Moonstones and Murder

by Michael Lynes

Real murderers need a Heart of Stone: Meet Maggie and Mike Hartstone - parents of twin boys, entrepreneurs, and now empty-nesters. Mike is retired - not by choice- from his position as Chief of Police in the picturesque resort town of Hamilton. And now his wife Maggie, and her shop the Cozy Crystal, are their only source of income. When a mysterious killing interrupts Hamilton's famous Springfield Park Rockshow, the townsfolk, the Cozy Crystal, and their lives are rocked to the core. Can Mike and Maggie figure out who is behind the murderous deeds - before the town comes crashing down around them? A touch of romance, a little mayhem, and a whole lot of suspense, along with plenty of comedy, and thrills galore! Get your crystal magnifying glass out - it's time for some Moonstones and Murder!

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Cozy Mystery

232 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2022

About the author

MICHAEL LYNES is the Award-Winning Author of The Blood Series. To date, the series has won the New Apply Literary, Indie BRAG Medallion, Readers Favorite for FANTASY and most recently the IAN Book of the Year Selection for Fantasy.
It begins with the novella "It's in the Blood". Continues with Destroyer's Blood and the NEW release Book Two - FIRST BLOOD is due out on November 1st 2019.

Book One - "Destroyer's Blood"

Reviewed By Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Destroyer's Blood: The Adventures of Devcalion is the first entry in The Blood Series by Michael Lynes, a gripping fantasy with strong hints of Greek mythology. Meet Devcalion, "Dev," a demigod, son of Prometheus and nephew of Zeus. He has a telepathic sword and a very close friend called Betrayer, "Tray". When we encounter Dev, he and his friend are climbing up Half Dome. An encounter with Hermes changes everything, driving Dev to the last place he wants to be -- Mt. Olympus. Dev and Tray are pulled into a war they never bargained for, a war against the greatest enemy of Zeus. With the darkest power in the universe bent on wreaking havoc, do they have any chance of surviving?

Destroyer's Blood has been awarded the Silver Medal for Fantasy in the Readers Favorite Awards for 2019 and has won an Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion for Fantasy. It also won the Solo Medalist in the New Apple Summer eBook Awards for 2019. Book Two - "First Blood" will be released in November of 2019.

His short story collection, "The Fat Man Gets Out of Bed", was chosen solo Medalist Winner in the 2017 New Apple Summer Indie Book awards.
His memoir, "There Is A Reaper: Losing a Child to Cancer", was an Indie B.R.A.G. Gold Medallion Honoree in January 2017, a silver-medal winner of the 2016 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards for Memoir, a medalist in the 2015 New Apple Book Awards for Memoir, a winner of the 2015 TISBA (The Indie Spiritual Book Awards), and a finalist in both the Independent Author Network 2015 Book of the Year award and the Beverly Hills Book Awards for 2015.

Most recently Mr. Lynes has been a Contributing Author to the 2019 Ghostly Rites Anthology.

Mr. Lynes was awarded a BSEE degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and currently works as an embedded software engineer. He has four sons, has been married for over thirty years, and currently lives with his wife and youngest son in the beautiful secluded hills of Sussex County, New Jersey.

Reviews

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonstones and Murder is the first book in Michael Lynes’ Cozy Crystal Mysteries series. This book introduces readers to Maggie and Mike Hartstone. Maggie is a gemologist and Mike is a former cop. Life was good, but then everything got thrown for a loop – in a big, nasty way. The death of the former mayor brings home his daughter who left town. Instead of her simply coming home and doing what most distant children do, she decides to stay...and begin taking over. What does that mean? Trouble. Lots and lots of trouble. Maggie and Mike have no idea what they are in for.
Moonstones and Murder is the first book that I have read by this author. This book is a cozy mystery with some supernatural elements mixed in to bring some surprises to the story. The author quickly paints a picture of change happening in this small town of Hamilton. Not all of the change is good, and you quickly get the feel that a strain is being put on the town. Some of the change has impacted Maggie and Mike specifically. My curiosity is piqued as to what has happened with them. The story is, overall, engaging and I like how the author keeps me guessing.
There are some flaws with this book. I feel that there are gaps in some of the details. The author tells me a few things about Mike and how happy he was to get where he was, but then there’s a shake-up. So, I wanted to know – what happened exactly? It takes awhile before the author reveals what happened exactly with Mike. There are some other similar gaps in details that left me wanting more information.
When it comes to the mystery angle, it’s very well done. The author keeps me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what is going on. There are clues along the way throughout the story, and I grabbed on to a few here and there. I like that the mystery is bigger than it truly seems and it all comes together really well in the end.
At the end of the day, this is an engaging mystery novel and I liked the supernatural elements mixed in throughout. I’d have liked the title to be a bit more tied in. The title does tie in to the story, but it’s something that has to be pieced together. This is an enjoyable novel, and is packed with quite a bit of drama from beginning to end. I look forward to more of these characters. I’m rating this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Ashley Mertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy a cozy suspenseful read while curled up with a blanket and something warm to drink this is a must read for you!

Moonstones & Murder is available now in Paperback, eBook, and Audiobook
⭐️⭐️⭐⭐ Book Review

Moonstones & Murder written by Michael Lynes is the first book of the Cozy Crystal Mysteries series.
Mike Hartstone has retired involuntarily as the chief of police. His wife Maggie, owns the Cozy Crystal. This married couple are the parents of twin boys and have recently become empty-nesters. Now that Mike is retired the only income they have to live off of is from the Cozy Crystal. When a murder occurs, turning the town upside down, Maggie and Mike figure out what it is they need to do to keep on with their daily lives.

This cozy mystery is full of mayhem, suspense, and romance. Michael Lynes kept me on my toes the entire time. There was never a dull moment in Moonstones & Murder. The story line was flawless leaving no detail out of place. Our main characters, Maggie and Mike were lovable, relatable, and made me laugh. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books from Lynes in the future.

Thank you, @CozyMysteryReviewCrew for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.

[Sally Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonstones and Murder by Michael Lynes
Maggie a gemologist in Hamilton, was having a normal day setting up for the fall gala with her husband because her employee was late as usual. Little did she know the reason for this tardiness would turn her life upside down. Can she solve the mystery before her world falls apart? You will just have to read this cozy mystery to find out.
This is a decent book, the characters are rich and well defined and the overall setting is well described and are unique. The mystery itself had all the classic tropes and flowed well within the plot of the book. The only gripe I had with this book is one of the main characters was in two places at once. The casual reader might not notice this inconsistency because in one of the instances the character was not named until later. This issue does not detract from the enjoyment of the story as a whole, however. I still recommend it to anyone who likes books that feature, a cozy mystery, mild thrills, and a bit of magic thrown in to make it all fun.

[Meesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another quaint town I would live to find myself living in. Even though it would now be considered a resort town Hamilton has quite a history of bringing in people from all over to see what it has to offer. And the townspeople all seem to get along and want to try helping each other through good and bad times throughout the years.
I love the repour between Maggie and Mike. They are definitely a great couple through thick and thin and help each other out whenever they can. The supernatural aspect of the story is so interesting to me and I am not sure if Maggie would have found any of the clues if not for Nonnie and her abilities to give Maggie the push she needed to see with the Blue-Bark Tourmaline slice she gave her.
I'm hoping there will be more to this series especially adding a historical aspect with the early days of Hamilton and how it affects the people living there today. This was the first in the Cozy Crystal Mysteries series.
I definitely recommend this story.

[Kara Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoroughly entertaining mystery, with plenty of thrills along the way. I really enjoyed Maggie and Mike and their sweet relationship. They worked together really well on the mystery-solving and I’d like to read another book with those characters. I found the mystical aspects to be interesting in helping to solve the mysteries. I wouldn’t call this a cozy mystery though—there was a bit too much of some of the most horrendous crimes that exist, as the book progressed. The book is well-written and I can recommend it; I was provided a copy of the book, but these opinions are my own.

[Anneliese Grassi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick and easy read, although a little cheesy at times, with main characters that you can't help but fall in love with. Maggie and Mike are the perfect couple and work great together in working through this mystery, discovering long buried secrets and people who aren't what they seem to be.

The character development could've been a bit stronger, and a lot of the story seemed a bit surface level, but overall it was a fun little cozy mystery.

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great debut for the Cozy Crystal Mysteries set in the picturesque resort town of Hamilton with unforgettable characters and a fantastic mystery with lots of twists and turns that kept me glued to the book from the first word to the last. I really like Maggie and Mike Hartstone - he is the retired Chief of Police and she owns The Cozy Crystal - who put on their sleuthing caps when a mysterious killing interrupts the famous Springfield Park Rock Show. This is the first book I have read by Michael Lynes and I look forward to more from this talented author. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review. I enjoyed it so much, I purchased a copy.

[Valeri Sullivan (vsulvn29) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m really excited about this new cozy mystery series. Great characters in married couple Mike and Maggie, a quirky setting, an intriguing mystery with gemology and a dash of the paranormal thrown in. I can’t wait to see where this series goes!

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day Tommy and Tuppence. Mike and Maggie are hot on the case. Moonstones and Murder is the first in the Cozy Crystal Mystery series. Full of long buried secrets, people who are not what they seem to be, Moonstones and Murder is a fast paced mystery that will keep you reading until the last page. Good character development and a great chemistry with Maggie and Mike create the perfect atmosphere fun a mystery with just a touch of the paranormal.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Readers are going to want to grab their copy of Moonstones and Murder by Michael Lynes. This is the first book in his Cozy Crystal Mysteries series and the rollercoaster ride you will go on will be unforgettable !! As soon as you think you know what is going on there will be a curve thrown and you will be somersaulting out of control....and loving every minute of it !!!

In Moonstones and Murder readers are introduced to a quaint town that you will want to move to and start getting to know the town and the people. And the couple that you will want to live next door to are Maggie and Michael Hartstone. Michael has just retired as the Chief of Police in Hamilton but not by his choice and his wife Maggie owns the Cozy Crystal store. They are attending the semi-annual Springfield Park Rock and Gem Show when the mayor is about to make a big announcement but before she can do that, another local shop owner also attending the show crashes into the crowd with a stab wound....and this is right after Maggie's employee is arrested at their booth !! And things just seem to go downhill from there.....

The town of Hamilton is full of secrets and Maggie and Michael are just starting to scratch the surface....and they have no idea how deep it will go. They will do whatever it takes to save their friends and neighbors and bring the town back to the place they love.

There is no way for readers to know what is going to happen as they read this story. Lynes imagination and way with words will blow readers minds !! There is no way to solve the cases that develop in the story so you are better off sitting back with a snack and drink and enjoy the journey. And you will be in complete shock when you get to the last page....and you will want more and more from Lynes and this series.

[Merry Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic first book in a very promising series. The small resort town of Hamilton is hosting the Springfield Park Rock show. Maggie is a gemologist who sets up her booth every year for the show with the help of her husband, Mike who was police chief but was forced into retirement by the nasty new chief and the help of her helper Chary. But things seem to go downhill very fast when a mysterious stabbing happens right by the stage the obnoxious mayor is set to speak from. There is a stranger in town, secrets abound and we see the affects a Blue-Tourmaline stone has on Maggie given to her by Nonnie who seems to have a strange foretelling sight, if she and Mike can get out alive! The main characters are well constructed with just the right amount of seriousness and humor. We meet the characters of Jacques who is helpful and charming hanging on to a secret himself. When the owner the Fontaine-bleu, Eugenia, who asked Maggie and Mike to meet with her she has something she must tell them, she doesn't show up. And so the plot thickens with near murders, murders, false arrests, kidnapping, and characters who aren't who they appear to be. What a great ending and a surprise! I can't wait to see what is in store for Maggie and Mike and of course now we have Geoffrey Moon! I received an ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

[R J Mckay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I was selected to receive this book from Goodreads. This book was such a fun story, and it’s the perfect launch point for a new series. It introduced the characters as well as the small town of Hamilton. It’s a small-town mystery that keeps the reader guessing to the end. It’s fast-paced and whip-smart. And I loved that Maggie, owner of the Cozy Crystal, is able and willing to step right into the middle of things with her retired Chief of Police husband Michael. I enjoyed the banter between Maggie and Michael, it brought out their lighter side and added a dose of humor to the story. I can’t wait to see where the author is taking this charming and tenacious couple in upcoming books. Their future awaits.

[R.M. Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. In spite of a slow start, Moonstones and Murder ended up being a decent read. Well developed characters and a bit of the occult mixed well into the murder mystery theme.

So, why only four stars. For the first twenty percent of the book the authors meandered around like bench buddies chatting at a garden party. I know it was laying a framework, building characters, and seeking to make the location come to life. For me, it was mostly boring.

That said, once past that long opening setup, the story got real. This genre has a large reader base, and I'm thinking to many of you would rate it a five star read. I can't. I need action from the get go. Sorry.

[Teri Stich · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fortunate to have one this in a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed this one. Good story development, okay characters with potential as series goes on. Kept me reading with the twists and turns, I especially appreciated the twist at the end. It's a cozy mystery with a touch of crystal magic. I liked the research done for the minerals involved, gave the story an extra bonus.
If you like cozy mysteries without being to cozy, and with a touch of magic; I would recommend giving this one a go. I will be reading more of this series.

[Aashna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway. This book does exactly what it says it does. A cozy mystery set in a mining town with a husband/wife amateur detective duo as the leads. This is a fairly short and easy read with a few small twists that add to the story. I’d recommend this book to people who like mystery but aren’t avid mystery readers. There are a few triggers for some people but it’s well done and they aren’t the main focus of the book.

[Rachael R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute plotline

I love a good mystery and the premise is interesting. I think with a little more character development, Maggie and Mike could be cute. The dialogue didn't always ring true to me, and there were almost too many red herrings and characters to keep track of who was doing what.

If you like mysteries, this might be a cute beach read.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you, Goodreads.
I enjoyed reading the first book in a new series, Cozy Crystal Mysteries. The husband and wife sleuths had great banter and played off of each of very nicely. It was a good cozy mystery, with an intriguing ending. I recommend this book to people that like cozy mysteries.

[Doty Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alot of twist and turns. Very good adventure that was quickly changing into a fast pace drama that was filled with corruption, greed, whit who was what and how were they involved. As with mostsadventures you try to connect the dots, friends, allies,liars, frenemies and enemies.
will keeping you guessing all the way almost to the end, then a very surprizing conclusion a must read.

[Susan Warr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab this now!

Great cozy with light paranormal undertones. The plot pulled me in and didn’t let go. The characters were fully fleshed out. The author has a great voice, you will enjoy it!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

A very fascinating and fast paced mystery. It keeps you on your toes and waiting for the next bit of excitement. I love having to wait till the very end to solve the mystery and this one was a total surprise. I hope Mike and Maggie have many more adventures.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy cozy mystery, at times predictable for me, but I enjoyed the journey with Maggie and Mike. I liked the use of the crystals throughout and the little bits of history thrown in.

I won a copy from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved that this book was set in a mineral world with a mineral show. Also was acute about tourmaline and other minerals.

[Vbloemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hamilton is a resort town with a long history. When the mayor dies and is replaced by his daughter, Mindy Blaubark, things start to change in town. Maggie and Mike Hartstone own a gem and crystal store called Crystal Cove. The annual Springfield Park Rock and Gem show is about to open. Maggie is setting up her booth. One of the local hotel owners stops by to look at a necklace once but is interrupted when Lenny, another store owner, stops at the booth to ask Maggie for help with some merchandise. His customer wants more of an item than he has and hopes that Maggie can help. Suddenly, the customer shows up and meets Maggie. Her curiosity is peaked about this stranger. Her assistant is running a little late, but Maggie decides she needs a break when Chary shows up. Her break will get cut short when the police arrive at the show to arrest Chary. Maggie closes her booth so that she can find out what is going on but before she gets too far, the mayor is going to make a big announcement. She finds it a bit odd when the stranger shows up on stage with the mayor. The mayor announces that this will be the last show because the property is being sold. She then introduces the stranger as Mr. Bland, an investor that is buying the property. Things are about to get a bit crazy in town. Before they can finish the announcements, Lenny stumbles on stage and collapses. He has been stabbed. This is just the start of chaos in town. Maggie wonders if it all connects. She and her husband will start sleuthing but they will need to tread carefully or find themselves in trouble as well.

There is so much to follow in the story and the way it’s written, it makes you want to read faster so you can find out what is taking place and who is behind it. It’s a story of good and evil and working together. The story is well written and the characters seem well developed. I was so interested in the history that is brought into the story with the Blaubark family. It added suspense and intrigue. It’s one of those times when you find yourself rooting for certain characters and hoping the other characters get what they deserve. It shows how a family can change from generation to generation. I do hope the author creates more stories with these characters. I also loved the use of crystals and gems in the story. It brought a unique twist to mystery solving.

[Melanie Mckinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael and Maggie Hartstone live in the quiet little town of Hamilton. Michael has just retired as the Chief of Police in Hamilton (not by choice) and his wife Maggie owns the Cozy Crystal store. Michael and Maggie are attending the semi-annual Springfield Park Rock and Gem Show when the mayor is about to make a huge announcement. Before the mayor can make an announcement, another local shop owner that is also attending the show comes crashing into the crowd with non-other than a……..stab wound! This isn’t all as right after this happens an arrest is made right at Maggie’s booth. The person arrested is one of her employees. This is only the beginning of whirl wind that is about to unfold.

This book has a great setting in a very small and quaint little town. It’s the kind of town that you will want to get in the car and drive too. Michael and Maggie are empty nesters as well as parents of twin boys. Being a parent of twins myself and almost an empty nester I could really relate to the family. The people of course all know each other in this little town which can be a good and bad thing. The town of Hamilton where the book takes place is full of secrets. Maggie and Michael are just beginning to find out about these people and to start revealing some of these secrets. Of course, there are always secrets that people don’t want you to find out.

This is the first book in Michael Lynes Cozy Crystal Mysteries series and it will not disappoint. The author does a terrific job of throwing different twists and turns at you throughout the course of the book. As soon as you think you know what is going on there will be a curve thrown and you will be somersaulting out of control....and loving every minute of it!!! I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a slight departure from the cozy mysteries I usually enjoy. The premise was a bit different and yet quite enjoyable. I am looking forward to the next installment. The main characters were fun to read about and the plot was easily followed. I can easily recommend this book.