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Louis Kincaid #5
Island of Bones
In the wake of a hurricane a tiny skull washes up in front of detective Louis Kincaid's cottage. Days later, the bullet-riddled body of a woman surfaces on a nearby island. She has no identification...except for a unique coral ring. Sensing a connection, Louis begins his investigation, a search for the truth that will lead him down a trail of secrets and lies—to the Island of Bones, where evil never dies and the living never escape.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
69 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
P.J. Parrish
26 books270 followersP.J. Parrish is the New York Times bestselling author of ten Louis Kincaid and Joe Frye thrillers. The author is actually two sisters, Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols. Their books have appeared on both the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. The series has garnered 11 major crime-fiction awards, and an Edgar® nomination. Parrish has won two Shamus awards, one Anthony and one International Thriller competition. Her books have been published throughout Europe and Asia.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
Parrish's short stories have also appeared in many anthologies, including two published by Mystery Writers of America, edited by Harlan Coben and the late Stuart Kaminsky. Their stories have also appeared in Akashic Books acclaimed Detroit Noir, and in Ellery Queen Magazine. Most recently, they contributed an essay to a special edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works edited by Michael Connelly.
P.J. Parrish as children
Before turning to writing full time, Kristy Montee was a newspaper editor and dance critic for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. Nichols previously was a blackjack dealer and then a human resources specialist in the casino industry. Kris in Tallahassee FL and Traverse City MI and Kelly resides in Traverse City as well.
The sisters were writers as kids, albeit with different styles: Kelly's first attempt at fiction at age 11 was titled The Kill. Kristy's at 13 was The Cat Who Understood. Not much has changed: Kelly now tends to handle the gory stuff and Kristy the character development. But the collaboration is a smooth one, thanks to lots of ego suppression, good wine, and marathon phone calls via Skype.
The first eleven books in the series, in order, are: Dark of the Moon, Dead of Winter, Paint it Black, Thicker than Water, Island of Bones, A Killing Rain, An Unquiet Grave, A Thousand Bones, South of Hell, The Little Death and Heart of Ice. They also wrote three stand-alone thrillers: A Thousand Bones, The Killing Song and She's Not There.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
October 7, 2014
This was a mixed bag for me. For the most part I liked it. A retired cop, now PI Louis Kincaid is a fairly troubled peron, helping out another cop.. who is even more troubled.. together they try to figure out the mysterious disappearance of 5 ladies. This part was good. The answers they found were however less than convincing.
March 8, 2015
This is my first visit to the world of Louis Kincaid, and what an adventure it was! With a sort of laid back beginning through to the final whirlwind, it truly kept my attention. A hurricane sweeps the Florida island where he lives and washes up what he originally believes to be a murdered baby's skull. It takes a new father only a quick glance to inform him that it is a newborn's skull and no murder. It also appears to be about 500 years old. Is this a portent of things to come? Will this innocent child connect the dots? For some reason, Kincaid has become very attached to this baby's skull and can't escape the thoughts about what could have caused it's death.
Once we really get into the book, we get into the world of missing girls, a strange privately owned island, a possible serial killer...but I'm getting ahead of myself. For the missing persons case, an unlikely relationship builds up between the new head detective and our private investigator, Louis Kincaid. Kincaid has been approached by a woman who wants him to follow her father, Frank Woods. She suspects him of killing the girl who has gone missing. With not much to go on, why would she hire a private detective for this vague premise? While watching her father, he finds him to be a very mild-mannered librarian. Following him seems a waste of time, he rarely changes his routine. But there are many questions.
The book suddenly takes off, having grabbed my attention thoroughly while following the whys and wherefores up until now. A connection is made to another island, the action and suspense begin to take on much more momentum, adrenaline flows and so does mine as I read. An ancient Roman/Spanish family tree, Asturian descendents who often speak in Latin, owners and protectors of the island Away So Far, a misnomer based on the Spanish for Island of Bones, Isla de huesos. P.J. Parrish has done very deep research to back up this story line. The background is as much a character as any of the people. History, mystery, murder, and genetics all rolled into one strong story. Great characterizations, great twisting plot as twisted and hidden as the tangled mangroves, suspenseful, dark, yet curiously entertaining.
Once we really get into the book, we get into the world of missing girls, a strange privately owned island, a possible serial killer...but I'm getting ahead of myself. For the missing persons case, an unlikely relationship builds up between the new head detective and our private investigator, Louis Kincaid. Kincaid has been approached by a woman who wants him to follow her father, Frank Woods. She suspects him of killing the girl who has gone missing. With not much to go on, why would she hire a private detective for this vague premise? While watching her father, he finds him to be a very mild-mannered librarian. Following him seems a waste of time, he rarely changes his routine. But there are many questions.
The book suddenly takes off, having grabbed my attention thoroughly while following the whys and wherefores up until now. A connection is made to another island, the action and suspense begin to take on much more momentum, adrenaline flows and so does mine as I read. An ancient Roman/Spanish family tree, Asturian descendents who often speak in Latin, owners and protectors of the island Away So Far, a misnomer based on the Spanish for Island of Bones, Isla de huesos. P.J. Parrish has done very deep research to back up this story line. The background is as much a character as any of the people. History, mystery, murder, and genetics all rolled into one strong story. Great characterizations, great twisting plot as twisted and hidden as the tangled mangroves, suspenseful, dark, yet curiously entertaining.
August 21, 2018
This started out well. It was gritty and had a lot of non-glamorous Florida in it to make it a good "sweaty southern town" novel.
However, the plot was woven around a vague sect in Spain and some other odd historical facts that the author(s) must have found while they were looking up something else. The whole thing ended up being interesting enough to finish but pretty unbelievable.
I like the main character, Louis Kincaid. HE is totally believable; the plot for this one was not.
However, the plot was woven around a vague sect in Spain and some other odd historical facts that the author(s) must have found while they were looking up something else. The whole thing ended up being interesting enough to finish but pretty unbelievable.
I like the main character, Louis Kincaid. HE is totally believable; the plot for this one was not.
November 23, 2020
I think this is one of the most well-written mysteries I've read. The characters reveal themselves one layer at a time, and the mystery itself is bizarre but realistic. So is the ending. I can't recommend this book highly enough. It's set in Florida, and the setting made me keep listening to swat mosquitoes. I loved the glimpses we kept getting of Landeta, a cop Kincaid is forced to work with, until we see him as a whole person. My perception of nearly everyone kept changing the farther I got in the book. I loved it!
December 11, 2014
As I began reading Island of Bones, I loved the description of the landscape, and I enjoyed the sense of history associated with all those small islands off the coast of Florida. However, I felt as though I'd gotten off on the wrong foot. Perhaps I should not have begun this particular series with book #5 because I felt there was a whole lot of backstory behind Louis Kincaid that I was unaware of-- to the point where his character never really captured my imagination or interest. His contact on the local police force, Mel Landeta, was different; I took to him almost immediately.
There was more bothering me about this book the longer I read. The motivations of the woman who hired Kincaid to follow her father never really set well with me. I had the feeling that she had some hidden agenda that she wasn't sharing. Although I did like the sense of history that permeates those small islands, I wasn't in the mood for the convoluted mess that masqueraded as family history on the Island of Bones.
All in all, even though the writing was good, the setting was excellent, and I did like a couple of the characters, Island of Bones just wasn't my cup of reading tea-- but that doesn't mean I won't be sampling P.J. Parrish's writing again. In fact, I think I'll look up the first book in the series....
There was more bothering me about this book the longer I read. The motivations of the woman who hired Kincaid to follow her father never really set well with me. I had the feeling that she had some hidden agenda that she wasn't sharing. Although I did like the sense of history that permeates those small islands, I wasn't in the mood for the convoluted mess that masqueraded as family history on the Island of Bones.
All in all, even though the writing was good, the setting was excellent, and I did like a couple of the characters, Island of Bones just wasn't my cup of reading tea-- but that doesn't mean I won't be sampling P.J. Parrish's writing again. In fact, I think I'll look up the first book in the series....
October 4, 2017
Another great mystery in the Louis Kincaid series. He is still in Florida working as a PI, but this time he gets teamed up with a newly hired detective to investigate a woman's body that washed up during a recent storm. Of course this turns out to be a bigger mystery involving more missing women spanning many years and a detective with a mystery of his own. Really like how the first chapter went right into the mystery of the unknown woman before she was killed and it keep me engaged to the end with all the twists and turns.
February 22, 2009
It was a fast read but the plot was mucked up; the story jumped here and there and was full of illogic and inconsistencies, the ending was foul, the Roman link weak if not completely misleading. I think the book may have been intended to tackle serious underlying subjects like abortion and/or dysfunctional families. Then again maybe I am reading too much sense into the book and it was really just a poorly written, meaningless mystery/thriller.
June 11, 2014
There is a lot of texture to the sisters' series (yes, "she" is two sisters writing together) featuring PI Louis Kincaid, both in his personal story, as well as in the plots. However, this one strained credulity a bit this time, but not in any of the ways that might normally make me put it down or not go on with the series. They are really good writers, and that they do it together so well is a...well...a mystery to me.
December 27, 2014
3.5 stars. Interesting story idea, but they lost me by writing the protagonist as a world-weary P.I. who left the police force after garnering some sort of impressive reputation while he was there, enough that the local police chief brings him in on a hot murder case. Believable, *maybe*, if this guy's in his late 40's/early 50's, but not if he's...27.
October 4, 2014
Not comparable to the other P.J. Parish books - love, love, love Louis Kincaid but this story just wasn't as well-done as the others and I felt like the resolution of the missing women was highly unlikely.
May 16, 2009
A page turner. Read it in 2 days on vacation. Excellent!
August 27, 2014
I think I might have found a new author! And, he sets his books in Florida!
February 19, 2016
Plot is pretty weird.
December 18, 2012
A good summertime read. I enjoyed it and on a scale of one to ten it was a solid 6. The main character was a very likeable one and the mystery kept me wanting to read.
August 13, 2018
Unhappy with the ending. Like the series and the protagonist, but this one a bit unbelievable. I will read more in the series. Good writing and good characters.
November 21, 2018
My first Louis Kincaid book. It doesn't disappoint. The morning after a huge hurricane, he found a small baby skull on the beach. He took his find to Fort Myers PD chief Al Horton. While getting it examined, a body was found washed ashore among the mangroves. Soon, he found connection between the dead body with four others missing young girls from around the state.
A woman want Louis to watch out for her dad whom she thinks acted strangely. While shadowing the man, Louis sight of him and he goes missing. As he puts two and two together, Louis thought he found out the missing link between the man disappearance with the missing girls.
As the plot thicken and unravel, the secret of a long forgotten family came to light. The del Bosques, stay hidden on a deserted Island that was nicknamed Island of bones. The climax of the book lies here Hic solutio est. As the reason behind the mystery on the island of bones become known it set off a shattering earthquake that blow the mind. Explosive stuffs.
A woman want Louis to watch out for her dad whom she thinks acted strangely. While shadowing the man, Louis sight of him and he goes missing. As he puts two and two together, Louis thought he found out the missing link between the man disappearance with the missing girls.
As the plot thicken and unravel, the secret of a long forgotten family came to light. The del Bosques, stay hidden on a deserted Island that was nicknamed Island of bones. The climax of the book lies here Hic solutio est. As the reason behind the mystery on the island of bones become known it set off a shattering earthquake that blow the mind. Explosive stuffs.
August 22, 2021
I read another book by PJ Parrish that I loved but this one was not as good. I had a hard time liking it. I think it was Louis Kincaid's character that turned me off. The other Parrish book was Joe Frye and I loved her.
I did not care for any of the characters. Kincaid seemed angry and negative all the time. I disliked the hostility between him and the other investigator Landeta. For the first half if the book they seemed to hate each other. They came to an uneasy truce at some point but even then they bickered.
Then there was Diane who hired Kincaid to follow her father who she had some suspicions about but then she'd refuse to cooperate on the simplest of requests. Then she seems to simply disappear at the end of the book.
The mystery of the missing and dead women was the most interesting part of the book. The outcome seemed a bit out there but in the world of this book it made some sense.
I just did not like reading about the bitterness between the characters. The storyline is why I rated it at 3 stars rather than 1 or 2 for the characters.
I'll stick with Joe's character in the other books.
I did not care for any of the characters. Kincaid seemed angry and negative all the time. I disliked the hostility between him and the other investigator Landeta. For the first half if the book they seemed to hate each other. They came to an uneasy truce at some point but even then they bickered.
Then there was Diane who hired Kincaid to follow her father who she had some suspicions about but then she'd refuse to cooperate on the simplest of requests. Then she seems to simply disappear at the end of the book.
The mystery of the missing and dead women was the most interesting part of the book. The outcome seemed a bit out there but in the world of this book it made some sense.
I just did not like reading about the bitterness between the characters. The storyline is why I rated it at 3 stars rather than 1 or 2 for the characters.
I'll stick with Joe's character in the other books.
March 24, 2018
This, the second book I have read by this author, surpassed the first! It was well written, keeping the reader's interest with unexpected twists and turns. I do not know if the odd cultural norms written about ever existed in the remote Spanish region from which some of the characters came. They do sound somewhat plausible though, in light of history. The ending caught me by surprise, though, making for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
October 7, 2019
My second Kincaid book in the series and I was disappointed. The first one I read (Dead of Winter) was soooooo good. In fact I recommend that one to read instead of this one.
There were flashbacks of Kincaid's earlier days in college when he just found out he was going to be a dad. Basically telling his gf to get rid of it anyway possible and he doesn't care what happens to it. That was more interesting than what he is facing in the present.
There were flashbacks of Kincaid's earlier days in college when he just found out he was going to be a dad. Basically telling his gf to get rid of it anyway possible and he doesn't care what happens to it. That was more interesting than what he is facing in the present.
January 23, 2018
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and didn’t know it was part of a series when I started it. It did keep my attention and had an interesting story line but it was a little slow for my taste. I also wasn’t a huge fan on the characters. I think I was expecting more of a fast paced thriller and this was more of a mellow mystery. Not bad but not great.
June 17, 2019
I am hooked on this series and can’t get enough of Louis Kincaid. The first book I read in this series was book 6. I loved it so much I had to start from the beginning at book 1. There is a lot of reference to the previous books throughout the series, but I didn’t find that took away from any of the books. They can be read as stand alones, but I couldn’t stop at one book.
April 19, 2022
Ok this was really good. Full 4 stars. It was easy tor was and hard to put down. It’s a tough subject so my gut wanted to rate it lower, but I can’t.
I am now looking for more from this author. Libby, Hoopla and Cloud all came back with nothing. Not one single book. So I plan to go to second hand stores to see if I can find some. Wish me luck.
I am now looking for more from this author. Libby, Hoopla and Cloud all came back with nothing. Not one single book. So I plan to go to second hand stores to see if I can find some. Wish me luck.
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July 16, 2020I enjoyed it, although slow in the beginning. I felt the daughter had a hidden agenda and that aspect was not expanded on. The twist ending was good but maybe not resolved as realistically as I wanted.
November 9, 2019
Liked the author's style of writing and much of this plot. Not so much the ending. Will try a couple of others by this writer.
May 7, 2020
Kincaid is always caught up in interesting cases. Each one so different yet still the same for me. I look forward to starting his next one right now.
November 1, 2020
Oof that was rough
July 22, 2021
I like the characters and have a feeling there will be more stories with these two. Certainly kept me reading.
January 24, 2023
Enjoyed the book and had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. Was neat that I have been to the locations listed in the story.
December 8, 2023
PJ Parrish always has an excellent plot twist!
November 1, 2024
Very good.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews