Bones of Evidence

Jayne and Steelie #3

by Clea Koff

Some secrets refuse to stay buried.A convicted serial killer has finally agreed to reveal where he buried thirteen women.

But when forensic specialists Jayne and Steelie are called in to identify the bodies, they make a horrifying discovery. What should be a cold case has a terrifying connection to a woman who has just gone missing.

Jayne and Steelie are in a race against time as their work puts them on a collision course with another killer – one who will stop at nothing to bury the truth forever.

A chillingly addictive thriller that will keep you guessing, perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 29, 2026

About the author

Clea Koff, who is mixed-race and Jewish, was born in 1972 to a Tanzanian mother and an American father, both documentary filmmakers focused on human rights issues. Her parents took her and her older brother, Kimera, with them around the world. She spent her childhood in England, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, and the United States.

By the time she was a teenager she had decided to study human osteology, which she did first in California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Stanford University. Koff then went on to the master's program in forensic anthropology at the University of Arizona. She completed her masters degree in 1999 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, after combining her studies with working for the UN between 1996 and 2000.

As a 23-year-old graduate student studying prehistoric skeletons in California, Koff joined a small team of UN scientists exhuming victims of the genocide in Rwanda. Her job was to find evidence to bring the perpetrators to trial, and to help relatives to identify their loved ones. Koff captured the events in her memoir The Bone Woman, which was published in 2004.

Reviews

[Jacquelyn Dohoney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read all three of the books in this series and I think this one is my favorite so far. Part of it is because certain things in the personal lives of the characters are coming to a head. In saying this, I hope it doesn’t mean the series is coming to an end soon! The relationships between the characters is so well-formed, it really makes them jump off the page. They’re not just characters you root for, they’re also characters that oftentimes seem like real people. But one of the most interesting things about this book was the introduction of a character which I have honestly never seen before, and I read a lot. Of course, some people will vehemently disagree with me on this, and that’s fine. But I thought the introduction of an intersex character (called hermaphroditism when I was a kid) really drew me in. I had no idea that the condition (for lack of a better word) resulted in so many structural and skeletal changes. I found it absolutely fascinating to read about. And of course, this author would know about it far more than most. She’s literally seen it all; she’s a forensic anthropologist herself. Having been in the forensics industry and being a huge science junkie, I couldn’t get enough of it! And the story itself was equally fascinating. The tension was constantly ramping up between the characters personal lives and the two concurrent cases. A real page turner for sure and a must read if you are interested in forensics!

Huge thanks to Avon Books UK | Avon and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

[Patricia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now read all three of Clea Koff's novels about forensic Anthropologists Steelie and Jayne and they just keep getting better and better. Bones of Evidence tells of their search to find and identify the remains of the victims of serial killer and former FBI agent Gene King. King has history with Jayne and her FBI boyfriend Scott and takes great pleasure in psychologically tormenting them whenever he can despite being under lock and key. At the same time the team are asked to work on a 16 year old missing persons case from Australia. Alex, presumed by her family to be the victim of another serial killer. Once her brother reveals a vital piece of information to Jayne and Steelie they
work to unravel what actually happened to her remains, putting themselves in danger into the bargain. Add lots of interstate travel and their developing love lives and Bones of Evidence becomes another brilliant read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Bones of Evidence by Clea Koff

This is the first of Clea Koff’s books I have read, and I was drawn in straight away. When a convicted serial killer finally reveals the burial sites of thirteen women, the forensic team uncover an extra set of remains that do not belong to any known victim. At the same time a young woman goes missing, and the pressure quickly builds.

The author’s forensic experience shines through. The detail feels real, but it is written with care and respect, giving the investigation emotional weight. I liked the balance between past and present, and the way the evidence is used to slowly reveal the truth.

Jayne and Steelie are strong, believable leads whose partnership adds depth without distracting from the plot. The mystery is dark and gripping, and the steady tension kept me engaged throughout.

A compelling, thoughtful and atmospheric thriller. I will definitely read more from this series.

[Lori Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received through Netgalley to review, this is an honest review.

Thank you Avon Books UK for the approval to read this book.

Right from the beginning, Clea Koff sets Bones of Evidence to brilliant start and never lets the reader forget what's at stake for forensic specialists Jayne and Steelie brought on board as the more bodies surface; the more secrets and truths are discover and broken like mirror glass.

The delicate balance the authors takes with harrowing descriptive scenes with the dark realty of those individuals that have the complex task of giving a voice to those they can no longer speak for themselves.

[Chrissie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Exciting story ,Jayne and Steelie are Forensic Scientists who are called in by the FBI to help recover and identify the remains that a convicted killer has finally revealed the burial site ,there are 13 bodies to find but they then discover extra remains and a young girl has gone missing .A fast paced compelling story, very enjoyable .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.