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Heart of Stone (Negotiator Trilogy/Old Races Universe #1)

by C.E. Murphy (Goodreads Author)

3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 · rating details · 2,399 ratings · 219 reviews

WHAT SECRETS LIE SHROUDED IN DARKNESS? Okay, so jogging through Central Park after midnight wasn't a bright idea. But Margrit Knight never thought she'd encounter a dark new world filled with magical beings--not to mention a dying woman and a mysterious stranger with blood on his hands. Her logical, lawyer instincts told her it couldn't all be real-- but she could hardly d...more

Paperback, 448 pages

Published November 1st 2007 by Luna (first published January 1st 2007)

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Oct 19, 2012 Lynsey (The Demon Librarian) rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up to 4.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book as the Negotiator trilogy isn't one that I hear mentioned very often in my book reading circles in comparison to her more popular Walker Papers series. So I was a bit nervous about starting it; wondering if the reason there was no buzz was simply because it wasn't very good. But I have to say that while the book didn't blow my mind, I definitely did enjoy it for the most part. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook narration (s...more 3.5 rounded up to 4.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book as the Negotiator trilogy isn't one that I hear mentioned very often in my book reading circles in comparison to her more popular Walker Papers series. So I was a bit nervous about starting it; wondering if the reason there was no buzz was simply because it wasn't very good. But I have to say that while the book didn't blow my mind, I definitely did enjoy it for the most part. I particularly enjoyed the audiobook narration (so that may have earned it an extra half star) and I do plan to continue the trilogy.

However, it's not without few problems. Firstly, it starts out with one of our main characters, Alban, stalking our heroine through Central Park. Something he has done for the last three years! Immediately this made all sorts of warning bells go off in my head. But then I thought, hang on a tick, this is C. E. Murphy we're talking about, and it seemed unlikely from what I've read of her other work that she would go for anything as insipid as insta-love with some weird stalker dude. So I kept reading, and yes, Alban has been keeping a protective eye on our heroine, Margarit Knight, because she has a habit of being needlessly reckless—running through Central Park alone late at night. So it's done with the noblest of intentions, and I quickly forgave him his stalker-like tendencies. In fact, Alban ended up being my favourite character and the highlight of the whole thing.

It was quite a long book and somewhat slow-moving at times, without ever becoming completely uneventful. But there are long stretches in-between those events and scenes that I felt were unnecessarily long and, dare I say it, dull. Mostly, it was the times when we were left alone with just Margarit narrating for us with no Alban or any other interesting characters to play off, because unfortunately, out of the whole cast of characters, Margarit, the protagonist, was my least favourite. Not that I developed any kind of profound dislike for her or anything, but she was just very ordinary; 100% average Homosapien (and a lawyer to boot) and I could never fully accept how she managed to get herself so quickly enmeshed in the supernatural world and how no one just dealt with the problem of her discovery by snapping her like a twig. I realise she has a way of getting around people using her lawyerly skills, (this is where the negotiator bit comes in) but I'm just not sure I ever fully bought that idea. It seemed just a bit incongruous to me.

What I did love, however, (aside from Alban) was that Murphy, as in her other series, took the road less travelled when it came to which supernatural species' to focus on. Instead of vamps and werewolves we got Gargoyles, Selkies, Dragons, Djinn and...oh yeah there was a vampire. My bad. But he's not the focus of the book so it's okay!

So, to sum up, it was a good read, a really good audiobook experience, and with a few reservations I am heading on to the next book, because I want to finish Alban's story out and I'm hoping Margrit will grow on me.

3.5 Stars ★★★1/2

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Mar 21, 2008 Seth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: modernfantasy, sf-f-h

This one's a great variant on the modern fantasy genre. Not because the world is unusual--it's completely stock: supernatural races in hiding in the world and our female protagonist discovers them and falls instantly in lust with the one trustworthy one in the lot--but because of the strength of the protagonist.

Our protag isn't beautiful (well, she probably is; they all are), she isn't strong physically, mentally, psychically, or magically (although she has some cojones and she's in good shape a...more This one's a great variant on the modern fantasy genre. Not because the world is unusual--it's completely stock: supernatural races in hiding in the world and our female protagonist discovers them and falls instantly in lust with the one trustworthy one in the lot--but because of the strength of the protagonist.

Our protag isn't beautiful (well, she probably is; they all are), she isn't strong physically, mentally, psychically, or magically (although she has some cojones and she's in good shape as a runner). She's a lawyer, though, and her strength is being a negotiator who doesn't back down from a verbal fight and knows how to keep her fights verbal. She faces down dragons because she knows the dragon wants something from her client and she knows her client has it; she's there to deal and she acts like she has the winning hand even when she doesn't.

This--deal-making--is the real job of most lawyers; the rest spend their time doing research and studying contracts. The courtroom drama stuff is just for television. She deals with murderers, arsonists, deadbeat dads, vile slumlords, and politically-minded rival attorneys on a daily basis. When she's facing a vampire and hasn't been killed immediately, she starts looking for the negotiating edge. In a lot of ways, it's what Charles Sheffield's Trader's World started out as.

The main character isn't tough-as-brass the whole time, fortunately. She has a complicated and conflicted relationship with her on-again/off-again boyfriend, some angst about her choice of job and some fear that it's a reaction to her race and her parents (she's from an upstate upper-middle-class black family and she works at Legal Aid), she's terrified of the beings she's dealing with, she isn't certain that her "client" is the good guy, and she has a lot to prove to herself about her ability to take care of herself--which comes out as the brinksmanship and risk-taking that drives the story.

The "client"--a gargoyle--is perfect for the Legal Aid or Public Defender setting: he might be guilty, he isn't reliable to reach, he withholds information, and he's hated by everyone in the supernatural community. Plus, he's been stalking the protagonist for three years, which is super creepy. And her sometimes boyfriend--a homicide cop--is trying to arrest him for a string of murders as well as make his life miserable for spending time around the protag.

This is a Luna book, so you should expect some sex. Really, there is more sensuality. It focuses on her fascination with the gargoyle's body--flesh but strong and shiftable to a scary stone form--and the sexual undercurrent of flying with him. It is very well written.

The downsides are relative predictably towards the end and a strange side plot with some selkies that appears, provides an excuse for her to make a deal with a prominent vampire, and then disappears. Maybe it's picked up in the sequels.(less)

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May 12, 2010 Natasha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Heart Of Stone is the first novel in a new contemporary fantasy trilogy by C. E. Murphy. It's also the first book I've read by Murphy before. She's mostly known for her Urban Shaman fantasy trilogy, which I have yet to read also.
First in a trilogy called “The Negotiator,” I found this book fantastic!
Lately I've been reading new books from series I've previously read, but I couldn't find a great new series to start. Then I picked up "Heart of Stone", because the storyline was compelling, and I r...more

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Jan 15, 2009 pianogal rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

Overall, I'm just gonna give this book an "Eh..." I liked Alban, but could live without pretty everyone else. They all just seemed flat to me. I did think the mythology behind the gargoyles was interesting, although I'm not sure that I would go flying with Alby. I'm not the best with heights. I might revisit this series some day, but it'll probably be a while.

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Mar 26, 2008 Miss rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mar08, fantasy

A great, dark fantasy world filled with djinns, dragons, selkies, vampires and especially gargoyles. I liked the fact that the author didn't make Margrit Knight a supernatural/superpowerful human being, her only power is her courage and the fact that she's a lawyer. It got a bit wordy there in the middle - and a lot of information was dumped on the reader too quickly but I think she did a good job tying it all up in the end. Can't wait to get The House of Cards - Alban is a great character (more...more

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Apr 10, 2012 Beth Cato rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: in, 2009, urban, fantasy

When Margrit goes running late one night in Central Park, she doesn't expect to be approached by a handsome, pale man who tries to talk with her in a most un-New Yorker way. And when she arrives home and turns on the news, she doesn't expect to see about a murdered woman in the park - and a suspect who exactly fits the description of the man who approached her. Nor does she expect to see that man again the next day, and again. He insists that he's innocent and that's he's a gargoyle - and he can...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Hester rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pretty slow and cliched start tbh, I was a tiny bit underwhelmed.
Though what kept me going is I've always liked gargoyles as a thing but never read a book with them included before- though he is a long living, good looking one but I suppose nothings perfect.
The main character was fiesty and clever. If a tiny bit stupid about her own safety- as fiesty heroines all tend to be (mouthing off to someone who could kill you in a heartbeat makes you more idiotic than smart in my opinion but hey, works...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: old-races

Margrit Knight, New York City lawyer, becomes embroiled in a murder investigation and discovers the existence of the Old Races.

What I Liked:

The Old Races - In this series there are five supernatural races: dragons, djinn, gargoyles, selkie, and vampires. One of my favorite parts of starting a new urban fantasy series is how this universe is going to differ from other author's universes. The five races excludes the generic fae, shifters, and magic practicioners - the only main staple of the major...more

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Mar 02, 2012 Kingsgrave rated it 2 of 5 stars

First and foremost, I understand that this is a Harlequin production. That means, de rigeur, a certain amount of sexual tension is to be expected. That said, I get extremely frustrated with an author who can't have a male character interact with her protagonist unless he's got a hard-on for her. I've known gorgeous, very feminine women who go through their lives without half the amount of domineering sexual attention Margrit gets from the males around her in just a week or so. It's narrative cho...more First and foremost, I understand that this is a Harlequin production. That means, de rigeur, a certain amount of sexual tension is to be expected. That said, I get extremely frustrated with an author who can't have a male character interact with her protagonist unless he's got a hard-on for her. I've known gorgeous, very feminine women who go through their lives without half the amount of domineering sexual attention Margrit gets from the males around her in just a week or so. It's narrative choices like this that make people mistakenly call this sort of character "Mary Sue".

That said, Margrit is not a Mary Sue -- for one thing, she's not a fanfic character, so she can't be. For another, her flaws are very definitely real, and they do get into her way, and trip her up. She's not polished to perfection; she's egotistical, she's manipulative to the people who are meant to support her, and she can't seem to have an honest, sympathetic conversation with an S.O. to save her life. Her world is all about her, and nobody else's experience really invites her to look outside her paradigm, and that is GOOD! It makes her a readable character, and sets her apart from the sorts of vampire-and-werewolf-schtupping-badass-at-everyting-has-all-the-answers grrl characters that make my teeth grind with loathing.

But I swear, the fact that the author has every single male character sniffing her crotch within two minutes of onscreen time is really wearying. It distracted from what was otherwise quite a decent murder mystery/suspense plot. In particular, taking time out from a fleeing-from-police scene to snog in a stairwell? Seriously? If you want sex in your story, find a place for it, and put it there! If I were running this book as a game, I'd have blue bolted Alban and Margrit twice or three times over for inappropriately placed groping.

So now you know my highly subjective, and personal-taste-rooted reasons for giving this book only 2 stars. Very probably, if I were a bigger fan of romance, and less of a fan of urban fantasy, I might have given it more.

I don't recommend avoiding it if you're an urban fantasy fan, just that you do so with the understanding that this book seems to be a romance with supernatural murders in it, rather than an urban fantasy adventure with a romance element to it.(less)

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Jul 18, 2011 Jenna rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love the C.E. Murphy Urban Shaman series so I picked up this one. It lacked the punch and witty commentary that I found in that series. I'll leave you to read the synopsis as so many other reviewers have summed it up very nicely.

Some of the things I liked:
1. The mythology behind the Old Races is very unique and I thought it was well laid out
2. I really liked Alban. He seems very old world, kind and considerate.
3. I liked Margrit but thought that she has a definite chip on her shoulder. She was...more

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Jun 18, 2011 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

~* 4.5 Stars *~
Start Looking Up
His life is lived in shadows, exiled from his own kind and alone in the world but for her, the woman he protects every night. He doesn't know her name. He doesn't know what she does for a living. He's never broken through the racial boundaries and dared speak to her, his human ward.

Though he wants to. Aches to with a need that grows by the year, by the night.

He is Alban Korund. He is gargoyle.

Most of Margrit Knight's friends joke about her having a death wish, and...more

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Apr 30, 2011 Paula Patience rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans who had a crush on Goliath :)

I loved the heroine! Margrit is a lawyer, and boy, can she negotiate with the best of them! Reading her haggling conversations with the more frightening characters in the book was a delight. Murphy definitely has a flair for writing verbally manipulative characters. Her personality very appropriately dictated her behavior. And her progress towards accepting the existence of 5 Old Races was paced in such a way that it had a reasonable flow to it.

The book is not a fast read. It's very densely writ...more

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Sep 19, 2010 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Basic story
Margrit (Grit) is a legal aid defense lawyer of mixed race, she's diminutive in height & size, confrontational, has balls of steel who uses her negotiation skills with a sharp intelligence, intuition, that is enough maybe to give a dragon a run for his money. And boy oh boy does she need it.

Women of the same hair & eye colouring are being murdered & Al a gargoyle is the chief suspect who wants Grit to trust him & figure out who is the real murderer & act for him....more

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Jun 03, 2010 Wealhtheow rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of paranormal romances

Shelves: paranormal_romance, pocmaincharacters, urban-fantasy

Margrit "Grit" Knight (ugh, the name!) is a public defender with too little time and too much courage. A chance encounter with a handsome stranger in Central Park entangles her in a web of lies, power games and revenge. And not all the people pulling the strings are human...

I'm torn in how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it's not well written. The plot rests on a precarious tower of coincidences, each more unlikely than the last. The dialog is like what middle schoolers think hard-bitte...more Margrit "Grit" Knight (ugh, the name!) is a public defender with too little time and too much courage. A chance encounter with a handsome stranger in Central Park entangles her in a web of lies, power games and revenge. And not all the people pulling the strings are human...

I'm torn in how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it's not well written. The plot rests on a precarious tower of coincidences, each more unlikely than the last. The dialog is like what middle schoolers think hard-bitten adults in the big city sound like. The editing is poor: a mysterious stranger is accidentally called by name by the text, pages before the big reveal of their identity. Plot threads go nowhere; dramatic minor characters are given splashy intros and then dropped from the narrative (I assume this is so Murphy can bring them up in sequels). The main character shifts gears so fast I felt like I had vertigo--one moment she's angry, the next she's humping a gargoyle in midflight, the next she's whooping with laughter. It's not that I want a boring character, but one with an understandable emotional life would be nice.

On the other hand, Murphy has tapped into what made the first few Anita Blake books so enjoyable. Margrit is wildly underpowered in a world filled with magic. She's good at her low-paying, high-stress career, but has trouble with work/life balance. She has issues with her family that are relatable. And her reactions are often a refreshing novelty: when a handsome and mysterious stranger accosts her in the park at night, she threatens him, runs off, and then reports him to the police.

And I have to note something that really impressed me: Margrit is mixed-race, and it's actually mentioned beyond physical description. She's incensed when her boss at Legal Aid asks her to take a specific case, knowing that he does so because having a black woman do so will look good to the press. And when her gargoyle pseudo-boyfriend tries to warn her against a vampire, reminding her that he isn't human, there's a great, unexpected moment: "'Don't kid yourself, Alban. In this form, you're a white man. Politically advantageous, economically powerful, socially acceptable. A hundred years ago if someone saw you and me standing here like this, you'd be the human and I'd be something less. A century before that, you and I standing here would've been master and slave. Or I might've been lucky. Two hundred years ago I might've been a free black, a placee. Know what that is? It's a rich white man's dark skinned mistress. Somebody my color would've been a quadroon, very exotic. Light enough to be almost acceptable.' Her heart hammered in her throat, thick and choking. 'So forgive me if I'm having a hard time with what makes someone human or not.'"

Did I like this book? I wouldn't say so. It was too clunkily written, I didn't feel anything for the characters, and the plot was a mess. I won't read the next books in this series. But if you're looking for some not-bad urban fantasy/paranormal romance, this is better than much of what's out there.(less)

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Sep 08, 2009 Kim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormalfiction

Well, this is the second book I've read by C.E. Murphy, and I enjoyed it much better than the first one, The Queen's Bastard; I'll be interested in seeing whether I like her other series, The Walker Papers any better. Because while I enjoyed Heart of Stone for the most past, it had some qualities that are definitely weird.

Margrit Knight is a defense attorney with a penchant for running through Central Park after dark. Alban Korund is a centuries old gargoyle who has been watching Margrit for thr...more Well, this is the second book I've read by C.E. Murphy, and I enjoyed it much better than the first one, The Queen's Bastard; I'll be interested in seeing whether I like her other series, The Walker Papers any better. Because while I enjoyed Heart of Stone for the most past, it had some qualities that are definitely weird.

Margrit Knight is a defense attorney with a penchant for running through Central Park after dark. Alban Korund is a centuries old gargoyle who has been watching Margrit for three years. When he meets her in the Park, she thinks he's just a handsome stranger, but when Alban is suspected of murder, Margrit comes into conflict with her sometimes boyfriend detective Tony Pulcella and discovers a world of mystical lost races she has never known.

Heart of Stone is in many ways an enjoyable novel straddling the genres of urban fantasy and paranormal romance and introduces a colorful new world. However, there are some things Murphy does here I just don't get. For one thing, there is a LOT of dialogue, and while I love dialogue, a lot of what Murphy includes she doesn't need to. Margril argues with Pulcella a great deal; often about what to do with Alban, which (though repetitious) does advance the plot, but also about the conflict between her occupation and his, which doesn't. When she and her roommates discuss dinner, or compare physiques, I can't help but wonder if the author is trying to add a bit of chick lit flavor to the story, but it doesn't really work. And when Alban and Margrit discuss the "person-hood" of the Old Races---gargoyle, vampire, selkie, djinn, and dragon---it seems a really heavy-handed introduction of a point Murphy wants to make about racial prejudice and, like the other examples, slows the story down. I really felt that the book could have been about 100 pages shorter, if the dialogue scenes were pared down a bit.

And then there's Margrit herself, who is both earnest and foolhardy, and while I can get behind the former, the latter made me want to smack her from time to time. Not only does she go running after midnight, she makes a bargain with a supernatural creature whose nature she doesn't otherwise know, and seems to trust Alban implicitly even though she has known him a very short time. In other words, she doesn't think before she acts, and for me, that transforms Margrit from strong heroine to (at least occasionally) Too Stupid To Live.

In sum, I did enjoy aspects of Heart of Stone, despite the annoying heroine and all the talky bits. There were lots of interesting side characters---like Grace O'Malley! Named after the pirate! And selkies!---about whom I'd like to learn more. I'm in no rush to read the rest of the series, but I can see myself picking it up one day, when my memory is less fresh or if someone reassures me Margrit has grown. But there are other urban fantasies out there I like a lot more.

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Jan 28, 2009 Kevin rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, group-read

"Talking to you in the park the same night that girl died was an unspeakably bad coincidence" Alban to Margrit

That's just one of my problems with this book, he watches her for 3 years and speaks to her on the night of the 1st murder. 2nd coincidence Cara another of the old races comes to her for help, why because she was on TV. She arrives on the same day that Grit wins the pardon and is on TV isn't that awful fast. BTW Cara is a squatter, does she even have a TV or power to run it? 3rd bad coin...more

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Apr 18, 2011 Kaori rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, series-to-follow, favorites

Heart of Stone introduces us to a world that contains supernatural beings unknown to the human race, but at the same time, weaves this element seamlessly into the story that it doesn't ecplise the entire story.

We are introduced to a lot of characters... Daisani, the vampire, Janx, the dragon, and Alban the gargoyle all seem fascinated by Margrit, admiring her spunk and fearlessness (old races females, in contrast, seem to come in cowardly and crazy--maybe that's why the old races males are so fa...more

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Oct 25, 2009 CaliGirlRae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks, urban-fantasy, vampires

2 1/2

I'm a bit late catching up on some of the more popular urban fantasy books of today. After taking a break from the paranormal genre, I'm slowly dipping my feet in a little at a time.

Heart of Stone is apart of my book discussion group and I've been meaning to check it out. I thought this was as good a time as any to dive into this series and check out Harlequin's Luna line as well.

This first entry of the Negotiator series focuses on hardcore lawyer Margrit Knight. During a night jog in Centr...more 2 1/2

I'm a bit late catching up on some of the more popular urban fantasy books of today. After taking a break from the paranormal genre, I'm slowly dipping my feet in a little at a time.

Heart of Stone is apart of my book discussion group and I've been meaning to check it out. I thought this was as good a time as any to dive into this series and check out Harlequin's Luna line as well.

This first entry of the Negotiator series focuses on hardcore lawyer Margrit Knight. During a night jog in Central Park, she sees a dead woman in the arms of a mysterious man with blood on his hands. The man, Alban, follows Margrit, proclaiming his innocence and asking for her help to clear his name. The kicker is he's a gargoyle, apart of the hidden Old Races.

I have to say it took me a while to get into this book. The first half dealt with the minute everyday chit chat (I remember a wall of dialogue many a times throughout the book) and Margrit asserting her alpha status to anyone who got in her way during her case. She shares continuous fights with her on and off cop boyfriend, Tony. After one particular fight where Tony tries to calm things between them, he grabs her and kisses her. Instead of calming, Margrit clocks him right in the jaw and tells him things aren't like in the movies. It would have been cool but with how cold Margrit has been up to this point, it isn't quite as smooth.

I wanted to like Margrit, but I found myself likening her with book Vicki in the Blood series by Tanya Huff. She was so alpha, hardcore chick that it was the only thing that made her as a character. There wasn't any vulnerability or much of a character arc so we can see different sides of her. It's one of the things I have a problem with in many urban fantasy books today. The heroine is so hardcore that nothing fazes her and she can take on anything. I like a character that's multifaceted with flaws, most likely a possibly character arc in which she grows. In this instance it's like the character's personality IS their flaw. With Vicki, there was the offset of Henry as a love interest and foil, Alban falls a bit short for leading man material although his description is very well done.

Once we got through the long and dry setup, Heart of Stone really started to get interesting as we learn more about the gargoyles, selkies, dragons and their world. It's a nice break from the normal paranormal creatures although Alban likens his species to vampires as they relate to the sunlight.

Not much knew in the urban fantasy vein although I like the fact that Margrit is a woman of color and there are some interesting interactions with her boss and mother that gave a nice background to her character and culture other than the face value.

All in all I'm not sure I'll be continuing with the series. There's a potential love triangle and some interesting creatures in this world but in the end it doesn't really add much as far characterization and story.
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Feb 18, 2013 D.G. marked it as dnf · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I can't stand this woman. Running in the Park at night doesn't make her brave, just TSTL, specially when she probably does it everyday, at the same time and running a similar route. Has it never occurred to her that a group of thugs can ambush her? What would her 'speed' do for her there? And that idea that 'I know I could outrun this person' is ridiculous. You should never assume anything about a person you don't know.

DNF

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Mar 14, 2012 Terri Pray rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, audio-books

Margrit (Grit) Knight's habit of taking nightly jogs through central park had always been dangerous, but she'd had no idea that there was someone, or something, watching her. With a rash of murders, young women killed in and around the park who all look a little like Margrit, that watcher steps fully into her life.

But Alban Korund isn't human; he's a gargoyle. One of the five old races that still inhabit the planet, though one (the Selkies) are believed to have died out.

Margrit is thrust into t...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: urban-fantasy, mystery

I normally don't like female protagonists in urban fantasy books. After one book where the more-beautiful-than-can-even-be-described woman who has a multitude of skills and an unbelievable physical prowess solves a mystery with her wit, sexual banter, and vagina (usually in that order), you've seen them all. Plus, they all have really stupid names. Where are all the strippers who mothered these children?

However, I was really impressed with this book. I liked the protagonist a lot. Yes, she's pr...more I normally don't like female protagonists in urban fantasy books. After one book where the more-beautiful-than-can-even-be-described woman who has a multitude of skills and an unbelievable physical prowess solves a mystery with her wit, sexual banter, and vagina (usually in that order), you've seen them all. Plus, they all have really stupid names. Where are all the strippers who mothered these children?

However, I was really impressed with this book. I liked the protagonist a lot. Yes, she's pretty with pretty hair - though believe me, curly hair bouncing around while you're running is a great way to spend a bottle of conditioner and an hour ripping through it with a brush later. She's also a lawyer, and this actually plays into the book (not like all those 'doctor' main protagonists who then end up being just as ridiculously insipid as the rest). She's realistic in her skills; at no time does she whip out some magical powers, knives, or beat up on men who should be able to crush her in one hand. She can run a lot and she has cajones. All the things that usually bug me didn't (view spoiler) because Murphy took the time to make her believable.

The supporting characters were fascinating. I want more Janx, by far. They felt very well-developed, with a lot of little quirks and details that made them feel like more than a Magical Supporting Cast.

Margrit is a coloured woman. One of the things I really liked about this book was how Murphy set it firmly in our world. In most female-protagonist urban fantasy books, the world is kind of floating in the background somewhere, and the generic woman runs about 'solving' mysteries and sleeping with generic male leads and there you are. Margrit lives in a world where there is racism and sexism and she is not afraid to call people out on it... I like this girl, quite a bit. It was a good addition on Murphy's part; it added grit (pun intended), it added realism, and it added depth to Margrit's character.

Overall, the plot is worth the time. It pales a bit beside the character development and world-building, but I have hopes for Murphy with the next books. The twist at the end was unexpected, at least.

Things I didn't like:

(view spoiler)

I will definitely go read the next books.(less)

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Sep 16, 2010 Amanda Croley rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: jf-5-star

Jeanine Frost rated it a 5, and usually I agree, that's why I always check her ratings. Heart of Stone was a little too slow going to receive a five. A few different twists, Gargoyles can't go out in the sun without turning to stone. Vampires have no problem being in the sun. Grit (Margrit) is a lawyer fighting for the little guys. Her on again, off again bf is a local cop. He arrest them, she gets them out of trouble, part of the reason for some of their problems. She likes to run at night when...more

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Jan 16, 2010 Barbara M. rated it 5 of 5 stars

5 Stars...I loved it!!!

"Vampires aren't the only creatures of the night..."

...AMEN!!!

I was just enthralled by this one ladies...I couldn't eat, sleep or do anything without wanting to have my nose in this book. I'm not to sure what this novel is considered; romance? sci-fi? urban fantasy? mystery? WHATEVER! It has it all!

This is the first book I've ever read by Murphy (I think I started one a while back and put it down. I bet you know what I'll be digging for tonight) and it won't be the last.

I...more

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Jun 10, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 1st-in-the-series, library-book, fantasy, urban-fantasy, vampire, djinn, selkie, gargoyle

I really liked this story. Margrit was a kick-ass heroine and I really loved the fact that even though I have read HUNDREDS of books involving some form of supernatural beings, this was still completely unique.

My only gripe is that I do not like the book cover. It bothers me that in the book Margrit is black and the girl on the cover is white.

Its just wrong.

I mean, I know that the person who models for the cover of a book is not the actual character, but they should at least look like the charac...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked up this book on a whim with a bit of apprehension since I am not a fan of The Walker Papers series that C.E. Murphy wrote. I am happy to say that I liked this book very much. The world is much more inclusive and expansive, the characters are fascinating, and the story itself just sucks you in and won't let go. I couldn't put the book down, it was that good!

I am also happy to say that I like Margrit Knight, the main character, very much. I was afraid she'd be another whiny version of Jo...more

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Mar 23, 2012 Mina rated it 5 of 5 stars

I came upon this book randomly at Barnes and Noble while I was making a bulk purchase of books. The cover caught my eye and the back story was interesting. As soon as I started to read the novel I was hooked, this has to be one of my favorite stories. The character of Margrit Knight was very realistic, her reactions seemed normal instead of your typical "You are so beautiful I love that you are a supernatural lets fall in love and get married" thing. It was more along the lines of a realistic re...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was already addicted to CE Murphy before reading this book, so my review maybe somewhat tainted. But I love her writing. Female heroine, classic story had a normal life, wasn't quite happy than BAMM - the main character is dragged into some freaky stuff. This is when you say "wow this sounds like a million other books i've read" Murphy sets herself apart from others by her unique characters, and plot twists. She reels you in from the first chapter, with her descriptions and fast pace storytell...more

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Nov 27, 2008 Elizabeth marked it as to-read

WHAT SECRETS LIE SHROUDED IN DARKNESS? Okay, so jogging through Central Park after midnight wasn't a bright idea.

But Margrit Knight never thought she'd encounter a dark new world filled with magical beings—not to mention a dying woman and a mysterious stranger with blood on his hands.

Her logical, lawyer instincts told her it couldn't all be real— but she could hardly deny what she'd seen…and touched.

The mystery man, Alban, was a gargoyle. One of the fabled Old Races who had hidden their exist...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

It took me a bit to get into this book. Sometimes it seems that Grit is too much in her head. I am use to Murphy's books being a bit faster paced, but I did enjoy the dialog and back stories that we learn about in this book. I admit that I have fallen in love with Janx. How can you not love such a charming bastard? Do not get me wrong, Janx is a heard hearted individual. What I appreciate about Janx is that he has a code. It is full of the grayness of the world but there is a clear code. That is...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Ms E rated it 3 of 5 stars

I thought this was an interesting read. The story follows Margrit, a lawyer who seems to enjoy being on the edge of danger, as she learns that her world might be more dangerous then she expected. Very early in the story we are also introduced to Alban, who as it turns out is a very old Gargoyle that has been keeping a close eye on Margrit. He noticed her apparently lack of fear and decided to be her "guardian angel." Unfortunately for him, the first chance he takes in talking to Margrit also cau...more

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About C.E. Murphy

C.E. Murphy is a writer of fantasy novels and short stories. She also writes "action-adventure romance" novels under the pseudonym Cate Dermody, which was her grandmother's maiden name.

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Quotes from Heart of Stone

“They're constants, aren't they?" ... "Books are. That's why we like them so much. They seem immutable. They're not, of course. Not from the author's first draft to the tenth printing, but they seem like it.” — 7 people liked it

“I’m a lawyer. I meet people every day who are on the surface considerably worse than you are. You, Janx, Alban, you’re really all so…normal. You can do stuff I can’t, but so can Michael Jordan.” Dismay hit her palpably enough to make her want to step back, though she held her ground even as she
groaned. “Please don’t tell me he’s one of you.”
Daisani’s shoulders rose and fell, a single admission of silent laughter. “I believe Mr. Jordan is as human as you are, Miss Knight.” — 4 people liked it

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Heart of Stone (Negotiator Trilogy/Old Races Universe #1)

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