Blood, Ash, and Bone

Tai Randolph Mysteries #3

by Tina Whittle

Tai Randolph has had enough of the dark and dangerous, and decides some time in Savannah offers an idyllic break. She can sell some of her gun shop's wares, attend a few battles, and even have a little romantic rendezvous with Trey - who has agreed to join her for a long weekend in her hometown. But her tattooed heartbreaker of an ex-boyfriend also shows up. He spins a tale of betrayal, deceit, and a stolen Civil War artifact that Tai agrees to help him recover. Suddenly, Trey's on the case too, representing a competing, rich client with eyes on the same prize. As the lovers square off against each other, Tai discovers that her complicated boyfriend makes an even more intriguing adversary....

Genres: Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime

250 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2013

About the author

Tina Whittle’s Tai Randolph/Trey Seaver series — featuring intrepid gunshop owner Tai and her corporate security agent partner Trey — has garnered starred reviews in Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal. Published by Poisoned Pen Press, this Atlanta-based series debuted with The Dangerous Edge of Things, followed by Darker Than Any Shadow (2012), Blood, Ash and Bone (2013), Deeper Than the Grave (2015), and Reckoning and Ruin (2017). The sixth book in the series — Necessary Ends — was released in April 2018.

A Derringer finalist and two-time nominee for Georgia Author of the Year, Whittle has published her short fiction in The Savannah Literary Journal, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, and Gulf Stream, which selected her story “Lost Causes and Other Reasons to Live” as the 2004 winner of their Mystery Fiction contest. When not writing or reading, she enjoys boxing, sushi, tarot reading, and spending time with her family (one husband, one daughter, and one neurotic Maltese).

Reviews

[Monette Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

The series is touted as a mystery series, but the romance between Tai and Trey builds from book one. No overt sex, but even without, I just love the interaction between the two. (Um, they do get it on, but it is not the core of the book, but you get the impression that Trey is a hot and aggressive lover.)

What pulls me in is: They need each other.

Trey has skills and is there when Tai needs him. Tai "gets" Trey when others do not; yes, he has a physical (neurological from a car accident) condition, but Tai is a catalyst that seems with each book to bring him more and more out of the shell the accident forced him into.

The third book's ending had me teary eyed. It was a perfect pre-Valentine's read. If I ever get to meet Tina Whittle, I will hug her and tell her how much her books mean to me. Yeah, they classify them as mysteries, but it is the romance between the two leads that has me coming back for more.

The first book in the series is The Dangerous Edge of Things and the second is Darker Than Any Shadow and they are pubbed by Poison Pen Press.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is going to sound as though I liked the book less than I did, as I had a couple of issues that I just couldn't brush aside. The gun thing ... does the author have an actual gun fetish? I begun to think so after the many detailed descriptions of each of the many "pieces" that appeared in the book; yes, I know Tai is a gun dealer, but still .... The book seemed a bit romance/chick-lit-ish in places. I had a tough time keeping the various characters straight in places. I don't know that much about the modern Klan, but that angle seemed overdone to me.

Still, it was great seeing Tai (who, for all my whining above, I do like) and Trey again. I felt sorry for Tai when she mentioned that they never go (out) anywhere unless she arranges it, for all Trey's hot looks she's got a challenge on her hands. I was also kind of left wondering how over-achieving Eric, her brother with the doctorate, feels about all these ... not so sophisticated relatives of theirs?

Finally, a reminder that this series cannot be read out of order.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am enjoying the Tina Whittle series featuring Tai Randolph. Blood, Ash and Bone which is the third book is also the third that I've read. I think the stories and the writing are improving with each book. I am enjoying the setting of this third book which is set in Savannah instead of Atlanta. And as the series has been progressing the characters are being fleshed out and becoming familiar and relatable to the reader.

We are meeting more of Tai's very interesting extended family in this outing. The ghosts of the War Between the States make an appearance as do the KKK. The developing love story between Tai and Trey progresses. I am really starting to feel invested in these characters. And there is plenty of action-packed drama to keep you on your toes.

I really enjoyed this mystery and I'm sure you will too. It is available March 5th.

[Rebecca Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Blood, Ash and Bone" by Tina Whittle, Poisoned Pen Press, ISBN: 978-1-4642-0093-9, 978-1-4642-0095-3 and 978-1-4642-0094-6:

Cleverly, and manipulative in a nice way, Whittle makes us want to read each one of her stories, and especially this third one involving Tai and a plethora of unique characters.

Tai Randolph is tired of murders, mystery and mayhem. She wants to just live her life with her boyfriend, Trey. Looking forward to a weekend away with Trey in the historic and romantic city of Savannah, Tai is excited.

But then as things happen in her life, what she wanted wasn't what she got. There was murder, mystery and mayhem all around her - which is becoming such a common thing, that most expect it when they hear her name.

So meticulously researched and pleasingly written, one would only hope that Whittle will continue to come out with more Tai Randolph stories.

.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Blood, Ash and Bone" sees Tai and Trey in Savannah, ostensibly to sell goods at a Civil War Expo but also to look for a missing Bible supposedly given by President Lincoln to General Tecumseh Sherman.
Throw in a treasure map, the KKK (in the form of Tai's extended family), deception galore, kidnapping, corrupt cops and a boat chase - it makes for an adventurous read.
Tai continues to be a magnet for danger while Trey finds it more and more difficult to stay unflappable when she is around.
He's also been hired to find the missing Bible and to ensure that Tai doesn't. It makes for an interesting wrinkle in their relationship.
Can the routine and rule bound Trey overcome his brain injury? The evidence shows that he is trying to, but progress will be slow.
3 Stars.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I will always show up, for as long as you want me to.”

“You occasionally make sense, you know that?”

Isaiah 44:5

“Control. We pretend we have it, and it gets us out of bed in the morning. But, it’s not real.”

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tai is really good at investigating and it is enthralling.

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tai and Trey are cute and evolving as a couple. It was great to see them working together and working through their unique issues together. Trey seems to be getting more emotions towards Tai and Garrity as his safe people. Marissa was humanized in this book. Tai is learning more patience with Treys unique condition and he is learning to share more as the face the KKK, her family, bombs, gunfights, injuries and death.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better.
Love the mystery portion and the romance between Tai and Trey is there, but not "in your face". I like that I don't get a recap of every intimate moment.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tina Whittle in her new book, “Blood, Ash & Bone” Book Three in the Tai Randolph Mystery series published by Poisoned Pen Press gives us another adventure with Tai Randolph.

From the back cover: Tai Randolph doesn’t want to hear about homicide.

She’s had enough of the dark and the dangerous, and decides some time out of Atlanta is exactly what she needs to put the recent spate of corpses behind her. It‘s a idyllic vision —selling her wares at the Savannah Civil War Expo, attending a few Confederate re-enactments, perhaps a little romantic rendezvousing with Trey, who has agreed to put aside the corporate security agent routine and join her for a long weekend in her hometown.

But in the South, the past is never past. It tends to rise again. In Tai’s case, it shows up as her tattooed heartbreaker of an ex-boyfriend, desperate for her help. He spins a tale of betrayal, deceit, and a stolen Civil War artifact that Tai agrees to help him recover. Suddenly, Trey’s on the case too, representing a competing — and well-moneyed — client with eyes on the same mythical prize. As the lovers square off against each other, Tai discovers that her complicated boyfriend makes an even more intriguing adversary, revealing a ferociously competitive streak under his cool Armani exterior. But where there‘s money, there‘s usually murder, this time involving the KKK and Tai‘s unapologetically unreconstructed kinfolk. As she unravels the clues to a 150-year-old mystery, she digs up secrets from her own past — and Trey’s — forcing a confrontation with a ruthless killer, and with her own willingness to do whatever it takes to save everything that matters.

I have a great respect for The South. They have a richness of history and bring a wonderful respectability to this great country. Only in The South are you going to find a Civil War Expo and Confederate re-enactments. Honestly I want to go to both of them–one day. In the meantime there is a stolen Civil War artifact to find and a 150-year-old mystery to solve. Tina Whittle has done an outstanding job with this story. Danger, excitement, mystery and even competition all figure into this highly complicated plot. “Blood, Ash & Bone” is loaded with twists and turns that will leave you guessing all the while you are flipping pages to find out what happens next. And let’s not forget about the romance between Tai and Trey as we learn new things about both of them. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Poisoned Pen Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Atlanta gun shop owner Tai Randolph heads to a Civil War expo in Savannah, her old boyfriend offers her a handsome sum to hunt down an old Bible purported to be signed by President Lincoln to General Sherman, Tai gets in more danger than she realizes. Her corporate security agent boyfriend Trey Seaver is also in Savannah as a consultant for a major golf tournament organized by a wealthy Civil War collector. Seems like everyone is after that Bible, even the KKK. With a couple of folks murdered along the way, is Tai over her head?

More roller-coaster like thrills as the romance between Tai and Trey continues to develop. Tai learns some new things about Trey, a former cop who had survived a car accident with frontal lobe damage. We continue to see more of a contrast between tough-as-nails Tai and straight and narrow Trey as their chemistry heats up. Recommended for Stephanie Plum fans looking for something new.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is growing on me. I do find Whittle's spin on a mystery series with a spunky heroine to be unique. First off, the heroine's boyfriend is dealing with a brain injury that affects his personality in a kind of Asperger's way. So the way they negotiate that is interesting. Second, the heroine Tai Randolph is interesting too. I particularly liked the bit of her background uncovered in this book, where it turns out that her uncle used to be big in the KKK and her cousins still are. No matter what part of the country you live in and what your crazy cousins' beliefs are, her loyalty to family and their loyalty to her rings true, as does her conflict with loving certain people while vehemently hating their beliefs. In sum, Tai is a much more complex character than you usually get in these kinds of mystery series, and she navigates her mysteries with an admirable take on life. In sum, while clearly for entertainment, it is both entertaining and more unique than most such series.

[Genie McFate]

Beware of Exes bearing tales of lost artifacts. Especially, a lyin’ Ex, who cheated with your ex-friend.

As the owner of a gun shop with patrons who participate in Civil War re-enactments, Tai Randolph finds authentic gear for her customers. To cover the expense of a pending audit with the ATF, she agrees to search for an artifact while attending the Southeastern Civil War Expo with her boyfriend, Trey. Their quiet visit to Tai’s hometown changes with the involvement of Trey’s employer. Then Tai discovers someone has stolen her identity and there are competing artifact hunters, including a more PR friendly version of the KKK.

This was an excellent read with a fun plot containing surprising twists, edge-of-the-seat moments, and Tai and Trey’s continued romance. All of which leaves the reader wondering — when is the next book coming out?

[Tinika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had difficulty getting into Blood, Ash and Bone. The first few pages had Tai trying to seduce Trey, imagining what he would be like to taste, and this was in the middle of her self-defence class. What kind of book was this? Chick-Lit? Romance? I thought I was getting a mystery but, after several false starts (taking place over a month and a half,) I finally got into the grit of the book and found it actually was a pretty good mystery. Tai heads back to her roots in Savannah for a Civil War Expo. While there, she has been hired to retrieve a valuable Bible which may or may not be a fake. (If it’s a fake, it won’t be so valuable.) Several other people -smugglers, black-mailers, forgers, socialites, the Klan, her family - are all in the mix hunting for something and most of them play rough. Good thing Trey is along. Trey is a wonderful character and my favourite part of the book.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third in a Tai Randolph Mystery series, Tai, wanting to put the corpses she had discovered in previous novels behind her, heads for Savannah to display gun items in the Civil War Expo. Before she leaves, her ex-boyfriend shows up and spins a tale about a Bible signed by Sherman during his march to the sea, being stolen from him. Tai's boyfriend Trey also gets involved on behalf of a client and the two head to Savannah. The plot twists and turns with several factions, including the KKK, searching for the relic. A supposed map of where the Bible is hidden surfaces and an all out quest is on. Tai and Trey's lives are in danger, and Tai discovers that he means more to her than she ever immagined.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the larger-than-life characters -- Tai and Trey particularly are complex and meaty, and the cast of quirky Southerners is fun. I enjoyed the experience of the South at its most Gothic -- the romance of the Confederacy, obsessive Civil War reenactors, the shadowy and evil KKK. The novel is tightly plotted, drawing the reader deeper and deeper into the action, even if some of the turns are a little far-fetched. When Whittle is successful at creating a strong sense of place, as she did with River Street in Savannah, the story achieves a punchy immediacy. If only she got there more often. In truth, the book dragged a bit. While I had to push myself through the last few chapters, the ending is strong and I look forward to meeting Tai Randolph again.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good one in this great series. I rally love Tia and trey. They are a great couple and things just seem to come at them and trouble is always there even when they are trying to avoid it. This was a heart pounding scorcher right to the very end. All kinds of bad guys and who is the baddest is hard to determine. Tai is from the area and is helping at an expo that Treys employer wants him to go to also since there is a possible artifact to be found. Everything goes smoothly for a while but troubles start coming their way. Tai is reuniting with some family members some of whom have been let out of prison and the kkk is involved also. Tip his was very fast paced and I wasn't sure who was going to die next.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am loving this series. By three books in, you can get a real sense of it, and it is good and improving. The main character, Tai, is smart and self-possessed, not looking for trouble but able to handle herself. Her boyfriend is a (big) notch up from Janet Evanovich's Ranger (although this is not humorous) and is...well, complicated but ass-kicking. I'm also really enjoying their relationship, which is unusual but extremely committed. Definitely recommended for fans of mysteries and complex characters.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite in the series. Good mystery that had me guessing up to the end. I've been to Civil War reenactments, and like Tai, wore a hoop skirt and went to a ball, and roamed through the suttlers stalls. Tina caught the atmosphere perfectly. My favorite part of the book, however, was the growing relationship between Tai and Trey. Whittle is slowly revealing the intricate layers of Trey's psyche as we see him through Tai's POV.

I'm already looking forward to reading the next book!

[Danielle Walden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better! I can't get enough of Tai and Trey. Whittle takes the characters out of their usual Atlanta surroundings and fully emerses them in Tai's old stomping grounds of Savannah. Not only does this book offer mystery and suspense, but also a little deep, Southern history. Oh, and there's a little romance thrown in, too! Grab your sweet tea or maybe a Pellegrino and delve into the pages of Blood, Ash, and Bone!

[Sally Kilpatrick]

Sometimes I got a little lost in this chase for a Civil War Bible, but the setting and the characters always rang true. This was the first Tai Randolph book I'd read, and I think I need to backtrack since I didn't get as good a feel for her character arc. She amuses me, though, in the grand tradition of a Stephanie Plum or a Cherry Tucker, and that counts for a lot. Trey, her manfriend, I found to be particularly interesting. It was such a fun book.

[Terry Odell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to characters. which is 85% of the reason I read/enjoy a book, Tina Whittle has created a pair I can't get enough of. Tai might have traces of Stephanie Plum, but in a much more realistic and believable fashion. And to undertake a character recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury takes courage, yet Trey Seaver is compelling. I'm glad we got a short peek inside his head in the author's short vignette, The Seventh Rule of Swimming. These books are keepers.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple, easy to read mystery book. Not too difficult, took me one afternoon to read due to the slightly bigger font size. Not much to say.. author isn't trying to impress you with big words or anything, but I guess that's expected. I would recommend if you want to pick up a new book that you don't want to spend weeks on, that is pretty light :)

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the third Tai Randolph mystery, set in Savannah. As a person who has called Savannah home more than any other local, the scenes were true and easy to picture... The characters Tai and Treys relationship is evolving naturally and the feminist within me is very satisfied with their struggles.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this. It is the third in a series. Love this author can't wait to read more. The relationship between Tai and her boyfriend continues to develop. Complex plot that isn't easily predictable. Well developed characters. Strongly recommend this series.

[Leah Rhyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book - tons of suspense, very historically on-point. Really, a brilliant read. :)

[Kamini Madansingh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read all three in this series, and enjoy the interaction between Tai and Trey. i also enjoy reading books sex in Texas.

[Steve Isenhower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, great series! The writing is crisp and flows easily.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

just barely gets 3 stars. Ok read...keeps your interest but not enough depth to the story.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in a fantastic mystery series by Tina Whittle. The stories are well plotted and the characters are interesting. I highly recommend these books