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Wren Delacroix #1
The Bone Forest
Can an FBI Academy dropout catch a vicious serial killer?
It’s been fifteen years since Vivian Delacroix unleashed her followers on the town of Cardinal Falls. The cult members killed anyone Vivian told them was a threat to their beliefs.
Now, another killer takes young girls of nine or ten, all related to Vivian’s original victims. He drugs them, suffocates them, and painstakingly arranges them in ritualistic poses. The bodies give up no evidence to the killer’s identity.
When Wren Delacroix finds the latest victim in the middle of giving a tour, she’s forced to admit to herself that she came back to her home town because of her perverse interest in the case. These dead girls, she can’t get them out of her head. Even though she dropped out of the FBI Academy and tried to flee from the dark parts of herself, she can’t run away.
Before she knows what she’s doing, she’s spouting her fully formed profile of the killer to Detective Caius Reilly, head of the tri-state task force, and she’s begging him to let her help.
She needs to solve this case and stop this killer.
If only to prove to herself that she’s nothing like her mother Vivian.
It’s been fifteen years since Vivian Delacroix unleashed her followers on the town of Cardinal Falls. The cult members killed anyone Vivian told them was a threat to their beliefs.
Now, another killer takes young girls of nine or ten, all related to Vivian’s original victims. He drugs them, suffocates them, and painstakingly arranges them in ritualistic poses. The bodies give up no evidence to the killer’s identity.
When Wren Delacroix finds the latest victim in the middle of giving a tour, she’s forced to admit to herself that she came back to her home town because of her perverse interest in the case. These dead girls, she can’t get them out of her head. Even though she dropped out of the FBI Academy and tried to flee from the dark parts of herself, she can’t run away.
Before she knows what she’s doing, she’s spouting her fully formed profile of the killer to Detective Caius Reilly, head of the tri-state task force, and she’s begging him to let her help.
She needs to solve this case and stop this killer.
If only to prove to herself that she’s nothing like her mother Vivian.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2019
806 people are currently reading
609 people want to read
About the author
V.J. Chambers
104 books463 followersV. J. Chambers writes about being inexplicably attracted to the dangerously alluring. Her works span mundane settings and fantastic ones. She writes about serial killers, cult leaders, werewolves, witches, for-hire assassins, zombies, space pirates, and regular everyday people.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
She lives in Shepherdstown, WV, with her boyfriend Aaron and their cat Isis.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 24, 2024
Strong start to this series! I enjoyed the tidbits from the cult of Wren's youth. It was almost better than a book focused on the cult and seeing it from a child's perspective was unique. I'll definitely read more!
March 21, 2021
Awful, DNF @ 9%. This is a novella; a full-length book by VJ Chambers might be better, but I'm not interested in finding out.
September 4, 2019
Some skeletons you never get rid of...they just stay in your mind forever.
Her unorthodox upbringing stands Wren in good stead when little girls start being killed
Suspense, action and murder get combined into a story line that you can not put down
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Her unorthodox upbringing stands Wren in good stead when little girls start being killed
Suspense, action and murder get combined into a story line that you can not put down
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 1, 2020
Different Type of Mystery
When Delacroix is a different kind of detective. With a storied past raised in a cult she still managed to get in the FBI. She was unable to finish her training due to reasons not clear.
When young girls from the area she grew up and having ties to the now defunct, murderous cult her mother helped to run begin to turn up dead; Wren feels she must stop the murders.
She meets a police detective who runs a tri-state underfunded task force and convinced him to let her help with the computer are.
Strange ties to cult members from the past help and hinder Wren to solve the case.
There are questions left unanswered that prompt me to read the remaining four books of the Wren Delacroix mystery set.
When Delacroix is a different kind of detective. With a storied past raised in a cult she still managed to get in the FBI. She was unable to finish her training due to reasons not clear.
When young girls from the area she grew up and having ties to the now defunct, murderous cult her mother helped to run begin to turn up dead; Wren feels she must stop the murders.
She meets a police detective who runs a tri-state underfunded task force and convinced him to let her help with the computer are.
Strange ties to cult members from the past help and hinder Wren to solve the case.
There are questions left unanswered that prompt me to read the remaining four books of the Wren Delacroix mystery set.
May 7, 2023
Wren goes back to cult compound she was raised in to try and find answers about her past. Murders are happening around town that tie to rituals the cult used to perform. She's obsessed with the case and is asked by Detective Reilly to join the task force for her insight into the cult. Many suspects from her past have to be confronted sending Wren back to her childhood and old fears rear their head. A partnership with Reilly is kind of awkward and she makes rash decisions and there's a side story on Reilly's divorce and child. A interesting book but kind of amateurish and stilted
February 8, 2020
The Bone Forest
Growing up in a cult, Wren returns to the camp when little girls are showing up dead. She runs into her friend Hawk but has problems trying to find someone to trust.
Growing up in a cult, Wren returns to the camp when little girls are showing up dead. She runs into her friend Hawk but has problems trying to find someone to trust.
July 28, 2023
Wren was the daughter of Vivian her mom was the top one for a local cult type group . She told the cult members who she wanted murdered . Wren wanted not part of the life . When girls were about up to 8 -10 years old they were paired with a man . Wren was put with a teen named Hawk. Wren was going to school to be a FBI but all the memories of her life made her drop out . But about 23 years old she ended up helping the local police with a case of someone murdering young girls. So Detective Reilly hired her to work for him on this case as she did learn alot while she was in FBI school - Her knowledge was valuable to Reilly. I gave it 5 stars - but I wish they would have been more specific who she stayed with in the end.
April 28, 2020
Sorry to say that I could not find anything at all that I liked about this book... premise, plot, character development, writing, editing all had plenty of room for improvement.
July 8, 2020
The Crimson Ram wants in.
I needed a little crime fix and The Bone Forest seemed like a good place to start. The premise was old school. Little girls were being found dead, posed around a small town. The work of a serial killer. However, it was Wren Delacroix that made the story more interesting. As a small child, Wren was a member of a free loving cult, the Fellowship of the Children of the Lord. Her mother Vivian was the leaders right hand man and together they orchestrated a series of murders Manson-style. All grown up, Wren has recently quit Quantico and is helping the local police to solve the murders which may be connected to the infamous cult.
Unfortunately, the story focused way to much on Wren's relationship with her fellow cult member Hawk and not enough on the fact there was a serial killer terrorizing the small town. This was basically a romance drama story with a dash of murder. That's not to say it was bad. Wren was a hell of an interesting character. I would have liked to see her more fleshed out as a washed up FBI agent rather than a love struck drama queen. Even when she was faced with a dead body or a gun in her face, she did not seem like she'd had been trained at Quantico. But I liked the idea so kept going.
The story started strong, with a body within the first few pages. Then the story detoured back to romantic entanglements and Detective Reilly's personal life. Boring. Who's Detective Reilly? Exactly. He was the lead detective and all I know about him is he's sleeping with a married woman whilst struggling to raise an autistic son. Like I said, a romantic drama. Unfortunately, he was the only cop on the case so there was no other police to bounce off of. I know it's a small town but why is there only one cop working a case with a killer who is murdering multiple children? It seemed really implausible. There was barely any mention of the previous murders and the victims were quickly forgotten. In fact, the only thing I really remember is that Wren likes to change her coffee order daily but not her clothes.
With endless cult members still living in town, the list of suspects was a mile long. However, the killer was obvious from the start. I kept waiting for a twist in the end but nope. Unfortunately, my copy was riddled with errors which further exasperated me. And FYI, there were no bones found in a forest so why is the book called The Bone Forest? Annoying.
I needed a little crime fix and The Bone Forest seemed like a good place to start. The premise was old school. Little girls were being found dead, posed around a small town. The work of a serial killer. However, it was Wren Delacroix that made the story more interesting. As a small child, Wren was a member of a free loving cult, the Fellowship of the Children of the Lord. Her mother Vivian was the leaders right hand man and together they orchestrated a series of murders Manson-style. All grown up, Wren has recently quit Quantico and is helping the local police to solve the murders which may be connected to the infamous cult.
Unfortunately, the story focused way to much on Wren's relationship with her fellow cult member Hawk and not enough on the fact there was a serial killer terrorizing the small town. This was basically a romance drama story with a dash of murder. That's not to say it was bad. Wren was a hell of an interesting character. I would have liked to see her more fleshed out as a washed up FBI agent rather than a love struck drama queen. Even when she was faced with a dead body or a gun in her face, she did not seem like she'd had been trained at Quantico. But I liked the idea so kept going.
The story started strong, with a body within the first few pages. Then the story detoured back to romantic entanglements and Detective Reilly's personal life. Boring. Who's Detective Reilly? Exactly. He was the lead detective and all I know about him is he's sleeping with a married woman whilst struggling to raise an autistic son. Like I said, a romantic drama. Unfortunately, he was the only cop on the case so there was no other police to bounce off of. I know it's a small town but why is there only one cop working a case with a killer who is murdering multiple children? It seemed really implausible. There was barely any mention of the previous murders and the victims were quickly forgotten. In fact, the only thing I really remember is that Wren likes to change her coffee order daily but not her clothes.
With endless cult members still living in town, the list of suspects was a mile long. However, the killer was obvious from the start. I kept waiting for a twist in the end but nope. Unfortunately, my copy was riddled with errors which further exasperated me. And FYI, there were no bones found in a forest so why is the book called The Bone Forest? Annoying.
November 8, 2023
Goodreads has this book as 195 pages, but it is 220.
I can understand why this book has a higher rating, but I had to knock off several stars for editing, reality, & pace of the book.
The overall plot is interesting. Wren escaped a cult only to return several years later. Someone is killing little girls and knows of the former cult rituals.
What Wren is not: a police officer or detective. She's an FBI dropout. Yet she is hired on to the Tri-state task force to find this serial killer.
How many detectives are working on this case? Glad you asked. ONE. One detective is looking for a serial killer who is murdering12-year-old girls. What?????? I may not know a lot about crime work, but ONE DETECTIVE? Get out of here.
Unnecessary background details on Detective Reily. He has a ten-year-old son who is developmentally delayed. Why is this important to the story? No clue. I can understand the info about the divorce, but not so much about the kid.
Weird romance tension between Wren and the main suspect. Is this a romance novel or a thriller? I guess I would say both.... kinda?
I had to reread several passages because it simply didn't make sense. There was a scene when Wren and Hawk were in the kitchen. Hawk somehow had his hands simultaneously in his pockets and on her face. Octoman!!!!
Some pretty big twists/reveals were entirely rushed. It was kind the author was going one way and then changed their mind mid-scene.
Finally, who solves a major crime and proclaims that the coffee shop being closed was the worst news they heard all day? Not the several 12-year-old girls that were murdered, but the coffee shop was the biggest blow.
Overall rating 2/5
I can understand why this book has a higher rating, but I had to knock off several stars for editing, reality, & pace of the book.
The overall plot is interesting. Wren escaped a cult only to return several years later. Someone is killing little girls and knows of the former cult rituals.
What Wren is not: a police officer or detective. She's an FBI dropout. Yet she is hired on to the Tri-state task force to find this serial killer.
How many detectives are working on this case? Glad you asked. ONE. One detective is looking for a serial killer who is murdering12-year-old girls. What?????? I may not know a lot about crime work, but ONE DETECTIVE? Get out of here.
Unnecessary background details on Detective Reily. He has a ten-year-old son who is developmentally delayed. Why is this important to the story? No clue. I can understand the info about the divorce, but not so much about the kid.
Weird romance tension between Wren and the main suspect. Is this a romance novel or a thriller? I guess I would say both.... kinda?
I had to reread several passages because it simply didn't make sense. There was a scene when Wren and Hawk were in the kitchen. Hawk somehow had his hands simultaneously in his pockets and on her face. Octoman!!!!
Some pretty big twists/reveals were entirely rushed. It was kind the author was going one way and then changed their mind mid-scene.
Finally, who solves a major crime and proclaims that the coffee shop being closed was the worst news they heard all day? Not the several 12-year-old girls that were murdered, but the coffee shop was the biggest blow.
Overall rating 2/5
January 5, 2024
I generally enjoy crime/thriller novels, and was hoping this would be a nice intro to a new series to read, but I did not find the main character, Wren, believable, or as fleshed out as she could have been if this had been a full length novel instead (though I'm not sure more words could have saved it/her).
Simply put, I don't feel like Wren made any intelligent decisions in the novel, and it suspends belief that she would be allowed to join the investigation into the series of murders tied to her mother's former cult victims with no formal qualifications for investigation and where she is initially a suspect. Said investigation also apparently has but one lead detective, who also doesn't seem to make good or intelligent decisions.
Overall pacing felt a bit rushed when it came to the end game.
It was an easy but disappointing quick read and, as I got the book free through the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle promotions, nothing but a few hours wasted were on this. I won't bother with the rest of the series.
Simply put, I don't feel like Wren made any intelligent decisions in the novel, and it suspends belief that she would be allowed to join the investigation into the series of murders tied to her mother's former cult victims with no formal qualifications for investigation and where she is initially a suspect. Said investigation also apparently has but one lead detective, who also doesn't seem to make good or intelligent decisions.
Overall pacing felt a bit rushed when it came to the end game.
It was an easy but disappointing quick read and, as I got the book free through the Amazon Stuff Your Kindle promotions, nothing but a few hours wasted were on this. I won't bother with the rest of the series.
March 2, 2021
An intriguing web has been woven...!
I enjoyed this book and could not wait to pick up my kindle to see what happened. When Delacroix is a grown young woman on a journey to find out who she is and her place in life because a cult led by her mother pretty much set her up for a rough life. The new murders tie into the old murders and Seen joins a detective named Reilly to solve the murders of several little girls. It's a thriller, and exciting to see how When's mind pulls it altogether. Definitely five star book for the first in a series of an intricate web of deceit, murder, and maybe even love found!
I enjoyed this book and could not wait to pick up my kindle to see what happened. When Delacroix is a grown young woman on a journey to find out who she is and her place in life because a cult led by her mother pretty much set her up for a rough life. The new murders tie into the old murders and Seen joins a detective named Reilly to solve the murders of several little girls. It's a thriller, and exciting to see how When's mind pulls it altogether. Definitely five star book for the first in a series of an intricate web of deceit, murder, and maybe even love found!
May 29, 2021
Good Read
Haunted by the past, a young woman quits the FBI academy and returns to the remnants of the cult she once called home. Her mother, the cult leader, is imprisoned after orchestrating a series of murders. But now someone is murdering young girls with connections to the cult victims. Wren insinuates herself into the investigation and ultimately gets a job on the task force. But a trip down memory lane can have lethal consequences.
This is an interesting book. Although improbable that Wren would get the job, it still was fun to watch unfold. There is no explicit violence. The cult lifestyle and the damage it did to members is well conveyed. Worth a read.
Haunted by the past, a young woman quits the FBI academy and returns to the remnants of the cult she once called home. Her mother, the cult leader, is imprisoned after orchestrating a series of murders. But now someone is murdering young girls with connections to the cult victims. Wren insinuates herself into the investigation and ultimately gets a job on the task force. But a trip down memory lane can have lethal consequences.
This is an interesting book. Although improbable that Wren would get the job, it still was fun to watch unfold. There is no explicit violence. The cult lifestyle and the damage it did to members is well conveyed. Worth a read.
January 2, 2024
Cults and the damage they do to children
Wren Delacroix was the daughter of deranged woman. Her mother was serving time in prison for ordering members of the cult to kill some that opposed her beliefs.
Murders of young girls was the top case to solve. Wren finds herself entrenched in the search for the killer. Old memories haunt her as she tries to find the killer.
Read the book to find out the conclusion. I am going to read the second book in the series.
Wren Delacroix was the daughter of deranged woman. Her mother was serving time in prison for ordering members of the cult to kill some that opposed her beliefs.
Murders of young girls was the top case to solve. Wren finds herself entrenched in the search for the killer. Old memories haunt her as she tries to find the killer.
Read the book to find out the conclusion. I am going to read the second book in the series.
December 18, 2024
SHADES OF 1977s "TELEFON". WRENS' MOTHER WAS A FEMALE CHARLES MANSON SHE WAS HORRIBLE. I TRIED TO LIKE THIS BOOK BUT I JUST COULD'NT THE STORYLINE AND CHARACTERS WERE VERY ANNOYING AND UNLIKABLE. THEY ALL SEEMED TO BE JUST RUNNING AROUND DOING THEIR OWN THING, NOT LIKE DETECTIVES AT ALL. WREN IS VERY UNLIKABLE FOR A LEAD CHARACTER. HER PERSONAL HYGIENE NEEDS TO BE FIXED, BIGTIME. SHE IS SO NASTY SHE MUST REALLY STINK. SMH! ;<
May 5, 2021
Super strong premise and start that lost me completely by the third chapter. The idea is there, the execution was flawed. It seemed more like one of the dreams you have that doesn't make sense and seems out of order than it did a book. I won't be reading the rest of the Wren Delecroix series, but I appreciate the author's effort.
June 19, 2021
Although it is a struggle to get there Wren finally finds the truth. Her "boyfriend" Hawk is her main suspect but she is drawn to him. Reilly needs help in more ways than with the crime. Wren has skills and should still be FBI not just consulting but her past and her mother's infamy cause her problems only she can explain.
October 24, 2023
Absorbing drama
An extremely well written and presented story. A former cult member, albeit through the efforts of her mother, is drawn back to the compound where it all happened soany years before. Another series of little girls, all dressed as 'initiates', are being taken and eventually
An extremely well written and presented story. A former cult member, albeit through the efforts of her mother, is drawn back to the compound where it all happened soany years before. Another series of little girls, all dressed as 'initiates', are being taken and eventually
January 10, 2024
Good read
An enticing story. One that kept my interest to keep reading, even until 2am. My only issue was some of the editing. Some extra words in the sentences that shouldn't have been there. Like one was, 'Reilly and Wren and sat down.' I think it was supposed to be 'Reilly and Wren sat down.' Other than those mishaps, it was quite good!
An enticing story. One that kept my interest to keep reading, even until 2am. My only issue was some of the editing. Some extra words in the sentences that shouldn't have been there. Like one was, 'Reilly and Wren and sat down.' I think it was supposed to be 'Reilly and Wren sat down.' Other than those mishaps, it was quite good!
February 23, 2024
The Bone Forest (Wren Delacroix #1)
V. J. Chambers
Date Read: 16 Feb 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.5 in all reality…)
TW: death, cults, kidnapping, death of children, drugs, infidelity, divorced parents, autistic child which dad resents (hey, I appreciated the honesty of it, but it felt really awkward and out of place in this story) I needed something to read while waiting for my next hold to come up at the library.
This book had a lot of potential, but the editing was really poor, and the writing was not polished at all.
The characters weren’t super likable…Reilly’s relationship with his son is awkward and out of place - it serves no point in this book.
Not a lot of twists - pretty predictable. While the list of suspects seems long, we can narrow it down within the first few chapters.
Fortunately this was a really short book at 195 pages; I’m not sure if I’ll go out of my way to read any others…it just didn’t grip me enough to care.
V. J. Chambers
Date Read: 16 Feb 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (2.5 in all reality…)
TW: death, cults, kidnapping, death of children, drugs, infidelity, divorced parents, autistic child which dad resents (hey, I appreciated the honesty of it, but it felt really awkward and out of place in this story) I needed something to read while waiting for my next hold to come up at the library.
This book had a lot of potential, but the editing was really poor, and the writing was not polished at all.
The characters weren’t super likable…Reilly’s relationship with his son is awkward and out of place - it serves no point in this book.
Not a lot of twists - pretty predictable. While the list of suspects seems long, we can narrow it down within the first few chapters.
Fortunately this was a really short book at 195 pages; I’m not sure if I’ll go out of my way to read any others…it just didn’t grip me enough to care.
April 14, 2024
The detectives don't even solve anything though? They just kinda bumble around and none of the clues really matters in the end.
April 9, 2024
Needs an Editor
It was an okay story, but she needs an editor to catch all of the mistakes. I will probably keep reading the series. The books are cheap, and I didn't guess the killer right off the bat.
It was an okay story, but she needs an editor to catch all of the mistakes. I will probably keep reading the series. The books are cheap, and I didn't guess the killer right off the bat.
October 4, 2024
OWN) 3.5⭐️. Sometimes I felt that both Reilly and Wren were just bumbling through the investigation and not taking it seriously. However, I did enjoy the deeply complex relationship between Wren and Hawk. Also Reilly and his son's relationship were thought provoking.
June 21, 2020
Thoroughly Enjoyed
I loved the depth of the characters and the intricacies of the plot. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
I loved the depth of the characters and the intricacies of the plot. I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
September 12, 2020
Nice work with great humour
January 9, 2021
Page turner
I absolutely love V.J. But this book took it to a whole new level of love. This lady has some serious talent!
I absolutely love V.J. But this book took it to a whole new level of love. This lady has some serious talent!
May 31, 2021
Was okay
I found myself losing focus while reading this book. I found it slow going and plodding along. Had hoped the pace would pick up.
I found myself losing focus while reading this book. I found it slow going and plodding along. Had hoped the pace would pick up.
June 16, 2021
Wren dropped out of FBI training but she can't keep away. Her childhood comes back to haunt her and she has to put some demons to rest. Good story.
July 5, 2021
I had alot of hope for this story from the blurb but was disappointed that it was more romance than murder or mystery. Overall it was okay but predictable and left alot of loose ends.
October 17, 2021
Good start to a new series. I wish I could give a rating of 3.8.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews