Bed of Bones

Sloane Monroe #5

by Cheryl Bradshaw

Summer 1956

Thirteen-year-old Willie Compton and his younger brother Leonard stumble upon a mine shaft while hiking the hills of Park City, Utah. The shaft is unsealed, abandoned. While Leonard stares at the hole in wonderment, a Slinky he’s been flipping back and forth between his hands slithers through his fingers, tumbling toward the mouth of the shaft. Leonard bolts forward, reaches out to grab it, but he slips, then he falls.

Present Day

Up-and-coming filmmaker Melody Sinclair stirs in her chair, nervously awaiting the debut of her film at the Sundance Film Festival. Based on a true story, Bed of Bones tells a tale of murder, shining a big, bold light on Park City’s tragic past. A past that’s about to revisit the present

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Ebooks, Thriller, Suspense, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2013

About the author

Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and 11-time USA Today bestselling author writing in multiple genres, including mystery, thriller, romantic suspense, supernatural suspense, and poetry. She is a Shamus Award finalist for best private eye novel of the year, an eFestival of Words winner for best thriller, and has published over fifty books since 2011.

Raised in Southern California, she now lives in North Texas. When she's not writing, she loves jet-setting to new countries, exploring the outdoors, and playing with her grandbabies.

For a free eBook, click here: http://cherylbradshaw.com/get-a-free-...

Book series in order by Cheryl Bradshaw:

Georgiana Germaine (Mystery Series)

1. Little Girl Lost - USA Today Bestseller
2. Little Lost Secrets
3. Little Broken Things
4. Little White Lies
5. Little Tangled Webs
6. Little Shattered Dreams
7. Little Last Words
8. Little Buried Secrets
9. Little Stolen Memories
10. Little Empty Promises
11. Little Hidden Fears

Sloane Monroe Mystery/Thriller Series

0. Silent As the Grave (prequel to series)
1. Black Diamond Death
2. Murder in Mind
3. I Have a Secret
4. Stranger in Town - Shamus Award Finalist
5. Bed of Bones - USA Today Bestseller
6. Hush Now Baby - USA Today Bestseller
7. Gone Daddy Gone - USA Today Bestseller
8. Smoke and Mirrors - USA Today Bestseller

Sloane Monroe Stories - Mystery Novella Series
(with characters from the main series)

1. Deadly Sins: Sloth
2. Deadly Sins: Wrath
3. Deadly Sins: Lust
4. Deadly Sins: Greed
5. Deadly Sins: Envy
6. Deadly Sins: Pride

Sloane & Maddie Peril Awaits - Mystery Series
(Spinoff Series with Sloane Monroe & her sidekick Maddie)

1. The Silent Boy
2. The Shadow Children
3. The Broken Soul
4. The Widow Maker
5. The Familiar Stranger

Addison Lockhart Ghost Mystery Series

1. Grayson Manor Haunting
2. Rosecliff Manor Haunting
3. Blackthorn Manor Haunting
4. Belle Manor Haunting
5. Crawley Manor Haunting

Stand Alone Mystery/Thriller Novels

1. Eye for Revenge - USA Today Bestseller
2. The Perfect Lie
3. Hickory Dickory Dead - USA Today Bestseller
4. Roadkill - USA Today Bestseller

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tragic accident that took place over sixty years ago led to the discovery of seven women’s bodies at the bottom of an abandoned silver mine. Upon the release of an Indie film called Bed of Bones, a bombing takes place. This sets the theme for this story. Immediately after the bombing, it is realized that the director of the film is missing, and she then becomes a suspect. Sloane Monroe, P.I., works closely with Carlo Luciano, of the FBI, brother of her recently ex-boyfriend, Giovanni, who was also seriously injured in the bombing. Anyone that loves a mystery blended skillfully with a good love story will really like this one. Actually, you will probably like this entire series. There are a few times that you will need to suspend your disbelief, but it will keep you guessing until the end.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great story in this series that had me (mis)guessing all the way through ! I've only knocked off a star because it had some nitpicking mistakes which, as she's requested I've forwarded direct to the author. They irritated me more this time since I paid for this one by her. However, I'll stick with this series as I do enjoy it.
I really liked her dedication at the start of this book. It was "different" but effective.
One thing I emailed her but will mention it here too as it had me baffled-"He failed to notice the corn circling around the outside".....I would guess it's probably an Americanism but perhaps somebody reading this can enlighten me ?
Twice I pretty much gasped aloud at a couple of scenes that really surprised me and there were some funny lines in it as well along with the serious business of mystery and murderation, of course !
I look forward to reading the next one some time.

[Adrienne Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. I didn't realize this novel was part of a series until I had started reading it. Even so, it wasn't difficult to follow or figure out who the characters were and the roles they play, and proved to be an interesting stand alone story. Having said that, I will be purchasing the previous books in the series soon.

The story begins in 1956 in a Utah town that has been suffered major economic losses due to the closing of several mines in the area. A tragic accident, the death of a little boy who falls into an open mine shaft, reveals a much darker story.

Switch to present day and the same town has become the host of the famous Sundance Film Festival. The festival is just getting under way when a movie theater, set to show the premiere of a new movie called "Bed of Bones", is bombed.

Women connected to the film begin disappearing and it soon becomes evident they aren't leaving on their own free will.

A lot of unanswered questions, potential suspects, and personal character issues going on, twists and turns, combine to create a good mystery.

[Deb Van Iderstine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story, and will likely read at least one more. I did find bothersome the number of grammatical and usage errors. Despite the statement at the end of the book, it did not seem to have been carefully proofread, and the invitation to communicate with them on that subject would seem to indicate that they know it.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Not impressed"

The cover looked interesting. In the end it turned out to be the best bit. If writing like a sixteen-year-old gets you to be a best-selling author I think we've lost the plot. I'll be much warier about what I download for free in the future.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl Bradshaw is a consummate pro in the indie writing world, leading the pack in terms of communicating and connecting with her fans and other writers. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her editorially on many of her stories, and she never disappoints in terms of positive energy. She seeks top-notch quality in all that she does from ongoing research to the final presentation of each book. Then the cherry on the sundae . . . her stories are 200-percent entertaining.

Bed of Bones, Bradshaw’s latest whodunit, blends an age-old murder case with current day Sloane Monroe, a tough detective who is low on patience and big on results. As the murderous history of one small town comes to light through a Sundance Film Festival movie, the wheels start coming off the cart for townsfolk and visitors alike. But small-town mysteries as withered and worn as this one are hard to unravel. Will Sloane break through the ties that bind and uncover the truth?

Whether or not you’re familiar with the works of Cheryl Bradshaw, or with the peppery Sloane, there is no better time than now to take a bite. Delicious. As usual.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good plot and interesting characters. Usually I only deduct one point for errors in grammar and bad sentence structure; however, those present in the book were enough to distract me from the story.

[Ronald Keeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bed of Bones by Cheryl Bradshaw is a thinly disguised romance novel. The disguise is a mystery novel which starts with a strong plot premise then melts gradually like the ice in a drink I didn’t want. I keep going back to see if the drink gets better, it doesn’t, and soon the ice is gone, or I can’t find it. The plot for this story was so well disguised I gave up after several chapters but kept reading to see if it got better. Finally arriving at the end, I was surprised to see all the right things said about this author. Even more surprising to me was the number of published books. I counted twelve published works at the end of this Kindle edition plus a couple of awards for novels Three and Four in the Sloane Monroe Series. If Bradshaw had won an award for this novel, Book Five, I would have felt bad about the review I am posting.

The style and quality of writing shown in this book are solidly consistent with good writing of award-winning authors. The unrealism of the plot as far as a police procedural and the unreality of behavior exhibited by the characters in stress situations requires a suspension of disbelief beyond my ability (or desire). Sometimes fiction, by its nature involves acceptance by the reader of improbable circumstances. A considerable number of unlikely situations becomes boring. Characters should have flaws and overcome them, but the characters in these novels have behavioral flaws, not personality or what is typically accepted as “character” flaws. Why does this novel have weaknesses in these two areas? To answer, I return to my claim that this is a thinly disguised romance level, and everything is sacrificed to fulfill a romantic purpose. To illustrate my points, I will examine the characters.

Chapter One gives readers a powerful beginning. I can write about it because there are no spoilers in Chapter One. In 1956 young Willie and Leonard were playing near an abandoned mine shaft. Only one will survive. Cut to the present day. Melody Sinclair had always wanted to make films. She failed. She kept trying and not only came up with a good story idea; Melody had a patron, Giovanni, who could guarantee Melody would get a screening. Giovanni attended the screening with Melody but was sitting without Melody when the theater blew up due to a remotely detonated bomb. Melody was not in the theater because the bomb maker was preparing to kidnap her at the same time the bomb exploded. OK, can’t get much more of a strong ending than this one. It is all downhill from here.

Chief Parker is a cop who has a reason to call Sloane Monroe about the bombing and disappearance of Melody. Since there were a lot of bodies as a result of the explosion, Parker could logically call Maddie, a medical examiner, and indirectly involve Sloane, Maddie’s roommate. Following a typical template, Parker (police official) will spend the rest of the novel fighting the involvement of Maddie and Sloane (non-law enforcement types).

Sloane Monroe is a private investigator who has an on-again-off-again boyfriend, Giovanni Luciana. She loves him. He loves her. The romance is doomed by the generous attitude of Giovanni. Mafia Godfather sons are like that, quick to kill but also altruistic as they suffer heartbreak for the good of others.

Giovanni Luciana is a mafia member, son of a mafia Godfather, and heir apparent to take over the family. He didn’t mind micromanagement and had even shot the kidnapper and murderer of Sloane’s sister in a hotel room next to one occupied by Sloane; the shooting gave her a good idea about the kind of Giovanni’s business.

Carlo Luciana was an FBI agent, not a mafioso, even though he is the brother of Giovanni. Unreality begins to knock at the door. Carlo wants to hire Sloane to help investigate the Melody Sinclair kidnapping. Yep, this is what FBI agents usually do. They hire private investigators who are known to have mafia ties. And why not, since Carlo was an FBI/mafia member himself? The Unreality knocking on the door increases to the level of a pounding.

Shelby is a throwaway character. She is the unmanageable teenage daughter of her father, Cade, a detective in a neighboring town. As a law enforcement officer, he will somehow have the free time to leave his department and help private investigator Sloane and (FBI agent/mafia brother to Giovanni) Carlo investigate a kidnapping while bonding with his teenage daughter, solving her hormonal problems, and possibly continue a so far failed attempt at romance with Sloane. Nothing but reality here.

There is religious fanaticism, generational craziness, and an unidentified perpetrator who is recreating crimes from the past. In the mad rush to solve a crime, Sloane will come up with a possible clue to the identity of a suspect by following the carefully given instructions of FBI agent Carlo and discovering that mysteries can be solved by remembering events step-by-step according to keywords and soulful eye glances. As an ex-law enforcement type, this is where I wanted to give up, but with only thirty pages to go, I resolved to tough it out.

The Kindle price for this novel is USD 5.99; I received it at the promotion price of USD 0.00. It is not available on Kindle Unlimited. The quality of writing is high, and I would generally give it four Amazon stars. The content bothered me so much; I wanted to provide it with 3.75. Rounding up, that is four Amazon stars, so I am back where I started. If anyone reading this has found a novel they like by Cheryl Bradshaw, please recommend it to me. I want to read something other than this by a writer who other reviewers highly praise, but it won’t change my opinion of Bed of Bones.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bravo! A good fast read! now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Weiping Yin · Rating 2 out of 5]

High School Girl’s Fantasy

Mystery is intriguing. Story woven in and out, making it page turner. However the Sloane character is abused. All the men around her surrendered to her, bended to her. Mafia, FBI, Law men, none but her, saving the world, Annoying, period.

[Cheryl Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read with a surprise ending. At least to me it was. A gruesome discovery was made in 1956 at the bottom of an abandoned mine shaft. Is history repeating itself or is something else going on?

[David Highton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not really enjoy this one - had not read the earlier books in the series and did not have the background to the various characters.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bed of Bones - a review by Rosemary Kenny
After hearing the tale of a local boy's accidental death in a deserted mineshaft 30 years earlier, Melody Sinclair, a promising young film maker revived it in her first public production at the Sundance Film Festival. Unfortunately this led to two devastating events - a trio of explosions at the film theatre leaving three dead and more injured and the kidnap and murder of Melody and two others women involved in her production.

Why is PI Sloane Monroe involved in the case? Who did she know among the victims in the theatre?
What effect does this have on Sloane's life? By whom is she warned to break off all contact with them?
What happens to Shelby McCoy? What relationship does her father have with Sloane?
What evidence about the killer does Sloan find at the museum - and on the women's bodies?

As the body count rises in this nerve-shredding psychological thriller by impressive novelist Cheryl Bradshaw, the reader can hardly cope with the awe-filled anticipation of how the story develops so quickly, that one is drawn straight down to the depths of terror, then hopeful that the true cross-generational killer will face justice for the unspeakable crimes both past and present and can, finally, be lifted up by Sloane and Cade's burgeoning mutual attraction - definitely five stars for Ms Bradshaw!

[~Teagan~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite like this series.
These books take a dark turn which I really like. The book was a freebie on eBooks, since reading her books I will now read anything she puts out. The characters are great and so is the plot.

In this fifth book in the Sloane Monroe series, Sloane Monroe a P.I. investigates the disappearance of Melody Sinclair, a filmmaker who recently created a film called Bed of Bones. The film is based on a true story on the death of a young boy and the discovery of a mass grave of missing women in 1956. As Sloane searches for Melody, two other women related to the movie go missing. Sloane realises that her missing person's case might be related to the 1956 case.

[Janice Somers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked reading the story. I just had one problem with the story. I started the series in the middle. It was recommended to read and so I started there. Some characters were hard to figure out but in the end, it didn't matter because the story was so good.

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/1956, Willie Compton (13, brother), & Leonard Compton (younger brother)
we’re walking/arguing with each other at the same time.
Leonard Slinky jumped out of his hand & took a tumble downward in a dark tunnel.
Willie went to get their mother/Harvey (dad).
Park City, UT. Melody Sinclair (director/screenwriter, NYU) submitted a new film Bed of Bones to the Sundance Film Festival.

Brynn Rowland, Terry (asst. director) Ronnie Chapman (Terry’s asst.) could not wait.
The premiere sold out.
BOOM!
Summit Medical Center (Heber). Giovanni Luciana (mafia, Maddie’s on/off-again BF) was in ICU.
Lucio did not survive.
Madison “Maddie” FBI SA Carlo Luciana (brother), Daniela Luciana (Giovanni’s sister), went to see him.
FBI SA Luciana came to see Maddie.
He wanted to hire Sloane Monroe (PI), & Detective Cade McCoy to help him find Melody.
She/body was missing from the explosion.
Brynn (asst., Ronnie’s GF) had been abducted from the hospital.
Victoria Broderick (actress) was also missing.
What bizarre news did Sloane find out from Walter “Butch” Thornton?
A BOLO alert had been issued for Shelby.

What happened to Detective Carlo Luciana?
What happened to Angela Rivers?
Would the Sundance Killer be caught & brought to justice?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. Wow, a very well written murder mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great murder mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; Kindle Pixie Publishing; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)

[Mrs E A Noblett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

I am usually a fan of a much older style of detective novel - those of the Golden Age of writing- and so I began this series of mysteries on somewhat of a whim. I have read each book the n the Sloane Monroe series in n one sitting, straight through from beginning to end. And I adored them (even my grammar is slipping), an intelligent female lead, perfect in her imperfections, a shadowy male lead (sometimes), a sassy best friend and from book 4, an intriguing single father to add to the mix. Ms Bradshaw is a keen storyteller who seems to enjoy taking her readers on a journey from crime to solution writing with obvious enjoyment in the characters that she has created. So, I suggest that you turn off all that irritating social media, find a comfy spot and indulge yourself, I don't suppose that you will regret your investment in Ms Monroe's life and loves, in fact you will find yourself wishing that you might meet her, Maggie and Cade. Even Shelby is an endearing character, despite the fact that she is a female teenager, designed to incite murder in those who love her most. Just like every teenager! Then perhaps, like me, you will imagine that Sloane's life is the one that you might quite like to have lived yourself, if only you too had taken ' the road less travelled '.

[M.A. Comley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Sloane Monroe story that readers will have a problem putting down.

I believe Bed of Bones is Ms. Bradshaw's best novel to date. It starts off when a bomb explodes in a tiny theatre at the Sundance Film Festival. Not something Sloane would usually investigate I suspect had her boyfriend not been involved in the blast.

The town holds a dirty secret, which the film being shown at the theatre was about to reveal. Women start to go missing, including the producer and other people connected with the film.

Sloane has to find out who the bomber is but at what cost to her personal life?

An intricately woven mystery that'll have you turning the pages faster than a force ten gale.

[Alis Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a good thriller and Cheryl Bradshaw's "Bed of Bones" is a thrilling and suspenseful ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This captivating mystery novel explores the dark and twisted mind of a serial killer, taking readers on a relentless journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.
The story follows private investigator Sloane Monroe, who finds herself entangled in a complex case involving a series of gruesome murders. As the body count rises, Sloane becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the killings, even if it means putting her own life at risk. Along the way, she must navigate a web of deceit, hidden motives, and chilling secrets, making for a captivating and unpredictable plot.
One of the book's strengths lies in Bradshaw's ability to craft well-rounded and believable characters. Sloane Monroe, in particular, is a compelling protagonist. She is intelligent, resourceful, and haunted by her own personal demons, making her a relatable and sympathetic figure. The supporting cast also adds depth to the story, with each character bringing their own unique perspectives and motivations.
The pacing of "Bed of Bones" is excellent, with the author expertly balancing moments of tension and suspense with slower, introspective scenes that delve into the characters' inner turmoil. Bradshaw's writing style is smooth and accessible, allowing readers to easily become engrossed in the story without feeling overwhelmed by unnecessary details or excessive descriptions.
Furthermore, the plot twists in this book are truly impressive. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Bradshaw throws another curveball, leaving you second-guessing your assumptions and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next revelation. The author skillfully plants clues throughout the narrative, keeping you engaged in the puzzle until the very end.
However, there are a few minor drawbacks to "Bed of Bones." Some readers may find certain aspects of the plot to be slightly predictable or familiar within the thriller genre. Additionally, a few of the secondary characters could have been further developed to enhance their impact on the story.
Overall, "Bed of Bones" is a gripping thriller that fans of the genre will thoroughly enjoy. Cheryl Bradshaw's storytelling prowess, coupled with a well-crafted plot and memorable characters, makes for an engaging and suspenseful reading experience. If you're seeking a fast-paced mystery with plenty of surprises, this book is definitely worth picking up.

[Robert Crouch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who follows my reviews will know I’m a big fan of this series, featuring private detective Sloane Monroe. Bed of Bones is the fifth book in the series and has Sloane working with other enforcement agencies to track down a serial killer.

It starts with a nail bomb in a cinema where a film is about to be shown, fictionalising a tragic incident in the town’s past. The woman who made the film is missing. Soon other women connected with the film go missing and the race is on to find out why before he strikes again.

Like all good protagonists, Sloane has her own personal issues to deal with, namely Giovanni, her on off boyfriend who was injured in the blast. This puts her in the thick of things once more as she tries to work out the connections with the past to track down the present day killer. Then there’s Cade, a sheriff with more than a passing interest in Sloane’s well-being to add further complications.

It all adds up to a smooth and exciting read, filled with sharp observations, wry humour and a determined detective who’s as smart as she is sassy. Sloane’s direct approach often puts her at risk as she slowly unpicks the mystery, leading to a thrilling and tragic climax.

While this story, like all the others, can be read as a standalone, you’ll enjoy it far more if you read the series from the beginning, starting with Black Diamond Death. (Check out my review of this story here.) Sloane has her problems, as you’ll discover, but this only deepens the character and adds another interesting layer to the backstory.

If like me, you prefer private detective stories to police procedurals, I would recommend this book and the series.

[Lori Niemuth · Rating 1 out of 5]

A tough-as-nails female private detective, her spunky best friend/coroner and the private detective's boyfriend (who is the son of a mafia boss and is being groomed to take over his father's position) walk into a bar.

The bartender says--

Wait!

Along with those three are a rural sheriff who has a crush on the private detective, the sheriff's rebellious teenage daughter and the mafia boss' other son, who is also an FBI agent.

So the bartender says--

Not yet! I forgot to say the local police chief, an up-and-coming-and-oh-so-brilliant (& also female) film producer and a local historian are included.

The bartender signs and says, "I'm sorry we don't serve characters as ridiculous as you."

Seriously, it felt as if a giggly, prepubescent girl had written this book. Ooh! Mafia is so sexy! Ooh! FBI/mafia men are even sexier! Ooh! No one's ever seen a female private detective, or coroner or film producer before! So sexy!

And the main character -- Private detective Sloan Monroe. Ugh. The author never fails to throw in one liners to show us how hardened and smart the female detective is -- then will throw in scenes showing how stupid she is.

A great example? Sloan tells a guy she'll try to find his girlfriend for him. A bit later, the girlfriend is found, but she's dead. Sloan and the guy are both in the police station. The guy turns to Sloan and blames her for not finding his girlfriend in time. And what does Miss-tough-as-nails do? She faints. Because she's tough! She's hardened! (She's unconscious on the floor!)

The cast of lawmen -- the city chief, the county sheriff, the FBI and even the mafia/FBI -- are written as being smart but just smart enough. So they ALL have to turn to Sloan for help. When she's not an unconscious floor inspector.

Trite, ridiculous and over reaching, this book has a lot. None of it good.

[Terhi Tatjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are getting better and better, and the writing is really shining through in the craft territory. There is the main mystery for Sloane to solve, which is based on a historical tragedy that turns out to have many layers. There is a lingering complication from her previous case, with people attached to it. Shelby is a fantastic addition, with her teenage snark. Contrast that with Sloane's own love life which is going through a shitty time with an added complication, and a breakup. All the while, she’s trying to figure out the case she’s been hired to figure out, that started out as a kidnapping and has turned into a murder. What I like about Bradshaw in this series is that you don’t always get the ‘happy ending.’ The kidnapped don’t always get rescued in time. The love interested doesn’t always work out. The colleague who you thought had your back, sometimes stabs you in it instead. It’s like an intense version of real life and it’s not only plot driven, but also character driven, with evolution and growth, and sometimes backsliding. She’s really not afraid to slap her characters around, especially her main one. It's gritty and lovely.

Favorite Line ~ "I might now have a lot of experience with kids, but I have plenty in the wrong-kind-of-guy department."

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A movie premiere and an explosion open a deep mystery from a town's past. Abandoned mines, a small boy falling into the depths reveal a larger mystery for the rescue workers retrieving the body. Years later, an indie movie producer takes the topic and writes a semi documentary about the history. The night of the premiere the producer goes missing, the theater is blown up, among the injured victims is a Mafioso member. Slowly anyone connected to production are missing. Sloane Monroe becomes interested because she in involved in a relationship with the victim, also being a private investigator gives her the instinctive need to find the "why" of the situation. Along the way the reader meets other characters; an FBI brother to the Mafioso. a female medical examiner with a link to police chief, an unknown stalker with some relationship to the past history of the mine. This was a free book to read and review. I have no connection to anyone involved. I liked the story as it unraveled, no second guessing would reveal details until the author was ready for the clue to appear. It has some parts that connect it to the ongoing series before this book but not enough to distract from the story. I enjoyed this book and the slow reveal before the puzzle is sloved. Great read.

[Mcf1nder_sk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently came across this novel by @cherylbradshawbooks, and having heard so much praise for her works, I decided to check it out. I may have found my new favorite private investigator.
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Sloane Monroe is a PI in Park City, Utah. When a bomb explodes at a movie festival, Monroe's on-again/off-again boyfriend, Giovanni, is severely injured in the blast. When women involved in the film start turning up murdered, that's when the tension starts.
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This is the fifth book in the Sloane Monroe series, so many of the events from previous stories are mentioned, but that does not detract the first-time reader from the storyline. Bradshaw did a wonderful job ratcheting up the thriller aspect of this tale, with a riveting pace and a strong female protagonist in Monroe. She is smart, strong-willed, and willing to do what it takes to solve the mystery. The twists along the way will leave the reader surprised, but pleasantly relieved. This novel definitely has me wanting to go back to the beginning and reading the rest of the Sloane Monroe stories.
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My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When "Bed of Bones" came up on my I-pad as my next read I realized that it was part of a series I almost passed on it thinking that I needed to read the previous books in the series first. I decided to look at a couple of reviews and happy to see that several reviewers said that the book stood by itself very well and read it out of order.

I was hooked right from the beginning, I loved the characters and enjoyed the storyline. It kept me reading curious to find out what was going to happen next, who the next victim would be, and who the killer could possibly be.

I also wanted to discover more about Sloane's social life and how things would work out with the two men who were front and center of her love life.

I am definitely going to refer this book to family and friends. I am already looking forward to purchasing and adding the rest of this series to my reading list so I can learn more about Sloane and the people of Park City, Utah starting with book 1.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relax for once. A movie theatre is blown up and a woman disappears but what does that have to do with Sloane Monroe you ask. Her lover Giovanni is seriously hurt and his bodyguard killed. Was this a hit on him or was it just a case of been in the wrong place? All Sloane wants is for him to be honest with her about his family but he pushes her away again. Sloane has been hired to see what she can find and it all leads back to one old man that killed seven women but it is that easy? The lies are thick but she won't just give up especially as the killer has returned but why now as so much time has passed and the old man died. Will Sloane be able to find the answers and can she save her relationship with Giovanni or will the sexy detective sway her mind? A good read great to see Cade again.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Bed of Bones, Sloane Monroe #5, a tragic accident that took place over sixty years ago led to the discovery of seven women’s bodies at the bottom of an abandoned silver mine. Upon the release of an Indie film called Bed of Bones, a bombing takes place. This sets the theme for this story.

Immediately after the bombing, it is realized that the director of the film is missing, and she becomes a suspect. Sloane Monroe, P.I., works closely with Carlo Luciano, of the FBI, brother of her recently estranged boyfriend, Giovanni, who was seriously injured in the bombing.

For those who love reading series’ as much as I do, there are several connected characters that have strong roles in this book. This is an excellent read, as are all the books in the series by Cheryl Bradshaw.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if you read the book and do not listen to the audiobook you will enjoy the story. I had issues with the reader. She lengthened almost every word which is probably related to an accent based on where she grew up, but I found it grating on my nerves. Eventually, I got somewhat passed it, but that is not all that was wrong. Her male voices sound the same for all men, and they sound like high pitched little old man voices. That was another thing that made listening difficult. I highly suggest reading the book or ebook.
I did finish the book and like I said I think the story was OK, but I would not get the full series audiobook because I would have to kill myself if I had to listen to those voice interpretations for too many hours. I might get the ebook.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from Cheryl Bradshaw.

Summer 1956

Thirteen-year-old Willie Compton and his younger brother Leonard stumble upon a mine shaft while hiking the hills of Park City, Utah. The shaft is unsealed, abandoned. While Leonard stares at the hole in wonderment, a Slinky he’s been flipping back and forth between his hands slithers through his fingers, tumbling toward the mouth of the shaft. Leonard bolts forward, reaches out to grab it, but he slips, then he falls.

Present Day

Up-and-coming filmmaker Melody Sinclair stirs in her chair, nervously awaiting the debut of her film at the Sundance Film Festival. Based on a true story, Bed of Bones tells a tale of murder, shining a big, bold light on Park City’s tragic past. A past that’s about to revisit the present

[T.A. Beasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two boys playing and one dies. This starts the story of Bed on Bones. The past affects the presence especially when there is a killer running around Park City, Utah.

This was a suspenseful mystery about a serial killer who uses biblical references to display his victims. When the filmmaker is kidnapped from the screening of her film right after the theater blows up, Sloane is asked to looked into the missing filmmaker. It is a close call from some, but Sloane must focus in order to catch a killer.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat anticipating what would happened next with every small clue Sloane came across and putting herself in danger to solve the whodunit.

Cheryl Bradshaw just made another fan. I'm definitely continuing with this series.