• Heart of Stone

  • The Negotiator Trilogy, Book 1
  • By: C. E. Murphy
  • Narrated by: Eve Bianco
  • Length: 13 hrs and 44 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (1,125 ratings)

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Heart of Stone  By  cover art

Heart of Stone

By: C. E. Murphy
Narrated by: Eve Bianco
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Publisher's summary

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 existence for centuries. Now he was a murder suspect, and he needed Margrit's help to take the heat off him and find the real killer. And as the dead pile up, it's a race against the sunrise to clear Alban's name and keep them both alive.

©2007 C. E. Murphy (P)2007 Audible, Inc.
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

What listeners say about Heart of Stone

Average customer ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Nice series

I really enjoyed this series! Had to get used to hearing 3rd person b/c most of the books I've been listening to (Southern Vampire Series, Anita Blake, The Hollows Series) were in 1st person. Book was kind of slow at first, but it definitely grew on me! I've recommended it to all my friends that like urban fantasy type books.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

solid as a rock

This was a great listen, and a new direction of story lines for this author. If you enjoyed the other books you will definetly like this. Good story for the genere with romance and humor. Has a Neil Gaimen feel, buy not quite on the same level, a good start though. Not a waste of time or money. I look forward to the next addition.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic twist on Urban Fantasy

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 the midst of an investigation, torn between protecting Alban - who has been described/named as a suspect - and continuing her work as a public defender. Work that also puts her in a head to head situation with Daisani, a powerful man within the city of New York - who just happens to be a vampire, in order to prevent the destruction of a building where numerous squatters live.

Her every day world is now filled with beings no one else apparently knows about. Gargoyles, Vampires, Selkies, Jinn, and Dragons - and with the murders continuing Grit must find the killer and protect Alban before she ends up in the morgue herself.

A lovely twist on the urban fantasy/paranormal setting. I have to admit the narrator did a wonderful job, pulling me into the story each night.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Just okay

The plot was a little contrived, the ending predictable and way too much use of the word "wry" and the phrase "brows pulled down." I felt there were several places where the author could have made it a better story, but backed off and skirted around the possibilities to stick to a predicatble format.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not exciting at all...

This book was not what I expected, the rating was good, so I thought it would be a good read... but I struggled to finish it, I almost felt like it was a shore :(
It is very slow paced, and not very exciting at all. I was always waiting for the "good" scene, where something would finally happen...but I finished it and was still waiting.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed!

I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the characters of this book. Overall most of the characters were reasonably well developed and individuals. I also really enjoy how most of the bad guys aren't wholey evil, simply playing by a different set of rules. I noticed others complaining about the narrator, but I had no issue with her. I enjoyed how everyone got their own voice and character reflected.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Great Fantasy!

I thought this story was good, but it wasn't I can't stop listening good. It probably shouldn't be listed in romance cause barely a kiss happens in this book. Definitely not a waste of money. Right at about average.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • K
  • 04-27-09

Gargoyles for adults

This series is basically a more adult version of Gargoyles The Animated Series, where instead of Eliza Maza, NYPD Detective, we have Margrit Knight, lawyer. All in all this story follows the typical format for supernatural suspense/adventure stories. Which is it's downfall, often the heroin came across as smart and a smarta@$ but also intelligent and foolish/brave depending on the moment. However, what annoyed me most is that it seemed as though only one person could be smart at a time in any scene to progress the action or plot. Overall, if you like heroins in the vein of Anita Blake (ending at Blue Moon and without the killer martial arts skills) then you'll know what to expect from Margrit.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Pleased and delighted with narrator and author

I read some of the reviews after I read this book and contrary to some reviewers, I found the narrator delightful. All of her accents were different and I had NO problem differentiating her characters. She made the book come alive. The author is new to me and I found her writing style extemely enjoyable and down-to-earth. I look forward to listening to more in this series. I highly recommend her work and the narrator.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • RC
  • 05-28-13

I can't finish this book!

The combination of an extremely slow story line and a pretty bad narration makes this audiobook unbearable. I have tried to make myself finish it multiple times, but can only stand it for a few minutes before I am bored to tears. I started relistening to older books in my library rather than finish this. I think the series has potential, but the author has got to find a way to build some intensity and interest. I suspect that the print version might be a little better, but the narrator reads slowly and it just draws it out even more. I think I may return this book, even though I got it on sale.

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1 person found this helpful