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Sara Mason Mysteries #1
River Bones
When Sara Mason returns to her hometown to start a new life, she learns that a serial killer is terrorizing its residents. Despite battling the memory of the drowning deaths of her younger sister and alcoholic parents, Sara is determined to make peace with her past.
However, she soon learns that the elusive psychopath is now stalking her. Sara's attempt to rebuild her life is hindered even more by the discovery of skeletal remains on her property. As the investigation focuses on several suspects, Sara discovers critical clues and bravely volunteers to be a decoy for the sheriff's department.
Sara Mason is a woman whose destiny has brought her back home... but her decision leads her down a path lined with danger, and straight into the arms of a madman.
However, she soon learns that the elusive psychopath is now stalking her. Sara's attempt to rebuild her life is hindered even more by the discovery of skeletal remains on her property. As the investigation focuses on several suspects, Sara discovers critical clues and bravely volunteers to be a decoy for the sheriff's department.
Sara Mason is a woman whose destiny has brought her back home... but her decision leads her down a path lined with danger, and straight into the arms of a madman.
327 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2008
964 people are currently reading
1020 people want to read
About the author
Mary Deal
24 books152 followersMary Deal is an Amazon International bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. After losing her beloved partner of 31 years, she is has written a memoir about surviving the grief period. That book is meant to help others and is due out in a few weeks.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Garner, No. Carolina. Also, her paintings and photography are used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, the Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Garner, No. Carolina. Also, her paintings and photography are used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
August 4, 2022
Author Mary Deal is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. River Bones is the third book I've read of hers, and it proves why she's such a reachable and readable writer. As the first book in her Sara Mason series, River Bones is a fantastic debut offering strong characters, dastardly plots, beautiful scenery, and tangible imagery.
Somewhere between a thriller and a classic murder mystery, it offers all the suspenseful and horrible actions of a twisted serial killer without a focus on detailed gore. There's a fine balance in her words conjuring up just enough gruesome thoughts without actually reading about all the blood and torture. Don't get me wrong... I love a good horror thriller, but if you're looking for something in between, this is a great option.
Sara's come home for the first time in about 25 years. Her family was killed in an awful car accident / drowning when she was a young girl. Raised by a distant relative or sorts, she stuck around long enough to grow up but then left the country. She's called back for a few reasons and buys a large Victorian supposedly haunted. She meets a previous owner, connects with former classmates and begins to re-build a life. Then she starts finding the bodies. Each one is buried with a pet. What's the significance? A serial killer's past life seems to come spiraling back to town, but they're all old murders. Until a new one occurs. Why? What has Sara unearthed and why is she his/her next victim?
What I like most about Deal's work is how easy-to-read yet complex her novels are. The language and writing style is perfect, not simple but not overly flowery or excessive. She describes the scenes and characters with out to give you a good image, then moves on. Sometimes you learn about the town or the person's past even though it's not part of the actual mystery, but it adds to the creation of ambiance and setting without misguiding or boring you. It's always a wonderful balance of drama and good story, dialog and narration, history and thought.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this novel was the character struck by lightning. He died for a minute but came back to life years ago. Something's just still a little off with him. Enough to be the killer or a shining knight? I definitely recommend picking up any of the books I've read Deal has written, but I'll be tackling a few more in the next couple of months, too. She's been a great find and I look forward to hearing all about her next novel.
Somewhere between a thriller and a classic murder mystery, it offers all the suspenseful and horrible actions of a twisted serial killer without a focus on detailed gore. There's a fine balance in her words conjuring up just enough gruesome thoughts without actually reading about all the blood and torture. Don't get me wrong... I love a good horror thriller, but if you're looking for something in between, this is a great option.
Sara's come home for the first time in about 25 years. Her family was killed in an awful car accident / drowning when she was a young girl. Raised by a distant relative or sorts, she stuck around long enough to grow up but then left the country. She's called back for a few reasons and buys a large Victorian supposedly haunted. She meets a previous owner, connects with former classmates and begins to re-build a life. Then she starts finding the bodies. Each one is buried with a pet. What's the significance? A serial killer's past life seems to come spiraling back to town, but they're all old murders. Until a new one occurs. Why? What has Sara unearthed and why is she his/her next victim?
What I like most about Deal's work is how easy-to-read yet complex her novels are. The language and writing style is perfect, not simple but not overly flowery or excessive. She describes the scenes and characters with out to give you a good image, then moves on. Sometimes you learn about the town or the person's past even though it's not part of the actual mystery, but it adds to the creation of ambiance and setting without misguiding or boring you. It's always a wonderful balance of drama and good story, dialog and narration, history and thought.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this novel was the character struck by lightning. He died for a minute but came back to life years ago. Something's just still a little off with him. Enough to be the killer or a shining knight? I definitely recommend picking up any of the books I've read Deal has written, but I'll be tackling a few more in the next couple of months, too. She's been a great find and I look forward to hearing all about her next novel.
March 1, 2021
River Bones is very enjoyable cosy murder mystery which also includes interesting characters, deep friendships, descriptive narrative, suspense and twists. It brims with the unique atmosphere of the Delta area...and it even has romance! In this story, Sara Mason returns to her hometown, to lay to rest memories of the death of her younger sister, and her alcoholic parents. She is ready to start a new life, but a serial killer seems to have other plans for her. River Bones is a good start to the Sara Mason Mysteries series.
August 23, 2018
Data back in the Delta
Sara had been raised in the Delta in a shanty with dysfunctional family. Having gone hungry lots of time along with her little sister while her parents were out drinking. After the three were killed when she was but twelve her life changed. She eventually moved to Puerto Rico to live. After making lots of money by selling a video she decides to come back home.
Sara buys an old Victorian house to remodel and live in close to her friends. After hearing her place to be haunted she starts hearing footsteps outside her house at night.
Heading the takes about a serial killer being in the area things start happening around her house. Skeleton bodies start showing up on her land of people missing for decades. As things escalate and the police they think may be after her next. When Sara thinks she has solved the mystery all back breaks loose.
A great mystery to read.
Sara had been raised in the Delta in a shanty with dysfunctional family. Having gone hungry lots of time along with her little sister while her parents were out drinking. After the three were killed when she was but twelve her life changed. She eventually moved to Puerto Rico to live. After making lots of money by selling a video she decides to come back home.
Sara buys an old Victorian house to remodel and live in close to her friends. After hearing her place to be haunted she starts hearing footsteps outside her house at night.
Heading the takes about a serial killer being in the area things start happening around her house. Skeleton bodies start showing up on her land of people missing for decades. As things escalate and the police they think may be after her next. When Sara thinks she has solved the mystery all back breaks loose.
A great mystery to read.
December 3, 2017
It had always been Sara's dream to own a Victorian mansion and, although Talbot House was in need of some renovations, her dream had finally come true. Strange noises in the night left her on edge, but when she and her friend Daphine found fresh marks in the concrete where someone had tried to pry open the window Sara had to finally accept there was more to the noises than just her imagination. At her friend's suggestion they went to visit Mrs Talbot, to learn more about the legend of the ghost walking the halls, if only to discover if these rumours had any truth. Sara, however, was less concerned about a ghost and more worried about a serial killer. She is obsessed with thoughts about this murderer at large, worse still, new evidence seems to suggest they came from Delta, a fact made more unnerving by the feeling that someone has their eye on her. Events that could once be dismissed as an over active imagination begin to escalate until there is no longer any room for doubt, Sara is not safe. Join the mystery and see if you can discover the killer's identity in Mary Deal's, River Bones: Sara Mason Mysteries Book One.
Mary Deal seamlessly integrates Sara's history and character building into the plot, by the time you each the end you know everything you could want to. Friendships are built and developed, whilst all the time a budding air of tension keeps the reader wondering what is happening, and dreading what is to come. There is a brilliant attention to detail, from describing the surroundings, to providing sensory images so you can almost feel the thick blanket of the fog, or the scent of the surroundings. This book really is a descriptive treasure and builds a fantastic image of Delta, its surroundings, and even the community. Fans of mystery will love how subtle clues are woven within the plot, and as with any good story the red herrings and twists will keep you guessing. River Bones is a great read, filled with intrigue, suspense, mystery and even romance, it is well written and easily one of the best mystery/suspense books I have read this year. Mary Deal clearly has a talent for this style of writing, and I look forward to seeing more books from her in the future.
Mary Deal seamlessly integrates Sara's history and character building into the plot, by the time you each the end you know everything you could want to. Friendships are built and developed, whilst all the time a budding air of tension keeps the reader wondering what is happening, and dreading what is to come. There is a brilliant attention to detail, from describing the surroundings, to providing sensory images so you can almost feel the thick blanket of the fog, or the scent of the surroundings. This book really is a descriptive treasure and builds a fantastic image of Delta, its surroundings, and even the community. Fans of mystery will love how subtle clues are woven within the plot, and as with any good story the red herrings and twists will keep you guessing. River Bones is a great read, filled with intrigue, suspense, mystery and even romance, it is well written and easily one of the best mystery/suspense books I have read this year. Mary Deal clearly has a talent for this style of writing, and I look forward to seeing more books from her in the future.
February 26, 2018
This is the second book I’ve read written by this author and it doesn’t disappoint. The author has a distinct writing style and her descriptive narrative fascinated me; from her geographical presentation of the Delta area with its canals and dykes to her colourful characters. This is a story that moves along at a fast pace. I wasn’t able to figure out who the killer was, even when the heroine of the story, Sara Mason knew who the perpetrator was. I liked this protagonist because she was a strong woman but flawed. And sometimes her strength came from her sense of purpose and strong character, and sometimes from a stubborn recklessness.
A number of her well-defined secondary characters could have been the killer and the author did a great job of leaving the reader guessing. I am definitely a Mary Deal fan and intend on reading more of her books. If you like crime and mystery, this is a story you’ll want to read. And so I move on to her next book.
A number of her well-defined secondary characters could have been the killer and the author did a great job of leaving the reader guessing. I am definitely a Mary Deal fan and intend on reading more of her books. If you like crime and mystery, this is a story you’ll want to read. And so I move on to her next book.
November 27, 2017
River Bones (Sara Mason Mysteries Book 1)
Sara's life is turning upside down with people leaving her, dying, she is alone. Then everything changes , she has a new job, money and has returned to her old home town. But thing start unraveling when she buys an old house. Is it haunted ? Everyone say , yes ! Can she move on find answers to what is haunting her dreams, life and her house. Her dreams may hold the answers she seeks. I RECOMMEND this GRIPPING THRILLER. Enjoy!
Sara's life is turning upside down with people leaving her, dying, she is alone. Then everything changes , she has a new job, money and has returned to her old home town. But thing start unraveling when she buys an old house. Is it haunted ? Everyone say , yes ! Can she move on find answers to what is haunting her dreams, life and her house. Her dreams may hold the answers she seeks. I RECOMMEND this GRIPPING THRILLER. Enjoy!
May 11, 2011
Better than the movie!
August 10, 2020
The author approaches her story in a unique fashion much like a painting or a photograph that starts out slowly, with all elements carefully laid out and planned, and then finished with careful brush strokes in a brilliant flash of color, insight, and light.
There are many interesting observations sprinkled throughout the book about our fellow human beings and also animals such as pit bulls and other dogs. A wealth of information in these observations that point toward a lot of research and general knowledge. Included are many little snippets of sometimes unrelated information about dogs, police work, electronics, construction, the Hawaiian islands, quirks that people have, etc. That is very interesting to the curious reader and I would guess sometimes overlooked.
This style of writing adds flavor to the story and information that answers a question about something brought up in the telling. The reader may not always agree with what is said in this omniscient fashion but it is an interesting side note to the author's personality and style of writing, and much appreciated by the careful and curious reader.
Although starting out slowly, River Bones is aptly named and culminates in a thrilling and psychologically insightful climax. There is romance thrown in and a satisfying ending which nevertheless hints at a sequel.
There are many interesting observations sprinkled throughout the book about our fellow human beings and also animals such as pit bulls and other dogs. A wealth of information in these observations that point toward a lot of research and general knowledge. Included are many little snippets of sometimes unrelated information about dogs, police work, electronics, construction, the Hawaiian islands, quirks that people have, etc. That is very interesting to the curious reader and I would guess sometimes overlooked.
This style of writing adds flavor to the story and information that answers a question about something brought up in the telling. The reader may not always agree with what is said in this omniscient fashion but it is an interesting side note to the author's personality and style of writing, and much appreciated by the careful and curious reader.
Although starting out slowly, River Bones is aptly named and culminates in a thrilling and psychologically insightful climax. There is romance thrown in and a satisfying ending which nevertheless hints at a sequel.
September 12, 2019
River Bones by Mary Deal – a Review by Pete Adams
A wonderfully woven story of a dream and what it could mean.
River Bones is a wonderfully woven story of longing for home, fear of home and, following a dream. And what was the recurring dream that drew Sara Mason back to where she grew up in the California Delta. She had grown up poor, but now was wealthy. She could have her dream home of a Victorian Manse, but that wasn’t the dream. She could renew old friendships, yes, but still there was that dream. And, living in her Manse before it is renovated, she feels threatened. Is it truly haunted as the rumours said or, was this her dream?
The scene is set for a wealth of characters to impose themselves into Sara’s life, too many to go into now, but they come well-formed and deeply interesting. But, still the dream, and still the history of a serial killer that has terrorised the area for some 30 years – about as long as Sara had been away – is there a connection?
Mary Deal cultivates a story that is full of mysteries, full of passion and energy, as well as scary and, some lovely moments. One such that sticks in my mind is the fog that regularly settles of the flatland delta, making it treacherous to drive the levees. And so it is that Deal describes with a colourful passion what must be a beautiful area, but one where you need your wits about you, not least because there is a serial killer still active.
I felt I was there, in the Delta, it was so well described. I felt the fear and intrigue that Sara Mason felt, sensed and enjoyed her courage. And, in all of this, will she find love? I’m always a sucker for a romantic entanglement especially one that is resisted through fear of involvement.
The narrative takes the reader on a journey of discovery and I felt fully involved, especially in trying to guess who had been taking and killing people for so long, and never been caught.
This is a classic mystery told so well. It was not the first Mary Deal book I have read and already I have bought the next one. River Bones is a wonderful read, exciting, scary in places and certainly fulfilling. I recommend it.
A wonderfully woven story of a dream and what it could mean.
River Bones is a wonderfully woven story of longing for home, fear of home and, following a dream. And what was the recurring dream that drew Sara Mason back to where she grew up in the California Delta. She had grown up poor, but now was wealthy. She could have her dream home of a Victorian Manse, but that wasn’t the dream. She could renew old friendships, yes, but still there was that dream. And, living in her Manse before it is renovated, she feels threatened. Is it truly haunted as the rumours said or, was this her dream?
The scene is set for a wealth of characters to impose themselves into Sara’s life, too many to go into now, but they come well-formed and deeply interesting. But, still the dream, and still the history of a serial killer that has terrorised the area for some 30 years – about as long as Sara had been away – is there a connection?
Mary Deal cultivates a story that is full of mysteries, full of passion and energy, as well as scary and, some lovely moments. One such that sticks in my mind is the fog that regularly settles of the flatland delta, making it treacherous to drive the levees. And so it is that Deal describes with a colourful passion what must be a beautiful area, but one where you need your wits about you, not least because there is a serial killer still active.
I felt I was there, in the Delta, it was so well described. I felt the fear and intrigue that Sara Mason felt, sensed and enjoyed her courage. And, in all of this, will she find love? I’m always a sucker for a romantic entanglement especially one that is resisted through fear of involvement.
The narrative takes the reader on a journey of discovery and I felt fully involved, especially in trying to guess who had been taking and killing people for so long, and never been caught.
This is a classic mystery told so well. It was not the first Mary Deal book I have read and already I have bought the next one. River Bones is a wonderful read, exciting, scary in places and certainly fulfilling. I recommend it.
April 3, 2023
Overview.
Mary Deal is one of my favourite authors. Her books always keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
River Bones is no exception.
Story.
Sara Msaon has returned to the town where she grew up as a poor girl in a dysfunctional family. Now, though, she is a successful computer game designer and has enough money to buy a large house in need of modernisation.
Not everything is as it seems, though. A serial killer is on the loose, and things begin to get dangerous when the killer turns their sights on Sara.
I am saying no more so as not to give anything away.
Blurb.
Characters.
The main character, Sara, is a young woman who has issues left over from her childhood. She tries to overcome them while fighting her fear of living alone.
We can empathise with her as she is well drawn and has depth.
Her best friend, Daphine, is a likeable, but sensible woman who gives Sara good advice (not always taken!)
Esmeralda is the former owner of the house Sara has bought. She now runs a care home for the elderly, even though she is elderly herself. Her husband disappeared on a gold hunting trip and his body has never been found. However, she is nothing if not resilient and proves a great ally to Sara.
The town has its quota of strange characters. Crazy Ike, Frederick, who works at the care home and is strangely fascinated by death and dying, and Tripp, who is the gardener at the care home, creating beautiful gardens. Sara finds him as creepy as the other two.
Wonderful characters who remain with me well after finishing the book.
Writing.
Mary Deal sets the scene of her book right at the beginning. Before I had read many pages, I was feeling on edge. She brings the people and area of The Delta to life, and I feel she has taken me there.
Typos are nonexistent. Grammar is almost flawless, except for a confusion of 'to lie' and 'to lay', which, I find, is common.
Mary Deal is one of my favourite authors. Her books always keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat.
River Bones is no exception.
Story.
Sara Msaon has returned to the town where she grew up as a poor girl in a dysfunctional family. Now, though, she is a successful computer game designer and has enough money to buy a large house in need of modernisation.
Not everything is as it seems, though. A serial killer is on the loose, and things begin to get dangerous when the killer turns their sights on Sara.
I am saying no more so as not to give anything away.
Blurb.
Characters.
The main character, Sara, is a young woman who has issues left over from her childhood. She tries to overcome them while fighting her fear of living alone.
We can empathise with her as she is well drawn and has depth.
Her best friend, Daphine, is a likeable, but sensible woman who gives Sara good advice (not always taken!)
Esmeralda is the former owner of the house Sara has bought. She now runs a care home for the elderly, even though she is elderly herself. Her husband disappeared on a gold hunting trip and his body has never been found. However, she is nothing if not resilient and proves a great ally to Sara.
The town has its quota of strange characters. Crazy Ike, Frederick, who works at the care home and is strangely fascinated by death and dying, and Tripp, who is the gardener at the care home, creating beautiful gardens. Sara finds him as creepy as the other two.
Wonderful characters who remain with me well after finishing the book.
Writing.
Mary Deal sets the scene of her book right at the beginning. Before I had read many pages, I was feeling on edge. She brings the people and area of The Delta to life, and I feel she has taken me there.
Typos are nonexistent. Grammar is almost flawless, except for a confusion of 'to lie' and 'to lay', which, I find, is common.
August 10, 2022
Creepy and disturbing with a touch of romance and deep friendships!
I enjoyed this story. It was very creepy and left me unsettled as I tried to figure out who the serial killer was. The climax of the book was intense and very well written!
I like Mary Deal's writing style, as I enjoy descriptive text. She also had great dialogue, creating interesting characters. She did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing what was going to happen next and the story was full of surprises. The suspense built throughout the tale and for me, the last third of the book was really engaging and hard to put down. Though the entire story had forward momentum, the tempo of the story was swift and eventful, drawing me into the last portion of the manuscript completely. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the finale!
It was clear the author knew the Delta area described well and she did a great job bringing it to life for the reader. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and I do recommend this book.
I enjoyed this story. It was very creepy and left me unsettled as I tried to figure out who the serial killer was. The climax of the book was intense and very well written!
I like Mary Deal's writing style, as I enjoy descriptive text. She also had great dialogue, creating interesting characters. She did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing what was going to happen next and the story was full of surprises. The suspense built throughout the tale and for me, the last third of the book was really engaging and hard to put down. Though the entire story had forward momentum, the tempo of the story was swift and eventful, drawing me into the last portion of the manuscript completely. I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the finale!
It was clear the author knew the Delta area described well and she did a great job bringing it to life for the reader. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and I do recommend this book.
April 21, 2022
I wish I had anything good to say about this book. The only reason I even finished it was to mark off a prompt for a challenge I’m doing this year. I would have put it down and never looked back about 25% in. There was no mystery to this book, other than why the author felt the need to mention pit bulls every five minutes. The dogs added nothing to the story. The killer is predictable from the start. Even the “love interest” was shallow. The man was introduced half way through the book and they immediately fell in love. I honestly can’t understand why this has so many 5 star reviews. Sara, the main character, is boring and flaunts her money about, even though she says she doesn’t want anyone making a fuss. I didn’t care about any of the characters or the plot. I’m glad I’m done reading this and most certainly will not continue the series.
November 26, 2017
Sara Mason has already had a tough time in life. Her parents and sister died years ago. Sara had to move on with her life and has done well. Now, she is heading back to her home. Sara already knows about the serial killer in the Sacramento River Delta, but she had no idea that she would find herself in the middle of murder and mystery upon her return home. This is a good story of how the past touches the present and the author has written an intriguing tale that should satisfy mystery, suspense and thriller readers.
December 6, 2017
When I first started this book I thought it might end up being a romance, at least in part, and it did. But the majority of the book was dedicated to the character development of several people who starred in the story. I won't tell you their names because you can read it for yourself to find who they are. What I will say is that each of the characters were wonderfully created, fleshed out and given life. I don't know if Mary Deal has written a sequel to this story but I am going to find out because I enjoyed this one a great deal.
April 15, 2022
I just can’t… Is this a PR campaign for pit bulls? Or a tale about the most underwhelming college reunion surprise ever? Oh wait, it’s a tale of how easy it is for one person to create video games. I don’t know why I have this book, but it isn’t worth my time, so at 25% I’m tapping out. OH! And I don’t need to skip ahead to figure out who the serial killer is, and It seems so obvious I’m not sure why he hasn’t been apprehended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2019
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title:
Subtitle:
Author:
Genre:
Part of a series? Yes/No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series? Yes/No
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
Sara returns to her childhood village after having left under a cloud of disrepute. Her parents and sister died in an accident and Sara was forced to make a life for herself far away. Now a computer expert and developing computer games, she has made a lot of money and returned to the village. She buys an old house near the river and gradually discovers the truth behind some unsolved murders.
What I liked about the book:
I liked Sara coming back to a place she lived as a child to become a benefactor of the area as well as a reluctant detective.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I loved the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
The book was lovely in its entirety even if predictable in places. This could, however, partly be due to the fact I’ve read a lot of murder mysteries.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I loved the book in its entirety.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This book appears to be the first in the series and I would be interested to read further books in the series. The author has also written other books.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book is a lovely murder mystery. Some of the book reminds me of some of the books by Kathy Reichs although the writing is not quite up to the same standard.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Probably
Adult Yes
If you like mystery and suspense this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
When Sara Mason returns to her hometown to start a new life, she learns that a serial killer is terrorizing its residents. Despite battling the memory of the drowning deaths of her younger sister and alcoholic parents, Sara is determined to make peace with her past.
However, she soon learns that the elusive psychopath is now stalking her. Sara's attempt to rebuild her life is hindered even more by the discovery of skeletal remains on her property. As the investigation focuses on several suspects, Sara discovers critical clues and bravely volunteers to be a decoy for the sheriff's department.
Sara Mason is a woman whose destiny has brought her back home... but her decision leads her down a path lined with danger, and straight into the arms of a madman.
About the Author:
Mary Deal is an Amazon bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mysteries.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, The Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her paintings and photography are also used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
Basic Details:
Book Title:
Subtitle:
Author:
Genre:
Part of a series? Yes/No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series? Yes/No
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Overall score:
I scored this book 5/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
Sara returns to her childhood village after having left under a cloud of disrepute. Her parents and sister died in an accident and Sara was forced to make a life for herself far away. Now a computer expert and developing computer games, she has made a lot of money and returned to the village. She buys an old house near the river and gradually discovers the truth behind some unsolved murders.
What I liked about the book:
I liked Sara coming back to a place she lived as a child to become a benefactor of the area as well as a reluctant detective.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I loved the entire book.
My favourite bits in the book:
The book was lovely in its entirety even if predictable in places. This could, however, partly be due to the fact I’ve read a lot of murder mysteries.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I loved the book in its entirety.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
This book appears to be the first in the series and I would be interested to read further books in the series. The author has also written other books.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book is a lovely murder mystery. Some of the book reminds me of some of the books by Kathy Reichs although the writing is not quite up to the same standard.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Probably
Adult Yes
If you like mystery and suspense this book may be the book for you.
I look forward to reading more books by this author.
Book Description by Author:
When Sara Mason returns to her hometown to start a new life, she learns that a serial killer is terrorizing its residents. Despite battling the memory of the drowning deaths of her younger sister and alcoholic parents, Sara is determined to make peace with her past.
However, she soon learns that the elusive psychopath is now stalking her. Sara's attempt to rebuild her life is hindered even more by the discovery of skeletal remains on her property. As the investigation focuses on several suspects, Sara discovers critical clues and bravely volunteers to be a decoy for the sheriff's department.
Sara Mason is a woman whose destiny has brought her back home... but her decision leads her down a path lined with danger, and straight into the arms of a madman.
About the Author:
Mary Deal is an Amazon bestselling, award-winning, multi-genre author of suspense/thrillers, romance, a short story collection, writers’ references, and self-help. She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Artist and Photographer, and former newspaper columnist and magazine editor. She is currently writing the third story in her Sara Mason Mysteries.
She has traveled and has a lifetime of diverse experiences, all of which remain in memory as fodder for her fiction. A native of California’s Sacramento River Delta, where some of her stories are set, she has lived in England, the Caribbean, The Hawaiian Islands, and now resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Her paintings and photography are also used to create gorgeous personal and household products.
Her Website:
http://www.marydeal.com
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/3z8pm31
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MaryDeal
December 19, 2021
Brilliant
It was really gripping and kept me glued until the end. It's fascinating and an awesome thriller. Sara Mason buys an old Victorian mansion previously owned by Orson and Esmeralda Talbot in Sacramento River Delta. Residents of the town have heard a rumor about Orson Talbot haunting her mansion. She is unnerved by such rumors as she doesn't believe in ghosts. She has carved a niche in the computer gaming industry and has acquired immense wealth, a part of which she spends on helping her friends and others in need of financial assistance, anonymously. She gets scared after hearing someone prowling on her property and confides in her best friend, Daphine about her strange visions of an old man in her dreams trying to convey something. Daphine makes the sketch of the man surprising Sara. They visit his wife Esmeralda at River Hospice, a place where terminally ill patients are taken care of. Esmeralda tells them about Orson's mysterious disappearance from Placerville in 1995.
Recent discoveries of human skeletons missing for nearly decades ago rattle up Sara.
She has her own traumatic past involving the accidental deaths of her parents and sister, Starla. She visits their graves. She comes across a creepy character Crazy Ike who digs up graves.
Meanwhile, Esmeralda visits Sara and is shocked to discover the sketch of her husband in Sara's house. The latter tells her about her dreams involving Orson.
She attends her school reunion with Daphine and meets Pierce who had revived miraculously after being struck by lightning and declared dead for an hour. She spends some time with Pierce and takes him to her mansion. A nasty surprise awaits her as she finds herself drugged and Pierce lying unconscious in her kitchen. Detectives Johanna and Isidoro take them to the hospital. Medical reports reveal that they had been sedated with Rohypnol. Fortunately, Pierce recovers again after escaping from a certain death. Sara's mansion is under renovation and she stays with her cousin Burt and Linette Aldens who dote upon her. The serial killer is back again with a message for Sara. He leaves behind a dead cat and subsequently during the renovation, another skeleton is discovered from her mansion. Whose skeleton is this? Where is Orson Talbot? Most of the skeletons have their belongings with them at the time of their deaths. In some cases, even animal skeletons are placed besides the human ones. What does the killer want to convey from these gruesome murders?
Sara falls in love with Huxley after Esmeralda introduces him to her. Can she trust him?
Will she be able to stop the killer and save herself from a certain death? Do grab this highly thrilling book with plenty of twists. Highly recommended for all the mystery lovers.
It was really gripping and kept me glued until the end. It's fascinating and an awesome thriller. Sara Mason buys an old Victorian mansion previously owned by Orson and Esmeralda Talbot in Sacramento River Delta. Residents of the town have heard a rumor about Orson Talbot haunting her mansion. She is unnerved by such rumors as she doesn't believe in ghosts. She has carved a niche in the computer gaming industry and has acquired immense wealth, a part of which she spends on helping her friends and others in need of financial assistance, anonymously. She gets scared after hearing someone prowling on her property and confides in her best friend, Daphine about her strange visions of an old man in her dreams trying to convey something. Daphine makes the sketch of the man surprising Sara. They visit his wife Esmeralda at River Hospice, a place where terminally ill patients are taken care of. Esmeralda tells them about Orson's mysterious disappearance from Placerville in 1995.
Recent discoveries of human skeletons missing for nearly decades ago rattle up Sara.
She has her own traumatic past involving the accidental deaths of her parents and sister, Starla. She visits their graves. She comes across a creepy character Crazy Ike who digs up graves.
Meanwhile, Esmeralda visits Sara and is shocked to discover the sketch of her husband in Sara's house. The latter tells her about her dreams involving Orson.
She attends her school reunion with Daphine and meets Pierce who had revived miraculously after being struck by lightning and declared dead for an hour. She spends some time with Pierce and takes him to her mansion. A nasty surprise awaits her as she finds herself drugged and Pierce lying unconscious in her kitchen. Detectives Johanna and Isidoro take them to the hospital. Medical reports reveal that they had been sedated with Rohypnol. Fortunately, Pierce recovers again after escaping from a certain death. Sara's mansion is under renovation and she stays with her cousin Burt and Linette Aldens who dote upon her. The serial killer is back again with a message for Sara. He leaves behind a dead cat and subsequently during the renovation, another skeleton is discovered from her mansion. Whose skeleton is this? Where is Orson Talbot? Most of the skeletons have their belongings with them at the time of their deaths. In some cases, even animal skeletons are placed besides the human ones. What does the killer want to convey from these gruesome murders?
Sara falls in love with Huxley after Esmeralda introduces him to her. Can she trust him?
Will she be able to stop the killer and save herself from a certain death? Do grab this highly thrilling book with plenty of twists. Highly recommended for all the mystery lovers.
January 6, 2020
If you are looking for a suspense filled tale, this author does not disappoint. You begin to wonder what is happening when a successful woman returns to her hometown to eradicate the sorrow and scorn the place had for her and her family while growing up. She buys a huge house to renovate. The man of the couple that owned is thought to have been murdered by a serial killer and his ghost inhabits the house. She visits the wife of the man and two, then three creepy individuals are introduced. She reconnects with an artistic friend from high school days and hears more about the discovery of human bones and dog bones over the years. She is even plagued with recurring dream of a man in the shadows pointing at something. A river excursion with another high school friend who had a near death experience finds them discovering more human bones on a sand bar. The man who experienced near death has written about it and is on many meds. She shows him her house and the remodel dreams while she pours then juice from her fridge. She wakes hours later with a pounding headache and can barely move. She finally finds her friend downstairs just off the kitchen. He isn’t moving. The police arrive. The man has another near death experience and people begin to suspect him as he had a different drug in his system than she did. The police try to determine who did the drugging and find evidence that someone has been entering her house. Those footsteps and noises she has heard weren’t from the old house creaking. Her artist friend does a painting as she describes the man in her dream. It is the former owner of the house. His bones and those of another dog are buried beneath the workshop she had the remodel crew remove. How did he get there? She begins to suspect everyone, including the man she has fallen for and leaves him. Later she realizes she has panicked, but it is too late. What if she wasn’t wrong? Then she sees all the photos of the found bones including those under the workshop she had removed and realizes who and how to prove it. The police agree to use her plan to catch the serial killer who has been operating for years. The story becomes a page turning suspense. Will the killer outsmart her and the police? There is always that chance and she will never reconnect with the man she loves; or will she?
November 18, 2019
Overall 5 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
anne
07-11-19
Beautiful descriptive writing!
What a lovely style of descriptive writing Mary Deal has. I have a vivid picture of the Sacramento region, even though I’ve never been there. This book is more than just a thriller, it’s full of well researched information on the area, the levies and traditions of the hardy people who live there. Plus a sprinkling of romance. The characters are very much alive and interesting personalities. And there are enough twists to keep you guessing who the killers is. That is almost an after thought, as the story contains much more of the readjustments Sara has to make on returning to her home town and confronting the pains of her young life. I’m sure this would make a good film. So pleased this is the first of a series and I’ll continue to follow Sara’s story. The only slight negative for me was the narrator,Nikki Zakocs. Her narration was fine, if a little slow at times, but I found some of her pronunciations became irritating. This is very much a personal preference thing and I’m sure others will find no fault with her accent at all. Overall I very much recommend the excellent start to a series.
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 5 out of 5 stars
anne
07-11-19
Beautiful descriptive writing!
What a lovely style of descriptive writing Mary Deal has. I have a vivid picture of the Sacramento region, even though I’ve never been there. This book is more than just a thriller, it’s full of well researched information on the area, the levies and traditions of the hardy people who live there. Plus a sprinkling of romance. The characters are very much alive and interesting personalities. And there are enough twists to keep you guessing who the killers is. That is almost an after thought, as the story contains much more of the readjustments Sara has to make on returning to her home town and confronting the pains of her young life. I’m sure this would make a good film. So pleased this is the first of a series and I’ll continue to follow Sara’s story. The only slight negative for me was the narrator,Nikki Zakocs. Her narration was fine, if a little slow at times, but I found some of her pronunciations became irritating. This is very much a personal preference thing and I’m sure others will find no fault with her accent at all. Overall I very much recommend the excellent start to a series.
April 18, 2023
An Enthralling Thriller
‘River Bones’ held my attention throughout. For starters, I appreciated the geographic and cultural details of the Sacramento Delta area interwoven throughout the story. More than the setting’s window dressing, it’s Sara Mason’s former childhood home which triggers painful memories and predisposes her to think and react in certain ways as she makes a new life for herself in the Delta.
The author has a knack for making the reader’s hair stand up on back of the neck when things go bump in the night at Talbot House while a prolific serial killer is on the loose. Like Sara, the reader becomes suspicious of several characters: Crazy Ike, Frederik, Pierce Newton, Fletcher Gable, Huxley Keane, and Tripp Unwyn to cite most.
Whoever the perpetrator is—he snaps the victim’s hyoid bone and buries their remains in soft soil near a stream or under boulders. On that note, I felt the author did her own extensive profiling to create a credible killer hiding in plain sight.
I highly recommend this enthralling thriller where mystery and suspense loom large.
‘River Bones’ held my attention throughout. For starters, I appreciated the geographic and cultural details of the Sacramento Delta area interwoven throughout the story. More than the setting’s window dressing, it’s Sara Mason’s former childhood home which triggers painful memories and predisposes her to think and react in certain ways as she makes a new life for herself in the Delta.
The author has a knack for making the reader’s hair stand up on back of the neck when things go bump in the night at Talbot House while a prolific serial killer is on the loose. Like Sara, the reader becomes suspicious of several characters: Crazy Ike, Frederik, Pierce Newton, Fletcher Gable, Huxley Keane, and Tripp Unwyn to cite most.
Whoever the perpetrator is—he snaps the victim’s hyoid bone and buries their remains in soft soil near a stream or under boulders. On that note, I felt the author did her own extensive profiling to create a credible killer hiding in plain sight.
I highly recommend this enthralling thriller where mystery and suspense loom large.
April 1, 2021
Despite a psychopathic serial killer roaming around, Sara Mason has returned to her hometown. She’s purchased Talbot House, an old Victorian mansion, which she plans to restore. With more money in the bank than she ever had growing up, Sara wants to reconnect with the people she once knew and help out her community. But living in Talbot House is more than she bargained for.
River Bones is the first book of the Sara Mason Mysteries by Mary Deal. I was intrigued by the story from the outset and it kept me turning the pages. With a multitude of interesting characters, I wasn’t quite sure who the guilty person was. While I had my suspicions, it wasn’t clear until it was finally revealed. Though this book is primarily a mystery/thriller, there’s also a nice little romance that had me rooting for the couple. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
River Bones is the first book of the Sara Mason Mysteries by Mary Deal. I was intrigued by the story from the outset and it kept me turning the pages. With a multitude of interesting characters, I wasn’t quite sure who the guilty person was. While I had my suspicions, it wasn’t clear until it was finally revealed. Though this book is primarily a mystery/thriller, there’s also a nice little romance that had me rooting for the couple. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 3, 2024
At first, I didn’t think I’d like this novel: multiple characters to keep track of, too much descriptive verbiage, and I’m not a big fan of mysteries. But as I continued reading, I really began to enjoy it: the personal growth of the main character, her emerging relationships with others in the area, her philanthropic deeds, the activities and special events of the area, and the fact that the main focus of the story wasn’t the serial killer. Although I ended up enjoying it immensely, there are things I didn’t understand, even after re-reading sections of the book. How was she able to figure out who the serial killer was by looking at the photos? What was the purpose of having those two puppies in the story? And what was that “click, click” supposed to be while she interacted with the killer? I’ll never know but enjoyed it anyway.
August 3, 2024
Robuster
There is a good story in here somewhere. Truly I believe there are three good beginnings to a solid series in this book. There are just too many twists and turns for my taste. A lot of this should have been edited out and used in a following storyline.
I like the hook . Right from the first page I was hooked. Then the story trailed off and died for about fifty pages. I enjoyed the Pierce pieces , the dog angle could use some work but it held up.
I knew the killer as soon as the concrete pad was brought up and the boulder storyline was.fairly obvious.
For some reason i did not not like the protagonist much. Just a little too farfetched .
The author seemed to understand what she was writing but at times she left me behind to decipher what was in her head.
I would recommend this book . It isn't great but it had enjoyable parts in .
There is a good story in here somewhere. Truly I believe there are three good beginnings to a solid series in this book. There are just too many twists and turns for my taste. A lot of this should have been edited out and used in a following storyline.
I like the hook . Right from the first page I was hooked. Then the story trailed off and died for about fifty pages. I enjoyed the Pierce pieces , the dog angle could use some work but it held up.
I knew the killer as soon as the concrete pad was brought up and the boulder storyline was.fairly obvious.
For some reason i did not not like the protagonist much. Just a little too farfetched .
The author seemed to understand what she was writing but at times she left me behind to decipher what was in her head.
I would recommend this book . It isn't great but it had enjoyable parts in .
May 8, 2025
This is the first book in the Sara Mason mystery series by Mary Deal. The story follows Sara Mason, who returns thirty years later to her hometown in the Sacramento River Delta to restore her Victorian home and attend her high school reunion. However, her plans are disrupted when she learns about a serial killer terrorizing the area. As Sara battles memories of her tragic past, including the drowning deaths of her sister and parents, she discovers skeletal remains on her property, which ties her to the ongoing investigation. Sara becomes deeply involved in uncovering the truth, even volunteering to act as a decoy for the sheriff's department. The novel is filled with suspense, danger, and psychological intrigue as Sara faces the threat of a serial killer who seems to be stalking her. I really enjoyed this fascinating psychological thriller novel.
March 11, 2019
This is the first book I've read by this author, but wow, was it good! I really enjoyed it! It's about a woman Sara who returns to her hometown years after the last time she left. But now she is wealthy and has a bought a home there. The previous owner disappeared and has never been found again. As the story continues, we learn there's a serial killer in the area who is killing people by strangling them. I really like the character Sara Mason. She is a strong, independent, and highly resourceful person who is also compassionate and courageous. This is a great read, check it out, I know you'll enjoy it! I learned this is only Book 1 in this series featuring Sarah Mason. I look forward to reading more books with her in them.
February 28, 2020
Sara Mason moves back to her home town as a successful businesswoman to find that she has unwillingly placed herself in the middle of a serial killer investigation. When she appears to be the killers intended next victim, she and the police need to unravel the mystery behind the strange deaths before it´s too late.
As Sara re-associates herself with the occupants of her hometown, there are several odd candidates who could quite easily be the killer. The subtle clues and the build-up of possible motives for the killings leave the reader constantly trying to guess who the killer could be. This is a good read, the characters are believable, and the two, endearing pit bull puppies added an extra tension to the storyline, as I feared for their safety.
Highly recommended.
As Sara re-associates herself with the occupants of her hometown, there are several odd candidates who could quite easily be the killer. The subtle clues and the build-up of possible motives for the killings leave the reader constantly trying to guess who the killer could be. This is a good read, the characters are believable, and the two, endearing pit bull puppies added an extra tension to the storyline, as I feared for their safety.
Highly recommended.
October 28, 2022
River Bones (Sara Mason Mysteries #1) By Mary Deal
🌟🌟🌟1/2
💀 This book was interesting. I liked the story, but I predicted the ‘who dun it’ by about ⅓ of the way through. There were also a lot of time jumps. I get why these had to happen but it made it hard to keep track of where we were, and the weather never seemed to change despite the year progressing. That could be because of where they were, but I live in a temperate region so we get four full seasons so that felt odd.
All that being said, the story was fun and the characters were older, which is nice. I liked the main character, and the side characters, even if some background information seemed out of place or random at times.
So if you are looking for a thriller with some older characters check this out.
🌟🌟🌟1/2
💀 This book was interesting. I liked the story, but I predicted the ‘who dun it’ by about ⅓ of the way through. There were also a lot of time jumps. I get why these had to happen but it made it hard to keep track of where we were, and the weather never seemed to change despite the year progressing. That could be because of where they were, but I live in a temperate region so we get four full seasons so that felt odd.
All that being said, the story was fun and the characters were older, which is nice. I liked the main character, and the side characters, even if some background information seemed out of place or random at times.
So if you are looking for a thriller with some older characters check this out.
March 15, 2024
A Tedious Read
I spent 75% of the book reading about a lady who came from nothing to obtain massive wealth creating video games. She returns to her home town and purchases a run down mansion and rebuilds it. She helps people along the way and one lady has 2 pit bull puppies that need homes. There is very little, if any, reference to a mystery about human and animal bones. There was a lot of reference to the delta off the west coast and the fog and how dangerous it was to drive.
By the time the title of the book or any intrigue enters the storyline, I would have closed the book and opened another. I only finished because I couldn’t review without giving it a chance.
I had no problem putting it down from time to time. And finished later.
Did not like it at all.
I spent 75% of the book reading about a lady who came from nothing to obtain massive wealth creating video games. She returns to her home town and purchases a run down mansion and rebuilds it. She helps people along the way and one lady has 2 pit bull puppies that need homes. There is very little, if any, reference to a mystery about human and animal bones. There was a lot of reference to the delta off the west coast and the fog and how dangerous it was to drive.
By the time the title of the book or any intrigue enters the storyline, I would have closed the book and opened another. I only finished because I couldn’t review without giving it a chance.
I had no problem putting it down from time to time. And finished later.
Did not like it at all.
September 7, 2020
Emotional
Sara Mason spent the first few decades of her life in survival mode. Now, after discovering a hidden talent, she is able to live out her dreams.
Returning to her childhood stomping grounds is bittersweet. Sara reestablishes connections while renovating her dream home. She thought she was aware of every secret the mansion held. What she didn’t know could lead to her death.
I loved the levels of detail the writer used to describe the Delta and surrounding areas. I easily found myself drawn into the book. The depth given to the characters brought them to life.
I look forward to seeing Sara in her next adventure.
Sara Mason spent the first few decades of her life in survival mode. Now, after discovering a hidden talent, she is able to live out her dreams.
Returning to her childhood stomping grounds is bittersweet. Sara reestablishes connections while renovating her dream home. She thought she was aware of every secret the mansion held. What she didn’t know could lead to her death.
I loved the levels of detail the writer used to describe the Delta and surrounding areas. I easily found myself drawn into the book. The depth given to the characters brought them to life.
I look forward to seeing Sara in her next adventure.
March 16, 2022
Too Much Secondary Drama
A woman returns to her hometown wealthy. Her youth was marred by tragedy but she found herself and success. While renovating a mansion she finds purpose, friendship and a chance at love. She also attracts the attention of a serial killer and is haunted by a ghost.
This book has too many characters and half baked story lines. The killer is easily identifiable early on. Although the animal cruelty was not graphic it was unwelcome and unnecessary. Sara, the lead, is a bland goody goody. The author is an apologist for pit bulls but at least she emphasized the need for responsible training and socialization. Not impressed.
A woman returns to her hometown wealthy. Her youth was marred by tragedy but she found herself and success. While renovating a mansion she finds purpose, friendship and a chance at love. She also attracts the attention of a serial killer and is haunted by a ghost.
This book has too many characters and half baked story lines. The killer is easily identifiable early on. Although the animal cruelty was not graphic it was unwelcome and unnecessary. Sara, the lead, is a bland goody goody. The author is an apologist for pit bulls but at least she emphasized the need for responsible training and socialization. Not impressed.
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