Stone Mothers: A Novel

The past is a door that refuses to stay shut. Marianne and Sam are a married couple working through some family issues. Their only child, Honor, is suffering from suicidal tendencies. Reluctant to let go of control of her daughter’s wellbeing, the family has been in group therapy. Marianne has been struggling with the deterioration of her mother, who was felled by a stroke. The inner turmoil running through Marianne is ramped up when Sam purchases a new home near a closed asylum. Marianne is panic-stricken, as her new abode hides a secret she has kept hidden. Marianne pushes down her fears, vowing to make the best of it. The appearance of her ex-beau Jesse leads to a revisit down memory lane, where decisions fueled by young love and a desire for revenge led to tragic consequences. Jesse is intent on extorting a politician who was at the crux of the tragedy 30+ years previously. Marianne has no desire to act in concert with Jesse and makes a fateful call that may just blow the past sky high into their present.

Stone Mothers is a vibrant and non-stop mystery brimming with high drama. The plot comes together well over 30 years with different timeline perspectives. Each change is refreshing and wracked with emotion. Erin Kelly is a mystery writer possessed of enviable skill who strikes at the heartstrings of the reader. A must read for 2019 and beyond.