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Dark Lure #2
Schwarze Knochen
Der neue atmosphärische Thriller von Loreth Anne White, der Bestsellerautorin von »Winterjagd«.
Vor zwanzig Jahren hat Detective Rebecca North ihrer Heimatstadt den Rücken gekehrt. Doch dann wird ihr Vater in seinem abgebrannten Blockhaus tot aufgefunden. Verwertbare Spuren gibt es kaum. Die offizielle Version lautet: Der Ex-Cop hat sich das Leben genommen und damit ist für die Behörden der Fall erledigt.
Rebecca glaubt nicht an Selbstmord und beginnt selbst zu ermitteln. Will sie den Mörder ihres Vaters finden, muss Rebecca den Mann wiedersehen, der ihr einst das Herz gebrochen hat. Ihre Ermittlungen führen sie in eine düstere Vergangenheit voller Verrat und Gewalt. Noch ahnt Rebecca nicht, dass sie sich in tödliche Gefahr bringt …
Alle Bücher der Reihe sind in sich abgeschlossen und können unabhängig voneinander gelesen werden.
509 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2019
11590 people are currently reading
13193 people want to read
About the author
Loreth Anne White
94 books7,412 followersLoreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts, Washington Post and Bild bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense.
With over 4 million books sold around the world in more than 20 languages, she is a Canadian Crime Writer winner, ITW Thriller Awards nominee, a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple other industry awards.
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears.
For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Or connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorethBeswet...
Or via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorethannew...
With over 4 million books sold around the world in more than 20 languages, she is a Canadian Crime Writer winner, ITW Thriller Awards nominee, a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple other industry awards.
A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.
When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears.
For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com
Or connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorethBeswet...
Or via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorethannew...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,432 reviews
January 7, 2020
The Dark Bones by Loreth Anne White is a 2019 Montlake publication.
My kind of romantic suspense!!
This is the long awaited follow up to ‘A Dark Lure’ and is every bit as thrilling as its predecessor! The story picks up pretty much were ‘Lure’ left off. While one doesn’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one, I do highly recommend doing so, just so will know Olivia and Tori’s backstory.
That said, this book follows Rebecca North who has returned to her small hometown after her father allegedly commits suicide. Rebecca refuses to accept that her father killed himself and begins investigating his death. This leads her to Tori, one of the main characters in book one, who, along with her new best friend, may have been witnesses to a crime.
Rebecca quickly learns her father was investigating a cold case- one which may involve Ash Haugen, Rebecca’s old boyfriend. Rebecca's feelings for Ash are still strong, but she also thinks Ash is hiding something, which makes her wonder just how much he knows and if he might even be a suspect.
The start of a new year is a good time to do a little housekeeping and make an attempt to become more organized. So, while cleaning up my virtual bookshelves, I noticed I had won a couple of books on Goodreads I never got around to reading. This is one of them. But, in my defense, I wanted to read the first book in the series before tackling this one- and I’m glad I did!
Not to sound like a broken record-as I think I may have said this same thing about Dark Lure, but as a person who whines a lot about the poor pickings in the romantic suspense category it is such a relief to know there are authors out there who are still writing traditional romantic suspense!
This is a dark, atmospheric thriller that had me turning pages at the speed of light and staying up past my bedtime, as well. The story has a great deal of substance, with excellent characterizations. The tension and angst between Rebecca and Ash practically pops off the page!
The suspense is taut, the emotions raw, the mystery is deep, and the second romance is the cherry on the cake!
Loved it!
My kind of romantic suspense!!
This is the long awaited follow up to ‘A Dark Lure’ and is every bit as thrilling as its predecessor! The story picks up pretty much were ‘Lure’ left off. While one doesn’t have to read the first book to enjoy this one, I do highly recommend doing so, just so will know Olivia and Tori’s backstory.
That said, this book follows Rebecca North who has returned to her small hometown after her father allegedly commits suicide. Rebecca refuses to accept that her father killed himself and begins investigating his death. This leads her to Tori, one of the main characters in book one, who, along with her new best friend, may have been witnesses to a crime.
Rebecca quickly learns her father was investigating a cold case- one which may involve Ash Haugen, Rebecca’s old boyfriend. Rebecca's feelings for Ash are still strong, but she also thinks Ash is hiding something, which makes her wonder just how much he knows and if he might even be a suspect.
The start of a new year is a good time to do a little housekeeping and make an attempt to become more organized. So, while cleaning up my virtual bookshelves, I noticed I had won a couple of books on Goodreads I never got around to reading. This is one of them. But, in my defense, I wanted to read the first book in the series before tackling this one- and I’m glad I did!
Not to sound like a broken record-as I think I may have said this same thing about Dark Lure, but as a person who whines a lot about the poor pickings in the romantic suspense category it is such a relief to know there are authors out there who are still writing traditional romantic suspense!
This is a dark, atmospheric thriller that had me turning pages at the speed of light and staying up past my bedtime, as well. The story has a great deal of substance, with excellent characterizations. The tension and angst between Rebecca and Ash practically pops off the page!
The suspense is taut, the emotions raw, the mystery is deep, and the second romance is the cherry on the cake!
Loved it!
June 27, 2019
I'm a fan of Loreth Ann White's Angie Pallorino series so jumped into this without realising it was already episode two of a new series. Although I now want to go back and read book one, this worked well for me as a stand alone dark tale of murder and betrayal in the cold wilderness of British Columbia.
Rebecca North escaped the small rural town where she grew up to become a Detective in Ottawa but has recently returned after her father ex-Mountie Noah is found dead in his burnt out cabin, from a presumed suicide. She discovers that her father has been following up a cold case of two teenagers who disappeared some 20 years ago and weren't heard from again. Just before he died he believed he'd found important information about the case and Rebecca finds herself drawn in to following Noah's investigations, with the help of Ash Haugen, her former boyfriend before she moved away, as well as two children who were there the night her father died.
White paints a picture of a small close-knit rural town in a frozen but beautiful landscape. As Rebecca revisits events of the past, she uncovers dark secrets and some ugly undercurrents that many would rather see left alone. This is a gritty suspense with some ruthless characters in an environment that could prove deadly. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Montlake Romance for a digital ARC to read.
Rebecca North escaped the small rural town where she grew up to become a Detective in Ottawa but has recently returned after her father ex-Mountie Noah is found dead in his burnt out cabin, from a presumed suicide. She discovers that her father has been following up a cold case of two teenagers who disappeared some 20 years ago and weren't heard from again. Just before he died he believed he'd found important information about the case and Rebecca finds herself drawn in to following Noah's investigations, with the help of Ash Haugen, her former boyfriend before she moved away, as well as two children who were there the night her father died.
White paints a picture of a small close-knit rural town in a frozen but beautiful landscape. As Rebecca revisits events of the past, she uncovers dark secrets and some ugly undercurrents that many would rather see left alone. This is a gritty suspense with some ruthless characters in an environment that could prove deadly. 4.5★
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Montlake Romance for a digital ARC to read.
September 2, 2019
Winston Churchill famously described the Soviet Union as “a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma,". The story contained in The Dark Bones can be described as a betrayal, wrapped in a lie, inside a crime.
On other side of the country from her hometown, RMCP Sgt Rebecca North is notified that her father, former RCMP officer Noah North has died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound after setting his rural cabin on fire.
After a five day battle with weather and airlines Rebecca arrives in her hometown of Clinton.
Rebecca is immediately overwhelmed with guilt, she had seldom returned to Clinton because of a broken heart. Adding to Rebecca's guilt, just five days ago she had basically shut her father down on the phone after he began some of his drunken conspiracy meanderings; this time accusing Rebecca of lying about her former boyfriend, Ash Haugen.
In retirement, Noah spent much of his time looking into his old cold cases. This time it is a crime that Noah believes both Ash and Rebecca are involved in. Their individual reaction, what crime?
It doesn’t take long before Rebecca encounters Ash at the frozen, burned cabin where Noah died. Ash also doesn’t believe Noah took his own life. Trouble is, if Noah was murdered, Ash is the number one suspect. Worse trouble is that Rebecca rediscovers her abiding love for him.
Ash and Rebecca quickly find proof that Tori Burton and Ricky Simon, a troubled kid facing a third strike arrest, were raiding Noah’s moonshine when Noah was shot. Tori, is the daughter of Olivia West from the terrific A Dark Lure . Tori and Olivia are still finding their way into a true mother daughter relationship and Tori refuses to confide in her mother.
Rebecca and Ash must not only find Noah’s killer, but they must protect Tori and Ricky while gaining their trust.
Some writers would tippy-toe around the grittier details of horrific crimes and crime scenes, but not Ms White. Sometimes I really wish she would; because she is that first rate and it can be disturbing reading. “Melted into the recliner” will stay with me for a long time.
On the other hand her descriptions of the physical beauties and winter dangers of the western part of Canada are glorious. I am this close to booking a trip on the Mountaineer train through Western Canada. All I need is to pick the bank to rob.
White also does a bang up job with the scenes with the police. I was delighted to read an interview scene that uses a different technique for eliciting information, not the usual question and answer mode.
Ms White’s characters will almost break your heart. Ash the betrayed, living most of his life in darkness has a moment in the sun, until he betrays. Then there will be one monstrous lie that causes heartbreak and death through the decades. The liar is easy to hate, but White draws us in with her gentle empathy. Rebecca, who blindly sees herself as the only betrayed almost forgives. Olivia, Cole McDonough and Tori are still doing the family dance of love and trust trying to figure out their places. Then there is Ricky. A First Nations boy, the troubled kid who might move you most of all.
.The crimes that haunt, so many deaths, so many lies, so many betrayals; The Dark Bones is also a love story; between friends, parents, brothers, sisters and lovers slowing building trust again.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
On other side of the country from her hometown, RMCP Sgt Rebecca North is notified that her father, former RCMP officer Noah North has died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound after setting his rural cabin on fire.
After a five day battle with weather and airlines Rebecca arrives in her hometown of Clinton.
Rebecca is immediately overwhelmed with guilt, she had seldom returned to Clinton because of a broken heart. Adding to Rebecca's guilt, just five days ago she had basically shut her father down on the phone after he began some of his drunken conspiracy meanderings; this time accusing Rebecca of lying about her former boyfriend, Ash Haugen.
In retirement, Noah spent much of his time looking into his old cold cases. This time it is a crime that Noah believes both Ash and Rebecca are involved in. Their individual reaction, what crime?
It doesn’t take long before Rebecca encounters Ash at the frozen, burned cabin where Noah died. Ash also doesn’t believe Noah took his own life. Trouble is, if Noah was murdered, Ash is the number one suspect. Worse trouble is that Rebecca rediscovers her abiding love for him.
Ash and Rebecca quickly find proof that Tori Burton and Ricky Simon, a troubled kid facing a third strike arrest, were raiding Noah’s moonshine when Noah was shot. Tori, is the daughter of Olivia West from the terrific A Dark Lure . Tori and Olivia are still finding their way into a true mother daughter relationship and Tori refuses to confide in her mother.
Rebecca and Ash must not only find Noah’s killer, but they must protect Tori and Ricky while gaining their trust.
Some writers would tippy-toe around the grittier details of horrific crimes and crime scenes, but not Ms White. Sometimes I really wish she would; because she is that first rate and it can be disturbing reading. “Melted into the recliner” will stay with me for a long time.
On the other hand her descriptions of the physical beauties and winter dangers of the western part of Canada are glorious. I am this close to booking a trip on the Mountaineer train through Western Canada. All I need is to pick the bank to rob.
White also does a bang up job with the scenes with the police. I was delighted to read an interview scene that uses a different technique for eliciting information, not the usual question and answer mode.
Ms White’s characters will almost break your heart. Ash the betrayed, living most of his life in darkness has a moment in the sun, until he betrays. Then there will be one monstrous lie that causes heartbreak and death through the decades. The liar is easy to hate, but White draws us in with her gentle empathy. Rebecca, who blindly sees herself as the only betrayed almost forgives. Olivia, Cole McDonough and Tori are still doing the family dance of love and trust trying to figure out their places. Then there is Ricky. A First Nations boy, the troubled kid who might move you most of all.
.The crimes that haunt, so many deaths, so many lies, so many betrayals; The Dark Bones is also a love story; between friends, parents, brothers, sisters and lovers slowing building trust again.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 6, 2019
"He'd always harbored a fear that she still lay there. Her dark bones in wait. To rise. To get them." (Quote: The Dark Bones)
The Dark Bones is a highly atmospheric, chilling suspense story wrapped in the arms of a young-love-gone-wrong, second-chance romance. The blistering pace set in the opening pages is driven by a sinister presence - a sense of impending doom that continues to swell as the story unfolds - one that impelled this reader to burn the midnight oil in a frenzied search for answers. A story in which past secrets and betrayals refuse to remain buried, escaping and snowballing out of control like an avalanche destroying everything in its path. A story in which one seemingly insignificant moment in time, one fleeting connection between two people, sealed the fate of others.
"Can you pinpoint the exact instant your life starts on a collision course with someone else's? Can you trace back to the moment those lives did finally intersect, and from where they spiraled outward again, yet from that point they remained forever entwined, two lives locked one with another?" (quote: The Dark Bones)
Twenty years ago, Becca North left her small hometown of Clinton, West Canada, with a broken heart brought about by the ultimate betrayal of then boyfriend Ash Haugen. And now, Sgt. Rebecca North of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police returns home to bury her father, retired officer Noah North, a victim of apparent suicide. She's carrying a world of guilt and regret over missed opportunities and time lost with her father whose life had taken a downward spiral in recent years as he succumbed to alcoholism. In his final days, it appears Noah was immersed in an investigation of a twenty year old cold case - the unsolved disappearance of two teenagers. In his last phone call to Rebecca, he'd babbled about lies and secrets and being followed and watched. Was it just the drunken ramblings of an old, has-been cop chasing ghosts in the bottom of a bottle? Or had Noah discovered something that led to his death? Rebecca's investigation into her father's death means partnering with her ex-love - the one who lied to her twenty years ago and is still harboring dark secrets. She'll distance herself and accept his help, but not his heart. Together, they rattle some cages and uncover some skeletons that someone wants to keep buried. Rebecca's in danger of losing both her heart . . . and her life. She doesn't intend to relent her hold on either.
By integrating a bit of the past within the present, the author pulls readers inside characters' heads, peeling back layers and exposing long-buried, dark secrets. While White does an outstanding job of weaving backstory into this book, I highly recommend reading The Dark Lure first as a few of the characters with key roles in The Dark Bones are first introduced there - most notably Oliva West and her troubled twelve year old daughter Tori. White's vivid, descriptive writing style is once again apparent as her mad writing skills breathe life into a hauntingly beautiful yet deadly, frozen landscape - one that intertwines intricately within the twisted plot line, careening readers in many different directions. She also brilliantly captures the small town atmosphere of gossipy neighbors as well as a menacing "good-old-boys" mentality that fuels the dark, ugly, ominous undercurrent flowing through this small town that refuses to give up its tangled, devious web of secrets. A well-developed, unique support cast adds both depth and a long list of possible suspects for readers to ponder. Avoid all spoilers and jump into this one blind as you'll want to experience and figure this one out as you read.
The Dark Bones is a dark, gritty, heart racing journey with all the desired elements of a great mystery/suspense/thriller story paired with the added bonus of a complicated, emotional second-chance romance. After reading the first few pages, I knew I was in for one hell of a ride and, as always, Loreth Anne White delivered! Another fantastic Must Read Masterpiece by one of my favorite authors!
*With many thanks to the author for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
The Dark Bones is a highly atmospheric, chilling suspense story wrapped in the arms of a young-love-gone-wrong, second-chance romance. The blistering pace set in the opening pages is driven by a sinister presence - a sense of impending doom that continues to swell as the story unfolds - one that impelled this reader to burn the midnight oil in a frenzied search for answers. A story in which past secrets and betrayals refuse to remain buried, escaping and snowballing out of control like an avalanche destroying everything in its path. A story in which one seemingly insignificant moment in time, one fleeting connection between two people, sealed the fate of others.
"Can you pinpoint the exact instant your life starts on a collision course with someone else's? Can you trace back to the moment those lives did finally intersect, and from where they spiraled outward again, yet from that point they remained forever entwined, two lives locked one with another?" (quote: The Dark Bones)
Twenty years ago, Becca North left her small hometown of Clinton, West Canada, with a broken heart brought about by the ultimate betrayal of then boyfriend Ash Haugen. And now, Sgt. Rebecca North of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police returns home to bury her father, retired officer Noah North, a victim of apparent suicide. She's carrying a world of guilt and regret over missed opportunities and time lost with her father whose life had taken a downward spiral in recent years as he succumbed to alcoholism. In his final days, it appears Noah was immersed in an investigation of a twenty year old cold case - the unsolved disappearance of two teenagers. In his last phone call to Rebecca, he'd babbled about lies and secrets and being followed and watched. Was it just the drunken ramblings of an old, has-been cop chasing ghosts in the bottom of a bottle? Or had Noah discovered something that led to his death? Rebecca's investigation into her father's death means partnering with her ex-love - the one who lied to her twenty years ago and is still harboring dark secrets. She'll distance herself and accept his help, but not his heart. Together, they rattle some cages and uncover some skeletons that someone wants to keep buried. Rebecca's in danger of losing both her heart . . . and her life. She doesn't intend to relent her hold on either.
By integrating a bit of the past within the present, the author pulls readers inside characters' heads, peeling back layers and exposing long-buried, dark secrets. While White does an outstanding job of weaving backstory into this book, I highly recommend reading The Dark Lure first as a few of the characters with key roles in The Dark Bones are first introduced there - most notably Oliva West and her troubled twelve year old daughter Tori. White's vivid, descriptive writing style is once again apparent as her mad writing skills breathe life into a hauntingly beautiful yet deadly, frozen landscape - one that intertwines intricately within the twisted plot line, careening readers in many different directions. She also brilliantly captures the small town atmosphere of gossipy neighbors as well as a menacing "good-old-boys" mentality that fuels the dark, ugly, ominous undercurrent flowing through this small town that refuses to give up its tangled, devious web of secrets. A well-developed, unique support cast adds both depth and a long list of possible suspects for readers to ponder. Avoid all spoilers and jump into this one blind as you'll want to experience and figure this one out as you read.
The Dark Bones is a dark, gritty, heart racing journey with all the desired elements of a great mystery/suspense/thriller story paired with the added bonus of a complicated, emotional second-chance romance. After reading the first few pages, I knew I was in for one hell of a ride and, as always, Loreth Anne White delivered! Another fantastic Must Read Masterpiece by one of my favorite authors!
*With many thanks to the author for an arc of this book.
**Reviewed at Cross My Heart Reviews
March 25, 2019
I started reading books by Loreth Anne White a few years ago and fell in love with her Angie Pallorino series. Some of you may be familiar with those. The Dark Bones is the second book in a new series, A Dark Lure, and I actually didn’t realize that until after I finished the book. Obviously it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the first book since I thought it was a stand-alone. It is fantastic!
When Detective Rebecca North left her rural Canadian hometown, she vowed never to return. A call from her drunken father made her nervous, a follow up call notifying her of his apparent suicide brought her home. However, “Becca” is not content with the suicide findings. Her father may have been a drunk, but he was not suicidal. Despite what she believes, the town, including all of the “officials,” seem hell-bent on making sure his death is classified as a murder. Becca is determined to find out what her father was doing before he died, who he was with and why the townspeople are behaving so strangely and to give her father the proper RCMP burial he deserves.
The Dark Bones swept me up in its saga from the very beginning – the frantic phone call, the alleged suicide, teens accidently setting fire to cabin – there is so much action in the beginning that it was difficult not to get carried away in the drama. But this is more than just a thriller. There are multiple storylines for several families. A few story lines that I know now harken back to the first book which are resolved in this book – don’t worry, you will either appreciate the closure or enjoy the independent story on its own . Becca has unresolved issues from her high school years that led to her fleeing the town. There are underlying issues of drug trading, which sadly afflicts all rural small towns and there are stories of abuse – physical and mental – which were undetected for years. There is a lot going on in this book but it is handled with care, deftly written and marvelously crafted. There are tiers and folds to this story, each waiting for you to pull back their coverings so that they can reveal their mysteries to you. Mystery, romance, murder and more – you cannot ask for a better story than this.
Thank you to #Netgalley, #LorethAnneWhite and #MontlakeRomance for my copy of #TheDarkBones available May 21,2019.
When Detective Rebecca North left her rural Canadian hometown, she vowed never to return. A call from her drunken father made her nervous, a follow up call notifying her of his apparent suicide brought her home. However, “Becca” is not content with the suicide findings. Her father may have been a drunk, but he was not suicidal. Despite what she believes, the town, including all of the “officials,” seem hell-bent on making sure his death is classified as a murder. Becca is determined to find out what her father was doing before he died, who he was with and why the townspeople are behaving so strangely and to give her father the proper RCMP burial he deserves.
The Dark Bones swept me up in its saga from the very beginning – the frantic phone call, the alleged suicide, teens accidently setting fire to cabin – there is so much action in the beginning that it was difficult not to get carried away in the drama. But this is more than just a thriller. There are multiple storylines for several families. A few story lines that I know now harken back to the first book which are resolved in this book – don’t worry, you will either appreciate the closure or enjoy the independent story on its own . Becca has unresolved issues from her high school years that led to her fleeing the town. There are underlying issues of drug trading, which sadly afflicts all rural small towns and there are stories of abuse – physical and mental – which were undetected for years. There is a lot going on in this book but it is handled with care, deftly written and marvelously crafted. There are tiers and folds to this story, each waiting for you to pull back their coverings so that they can reveal their mysteries to you. Mystery, romance, murder and more – you cannot ask for a better story than this.
Thank you to #Netgalley, #LorethAnneWhite and #MontlakeRomance for my copy of #TheDarkBones available May 21,2019.
April 21, 2019
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Loreth Anne White, and Montclair Romance for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
At a time when the thriller genre is supersaturated by authors who wish to peddle their wares, Loreth Anne White enters with a few unique qualities, one of which being the novel’s setting in rural Western Canada. Add to that, the slow development and eerie quality of her writing and the reader is in for a treat as they devour this, the second novel in her new series. The disappearance of two local teenagers two decades before has always been a cold case that nagged at Noah North, a retired cop. When he came upon some new information that may lead to a re-opening of the case, he wanted the world to know, including his daughter, Rebecca, who now resides in Ottawa. When Rebecca speaks to her father, he tells her, a little less than sober, that he knows she was not telling the truth those twenty years ago about what she and a friend were doing. Dismissing it, Rebecca returns to her life, only to receive a stunning call that her father’s committed suicide, shooting himself in the head with a shotgun. When Rebecca returns to her rural British Columbia community, she sees that much has changed and much remains the same. Trying her best to understand what’s happened, Rebecca is pulled into the middle of the case she thought everyone had forgotten, particularly when there is evidence that her father might have been drugged and therefore incapable of killing himself. Opening the old case file, Rebecca begins to piece a great deal together, including examining her friendships and relationships at the time. With the locals all coming to pay respects and opening a past she had compartmentalised, Rebecca North faces many harsh truths, while trying to see if the rumours of a pregnant teen girl fleeing to California still holds weight. With mounting evidence that someone is trying to silence a resurfacing of the case, Rebecca must race to get answers, if only to put her father’s death to rest. White stuns readers yet again with this great follow-up thriller that will please those who enjoyed the debut, and likely hook a new set of readers. Recommended for those who love a thriller that paces itself nicely and keeps the reader wondering.
I read the series debut quickly so that I could sink my teeth into this advance copy. Both proved to be stellar reads for me, my first experiences with Loreth Anne White’s work. The story was strong and developed without losing momentum, while the reader learned more about a new collection of characters from this remote community, while also getting updates on those from the debut. Rebecca North takes centre stage in this piece and keeps them reader enthralled with her development. In a novel that straddles two time periods, Rebecca’s backstory and character development occur almost simultaneously. A teen struggling to find herself, she fled for the other side of the country, only to be pulled back with her father’s death. The reader can see the great contrasts, as White uses her narrative to show both time periods. Other characters find their way onto the page and build both the present and 1998 narratives effectively, from teens to responsible adults who have made something with their lives. White plants wonderful characters of many flavours to add depth to the story and these people feed off one another so well. White uses a different technique here, with short chapters and interspersed flashbacks to a time that is then revealed in the present story. These quick chapters worked well and contrasted nicely with the debut novel, which sought to use longer chapters with smaller ‘perspective break’. The reader will surely enjoy the momentum gained by these brief story breaks that propel the larger narrative forward. Much is revealed and the reader will surely enjoy the underlying mystery that proves to entertain and educate in equal measure.
Kudos, Madam White, for another stellar novel. I am eager to see if you will build on this series, as you have a real fan in me. I hope others discover this series soon!
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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
At a time when the thriller genre is supersaturated by authors who wish to peddle their wares, Loreth Anne White enters with a few unique qualities, one of which being the novel’s setting in rural Western Canada. Add to that, the slow development and eerie quality of her writing and the reader is in for a treat as they devour this, the second novel in her new series. The disappearance of two local teenagers two decades before has always been a cold case that nagged at Noah North, a retired cop. When he came upon some new information that may lead to a re-opening of the case, he wanted the world to know, including his daughter, Rebecca, who now resides in Ottawa. When Rebecca speaks to her father, he tells her, a little less than sober, that he knows she was not telling the truth those twenty years ago about what she and a friend were doing. Dismissing it, Rebecca returns to her life, only to receive a stunning call that her father’s committed suicide, shooting himself in the head with a shotgun. When Rebecca returns to her rural British Columbia community, she sees that much has changed and much remains the same. Trying her best to understand what’s happened, Rebecca is pulled into the middle of the case she thought everyone had forgotten, particularly when there is evidence that her father might have been drugged and therefore incapable of killing himself. Opening the old case file, Rebecca begins to piece a great deal together, including examining her friendships and relationships at the time. With the locals all coming to pay respects and opening a past she had compartmentalised, Rebecca North faces many harsh truths, while trying to see if the rumours of a pregnant teen girl fleeing to California still holds weight. With mounting evidence that someone is trying to silence a resurfacing of the case, Rebecca must race to get answers, if only to put her father’s death to rest. White stuns readers yet again with this great follow-up thriller that will please those who enjoyed the debut, and likely hook a new set of readers. Recommended for those who love a thriller that paces itself nicely and keeps the reader wondering.
I read the series debut quickly so that I could sink my teeth into this advance copy. Both proved to be stellar reads for me, my first experiences with Loreth Anne White’s work. The story was strong and developed without losing momentum, while the reader learned more about a new collection of characters from this remote community, while also getting updates on those from the debut. Rebecca North takes centre stage in this piece and keeps them reader enthralled with her development. In a novel that straddles two time periods, Rebecca’s backstory and character development occur almost simultaneously. A teen struggling to find herself, she fled for the other side of the country, only to be pulled back with her father’s death. The reader can see the great contrasts, as White uses her narrative to show both time periods. Other characters find their way onto the page and build both the present and 1998 narratives effectively, from teens to responsible adults who have made something with their lives. White plants wonderful characters of many flavours to add depth to the story and these people feed off one another so well. White uses a different technique here, with short chapters and interspersed flashbacks to a time that is then revealed in the present story. These quick chapters worked well and contrasted nicely with the debut novel, which sought to use longer chapters with smaller ‘perspective break’. The reader will surely enjoy the momentum gained by these brief story breaks that propel the larger narrative forward. Much is revealed and the reader will surely enjoy the underlying mystery that proves to entertain and educate in equal measure.
Kudos, Madam White, for another stellar novel. I am eager to see if you will build on this series, as you have a real fan in me. I hope others discover this series soon!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
May 18, 2019
Rtc
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 5, 2019
EXCERPT: .... as she took her place in the witness box, a chill trickled down her spine. She was barely able to register the court official in front of her, let alone recall how she'd gotten to the box.
'Do you, Sergeant Rebecca North, solemnly affirm that the evidence to be given by you shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?'
He lied.
You both lied.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself.
To prove it, she needs the help of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. But Rebecca and Ash share more than broken hearts. Something darker lies between them, and the investigation is stirring it back to life. Clues lead them to the home of Olivia West and her deeply troubled twelve-year-old daughter, Tori. The child knows more about the murder than anyone can imagine, but she’s too terrified to say a word.
And as a cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past, Rebecca and Ash begin to fear that their own secrets may be even harder to survive.
MY THOUGHTS: I had previously read and loved a book by this author, unfortunately not A Dark Lure, the prequel to The Dark Bones. Although I really enjoyed this read, I think it may have been even better had I had the full back story.
But putting that aside, although I really do recommend you read A Dark Lure before The Dark Bones, it was still an intriguing and exciting read. The author's descriptions are often graphic, whether it be of the crime or the scenery. She does both beautifully.
But this is so much more than a crime novel, it is a story of redemption, of love, of rebuilding relationships.
I need to read more by this author.
#TheDarkBones #NetGalley
💛🧡💜❤
THE AUTHOR: Loreth Anne White is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries.
A three-time RITA finalist, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall, in addition to being a Booksellers’ Best finalist, a multiple Daphne Du Maurier Award finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award winner.
A former journalist and newspaper editor who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing, you will find her skiing, biking, or hiking the trails with her Black Dog.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to MOntlake Romance via NetGalley for providing a digital copy of The Dark Bones by Loreth Ann White for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'Do you, Sergeant Rebecca North, solemnly affirm that the evidence to be given by you shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?'
He lied.
You both lied.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: When Detective Rebecca North left her rural hometown, she vowed never to return. Her father’s apparent suicide has changed that. The official report is that retired cop Noah North shot himself, knocked over a lantern, and set his isolated cabin ablaze. But Rebecca cannot believe he killed himself.
To prove it, she needs the help of Ash Haugen, the man she left behind. But Rebecca and Ash share more than broken hearts. Something darker lies between them, and the investigation is stirring it back to life. Clues lead them to the home of Olivia West and her deeply troubled twelve-year-old daughter, Tori. The child knows more about the murder than anyone can imagine, but she’s too terrified to say a word.
And as a cold-blooded killer resurfaces from the past, Rebecca and Ash begin to fear that their own secrets may be even harder to survive.
MY THOUGHTS: I had previously read and loved a book by this author, unfortunately not A Dark Lure, the prequel to The Dark Bones. Although I really enjoyed this read, I think it may have been even better had I had the full back story.
But putting that aside, although I really do recommend you read A Dark Lure before The Dark Bones, it was still an intriguing and exciting read. The author's descriptions are often graphic, whether it be of the crime or the scenery. She does both beautifully.
But this is so much more than a crime novel, it is a story of redemption, of love, of rebuilding relationships.
I need to read more by this author.
#TheDarkBones #NetGalley
💛🧡💜❤
THE AUTHOR: Loreth Anne White is an award-winning, bestselling author of romantic suspense, thrillers, and mysteries.
A three-time RITA finalist, she has also won the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the National Readers’ Choice Award, and the Romantic Crown for Best Romantic Suspense and Best Book Overall, in addition to being a Booksellers’ Best finalist, a multiple Daphne Du Maurier Award finalist, and a multiple CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Award winner.
A former journalist and newspaper editor who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing, you will find her skiing, biking, or hiking the trails with her Black Dog.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to MOntlake Romance via NetGalley for providing a digital copy of The Dark Bones by Loreth Ann White for review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 12, 2020
To be honest, I didn't expect anything less.
This was my last unread book by Loreth Anne White I was begrudgingly saving "for later", you know, when that damn reading slump monster rears its disgusting head. Because I knew withoubt doubt that, reading slump or not, I would love it.
Loreth Anne White is one of the '4D writers' as I call them - talented writers who transport you to another world stimulating all of your senses.
I adore her writing style. Reading her books always gives me that 'feels like home' feeling despite the gruesome aspect of her stories. Her witing is intense, atmospheric and vivid; her characters are fleshed out and real.
This particular book has all of the elements I love: a cold, isolated setting; a myriad of real, developed characters; small town secrets; second chance romance; and a well-crafted mystery with a plausible plot.
March 13, 2019
Can you pinpoint the exact instant your life starts on a collision course with someone else’s? Can you trace back to the moment those lives did finally intersect, and from where they spiraled outward again, yet from that point they remained forever entwined, two lives locked one with another?
Loreth Anne White is one of my favorite authors. I love all of her books. Her characters are memorable and the suspense is always outstanding!
The Dark Bones is the second book in the Dark Lure series (The Dark Lure was FANTASTIC). The main character is Rebecca North. She's a Royal Canadian Mounted Police detective who moved out of her rural hometown of Clinton, Canada as soon as she could after her boyfriend Ash Haugen broke her heart.
Rebecca's dad is a retired detective. He's an alcoholic and he lives by himself. Out of nowhere, he calls Rebecca and tells her that he believes someone is following him and he wants to see her. He has been reviewing a cold case and he wants to know why she and Ash lied to him so many years ago. Rebecca knows this has to be about Whitney Gagnon who had slept with Ash and had left town with her boyfriend Trevor Beauchamp. Rebecca tells her dad she will call him back. Next thing she knows, she gets a call. Her dad has killed himself. Rebecca can't believe it. She comes home to investigate. She believes her father has found something about the disappearance of Whitney Gagnon and Trevor Beauchamp and someone killed him for it.
"He lied
You both lied."
On her first night back home, she bumps into the last person she wants to see, Ash. All her past feelings for him resurface. She remembers how hurt she was when he cheated and when she found out he had lied to her. She also remembers he was her first love and she has never forgotten him. As the days and the investigation progresses she realizes she still feels something for him.
Besides Rebecca and Ash, two teenagers are also important. One is Olivia's daughter Tori Burton (Liv is the main character on The Dark Lure) and the other one is Ricky Simon, a kid Ash promised to take care of. Both of their lives are in danger. They know too much.
Soon, Ash becomes the main suspect and Rebecca knows she needs to figure out who's at fault or none of them are going to be safe.
The Dark Bones was gritty, dark and full of suspense. Loreth Anne White painted a perfect small town ambiance full of secrets and lies. She gave us a great resolution while still leaving an opening for another book to answer the remaining questions.
"Quiet descended with a sense of menace."
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
June 17, 2019
I could not put this book down......it's a WOW.
I'm excited to discover a new author for me. I knew this story would be intense based on the summary, but it had layers and layers of secrets that needed to be told.
Rebecca's father dies from an apparent suicide after she receives a bizarre call from him. She rushes home and believes he was murdered. She knows he was working on a cold case from 20 years ago and believes new clues surfaced prompting his will to finally solve it. She is also reconnected with her first love, Ash, who becomes a person of interest. While there is evidence that is pointing to him, she is finding it difficult to believe he could commit a crime, but she knows he is hiding something big. And it's big, and heartbreaking, too. As the story unfolds, you feel spent from emotions as the pace is rapid with information.
I enjoyed this author's and was hooked from the beginning. I look forward to reading more!!
I'm excited to discover a new author for me. I knew this story would be intense based on the summary, but it had layers and layers of secrets that needed to be told.
Rebecca's father dies from an apparent suicide after she receives a bizarre call from him. She rushes home and believes he was murdered. She knows he was working on a cold case from 20 years ago and believes new clues surfaced prompting his will to finally solve it. She is also reconnected with her first love, Ash, who becomes a person of interest. While there is evidence that is pointing to him, she is finding it difficult to believe he could commit a crime, but she knows he is hiding something big. And it's big, and heartbreaking, too. As the story unfolds, you feel spent from emotions as the pace is rapid with information.
I enjoyed this author's and was hooked from the beginning. I look forward to reading more!!
April 30, 2019
An unsolved crime 20 years in the past is still heavily influencing lives in the present in this complex crime mystery. I didn't realize when I started the book that it is the second in a series. Didn't matter - the story stands alone with no knowledge of the first book. The story unfolds tying events in the past to events in the future, going back and forth between the two time periods. The tension plays out slowly as you are led to the climax and I enjoyed it very much. The main characters were well-drawn and I really liked Becca and Ash, who were in love before events 20 years ago tore them apart.
Thanks to Loreth Anne White and Montlake Romance through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Loreth Anne White and Montlake Romance through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 7, 2020
This was disappointing after reading the previous novel "A Dark Lure", which overlaps with a few similar characters. It was a mystery that lacked compelling suspense; lacked consistent suspense. Ultimately an unexpected ending but not in a very relevant way to the rest of the story. After 50% I kept reading just so I could say I finished... because I'm stubborn. Unfortunately, after this read I'm still stubborn and now also frustrated.
May 21, 2019
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE DARK BONES (Dark Lure Book 2) by Loreth Anne White is a mix of romantic suspense, mystery and thrills with ever increasing physical, emotional and environmental threats. This is the second book in this series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
Detective Rebecca North is notified that her father, a retired Mounty has committed suicide. Rebecca has been away from her hometown in rural Western Canada for twenty years and even though she knows her father had problems, she refuses to believe he would take his own life. He called her just that day to tell her he is revisiting a cold case from their hometown and that he believes he is being followed and has had papers stolen from his home.
One of the last people to see Rebecca’s father alive was her ex-high school boyfriend, Ash Haugen. Ash always dreamed of one day marrying Rebecca, but he broke her heart and trust. The investigation is stirring up old feelings and lies. Even as they work together, old friends and relations may once again pull them apart.
While regathering the evidence for the case her father was working on and trying to prove he did not commit suicide, Rebecca and Ash are under increasing threat by someone who is trying to keep the old case cold.
I loved this book! The murder mystery and the cold case keep you guessing, turning the pages and they keep the overall pace continually increasing to the climax. The flashbacks to Rebecca and Ash’s pasts did not detract or slow down the story in any way. I liked the tie in to the first book, but it does not interfere with your understanding of this mystery plot or romance. Rebecca and Ash were complex characters with actions and emotions that were believable. The romance grows at a realistic pace. The secondary characters are fully fleshed out and added depth to the small town, good and bad.
I highly recommend this book and series! Ms. White is an author that I now automatically go to when looking for an intense suspenseful read.
Thanks very much to Net Galley and Montlake Romance for allowing me to read this eARC.
THE DARK BONES (Dark Lure Book 2) by Loreth Anne White is a mix of romantic suspense, mystery and thrills with ever increasing physical, emotional and environmental threats. This is the second book in this series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.
Detective Rebecca North is notified that her father, a retired Mounty has committed suicide. Rebecca has been away from her hometown in rural Western Canada for twenty years and even though she knows her father had problems, she refuses to believe he would take his own life. He called her just that day to tell her he is revisiting a cold case from their hometown and that he believes he is being followed and has had papers stolen from his home.
One of the last people to see Rebecca’s father alive was her ex-high school boyfriend, Ash Haugen. Ash always dreamed of one day marrying Rebecca, but he broke her heart and trust. The investigation is stirring up old feelings and lies. Even as they work together, old friends and relations may once again pull them apart.
While regathering the evidence for the case her father was working on and trying to prove he did not commit suicide, Rebecca and Ash are under increasing threat by someone who is trying to keep the old case cold.
I loved this book! The murder mystery and the cold case keep you guessing, turning the pages and they keep the overall pace continually increasing to the climax. The flashbacks to Rebecca and Ash’s pasts did not detract or slow down the story in any way. I liked the tie in to the first book, but it does not interfere with your understanding of this mystery plot or romance. Rebecca and Ash were complex characters with actions and emotions that were believable. The romance grows at a realistic pace. The secondary characters are fully fleshed out and added depth to the small town, good and bad.
I highly recommend this book and series! Ms. White is an author that I now automatically go to when looking for an intense suspenseful read.
Thanks very much to Net Galley and Montlake Romance for allowing me to read this eARC.
July 11, 2024
Story 4 stars**
Audio 3.75 stars**
Narrator Emily Sutton
Audio 3.75 stars**
Narrator Emily Sutton
June 3, 2019
Amazingly good. Plenty of twists and secrets.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first time I have read this author and she grabbed me from the very beginning. It’s difficult to describe an artists work. And that’s what I think of her writing skills. She is an artist.
White doesn’t just type words into a paragraph. She literally paints the picture in your mind and it seems like you are right there In the midst of the icy cold trying to solve the case.
The Dark Bones throws so many emotions at you. It is a combination of suspense, thriller, second chance romance, mystery, and a damn good fiction book.
Trying to capture my feelings is difficult because they are all over the place. One thing that I do know is that this book was one of the best I have read this year and it is truly an grossing read. I could not put it down nor did I want to.
While this book is part of a series of sorts, I really did not feel I was missing anything from the previous plot(s). But I do know that I am definitely going back and grab more books from this author.
She writes in such a captivating manner, I can’t wait to get my hands on more stories from her. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest book seller and grab this book! You will love it too. I know it!
(copy received for review consideration)
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-dark-bon...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first time I have read this author and she grabbed me from the very beginning. It’s difficult to describe an artists work. And that’s what I think of her writing skills. She is an artist.
White doesn’t just type words into a paragraph. She literally paints the picture in your mind and it seems like you are right there In the midst of the icy cold trying to solve the case.
The Dark Bones throws so many emotions at you. It is a combination of suspense, thriller, second chance romance, mystery, and a damn good fiction book.
Trying to capture my feelings is difficult because they are all over the place. One thing that I do know is that this book was one of the best I have read this year and it is truly an grossing read. I could not put it down nor did I want to.
While this book is part of a series of sorts, I really did not feel I was missing anything from the previous plot(s). But I do know that I am definitely going back and grab more books from this author.
She writes in such a captivating manner, I can’t wait to get my hands on more stories from her. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest book seller and grab this book! You will love it too. I know it!
(copy received for review consideration)
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-dark-bon...
May 21, 2019
4.5 Stars
Detective Rebecca North is shocked to hear her father has committed suicide. Especially since he called with ramblings of an old, cold murder case the day he supposedly took his life. So, Rebecca heads up north, to a town she’s been avoiding for years determined to find out what happened. What she discovers isn’t as clear cut as the investigators originally thought, and much of the mystery behind her father’s death is wrapped around her first love, Ash Haugen, the man who shattered her heart twenty years ago. Feelings Rebecca thought she buried deep resurface: the pain of betrayal, coupled with the bittersweet pull she still feels towards Ash as they work side by side trying to sort out what happened both with her father’s death and the cold case he was looking into.
The Dark Bones is a captivating mixture of police procedural, thriller, mystery, and a second chance romance. I was hooked from the start! What went wrong between Ash and Rebecca years ago, as well as the current cases had me devouring the story, eager to unravel all the mysteries! Loreth Anne White’s cold, wintery small-town setting in Northern Canada was beautiful and haunting.
The Dark Bones is a sequel to A Dark Lure, but I don’t think it’s necessary to read A Dark Lure to enjoy the story. The previous characters, Olivia, Cole and Tori do play a part, but it’s only secondary to the main story.
A copy was kindly provided by Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Rebecca North is shocked to hear her father has committed suicide. Especially since he called with ramblings of an old, cold murder case the day he supposedly took his life. So, Rebecca heads up north, to a town she’s been avoiding for years determined to find out what happened. What she discovers isn’t as clear cut as the investigators originally thought, and much of the mystery behind her father’s death is wrapped around her first love, Ash Haugen, the man who shattered her heart twenty years ago. Feelings Rebecca thought she buried deep resurface: the pain of betrayal, coupled with the bittersweet pull she still feels towards Ash as they work side by side trying to sort out what happened both with her father’s death and the cold case he was looking into.
The Dark Bones is a captivating mixture of police procedural, thriller, mystery, and a second chance romance. I was hooked from the start! What went wrong between Ash and Rebecca years ago, as well as the current cases had me devouring the story, eager to unravel all the mysteries! Loreth Anne White’s cold, wintery small-town setting in Northern Canada was beautiful and haunting.
The Dark Bones is a sequel to A Dark Lure, but I don’t think it’s necessary to read A Dark Lure to enjoy the story. The previous characters, Olivia, Cole and Tori do play a part, but it’s only secondary to the main story.
A copy was kindly provided by Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2019
I've given this a B+ at AAR, so that's 4.5 stars
When I picked up Loreth Anne White’s The Dark Bones for review, I wasn’t aware that it was linked to one of her earlier books, A Dark Lure, in which a young woman who was abducted and repeatedly assaulted is making a new life for herself in rural Canada only to have to face the prospect that her abductor may still be at large. But never fear; it’s perfectly possible to read The Dark Bones as a standalone as the author brings new readers quickly up to speed, and the plots in both books are self-contained, so there’s no real overlap.
When Rebecca North left her small Canadian home town, she moved to Ottawa, where she has built herself a successful career in the white-collar crimes unit with the RCMP. She hasn’t been home in years and doesn’t have plans to do so, until her father, a retired police officer - calls her out of the blue to tell her that he knows she was lying about an event that happened twenty years earlier, and that he needs to talk to her urgently. He’s clearly drunk – he’s rarely been sober since the death of his wife – and Rebecca’s about to go into court, so she puts him off, promising she’ll call him soon… but she can’t put his words out of her mind. Her father is referring to the day she’d found the man she loved stumbling along a country road, bruised and bloody, a long gash down one side of his face he’d attributed to a riding accident – but why is he asking about it now?
The next day, Noah North is found dead in his home, all the evidence pointing to his having set fire to his remote cabin and then shot himself. The police are convinced it’s suicide, and the coroner’s report seems to bear that out, but Rebecca isn’t satisfied. Her father may have been overly fond of drink, but she doesn’t believe he was suicidal, especially given what he’d said the last time they’d spoken; that he’d found new evidence in an old case he’d worked – and that he thought he was being watched. She decides to do a bit of investigating of her own, and in the process discovers that her father was looking into the disappearance, twenty years earlier, of an old schoolmate of hers. Evidence given at the time said that Whitney Gagnon and her boyfriend were seen getting onto the bus heading out of town - but it seems that evidence was false, and Noah was convinced that the young couple were killed before they could leave. If that’s true – who murdered them and why? And could someone have killed Noah because he was getting too close to the truth?
This cold case stirs up a myriad of long-buried feelings for Rebecca, not least of which is guilt over the fact she didn’t visit her father often because she couldn’t bear to run into her former boyfriend Ash Haugen, the man she loved, and the man who broke her heart twenty years earlier. Now she’s back, and meeting Ash is unavoidable – but more than that, it seems that every investigative road leads to him. He was the last person to have seen Noah North alive – and some witnesses suggest they were arguing – and she can’t ignore Noah’s words during that final call “he lied – you both lied”. Because while Rebecca’s lie backed up Ash’s about the riding accident, he never told her the truth about the injury to his face – which was sustained the very same day Whitney and her boyfriend were seen getting ready to leave town.
I was completely engrossed by the storyline of The Dark Bones and by the way the author so skilfully juxtaposes past and present events, giving us glimpses – in flashback – of the events of twenty years before, and linking them to the current investigation into Noah North’s death. Her descriptions of the landscape of this area of rural Canada are incredibly vivid, enabling the reader to easily picture the locations she describes, and her portrait of small town life – where everyone knows everyone else and one only has to sneeze to have three people on the doorstep proffering hot soup and Lemsip within the hour – is simultaneously charming, menacing and claustrophobic. I liked Rebecca and Ash, although I never felt I got to know them deeply; Rebecca fled when Ash broke her heart but never really got over him, while Ash was forced to give up on his dreams because of a single mistake that changed the course of his life. The strong undercurrent of deep longing and hurt running between them is palpable from the moment they see each other again; and while I’m often sceptical of stories in which romantic feelings endure for years even when the couple in question doesn’t see each other throughout their separation, the strength of the connection between Rebecca and Ash practically leaps off the page and helped me to get past my usual side-eye of the trope. In fact my main criticism of the book stems from the fact that I’d have liked a little more exploration of their relationship in the now, especially in the light of what we learn about Ash’s difficult past.
The pacing in the first part of the novel is perhaps a little slow, but I didn’t find that to be a problem at all; in fact, I really appreciated the time spent on setting up the situations and introducing the secondary cast (some of whom were central to A Dark Lure, which I intend to pick up as soon as I can). The Dark Bones is a wonderfully atmospheric, multi-layered and well-constructed mystery from a real master of her craft; it will draw you in and keep you intrigued from first page to last.
When I picked up Loreth Anne White’s The Dark Bones for review, I wasn’t aware that it was linked to one of her earlier books, A Dark Lure, in which a young woman who was abducted and repeatedly assaulted is making a new life for herself in rural Canada only to have to face the prospect that her abductor may still be at large. But never fear; it’s perfectly possible to read The Dark Bones as a standalone as the author brings new readers quickly up to speed, and the plots in both books are self-contained, so there’s no real overlap.
When Rebecca North left her small Canadian home town, she moved to Ottawa, where she has built herself a successful career in the white-collar crimes unit with the RCMP. She hasn’t been home in years and doesn’t have plans to do so, until her father, a retired police officer - calls her out of the blue to tell her that he knows she was lying about an event that happened twenty years earlier, and that he needs to talk to her urgently. He’s clearly drunk – he’s rarely been sober since the death of his wife – and Rebecca’s about to go into court, so she puts him off, promising she’ll call him soon… but she can’t put his words out of her mind. Her father is referring to the day she’d found the man she loved stumbling along a country road, bruised and bloody, a long gash down one side of his face he’d attributed to a riding accident – but why is he asking about it now?
The next day, Noah North is found dead in his home, all the evidence pointing to his having set fire to his remote cabin and then shot himself. The police are convinced it’s suicide, and the coroner’s report seems to bear that out, but Rebecca isn’t satisfied. Her father may have been overly fond of drink, but she doesn’t believe he was suicidal, especially given what he’d said the last time they’d spoken; that he’d found new evidence in an old case he’d worked – and that he thought he was being watched. She decides to do a bit of investigating of her own, and in the process discovers that her father was looking into the disappearance, twenty years earlier, of an old schoolmate of hers. Evidence given at the time said that Whitney Gagnon and her boyfriend were seen getting onto the bus heading out of town - but it seems that evidence was false, and Noah was convinced that the young couple were killed before they could leave. If that’s true – who murdered them and why? And could someone have killed Noah because he was getting too close to the truth?
This cold case stirs up a myriad of long-buried feelings for Rebecca, not least of which is guilt over the fact she didn’t visit her father often because she couldn’t bear to run into her former boyfriend Ash Haugen, the man she loved, and the man who broke her heart twenty years earlier. Now she’s back, and meeting Ash is unavoidable – but more than that, it seems that every investigative road leads to him. He was the last person to have seen Noah North alive – and some witnesses suggest they were arguing – and she can’t ignore Noah’s words during that final call “he lied – you both lied”. Because while Rebecca’s lie backed up Ash’s about the riding accident, he never told her the truth about the injury to his face – which was sustained the very same day Whitney and her boyfriend were seen getting ready to leave town.
I was completely engrossed by the storyline of The Dark Bones and by the way the author so skilfully juxtaposes past and present events, giving us glimpses – in flashback – of the events of twenty years before, and linking them to the current investigation into Noah North’s death. Her descriptions of the landscape of this area of rural Canada are incredibly vivid, enabling the reader to easily picture the locations she describes, and her portrait of small town life – where everyone knows everyone else and one only has to sneeze to have three people on the doorstep proffering hot soup and Lemsip within the hour – is simultaneously charming, menacing and claustrophobic. I liked Rebecca and Ash, although I never felt I got to know them deeply; Rebecca fled when Ash broke her heart but never really got over him, while Ash was forced to give up on his dreams because of a single mistake that changed the course of his life. The strong undercurrent of deep longing and hurt running between them is palpable from the moment they see each other again; and while I’m often sceptical of stories in which romantic feelings endure for years even when the couple in question doesn’t see each other throughout their separation, the strength of the connection between Rebecca and Ash practically leaps off the page and helped me to get past my usual side-eye of the trope. In fact my main criticism of the book stems from the fact that I’d have liked a little more exploration of their relationship in the now, especially in the light of what we learn about Ash’s difficult past.
The pacing in the first part of the novel is perhaps a little slow, but I didn’t find that to be a problem at all; in fact, I really appreciated the time spent on setting up the situations and introducing the secondary cast (some of whom were central to A Dark Lure, which I intend to pick up as soon as I can). The Dark Bones is a wonderfully atmospheric, multi-layered and well-constructed mystery from a real master of her craft; it will draw you in and keep you intrigued from first page to last.
June 23, 2019
There's nothing quite like getting lost in a Loreth Anne White novel. I just can't understand why we still haven't seen any movie deals yet? A complete and utter mystery to me.
The Dark Bones is the second installment in The Dark Lure series. Although this novel features our beloved Olivia and Cole... and even Tori from A Dark Lure, this novel however centers around Rebecca North and Ash Haugen. Their story begins 20 years ago, when choices were made and hearts were broken. Rebecca North is forced to return to her hometown when she learns of her father's passing. Rebecca, being of the RCMP begins to suspect foul play involved with her father's death. What she doesn't realize is that the events that took place 20 years ago still plague the small town of Clinton.
The closer Rebecca gets to the truth, the close she gets to danger, and the more unsettling her feelings become toward her ex-love, Ash. Rebecca has to make a choice, can she trust him?
A Dark Lure was my first Loreth Anne White read, and while it has never been my favorite, at the time I found a great appreciation for Loreth Anne White's writing. The more I have read from her, over time, she has simply become my favorite author. Her descriptive writing is by far superior. Her ability to place a scene inside one's head is truly remarkable. For me, the storyline means nothing if you can't bring it all to life with descriptive writing. The Dark Bones is another example of excellent writing. While this is the second installment in a series, I would go as far to say it could be read as a stand alone and one would not be too lost as the main characters are given their own story that seldom intertwines with the past.
I want to thank NetGalley, Montlake Romance, and Loreth Anne White for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
The Dark Bones is the second installment in The Dark Lure series. Although this novel features our beloved Olivia and Cole... and even Tori from A Dark Lure, this novel however centers around Rebecca North and Ash Haugen. Their story begins 20 years ago, when choices were made and hearts were broken. Rebecca North is forced to return to her hometown when she learns of her father's passing. Rebecca, being of the RCMP begins to suspect foul play involved with her father's death. What she doesn't realize is that the events that took place 20 years ago still plague the small town of Clinton.
The closer Rebecca gets to the truth, the close she gets to danger, and the more unsettling her feelings become toward her ex-love, Ash. Rebecca has to make a choice, can she trust him?
A Dark Lure was my first Loreth Anne White read, and while it has never been my favorite, at the time I found a great appreciation for Loreth Anne White's writing. The more I have read from her, over time, she has simply become my favorite author. Her descriptive writing is by far superior. Her ability to place a scene inside one's head is truly remarkable. For me, the storyline means nothing if you can't bring it all to life with descriptive writing. The Dark Bones is another example of excellent writing. While this is the second installment in a series, I would go as far to say it could be read as a stand alone and one would not be too lost as the main characters are given their own story that seldom intertwines with the past.
I want to thank NetGalley, Montlake Romance, and Loreth Anne White for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
July 7, 2019
First off, I have to say that Ms. White has written some of my favorite stories. I love her writing and couldn't wait to get my hands on this book. I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning reading this one and finally called it a night (my eyes were getting blurry) and had to wait until the next day to finish.
At the beginning of the book, I was disappointed with the past/present jumping as it pulled me out of the flow of the story. Plus the past was written in present tense which I absolutely do not like. However once the story reached a certain point, I was so pulled into Rebecca's story, her efforts towards solving her dad's murder, and her need to solve the cold case he had been working on that I was hooked.
The cold case was really interesting. You knew the direction of the bad guys but who made the large payment? The plot was well paced and kept you guessing.
Rebecca is a really interesting character that I became vested in her and I hope there are more stories with her as a key element.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Actually picked up this book at my library for a re-read and loved it just as much the second time.
At the beginning of the book, I was disappointed with the past/present jumping as it pulled me out of the flow of the story. Plus the past was written in present tense which I absolutely do not like. However once the story reached a certain point, I was so pulled into Rebecca's story, her efforts towards solving her dad's murder, and her need to solve the cold case he had been working on that I was hooked.
The cold case was really interesting. You knew the direction of the bad guys but who made the large payment? The plot was well paced and kept you guessing.
Rebecca is a really interesting character that I became vested in her and I hope there are more stories with her as a key element.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Actually picked up this book at my library for a re-read and loved it just as much the second time.
November 10, 2019
The Dark Bones, by Loreth Anne White, is a wonderfully addictive story and the 2nd book in her "A Dark Lure" series.
Rebecca North leaves her childhood home with a broken heart and no intention of returning. She relocates to Ottawa where she begins her career as a detective, leaving behind her father, a retired police officer.
Her father's death is the only thing that would bring her home. She is unable to believe that he committed suicide and sets out to find the truth behind his death. Her investigation reveals 20 yr old secrets that some believe should have remained hidden. And she has to work closely with the man that drove her away.
I highly recommend this captivating novel. A dark, suspenseful page turner that I couldn't put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Rebecca North leaves her childhood home with a broken heart and no intention of returning. She relocates to Ottawa where she begins her career as a detective, leaving behind her father, a retired police officer.
Her father's death is the only thing that would bring her home. She is unable to believe that he committed suicide and sets out to find the truth behind his death. Her investigation reveals 20 yr old secrets that some believe should have remained hidden. And she has to work closely with the man that drove her away.
I highly recommend this captivating novel. A dark, suspenseful page turner that I couldn't put down.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 21, 2019
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.
I loved the first book in this series and am so happy to see another. "The Dark Bones" grabs you on page one and doesn't let go. I recommend you block some time off for reading because I guarantee you will not want to put this one down. This book is dark, moody and foreboding. Nothing is ever black and white in LAW's books. Always shades of gray with her situations and characters. This is simply Mystery-Suspense at its' very best.
Detective Sargent Rebecca North is part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) white collar crimes division and has been involved with high profile cases. She is successful and driven. When she left home, she wasn't coming back. When her father dies of a self-inflected gunshot and his cabin burns to the ground, Rebecca is forced to return and face her past.
Noah North was a retired RCMP officer who made moonshine for a hobby and chased cold cases, and drank himself into oblivion, if possible. The cold missing persons case he was working was 20 years old and hit very close to home for him. The deeper he dug, the more someone got nervous. Now, Rebecca must piece together not only the pieces of the cold case, but prove her gut instinct that her father didn't kill himself.
In coming home, Rebecca must face her own past and mistakes. Her young love, that ended very badly, Ash Haugen, is the last person to see her father alive. She still has deep feelings for him. Ash is in the middle of her father's cold case, but she needs help even though she knows Ash is hiding something. There are others hiding things too and tracks lead Rebecca and Ash to the Broken Bar Ranch, Olivia West and her daughter, twelve year old Tori.
Whatever happened to the two missing teens, Whitney and Trevor, twenty years ago is having an impact today. Someone is not willing to let what happened to them be uncovered and is willing to kill to prevent it.
I loved the first book in this series and am so happy to see another. "The Dark Bones" grabs you on page one and doesn't let go. I recommend you block some time off for reading because I guarantee you will not want to put this one down. This book is dark, moody and foreboding. Nothing is ever black and white in LAW's books. Always shades of gray with her situations and characters. This is simply Mystery-Suspense at its' very best.
Detective Sargent Rebecca North is part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) white collar crimes division and has been involved with high profile cases. She is successful and driven. When she left home, she wasn't coming back. When her father dies of a self-inflected gunshot and his cabin burns to the ground, Rebecca is forced to return and face her past.
Noah North was a retired RCMP officer who made moonshine for a hobby and chased cold cases, and drank himself into oblivion, if possible. The cold missing persons case he was working was 20 years old and hit very close to home for him. The deeper he dug, the more someone got nervous. Now, Rebecca must piece together not only the pieces of the cold case, but prove her gut instinct that her father didn't kill himself.
In coming home, Rebecca must face her own past and mistakes. Her young love, that ended very badly, Ash Haugen, is the last person to see her father alive. She still has deep feelings for him. Ash is in the middle of her father's cold case, but she needs help even though she knows Ash is hiding something. There are others hiding things too and tracks lead Rebecca and Ash to the Broken Bar Ranch, Olivia West and her daughter, twelve year old Tori.
Whatever happened to the two missing teens, Whitney and Trevor, twenty years ago is having an impact today. Someone is not willing to let what happened to them be uncovered and is willing to kill to prevent it.
March 7, 2019
The Dark Bones (Dark Lure #2) by Loreth Anne White, is a well written, complex story. At times it’s hard to decide who the actual victims are - in my opinion, they all are in some way. None of the characters are perfect; they all have their baggage but have learned to deal with it.
The author jumps from the present to the past and back again to set up the relationships between Ash, Becca, and Whitney. The past holds the key to actual crimes committed. The book is emotional, tugging on the reader’s feelings with trauma, physical abuse, inappropriate behavior, murder, deep & dark secrets, brief mention of rape and second chances.
The cast of characters is a bit large, including a few from the first book A Dark Lure. The primary characters are fully developed, allowing the reader to form opinions on how they play in the overall crimes, as well as likes & dislikes of them. The secondary characters mainly have supporting roles, in the overall storyline and help to tie things together.
I found the first 2/3’s of the book to be a bit slow, with all of the story and character building, even though there were sporadic action-packed scenes. The last third of the book is where all the magic happens; the secrets, reasons, forgiveness, and truth are all laid bare before the reader. I was really surprised by some of the truths, not even thinking they would be part of the story, but the author made it all make sense.
The book has a positive and happy for now ending, with no cliff hanger, but enough out there that it could easily be picked up for another book with many of the main characters from this book. I actually hope that we have an opportunity to see more of Becca, Ash, and Kibu in the future.
I wish to thank the author - Loreth Anne White, the publisher - Montlake Romance; and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book will be available in multiple formats on May 21, 2019.
For me this was a four out of five star read.
The author jumps from the present to the past and back again to set up the relationships between Ash, Becca, and Whitney. The past holds the key to actual crimes committed. The book is emotional, tugging on the reader’s feelings with trauma, physical abuse, inappropriate behavior, murder, deep & dark secrets, brief mention of rape and second chances.
The cast of characters is a bit large, including a few from the first book A Dark Lure. The primary characters are fully developed, allowing the reader to form opinions on how they play in the overall crimes, as well as likes & dislikes of them. The secondary characters mainly have supporting roles, in the overall storyline and help to tie things together.
I found the first 2/3’s of the book to be a bit slow, with all of the story and character building, even though there were sporadic action-packed scenes. The last third of the book is where all the magic happens; the secrets, reasons, forgiveness, and truth are all laid bare before the reader. I was really surprised by some of the truths, not even thinking they would be part of the story, but the author made it all make sense.
The book has a positive and happy for now ending, with no cliff hanger, but enough out there that it could easily be picked up for another book with many of the main characters from this book. I actually hope that we have an opportunity to see more of Becca, Ash, and Kibu in the future.
I wish to thank the author - Loreth Anne White, the publisher - Montlake Romance; and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book will be available in multiple formats on May 21, 2019.
For me this was a four out of five star read.
August 2, 2021
Yes, I started the second book first coz I love chaos. Also, I didn't know this was a series and I blame Amazon for this. The good news is, this book can totally be read as a standalone! And as you can see, it totally worked out fine.
This has a good balance between romance and mystery. Lots of interesting secondary characters and although I did kinda of predict the main culprit, it was still a good read overall.
For my romance people, a heads up. While this has a robust romantic arc, it's closed door romance which means, apart from kissing and touching, there's no sex on page.
This has a good balance between romance and mystery. Lots of interesting secondary characters and although I did kinda of predict the main culprit, it was still a good read overall.
For my romance people, a heads up. While this has a robust romantic arc, it's closed door romance which means, apart from kissing and touching, there's no sex on page.
June 25, 2019
The second book was much better than the first book IMO. The main reason lies in the the main character, Detective Rebecca North. I like her honesty, directness and loyalty. I also like the idea of the mystery case much better than the one from the first book. I have to confess that I prefer mystery books with emphasis on the analytic side of crime solving, and I don't see much sence in long detailed graphical description of the savage brutality of a crime.
Rebecca returns to her hometown to bury her father, former RCMP officer Noah North, who committed suicide after setting his lone cabin on fire. But something is not right here: from her last phone conversation with her father, who was working on some old unsolved case, she knows that he found some important information that could help to solve this case. Was his suicide staged to protect the real murderer or murderers? She needs the answers and she needs the help of someone she can trust. But can she trust Ash Haugen, the man who broke her heart long ago, who is the reason why she left her home town after and who is one of the main suspects on her personal list?
The author created a very thrilling atmosphere of a rural Canadian town, full of hidden dark secrets, the wrong and the rights decisions that were made. The story-line remains exciting until the very end.
The Dark Bones could be read as a stand-alone. The characters from the first book play a secondary role in the second book, and you don't need unnecessarily to know their background story to enjoy this one.
***ARC kindly provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.***
Rebecca returns to her hometown to bury her father, former RCMP officer Noah North, who committed suicide after setting his lone cabin on fire. But something is not right here: from her last phone conversation with her father, who was working on some old unsolved case, she knows that he found some important information that could help to solve this case. Was his suicide staged to protect the real murderer or murderers? She needs the answers and she needs the help of someone she can trust. But can she trust Ash Haugen, the man who broke her heart long ago, who is the reason why she left her home town after and who is one of the main suspects on her personal list?
The author created a very thrilling atmosphere of a rural Canadian town, full of hidden dark secrets, the wrong and the rights decisions that were made. The story-line remains exciting until the very end.
The Dark Bones could be read as a stand-alone. The characters from the first book play a secondary role in the second book, and you don't need unnecessarily to know their background story to enjoy this one.
***ARC kindly provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.***
May 31, 2020
4 stars
I liked this one. It had a mystery, suspense and a 2nd chance for a couple with lots of angst and secrets. Yes, the H did cheat when they were 16 and 17 years old (respectively) and the betrayal was devastating for the h. But the back story is woven into the mystery and H is prime suspect. The h is good at her job as an investigator/cop and left her hometown to get far away as possible. I forgot I had book 1 - so, I'm off to read that one.
I liked this one. It had a mystery, suspense and a 2nd chance for a couple with lots of angst and secrets. Yes, the H did cheat when they were 16 and 17 years old (respectively) and the betrayal was devastating for the h. But the back story is woven into the mystery and H is prime suspect. The h is good at her job as an investigator/cop and left her hometown to get far away as possible. I forgot I had book 1 - so, I'm off to read that one.
April 18, 2024
3,5✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
August 19, 2020
I think I might have enjoyed this more if I had started with the first, instead of second, in the series.
Characters felt a little flat, or like maybe I should already be connected to them but wasn’t. There wasn’t as much effortless suspense or deepening mystery as I expected.
This was my first read of this author but I plan to try again.
Characters felt a little flat, or like maybe I should already be connected to them but wasn’t. There wasn’t as much effortless suspense or deepening mystery as I expected.
This was my first read of this author but I plan to try again.
March 3, 2019
I have never read a book by this author, but after thoroughly enjoying this
suspenseful story I will definitely be looking for more!! The first paragraph pulls you in, as Becca North receives a drunken phone call from her dad while attending a high profile trial in which her cop skills are needed. He has become so paranoid, she says she will call back...which she never gets to do...
A phone call rushes her home, to a small Canadian town, where they say her Dad,a cop for years, killed himself!
Becca can not believe he would ever do that, so decides to stick around and investigate. Bringing her back in touch with Ash, her love from a young age, and all the past happenings come back to haunt them.
The characters are real, they feel like your neighbor or roomate, and the twists at every turn crank up the suspense, horror, even romance...But you never know who is behind the acts discovered, at any point while reading a new 'bad' guy emerges!
A very enjoyable read, a 5 STAR story that I thank Netgalley for introducing me to, and I give my honest thoughts in this review hoping others will grab this chilling adventure!!
suspenseful story I will definitely be looking for more!! The first paragraph pulls you in, as Becca North receives a drunken phone call from her dad while attending a high profile trial in which her cop skills are needed. He has become so paranoid, she says she will call back...which she never gets to do...
A phone call rushes her home, to a small Canadian town, where they say her Dad,a cop for years, killed himself!
Becca can not believe he would ever do that, so decides to stick around and investigate. Bringing her back in touch with Ash, her love from a young age, and all the past happenings come back to haunt them.
The characters are real, they feel like your neighbor or roomate, and the twists at every turn crank up the suspense, horror, even romance...But you never know who is behind the acts discovered, at any point while reading a new 'bad' guy emerges!
A very enjoyable read, a 5 STAR story that I thank Netgalley for introducing me to, and I give my honest thoughts in this review hoping others will grab this chilling adventure!!
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