Series: A Dark Lure #2
Author: Loreth Anne White
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: May 21, 2019
Buy Link: Amazon
Genre: Romance/Suspense
My Rating: 5 Frantic Hearts
*Many thanks to the author for an arc of this book.
Synopsis:
She’s come back to solve the mystery of her father’s death and confront her own dark past.
When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself.
To prove it, she needs the help of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. But Rebecca and Ash share more than broken hearts. Something darker lies between them, and the investigation is stirring it back to life. Clues lead them to the home of Olivia West and her deeply troubled twelve-year-old daughter, Tori. The child knows more about the murder than anyone can imagine, but she’s too terrified to say a word.
And as a cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past, Rebecca and Ash begin to fear that their own secrets may be even harder to survive.
Review:
"He'd always harbored a fear that she still lay there. Her dark bones in wait. To rise. To get them." (Quote: The Dark Bones)
The Dark Bones is a highly atmospheric, chilling suspense story wrapped in the arms of a young-love-gone-wrong, second-chance romance. The blistering pace set in the opening pages is driven by a sinister presence - a sense of impending doom that continues to swell as the story unfolds - one that impelled this reader to burn the midnight oil in a frenzied search for answers. A story in which past secrets and betrayals refuse to remain buried, escaping and snowballing out of control like an avalanche destroying everything in its path. A story in which one seemingly insignificant moment in time, one fleeting connection between two people, sealed the fate of others.
"Can you pinpoint the exact instant your life starts on a collision course with someone else's? Can you trace back to the moment those lives did finally intersect, and from where they spiraled outward again, yet from that point they remained forever entwined, two lives locked one with another?" (quote: The Dark Bones)
Twenty years ago, Becca North left her small hometown of Clinton, West Canada, with a broken heart brought about by the ultimate betrayal of then boyfriend Ash Haugen. And now, Sgt. Rebecca North of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police returns home to bury her father, retired officer Noah North, a victim of apparent suicide. She's carrying a world of guilt and regret over missed opportunities and time lost with her father whose life had taken a downward spiral in recent years as he succumbed to alcoholism. In his final days, it appears Noah was immersed in an investigation of a twenty year old cold case - the unsolved disappearance of two teenagers. In his last phone call to Rebecca, he'd babbled about lies and secrets and being followed and watched. Was it just the drunken ramblings of an old, has-been cop chasing ghosts in the bottom of a bottle? Or had Noah discovered something that led to his death? Rebecca's investigation into her father's death means partnering with her ex-love - the one who lied to her twenty years ago and is still harboring dark secrets. She'll distance herself and accept his help, but not his heart. Together, they rattle some cages and uncover some skeletons that someone wants to keep buried. Rebecca's in danger of losing both her heart . . . and her life. She doesn't intend to relent her hold on either.
By integrating a bit of the past within the present, the author pulls readers inside characters' heads, peeling back layers and exposing long-buried, dark secrets. While White does an outstanding job of weaving backstory into this book, I highly recommend reading The Dark Lure first as a few of the characters with key roles in The Dark Bones are first introduced there - most notably Oliva West and her troubled twelve year old daughter Tori. White's vivid, descriptive writing style is once again apparent as her mad writing skills breathe life into a hauntingly beautiful yet deadly, frozen landscape - one that intertwines intricately within the twisted plot line, careening readers in many different directions. She also brilliantly captures the small town atmosphere of gossipy neighbors as well as a menacing "good-old-boys" mentality that fuels the dark, ugly, ominous undercurrent flowing through this small town that refuses to give up its tangled, devious web of secrets. A well-developed, unique support cast adds both depth and a long list of possible suspects for readers to ponder. Avoid all spoilers and jump into this one blind as you'll want to experience and figure this one out as you read.
The Dark Bones is a dark, gritty, heart racing journey with all the desired elements of a great mystery/suspense/thriller story paired with the added bonus of a complicated, emotional second-chance romance. After reading the first few pages, I knew I was in for one hell of a ride and, as always, Loreth Anne White delivered! Another fantastic Must Read Masterpiece by one of my favorite authors!
My Rating: 5 Frantic Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
The Dark Bones is a highly atmospheric, chilling suspense story wrapped in the arms of a young-love-gone-wrong, second-chance romance. The blistering pace set in the opening pages is driven by a sinister presence - a sense of impending doom that continues to swell as the story unfolds - one that impelled this reader to burn the midnight oil in a frenzied search for answers. A story in which past secrets and betrayals refuse to remain buried, escaping and snowballing out of control like an avalanche destroying everything in its path. A story in which one seemingly insignificant moment in time, one fleeting connection between two people, sealed the fate of others.
"Can you pinpoint the exact instant your life starts on a collision course with someone else's? Can you trace back to the moment those lives did finally intersect, and from where they spiraled outward again, yet from that point they remained forever entwined, two lives locked one with another?" (quote: The Dark Bones)
Twenty years ago, Becca North left her small hometown of Clinton, West Canada, with a broken heart brought about by the ultimate betrayal of then boyfriend Ash Haugen. And now, Sgt. Rebecca North of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police returns home to bury her father, retired officer Noah North, a victim of apparent suicide. She's carrying a world of guilt and regret over missed opportunities and time lost with her father whose life had taken a downward spiral in recent years as he succumbed to alcoholism. In his final days, it appears Noah was immersed in an investigation of a twenty year old cold case - the unsolved disappearance of two teenagers. In his last phone call to Rebecca, he'd babbled about lies and secrets and being followed and watched. Was it just the drunken ramblings of an old, has-been cop chasing ghosts in the bottom of a bottle? Or had Noah discovered something that led to his death? Rebecca's investigation into her father's death means partnering with her ex-love - the one who lied to her twenty years ago and is still harboring dark secrets. She'll distance herself and accept his help, but not his heart. Together, they rattle some cages and uncover some skeletons that someone wants to keep buried. Rebecca's in danger of losing both her heart . . . and her life. She doesn't intend to relent her hold on either.
By integrating a bit of the past within the present, the author pulls readers inside characters' heads, peeling back layers and exposing long-buried, dark secrets. While White does an outstanding job of weaving backstory into this book, I highly recommend reading The Dark Lure first as a few of the characters with key roles in The Dark Bones are first introduced there - most notably Oliva West and her troubled twelve year old daughter Tori. White's vivid, descriptive writing style is once again apparent as her mad writing skills breathe life into a hauntingly beautiful yet deadly, frozen landscape - one that intertwines intricately within the twisted plot line, careening readers in many different directions. She also brilliantly captures the small town atmosphere of gossipy neighbors as well as a menacing "good-old-boys" mentality that fuels the dark, ugly, ominous undercurrent flowing through this small town that refuses to give up its tangled, devious web of secrets. A well-developed, unique support cast adds both depth and a long list of possible suspects for readers to ponder. Avoid all spoilers and jump into this one blind as you'll want to experience and figure this one out as you read.
The Dark Bones is a dark, gritty, heart racing journey with all the desired elements of a great mystery/suspense/thriller story paired with the added bonus of a complicated, emotional second-chance romance. After reading the first few pages, I knew I was in for one hell of a ride and, as always, Loreth Anne White delivered! Another fantastic Must Read Masterpiece by one of my favorite authors!
My Rating: 5 Frantic Hearts . . . And that's the truth!
Cross My
Heart . . . xxx
Sandra
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