Restless Bones

A Shaw Connolly Mystery #2

by Gillian French

Fingerprint analyst Shaw Connolly grapples with both a new case and the lingering presence of her sister's killer in Gillian French's second compelling Maine thriller.

When a missing woman’s body is discovered in a submerged car one year after her disappearance, Shaw Connolly is called to process the scene. She finds a single print belonging to a long-dead female ex-con; could it be the key to identifying the murderer? As usual, Shaw won't stop looking until she’s dredged up more than a few hidden crimes.

All the while, Shaw’s past won’t let her go. Just as the Connolly family begins to find some peace after the arrest of Shaw’s sister’s killer, Anders Jansen, Shaw receives a request from her state police contact. Anders, in prison awaiting trial, has claimed responsibility for the murders of two other young women whose cases have grown cold over the past decade. But he refuses to help the police unless Shaw agrees to act as a special consultant in the search.

Despite her misgivings—Anders’s love of malicious mind games is as toxic as ever—Shaw could never prolong another family’s suffering. Her agreement to assist jeopardizes not only the fragile healing of her own family’s wounds, but the rebuilding of her marriage and her relationship with her youngest son, who’s colliding with some hard truths of how cruel people can be. It seems, for Shaw, closure is a long way off . . . but danger may be closer than she thinks.

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 16, 2026

About the author

Gillian French is the author of SHAW CONNOLLY LIVES TO TELL and RESTLESS BONES, both from Minotaur Books, and five novels for teens from various publishers: GRIT, THE DOOR TO JANUARY, THE LIES THEY TELL, THE MISSING SEASON, and SUGARING OFF. Her short fiction has placed in many competitions, including Writer's Digest and Zoetrope: All Story contests, and has been published in such magazines as Mystery Tribune m. She holds a BA in English and lives in her native state of Maine with her husband and four sons, where she's perpetually at work on her next novel.

Reviews

[Trisha]

I really liked the first story that introduced us to Shaw Connolly! I can't wait to read this one!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first grabbed this, I did not realize that this is book two in the series, and so I found myself having to backtrack to book one so I could fully understand and enjoy this novel completely.

Once I'd caught up, Restless Bones is dark, twisty, moody and the perfect continuation to Shaw Connolly's adventures in small-town Maine...one that will trap you within its pages and dark whispers... promising you secrets that perhaps should never leave the shadows.

Once more Gillian French has managed to bring forward something so raw and relatable, and yet also bringing something that is tense, and at times... utterly horrifying.

When a missing person shows up in a submerged car almost one year after her death... Shaw Connolly is summoned to help investigate the case... where she finds only one print belonging to a female con long-dead.... and a mystery that spirals only deeper...

Things only spiral when news is announced of her sister's killer's arrest. It seems that her past won't let her go after all... but perhaps the arrest of Anders Jansen might bring her and the rest of the Connolly family justice ...

Or perhaps closure is something that is not as simple as it seems... for Anders' games are as deceitful as they are...and his mind games are as good as ever and yet Shaw can't leave another family to suffer as hers has... can she?

But regardless, danger might be closer than Shaw has ever experienced.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars — Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

I’m glad I took the time to read the first book in this series before starting Restless Bones, because I would have missed a lot of the early nuances—especially the insinuations involving Shaw, her coworkers, and her sister Thea. Having the full background definitely added depth and context to the story.

That said, Shaw is not my favorite character. Her constant sarcasm started to grate on me after a while, and I wasn’t thrilled to see Anders become an active character again. I was hoping my experience might be different this time reading versus listening to the audio version of the first book, but his presence was still unsettling.

There’s a lot happening in this installment: Shaw and Ryan’s marriage struggles, the undeniable chemistry between Shaw and McKenzie, multiple murder investigations, her son’s issues at school, her father’s ongoing lawsuit from book one, and helping Anders locate the bodies of missing women he confesses to killing. At times it felt a bit busy, but it definitely kept the pace moving.

I did guess part of the ending fairly early, but overall this was a solid read. I actually enjoyed this second book more than the first and I’m still curious enough to continue the series and see where it goes next.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book before realizing it was the second in a series -- definitely recommend reading these in order as many of the events in the first book are crucial to this plot.

Shaw and her family are still reeling from the fallout of her sister's fifteen year old cold case finally being solved. But just when they think they can start to put the past behind them and start to move on, her sister's killer throws a wrench in that plan: he will share the location of other women he has murdered and buried, but he will only speak to Shaw.

Meanwhile, the fingerprinting team is trying to solve two unique cases that will put their expertise to the test.

I really enjoyed the first book but by the time I got to the end of this one, Shaw's character started to grate on me. The fingerprinting angle is a really interesting new twist on a police procedural, but I just don't think this is the FMC for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid four star read for me. Restless Bones follows Shaw Connolly as she looks into the discovery of human remains connected to an old case. The story focuses on small town secrets and the damage they leave behind. The mystery builds as Shaw uncovers pieces of the past that people tried hard to forget. The setting feels cold and tense which matches the tone of the story very well.

I liked how much time the book spent on Shaw as a character. She feels real and flawed and still driven to do the right thing. Her grief and determination shape the way she handles the case. The supporting characters add depth and make the town feel lived in. The twists were well done and the ending felt satisfying. This was a thoughtful and emotional mystery that worked well as a series installment.

[BHK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Restless Bones is dark, twisty, and full of that haunting small town Maine atmosphere Gillian French writes so well. Shaw Connolly is such a layered character…tough, brilliant, but clearly still haunted by her sister’s murder. I loved how the book balanced the investigative side with the deeply personal fallout of Shaw’s past. It’s not only about solving crimes, but about trauma, guilt, and what happens when the past refuses to stay buried. If you like moody and character driven thrillers, add this to your TBR!

[CONSTANCE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shaw Connolly is a fingerprint specialist in Maine. She’s called to work a submerged car where a missing woman’s body is found. But the lone usable print belongs to a dead ex-con. Alongside solving this mystery is the request by an incarcerated serial killer wanting to deal only with her in order for him to tell where his other victims are buried.
In book # 1, Connolly’s sister goes missing and that story is referenced frequently but enough info is provided that we don’t have to have read it to understand book # 2. But always feel free to start with that one if you wish.

[Sophia Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gillian French delivers another dark, atmospheric thriller that hooked me from the first page. Shaw Connolly is such a raw, complex character, and watching her navigate a new case while confronting the trauma of her past made the story feel incredibly real. The mystery kept twisting in ways I didn’t expect, and the emotional stakes were just as intense as the crime itself. If you love thrillers with depth, heart, and unforgettable suspense, this one is a must-read.

[Kacey Rayburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell, I've been eagerly waiting for the second installment. French is back again with compelling characters, moody atmosphere, and a dark humor that I live for. I could literally feel the endless grind of crime, the long, restless hours, and lonely nights drinking at the bar. Restless Bones is a bullet to the heart, with suspense that gnaws at you and leaves you grinning in a puddle of blood.