http://www.2carpros.com/topics/stalls.htm
http://www.2carpros.com/first_things/engine_stalls.htm
good starting points
as of starter starting (spinning) but nothing happening, you have 2 possible causes:
1. bad solenoid on starter, also known as bendix. it can be replaced seperate from starter. try tapping on starter body with hammer handle, and if starter comes back to life - hey, you know it's bendix.
2. chipped tooth on flywheel. and of course, starter's gear has to be just right against that chipped gear. usually, you can get to flywheel from the bottom, many cars have a seperate cover that covers bottom part of the flywheel, so it can be turned some with like a large screwdriver or prybar. just to make sure that it's not flywheel.