The Bones She Buried by Lisa Regan – a #BookReview

Title: The Bones She Buried (Detective Josie Quinn Book 5) by Lisa Regan

Genre: Police Procedurals, Crime Thrillers, Serial Killers, Women Sleuths

Publisher: Bookouture

• ASIN: B07MNV2ZKN
• ISBN-10: 1786816407
• ISBN-13: 978-1786816405

Publication Date: HAPPY RELEASE DATE! March 27, 2019

Print Length: 342 pages

Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link: The Bones She Buried

Book Blurb:

Josie works until her arms ache, until the paramedics arrive and pull her gently away from the woman’s cold, fragile body. Noah’s voice cracks beside her as he calls the time of death for his own, beloved mother.

Arriving with her partner Noah for dinner at his family’s immaculate countryside home, Detective Josie Quinn is devastated to find Noah’s mother, Colette, lying lifeless in the back garden, her mouth clogged with soil.

Searching the house for answers, Josie’s team don’t know what to make of the rosary beads buried in the dirt near the body, or the hidden file labelled “Drew Pratt”, the small town of Denton’s most famous missing person.

As she delves deeper into Pratt’s case, Josie quickly discovers he had a brother whose body mysteriously washed up on the banks of a river. There’s also a diary entry suggesting that Collette may have met him on the last day he was seen alive. Can Josie believe the unthinkable, that a kind old soul like Collette might have been involved in their murders? And, will Josie’s new relationship with Noah survive the accusation?

Josie’s only hope lies in tracking down Pratt’s daughter. But when she arrives at her home to find she’s been murdered just minutes before, Josie knows the real killer is one step ahead and won’t stop until Colette’s secret is buried forever. With many more innocent lives on the line, how deep is Josie prepared dig to reach the truth?
My Review:

Once again, a new author as well as series for me. (Am I beginning to sound like a broken record?) Josie Quinn is looking forward to a dinner with main squeeze Noah Fraley and his mother, Colette, but discovers her body in the backyard instead. Obviously, as the fifth in the series, characters were probably well developed in the first four and at this point introduced into the storyline as it seemed appropriate. Apparently, Josie has a twin who is now a successful roving reporter for WYEP and Noah is a high-ranking member of Denton’s police department along with Josie. But enter the vicious, despicable murder of Noah’s mother and his sister, Laura, makes a hasty appearance and serves as the malicious counterpoint to Noah’s shattered persona. Gretchen (on desk duty) is a close friend of Josie and serves up a level-headed and sympathetic posture.

The narrative does take the opportunity to further delve into the characters and secure their place in the cast. You might expect the sister to be a bit more emotional over her mother, but it is Noah that lashes out, quite unexpectedly and (I hope) uncharacteristically, while his sister becomes a viper. Jaw-dropping scenes between Josie and Noah took me totally by surprise. Must have been his feminine side lashing out. That perspective set my teeth jangling while Josie doggedly pursued the investigation and it would not have been the first time I’d have tossed a partner to the curb, right along with his sister. Right in the middle of this befuddlement comes Luke (ex-fiancé), who I thought, “great, the perfect alternative!” Or maybe not…(what’s his history again?)

As Josie gets deeper into the investigation, however, the plot takes a decided twist and dives into a complex, somewhat convoluted scenario. Colette is the first, but not the only one to succumb to the antagonist and as the plot becomes more far-reaching reaches into the realm of improbability. (Or is that plausible deniability?)

Josie seems a rather damaged protagonist whose personal life (and romantic choices) fall below the average. Having a nebulous background, she is driven to compete in a male-dominated field, but hasn’t yet discovered quite where she is most comfortable and still appears a bit vulnerable. I had a problem relating to several of the characters and never quite invested in Josie. The book could function as a standalone and, for me, too much over-wrought background on Josie would only have served to further alienate the main character. And I’d vote no on Noah–or are we allowed a vote?

I received this ebook download from the publisher and NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to read and review and this is my own opinion. Recommended for fans of the author and this series or for those who enjoy a fast police procedurals, crime fiction read.

Rosepoint Publishing:  Three-point Five of Five Stars

The Author: Lisa Regan is the USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Detective Josie Quinn series as well as several other crime fiction titles. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Master of Education degree from Bloomsburg University. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and Mystery Writers of America. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, daughter, and Boston Terrier named Mr. Phillip.

©2019 V Williams