Sticks and Stone is a time traveler’s chronicle on character building. The traveler is Rembrandt Stone, and he’s trying to recapture his former life. A life he didn’t truly appreciate until he lost it. Throughout this series, Rembrandt has learned a thing or two. He sees the kind of man he’s been and wants to be a better man in the future. 

Time travel as it turns out is discombobulating. Rembrandt is as surprised as the reader by the situations he finds himself in. “I need a time travel assistant, someone who reminds me where I am and why.” He’s on a mission to solve cold cases and never knows what his life will be like in the past. Nor does he know how solving the crime will affect his future. But, there’s one rule Rembrandt is never to break: “Don’t change the past.” This rule has proven problematic for him, and each time he breaks it there are devastating consequences.

This series is a tale of a man who is changing into a better person despite what he may think about himself. And in Sticks and Stone, Rembrandt is becoming more stalwart, selfless, and self-aware.

Character Building Lesson One: Be Stalwart

Stalwart means reliable, faithful, hardworking, dedicated, and committed. Rembrandt was hardworking, dedicated, and committed to his job, but he wasn’t reliable and committed to the woman he loves. So, for Rembrandt one of the goals, along with solving the case, is to be a better man where Eve is concerned.

He loves his wife and the more twists and turns his life takes only deepens that love. In Sticks and Stone, the past reality reveals Eve isn’t his wife, but they have had a past relationship. And, even though in this reality he’s free to pursue other women, he can’t be unfaithful to Eve.

Character Building Lesson Two: Be Selfless

Selfless means unselfish, self-sacrificing, and self-denying. Rembrandt is becoming a selfless man. More and more, he wants Eve to be happy even if that means she’ll never be his. He realizes he hasn’t given Eve the love she deserves, and he’s willing to let her go if that’s what will bring her happiness. Also, he’s willing to sacrifice himself to save his best friend Burke and his former boss Booker. But, don’t forget the rule he’s never to break. Yep, Eve, Burke, and Booker are the reasons Rem doesn’t follow the rule.

Character Building Lesson Three: Be Self-aware

Finally, Rembrandt is becoming self-aware. At one point he says, “I was an arrogant, driven, cop, determined to impress my chief…” He realizes he was a jerk, not just to his co-workers, but more importantly to Eve. He’s inflicted a lot of pain and it’s broken him.

In the previous books, we’ve seen that Eve tries to have some sort of relationship with God, but Rembrandt has been a mystery. Is he a non-believer or a wounded believer? In this book, we get a feel for where Rembrandt is spiritually. “I haven’t exactly abandoned God, nor my desperation. I’m just not sure where to find him today.” I hope the authors delve into this deeper, but something tells me Rem will find God again.

Final Thoughts

The characters are rich and interesting. And, the Rembrandt and Eve love story is enduring. There’s always a spark between them even if they’re apart in the new past reality.

There are moments of levity. His co-workers shift between thinking he’s clairvoyant or that he’s losing his mind. And readers get a few laughs in these moments.

Sticks and Stone will keep you on the edge of your seat and has one colossal heart-racing moment near the end. I have no idea what will happen next, but I can imagine all kinds of bad coming Rembrandt’s way before this series concludes.

Have you read the other books in The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone? If so, which is your favorite so far?

You’ll find more reviews on my blog.