In the northern California town of Coventry, two teenage brothers go into the woods one day, but only one comes back. No one knows what happened to the younger brother, Josh, until twenty years later, when the older brother, Oren, now an ex-investigator for the Army CID, returns to Coventry for the first time in many years. His first morning back, he hears a thump on the front porch. Lying in front of the door is a human jawbone, the teeth still intact. And it is not the first such object, his father tells him. Other remains have been left there as well. Josh is coming home…bone by bone.
Using all his investigative skills, Oren sets out to solve the mystery of his brother’s murder, but Coventry is a town full of secrets and secret-keepers: the housekeeper with the fugitive past, the deputy with the old grudge, the reclusive ex-cop from LA, the woman with the title of town monster, and, not least of all, Oren himself.
But the greatest secret of all belonged to his brother, and it is only by unraveling it that Oren can begin to discover the truth that has haunted them all for twenty years.
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"Very tangled psychological plot that begins with the effects of the disappearance of the younger of two brothers in a small, closed community twenty years later. Tense, involved and very tangled interpersonal relationships. Highly effective book but not one I would read a second time."
— Sharon (4 out of 5 stars)
“Intriguing, complex characters and long-buried secrets help build suspense and a sense of dread in this new stand-alone by the author of the gripping Mallory series. Although O’Connell explores new characters and crimes here, her focus remains tight on the damage that humans can do to each other.”
— Library Journal" I like the Mallory mysteries but I did really enjoy this "stand alone" story as well. "
— Muriel, 2/17/2014" I wish authors could write without any language. This book was a good mystery but did contain some swearing including the "f" word. It wasn't alot just wish authors would just leave it out. "
— LeAnn, 2/10/2014" Fun well-crafted mystery full of twists and turns. I couldn't put it down!! "
— MK, 2/6/2014" loved this book. I had never read this author before. I'll be reading her other books for sure. "
— Coreycw, 1/31/2014" bit confusing at times-but quite good "
— Sean, 1/29/2014" I read this a while ago, so I don't remember much about the story. I didn't think it was anything that really stood out otherwise I would have continued with this author. "
— Naomi, 1/23/2014" I really enjoyed reading this mystery. I didn't get bored by all of the details that were provided, this just enhanced the story The characters were very believable and told an interesting story. "
— Tina, 1/21/2014" stand alone - Mallory books are better "
— Sharron, 1/20/2014" Odd book. I liked it very much. A very un-predictable ending...satisfying. Good writing, I liked the characterizations and would enjoy seeing these people in more stories. "
— MaryAnn, 1/7/2014" Very interesting characters! Great "who-done-it" - kept me guessing until the very end! "
— Katie, 12/28/2013" Review first published on Many A Quaint & Curious Volume "
— Cheryl, 12/26/2013" Carol O'Connell does not disappoint in this psychological thriller. A judges son is returned to him--one bone at a time. Who is doing this deed keeps one guessing until the very end. "
— Suzie, 12/12/2013" I really quite enjoyed this one. A little different from most of the crime fiction I read. Excellent characterisation - the small-town setting came to life through the characters. "
— Bethany, 12/4/2013" Note to Ms. O'Connell: Can Oren have his own series please? "
— Toba, 11/22/2013" A wonderful, heart-wrenching story. Some of fiction's greatest characters. "
— Gene, 5/29/2013" I picked it up yesterday afternoon and couldn't put it down until it was finished. I was impressed by the layering of characters and situations. It was definitely more complex than I imagined it would be, and I really enjoyed it. "
— Meredith, 5/5/2013" This one had me hooked - if I wasn't having such a hard time finding time to read I think I could have read this in a weekend. I would like to read more by this author to see if they all grab me in the same way. "
— Barb, 2/25/2013" Well I just couldn't do it. I could not finish this book. I am a huge Carole O'Connell fan but I think I will need to stick with the Kathleen Mallory series. "
— Kris, 1/19/2013" The book was peopled with an entire town of Mallorys! Normally, I would love that, but I found it a little tiresome after awhile. "
— Laurel, 8/25/2012" Excellent storytelling. Lots of possible directions for whodunnit. Ending was anticlimactic tho. "
— Laura, 6/17/2012" I thought the narrator for this audiobook was fantastic! "
— Dixie, 7/26/2011" I listened to this as a downloaded audio book. I'm sure that it would have been better to read the book. There were too many characters and separate stories, which made it confusing and hard to follow. "
— Carol, 6/19/2011" Interesting way to write a story....I like the characters and the way the author makes leaps of information which seem very logical upon reflection. "
— Sami, 6/16/2011" This book was great! I picked it up on the bargain table at B&N. It's a great mystery. It gets right into the story. Has very many characters. Keeps you guessing who did it until the last few pages. I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommend it! "
— Paula, 6/13/2011" Hate to say it, but once you've figured out O'Connell's formula, the "OMG" moments are predictable. But it's a good read. "
— C.E., 3/28/2011" Repetiious and jumped around too much, liked the author assumed you knew the history of each character. Would not recommend. "
— Leslie, 2/22/2011" I really liked the storyline in this book. I was interested in all of the characters and what was going to happen next. I was disappointed by the ending, which is why I didn't give this book four stars. It was like being excited by a birthday present, only to find the box is empty. "
— Maggie, 2/22/2011" I read this a while ago, so I don't remember much about the story. I didn't think it was anything that really stood out otherwise I would have continued with this author. "
— Naomi, 1/27/2011" A wonderful, heart-wrenching story. Some of fiction's greatest characters. "
— Gene, 1/6/2011" Good book. Well written and kept my attention. "
— Joe, 1/1/2011" This was not a bad book just not a strong mystery either. There was nothing that made you sit on the edge of your seat, suck in your breathe or even wonder what was going to happen next. I felt like an outsider watching life go by. <br/> <br/> "
— Cindy, 12/24/2010" I haven't read that many murder mysteries, so I'm not sure how this one compares. It kept me reading, and I literally couldn't figure out "whodunit" until the very end. Engaging story, but 3 stars for profanity. "
— Bryan, 12/20/2010Carol O’Connell is the author of a number of popular crime novels featuring NYPD Detective Kathy Mallory. Some of her others books include The Judas Child, Winter House, Bone By Bone, Shell Game, and The Chalk Girl, which was published in January of 2012.