The Tell-Tale Stone

 
by Velda Brotherton

A long-dead body unearthed from a shallow grave sets idyllic Grace County, Arkansas on edge, but nobody seems to be able to explain exactly why.

When small town reporter Jessie West connects the victim to an unsolved diamond heist from decades ago, though, what first appears to be a cold case turns quickly hot. Amidst a barrage of sudden threats and misdirections, she sets herself the task of finding the missing jewels. With the help of her lover, Deputy Sheriff Dallas Starr, they work to solve a pair of grisly murders while searching for the stolen diamonds and pursuing their favorite pastime—finding love in all the not-so-usual places.

The culprits know they’re coming, though, and now their lives are at risk… and even Dal’s watchful eye might not be enough to keep Jessie from danger this time. (410 pages)

Published:
Publisher: Radiance
Genres:
Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Tags:
mystery books, romantic mystery books, thriller books, thriller books to read

About the Author

Velda Brotherton

Velda Brotherton enjoyed a long and accomplished career in historical writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Her love of the West and its stories drove the publication of more than twenty-five books across three decades.

Before turning to fiction, she worked as a journalist in Northwest Arkansas, a role that shaped her sharp eye for detail and deep respect for real places and real people. In 1988, she co-founded the Northwest Arkansas Writers Workshop with her friend and writing partner, the legendary Dusty Richards. The group became a cornerstone for regional writers, and Velda spent decades mentoring, teaching, and developing new talent.

Her own writing career crossed genres and publishers. She built early success as a New York–published romance author, then expanded into romantic suspense, upmarket fiction, hard-edged Westerns, and regional nonfiction that reflected her reporter’s instincts. No matter the category, her work carried the same trademarks: grit, heart, and a devotion to the history of the American West.

Velda passed away in 2023, leaving behind a diverse body of work, a loyal readership, and generations of writers whose careers she shaped. Her influence endures in the stories she told and the voices she helped bring into the world.

Other Books By Velda Brotherton

Recommended Posts

Under the September Sky

Under an Endless September Sky, Sometimes the Story Finds You.
Sapphire Sullivan has spent almost a year trying to forget the only boy she’s ever loved. One stolen kiss with her brother’s best friend changed everything. When Jack Murphy called it a mistake, Sapphire promised herself she’d stop wishing for something that could never be.
Then Labor Day weekend brings him back into her life.
Under the glow of carnival lights and an endless September sky, Jack looks at her the way he used to. Old feelings ignite, forgotten dreams come rushing back, and Sapphire starts believing that maybe first love deserves a second chance.
Until someone else appears.
Jett is the kind of boy who only exists in stories. He’s beautiful, mysterious, and seemingly devoted to only her. There’s only one problem—no one else can see him.
Except Jack.
Sapphire doesn’t know why Jett came into her life, what connects him to Jack, or what he truly wants from her. But as strange moments become impossible to ignore and the line between the real world and something more begins to blur, Sapphire is forced to question everything she believes about love, fate, and the stories we tell ourselves.
Because sometimes the hardest choice isn’t between the past and the future. It’s between the story you’ve been writing… and the life waiting to be lived.

 

Fourth of Forever

One summer. One secret. One love they never saw coming.
Aliya Jacobs has always counted down the days to summer at Lake Carrington—sunlit swims in turquoise water, lazy afternoons at her uncle’s cabin, and every moment spent with her best friend, Nick. But this summer brings an unwelcome surprise… Nick’s cousin Wyatt.
Sharp-tongued, guarded, and openly resentful of the out-of-towners he calls “hillies,” Wyatt clashes with Aliya from the moment they meet. Yet when a late-night rescue leads them to a reclusive old man and a map tied to a long-lost treasure—their rivalry turns into something far more complicated.
Whispers of hidden clues begin to surface, suggesting the legend might be real. At the same time, the powerful Elias Corporation is closing in, determined to transform Lake Carrington into a luxury resort that could destroy Nick’s family store and the town Aliya loves.
Reluctantly forced to work together, Aliya and Wyatt race to uncover the truth before time runs out. But as danger grows and secrets unravel, they must decide what matters more: finding a treasure that could save the lake… or risking their hearts on something even more uncertain.

 

Forgotten Fayetteville and More Hidden Histories from Washington County

Washington County has nearly two centuries of stories to tell, and many of them have been forgotten.
In this follow-up to Forgotten Fayetteville, local historians J. B. Hogan and Susan Parks-Spencer uncover more of the people, places, and events that shaped Fayetteville and the surrounding county. Explore the violent early years of Evansville, revisit the shocking murder that led to the execution of the Burnett family, and discover what made April 1864 one of the deadliest months in Washington County history. You’ll meet John Rollin Ridge, the first Native American novelist, learn the story of Rebecca Brown Tollett’s life in slavery, and examine the tragic lynching of Reverend Anthony Bewley.
From vanished towns and frontier churches to forgotten cemeteries, pioneering families, and overlooked chapters of Native American, Black, and immigrant history, these stories reveal a richer and more complex past than many realize. Woven together, they form a portrait of the lives, triumphs, and tragedies that shaped this corner of the Ozarks and the communities that call it home.
Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a newcomer, or simply a student of Arkansas history, Forgotten Fayetteville and More Hidden Histories from Washington County invites you to look beyond familiar landmarks and rediscover the people and events that helped shape the Ozarks.