Books like The murder stone by Charles Todd

When Francesca Hatton mourns her grandfather in the isolated Exe Valley, a letter and a stranger’s accusation reveal a hidden family scandal amid the chaos of World War I. Ex‑soldier Richard Leighton and other visitors claim the grandfather was a murderer, citing his alleged role in the disappearance of Leighton’s mother. As funeral rites are interrupted by further accusations, Francesca confronts the haunting power of a white stone hidden in a garden, promised in the will to be recovered and buried in Scotland. A series of near‑fatal incidents, leading to a body found at the stone, forces her to dig into the truth of her grandfather’s past and the dark legacies he left behind. The novel blends historical detail with psychological tension, as Francesca faces enemies determined to exact overdue revenge. Set against the backdrop of the Great War and the English countryside, the story explores themes of inheritance, obsession, and the lasting effects of war on families.

First publish date: 2003