Bones to Pick

Mysteries of Aspen Falls #6

by Johnnie Alexander

Nothing is what it seems as veterinarian Ashley Hart treats avalanche victims … and is drawn into a murder investigation.

When an avalanche falls outside Aspen Falls, Colorado, veterinarian Dr. Ashley Hart opens her clinic after hours to treat a dog and a falcon for hypothermia after they spent several freezing hours trapped in an icy cave with their caretaker, local historian Jedidiah Stone -- who discovered a human skeleton during his harrowing experience, and the police suspect foul play.

Although Jedidiah seems innocent, Ashley senses he knows more about the bones than he lets on. Before long, identifying the bones becomes about much more than laying an unfortunate victim of the elements to rest—it turns into a murder investigation and Jedidiah is the main person of interest. Can Ashley decode the clues that will uncover a killer before her greatest fears are realized? If not, she might become the next person in Aspen Falls to fall prey to a cold-blooded murderer.

This clever whodunit from Annie’s Mysteries of Aspen Falls series is a must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, animals, female friendships, and light romance.

Genres: Mystery

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 31, 2025

About the author

Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. As a bestselling, award-winning novelist, she has written more than thirty works of fiction in a variety of genres.

She is a Mosaic Collection author, co-hosts a weekly online show called Writers Chat, serves on the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference Executive Board, and is a regular contributor to the HHHistory.com blog.

A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, Johnnie shares a life of quiet adventure with Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Connect with her at JohnnieAlexander.com.

Reviews

[Laura]

Quirky, but fun

[Victoria Marie Lees]

Bones to Pick by Johnnie Alexander is part of the Aspen Falls Mystery series. The characters are unique and real. And the chemistry between them is satisfying. This helps the reader care about the characters, and even their pets.

Veterinarian Ashley Hart is the amateur sleuth in this novel. With the help of her handsome beau U.S. Park Ranger Cole Hawke, Dr. Hart tries to solve the mystery of whose bones are found in the abandoned silver mine in Colorado near Rocky Mountain National Park.

The interesting thing about the Aspen Falls Mystery series is how the author connects the mystery with animals and pets and involves the veterinarian. The mystery is a plausible and interconnected story. The clues are laid out to give the reader a chance to solve the cerebral puzzle. This is why I love cozies. Everything is tied up in the end. Life isn’t always so organized.

If you’re looking for a good cozy to read this summer, then Bones to Pick by Johnnie Alexander is the mystery for you. Enjoy!

[Cris]

I enjoyed this Second Book in the Mysteries of Aspen Falls. My husband is a bird watcher so i was especially interested in the section on the "hawk" that Dr. Ashley Hart treated. the section on Ashley and Cole trying for their "First" date was well done.

[f_outdoorreads]

I lovvveeedddd this one!!!! Cole is a very large, very green flag and he’s so fun and sweet. So is Ashley, I love them together:) The action, mystery, and intrigue in this one kept me on the edge of my seat, intermixed with the cute Valentines romance… *grins in bookworm glee* Yes it’s kinda cheesy but I’m so invested in this series, and it’s just so COZY and lighthearted and exciting!

[Kamila Mullen]

It was ok, honestly nothing special for a cozy mystery, but it did the job of making me feel cozy with the setting of the book.

[Jeanie Jackson]

I love this series so much! The characters are amazing and fun and the mysteries are complex but reasonable.