Hands Through Stone
A true crime story that reads like an intricate mystery novel . . .
Hands Through Stone reveals the true story behind California’s notorious Fran’s Market murders and their mastermind, Clarence Ray Allen, the last man executed in the State of California. Readers get an insider’s view of the investigation that brought Allen to justice and the impact on the men and women involved.
A true crime story that reads like an intricate mystery novel, Hands Through Stone dramatizes chilling scenes of murder, dogged investigation, and a gallery of quirky, real-life characters: cops, witnesses, villains, and Clarence Ray Allen—the man who ordered the vicious killings from behind the walls of Folsom Prison. Told in narrative non-fiction style, it is like reading a novel that allows the reader to stand in the shoes of those who spent twenty-six years seeking justice and how it affected them.
Reviews
“A terrifying look at the mind of evil and the lengths it can go. Hands Through Stone is a fine addition to any true crime collection focusing on California.”
— California Bookwatch
“Goes inside the room at Fran’s Market and gives not only the events on the infamous night but the feelings of the horror of the seasoned investigators. A must read for readers and writers of mystery books. Highly recommended!”
— The Poison Pen
“Hands Through Stone tells a frightening story with all the tension and color of a first-class mystery novel … a revealing insider’s view of the investigation.”
— CrimeMagazine.com
“Ardaiz’s writing about police work is in depth … The final chapter was thought-provoking and put a different perspective on the death penalty for me … had me thinking about the book long after I had finished it.”
— TrueCrimeReader.com
James Ardaiz 