Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
They call it the Bone Box. A collection of old cases, solved and unsolved, that continue to haunt forensic pathologist Birdy Waterman. None is more disturbing than the first. After two decades, Birdy still remembers the screaming. The blood on the boy's hands. The body of a girl, butchered in the woods. Birdy's testimony helped put her cousin behind bars. Now, twenty years later, she wants to reopen the box. Reexamine the evidence. And rekindle her fears that a killer walked free--and is closer than ever.

73 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2012

1712 people are currently reading
1954 people want to read

About the author

Gregg Olsen

116 books7,075 followers
Throughout his career, Gregg Olsen has demonstrated an ability to create a detailed narrative that offers readers fascinating insights into the lives of people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

A #1 New York Times bestselling author, Olsen has written ten nonfiction books, ten novels, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child.

The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. He has also appeared on Good Morning America, The Early Show, The Today Show, FOX News; CNN, Anderson Cooper 360, MSNBC, Entertainment Tonight, CBS 48 Hours, Oxygen’s Snapped, Court TV’s Crier Live, Inside Edition, Extra, Access Hollywood, and A&E’s Biography.

In addition to television and radio appearances, the award-winning author has been featured in Redbook, USA Today, People, Salon magazine, Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times and the New York Post.

The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honored by Washington’s Secretary of State for the book’s contribution to Washington state history and culture.

Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,642 (31%)
4 stars
1,883 (36%)
3 stars
1,292 (24%)
2 stars
302 (5%)
1 star
80 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
Profile Image for Dez the Bookworm.
554 reviews368 followers
February 12, 2025
One sit listen / read and boy does this little novella pack quite the drama and suspense in.

I found this as a novella to a series and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to invest my time, so this was perfect. I can happily say I definitely will try the first full novel from this author after finishing this.

The Bone Box features our FMC Birdie as an adult that has to reckon with her past after speaking out about what she saw regarding a family member. Problem is, was he responsible for murder? Was he an innocent man? Was she wrong to say something?

We go through the story and I was hooked the entire time. 4.5 🌟
Profile Image for Scott A. Miller.
629 reviews26 followers
July 23, 2020
Much better than average .5 novella. Olsen is the real deal. Looking forward to this series. Bird is a new character, original and has real potential.
Profile Image for Donne.
1,538 reviews92 followers
May 28, 2025
This is another one for my 2025 “cleaning out the to-read closet” since it’s been on my to-read list since Jan2021. I usually like prequels; a good prequel can give a reader a sense of the MC(s). For a character driven reader like me, this is often a determining factor of whether or not I will continue with the series. This is the fourth book I’ve read by Gregg Olsen. I like Olsen; he’s a good writer and storyteller and has created some really good characters.

The book summary lays out the premise to the story. However, the thing that bothered me the most about this story was that Birdy admits that the story of her cousin killing his girlfriend never sat right with her and how she has always suspected that her cousin was innocent and now after 20yrs she’s reviewing it and, in a week, she solved the case. Why didn’t she do that even 10yrs ago when she could have made more of a difference in her cousin's life? Anyway, there were other little things that kind of annoyed me about the story.

With short stories like this, it’s challenging to get much character development or storyline. As far as prequels go, this wasn’t a great one, or maybe it was and Birdy just isn’t a great character. I don’t know who Stark is, probably a future partner. At this point, whether or not I will continue the series is iffy. I haven’t decided yet. My 3star review is pretty generous.
Profile Image for K Reads .
522 reviews22 followers
July 26, 2022
This short book was full of pathos. I like Native American settings/characters, especially when the theme of injustice is part of the plot. This one will break your heart.

File Under: Weepy Mystery
Profile Image for Candice.
85 reviews5 followers
December 13, 2015
I got this book for free on Amazon. Wasn't real sure what to expect, but the reviews seemed good.

The story is about a woman named Birdy who was the key witness in a murder that placed her cousin, Tommy in prison. Her family has basically disowned her for speaking out against a member of her family, although she still tries to make amends even 20 years later. The story really begins when Birdy receives a letter from her Tommy asking for her to come visit. She has talked to him in 20 years, since the murder of his then girlfriend, Anna Jo. Birdy has made somewhat of a name for herself since leaving the Makah Indian reservation she grew up on with her family, by becoming a forensic pathologist. She keeps a box of files of cases that she's worked on that for some reason or another have just bothered her. Her cousin, Tommy's cases was one of the first she put in the box which she called the bone box.

After receiving the letter from Tommy asking for her to come visit, Birdy goes to see her family on the Makah reservation. Her mother tells her that she's done enough and to leave Tommy alone. Her sister and brother are not home and she feels as though they were not home to intentionally avoid her. Birdy then goes to see her cousin at the prison, where she is surprised to see how frail and beyond his years he actually looks. It isn't until the visit is over that she learns the letter she received didn't actually come from Tommy, but from one of the prison guards who believes Tommy is innocent. Tommy has always proclaimed his innocence, although he did not appeal his sentence. The guard, Ken Holloway also lets Birdy know that her cousin Tommy is dying of leukemia. Birdy decides she owes it to Tommy to at least look into his case and see what she can find; to see if maybe she can help clear his name.

This book has a few twists that keep you on the edge of your seat - a real page turner. It was a really short book, but that length did not take away from the suspense of trying to figure out if Tommy actually killed Anna Jo or if it was someone else.

This was the first book I've read by Gregg Olsen, but he has a very unique way of writing that just makes you want to read more. I'm definitely going to have to read some more of his work.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
314 reviews10 followers
April 6, 2012
I love Gregg Olson's writing and was so excited when I pre-ordered this novella. And even more excited when I read that Doctor Birdie Waterman was getting her own time to shine! I enjoy her role in some of Gregg's other novels so it was nice to get to see her outside of her role in the the morgue.
At 14, Birdie was called to testify in the murder trail of her cousin Tommy, after seeing him come out of the woods covered in blood. Twenty years later, Tommy is still sitting in prison, refusing to admit to something he didn't do, even it it means getting paroled. When a letter comes in the mail, signed by Tommy, Birdie makes the trip to visit him. All Tommy wants is for Birdie to help clear his name. What Birdie finds is that people's feelings to her haven't changed, even after 20 years. Birdie also uncovers a long kept secret that unveils more secrets.
An excellently written who-dunnit mystery, Gregg Olsen has once again amazed me with his writing. I hope in future novels Birdie gets a little more "air time" *hint hint* ;)
Profile Image for Tamra Alger.
246 reviews11 followers
September 26, 2024
For a short two hour read this was actually very good. It was a great twist and then an IMMEDIATE second twist. Also the end twist was even better. That being said 3 unseen twists in a 2 hour read is an A+ in my book. Very well written.
Profile Image for Perm Clark.
155 reviews12 followers
March 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️ This is my personal 5 star rating system because I’m too lazy to write a review for every book.

5 stars -> OMFG. I couldn’t stop listening. I was engaged from beginning to end. The story & narrator was amazing. I 100% recommend this book & author. I was able to clearly follow each and every character.

4 stars -> It was pretty good. I would’ve rated 5 stars, But either the ending was lacking, I struggled to keep up with characters, or the story didn’t keep me fully engaged. The narrator was pretty good as well. I’m on the fence about recommending this book, It could go either way.

3 Stars -> It was boring at times & I missed chunks of the story. I most likely struggled to keep up with character developments. The only way I would recommend this book is if it was part of a series. The narrator was most likely average or just couldn’t fix a mediocre book.

2 Stars -> It was pretty horrible. I used it as background noise because I hadn’t had a chance to search for another book. The book either had a bad narrator, The character development was non existent, or the story was hot garbage. I would not recommend this book.

1 Star -> The absolute only reason I listened to this book was because i had no time to search for another one & I needed background noise. It was 1 step up from listening to the radio. I wouldn’t recommend this book to my worst enemy. Everything about this book was terrible. This is only recommended for people on death row and have absolutely nothing else to read.
Profile Image for Jennifer Brooks.
225 reviews5 followers
September 25, 2022
For a 0.5 book, this gives you the twists and turns you need to want to read the remainder of the series. Love the Naive American theme! Always been an Olsen fan.
Profile Image for Jess | dapper.reads.
1,075 reviews11 followers
April 22, 2021
I’m impressed with this novella. It managed to include a ton of detail and give a full story without feeling rushed. I was surprised how much was packed into this little book! Definitely above and beyond for many .5 novellas out there!
2,382 reviews
August 1, 2022
Intriguing introduction to Dr. Waterman, forensic pathologist in the state of Washington, who is tasked with investigating the possibly wrongful murder conviction of her cousin 20 years earlier. A few interesting leads and Dr. Waterman quickly moves to help her cousin's case. Without giving anything away, I finished this good story feeling sad and vindicated and a bit angry. Might check into book one of the Waterman and Stark series. Karen Peakes was competent as narrator. I probably will read rather than listen to book one.
Profile Image for Candida.
1,275 reviews44 followers
August 13, 2021
I've been wanting to read more books by this author and when I came across the short story I had to check it out. This book is about the wrongly accused. This is heck of a situation where a young man spends a huge part of his life in prison the whole time he keeps saying he's innocent. Things just don't seem right to several people who go out of their way to find out if there's something to their suspicion.
Profile Image for Susan McGee.
107 reviews
August 3, 2025
I love that this book had an exciting story well drawn characters interesting plot… All the pieces of an exciting mystery in a few hours instead of dragging it out for 11 hour audiobook. Terrific.! highly recommend.
Profile Image for Andrea Corley.
569 reviews115 followers
July 19, 2022
What an excellent short story to start out the Waterman and Stark series! This gives you a rare glimpse into Birdy Waterman and her past and maybe some insight into what might make her tick and give her drive!

I'm a firm believer that an author is either good at novella's or they are not, but I believe Gregg Olsen has proved that he does just fine with the short stories. There is such a fine and delicate balance between being able to convey the story and entertain and do so quickly with a short amount of words, but I don't think The Bone Box is lacking anything!

I think this book leaves you ready to just dive into the rest of the series, which is something I love about a novella!

The Bone Box is narrated by Karen Peakes! I haven't been disappointed by one title that she's narrated yet, and I don't see that happening anytime soon! This girl has talent and as always, I can't wait until I catch up with her again!

Overall, great introduction into a new series and left me wanting more, which is exactly what I think it should be doing! I really can't wait to see what else Waterman and Stark are up to in the next few books! I really look forward into continuing this series!
Profile Image for Alana Bloom.
480 reviews52 followers
October 26, 2023
I've read a couple of Gregg Olsen's nonfiction and wanted to try his fiction this time around. This was a quick listen (appx 4 hours).

Birdie was an interesting character to follow. She grappled with the overt, as well as passive, shunning from her family and community after testifying against her cousin in a murder trial as a child. Now, her cousin is asking for help and Birdie dives into her Bone Box, cases that never sat right with her. This was a well crafted mystery, with hints of the Makah tribe and social expectations putting pressure on Birdie as she looks into the dusty case file. I can't say I was really surprised by the twist, but it was well done and enjoyable to listen to.

If anyone needs a book set in Washington state, this one or the others in the series will work!
453 reviews
December 14, 2024
A short one to serve as an intro to this PNW writer. Loved all the recognizable locations. Interesting enough to read more from this author.
Profile Image for Carolyn Injoy.
1,240 reviews146 followers
January 16, 2016
The Bone Box (A Waterman & Stark Thriller) by Gregg Olsen The Bone Box (A Waterman & Stark Thriller) by Gregg Olsen received five stars from me because I found it intriguing & it kept me guessing. Birdy Waterman is a fully developed character that made me care about her.
 
The first two paragraphs had a sharp hook: "There was an irony in the return address that never failed to elicit a sheepish wince from most anyone who received something postmarked there. Maybe even a sardonic smile. A reaction.
 
The town from which the letter had been mailed was Walla Walla, a southeast Washington city with the somewhat ironic nickname 'a place so nice they named it twice.' While Walla Walla might be nice...it was known mostly because it was home to the state's oldest & toughest penitentiary." On a personal note, I'll add it was also known for Walla Walla sweets, the best sweet onions available.
 
Birdy Waterman is a forensic pathologist. She has a box filled with over twenty cold cases stored in her rented home. Periodically she reviews them to see what she might have missed that could help solve them.
 
She knew she wouldn't get sleep after reviewing them. "Guilt is like a dripping faucet that can never be tightened or turned off."
 
When she went to work the following day, she discovered that the 'chiller' was empty. "An empty chiller meant a day without carrying the hurt of someone else's loss. A child. a wife. Even a friend."
 
She was estranged from much of her family because of her testimony that helped put her cousin into prison. Now she was doing what she could to find out the truth to help release him. That put her own life at risk.
 
I highly recommend reading this book for an entertaining suspense-filled thriller.
 
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006...
Profile Image for Theresa.
244 reviews15 followers
January 25, 2013
If you're looking for a really quick mystery / suspense cold case novella, The Bone Box could be just for you. Gregg Olsen has done it once again. He knows how to add just the right touch of human darkness and realism to keep you in suspense. This story is very short so really you can read it in just a matter of hours.

When Birdy was just 14 years old, she came upon her cousin Tommy in the woods who appeared covered in blood and shaking over finding his girlfriend dead. Birdy's testimony at Tommy's trial put him away for life. In the present day Birdy works in a morgue, puzzling together the pieces of the deaths of those who lay on her table. Birdy keeps a box of cold cases; cases in which her conscious will not let her forget. Tommy's case is in the box, but tucked away and forgotten; that is, until the day Birdy receives a letter in the mail from Tommy. Did he really kill his girlfriend some 20 years earlier? Birdy will have to return to her Makah reservation in Washington and face the skeletons she left behind to find the truth about Tommy's innocence.

Bravo Gregg Olsen! I love your books more and more every time I pick up a new one.



Profile Image for Naomi.
4,806 reviews143 followers
April 26, 2012
A short story from G.O. featuring Dr. Birdie Waterman trying to clear her possibly wrongly convicted cousin of a vicious murder.

This book was tame compared to a chunk of the works of Olsen's that I normally enjoy. I must admit that this had his standard high quality writing, but the reason I am a fan of Olsen's is his ability to really write in a twistedness comparable to some of the top Nordic Noir authors. I only see a very small handful of American authors who have the talent and "insight" to pull this type of writing off.

Although if this was an ongoing series by Olsen, I would read it..I just don't want him to toss away that line of writing that I have grown to seek out!
Profile Image for Jen.
433 reviews8 followers
October 2, 2021
Really 3 1/2 stars- a very good story.
Profile Image for jenn.
133 reviews12 followers
January 24, 2021
2.5 stars
I am a huge fan of this genre. It would have been 4 stars if not for a few instances of, maybe, lazy proofing?
One was when Iris came to see Birdy. There was a lot mentioned of her standing/not wanting to sit. Then all of a sudden Iris turns in her chair. Then when Birdy is leaving visitation at the prison, she is supposed to be writing her number to get collect calls, then she’s writing the numbers as he (the guard) says them. There are a few others as well.

I feel like for a short work/novella, these sloppy errors should have been caught.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
460 reviews6 followers
November 9, 2012
My mother-in-law recommended this author to me late last year. Since then I have become a fan and as well looking for other books she might enjoy. I rececived a big high five for this find. Now I will see for myself.
What an easy read! I started and finished this one on the same day. I really liked the way Birdy Waterman connected the dots and cleared a man's name. I am looking forward to more books with this charactor.
Profile Image for Pat.
457 reviews6 followers
January 18, 2016
An ok short mystery

This was more of a novella than a full-length book. The main character is appealing; she is a native American pathologist. She investigates a 20 year old murder in which she was a witness. Just ok.
Profile Image for Reeny.
95 reviews
May 6, 2012
I am a Gregg Olsen fan and this was a quick one night read while the kids slept. I enjoyed it and wouldn't mind seeing another story featuring Birdy.
688 reviews
March 6, 2013
Enjoy all of his books and this was a good short story.
251 reviews3 followers
June 17, 2016
Great book I'll be looking for some more by this author
Profile Image for NC.
437 reviews
August 6, 2020
Obviously no one bothered to edit this.
This is much too generous of a rating.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.