Stone Won’t Tell

By Bradley Joseph Brown

When the line between friend and foe blurs, and the past refuses to stay buried, everything rests on who you trust. Tess Evans is ready for a fresh start. Leaving behind strained relationships on Vancouver Island, she heads to remote Edwards Lake, Alberta, to begin a new career teaching at the local elementary school. But as she settles into her new life, Tess quickly realizes that the seemingly quaint and welcoming town harbours dark secrets. In this tight-knit community—where word travels fast and appearances can be deceiving—Tess is drawn to a kind-hearted, captivating resident with deep ties to the town. But is his warmth genuine, or does he, too, conceal a hidden truth? As winter closes in and the town’s secrets begin to unfold, Tess becomes entangled in the life of Stone, a selective mute child whose silence hides a history of trauma. And the closer she gets to uncovering the truth behind Stone’s recent, devastating loss, the more Tess realizes that her own safety is at risk. Blending suspense, romance, and self-discovery, Stone Won’t Tell is a gripping story about resilience, the unexpected paths we take when searching for a place to belong, and the shadows that lurk even in the most welcoming of places.