Napier's Bones

Bonnie Pinkwater Mystery #5

by Robert Spiller

When a skeleton is unearthed in a field next to East Plains High School, math teacher Bonnie Pinkwater is thrust into a three-decade-old murder. What she uncovers are Satanists, ruthless mercenaries, murderous homecoming queens, a crazed mother, a fateful blizzard, and the death of someone near and dear to her. As her once considerable gifts of memory and deduction are eroded by the trauma of loss, Bonnie must solve a thirty-year-old cold case before the killer decides the best way to remain free is to add one female mathematician to his list of victims.

Genres: Mystery

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2015

About the author

Robert Spiller lives in Colorado Springs with his wife Barbara. Napier's Bones is the fifth in the Bonnie Pinkwater adult cozy mystery series preceded by The Witch of Agnesi, A Calculated Demise, Irrational Numbers, and Radical Equations. A mathematics teacher for thirty-five years, Robert recently retired to write full time.

Reviews

[DeLyn Martineau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I purchased this book at Bob's book launch. I have known Bob for years and have read all his books. Napier's Bones is a nostalgic re-visit to Bonnie Pinkwater's East Plains, with familiar character archetypes blended with twisty, suspenseful mystery. Of the five books, this one is the edgiest, with Bonnie taking risks in ways she didn't in the previous novels. A triumph, Mr. Spiller!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
I did not like the PDF copy, so I checked it out on Amazon, and was able to read for free with my wonderful Kindle Unlimited.

The book started out a little slow, but quickly captured my interest. This is the first Bonnie Pinkwater mystery I have read. Bonnie is a mathematics teacher. So, even against the orders of her superintendent, she gets involved in mysteries, by using her math logic to solve them. The mysteries are entertaining, the art history and math history parts of the book are interesting as well. I really enjoyed this and will recommend this series to my friends who like mystery books.

[Maranda K. Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Spiller did good. Bonnie Pinkwater might even say that this book is well within "the same solar system as Did Good." Spiller's storytelling style is accessible to all readers wanting to be entertained with each turn of the page. His knowledge of math, art, and history is evident and intriguing.

This fast-paced mystery is full of complex, believable characters who keep the action moving through witty conversations. Bonnie Pinkwater is one tenacious teacher whose love of logic gets her into trouble, yet serves local authorities well...whether they ask for her help or not. She allows us as readers to follow her stream of consciousness, and I for one root for her to act on her impulses. She does not disappoint.

I have spent a good amount of time with Bonnie Pinkwater, but Napier's Bones is my favorite adventure yet. I would gladly accompany Missus P. down any hard-pack road. If you haven't checked out her first four tales, you should. In for a penny.

[Patricia Stoltey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Napier’s Bones the best book in the series so far. That might be because of the new characters introduced for this book, characters who are unusual and very interesting. They make the story edge into thriller status and a teensy bit away from cozy mystery. As for math teacher Bonnie Pinkwater, she’s a little spiritual, a little cynical, a little sarcastic, a little sad (and for good reason), but a lot clever and logical and a lot loyal to her dear friends, many of them former students. She’s a person I would like to know.

Spiller opens his novels with a jolt and doesn’t stop with the plot complications and character reveals. You can certainly read Napier’s Bones as a standalone, but I recommend you go back and pick up the first book (The Witch of Agnesi)and read straight through the series (A Calculated Demise, Irrational Numbers, Radical Equations, and Napier’s Bones). Highly recommended.

[Kaye Lynne Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful murder mystery in the Bonnie Pinkwater Mystery Series. I was privileged to be asked to do a review for Napier's Bones by author Robert Spiller. A clever and calculated plot that keeps readers guessing until the last page is turned. To see my full review:
http://www.examiner.com/review/napier...

[Sterling Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story started a bit slowly and initially I hoped for greater , earlier character development, but as the story continued I found the development I was searching for. I enjoyed this book and recommend it for a fun and entertaining light read. I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fast moving plot offers surprise after surprise. I could never guess what would happen next. If you like mathematical puzzles, this book contains a great one. Spiller is very intelligent and that is revealed by the number of subjects he covers in the book. You'll learn a lot and be entertained at the same time. Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

[Kathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel has an interesting story line and an unusual main character. The protagonist is a middle-aged school teacher who sleuths during her down time. I enjoyed the story but there are a few places where it seems to drag a little. Overall a good cozy!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've thoroughly enjoyed all of previous four Bonnie Pinkwater math teacher mysteries, and in this, the fifth installment, Robert Spiller does not disappoint. In fact, I think this is the best one yet.

[Shannon Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonnie Pinkwater is a great character, feisty, determined, and smart. In this novel, she faces great personal hurt while trying to solve a decades old crime, but she pushes through, more determined than ever. Interesting characters, and I enjoyed the facts, both mathematical and historical, scattered throughout the book.

[Misha Fredericks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed but at the end, I didn't like the author not explaining why someone was killed.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little towns have big secrets.

Loved this book!

[Sarah Schattman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gets me excited about Math!

I confess to being one of the girls heavily influenced by 1950's stereo typing and just assumed science and math were the domain of men. I missed out on quite a bit.

Along comes Missus Pinkwater and BAM, I realize math is entertaining. The discipline of thought practiced in math has multiple applications, like solving murders.

Even if you don't love math you will love Robert Spillar's mysteries. They are well written and you will learn something new.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Napier's Bones" was an excellent read. I was impressed with Mr. Spiller's writing when I read "The Witch of Agnesi" and I am still impressed. The characters are very well-written, and I really want to know Bonnie Pinkwater. East Plains is a real enough place to me that I can picture it, and (for the most part) the crimes are very believable. This fifth book in the series does touch on the unbelievable insofar as two of the characters are concerned, but not so much as to take me out of the story.

As far as the story is concerned, Robert Spiller grabs you and holds you with his prose from start to finish. I found it very difficult to put the book down in order to do things like eat and sleep. But even taking time out for those things, I managed to finish in under 2 days. And I wish I would have stretched it out. In addition to the mystery, I continue to enjoy the side stories of the various mathematicians that weave in, out, and around the main story.

Thank you, Robert Spiller, for sharing Bonnie Pinkwater with us.