The Bone Orchards

by Elsie Buck

A murdered scholar. A five-century conspiracy. A cave full of the dead that someone will stop at nothing to destroy.

Princeton professor Dr. Fiona Wynne has seventy-two hours to save the most significant archaeological discovery of the century before a demolition team reduces it to rubble. A colleague is missing in the forest. An international conspiracy stretching from a Jesuit cell in 1549 Lisbon to the boardrooms of contemporary Brazil. And a senator with blood on his manicured hands who calls himself a gardener.

A thriller of breathtaking scope and relentless momentum, The Bone Orchards takes Dr. Fiona Wynne from the cobbled streets of Rio de Janeiro to a flooding cave in the Serra Fluminense, from a Protestant cemetery at midnight to the formal gardens of a senator who believes that history belongs to whoever manages it most effectively.

For fans of Dan Brown, Ken Follett, and Agatha Christie, The Bone Orchards delivers everything readers love about the Fiona Wynne series and takes it somewhere darker, deeper, and more dangerous than any previous adventure.

The past is not buried. It is only waiting.

Advance Praise . . .
"I have been recommending Elsie Buck's Fiona Wynne series since The Templar Cypher, but The Bone Orchards is where the series crosses from excellent to essential. The conspiracy at its heart is not merely the suppression of indigenous knowledge systems during the colonial period is documented history, and Buck handles it with the respect and rigor it deserves while never losing the propulsive momentum of a first-class thriller. Senator Fonseca is the most calculating political villain I have encountered in recent fiction, precisely because his argument is coherent and his evil is entirely ordinary. Read this book. Then read it again and pay attention to everything you missed the first time."

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2026

Reviews

[David Pospisil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another exciting archaeological romp with Dr. Wynne.
Outstanding group of characters and a very interesting storyline.
The inclusion of the companion guide is so helpful, I wish every author would include one.
More Fiona Wynne books are definitely in my future.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story will keep you interested from beginning to end. It begins with Fiona at Princeton where she receives a message from Marino who is in Brazil and later receives a package containing information which has her traveling to Brazil.

Read along and follow Fiona as she meets up with various individuals as she looks into finding secrets that have been hidden for a long time in a cave. Discover what action she and her associates perform as they try to resolve the issue before time runs.

This is a story well worth reading and will definitely keep your interest. Don't miss out!

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona is following in her father’s footsteps as an archaeologist when she receives a package from a colleague of her father’s from Brazil. It details information about a Jade Codex Conspiracy, dating back to the days when Europeans first came to the Americas. Fiona enters on an adventure that is full of danger and secret groups intent upon certain information never coming to light.
The thriller/adventure is quick-paced and well-written and I was intrigued from the very beginning.
Thanks to Elsie Buck for the ARC.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. I love a strong female character and if she's a historian or an academic, I'm definitely interested and this story really delivered. It had very interesting characters and a very fast pace. I appreciated how the story developed and gave the main character some hints about not only the mystery she was facing but her own past as well. I appreciated the author's attention to detail and to the setting. I am looking forward to reading more of her work.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Slugpuppy3 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This archeological mystery series just keeps getting better! THE BONE ORCHARDS is beautifully plotted while moving steadily forward through exciting twists and turns. The primary characters are fully drawn with wonderfully realistic interactions. Each book stands alone but, trust me, you’ll want to read them all!

[Calla Hess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story, however it took me awhile to get into but liked it overall! I was a little overwhelmed with locations and people at the beginning and confused myself often. Now that I’ve reached the end of the book have I realized there is a Companion Guide that would have helped me keep track of people much better!

[Anne Pyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! You’re pulled into a whirlwind starting from the very first page and not letting up until the book ends. Whew! Fiona and her various associates race to save both a dear friend and centuries old civilization records. Allow enough time to finish it in one sitting if at all possible. You won’t want to put it down!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an exciting adventure. From NJ to Rio a professor continues her father's quest to get justice for centuries of people killed and covered up. There are many obstacles and life threatening moments to keep these secrets. It goes way deeper than they think. A great story.

[Gabi Porcz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable book (series).
It is like reading an Indiana Jones book only with a female protagonist.
Love it!!