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The Bone Field #1
The Bone Field
1990: a young woman goes missing while backpacking in Thailand. She is never seen again. 2016: her bones are discovered 6000 miles away in an English field and, within hours, the boyfriend who reported her disappearance all those years ago is dead. So begins a hunt to solve her murder that will take DI Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd into a dark and terrifying world of corruption and deadly secrets, where murder is commonplace, and nothing and nobody is safe.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2017
227 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
About the author
Simon Kernick
73 books1,158 followersSimon Kernick (born 1966 in Slough, Berkshire) is a British thriller/crime writer now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and two daughters. He attended Gillotts School, a comprehensive in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Whilst he was a student his jobs included fruitpicker and Christmas-tree uprooter. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in humanities. Kernick had a passion for crime fiction writing from a young age and produced many short stories during his time at polytechnic. After graduating Kernick joined MMT Computing in London in early 1992, where a relative was the Chairman and Managing Director. Kernick was a key member of the sales team and was very highly regarded. However, he left the company after 4 years in the hope of trying to secure a publishing deal. Despite interest from a number of publishers Kernick was unable to secure a deal, so he joined the sales force of the specialist IT and Business Consultancy Metaskil plc in Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1998 where he remained until he secured his first book deal (The Business of Dying) in September 2001. His novel Relentless was recommended on Richard & Judy's Summer book club 2007. It was the 8th best-selling paperback, and the best-selling thriller in the UK in the same year
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
February 7, 2017
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Simon Kernick, and Random House UK for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Bringing his Ray Mason character back for a new round of police adventures, Simon Kernick has a recipe for success with the plot of this novel. During a holiday in 1990, a young woman's body goes missing in Thailand, never to be found. With nothing on which to go, life continues for everyone, including the seemingly distraught Henry Forbes, boyfriend to the victim. Twenty-six years later, Forbes has information about his missing girlfriend and reaches out to DI Ray Mason, citing that the body is in England and the killer is part of a large group that have many sinister plans. While Mason and Forbes are meeting on the sly, a group attacks the house and leaves Forbes dead, with Mason only just able to escape. His superiors are furious but also baffled when they discover the body, as well as that from another cold-case from around the same time. DI Mason is put in touch with a private investigator, Tina Boyd, who was also contacted by Forbes, and they begin piecing together what might have happened and who could be behind the murder decades ago, as well as the recent attack and murder of Forbes. Mason remembers an occult symbol on Forbes' arm and seeks to determine if it is a solid clue. Just as the authorities are honing in on a viable suspect, Mason makes an error that has fatal consequences, which has him suspended. Refusing to give up, Mason works with PI Boyd to trace the events of Thailand and before to determine who might be trying to exact revenge all these years later. What they discover shakes them to the core and leaves the door open for scores of other potential victims. Kernick offers readers a powerful and well-paced story that could flourish into an intriguing series, should the author desire.
This is my first time reading anything by Simon Kernick and I found it highly entertaining. While I might usually read a series in order (meaning I might have secured and read the first Ray Mason novel to get sufficient context), I did not feel lost or out of place by entering at this stage. Kernick develops a few key characters in an effective manner, particularly his protagonist. Mason is a complex police officer, whose past on the Force has been anything but smooth sailing. Added to that, his traumatic childhood, which helps coax out certain dramatic portion of the narrative, as well as allowing the reader to forge an instant connection. The premise of the story is interesting as well, though it was not as 'captivating' as some of the dust jacket narratives might have led me to hope. Murders, especially cold cases, can have a wonderfully complex nature, leaving the detective to pull at any strings and chase many paths, some of which lead nowhere. While I was not up late into the night, wondering what could be waiting in the next chapter, Kernick has developed a strong foundation, should Mason and PI Boyd return for another instalment. I will keep an eye out for it, in hopes that the impact is as effective.
Kudos, Mr. Kernick for this entertaining piece of writing. I see you have a lot of other books in your collection, which might be something for me to explore later on this year.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Bringing his Ray Mason character back for a new round of police adventures, Simon Kernick has a recipe for success with the plot of this novel. During a holiday in 1990, a young woman's body goes missing in Thailand, never to be found. With nothing on which to go, life continues for everyone, including the seemingly distraught Henry Forbes, boyfriend to the victim. Twenty-six years later, Forbes has information about his missing girlfriend and reaches out to DI Ray Mason, citing that the body is in England and the killer is part of a large group that have many sinister plans. While Mason and Forbes are meeting on the sly, a group attacks the house and leaves Forbes dead, with Mason only just able to escape. His superiors are furious but also baffled when they discover the body, as well as that from another cold-case from around the same time. DI Mason is put in touch with a private investigator, Tina Boyd, who was also contacted by Forbes, and they begin piecing together what might have happened and who could be behind the murder decades ago, as well as the recent attack and murder of Forbes. Mason remembers an occult symbol on Forbes' arm and seeks to determine if it is a solid clue. Just as the authorities are honing in on a viable suspect, Mason makes an error that has fatal consequences, which has him suspended. Refusing to give up, Mason works with PI Boyd to trace the events of Thailand and before to determine who might be trying to exact revenge all these years later. What they discover shakes them to the core and leaves the door open for scores of other potential victims. Kernick offers readers a powerful and well-paced story that could flourish into an intriguing series, should the author desire.
This is my first time reading anything by Simon Kernick and I found it highly entertaining. While I might usually read a series in order (meaning I might have secured and read the first Ray Mason novel to get sufficient context), I did not feel lost or out of place by entering at this stage. Kernick develops a few key characters in an effective manner, particularly his protagonist. Mason is a complex police officer, whose past on the Force has been anything but smooth sailing. Added to that, his traumatic childhood, which helps coax out certain dramatic portion of the narrative, as well as allowing the reader to forge an instant connection. The premise of the story is interesting as well, though it was not as 'captivating' as some of the dust jacket narratives might have led me to hope. Murders, especially cold cases, can have a wonderfully complex nature, leaving the detective to pull at any strings and chase many paths, some of which lead nowhere. While I was not up late into the night, wondering what could be waiting in the next chapter, Kernick has developed a strong foundation, should Mason and PI Boyd return for another instalment. I will keep an eye out for it, in hopes that the impact is as effective.
Kudos, Mr. Kernick for this entertaining piece of writing. I see you have a lot of other books in your collection, which might be something for me to explore later on this year.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
November 25, 2016
I love Simon Kernick novels so I was looking forward to this one which is due to be released January 2017.
This author is a great story teller, his plots are well thought out and excellently paced and are full of interesting characters.
This novel features DI Ray Mason who with the help of an old Kernick character PI Tina Boyd try to uncover the truth behind the murder of Kitty Sinn who died back in 1990. Kitty went missing in Thailand back in 1990 so it is a mystery why her bones have now turned up in the grounds of an old Catholic school in Buckinghamshire. Her boyfriend and the man who reported her missing, Henry Faust, comes forward with his lawyer and tells DI Ray Mason of the Met’s Homicide Command that he knows what happened to Kitty, and who killed her.
Another excellent novel by this top author who never lets me down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This author is a great story teller, his plots are well thought out and excellently paced and are full of interesting characters.
This novel features DI Ray Mason who with the help of an old Kernick character PI Tina Boyd try to uncover the truth behind the murder of Kitty Sinn who died back in 1990. Kitty went missing in Thailand back in 1990 so it is a mystery why her bones have now turned up in the grounds of an old Catholic school in Buckinghamshire. Her boyfriend and the man who reported her missing, Henry Faust, comes forward with his lawyer and tells DI Ray Mason of the Met’s Homicide Command that he knows what happened to Kitty, and who killed her.
Another excellent novel by this top author who never lets me down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2016
3.5 Stars
It was the writing that lost those extra stars for me this time. In particular, it really gets on my nerves when sections are finished with things like: 'which, as it turned out, was to prove a very big mistake' or 'thinking that, right now, things couldn't get much worse for me. But in that I was very, very wrong'. Having picked up a crime thriller, i'm pretty certain that shit's going to happen, and that a detective who gets himself in this much trouble is going to do it again. I do not need the equivalent of dun dun duuuunnnn at the end of every chapter. Other than this, the style was very light. It fit with the speed of the plot but everything felt like it was surface; I don't know much about the characters involved and I care even less. Which was a shame because the story involved missing girls, ritualistic murder, gangland killings, a professional 'cleaner' etc etc. That part was top notch. It would make a good film, that's for sure. It just didn't have quite enough for me to make it a really good book.
Arc received from Netgalley.
It was the writing that lost those extra stars for me this time. In particular, it really gets on my nerves when sections are finished with things like: 'which, as it turned out, was to prove a very big mistake' or 'thinking that, right now, things couldn't get much worse for me. But in that I was very, very wrong'. Having picked up a crime thriller, i'm pretty certain that shit's going to happen, and that a detective who gets himself in this much trouble is going to do it again. I do not need the equivalent of dun dun duuuunnnn at the end of every chapter. Other than this, the style was very light. It fit with the speed of the plot but everything felt like it was surface; I don't know much about the characters involved and I care even less. Which was a shame because the story involved missing girls, ritualistic murder, gangland killings, a professional 'cleaner' etc etc. That part was top notch. It would make a good film, that's for sure. It just didn't have quite enough for me to make it a really good book.
Arc received from Netgalley.
February 6, 2017
The bones of a 21 year old woman who went missing in Thailand in the 1990's have been discovered in the grounds of an old Catholic school.
Henry Faust, her boyfriend who reported her missing comes forward with his lawyer and tells D.I. Ray Mason of the Met's Homicide Command that he knows what happened to kitty and who the killer was. So the hunt for the truth begins.
Another well written, page turning crime thriller from Simon Kernick.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Simon Kernick for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Henry Faust, her boyfriend who reported her missing comes forward with his lawyer and tells D.I. Ray Mason of the Met's Homicide Command that he knows what happened to kitty and who the killer was. So the hunt for the truth begins.
Another well written, page turning crime thriller from Simon Kernick.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Simon Kernick for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2017
Why haven't any of Simon Kernicks books been picked up and adapted for a film yet?
As many of my friends will know Simon Kernick is one of my favourite authors alongside Tom Wood, Mark Dawson.
Another great book, is it his best, no but not far away. So you asked why not a five star ?
One thing I can say.... I read his short story "Flytrap" just before... That is one reason....
In 1990 21 year old Kitty Sinn and her boyfriend went on a holiday to Thailand where Kitty mysteriously disappeared. Recently bones have been discovered and the boyfriend and his lawyer have come forward and informed DI Ray Mason that he knows what happened to Kitty and who killed her. The hunt for the truth finds Ray and PI Tina Boyd confronting a number of ruthless, cold blooded villains who will go to extreme lengths to prevent their secrets from being uncovered.
I should mention here great to see PI Tina Boyd in the story, one of my favourite characters of Simon Kernick's well one of my favourite characters full stop !
DI Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd are two great characters with the same flaws, makes them perfect as a team, outsiders who both like to do things there own way, and not always by the book, Tina and Ray have been through hell in the past and they make a very good team because their characters are so alike.
Again Simon Kernick has given us a strong villain among a collection of good and very bad characters, with pace, tension and a powerful fast paced story.
A four star as mentioned no characters from Flytrap, and due to the very frustrating cliffhanger of an ending. Now we have to wait till Ray Mason number 3 !
Simon Kernick as a four star book is still better than most authors can dream about but I believe the second half of this book could have finished a little better, just my humble thoughts.
As many of my friends will know Simon Kernick is one of my favourite authors alongside Tom Wood, Mark Dawson.
Another great book, is it his best, no but not far away. So you asked why not a five star ?
One thing I can say.... I read his short story "Flytrap" just before... That is one reason....
In 1990 21 year old Kitty Sinn and her boyfriend went on a holiday to Thailand where Kitty mysteriously disappeared. Recently bones have been discovered and the boyfriend and his lawyer have come forward and informed DI Ray Mason that he knows what happened to Kitty and who killed her. The hunt for the truth finds Ray and PI Tina Boyd confronting a number of ruthless, cold blooded villains who will go to extreme lengths to prevent their secrets from being uncovered.
I should mention here great to see PI Tina Boyd in the story, one of my favourite characters of Simon Kernick's well one of my favourite characters full stop !
DI Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd are two great characters with the same flaws, makes them perfect as a team, outsiders who both like to do things there own way, and not always by the book, Tina and Ray have been through hell in the past and they make a very good team because their characters are so alike.
Again Simon Kernick has given us a strong villain among a collection of good and very bad characters, with pace, tension and a powerful fast paced story.
A four star as mentioned no characters from Flytrap, and due to the very frustrating cliffhanger of an ending. Now we have to wait till Ray Mason number 3 !
Simon Kernick as a four star book is still better than most authors can dream about but I believe the second half of this book could have finished a little better, just my humble thoughts.
January 4, 2018
Decent enough story and I liked the relationship between DI Mason and Tina Boyd but what a crappy ending!!
December 27, 2017
Occasionally you come across a book that is decent enough to grab your attention and is yet not that great a story.
This young girl disappeared in Thailand years ago and yet her body is dug up in England many years later. A police officer is invited to a mansion in the country on the subject of the missing girl and her odd appearance under the green soil of England. And he witnesses a execution of the man he was supposed to speak. A former friend of the Missing girl living in France gets a visit from a sinister character called Mr Bone who wants her to shut up about something she might have seen a long time ago. A former police-officer called Tina Boyd gets a job to find the woman in France and ends up nearly being killed. A policeman gets knowledge about an investigation into the actions of a very powerful criminal organisation and finds them connected to his investigations into the missing girls' whereabouts. A shedload of stuff happens and yet when you get to the end of the book you find the conclusion somewhat unsatisfying and then find out in the last line of the book that there is most certainly a sequel planned. This book looked stand alone but it is not.
I hate when that happens. Otherwise a fairly decent read.
This young girl disappeared in Thailand years ago and yet her body is dug up in England many years later. A police officer is invited to a mansion in the country on the subject of the missing girl and her odd appearance under the green soil of England. And he witnesses a execution of the man he was supposed to speak. A former friend of the Missing girl living in France gets a visit from a sinister character called Mr Bone who wants her to shut up about something she might have seen a long time ago. A former police-officer called Tina Boyd gets a job to find the woman in France and ends up nearly being killed. A policeman gets knowledge about an investigation into the actions of a very powerful criminal organisation and finds them connected to his investigations into the missing girls' whereabouts. A shedload of stuff happens and yet when you get to the end of the book you find the conclusion somewhat unsatisfying and then find out in the last line of the book that there is most certainly a sequel planned. This book looked stand alone but it is not.
I hate when that happens. Otherwise a fairly decent read.
January 9, 2017
The first half of this book is Simon Kernick at his best, with an intriguing mystery and diverse characters who you know are going to link up but you don't quite know how. In the second half however it descends into nonsense and an endless killing fest. If you didn't like Lee Child's "Make Me" because the villains were so unpleasant, I'd suggest you also give this one a miss.
And the ending - a total cliffhanger, setting up a sequel - means either I have to read more of this inanity or settle for just not knowing. Either way - NOT HAPPY.
And the ending - a total cliffhanger, setting up a sequel - means either I have to read more of this inanity or settle for just not knowing. Either way - NOT HAPPY.
October 23, 2017
The book never really reached the heights of The Witness that introduced Ray Mason to us. He has been reassigned and is now a humble DS and many inside the force have their doubts about him.
This series also combines the talents of Tina Boyd as a private investigator, a well known protagonist of Simon Kernick but as yet I haven’t read any of these.
This is a shocking investigation that has roots in a cold case and a modern conspiracy of abuse of women concealed in a satanist cult.
Convincing gang culture and distrust of the police give depth to this intriguing plot. Some of the set pieces are graphic and the body count rises steeply as the case gets more involved and the criminals more desperate.
From Thailand to Spain; inner city violence and isolated country houses where witnesses are afraid to talk and the criminal conspiracy date not let them testify.
A page turning thriller that takes you along for the ride.
This series also combines the talents of Tina Boyd as a private investigator, a well known protagonist of Simon Kernick but as yet I haven’t read any of these.
This is a shocking investigation that has roots in a cold case and a modern conspiracy of abuse of women concealed in a satanist cult.
Convincing gang culture and distrust of the police give depth to this intriguing plot. Some of the set pieces are graphic and the body count rises steeply as the case gets more involved and the criminals more desperate.
From Thailand to Spain; inner city violence and isolated country houses where witnesses are afraid to talk and the criminal conspiracy date not let them testify.
A page turning thriller that takes you along for the ride.
December 14, 2016
Yep. Great stuff here from Mr Kernick. Great protagonists and YAY for the start of a series that I know I'm going to follow along with because really. Great stuff.
Review to follow as a 2017 ones to watch soon. Ish. I'm very behind with the review writing!
But this is recommended. Definitely.
Review to follow as a 2017 ones to watch soon. Ish. I'm very behind with the review writing!
But this is recommended. Definitely.
December 15, 2016
Classic Simon Kernick: Fast-paced, thrilling, and totally addictive! :) xx
February 7, 2017
Updated review
Question???
Why haven't any of Simon Kernicks books been picked up and adapted for tv or film yet?.The bloke really knows how to write heart pounding,nail biting,action packed thrillers packed with realistic characters,loads of twists and although some of the chapters can be quite long at times not a single bit of padding,every word is necessary to the story.His books are consistently well written,gripping thrill rides and The Bone Field is no exception,it's a fast paced roller coaster from beginning to end.
In 1990 21 year old Kitty Sinn and her boyfriend went on a holiday to Thailand where Kitty mysteriously disappeared.Recently bones have been discovered and the boyfriend and his lawyer have come forward and informed DI Ray Mason that he knows what happened to Kitty and who killed her.The hunt for the truth finds Ray and PI Tina Boyd confronting a number of ruthless,cold blooded villains who will go to extreme lengths to prevent their secrets from being uncovered.
Ray reminds me of Mike Bolt a character that I have a bit of a sold spot for but who unfortunately does not appear in this book,Ray like Mike will go to any lengths to get the information that he needs even if it means breaking a few laws and maybe a few bones along the way.I have always liked Tina Boyd,both Tina and Ray have been through hell in the past and they make a very good team because their characters are so alike.
The mystery of what had happened to Kitty was very intreguing and were my favourite parts of the book.The villains of the story are the usual evil,twisted individuals that you expect to find in a book by Simon Kernick including one villain who was so cold and emotionless I felt chills everytime he appeared throughout the book.This is the first book in a new series so there are some questions that are left unanswered.
This is a very good,gripping thriller which deserves a Hell of a lot more than 5 stars and has a totally unexpected twist at the end. I throughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to finding out what is going to happen next.
Many thanks to Century/penquin random house and Simon Kernick for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
Question???
Why haven't any of Simon Kernicks books been picked up and adapted for tv or film yet?.The bloke really knows how to write heart pounding,nail biting,action packed thrillers packed with realistic characters,loads of twists and although some of the chapters can be quite long at times not a single bit of padding,every word is necessary to the story.His books are consistently well written,gripping thrill rides and The Bone Field is no exception,it's a fast paced roller coaster from beginning to end.
In 1990 21 year old Kitty Sinn and her boyfriend went on a holiday to Thailand where Kitty mysteriously disappeared.Recently bones have been discovered and the boyfriend and his lawyer have come forward and informed DI Ray Mason that he knows what happened to Kitty and who killed her.The hunt for the truth finds Ray and PI Tina Boyd confronting a number of ruthless,cold blooded villains who will go to extreme lengths to prevent their secrets from being uncovered.
Ray reminds me of Mike Bolt a character that I have a bit of a sold spot for but who unfortunately does not appear in this book,Ray like Mike will go to any lengths to get the information that he needs even if it means breaking a few laws and maybe a few bones along the way.I have always liked Tina Boyd,both Tina and Ray have been through hell in the past and they make a very good team because their characters are so alike.
The mystery of what had happened to Kitty was very intreguing and were my favourite parts of the book.The villains of the story are the usual evil,twisted individuals that you expect to find in a book by Simon Kernick including one villain who was so cold and emotionless I felt chills everytime he appeared throughout the book.This is the first book in a new series so there are some questions that are left unanswered.
This is a very good,gripping thriller which deserves a Hell of a lot more than 5 stars and has a totally unexpected twist at the end. I throughly enjoyed reading it and look forward to finding out what is going to happen next.
Many thanks to Century/penquin random house and Simon Kernick for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
December 28, 2016
The one thing that you can rely on with a Simon Kernick book is that you know you're going to have an adrenaline rush of a read full of nasty villians and heros who aren't quite as squeaky clean as we would expect. I do love a bad boy detective don't you?!
DS Ray Mason, whom we met in The Witness, is called to a house by Henry Forbes and his family solicitor as Henry says he has some information about a missing girl. Kitty Sinn went missing in Thailand but Henry already knows that recent remains found in the UK are those of his missing girlfriend. Unfortunately, someone doesn't want Henry to talk. And with that introduction The Bone Field really draws the reader into the mystery of the missing Kitty-how has the body of a girl who went missing thousands of miles away ended up being uncovered in the UK and what did Henry know that contributed to his own murder?
The plot that unravels here is so involving that this book becomes unputdownable quite early on. I loved Ray and his "get the job done at all costs" mentality. But this was taken to a whole new level once he teamed up with Tina Boyd. Yes, Tina is back and thrown into the deep end straight away. And as all the threads started coming together and the body count began to rise, I found myself totally enthralled by the action and was caught out as the storyline didnt follow the path I had predicted.
I can really recommend this book to both fans of Simon Kernick and to anyone new to his work. I didn't realise until after I had finished that it seems to be the start of a new series so it would a great point to start for any newbies! And I definitely can't wait to see what happens next!
DS Ray Mason, whom we met in The Witness, is called to a house by Henry Forbes and his family solicitor as Henry says he has some information about a missing girl. Kitty Sinn went missing in Thailand but Henry already knows that recent remains found in the UK are those of his missing girlfriend. Unfortunately, someone doesn't want Henry to talk. And with that introduction The Bone Field really draws the reader into the mystery of the missing Kitty-how has the body of a girl who went missing thousands of miles away ended up being uncovered in the UK and what did Henry know that contributed to his own murder?
The plot that unravels here is so involving that this book becomes unputdownable quite early on. I loved Ray and his "get the job done at all costs" mentality. But this was taken to a whole new level once he teamed up with Tina Boyd. Yes, Tina is back and thrown into the deep end straight away. And as all the threads started coming together and the body count began to rise, I found myself totally enthralled by the action and was caught out as the storyline didnt follow the path I had predicted.
I can really recommend this book to both fans of Simon Kernick and to anyone new to his work. I didn't realise until after I had finished that it seems to be the start of a new series so it would a great point to start for any newbies! And I definitely can't wait to see what happens next!
February 21, 2017
Now I don’t think Simon Kernick needs much of an introduction as I (and many others) consider him to be a household name and one of the biggest names in UK-based thriller writing. However, if you have never read a Simon Kernick novel before (…seriously? You’ve been missing out!) then all you need to know is that Simon has released a number of darn good, bestselling, high intensity thrillers over the years and continues to do so (I hope, for many years to come). He leads the way for British crime thriller writers, leaving many in his wake.
The majority of Simon’s books are standalone thrillers chock full of action, adventure and heaps of excitement. He has previously published a couple of three-part serial thrillers but this, The Bone Field, marks the start of a brand new series. And what a series it’s going to be! High energy, action packed reading that’ll keep your heart rate high and your attention glued to the pages. Some books should come with a health warning and this is certainly one of them. Edge of your seat stuff that I insist you read!
What I love about The Bone Field is that the author, as is customary in his previous books, has used fully developed, pre-existing, previously published characters but put them up against (or with, in this case!) a new ally. The Bone Field features DI Ray Mason who is now working at part of the Met’s Homicide Command. We have met DI Mason before when he featured in The Witness (published June 2016) but back then he was part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. DI Mason (who I love by the way, he’s nearly everything I look for in my detectives…just not quite grumpy enough!) contacts a PI by the name of Tina Boyd as part of the ongoing investigation. There was something familiar about Tina to me. A strange sense of recognition. That was when I realised that she is the lead protagonist in Relentless (pub. 2006), Target (pub. 2009) and The Last 10 Seconds (pub. 2010), all of which I have read and very much enjoyed. What a treat! The simmering chemistry between Ray and Tina was quite addictive. As I may have mentioned before, I’m not one for romance in my crime books but they really worked for me.
I loved the action which was well written and at a consistent pace throughout. This novel was incredibly easy to read, I polished it off in two short days (that’s quick for me). There is, unsurprisingly in a Simon Kernick novel, a number of violent scenes but regular readers of the blog will know that the more gore and violence in a book, the more it appeals to me. I would also like to mention the villain of this book who is by far one of the creepiest bad guys I have met in a novel for some time. Expertly written much like the majority of characters within the pages of The Bone Field. I very much enjoyed the plot which I found twisty and unpredictable from start to finish. And as for that last sentence….WOW!!
Would I recommend this book? I would as it’s a high octane, well written thriller by an author who knows his characters inside out and round-side-round. To be able to maintain such a high level of action and suspense is a real skill and Simon Kernick is a master of the thriller. I can’t wait for the second book in this new series.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an ARC of The Bone Field. Many thanks to Sam Deacon at Penguin Random House for providing me with a copy. All of the above views are my own and are unbiased.
The majority of Simon’s books are standalone thrillers chock full of action, adventure and heaps of excitement. He has previously published a couple of three-part serial thrillers but this, The Bone Field, marks the start of a brand new series. And what a series it’s going to be! High energy, action packed reading that’ll keep your heart rate high and your attention glued to the pages. Some books should come with a health warning and this is certainly one of them. Edge of your seat stuff that I insist you read!
What I love about The Bone Field is that the author, as is customary in his previous books, has used fully developed, pre-existing, previously published characters but put them up against (or with, in this case!) a new ally. The Bone Field features DI Ray Mason who is now working at part of the Met’s Homicide Command. We have met DI Mason before when he featured in The Witness (published June 2016) but back then he was part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. DI Mason (who I love by the way, he’s nearly everything I look for in my detectives…just not quite grumpy enough!) contacts a PI by the name of Tina Boyd as part of the ongoing investigation. There was something familiar about Tina to me. A strange sense of recognition. That was when I realised that she is the lead protagonist in Relentless (pub. 2006), Target (pub. 2009) and The Last 10 Seconds (pub. 2010), all of which I have read and very much enjoyed. What a treat! The simmering chemistry between Ray and Tina was quite addictive. As I may have mentioned before, I’m not one for romance in my crime books but they really worked for me.
I loved the action which was well written and at a consistent pace throughout. This novel was incredibly easy to read, I polished it off in two short days (that’s quick for me). There is, unsurprisingly in a Simon Kernick novel, a number of violent scenes but regular readers of the blog will know that the more gore and violence in a book, the more it appeals to me. I would also like to mention the villain of this book who is by far one of the creepiest bad guys I have met in a novel for some time. Expertly written much like the majority of characters within the pages of The Bone Field. I very much enjoyed the plot which I found twisty and unpredictable from start to finish. And as for that last sentence….WOW!!
Would I recommend this book? I would as it’s a high octane, well written thriller by an author who knows his characters inside out and round-side-round. To be able to maintain such a high level of action and suspense is a real skill and Simon Kernick is a master of the thriller. I can’t wait for the second book in this new series.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an ARC of The Bone Field. Many thanks to Sam Deacon at Penguin Random House for providing me with a copy. All of the above views are my own and are unbiased.
October 14, 2018
it is an very good thriller. it has it's flaws like some charcaters which seems a bit bizarre like the dark man or even the main hero who have an amazing and a bit unbelievable childhood of a father who tried to kill him. but on the whole we can forgive all because the moral stand and issue of the writer with human traffic and sex crimes and because it is tough, full with action and pace keeping. i would cut some of the repetative explanations the cup is doing to himself and the reader but interesting and well written.
October 11, 2018
A solid four star read from a reliable author. This story has Ray Mason and Tina Boyd looking into a twenty plus year old death in Thailand which comes back to haunt the victim's former boyfriend. To be continued - the story, not the review (such as it is).
October 12, 2020
So awful I could barely BEGIN it, let alone finish it. Clunky writing, unlikely characters, and ALREADY a woman who, despite being stalked, doesn't call the police.
Give me a break.
Give me a break.
April 10, 2018
If you need a shot of adrenaline in your reading life, then grab a Simon Kernick novel. The British thriller writer is a master when it comes to helter-skelter plotlines that quicken the pulse as the pages whir. Someone really needs to turn some of his novels into movies or TV - they seem ideal for screen adaptation: exciting plots, interesting characters, plenty of action.
THE BONE FIELD brings two of Kernick's intriguing past characters together in one book. DI Ray Mason, from THE WITNESS, has moved from counter-terrorism to homicide but is still a somewhat-rogue, do-whatever-it-takes cop. Tina Boyd, who featured in many of Kernick's thrillers, is no longer with the police force, but working as a private eye. Over the course of Kernick's oeuvre, Boyd grew from minor role to major star - like Mason she was a maverick cop with bucketloads of issues, so the pairing of the duo is like a lit fuse burning down towards a stack of dynamite.
Kernick's 'good guys' are often more anti-hero than hero, but he leaves no doubt with his villains. They're beyond bad, and THE BONE FIELD features some real nasties. It's kicked off when Mason is contacted by middle-aged Henry Forbes, whose girlfriend went missing in Thailand a quarter century ago. So how come her body now gets found in England? Before Forbes can confess to Mason what he knows, or what he did, their meeting is violently interrupted by professional killers.
From there, we're off to the races. Mason knows something bigger is going on, and is determined to find out, regardless of the danger. He needs to colour outside official lines, and that's where Boyd and her skills come in. Simple plans shatter. Each quickly finds themselves neck-deep in danger.
There's a particular sinister killer in this one, and the secrets that get uncovered are pretty dark. Kernick thatches an intriguing plot, keeps the narrative pedal to the metal, and had me engaged with the dynamic between Mason and Boyd. It's not flawless, but there's a heck of a lot to like.
There are many different kinds of thriller writers, so how you feel about Simon Kernick may depend on where your preferences fall. He's very good at what he does, one of the best. If you're keen on action-packed reads that'll have you laminated to your seat, that delve into the darker parts of the criminal underworld, and where you're riding a rollercoaster with damaged heroes, give this a try.
This review was first published on Crime Watch: http://kiwicrime.blogspot.com
THE BONE FIELD brings two of Kernick's intriguing past characters together in one book. DI Ray Mason, from THE WITNESS, has moved from counter-terrorism to homicide but is still a somewhat-rogue, do-whatever-it-takes cop. Tina Boyd, who featured in many of Kernick's thrillers, is no longer with the police force, but working as a private eye. Over the course of Kernick's oeuvre, Boyd grew from minor role to major star - like Mason she was a maverick cop with bucketloads of issues, so the pairing of the duo is like a lit fuse burning down towards a stack of dynamite.
Kernick's 'good guys' are often more anti-hero than hero, but he leaves no doubt with his villains. They're beyond bad, and THE BONE FIELD features some real nasties. It's kicked off when Mason is contacted by middle-aged Henry Forbes, whose girlfriend went missing in Thailand a quarter century ago. So how come her body now gets found in England? Before Forbes can confess to Mason what he knows, or what he did, their meeting is violently interrupted by professional killers.
From there, we're off to the races. Mason knows something bigger is going on, and is determined to find out, regardless of the danger. He needs to colour outside official lines, and that's where Boyd and her skills come in. Simple plans shatter. Each quickly finds themselves neck-deep in danger.
There's a particular sinister killer in this one, and the secrets that get uncovered are pretty dark. Kernick thatches an intriguing plot, keeps the narrative pedal to the metal, and had me engaged with the dynamic between Mason and Boyd. It's not flawless, but there's a heck of a lot to like.
There are many different kinds of thriller writers, so how you feel about Simon Kernick may depend on where your preferences fall. He's very good at what he does, one of the best. If you're keen on action-packed reads that'll have you laminated to your seat, that delve into the darker parts of the criminal underworld, and where you're riding a rollercoaster with damaged heroes, give this a try.
This review was first published on Crime Watch: http://kiwicrime.blogspot.com
December 18, 2016
In the grounds of Medmenham College some bones have been found. DI Ray Mason receives a phone call from a middle aged businessman named Henry Forbes who claims to know the origin of the bones but, before he can tell the truth, a chain of events is set in motion sending Ray and his friend, Private Detective Tina Boyd, halfway round the globe in search of the truth.
I have read many of Simon Kernick's novels before and enjoyed them. Very much in the manner of Tony Parsons' Max Wolfe, his books are fast paced and generally pretty superficial - what you see is what you get and there is not too much thinking involved but it is certainly fun to be swept along for the ride! Unfortunately, I cannot say that this was one of my favourites of his. I am not a fan of police procedurals where the police are breaking the law with impunity and behaving in a totally irresponsible fashion as Ray does here. There are plenty of novels where the main protagonist is forced close to the edge and I am sure that these are totally realistic. However, I really don't think that a policeman would cross the line in this way and this did jar quite a lot with me.
I have to say that I also felt totally let down by the way the book ended so abruptly. Without giving away too much detail, this is definitely not a stand alone novel. It comes to an abrupt end which clearly leads to another book and, whilst I never mind a set of books leading on from each other, I don't like the device of one not actually reaching a conclusion, however unstaisfying it may be.
I will obviously need to read the next book because I would like to get to the end of the story and I do enjoy this style of writing as a quick and easy read. Nevertheless, I do feel that I would prefer to have seen the story completed to a reasonable stage in this book and I feel a bit let down that this did not happen. I recommend perhaps waiting for the rest of the series to be published and reading them one after another rather than feeling that you are left hanging by the "ending" to this one.
I have read many of Simon Kernick's novels before and enjoyed them. Very much in the manner of Tony Parsons' Max Wolfe, his books are fast paced and generally pretty superficial - what you see is what you get and there is not too much thinking involved but it is certainly fun to be swept along for the ride! Unfortunately, I cannot say that this was one of my favourites of his. I am not a fan of police procedurals where the police are breaking the law with impunity and behaving in a totally irresponsible fashion as Ray does here. There are plenty of novels where the main protagonist is forced close to the edge and I am sure that these are totally realistic. However, I really don't think that a policeman would cross the line in this way and this did jar quite a lot with me.
I have to say that I also felt totally let down by the way the book ended so abruptly. Without giving away too much detail, this is definitely not a stand alone novel. It comes to an abrupt end which clearly leads to another book and, whilst I never mind a set of books leading on from each other, I don't like the device of one not actually reaching a conclusion, however unstaisfying it may be.
I will obviously need to read the next book because I would like to get to the end of the story and I do enjoy this style of writing as a quick and easy read. Nevertheless, I do feel that I would prefer to have seen the story completed to a reasonable stage in this book and I feel a bit let down that this did not happen. I recommend perhaps waiting for the rest of the series to be published and reading them one after another rather than feeling that you are left hanging by the "ending" to this one.
December 8, 2016
A good crime thriller with plenty of action. Loved the main character, looking forward to reading more
December 19, 2016
The Bone Field begins when Henry Forbes takes his girlfriend of a few months Kitty Sinn to Thailand on holiday in 1990.
While there the couple have a massive fight resulting in Kitty asking Mr Watanna the guesthouse owner to drive her to the coastal town of Khao Lak and that's the last anyone see's of her?
Over 25 years later DI Ray Mason receives a call asking him to meet with Henry and Maurice Reedman his solicitor as they have information that could be of interest which involves a possible murder. At the meeting Reedman insists his client has the full protection of the law including a new identity and immunity from prosecution before he makes an official statement. Reedman then tells Ray the unidentified human remains been dug up in grounds sold by private school in Buckinghamshire were that of Kitty Sinn also that there may be others there.
Ray heads outside leaving the door on the latch to call his DCI Olaf while on phone he hears a car draw up it's a black BMW X5 with back windows blacked out when he see's men inside have ski masks on he knows there's going to be trouble..... Olaf tells him not to do anything stupid that helps on the way.
When two of the men enter the house Ray follows them hiding he hears two shots which kill Reedman then hears Henry plead for his life he hears a further three shots which kill Henry then he hears a whoosh as fire takes hold and the smoke is billowing out of the room that's when he hears the distant sound of sirens. He knows he has to hide as he turns he spots a third man who tells the other two were he is there follows a showdown which results in Ray lying at the feet of one of the gunmen with the gun only a few feet away from his face he looks into the gunman's dark eyes and knows this is it, only there's no ammunition left. The sirens are getting louder the men have to leave. Ray then goes to try preserve evidence that's when he sees a tattoo on Henrys arm the only place where there is burning what were they trying to Hide?
So now we have a dead man with a big secret, bones that will be identified as Kitty Sinn who was last seen in Thailand over six thousand miles away and Ray has to figure it all out.....
I really enjoyed this book my first Of Simon Kernick certainly won't be my last.
While there the couple have a massive fight resulting in Kitty asking Mr Watanna the guesthouse owner to drive her to the coastal town of Khao Lak and that's the last anyone see's of her?
Over 25 years later DI Ray Mason receives a call asking him to meet with Henry and Maurice Reedman his solicitor as they have information that could be of interest which involves a possible murder. At the meeting Reedman insists his client has the full protection of the law including a new identity and immunity from prosecution before he makes an official statement. Reedman then tells Ray the unidentified human remains been dug up in grounds sold by private school in Buckinghamshire were that of Kitty Sinn also that there may be others there.
Ray heads outside leaving the door on the latch to call his DCI Olaf while on phone he hears a car draw up it's a black BMW X5 with back windows blacked out when he see's men inside have ski masks on he knows there's going to be trouble..... Olaf tells him not to do anything stupid that helps on the way.
When two of the men enter the house Ray follows them hiding he hears two shots which kill Reedman then hears Henry plead for his life he hears a further three shots which kill Henry then he hears a whoosh as fire takes hold and the smoke is billowing out of the room that's when he hears the distant sound of sirens. He knows he has to hide as he turns he spots a third man who tells the other two were he is there follows a showdown which results in Ray lying at the feet of one of the gunmen with the gun only a few feet away from his face he looks into the gunman's dark eyes and knows this is it, only there's no ammunition left. The sirens are getting louder the men have to leave. Ray then goes to try preserve evidence that's when he sees a tattoo on Henrys arm the only place where there is burning what were they trying to Hide?
So now we have a dead man with a big secret, bones that will be identified as Kitty Sinn who was last seen in Thailand over six thousand miles away and Ray has to figure it all out.....
I really enjoyed this book my first Of Simon Kernick certainly won't be my last.
February 8, 2017
I am a fan of the author but this is his weakest to date. An early warning, this ends on a cliff-hanger so don’t expect a tidy resolution.
It starts well with the discovery of a body in England of a girl who went missing in Thailand. DS Mason has been pointed towards the location of the body by an informant, who is then brutally murdered. As Mason investigates further he discovers links that nobody is following up on, at the same time his methods and reputation bring him to the attention of his seniors and he is pushed away from the case. Of course he continues on his own and regular fans will be delighted that he hooks up with Tina Boyd for assistance. Together they must follow the trail to some very dangerous men, including one in particular.
It’s typical Simon Kernick, with some great characters in Boyd and Mason but somehow it feels a little short. The bad guy is too much of a caricature and some of the plot does feel unlikely, almost as if the author had an idea and built a story around it without fully thinking it through. And the fact it ends on a cliff-hanger was immensely frustrating.
So it’s not awful, but is a dip downwards from his previous books. Great first half but the second half is pretty average.
It starts well with the discovery of a body in England of a girl who went missing in Thailand. DS Mason has been pointed towards the location of the body by an informant, who is then brutally murdered. As Mason investigates further he discovers links that nobody is following up on, at the same time his methods and reputation bring him to the attention of his seniors and he is pushed away from the case. Of course he continues on his own and regular fans will be delighted that he hooks up with Tina Boyd for assistance. Together they must follow the trail to some very dangerous men, including one in particular.
It’s typical Simon Kernick, with some great characters in Boyd and Mason but somehow it feels a little short. The bad guy is too much of a caricature and some of the plot does feel unlikely, almost as if the author had an idea and built a story around it without fully thinking it through. And the fact it ends on a cliff-hanger was immensely frustrating.
So it’s not awful, but is a dip downwards from his previous books. Great first half but the second half is pretty average.
December 11, 2016
DI Ray Mason is called to a meeting with Henry Forbes and his solicitor, he was involved with the disappearance of Kitty Sinn some 25 years ago when she vanished whilst on holiday with him. There was never any suggestion that he had killed her but he said he wanted to talk now. The meeting was interrupted by masked men and once again Ray is at the centre of an internal inquiry. He never gets to know what information Henry was about to divulge though and when Kitty's bones are dug up in England he has to find out how a woman who disappeared in Thailand ended up being buried here. I loved the introduction of PI Tina Boyd and how well they worked together. This was a fast paced and edge of your seat kind of read and I devoured it in 2 sittings.
I can't wait for the next Bone Field book as this seems to be the first in a series.
Thank you to https://www.lovereading.co.uk/ for the advanced copy of the book.
I can't wait for the next Bone Field book as this seems to be the first in a series.
Thank you to https://www.lovereading.co.uk/ for the advanced copy of the book.
February 7, 2017
I think Simon is definitely on my favourite author list after reading this. I couldn't put it down. Something about cold cases always piques my interest so I had a feeling I would enjoy this. After reading a guest blog post by Simon I was in equal parts horrified and excited to discover that The Bone Field is just the start of the story with the remainder split over several books to come.
I was unsure how this would end and whether I would be left bereft waiting for the rest of the tale. Simon wrapped it up satisfyingly enough but with a humdinger of a cliff hanger! The Bone Field was the first of Simon's novels for me but definitely won't be the last. I loved his style and flow and found this book unpredictable which was a refreshing change from predicting the ending. One to watch out for in 2017 and eagerly anticipating the next installment.
I was unsure how this would end and whether I would be left bereft waiting for the rest of the tale. Simon wrapped it up satisfyingly enough but with a humdinger of a cliff hanger! The Bone Field was the first of Simon's novels for me but definitely won't be the last. I loved his style and flow and found this book unpredictable which was a refreshing change from predicting the ending. One to watch out for in 2017 and eagerly anticipating the next installment.
January 22, 2017
I have long been a fan of Simon Kernicks books and always look forward with relish to January. As usual The Bone Field does not disappoint slick fast paced.
When 2 bodies are unearthed DI Ray Mason is brought into the case, however he comes with a past and plenty of flaws. Making a vow to the parents of one of the deceased he is willing to stop at nothing to track down the killers even if that means stepping outside of the law, soon fate will lead him into the hands of an old and favourite character Tina Boyd.
This has all the hallmarks that make for a great a thriller, the action and pace are relentless, with a few cliff hangers along the way, written with the authors usual style that forces you to keep the pages turning.
I would highly recommend
When 2 bodies are unearthed DI Ray Mason is brought into the case, however he comes with a past and plenty of flaws. Making a vow to the parents of one of the deceased he is willing to stop at nothing to track down the killers even if that means stepping outside of the law, soon fate will lead him into the hands of an old and favourite character Tina Boyd.
This has all the hallmarks that make for a great a thriller, the action and pace are relentless, with a few cliff hangers along the way, written with the authors usual style that forces you to keep the pages turning.
I would highly recommend
May 9, 2017
It's "two for the price of one" in Simon Kernick's latest thriller. Not only is this the second novel featuring Ray Mason, who was introduced to us in The Witness, but it also marks a welcome return of the author's most memorable and enduring character, Tina Boyd.
As is often the case with Mr Kernick's novels, this one begins in top gear and just accelerates further from there. The fact there are two dead bodies by the end of the first chapter should come as no surprise to the author's regular readers.
This one does end in something of an unresolved "cliffhanger"; not something I normally approve of, but if it signals a return of the Mason/Boyd partnership, then I'm willing to overlook it.
As is often the case with Mr Kernick's novels, this one begins in top gear and just accelerates further from there. The fact there are two dead bodies by the end of the first chapter should come as no surprise to the author's regular readers.
This one does end in something of an unresolved "cliffhanger"; not something I normally approve of, but if it signals a return of the Mason/Boyd partnership, then I'm willing to overlook it.
September 3, 2017
Normally love Simon Kernick's books - have read all but the short stories - and was really looking forward to reading this one but I have to say, for me, this was a disappointment. I never buy short stories where 3 books form a complete story for a reason ...... I like each book (even if part of a series) to stand alone as a book in its own right. This one read very well and the story built and built and then it just stopped - unfinished. The ending felt incomplete, it was disappointing and instead of (perhaps the desired intention of the author) leaving me desperate to read the next in the series, it just left me feeling cheated. Good story but no ending (perhaps he did not know how to finish it so just cobbled something together).
October 10, 2017
The first book I have read by Simon Mernick and the last. It actually starts out good: a guy and his girlfriend travel to Thailand. They have a fight and the girl leaves and is never seen again. Her disappearance is big news in England. But 20 years go by and this mystery is not solved until her skeleton is found together with another young woman's back in England. DI Ray Mason a celebrated detective, is put on the case. But then things start to happen Jack Reacher style although not as well written. A group of killers are involved bearing an occult tattoo. Organized crime is involved. Mason hooks up with a private detective named Tina. They soon end up in bed together, of course, in one of the most childish and silliest love scenes I've ever read. Not recommended.
January 10, 2018
Really enjoyed this book, it was easy to read and the characters were likable.
Kitty Sinn vanished without a trace in Thailand in 1990, so its a shock for everyone when bones found in a school ground turn out to be hers. The man she was with at the time of her disappearance contacts DI Ray Mason claiming he knows what happened.
Although I feel slightly miffed by the ending (Im hoping there will be a follow up) I thourghly enjoyed reading this.
Kitty Sinn vanished without a trace in Thailand in 1990, so its a shock for everyone when bones found in a school ground turn out to be hers. The man she was with at the time of her disappearance contacts DI Ray Mason claiming he knows what happened.
Although I feel slightly miffed by the ending (Im hoping there will be a follow up) I thourghly enjoyed reading this.
January 17, 2017
Simon has done it again
This confirms (if there was any Doubt) that Simon Kernick is my favorite Author.. Once again a story that is Fast paced and adrenaline fueled. Oh and Tina Boyd ..Brilliant
This confirms (if there was any Doubt) that Simon Kernick is my favorite Author.. Once again a story that is Fast paced and adrenaline fueled. Oh and Tina Boyd ..Brilliant
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