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Bone Deep
"Romantic and chilling - Bone Deep had me on pins and needles till the very last page!" - Kimberly Derting, author of The Body Finder series
Spending the summer on an archeological dig sounds like fun, and it would be, if Paige Patterson didn’t have to work for her dad--the man who walked out on their family. Luckily, her best friend Emily Linton is also interning for her dad. The summer takes on a romantic possibility when she meets Jalen Yazzi--the super attractive son of her father’s project manager.
But then Emily vanishes. As the police struggle for answers, Paige sets out to find the truth.
What was Emily doing alone in the ruins the night she disappeared? Did she see something she shouldn’t have? The search for Emily brings Paige and Jalen closer together, but it also unlocks long hidden crimes and dangerous mysteries.
As Paige digs deeper into Emily’s disappearance, she realizes that uncovering the truth may cost her everything--even her life.
Spending the summer on an archeological dig sounds like fun, and it would be, if Paige Patterson didn’t have to work for her dad--the man who walked out on their family. Luckily, her best friend Emily Linton is also interning for her dad. The summer takes on a romantic possibility when she meets Jalen Yazzi--the super attractive son of her father’s project manager.
But then Emily vanishes. As the police struggle for answers, Paige sets out to find the truth.
What was Emily doing alone in the ruins the night she disappeared? Did she see something she shouldn’t have? The search for Emily brings Paige and Jalen closer together, but it also unlocks long hidden crimes and dangerous mysteries.
As Paige digs deeper into Emily’s disappearance, she realizes that uncovering the truth may cost her everything--even her life.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2015
2 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 29, 2018
Paige is spending the summer with her father at an archaeological dig. Paige loves archaeology but is unhappy at having to see her father and spend time with him after he left her and her mother. After Paige's parents divorce Paige grew distant from her father, blaming him for what happened and for not fighting harder for her. On the bright side though, Paige's childhood friend Emily is at the dig also and Paige has a chance to reconnect with her former best friend. Only there's something Emily isn't telling Paige and when Emily disappears, Paige can't help but question Emily's close relationship with Paige's father.
The book was good, I'd give it 3.5 stars. I enjoyed Paige and Emily's friendship and the romance between Paige and Jalen was cute. I just think that it was pretty obvious right off the bat who Emily was sneaking around with and I can't believe Paige didn't put it together. It was just irritating because Emily is her supposed best friend but Paige is so caught up in herself she can't even see what's so obvious, like come on Paige stop being so self centered. I also felt like the plot was a little bit of a mess with the magic realism thrown in and Emily and Paige's dark past together. All the parts were enjoyable alone but I don't know how well they ended up coming together. I really enjoyed the archaeology in the book though, that was pretty fun to read and something different from other thrillers I've been reading. I think that with a little bit of editing to cut out superfluous parts of the book the story would have been much better though.
The book was good, I'd give it 3.5 stars. I enjoyed Paige and Emily's friendship and the romance between Paige and Jalen was cute. I just think that it was pretty obvious right off the bat who Emily was sneaking around with and I can't believe Paige didn't put it together. It was just irritating because Emily is her supposed best friend but Paige is so caught up in herself she can't even see what's so obvious, like come on Paige stop being so self centered. I also felt like the plot was a little bit of a mess with the magic realism thrown in and Emily and Paige's dark past together. All the parts were enjoyable alone but I don't know how well they ended up coming together. I really enjoyed the archaeology in the book though, that was pretty fun to read and something different from other thrillers I've been reading. I think that with a little bit of editing to cut out superfluous parts of the book the story would have been much better though.
May 3, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and NetGalley.)
“You will fall in love, but you won’t help her and she’s going to die.”
This was a really interesting YA murder-mystery story, with a bit of archaeology thrown in.
I liked Paige in this story, and it was sad that she had had such a difficult time during her parent’s divorce. For one of her oldest friends to then go missing the way she did was really awful for her, especially when she didn’t know if someone close to her was involved.
“Detective Rodriquez is building a case against Jeremy Brown because she believes he might have done something even worse to Emily than he did to me.”
The storyline in this followed Paige and Emily at the start of the story, and then Paige once Emily went missing. I did have an idea of who was behind Emily’s disappearance, but I wasn’t able to guess all of the details! The archaeology in the story was a nice touch though, and I definitely learned some things that I didn’t know before.
“I think the sneakers and the corn are symbolic. A lot of ancient tribal burial ceremonies involved placing moccasins and food along with the body of the loved one. The moccasins symbolised a swift journey to the next world, and the food was to provide nourishment along the way.”
There was a bit of romance, and there was a little bit of a love triangle at one point. I did like the way the romance played out though.
“He takes my face in his hands, carefully moved my hair, and then his lips close over mine.”
The ending to this was pretty good, and we definitely got a bit of action. We didn’t get a 100% happily-ever-after, but hey, this book featured a murder-mystery so what can you expect?
7.5 out of 10
“You will fall in love, but you won’t help her and she’s going to die.”
This was a really interesting YA murder-mystery story, with a bit of archaeology thrown in.
I liked Paige in this story, and it was sad that she had had such a difficult time during her parent’s divorce. For one of her oldest friends to then go missing the way she did was really awful for her, especially when she didn’t know if someone close to her was involved.
“Detective Rodriquez is building a case against Jeremy Brown because she believes he might have done something even worse to Emily than he did to me.”
The storyline in this followed Paige and Emily at the start of the story, and then Paige once Emily went missing. I did have an idea of who was behind Emily’s disappearance, but I wasn’t able to guess all of the details! The archaeology in the story was a nice touch though, and I definitely learned some things that I didn’t know before.
“I think the sneakers and the corn are symbolic. A lot of ancient tribal burial ceremonies involved placing moccasins and food along with the body of the loved one. The moccasins symbolised a swift journey to the next world, and the food was to provide nourishment along the way.”
There was a bit of romance, and there was a little bit of a love triangle at one point. I did like the way the romance played out though.
“He takes my face in his hands, carefully moved my hair, and then his lips close over mine.”
The ending to this was pretty good, and we definitely got a bit of action. We didn’t get a 100% happily-ever-after, but hey, this book featured a murder-mystery so what can you expect?
7.5 out of 10
May 20, 2015
Short yet satisfying read. I loved the setting and how the stories of Native Americans were woven into a modern day tale. I felt the emotions were real in this book. Paige's turmoil over the divorce was handled in a realistic way.
May 12, 2015
Find my review (also) on my Blog: Bettgeschichten
~ I recieved an ARC of Bone Deep from Spencer Hill Press in exchange for an honest review ~
Bone Deep is a very unique and interesting take on the YA murder-mystery genre. It features a unique setting, diverse characters with interesting backgrounds and stories to tell. And there is also some archeology thrown into the mix, too, which was very interest and something I've not encountered in YA before.
I'm a big fan of mysteries, especially murder ones, so I knew Bone Deep would be something for me the moment I read the blurb. Luckily, the book did not disappoint me in any way. I enjoyed seeing this setting with ruins and pieces of information’s and stories about Native Americans. I think we hear about them way too little in school during history, and so it was refreshing to read about. The way Kim O'Brien described it I could easily imagine the characters and places.
“You will fall in love, but you won’t help her and she’s going to die.”
Speaking of which, I liked the characters a lot. I identified a lot with Paige, probably because we are both divorce kids, but also because she was a different character with flaws, one that could also admit and own up to her own mistakes, even if it wasn't easy it do. I liked her relationship with Emily and how it slowly warmed up in the beginning of the story, how we slowly got more information on their past and explored what made their friendship definitely stand out. I felt sorry for her due to the fact how hard she took her parents’ divorce and how she slowly started to figure out that maybe the reasoning behind it wasn't quite the way she thought it was. And also that it wasn't just something mentioned two or three times, but something that really bothered her a lot, which made her even more of a believable character.
I also really liked Jalen with his stoic and sometimes weird behavior, which was understandable yet slightly infuriating at times, though not in any really negative way. It was rather amusing. I really liked seeing him warm up to Paige and their relationship form and evolve in a believable pace. Seeing his background with his memories of his grandparents living in the Navajo Nation and how he wishes to live there one day too was great and new. I've never read a story which featured a character with a Native American background before, which made Jalen quite intriguing.
“I think the sneakers and the corn are symbolic. A lot of ancient tribal burial ceremonies involved placing moccasins and food along with the body of the loved one. The moccasinssymbolised a swift journey to the next world, and the food was to provide nourishment along the way.”
Kim O'Brien very cleverly lead us through the search of who is responsible for Emily's disappearance, made us think that 'I am pretty sure I've figured out who it is' just so she can prove us wrong in every way. The ending and conclusion to who is responsible was believable and surprising, not obvious at all, which I feared might happen but didn't.
All in all I enjoyed Bone Deep very much. I practically read it in two sittings, both way too late at night which meant that the morning after I looked like a sleep deprived zombie but it was worth it. If you're into murder-mysteries and unique characters, this might be the book for you.
~ I recieved an ARC of Bone Deep from Spencer Hill Press in exchange for an honest review ~
Bone Deep is a very unique and interesting take on the YA murder-mystery genre. It features a unique setting, diverse characters with interesting backgrounds and stories to tell. And there is also some archeology thrown into the mix, too, which was very interest and something I've not encountered in YA before.
I'm a big fan of mysteries, especially murder ones, so I knew Bone Deep would be something for me the moment I read the blurb. Luckily, the book did not disappoint me in any way. I enjoyed seeing this setting with ruins and pieces of information’s and stories about Native Americans. I think we hear about them way too little in school during history, and so it was refreshing to read about. The way Kim O'Brien described it I could easily imagine the characters and places.
“You will fall in love, but you won’t help her and she’s going to die.”
Speaking of which, I liked the characters a lot. I identified a lot with Paige, probably because we are both divorce kids, but also because she was a different character with flaws, one that could also admit and own up to her own mistakes, even if it wasn't easy it do. I liked her relationship with Emily and how it slowly warmed up in the beginning of the story, how we slowly got more information on their past and explored what made their friendship definitely stand out. I felt sorry for her due to the fact how hard she took her parents’ divorce and how she slowly started to figure out that maybe the reasoning behind it wasn't quite the way she thought it was. And also that it wasn't just something mentioned two or three times, but something that really bothered her a lot, which made her even more of a believable character.
I also really liked Jalen with his stoic and sometimes weird behavior, which was understandable yet slightly infuriating at times, though not in any really negative way. It was rather amusing. I really liked seeing him warm up to Paige and their relationship form and evolve in a believable pace. Seeing his background with his memories of his grandparents living in the Navajo Nation and how he wishes to live there one day too was great and new. I've never read a story which featured a character with a Native American background before, which made Jalen quite intriguing.
“I think the sneakers and the corn are symbolic. A lot of ancient tribal burial ceremonies involved placing moccasins and food along with the body of the loved one. The moccasinssymbolised a swift journey to the next world, and the food was to provide nourishment along the way.”
Kim O'Brien very cleverly lead us through the search of who is responsible for Emily's disappearance, made us think that 'I am pretty sure I've figured out who it is' just so she can prove us wrong in every way. The ending and conclusion to who is responsible was believable and surprising, not obvious at all, which I feared might happen but didn't.
All in all I enjoyed Bone Deep very much. I practically read it in two sittings, both way too late at night which meant that the morning after I looked like a sleep deprived zombie but it was worth it. If you're into murder-mysteries and unique characters, this might be the book for you.
May 26, 2015
Rating 2.5 stars
Review also at Pinker Than Fiction Reviews.
While Bone Deep has some fascinating elements, it never quite develops into a truly engrossing mystery.
I enjoy a good mystery, so I had high hopes for Bone Deep. The summary entices and in some ways it lives up to those expectations. The insight into an archeological dig is amazing. The history is intriguing and adds a slightly sinister atmosphere to the story. In much the same way, Jalen is a great character, caught between two worlds but trying to find a place rooted in both. He's a smart and spiritual character who's point of view chapters are moving. Emily is also an interesting character whom I would have liked to learn more of through chapters from her point of view. I especially liked her relationship with the MC, Paige. It's intense and there's a mysteriousness to their past friendship that drives readers to want to know more.
Unfortunately, the mystery of Bone Deep does not develop as well as it could've. It's obvious from very early on what happened to Emily, and so the rest of the book is partly a waiting game to see when the characters will finally figure it out. I was disappointed by how much the mystery is actually overshadowed by Paige's self-involvement and the shallow romance between Paige and Jalen. Most of the novel is narrated through Paige's point of view and it's to the detriment of the story that all her focus is on herself - how she's suffered through her parent's divorce, how she feels unloved by her parents, how Jalen doesn't notice her, woe is Paige. Personally, I began to wonder if she cared about Emily at all. At first I felt for Paige, but her attitude is dragged out too long and by the end she simply annoys. I was not invested in Paige's relationship with Jalen either. It's very much a case of insta-love. We're meant to believe in it because Jalen's parents experienced the same sort of instant connection, but no.
O'Brien proves she can write some amazing and tension filled prose throughout Bone Deep. As stated, the archeological element is fab, plus an attempted rape scene is dark and terrifying, and the scenes where Paige confronts Emily's killer make your heart race. O'Brien has a knack for evoking some truly nerve-wracking and darkly atmospheric tones. It's just too bad her focus often draws away from these elements for a lackluster MC and romance. Also, there's some plot lines left unresolved at the end of Bone Deep. What happened to the Native Americans that once lived in the ruins the characters are investigating? But more importantly, what was Paige's father up to? So much tries to portray him as suspicious but when the truth is revealed there's no explanation offered for his actions. It's a little infuriating that this seems to have simply been forgotten. And how can Paige never confront her mother after how she's treated her father?
Bone Deep had the potential to be an awesome read, as it has some truly intense characters and scenes, but unfortunately it's misses keep it solidly in the realm of just okay.
I received this book through NetGalley from Spencer Hill Press for review.
Review also at Pinker Than Fiction Reviews.
While Bone Deep has some fascinating elements, it never quite develops into a truly engrossing mystery.
I enjoy a good mystery, so I had high hopes for Bone Deep. The summary entices and in some ways it lives up to those expectations. The insight into an archeological dig is amazing. The history is intriguing and adds a slightly sinister atmosphere to the story. In much the same way, Jalen is a great character, caught between two worlds but trying to find a place rooted in both. He's a smart and spiritual character who's point of view chapters are moving. Emily is also an interesting character whom I would have liked to learn more of through chapters from her point of view. I especially liked her relationship with the MC, Paige. It's intense and there's a mysteriousness to their past friendship that drives readers to want to know more.
Unfortunately, the mystery of Bone Deep does not develop as well as it could've. It's obvious from very early on what happened to Emily, and so the rest of the book is partly a waiting game to see when the characters will finally figure it out. I was disappointed by how much the mystery is actually overshadowed by Paige's self-involvement and the shallow romance between Paige and Jalen. Most of the novel is narrated through Paige's point of view and it's to the detriment of the story that all her focus is on herself - how she's suffered through her parent's divorce, how she feels unloved by her parents, how Jalen doesn't notice her, woe is Paige. Personally, I began to wonder if she cared about Emily at all. At first I felt for Paige, but her attitude is dragged out too long and by the end she simply annoys. I was not invested in Paige's relationship with Jalen either. It's very much a case of insta-love. We're meant to believe in it because Jalen's parents experienced the same sort of instant connection, but no.
O'Brien proves she can write some amazing and tension filled prose throughout Bone Deep. As stated, the archeological element is fab, plus an attempted rape scene is dark and terrifying, and the scenes where Paige confronts Emily's killer make your heart race. O'Brien has a knack for evoking some truly nerve-wracking and darkly atmospheric tones. It's just too bad her focus often draws away from these elements for a lackluster MC and romance. Also, there's some plot lines left unresolved at the end of Bone Deep. What happened to the Native Americans that once lived in the ruins the characters are investigating? But more importantly, what was Paige's father up to? So much tries to portray him as suspicious but when the truth is revealed there's no explanation offered for his actions. It's a little infuriating that this seems to have simply been forgotten. And how can Paige never confront her mother after how she's treated her father?
Bone Deep had the potential to be an awesome read, as it has some truly intense characters and scenes, but unfortunately it's misses keep it solidly in the realm of just okay.
I received this book through NetGalley from Spencer Hill Press for review.
February 21, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
4.5 Stars
An epic thriller set in Arizona, Bone Deep is a whirlwind novel that is hard to put down. With its plucky protagonist and unique plot, readers will find themselves immersed in this mystery. This is definitely a book that will be read in one sitting by most!
Bone Deep is an amazing mystery about the disappearance of the main character, Paige's, best friend, Emily. There are strange clues left behind that keep the characters on their toes. This book is filled with action, second-guesses and suspense as Paige searches for her friend and attempts to find the culprit. Kim O'Brien has created a thriller in Bone Deep that will keep the reader guessing until the final twist!
What makes this book so breathtaking is its beautiful setting. Bone Deep takes place in Arizona at the ruins of a Native American reserve. Kim O'Brien has depicted this exotic setting so well, that the creepy caves and tunnels seem to come to life for the reader. This setting creates the perfect backdrop for a mystery to unravel.
O'Brien has created the ultimate strong female character in this novel. Paige, the main character, is very strong willed, yet also compelling and slightly flawed. Throughout the story, Paige is determined to find out what happened to her friend, no matter how great the danger. She doesn't give up, even when she is hurt and the cards are down. It is most likely Paige's sarcasm that sees her through, as it definitely provides humour to the story and makes it very entertaining to read. Also, readers will feel empathy for Paige as she copes with her parents' divorce and struggles with the disappearance of her best friend. She handles the events extremely well and perseveres.
One really unique aspect to this novel is the way O'Brien educates readers about archaeology. Paige's dad is an archaeologist and she is sent to spend the summer with him against her will. As Paige is dealing with other events in her life, she is also on an archaeological dig. Bones and pottery are found in the ruins that create an element of excitement and gives the readers a window to the world of ancient cultures.
If you enjoy books like Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver, you will definitely enjoy Bone Deep. Similarly, the two books tell the story of a missing girl and the characters' journey to find her. Bone Deep also has many references to Native American legends that is very different and creative. This book goes by so quickly, but will leave the reader satisfied.
4.5 Stars
An epic thriller set in Arizona, Bone Deep is a whirlwind novel that is hard to put down. With its plucky protagonist and unique plot, readers will find themselves immersed in this mystery. This is definitely a book that will be read in one sitting by most!
Bone Deep is an amazing mystery about the disappearance of the main character, Paige's, best friend, Emily. There are strange clues left behind that keep the characters on their toes. This book is filled with action, second-guesses and suspense as Paige searches for her friend and attempts to find the culprit. Kim O'Brien has created a thriller in Bone Deep that will keep the reader guessing until the final twist!
What makes this book so breathtaking is its beautiful setting. Bone Deep takes place in Arizona at the ruins of a Native American reserve. Kim O'Brien has depicted this exotic setting so well, that the creepy caves and tunnels seem to come to life for the reader. This setting creates the perfect backdrop for a mystery to unravel.
O'Brien has created the ultimate strong female character in this novel. Paige, the main character, is very strong willed, yet also compelling and slightly flawed. Throughout the story, Paige is determined to find out what happened to her friend, no matter how great the danger. She doesn't give up, even when she is hurt and the cards are down. It is most likely Paige's sarcasm that sees her through, as it definitely provides humour to the story and makes it very entertaining to read. Also, readers will feel empathy for Paige as she copes with her parents' divorce and struggles with the disappearance of her best friend. She handles the events extremely well and perseveres.
One really unique aspect to this novel is the way O'Brien educates readers about archaeology. Paige's dad is an archaeologist and she is sent to spend the summer with him against her will. As Paige is dealing with other events in her life, she is also on an archaeological dig. Bones and pottery are found in the ruins that create an element of excitement and gives the readers a window to the world of ancient cultures.
If you enjoy books like Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver, you will definitely enjoy Bone Deep. Similarly, the two books tell the story of a missing girl and the characters' journey to find her. Bone Deep also has many references to Native American legends that is very different and creative. This book goes by so quickly, but will leave the reader satisfied.
June 12, 2015
Find this review and more fantastical things at The Leaning Tower of Tomes.
More like a 3.5 rating.
Source: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. This in no way affects my review; all opinions are my own. Thank you, Spencer Hill!
More like a 3.5 rating.
Source: I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. This in no way affects my review; all opinions are my own. Thank you, Spencer Hill!
The review:
Bone Deep is an interesting and engaging thriller about the search for a missing girl. It's set in the Arizona desert with a focus on archaeology and Navajo culture. I really liked the book's unique themes -- I actually briefly wanted to be an archaeologist, and I love reading about Native American legends (well, any legends to be frank). I enjoyed how some of the legends were incorporated into the book's overall plot.
The book centers on the disappearance of a girl named Emily -- who happens to be our protagonist's best friend. Emily was awesome (for the first quarter of the book she was in). She was smart but also flawed. She was an adrenaline junkie, a total risk taker. She was a true friend to Paige, willing to repair the damage to the friendship after years apart. Their relationship was rocky and they fought during their brief reunion, but Emily had a clear head, unlike Paige (I'll get to that in a moment), and she was my favorite character in the whole book. Author Kim O'Brien has done a wonderful job at making us care for the character the protagonist goes to find/who is their motivation. So many books just expect you to care without showing you why you should (a recent example is An Ember in the Ashes), but I loved Emily and was truly devastated when she vanished.
Besides the whole whodunit plot, a lot of Bone Deep focuses on Paige's strained relationship with her father, an archaeology professor. Paige's parents got divorced and she hasn't forgiven her father for abandoning her; she believes he values his work over his daughter and so blames him for the break-up. The book is also Paige's journey to come to grips with her feelings after the divorce, but I found her constant resentment and wallowing in her emotions to be frustrating and tedious. I do love books that have the parent(s) around, being protective and logical (eh, for the most part) and actually having stuff to do plot-wise -- and Paige's dad is definitely a large presence here. At the book's end when her mom briefly shows up -- and with a new soon-to-be hubby in tow -- I was expecting Paige to talk to her mom about the things she, Paige, had learned and finally understood. But that didn't happen. Which I really felt was a missed opportunity. It was disappointing after the huge amount of time dedicated to the divorce.
Paige herself infuriated me at times. She acted so stupidly and lost all sense of logic when her emotions blinded her -- emotions concerning her father and Emily to be specific. I really disliked Paige for a large chunk of the book. (You guys know how protagonists who make dumb decisions rub me the wrong way.) But I didn't ever hate her because most of her stupid actions were fueled with her determination and desperation to find out what happened to Emily. The girls were true best friends since childhood -- they fought, they made up, they caused trouble, but they were always there for each other in the end. I just wish Paige had been a bit smarter and safer in her efforts to find Emily.
I had a fun time guessing who was the culprit behind Emily's disappearance. I figured it out only shortly before Paige did. Maybe it was more obvious to other readers, but I liked all the second-guessing and the feeling of not being able to completely trust what anyone said. There was a constant skin-tingling atmosphere about the book. And the archaeological ruins the characters frequently explored made it even creepier.
There is some romance in the book, and the love interest is a guy named Jalen. He's half Navajo, half white, and he has conflicted feelings about his identity, ethnicity, and culture. He was a sweet guy with satisfactory chemistry with Paige, but I found the romance a bit tiring and not very special. It was also a mild case of insta-love, and you guys know how insta-love and I get along (meaning we don't). Additionally, the fact that Paige and Jalen were falling in love with each other while their friend went missing and was very likely murdered felt a little odd. Weird timing, guys? I'm pretty certain that I wouldn't be feeling all lovey-dovey if I'd just lost my best friend. But, hey, we have to throw in romance in every YA book these days it seems. The one here wasn't bad, but it just felt out of place and rushed.
The story is told from Paige's POV -- mostly. There are a few (and I mean very few) chapters told from Emily and Jalen's perspectives. These occasional chapters from those two characters felt super random when they popped up -- I think Emily actually only had one chapter to herself! The inconsistency was jarring. Personally, I would have loved to have Paige and Emily as alternating narrators until Emily disappeared, and then have Jalen take over Emily's chapters. Or, better yet, just have the entire book told from Paige's voice. Dual/multiple perspective in first person is getting really old in YA.
Overall, I did really like Bone Deep. It's an interesting mystery that's never dull and introduces multiple characters to suspect. It makes you really care about the missing person the plot revolves around -- and that's my favorite thing about it. ♦
So tell me...
Have you read Bone Deep? If you haven't, would you be interested to? What was the last book about a "missing" person, such as the protagonist's friend, you read? Comment below letting me know! And, as always, happy reading!
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August 29, 2022
This was such a great read, I loved these characters and this mystery!
May 17, 2015
3 stars. Interesting premise, poor delivery.
Bone Deep was a mixed bag for me. It had a lot of promise, as I went into the novel thinking it was going to be dark and atmospheric. Instead, it struggled with the kind of story it wanted to tell, fluctuating between an almost paranormal kind of mystery and saccharine romance.
The beginning of the novel hinted at a dark, complex backstory between the primary narrator, Paige, and her former friend, Emily, setting up an intense relationship between the two. This darkness carried through until about the middle of the novel, ending around the time Paige begins to form her intense feelings!!! for the other narrator, Jalen. Their “relationship” really strained the story and took me out of the moment several times, as I couldn’t get over the fact that Paige was melting over a boy while her former best friend was mysteriously missing, possibly even dead. With that being said, Paige’s character was kind of annoying to begin with so I’m not really surprised that her character got distracted so easily.
Moving on. I wanna focus on what I thought was done well--Jalen Yazzi. The novel is primarily told in first person by Paige, but there are several chapters where it is narrated by Jalen. The reader gets an interesting glimpse into his life, as he is someone who describes himself as being “divided in half by blood”. Jalen is part Navajo, part white, and his ethnic identity is an essential component of the plot. I won’t give away too much, but there are some arguably paranormal aspects to the story that revolve around Navajo mythology. Considering how much of the story takes place at an ancient Native American ruin, it only makes sense for the Navajo people and their mythology to play a part in the novel.
Jalen’s narration also sheds light on Navajo people and the issues they face in the modern day, especially the high rate of alcoholism among Native American people in general. His uncle struggles with alcoholism and Jalen’s respect and sympathy towards his uncle was admirable, showing the goodness of his personality and the complexity of the addiction.
I hate that I even have to say this, but I appreciate the tasteful and humanizing approach that O’Brien had with writing the Native Americans in the story. As a people, they are all too often overlooked or dehumanized within media today, so Jalen’s perspective is really important. I just wish we could’ve gotten more of his narration instead of Paige.
The end of the novel, with all the mystery culminating in the inevitable and violent reveal, was absurd to me. It read strangely, like it was almost a dark comedy, and not something super serious and engaging. I couldn’t help but laugh a few times at the execution of it all. Following the grand reveal, the events weren’t really discussed among the main characters, which was really jarring. The plot shifted completely and focused exclusively on Paige and Jalen and their feelings, which felt so wacky in the context. This really threw the whole mystery-thriller aspect of the novel off for me.
Overall, this could have been a really good book if Paige focused less on her feelings for Jalen and more on the disappearance of her best friend. The romance was the biggest flaw, as it weighed the story down and watered down the seriousness of the events. It wasn’t a terrible read though. If you don’t really mind cliché love and are interested in a YA mystery with interesting mythology and diversity, then this will probably be a good book to read. O’Brien is clearly a good writer and knows what she’s doing. I just wish she could have toned down the insta-love.
(Note: There’s a sexual assault scene early on in the story so I wanted to make that known in case it could be triggering for anyone to read.)
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
“It seemed proof that fear could open doors to other worlds, that the greater the fear we produced in ourselves, the greater the power it gave us to tap into those worlds.”
Bone Deep was a mixed bag for me. It had a lot of promise, as I went into the novel thinking it was going to be dark and atmospheric. Instead, it struggled with the kind of story it wanted to tell, fluctuating between an almost paranormal kind of mystery and saccharine romance.
The beginning of the novel hinted at a dark, complex backstory between the primary narrator, Paige, and her former friend, Emily, setting up an intense relationship between the two. This darkness carried through until about the middle of the novel, ending around the time Paige begins to form her intense feelings!!! for the other narrator, Jalen. Their “relationship” really strained the story and took me out of the moment several times, as I couldn’t get over the fact that Paige was melting over a boy while her former best friend was mysteriously missing, possibly even dead. With that being said, Paige’s character was kind of annoying to begin with so I’m not really surprised that her character got distracted so easily.
Moving on. I wanna focus on what I thought was done well--Jalen Yazzi. The novel is primarily told in first person by Paige, but there are several chapters where it is narrated by Jalen. The reader gets an interesting glimpse into his life, as he is someone who describes himself as being “divided in half by blood”. Jalen is part Navajo, part white, and his ethnic identity is an essential component of the plot. I won’t give away too much, but there are some arguably paranormal aspects to the story that revolve around Navajo mythology. Considering how much of the story takes place at an ancient Native American ruin, it only makes sense for the Navajo people and their mythology to play a part in the novel.
Jalen’s narration also sheds light on Navajo people and the issues they face in the modern day, especially the high rate of alcoholism among Native American people in general. His uncle struggles with alcoholism and Jalen’s respect and sympathy towards his uncle was admirable, showing the goodness of his personality and the complexity of the addiction.
"You love them, but you also fear them because when they're drinking, there are no filters--only intense, dark emotions. Hateful things come out of their mouths, words that shoot like bullets and hurt all the worse because you can't shield yourself from the truth in them."
I hate that I even have to say this, but I appreciate the tasteful and humanizing approach that O’Brien had with writing the Native Americans in the story. As a people, they are all too often overlooked or dehumanized within media today, so Jalen’s perspective is really important. I just wish we could’ve gotten more of his narration instead of Paige.
The end of the novel, with all the mystery culminating in the inevitable and violent reveal, was absurd to me. It read strangely, like it was almost a dark comedy, and not something super serious and engaging. I couldn’t help but laugh a few times at the execution of it all. Following the grand reveal, the events weren’t really discussed among the main characters, which was really jarring. The plot shifted completely and focused exclusively on Paige and Jalen and their feelings, which felt so wacky in the context. This really threw the whole mystery-thriller aspect of the novel off for me.
Overall, this could have been a really good book if Paige focused less on her feelings for Jalen and more on the disappearance of her best friend. The romance was the biggest flaw, as it weighed the story down and watered down the seriousness of the events. It wasn’t a terrible read though. If you don’t really mind cliché love and are interested in a YA mystery with interesting mythology and diversity, then this will probably be a good book to read. O’Brien is clearly a good writer and knows what she’s doing. I just wish she could have toned down the insta-love.
(Note: There’s a sexual assault scene early on in the story so I wanted to make that known in case it could be triggering for anyone to read.)
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2015
This book had some elements of a truly great mystery, yet others left it falling short. For instance, I guessed from early on what happened to Emily and who was responsible for it. The author tried hard to throw misdirection at us and line up possible suspects, but I wasn't fooled in the least. My main issues with this book revolved around the main character, Paige. It is one of the problems with having a teenage protagonist, teenagers are self-absorbed. The author caught the essence of a teenage girl with precision; unfortunately, it detracted from the core of the story, at least what I would have preferred the core to be. Instead of focusing on the disappearance of best friend, Emily, we are forced to listen to woe is me moments from Paige. She can't get over her parent's divorce. She doesn't want to spend time with or even really talk to her father because she thinks he chose his career over his family. When she actually learns more about what happened with her parents marriage, she is unwilling to confront her mother about it. I guess it just bothered me that we had to hear her hate on her father so much, but wouldn't hate on her mother when it was more deserved. I really didn't like how it took so much away from the mystery of this book--the disappearance of Emily. I enjoyed Jalen's character. He was a great addition and helped bring the Native American aspect into the story. He was a great way to bring in the culture and history that was necessary to this story. It revolved around an archaeological dig of an ancient Native American site. Some moments in this book were quite nail-biting in their intensity. I just wish we could have gotten more of Emily and less of Paige. Even more Jalen. I really would have liked to get to know him better. Overall, it was an enjoyable mystery that kept me wanting to dig deeper.
July 9, 2015
Thanks to Spencer Hill Press and Net Galley for providing a copy of Bone Deep for me to read in exchange for an honest review. Bone Deep was an engaging read that drew me into its pages and kept me guessing until the bitter end. Paige Patterson is struggling to come to turns with her parents bitter divorce and what she perceives as her father's abandonment and is unhappy about having to visit him at his new home in Arizona. The visit seems as though it will be unbearable until Paige connects with a friend from her past, Emily Linton. When Emily goes missing under suspicious circumstances Paige works to find out what happened to her friend and to clear the name of someone close to her. I thought Bone Deep was well written overall although there were a few plot threads that seemed to fall from sight without any resolution. The story arc involving Jeremy Brown seemed to gain speed but then was hastily tossed aside without further thought. There were a couple of other threads like that as well. I did enjoy the mystery of Emily's disappearance and was shocked to find out who the killer was at the end. I think this will appeal to older teens who enjoy a well written mystery that keeps you thinking who dunnit?
April 3, 2015
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. Thank you, Spencer Hill Press!
Knowing little about Native American culture and mythology, Bone Deep is a fascinating look at an anthropological dig in Arizona, where Paige Patterson goes spend the summer with her recently divorced dad. The descriptions of the ruins and the tombs are so detailed that you can almost feel the heat of the desert in your back. When Paige's best friend goes missing, she finds herself entangled in a mystery as deep as the canyons. The plot is suspenseful, even if I did guess whodunit right from the beginning. Still, the red herrings are well done, so that you can never be sure that everyone is who they seem. The one thing that I didn't like was Paige herself, so self-involved that she doesn't see what's happening right in front of her. All her internal monologues about how hard her parents' divorce hit her get a little grating. That's why I think it takes a while for the mystery to get going though, once it does, it doesn't stop. I especially enjoyed the Native American myths and explanations about their culture. A nice, solid read.
Knowing little about Native American culture and mythology, Bone Deep is a fascinating look at an anthropological dig in Arizona, where Paige Patterson goes spend the summer with her recently divorced dad. The descriptions of the ruins and the tombs are so detailed that you can almost feel the heat of the desert in your back. When Paige's best friend goes missing, she finds herself entangled in a mystery as deep as the canyons. The plot is suspenseful, even if I did guess whodunit right from the beginning. Still, the red herrings are well done, so that you can never be sure that everyone is who they seem. The one thing that I didn't like was Paige herself, so self-involved that she doesn't see what's happening right in front of her. All her internal monologues about how hard her parents' divorce hit her get a little grating. That's why I think it takes a while for the mystery to get going though, once it does, it doesn't stop. I especially enjoyed the Native American myths and explanations about their culture. A nice, solid read.
April 7, 2015
**I received an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Seventeen year old Paige has not dealt well with her parent's recent divorce. When she is forced to go across country for the summer to stay with her archaeologist father, Paige is determined not to make the best of it. However a reunion with a long lost friend, and the addition of a new cute dig project co-worker Jalen, start changing her whole summer outlook. But when one of there group goes missing, Paige and Jalen have to work together to try and solve the mystery of what really happen.
What I liked about this book:
-I read it in one day, so it's an easy read and kept my attention
-Love the setting and topic. Books on archaeology always have so much history to pull from.
-Secondary characters were well developed.
What I didn't like about this book-
-Not a fan of multiple POV books, and this one had 3 at one point
-I think the beginning was a little slow and the end felt rushed to me.
-Wish there had been more one-on-one time with Paige and Jalen at the beginning. I really didn't warm up to him until 2/3 in the book!
Seventeen year old Paige has not dealt well with her parent's recent divorce. When she is forced to go across country for the summer to stay with her archaeologist father, Paige is determined not to make the best of it. However a reunion with a long lost friend, and the addition of a new cute dig project co-worker Jalen, start changing her whole summer outlook. But when one of there group goes missing, Paige and Jalen have to work together to try and solve the mystery of what really happen.
What I liked about this book:
-I read it in one day, so it's an easy read and kept my attention
-Love the setting and topic. Books on archaeology always have so much history to pull from.
-Secondary characters were well developed.
What I didn't like about this book-
-Not a fan of multiple POV books, and this one had 3 at one point
-I think the beginning was a little slow and the end felt rushed to me.
-Wish there had been more one-on-one time with Paige and Jalen at the beginning. I really didn't warm up to him until 2/3 in the book!
November 16, 2015
Being from Arizona, this book sparked my interesting regarding the setting. And I love a good murder thriller. 17 yro Page visits her dad at an archeologist dig in Arizona. She didn't take her parent's divorce well, because she thought her dad gave up on her so there's some attitude given. She discovers her former friend Emily is working on the dig. When Emily goes missing, Page stops at nothing to find her.
Kim did a wonderful job with the setting of the archeologist dig. I learned some things I never knew! She also did a wonderful job at weaving in the culture of Native Americans. I truly felt like I was home with Kim's excellent detail on the setting. I felt like I was there with Page in the caves and tunnels.
A very engrossing mystery set in a beautiful place with a touch of romance. Bone Deep will keep readers guessing what happened to Emily until the very end!
Kim did a wonderful job with the setting of the archeologist dig. I learned some things I never knew! She also did a wonderful job at weaving in the culture of Native Americans. I truly felt like I was home with Kim's excellent detail on the setting. I felt like I was there with Page in the caves and tunnels.
A very engrossing mystery set in a beautiful place with a touch of romance. Bone Deep will keep readers guessing what happened to Emily until the very end!
November 20, 2015
This was a very interesting read. The archaeological and mythological aspect of the book was fascinating. The author is really good about making the setting come alive. It was very easy to visualize what was going on in the story.
The mystery in the novel was fast-paced and the author did an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing. There was however something about the way the final action went down that felt a little off. The guilty character seemed a little over done to me.
That nitpick aside, the rest of the characters were very believable and it was a real page-turner. I would definitely read more by this author.
The mystery in the novel was fast-paced and the author did an excellent job of keeping the reader guessing. There was however something about the way the final action went down that felt a little off. The guilty character seemed a little over done to me.
That nitpick aside, the rest of the characters were very believable and it was a real page-turner. I would definitely read more by this author.
May 3, 2015
A nice read, this one. I haven't read any mystery/crime novels in a while, and this book was a good return to that genre.
I liked the Arizona setting, and the archaeology. The Native American mythology was used cleverly as an integral part of the plot.
The story was a bit slow going, so the first third could have had a slightly quicker pace to match the ending. Final third was good - filled with suspense and tension.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley.
I liked the Arizona setting, and the archaeology. The Native American mythology was used cleverly as an integral part of the plot.
The story was a bit slow going, so the first third could have had a slightly quicker pace to match the ending. Final third was good - filled with suspense and tension.
I received an arc of this book from Netgalley.
April 29, 2015
This was a so so read. I mean I knew and solved the mystery before the ending of the book. Although I didn't care for the characters the writing was good and it was a fast read for me. Plus I liked the folklore about the Native Americans that was talked about within the book. I will have a thorough review on my blog creatyvebooks.com.
I received Bone Deep from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
I received Bone Deep from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
September 7, 2015
Awesome Story
This is Kim O'Brien's best book so far. Great characters, wonderful plot line and overall just a great read. If you're looking for a great beach read, this is it!
This is Kim O'Brien's best book so far. Great characters, wonderful plot line and overall just a great read. If you're looking for a great beach read, this is it!
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