and the reader will have a wow moment. But alas, the ending was almost more nonsensical and disappointing than the entire book.

So incredibly disappointing....

Water

I have reached a point in my reading of Mr. Todd's books of total enjoyment in the manipulation of the mystery, the wonderful words that he uses to describe, rooms, clothes , gardens, pups etc. Each book goes forward with him and his ghost moving through the mystery, finding clues, searching for the obvious and then for the questionable and highly intricate parts of the story. The title always comes alive and convincing well towards the end of the book.Post world war 1 England is an interesting place and has great impact on the books. The people who have been through the war and those who were home waiting are very well explained and developed.Since there were no people around to help the returning injured and mentally un healthy soldiers they are developed well and make me wonder how they ever survived.

Sharpbringer

I have mixed feelings about this book. Parts of it were excellent, and other parts didn't quite meet the mark. Some of the characters were well developed (particularly the Rector and Francesca) and others were rather cardboardy (notably the servants and the romantic male lead). I like the basic premise, about family secrets, and was pleased that the ending still has some plausible ambiguity (are the 5 cousins really her cousins, or were they adopted? Was the shooter really Peter?). Given the time the novel takes place, it would have been a bit difficult for her to find those answers for sure. I was rather floored by the climax of the novel and am not sure I feel that it was properly prepared for. It was certainly arresting and unexpected!

This is a more ambitious novel stylistically than either the Ian Rutledge or the Bess Crawford series, and some of the tricks didn't quite work -- for example, the memories of the 5 cousins which were interjected provided interesting and useful information to the plot and helped add to the central atmosphere (the sense of regret, wasted opportunities and loss caused by WWI). But, they were a little awkward and jarring --the plot is proceeding normally and all of a sudden you are hearing the thoughts of dead men in the middle of the narrative. Also, at times the style was a little too 'purple' for my taste, something that isn't such a problem with Todd's series books. This one was a bit too much like reading a gothic romance, not one of my favorite genres.

Doukasa

Gag. What a horrid soap opera! Skipped entire chapters. More like Days of Our Lives in WWI than a mystery. Grandfather dies and granddaughter learns family history may not be what she thought. Did Grandpa do this? Did Grandpa think this? Why did he have secrets? Ghastly Woman turns up and tries to confuse the granddaughter. Is the ghastly woman telling the truth? Did Grandpa lie about her, too? Should I marry the man who professes to love me, even though he hates Grandpa? Who killed who? WHO CARES? Don’t waste your money.