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Renner & Quist
Bonesy
Bones on the run!
When Reverend Renner’s mentor gives him a brass rubbing of a skeleton, nick-named Bonesy, a chain of calamity ensues. Bonesy breaks free from its frame and begins a violent, chaotic search for––what? It’s up to Renner and his investigative partner, ex-linebacker Dale Quist, to uncover Bonesy’s spectral motives. Bonesy takes Renner & Quist on their most treacherous, rollicking supernatural adventure yet, a journey that will lead them from the ghost of Carole Lombard to the fens of Tudor England. And the books they find along the way are not the sort you can judge by their cover.
- GenresHorror
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2015
210 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 12, 2015
Probably more like 3.5, edging toward 4. The first Renner & Quist book I've read, though I think I might go pick up the rest of them now. This was a fun book. I enjoyed the alternating 1st person POV, though I liked Renner's voice better than Quist. Not that Quist isn't a good, solid guy, he just felt sort of meh to me. Renner, OTOH, was far more interesting to me. Other readers may feel differently, of course. Both characters are well drawn and fleshed-out, so pick your favorite :)
Of course, in the end, my favorite character in this book is Bonesy herself. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it to you, the (potential) reader, to find out what I'm talking about. Let's just say that Bonesy isn't quite what she seems at first. The whole concept of Bonesy -- what she seems in the beginning, what happens with her in the story, what Renner ends up learning about her -- fascinated me. I thought that whole bit was quite well done and interesting.
The part that confused me and didn't quite fit, in my very humble opinion, was the bit with Dale Quist's doctor. I can't say much because it would be VERY spoilery, but there's a situation with his doctor that is quite prominent in the book, but that doesn't really seem to tie into the Bonesy plotline at all. Maybe I'm just too dumb to figure it out, but I definitely could not figure it out. That's what brought down the star rating for me. Again, YMMV. If anyone's read this book (or reads it in the future) and figures out how the two plots hook up, share the secret with me, would you please? Thanks :)
Bottom line: I really enjoyed this book for the most part, except for the confusing secondary plot line. I liked the characters and their voices enough that I want to read the rest of the series.
Of course, in the end, my favorite character in this book is Bonesy herself. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it to you, the (potential) reader, to find out what I'm talking about. Let's just say that Bonesy isn't quite what she seems at first. The whole concept of Bonesy -- what she seems in the beginning, what happens with her in the story, what Renner ends up learning about her -- fascinated me. I thought that whole bit was quite well done and interesting.
The part that confused me and didn't quite fit, in my very humble opinion, was the bit with Dale Quist's doctor. I can't say much because it would be VERY spoilery, but there's a situation with his doctor that is quite prominent in the book, but that doesn't really seem to tie into the Bonesy plotline at all. Maybe I'm just too dumb to figure it out, but I definitely could not figure it out. That's what brought down the star rating for me. Again, YMMV. If anyone's read this book (or reads it in the future) and figures out how the two plots hook up, share the secret with me, would you please? Thanks :)
Bottom line: I really enjoyed this book for the most part, except for the confusing secondary plot line. I liked the characters and their voices enough that I want to read the rest of the series.
August 21, 2015
The fifth entry in the Renner and Quist Adventure series, Bonesy, from author Mark Rigney is an occasionally entertaining but thoroughly uneven read. The book begins well, establishing the central mystery of the story, which concerns a framed brass rubbing of a nearly 500 year old skeleton that may have some supernatural properties. Unfortunately, after the first third of the novel the story becomes unfocused and wordy, spending precious little time on the interesting premise.
The first act of the novel quickly establishes Bonesy as the antagonist of the tale, and an interesting one. She’s a brass rubbing come to life for some nefarious purpose, which will be established late in the novel. Her first scene is smashing out of the glass frame in which she has been displayed and attacking Renner, one of the heroes and narrators, so it’s clear she is up to no good. It takes too long for the purpose behind Bonesy’s actions to come to light and it’s only after cross-country plane flights and road trips that serve no narrative purpose that the reader learns anything. There are extended scenes in which the characters only ruminate on what it is they already know as they move on to the next plot point.
An interesting, and for the most part successful, element of the book is it’s shifting first person narration. The point of view alternates between the two protagonists of the book, Renner and Quist. The chapters alternate between the two men telling their part of the story which is an unusual application of a relatively uncommon plot structure, that of multiple first person perspectives. This is especially effective when the narrator is in the same scene as his partner and the reader is given the insight as to how the men see each other.
Renner is decent character, if often just plain, but his narration is educated and incisive. His backstory is his most fascinating feature and the book would have been well served to explore it deeper. Anytime a reformed New York Dolls-loving punk reforms into a minister there’s a story to tell. Dale Quist is a retired private investigator and current rental-cabin owner and operator. He is a drinker, a womanizer and, if his narrative skills are any guide, a relatively uneducated man. The two men’s relationship, how it can be so close at times and so distant at others is a flaw in the book’s construction that’s tough to get past. It’s basically explained that they have a kinship because they both possess what they call “the feeling”, which is a non-specific understanding of the supernatural.
The novel has a fascinating chapter in the final third of the book that would have worked great as a novella, but as a chapter in the book it was completely unnecessary. Renner finds himself inhabiting the body of another person who lived centuries before, and he finds that he can think, act and feel as both people at once. A great concept that was lost in the wordiness of this book.
There are positives to Bonesy, but they are too few and too brief. A haunted toaster that communicates by burning letters onto individual bread slices, much of Quist’s offhanded dialogue and a supernatural language expert who insists that she is Carol Lombard are a few citations of the fun places this novel should have gone more often.
The first act of the novel quickly establishes Bonesy as the antagonist of the tale, and an interesting one. She’s a brass rubbing come to life for some nefarious purpose, which will be established late in the novel. Her first scene is smashing out of the glass frame in which she has been displayed and attacking Renner, one of the heroes and narrators, so it’s clear she is up to no good. It takes too long for the purpose behind Bonesy’s actions to come to light and it’s only after cross-country plane flights and road trips that serve no narrative purpose that the reader learns anything. There are extended scenes in which the characters only ruminate on what it is they already know as they move on to the next plot point.
An interesting, and for the most part successful, element of the book is it’s shifting first person narration. The point of view alternates between the two protagonists of the book, Renner and Quist. The chapters alternate between the two men telling their part of the story which is an unusual application of a relatively uncommon plot structure, that of multiple first person perspectives. This is especially effective when the narrator is in the same scene as his partner and the reader is given the insight as to how the men see each other.
Renner is decent character, if often just plain, but his narration is educated and incisive. His backstory is his most fascinating feature and the book would have been well served to explore it deeper. Anytime a reformed New York Dolls-loving punk reforms into a minister there’s a story to tell. Dale Quist is a retired private investigator and current rental-cabin owner and operator. He is a drinker, a womanizer and, if his narrative skills are any guide, a relatively uneducated man. The two men’s relationship, how it can be so close at times and so distant at others is a flaw in the book’s construction that’s tough to get past. It’s basically explained that they have a kinship because they both possess what they call “the feeling”, which is a non-specific understanding of the supernatural.
The novel has a fascinating chapter in the final third of the book that would have worked great as a novella, but as a chapter in the book it was completely unnecessary. Renner finds himself inhabiting the body of another person who lived centuries before, and he finds that he can think, act and feel as both people at once. A great concept that was lost in the wordiness of this book.
There are positives to Bonesy, but they are too few and too brief. A haunted toaster that communicates by burning letters onto individual bread slices, much of Quist’s offhanded dialogue and a supernatural language expert who insists that she is Carol Lombard are a few citations of the fun places this novel should have gone more often.
September 14, 2015
I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this book.
Bonesy is the forth part of the Renner and Quist series and part five can't come out soon enough. I adore these stories!! This book takes you by the hand and lures you into the world of Bonesy, a brass rubbing taken from a centuries old memorial of a witch,,, or was she??? The story is fun and spooky but also has some very dark moments for our intrepid ghost hunters. I love the twists that this book has and the cast of characters who come together to solve the mysteries, this time there's not just one. Everyone from the ghost of Carole Lombard to a haunted toaster that gives messages from beyond. I really enjoy the way that Renner and Quist's friendship is developing and that the characters become more real with every story. I can't wait to visit Traverse City and my new favorite duo again! A fast paced and fun 4.5 star read.
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February 10, 2016Thoroughly enjoyed this installment. Plenty of humanity and personal drama to balance the scares. I almost wouldn't call it horror (urban fantasy, perhaps?). Highly readable supernatural fun, leaving our two intrepid human disaster areas in something of a bind. Looking forward to the next.
January 11, 2016
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
I haven’t read the first few books in the Renner and Quist adventure series, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this one. Although parts of it were disjointed and uneven, with the pacing going too fast sometimes and too slow at other times, I did enjoy the original tidbits thrown in, and overall, it was an entertaining read.
I haven’t read the first few books in the Renner and Quist adventure series, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this one. Although parts of it were disjointed and uneven, with the pacing going too fast sometimes and too slow at other times, I did enjoy the original tidbits thrown in, and overall, it was an entertaining read.
May 16, 2016
Renner and Quist are my favorite odd couple. Ever. It takes a masterful writer to dance the line of humor and horror but Mark Rigney is excellent at it. Reading a story that is both scary and humorous is thoroughly enjoyable. I can find myself laughing and being terrified in the same chapter, either by a ghost or by life itself. Let's face it, real life can be scary too. These heroes are flawed, they are human and that's what makes them so easy to love and cheer for.
November 12, 2015
Another excellent tale in the Renner and Quist series. A reader new to this series would not understand all the references to things that happened in previous books - therefore you should start at the beginning and read them all!
Mark does a nice job of tying a few unrelated loose ends all together at the end - well done!
Mark does a nice job of tying a few unrelated loose ends all together at the end - well done!
August 31, 2015
A somewhat disjointed book with promise
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/bonesy... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/bonesy... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
July 30, 2016
OMG! I loved it! I will be reading more of Mr. Rigney's novels.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews