The Devil's Stone

Omar Ash Raff is a man of honor. He lives in Sierra Leone, a country rife with diamond smugglers. Omar knows what diamonds can do to a man. He’s chased that dream all his life. He safeguards Okra Hill – the most valuable piece of diamond-rich, real-estate the country possesses from being pillaged by rebels, diamond conglomerates and the corrupt government that will sell it to the highest bidder.

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A Rough Cut

An impetuous heart can be deadly for romantic dreamer, Crystal Laine. With her head in the clouds, Crystal, a young English woman, falls wildly in love with Jax Raád, a Lebanese businessman, in London seeking investment capital for a diamond mining venture in Sierra Leone. Captivated by this exotic man, Crystal willingly trades her uneventful, tour-guide existence for the promise of adventure and travels to Freetown.

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About The Author

Marie Reindorp

Accomplished author and screenwriter, Marie Reindorp has many stories to tell. She is an English native who traveled extensively as a tour guide. Many of her stories are based on her adventures and experiences, of her travels and the places she’s lived in.

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Future Publications

Slide
Forbidden Fruit
An African War Story

FORBIDDEN FRUIT follows the adventures of Lebanese entrepreneur J.J. Ruffi who finds his life and that of his family in jeopardy when he is caught up in a barbaric civil war. It’s 1997 and Ruffi has returned to his beloved adopted land, Sierra Leone in West Africa, to build affordable earth-block housing and re-start his life.

Believing that the war is over, Ruffi arrives in Freetown with a bag full of dreams and the hope of peace of mind. He finds the country in a shambles, the aftermath of the war, and quickly learns that the on-going guerrilla conflict between rebels and soldiers is far from being settled and that the country is embroiled in a conflict between the government army and the rebel junta forces.

However, Ruffi came to Sierra Leone with a mission: to rebuild the country, using an earth-block-making machine, a new technology called EarthBrick. General elections, the first in thirty years, have just taken place and a civilian government, unheard of in Sierra Leone, takes power. Ruffi is certain that this civilian government will bring stability to the country, and he does everything possible to have the new administration fund his project. His endeavors fall flat. With an empty wallet he sets off to the Northern Territory of Kono, a wealthy mining area in the provinces, to set up his own diamond mine and begin life over yet again.

Within a few weeks the army stages a coup, joining forces with the rebels and seizing every diamond pit for themselves. Ruffi is now stuck in a situation he cannot get out of. He tries to make the most of his plight only to discover life is not what you make of it and in the mind of the junta diamonds are worth much more than his neck. His only way out is to escape by foot through a rebel infested jungle and over a treacherous mountain range. Ruffi must decide whether to take his chances to go on foot on the mountain path but it’s common knowledge in town that anybody venturing on that road would be shot on sight. Ruffi considers the odds if he stays in Kono were death anyway so why not try?

While he contemplates his decision, the junta launches its “Operation No Living Thing,” a scorched-earth, kill-all campaign designed to break the will of the people through fear, burning and murdering everybody in their path, especially white Lebanese. With rebels at his heels, Ruffi runs for his life but must first find a way to save his wife and child who have become separated from him in the madness. In a harrowing thirteen days journey, through wit and courage, he escapes mutilation, execution, braves the rebel-infested jungles and finally reaches safety in Guinea by scaling the massive Sierra Leone mountains.

Slide
Mushi and the Quest for the Red Dragon
A Tale of Bravery and Wit

During a terrific sandstorm, Mushi, a young teenage boy, is buried alive in sand. His devoted horse, Sunshine, digs him out and saves his life. They return to the Land of Nod to find their home and village burned to a crisp. The fiery Great Red Dragon has returned, and with its breath, he has scorched the trees, the land, the flowers, and dried up all the water in the rivers.

Mushi’s parents and the people of the village have been taken captive by the Red Dragon’s army and have been turned into golden statues in the Land of Ophrah. Mushi is devastated about the loss of his family and his friends. The only survivors from the Red Dragon's breath are Bobo the Tree, Marigold the Flower, and Mirabel the Cow. With no water to drink, Bobo and Marigold will surely die, and with no grass to eat, Mirabel will face the same fate.

“Ah, but you are brave,” Bobo tells him. “You are smart and can outwit the dragon. I am certain of it.”

“I will come with you,” said Marigold. “For my petals are strong and tough, and I will bring a whole army of bees to help us.”

“I, too, will come along,” Mirabel said with a sad face. “I will provide milk for you on our journey, nourishment to keep you strong and mighty. There is nothing for me here without grass.”

And so, Mushi considers the long and difficult quest that he must make through the Enchanted Forest, where the dark grey foxes are king, and into the Land of Ophrah, where the only way through is to sail along the river of liquid gold. From there, they will reach the Land of Tob and face the Red Dragon.

But what can a young man do with no weapon or knowledge of battle? How can he possibly defeat a giant fiery dragon that holds all the water for the whole land? For he is a Red Dragon that breathes fire and blows on the desert to cause havoc and destruction. Mushi has only one skill that will help him—he must outsmart the Red Dragon and kill him. And as he prepares for his journey, Mushi has no idea how he will slay the dragon when and if he makes it to the Sea of Glass and the Land of Tob.

Mushi realizes he has no choice in the matter because if he doesn’t go, he and his friends will surely die. He asks Bobo what possible use a wilted marigold flower and a cow with no grass to eat could be on this harrowing journey.

“Ah,” says Bobo. “It is true that the road ahead is dangerous, but with your friends and their courage, I am certain, Mushi, that you will surely succeed. You must trust your heart and be brave. For we are all counting on you.”

And with that, Mushi gathered his supplies and sat upon Sunshine, his horse. He lifted Marigold onto his lap, and with Mirabel marching alongside, they all set off for the Land of Tob.

Slide
The River House
A Tale of Courage and Chance

Relentless, Mike checks out new property markers along the path only to be confronted by Walker and a shotgun. A heated argument develops. Walker pulls the trigger and kills Mike.

Devastated, Eydie attends the preliminary hearing only to have the case dismissed on grounds that Mike died accidentally. Horrified that Walker now roams around a free man, she sets out on a quest to find out the truth behind her husband’s death and becomes the laughingstock of the town, enduring humiliation from neighbors, friends, and family.

Eydie then puts her own life in danger when upon discovering Mike’s diary, she pieces together a jigsaw puzzle that proves a land scam in the town with a prominent local figure as the ringleader and Walker as his accomplice.

Walker quickly finds out Eydie is not a push over and urges her arrest for interfering in the plan. When Eydie, with evidence in hand, heads out to prove Mike’s death was murder, a violent storm causes the river to burst its banks, leaving the road impassable. The only way out is by boat. But there’s only one, hers, and it’s across the divided path.

The battles continue, until one day Mike comes home to find Walker waiting under a tree, aiming a gun at him. Terrified, Mike calls the police. They point out to Mike how many times Walker has complained about him, then take a conflicting statement from Walker, who tells them he acted in self-defense. Suspicious of the way the incident is handled, Mike sets out to form a river committee against Walker and his belligerence. Eydie, furious with Mike for continually goading Walker, accuses her husband of starting a war against their neighbor, insisting that he’s the problem, not Walker.

Along the Allegheny River in the small town of Starbrick, Pennsylvania, Mike and Eydie Rossi return from fishing, mooring their boat at the end of a stretch of houses lining the riverbank. The Rossi’s house is situated fifty yards across an easement that skirts the bottom of the property belonging to neighbor, Chad Walker. As the Rossi’s walk to their house, Walker, a grumpy, retired attorney, accosts Mike and threatens to shoot him for trespassing on his land. Sick and tired of Walker harassing him, Mike explodes, insisting that he won’t drive five miles around the houses to the boat marina when his house is just fifty yards across the path. He tells Walker that the piece of land is public access. And like the others on the stretch of river he’ll park his boat as close to his house as possible. Chad, furious, argues back, while Eydie tries to stop Mike from making a fool of himself by having a shouting match with an old man.

Slide
The Key to Heaven
An English Love Story

THE KEY TO HEAVEN is the story of Mona Lisa Fabula, a young trendy Londoner deeply in debt and Brogan Brood, a young but old-fashioned curator who specializes in Medieval antiquities. A fortune is Mona Lisa’s for the taking if she can unravel the riddle of a star-shaped ring left to her by her grandfather or forfeit her fortune to a distant cousin.

The family lawyer gives Mona-Lisa an old scroll and warns her to guard the ring with her life, as people will try to kill her for it. He suggests she takes the scroll and the ring to a museum to have it valued.

Which is where she meets Brogan. He discovers the ring dates back to the 4th century B.C. and is referred to in an ancient text as THE KEY TO HEAVEN. Brogan deciphers the scroll is a set of instructions and that the ring is a key to a vault containing a priceless scepter and shield. But legend has it that somebody must hang before the treasure can be found.

In this exciting action-adventure story through long-lost castles, foggy moors and magnificent rugged scenery, Mona Lisa and Brogan travel the stormy coast of Northeast England finding clues and trouble along the way. They are opposed by their own personality flaws as well as Cane Parker, gang leader of a band of motorcycle thugs and distant cousin of Mona-Lisa. Cane stands to receive Mona Lisa’s fortune should she die. He’ll stop at nothing to make sure she is the one who hangs.

Slide
A Rough Cut
An African Love Story

An impetuous heart can be deadly for romantic dreamer, Crystal Laine. With her head in the clouds, Crystal, a young English woman, falls wildly in love with Jax Raád, a Lebanese businessman in London seeking investment capital for a diamond mining venture in Sierra Leone. Captivated by this exotic man, Crystal willingly trades her uneventful, tour-guide existence for the promise of adventure and travels to Freetown.

As her love for this man and this foreign land become inexorably tangled, she discovers Jax has a high-voltage temper along with addictions: drugs and gambling. Still, her life in Sierra Leone completely rules her heart, one moment stunning her with unimaginable beauty, the next horrifying her with relentless cruelty.

Jax successfully gathers the capital for his mining expedition, and the two head off to Mendeland. But nothing in her tour-guide experience could have prepared Crystal for living in the bush.

In a land of voodoo, devils, and secret societies, she’s cursed by a jealous female river spirit, believed to be the keeper of stones. To appease this river spirit and find diamonds, Crystal must go through a ritual called “sacrificing your heart” that changes her life forever. The river does spit out a stone, The Angel Stone, worth millions and sure to be another curse. Jax warns her not to tell anybody about the rare, fancy diamond, as they’ll be hunted down and killed for it.

The country is in political upheaval as the first democratic election in thirty years is about to take place. Rebel factions oppose a civilian government, boycotting the elections by burning those alive who oppose their tyranny. Her lover's betrayals have put both their lives in jeopardy.

She knows she must leave, but before she does, she must find a way to save the man responsible for bringing her to this magical, albeit dangerous land. Her way of life in Africa, the friends she’s made, the lessons she’s learned, and her own internal awakenings all come together to help her with the biggest challenge of her life.

As for The Angel Stone…? Diamond smugglers are shot—common knowledge. Rebels are about to enter the city. An air, sea, and land lock is enforced. Time has run out.

With no way to leave the country, Crystal must decide what action to take, but only The Angel Stone can help her now.

previous arrow
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Slide
Forbidden Fruit
An African War Story

FORBIDDEN FRUIT follows the adventures of Lebanese entrepreneur J.J. Ruffi who finds his life and that of his family in jeopardy when he is caught up in a barbaric civil war. It’s 1997 and Ruffi has returned to his beloved adopted land, Sierra Leone in West Africa, to build affordable earth-block housing and re-start his life.

Believing that the war is over, Ruffi arrives in Freetown with a bag full of dreams and the hope of peace of mind. He finds the country in a shambles, the aftermath of the war, and quickly learns that the on-going guerrilla conflict between rebels and soldiers is far from being settled and that the country is embroiled in a conflict between the government army and the rebel junta forces.

However, Ruffi came to Sierra Leone with a mission: to rebuild the country, using an earth-block-making machine, a new technology called EarthBrick. General elections, the first in thirty years, have just taken place and a civilian government, unheard of in Sierra Leone, takes power. Ruffi is certain that this civilian government will bring stability to the country, and he does everything possible to have the new administration fund his project. His endeavors fall flat. With an empty wallet he sets off to the Northern Territory of Kono, a wealthy mining area in the provinces, to set up his own diamond mine and begin life over yet again.

Within a few weeks the army stages a coup, joining forces with the rebels and seizing every diamond pit for themselves. Ruffi is now stuck in a situation he cannot get out of. He tries to make the most of his plight only to discover life is not what you make of it and in the mind of the junta diamonds are worth much more than his neck. His only way out is to escape by foot through a rebel infested jungle and over a treacherous mountain range. Ruffi must decide whether to take his chances to go on foot on the mountain path but it’s common knowledge in town that anybody venturing on that road would be shot on sight. Ruffi considers the odds if he stays in Kono were death anyway so why not try?

While he contemplates his decision, the junta launches its “Operation No Living Thing,” a scorched-earth, kill-all campaign designed to break the will of the people through fear, burning and murdering everybody in their path, especially white Lebanese. With rebels at his heels, Ruffi runs for his life but must first find a way to save his wife and child who have become separated from him in the madness. In a harrowing thirteen days journey, through wit and courage, he escapes mutilation, execution, braves the rebel-infested jungles and finally reaches safety in Guinea by scaling the massive Sierra Leone mountains.

Slide
Mushi and the Quest for the Red Dragon
A Tale of Bravery and Wit

During a terrific sandstorm, Mushi, a young teenage boy, is buried alive in sand. His devoted horse, Sunshine, digs him out and saves his life. They return to the Land of Nod to find their home and village burned to a crisp. The fiery Great Red Dragon has returned, and with its breath, he has scorched the trees, the land, the flowers, and dried up all the water in the rivers.

Mushi’s parents and the people of the village have been taken captive by the Red Dragon’s army and have been turned into golden statues in the Land of Ophrah. Mushi is devastated about the loss of his family and his friends. The only survivors from the Red Dragon's breath are Bobo the Tree, Marigold the Flower, and Mirabel the Cow. With no water to drink, Bobo and Marigold will surely die, and with no grass to eat, Mirabel will face the same fate.

Bobo is a wise old tree, and he tells Mushi that he must immediately travel to the Land of Tob and battle the Red Dragon, for the dragon has kept captive the Sea of Glass, which holds all the water beneath it for everyone to survive. Mushi must outwit the Red Dragon and force him to set the water free.

“But I am just a boy,” Mushi tells Bobo. “And I am afraid to face the Red Dragon. And who has ever heard of such a thing as a Sea of Glass?”

“Ah, but you are brave,” Bobo tells him. “You are smart and can outwit the dragon. I am certain of it.”

“I will come with you,” said Marigold. “For my petals are strong and tough, and I will bring a whole army of bees to help us.”

“I, too, will come along,” Mirabel said with a sad face. “I will provide milk for you on our journey, nourishment to keep you strong and mighty. There is nothing for me here without grass.”

And so, Mushi considers the long and difficult quest that he must make through the Enchanted Forest, where the dark grey foxes are king, and into the Land of Ophrah, where the only way through is to sail along the river of liquid gold. From there, they will reach the Land of Tob and face the Red Dragon.

But what can a young man do with no weapon or knowledge of battle? How can he possibly defeat a giant fiery dragon that holds all the water for the whole land? For he is a Red Dragon that breathes fire and blows on the desert to cause havoc and destruction. Mushi has only one skill that will help him—he must outsmart the Red Dragon and kill him. And as he prepares for his journey, Mushi has no idea how he will slay the dragon when and if he makes it to the Sea of Glass and the Land of Tob.

Mushi realizes he has no choice in the matter because if he doesn’t go, he and his friends will surely die. He asks Bobo what possible use a wilted marigold flower and a cow with no grass to eat could be on this harrowing journey.

“Ah,” says Bobo. “It is true that the road ahead is dangerous, but with your friends and their courage, I am certain, Mushi, that you will surely succeed. You must trust your heart and be brave. For we are all counting on you.”

And with that, Mushi gathered his supplies and sat upon Sunshine, his horse. He lifted Marigold onto his lap, and with Mirabel marching alongside, they all set off for the Land of Tob.

Slide
THE RIVER HOUSE
A Tale of Courage and Chance

Along the Allegheny River in the small town of Starbrick, Pennsylvania, Mike and Eydie Rossi return from fishing, mooring their boat at the end of a stretch of houses lining the riverbank. The Rossi’s house is situated fifty yards across an easement that skirts the bottom of the property belonging to neighbor, Chad Walker. As the Rossi’s walk to their house, Walker, a grumpy, retired attorney, accosts Mike and threatens to shoot him for trespassing on his land. Sick and tired of Walker harassing him, Mike explodes, insisting that he won’t drive five miles around the houses to the boat marina when his house is just fifty yards across the path. He tells Walker that the piece of land is public access. And like the others on the stretch of river he’ll park his boat as close to his house as possible. Chad, furious, argues back, while Eydie tries to stop Mike from making a fool of himself by having a shouting match with an old man.

The battles continue, until one day Mike comes home to find Walker waiting under a tree, aiming a gun at him. Terrified, Mike calls the police. They point out to Mike how many times Walker has complained about him, then take a conflicting statement from Walker, who tells them he acted in self-defense. Suspicious of the way the incident is handled, Mike sets out to form a river committee against Walker and his belligerence. Eydie, furious with Mike for continually goading Walker, accuses her husband of starting a war against their neighbor, insisting that he’s the problem, not Walker.

Relentless, Mike checks out new property markers along the path only to be confronted by Walker and a shotgun. A heated argument develops. Walker pulls the trigger and kills Mike.

Devastated, Eydie attends the preliminary hearing only to have the case dismissed on grounds that Mike died accidentally. Horrified that Walker now roams around a free man, she sets out on a quest to find out the truth behind her husband’s death and becomes the laughingstock of the town, enduring humiliation from neighbors, friends, and family.

Eydie then puts her own life in danger when upon discovering Mike’s diary, she pieces together a jigsaw puzzle that proves a land scam in the town with a prominent local figure as the ringleader and Walker as his accomplice.

Walker quickly finds out Eydie is not a push over and urges her arrest for interfering in the plan. When Eydie, with evidence in hand, heads out to prove Mike’s death was murder, a violent storm causes the river to burst its banks, leaving the road impassable. The only way out is by boat. But there’s only one, hers, and it’s across the divided path.

Slide
The Key to Heaven
An English Love Story

THE KEY TO HEAVEN is the story of Mona Lisa Fabula, a young trendy Londoner deeply in debt and Brogan Brood, a young but old-fashioned curator who specializes in Medieval antiquities. A fortune is Mona Lisa’s for the taking if she can unravel the riddle of a star-shaped ring left to her by her grandfather or forfeit her fortune to a distant cousin.

The family lawyer gives Mona-Lisa an old scroll and warns her to guard the ring with her life, as people will try to kill her for it. He suggests she takes the scroll and the ring to a museum to have it valued.
Which is where she meets Brogan. He discovers the ring dates back to the 4th century B.C. and is referred to in an ancient text as THE KEY TO HEAVEN. Brogan deciphers the scroll is a set of instructions and that the ring is a key to a vault containing a priceless scepter and shield. But legend has it that somebody must hang before the treasure can be found.

In this exciting action-adventure story through long-lost castles, foggy moors and magnificent rugged scenery, Mona Lisa and Brogan travel the stormy coast of Northeast England finding clues and trouble along the way. They are opposed by their own personality flaws as well as Cane Parker, gang leader of a band of motorcycle thugs and distant cousin of Mona-Lisa. Cane stands to receive Mona Lisa’s fortune should she die. He’ll stop at nothing to make sure she is the one who hangs.

Slide
A Rough Cut
An African Love Story

An impetuous heart can be deadly for romantic dreamer, Crystal Laine. With her head in the clouds, Crystal, a young English woman, falls wildly in love with Jax Raád, a Lebanese businessman in London seeking investment capital for a diamond mining venture in Sierra Leone. Captivated by this exotic man, Crystal willingly trades her uneventful, tour-guide existence for the promise of adventure and travels to Freetown.

As her love for this man and this foreign land become inexorably tangled, she discovers Jax has a high-voltage temper along with addictions: drugs and gambling. Still, her life in Sierra Leone completely rules her heart, one moment stunning her with unimaginable beauty, the next horrifying her with relentless cruelty.

Jax successfully gathers the capital for his mining expedition, and the two head off to Mendeland. But nothing in her tour-guide experience could have prepared Crystal for living in the bush.

In a land of voodoo, devils, and secret societies, she’s cursed by a jealous female river spirit, believed to be the keeper of stones. To appease this river spirit and find diamonds, Crystal must go through a ritual called “sacrificing your heart” that changes her life forever. The river does spit out a stone, The Angel Stone, worth millions and sure to be another curse. Jax warns her not to tell anybody about the rare, fancy diamond, as they’ll be hunted down and killed for it.

The country is in political upheaval as the first democratic election in thirty years is about to take place. Rebel factions oppose a civilian government, boycotting the elections by burning those alive who oppose their tyranny. Her lover's betrayals have put both their lives in jeopardy.

She knows she must leave, but before she does, she must find a way to save the man responsible for bringing her to this magical, albeit dangerous land. Her way of life in Africa, the friends she’s made, the lessons she’s learned, and her own internal awakenings all come together to help her with the biggest challenge of her life.

As for The Angel Stone…? Diamond smugglers are shot—common knowledge. Rebels are about to enter the city. An air, sea, and land lock is enforced. Time has run out.

With no way to leave the country, Crystal must decide what action to take, but only The Angel Stone can help her now.

previous arrow
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Reader's Reviews

5 star reviews from our book readers

For a first novel this book is brilliant, it's the kind of book once you start you will not want to put it down, you are never sure what is going to happen next. Based in the trouble strewn Sierra Leone it has you rooting for the good guys and gives a great insight into the underlying issues and challenges in the grey market of "blood diamonds". A great read, good twists and turns.

David Armstrong
David Armstrong

An exciting, thought-provoking novel that explores the greed and power struggles surrounding Sierra Leone’s diamond wealth. The central trio of Omar, Dawn, and young Bingo are characters you root for, and their journey to find the Devil’s Stone is filled with tension, danger, and emotional depth. The backdrop of voodoo and superstition adds intrigue, while the theme of fighting for what’s right gives the story a powerful moral core. A fantastic, multi-layered read.

Julia Brennan
Julia Brennan

A compelling story set against the turbulent backdrop of Sierra Leone’s diamond smuggling world. Omar’s fight to protect Okra Hill and his evolving relationship with Dawn and Bingo make this book a true page-turner. The mythical allure of the Devil’s Stone adds a layer of suspense, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters are thought-provoking. It’s a perfect blend of action, emotion, and deep character arcs.

Sarah Longfield
Sarah Longfield

The Devil’s Stone is a smart and stylish thriller set against the diamond trade in Sierra Leone, Africa. Reindorp knows the country and this dark business from the inside out. Fast-paced and cleverly plotted, The Devil’s Stone is a wonderful debut.

T. Jefferson Parker (Author)
T. Jefferson Parker (Author)

Marie Reindorp does an excellent job weaving action and colorful descriptions into The Devil s Stone. I enjoyed her writing and found her story to be fast-paced and timely. I look forward to her next novel.

Joe Badal SEVP, Chief Lending Officer
Joe Badal SEVP, Chief Lending Officer

I hope they make The Devil's Stone into a movie! Incredible story!!! The Devil's Stone, by Marie Reindorp, is one of the best books I ever read. It's a historical adventure novel with amazing insight into the diamond mining in Sierra Leone. Marie Reindorp captures all the elements a great story should have...adventure, romance, excitement and lot's of unexpected twists. I hope they make this book into a movie! The Devil's Stone is a definite must read!

Bradley P. Quaranta
Bradley P. Quaranta

This author captures your attention from the beginning with authentic character names and places. I feel like I have personally been to Sierra Leone. The author is very descriptive and uses words well. The theme is tragic in many ways but also shows how love for ones fellow man wins out. A touch of romance lightens the heaviness of the subject of war and greed.

William Sleeth
William Sleeth

Wonderful story, captivating right till the end. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an exiting and well written read.

Jenna Marking
Jenna Marking

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