New Holland, New York
Monday, April 3, 1961
My day begins over a hard roll and coffee with my best friend in the world, Ron “Fadge” Fiorello, the proprietor of the soda shop across the street from my apartment. He’s usually late opening up the store, rolling up to the curb in his ’57 Nash Ambassador after eight thirty. Unshaven and (sometimes) unwashed, he trundles across the seat to the 
passenger’s side door like a walrus undulating across an ice floe, the car rocking on its struts beneath him. The driver’s door is dented shut, so he always dismounts from the right-hand side. Barely four years old, the car is a disgrace. From the day he drove it off Bob Franks’ Hudson-Nash lot on Division Street, Fadge has abused it through neglect of maintenance, willful flaunting of the laws of physics, and a demolition-derby style of driving.
After breakfast and a review of the New York papers, I head downtown to the New Holland Republic offices on Main Street to begin my nine hours of writing stories on lost cats, Knights of Columbus banquets, and the occasional murder. Today I plan on knocking my editor for a loop with the photographs and scoop I got Sunday afternoon concerning a body that turned up dead in the quarry east of town. The suave and avuncular Charlie Reese is the dear man who took a chance on a girl reporter and hired me three years ago, and I’m forever grateful to him for it.
I feel less kindly toward Artie Short, the paper’s publisher, who hates the idea of a woman in the workplace, and behind the wheel for that matter. He can’t stand the sight of me, but has to hold his nose and publish my stories anyway. Then there’s his strutting ass of a son-in-law George Walsh. Georgie Porgie, as I’ve been known to call him, considers himself the senior reporter on staff, but his best articles have all been lifted from my desk drawer. I exact my revenge in small but satisfying ways: breaking the nibs off his obsessively sharpened pencils when he leaves his desk, switching the keys on his typewriter (he’s never been able to memorize the keyboard), or simply taping a “kick me” sign to his back. Not very subtle, but a classic.
After lunch at the Wolfson’s Department Store lunch counter with my assistant, Norma Geary, I pay a visit to the widow of Edgar Tolliver, the sixty-six-year-old man discovered in the quarry the day before. Margaret Tolliver is disconsolate, crushed, doesn’t know where to look, what to do, or how she’ll manage now that the only man she’s ever loved is gone. And she has no idea who would want to bludgeon him and dump his body into the shallow water at the bottom of the pit. I wish there were something I could do to help her. This part of my job is heartrending, but, as I continuously remind myself, not as agonizing as it is for the victims’ loved ones left behind. In moments like this, I draw on my own losses, which have been considerable, and I find the strength to hold a mother’s hand or comfort a grieving wife. It has nothing to do with my job.
I return to the Republic offices at four and write a couple of short pieces for tomorrow’s edition: one on the scourge of teenagers kicking out street lamps and another on the new chairwoman of the local chapter of the March of Dimes. As I prepare to leave for the day, Norma Geary appears at my side, glances around to make sure George Walsh is nowhere in sight, then drops an old article on my desk. Having dug the story out of the archives on her own, she gives me a knowing look, arching her right eyebrow. The story details the arrest of Edgar Tolliver on a moral’s charge in 1936. Norma is a marvel.
Once home, I kick off my heels and heat up a Swanson’s turkey dinner. I pour myself a whiskey and plop down on the sofa with three days’ worth of crosswords for company. The turkey dinner burns as I finish the second puzzle (and whiskey), so I settle for a supper of olives, saltines, and an end of cheese. Then another whiskey and another until I’m awakened by the pealing telephone. The voice on the other end tells me to keep my nose out of the quarry story or I’ll be next.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on February 6 for the chance to win a copy of both Styx & Stone and No Stone Unturned. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes.
Meet the author
James Ziskin is the author of the Ellie Stone mysteries, Styx & Stone (October 2013), No Stone Unturned (June 2014), and Stone Cold Dead (May 12, 2015), all from Seventh Street Books. A linguist by training, he studied Romance languages and literature at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives in the Hollywood Hills with his wife Lakshmi and cats, Bobbie and Tinker. Visit James at: www.JamesWZiskin.com
This is so dark and yet is so 1960s. Makes me remember those times. I could really get into this book!!!! Thank you for the chance.
Definitely not a sweet cozy – sounds like a good book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Wow – two books! and interesting ones at that!
Different mysteries, thanks for the chance to win them 🙂
This is quite a story and one that I want to research along with Ellie Stone. It’s a great review and immediately draws me in. Thank you, Dru and James Ziskin for the chance to win this giveaway.
What a great deal! I would adore having both these books. Please let me win.
Two books sound like a wonderful way to get into a series. Would love to start that way.
wow, great giveaway. Both books sound wonderful
Sound interesting
Thanks for giving the start of the series along with the current book. this is a new series for me and it will be good to start reading at the beginning.
then I’ll be ready and waiting for book 3. thanks.
Good luck to all of you! Can’t wait to give away the two books.
Just checked out Styx & Stone from the library and started reading. I’m sure I’m going to enjoy the rest of the book. Looking forward to the next 2 books (I love discovering new authors!). PS I’m wearing my Rothbert University shirt (Lori Rader-Day) today at work today
Thank you so much for introducing me to a new author and series! I would love to read both of these books! Thank you for the opportunity to win them!
YEAH! A new to me author and series!!!!
I enjoyed the first two Ellie Stone mysteries by James Ziskin and look forward to this one. I posted this about Ellie’s day on my FB author page. I don’t need to win a copy…I know I will buy one. Rock on, James!
Thank you, all! And thank you, Kay, for the kind words.
Oh, this does sound like a good read.
Another sleuth that I need to read about. I’d love to win this book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
My car was totaled this week, do you thank Fadge would share is car with me.The first to books is such a great giveaway and a third book coming out in the not to distance future. Would love to start this new series.
Looks like a good series that I was not previously aware of. Would love to win the books and get started on the series. I love stuff set in the 60s, if they do it right.
Oh this sounds like an awesome mystery!
Two book giveaway …. fingers crossed sounds like excellent reads!
This sounds like a great series and is a new one to me. Love that Dru is expanding my wish list exponentially!
Interesting sounding book. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Boy, this is one sassy lady, considering it’s the early ’60’s. I think I want her to be my friend!
A new to me author. They look good. Thanks for the giveaway
A new-to-me series/author….
Thanx for the giveaway…
New author, new series for me. Looks interesting
I love a good mystery and this sounds like a good one.
I haven’t read any books by this author, but his books sure sound good. I love mysteries and would enjoy both of these books. Thanks for this chance to win them.
Good luck, everyone!
Ellie is spunky. Like to read more.
This sounds like a great series, I love these types of stories.
Sound interesting! Adding them to my tbr list. Thanks for the giveaway. Fingers crossed! 🙂
Would love to try.
A new author to me and I’m eager to read this book! Thank you for the contest!
Got to love a supper of “olives, saltines and cheese!!” Thanks for the opportunity to win!!
Thanks James for dropping by.
Contest is closed.
Thank you, Dru, and everyone who entered!
Books shipped to the winner. Should arrive by Saturday. Congratulations and thanks for playing!