Through Water and Stone - by Karen Barnett (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"A gripping tale of twisted family bonds set in Utah's Zion National Park . . . Readers will be swept up."

--Publishers Weekly

In 1948, Zion National Park ranger Henry Eriksson and his wife, Alma, are less than one year removed from their infant son's sudden death in a flash flood, and the weight of the loss hasn't diminished with time. When Henry discovers an abandoned baby in a hatbox on his morning rounds, he's unsure how to react, but Alma is delighted, and she reignites with purpose at what seems to be a miracle from God.

Nearly eighty years later, Talia Eriksson leaves her job at an athleisure company in Palo Alto, California, in disgrace and returns to Zion National Park to reconnect with her grandfather and review her life goals. But when an at-home DNA test exposes family secrets, Talia and her newfound friend, law enforcement ranger Blake Mitchell, work together to search for answers.

Talia navigates the rocky path into her past with Blake by her side, what she discovers may alter everything she knew to be true about herself. With the uncertain future looming, Talia must learn that family is deeper than genetics and that trusting God can mean being still and clinging to the Rock.

"Karen Barnett expertly weaves a tale that is gentle and tender yet as powerful as floodwaters in reaching into the heart of love and family."

--Amanda Cox, award-winning and best-selling author of Between the Sound and Sea

Review Quotes

The historical narrative unspools slowly on the way to a rewarding climax that touches on faith, the ties that bind families, and the profound, far-reaching effects of the secrets they keep. Readers will be swept up.--Publishers Weekly (5/29/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Through Water and Stone is an immersive story set against the untamed beauty of Zion National Park. Barnett expertly weaves a tale that is gentle and tender yet as powerful as floodwaters in reaching into the heart of love and family. This book should top the to-be-read stack of every nature-loving reader who longs for adventure.--Amanda Cox, award-winning and best-selling author of Between the Sound and Sea (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

I started reading Karen Barnett's Through Water and Stone and couldn't put it down! With vivid historical detail, compelling characters, and a gripping story, the novel centers around the identity of an abandoned baby and the secrets passed down through generations. A must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who values the deep connections that shape our lives.--Suzanne Woods Fisher, best-selling author of Capture the Moment (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

I've enjoyed every Karen Barnett National Park novel, but her newest proves the most gripping in this series to date. The red-rock canyons, mesas, and rivers of Zion National Park are such integral story elements; Through Water and Stone couldn't be set anywhere else. With companionable characters, engaging dialogue, and situations both intriguing and heartfelt, I could have spent twice the chapters immersed in this story and still regretted turning that last page, but I turned them fast regardless because the generational mystery that unfolds across the book's split -time frame was too compelling not to--and twisty enough to keep me guessing to the end.--Lori Benton, author of The King's Mercy and other historical novels (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Karen Barnett evoked all my senses in this adventure-romance tale set in Zion National Park in two eras, 1950s and contemporary. Characters of all ages walked right into my heart, carrying me along to an unexpected climax. Wow, what a ride! Way to go, Karen.--Lauraine Snelling, best-selling author of over 125 novels, including the Leah's Garden series (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Prepare for utter immersion in Through Water and Stone! Karen Barnett masterfully carries readers into the wide heart of Zion National Park's red rock country, then washes us through slot-canyon twists of love, loyalty, and life-changing choices. This unusual tale--and the engaging characters who hunt its deepest secret--will hold readers captive to the very last page.--Cheryl Grey Bostrom, award-winning author of Leaning on Air (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

There's nothing quite like opening a book and falling into the story, which is exactly what happened with Through Water and Stone. The characters drew me into the plot and held me. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough, but when I knew I was nearing the end, I didn't want to leave my new friends. I felt every emotion and pull of a muscle. This is a book you'll want to share with every booklover you know!--Eva Marie Everson, CEO of Word Weavers International and best-selling author (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

What a fantastic story! Set in the majestic Zion National Park, Through Water and Stone is an engaging novel about family, secrets, and self-discovery. Karen Barnett's vivid writing and heartfelt characters always pull me in on the first page. And the mystery! I couldn't put this down until I discovered every secret alongside Talia and Blake. I highly recommend this story, which will stay with you long after the final page.--Misty M. Beller, USA Today best-selling author of the Brothers of Sapphire Ranch series (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

With deft prose and thoughtful insight, Barnett weaves a story as gorgeous as the national park it's set in. Through two timelines, we get a tale of desperation, love, and finding the inner strength to go after what's right, all undergirded with a faith as strong and multi-faceted as Zion's famed rocks. I can't recommend this book enough!--Roseanna M. White, Christy Award-winning and bestselling author of the Imposters series (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Zion National Park comes alive in this wonderful dual-time novel by Karen Barnett. Rich in details and emotions, the story kept me turning pages as surely as rushing waters sweep past the stony canyons of Zion after a storm.--Robin Lee Hatcher, Christy Award-winning author of To Capture a Mountain Man (4/10/2025 12:00:00 AM)