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Detective Lew Kirby #1
The Bone Jar
Shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth? The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected? Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. There are rumours about underground bunkers and secret rooms, unspeakable psychological experimentation, and a dark force that haunts the ruins, trying to pull back in all those who attempt to escape. Urban explorer Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, is determined to help Lew expose its grisly past. Meanwhile Lew discovers a devastating family secret that threatens to turn his life upside down. As his world crumbles around him, Lew must put the pieces of the puzzle together to keep the killer from striking again. Only an eccentric former patient really knows the truth―but will he reveal it to Lew before it’s too late?
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First published July 1, 2020
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About the author
S.W. Kane
2 books184 followersS W Kane has a degree in History of Design and worked at the Royal Institute of British Architects before taking on a series of totally unrelated jobs in radio and the music industry. She has an MA in Creative (Crime) Writing from City University. She began reading crime fiction at an early age and developed an obsession with crime set in cold places. A chance encounter with a derelict fort in rural Pembrokeshire led to a fascination with urban exploration, which in turn became the inspiration for her crime novels. She lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 817 reviews
January 24, 2021
Ok, you’re going to need a few things before you even THINK about starting this book. First, you will need to read in an environment that is wholly conducive to COMPLETE concentration. Second, you will need, at a minimum, a writing utensil and a sheet of paper, preferably a grid. Better yet, a digital spreadsheet, with an unlimited number of rows and columns. NOW you can sit down and give it a go. Seriously. Without the aforementioned requirements, there is simply no way to track the myriad characters and intersecting plots. After awhile, I simply gave up trying to remember who killed whom, when and where; who gave birth to whom and when. I just wanted to finish the damn thing.
The writing itself is sound—well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. It’s sad when that is the most positive thing I can offer. The characters are one-dimensional and once established begin to behave in ways that are in direct opposition to their development. The plot has more holes than a sponge, and the suspense is lost in a confusing tangle of relationships. So much of what is here is just a series of extraneous subplots—the book would have fared far better without them.
I had high hopes for this one and am still smarting over the bait and switch of the blurb. Pick another way to spend an afternoon.
The writing itself is sound—well-constructed sentences and paragraphs. It’s sad when that is the most positive thing I can offer. The characters are one-dimensional and once established begin to behave in ways that are in direct opposition to their development. The plot has more holes than a sponge, and the suspense is lost in a confusing tangle of relationships. So much of what is here is just a series of extraneous subplots—the book would have fared far better without them.
I had high hopes for this one and am still smarting over the bait and switch of the blurb. Pick another way to spend an afternoon.
July 10, 2020
The Bone Jar is the debut crime fiction novel by S W Kane featuring Detective Lew Kirby who, thankfully, is just a normal detective. He isn't a drunk, he isn't cheating on multiple women, no drugs, isn't on the take. I swear, I haven't read a crime fiction novel that didn't feature a messed up detective for so long that I, literally, kept waiting for the shoe to drop. It never did. It was refreshing and quite wonderful. The Bone Jar is a really good, well written, atmospheric detective story like they should be but rarely are any longer. It features an asylum that is written so vividly that it becomes a character in and of itself. There are marvelous secondary characters who could tip over into the nuisance variety, but never do. They actually are helpful, quirky and wonderful. I would love to see them back in future books. The ending left the reader on a bit of an edge but, for me, that was a fun twist at the end. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this new series.
August 2, 2020
Amazon Prime First Read - June. Yes, I’m a tad behind! I’m so pleased I chose this one as it was a good one! DI Lew Kirby and partner Pete Anderson are called to the now closed Blackwater Psychiatric Hospital where an elderly lady has been found murdered and what unfolds is a well plotted and intriguing mystery. The old hospital provides a really creepy atmosphere to the crime as does the harsh winter weather. The title refers to a very interesting circular room in which there are canisters or bone jars of people’s ashes. I won’t spoil where this room is as that’s ingenious! The story is full of twists and turns and plenty of surprises. I like the occasional humour and the Urbanex (Urban Explorers) element is good too. There are some interesting characters in the storytelling and I hope the character of Lew is further developed in follow up books and there’s little of Pete so it would be good to know more about him.
September 21, 2020
The Bone Jar by S W Kane is the first in the Detective Lew Kirby series and what a great start, it's a fast and creepy police thriller which is going to keep you guessing until the end.
If a dead body in an abandoned asylum with a normal detective (as in not a drunk or chain smoking or more criminal than the criminals) is your kind of reading then I definitely recommend this one 📖
If a dead body in an abandoned asylum with a normal detective (as in not a drunk or chain smoking or more criminal than the criminals) is your kind of reading then I definitely recommend this one 📖
June 2, 2020
This book rocked! I loved it. As I write this review, I’m already plotting how to put in my request to ensure Connie and Raymond both make it back to the next book in the series.
The Bone Jar mystery begins when the security guard of an old, dilapidated asylum discovers an elderly lady dead in one of the rooms. Soon DI Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson are called to the scene to investigate. What they discover is the building is due for construction with limited access so the question isn’t just who is the lady and why was she killed, but how did they get in.
The story is primarily told from two POVs: DI Kirby and Connie Darke. DI Kirby is a bit unusual for detective novels these days in that he has a fairly normal life. He has a new girlfriend and he gets along with his family. He’s also a competent detective who gets along decently well with his coworkers and during the investigative process finds himself having some rather interesting interviews. Connie is someone we don’t meet until several chapters in. She has ties to the investigation and assists it effortlessly. Every time she entered the scene I knew to read carefully because something was going to happen. But as a reader I sincerely appreciated how she wasn’t a character who did stupid things, such as getting herself into danger without calling the local DI on the case. Nothing more frustrating than a character walking into a bad situation with their eyes wide open and doing nothing about it.
The plotting and pacing of the unraveling of the mystery seemed spot-on, which is what keeps me hooked in suspense novels. Always moving forward steadily until we get to the ‘thrill’ part where they catch the villain. And unlike other books I’ve read where the story feels over once the villain is caught, this one spent time giving the reader closure on several fronts to give a satisfying conclusion along with the hints of what may pop up in future books.
As much as I enjoyed the book, I do have two issues I wanted to bring up: 1) There is a splattering of curse words in the story. They are not everywhere and you can go long sections without seeing them, but some of them felt unnecessary. 2) There’s an unanswered question in my mind about an alibi that was being looked into that I don’t remember seeing the final result of. However, it’s also very possible that it was answered and I just missed it while reading.
Overall, a terrific start to a new series.
Rating: 4.5 stars
The Bone Jar mystery begins when the security guard of an old, dilapidated asylum discovers an elderly lady dead in one of the rooms. Soon DI Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson are called to the scene to investigate. What they discover is the building is due for construction with limited access so the question isn’t just who is the lady and why was she killed, but how did they get in.
The story is primarily told from two POVs: DI Kirby and Connie Darke. DI Kirby is a bit unusual for detective novels these days in that he has a fairly normal life. He has a new girlfriend and he gets along with his family. He’s also a competent detective who gets along decently well with his coworkers and during the investigative process finds himself having some rather interesting interviews. Connie is someone we don’t meet until several chapters in. She has ties to the investigation and assists it effortlessly. Every time she entered the scene I knew to read carefully because something was going to happen. But as a reader I sincerely appreciated how she wasn’t a character who did stupid things, such as getting herself into danger without calling the local DI on the case. Nothing more frustrating than a character walking into a bad situation with their eyes wide open and doing nothing about it.
The plotting and pacing of the unraveling of the mystery seemed spot-on, which is what keeps me hooked in suspense novels. Always moving forward steadily until we get to the ‘thrill’ part where they catch the villain. And unlike other books I’ve read where the story feels over once the villain is caught, this one spent time giving the reader closure on several fronts to give a satisfying conclusion along with the hints of what may pop up in future books.
As much as I enjoyed the book, I do have two issues I wanted to bring up: 1) There is a splattering of curse words in the story. They are not everywhere and you can go long sections without seeing them, but some of them felt unnecessary. 2) There’s an unanswered question in my mind about an alibi that was being looked into that I don’t remember seeing the final result of. However, it’s also very possible that it was answered and I just missed it while reading.
Overall, a terrific start to a new series.
Rating: 4.5 stars
October 22, 2024
Ok so I had high hopes for this one and I can’t say I didn’t enjoy reading it but bloody hell, the amount of times I had to sit and think about the characters and their relation to one another was more than anyone should need to.
This then really ruined the plot in my opinion.
The less characters there are to figure out and what their relationships are to one another the more you can then actually enjoy the story - but maybe that just my brain, others may have found it quite obvious, but as this is my review I didn’t 😝
This then really ruined the plot in my opinion.
The less characters there are to figure out and what their relationships are to one another the more you can then actually enjoy the story - but maybe that just my brain, others may have found it quite obvious, but as this is my review I didn’t 😝
June 15, 2020
You know when you read the description of a book and you’re stoked to get it started and then you’re reading and reading and nothing really happens and then you get sad because the book is not living up to the expectations of the description of said book? You know when that happens? Well, that’s basically what happened with The Bone Jar. It’s not a terrible book and there are some pretty cool things that happen in the book, but man, it did not live up to the description in my mind. No biggie really, just one of those things. It’s all good.
August 20, 2020
Well written crime thriller that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next! It had just the right amount of creepiness and a nice twist. I've read other reviews that said there were too many characters, however for me, that is what kept the story interesting. It always kept you guessing as a good thriller should! Interesting characters and clever plot.
I am happy that this is the first book of a series and I will once again be able to read more about these well developed characters in the future!
I would recommend this book, especially if you like crime thrillers!I
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I am happy that this is the first book of a series and I will once again be able to read more about these well developed characters in the future!
I would recommend this book, especially if you like crime thrillers!I
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#thebonejar. #netgalley
July 6, 2020
The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected?
Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. Lew along with the help of an urban explorer, Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, must put the pieces of the puzzle together to keep the killer from striking again.
I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately intrigued with this book when the premise mentioned a murder in an asylum. That itself creates an interesting atmosphere for creepy thriller.
While at times I did get confused while reading because there were so many characters and sub plots going on at the same time. But, at the end all of it with all its twists and turns come together for a thrilling finish.
Overall an excellent start to a new series. Looking forward to more books in this series!
Thank You to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC
Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. Lew along with the help of an urban explorer, Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, must put the pieces of the puzzle together to keep the killer from striking again.
I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately intrigued with this book when the premise mentioned a murder in an asylum. That itself creates an interesting atmosphere for creepy thriller.
While at times I did get confused while reading because there were so many characters and sub plots going on at the same time. But, at the end all of it with all its twists and turns come together for a thrilling finish.
Overall an excellent start to a new series. Looking forward to more books in this series!
Thank You to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC
June 8, 2020
I feel bad saying this about the efforts of a new author but this book didn't impress me much.
PS there are some spoilers, not in detail but you might not want to read beyond the next para.
Given the location of an abandoned Victorian asylum and the extraordinary weather: a series of snow-covered, icy weather in the middle of London's urban heat island, I found it oddly missing in atmosphere. The first chill accosted me after the half-way mark and, to be honest, if it hadn't been an Amazon First book, I am highly likely to have abandoned the book before I got to that first chill.
Some of the language was a bit cliched - "beat a hasty exit", anyone? The police side of it seemed oddly unrealistic certainly I've not come across two Detective Inspectors acting as "partners" before. Our lead protagonist, DI Lew Kirby, does not like his police issue car - a foible that irritated me very quickly. He seemed to veer from a man in love with a new girlfriend - who was introduced and wasted, despite her connection to the case - to one likely to play the field. There was some evidence of the book needing another good edit although I can find only one example: Connie asks who Nurse Ratched was even though "she'd seen the film and remembered the ... character vividly."
There were some neat uses of language. I particularly liked where a little girl, Poppy, a child interpreted the phrase "I don't like any of you", referring to a group of people, as meaning the person doesn't like any of the child. There were also some exciting scenes towards the end and the revealing of an amazing architectural feature. I was happy that the author provided some notes and acknowledgements, which allowed me to learn more about some of the ideas in the book.
There were indeed some great ideas: the bone jar, a rare genetic disease, cruelty in asylums, forced emigration to Australia, underwater rooms, urban exploration, to name a few but it struck me that there were too many ideas, none being given the room to exist nor to contribute to the story and the narrative as much as they could.
Similarly, there are a lot of intertwining stories here. It is good in general to get multiple strands and red herrings but in this case they confused me and were either resolved, or partly resolved like the story of "The Creeper", in the last few chapters with a lot of telling or just got lost - Connie's sister, anyone? I think it is particularly difficult to manage multiple strands and maybe it would have been a good idea to hold back some of these ideas for another book. In particular, the way the prologue interacted - or didn't - with the rest of the book left me feeling foolish and cheated.
In general then, much as I wish the author well, I have to say I found the book rather confused and overfull of ideas.
PS there are some spoilers, not in detail but you might not want to read beyond the next para.
Given the location of an abandoned Victorian asylum and the extraordinary weather: a series of snow-covered, icy weather in the middle of London's urban heat island, I found it oddly missing in atmosphere. The first chill accosted me after the half-way mark and, to be honest, if it hadn't been an Amazon First book, I am highly likely to have abandoned the book before I got to that first chill.
Some of the language was a bit cliched - "beat a hasty exit", anyone? The police side of it seemed oddly unrealistic certainly I've not come across two Detective Inspectors acting as "partners" before. Our lead protagonist, DI Lew Kirby, does not like his police issue car - a foible that irritated me very quickly. He seemed to veer from a man in love with a new girlfriend - who was introduced and wasted, despite her connection to the case - to one likely to play the field. There was some evidence of the book needing another good edit although I can find only one example: Connie asks who Nurse Ratched was even though "she'd seen the film and remembered the ... character vividly."
There were some neat uses of language. I particularly liked where a little girl, Poppy, a child interpreted the phrase "I don't like any of you", referring to a group of people, as meaning the person doesn't like any of the child. There were also some exciting scenes towards the end and the revealing of an amazing architectural feature. I was happy that the author provided some notes and acknowledgements, which allowed me to learn more about some of the ideas in the book.
There were indeed some great ideas: the bone jar, a rare genetic disease, cruelty in asylums, forced emigration to Australia, underwater rooms, urban exploration, to name a few but it struck me that there were too many ideas, none being given the room to exist nor to contribute to the story and the narrative as much as they could.
Similarly, there are a lot of intertwining stories here. It is good in general to get multiple strands and red herrings but in this case they confused me and were either resolved, or partly resolved like the story of "The Creeper", in the last few chapters with a lot of telling or just got lost - Connie's sister, anyone? I think it is particularly difficult to manage multiple strands and maybe it would have been a good idea to hold back some of these ideas for another book. In particular, the way the prologue interacted - or didn't - with the rest of the book left me feeling foolish and cheated.
In general then, much as I wish the author well, I have to say I found the book rather confused and overfull of ideas.
August 20, 2020
The security guard of an old decrepit asylum scheduled for reconstruction finds an elderly lady dead in one of the rooms. When Detective Lew Kirby and his partner are called in to investigate, they discover another body in the river nearby.
Connie Darke is an urban explorer and is determined to help the detective. She has an agenda .. her sister sister died of a freak accident in the same asylum.
Book Blurb: The secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. There are rumors about underground bunkers and secret rooms, unspeakable psychological experimentation, and a dark force that haunts the ruins, trying to pull back in all those who attempt to escape.
Unrelenting suspense starts on Page 1 and doesn't let up until the unexpected conclusion. It's told mainly by two voices .. the detective's and Connie's. The characters are skillfully set amid the swirling dark secrets that someone wants to keep hidden in the shadows.
Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime thriller .. a debut novel by this author. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 28, 2020
Interesting
It was a good book. I got a little confused at the end though and still wonder what it meant but the rest of the book was really good. I got a
Little bored in the 55 to 65% range but it really was a twisted take and I really enjoyed it. It starts with the murder of an elderly lady in the vacant asylum and a missing person and it's a tangled bunch of interactions that we wade through. I didn't guess the bad guy. It was a surprise. And very well done. I hope to read this author again. Loved Kirby and Raymond. They were interesting. Set in England and some of the terminology was hard to understand but I made it through and am really glad I read this.
It was a good book. I got a little confused at the end though and still wonder what it meant but the rest of the book was really good. I got a
Little bored in the 55 to 65% range but it really was a twisted take and I really enjoyed it. It starts with the murder of an elderly lady in the vacant asylum and a missing person and it's a tangled bunch of interactions that we wade through. I didn't guess the bad guy. It was a surprise. And very well done. I hope to read this author again. Loved Kirby and Raymond. They were interesting. Set in England and some of the terminology was hard to understand but I made it through and am really glad I read this.
July 1, 2020
A body found at an abandoned mental asylum, sold!
This is a whodunit detective story. Kirby is a good lead character. You will like him. He has his personal problems which made it interesting. The story was a little slow, maybe intentional, with many characters to keep track of. Pace certainly picked up when more clues were revealed. It was hard to guess the villain that's for sure, related characters don't even share the same last name....in my book that's cheating.
This is a whodunit detective story. Kirby is a good lead character. You will like him. He has his personal problems which made it interesting. The story was a little slow, maybe intentional, with many characters to keep track of. Pace certainly picked up when more clues were revealed. It was hard to guess the villain that's for sure, related characters don't even share the same last name....in my book that's cheating.
July 1, 2020
WAY TOO MANY CHARACTERS!! Oh my word. There was the main character, his stressed mother, father, step mom, girlfriend, boss and partner. There was a murdered guy who brought in Connie, her dead sister, an uncle and someone named Mole. Then there was Raymond, who spoke of a friend he visited and watched tv with and mentioned people he knew while he was a patient at the hospital that you didn't know if they were key characters or not til the book was over. (Spoiler: They were not) There was the murdered victim who attached three other dead people to the story and multiple other folks from back in the day when the hospital was running. A father of an orphaned kid and some guy who I think took on the identity of his cousin. (?) There was the killer and his kid, and the murdered woman's daughter and son. And wasn't there a taxidermist?! I mean come on! I was confused and had a hard time wondering who was whom and what they had to do with the story. At the end, I knew who the killer was, but couldn't remember what he had to do with any of the story up until then.
Now let me get to the nuances of the story. **WARNING: Spoiler Alert**
The author kept mentioning how much Kirby hated the car. I was expecting something to be done about it. Or some kind of point in it being said so much. But there was nothing to it. Just repetition. With no explanation of why.
I don't understand why Kirby would take Connie, to the crime scene to ask questions about the hospital. It was mentioned that she had only been there once before. And I also feel that a professional would have been consulted about the place, not some random woman. And how cliché was it that she went to investigate a secret tunnel to the place after two murders! And one was her friend no less!! And why did we never find out what happened to Connie's sister? What was the point of that story line?
I was also annoyed with Raymond being the typical recluse guy saying weird things, not saying important things -- ugh.
And what kind of ending was that? Leaving us a name of a guy -- who I had no idea who he was -- so if it were to have been a cliffhanger, it didn't work. There were too many characters to remember his significance!
The idea of the story was fine, the individual chapters were a bit slow for me. And again, too many characters to keep up with.
Now let me get to the nuances of the story. **WARNING: Spoiler Alert**
The author kept mentioning how much Kirby hated the car. I was expecting something to be done about it. Or some kind of point in it being said so much. But there was nothing to it. Just repetition. With no explanation of why.
I don't understand why Kirby would take Connie, to the crime scene to ask questions about the hospital. It was mentioned that she had only been there once before. And I also feel that a professional would have been consulted about the place, not some random woman. And how cliché was it that she went to investigate a secret tunnel to the place after two murders! And one was her friend no less!! And why did we never find out what happened to Connie's sister? What was the point of that story line?
I was also annoyed with Raymond being the typical recluse guy saying weird things, not saying important things -- ugh.
And what kind of ending was that? Leaving us a name of a guy -- who I had no idea who he was -- so if it were to have been a cliffhanger, it didn't work. There were too many characters to remember his significance!
The idea of the story was fine, the individual chapters were a bit slow for me. And again, too many characters to keep up with.
July 17, 2020
"Things get forgotten over the years - even extraodinary things. Out of sight, out of mind."
A great mystery but there's a lot going on. It was almost hard to keep all the story lines and mysteries straight. Dealing with the asylum's mysteries from the past, the unusual death of Connie's sister Sarah and then the present day mysteries and deaths were...a lot to take in. There were also a lot of players to keep track of and, with different timeframes, not always easy to remember who was who and how they tied to each other. It was funny that at times this town felt much smaller than it maybe really was. All in all, though, the mystery was great and I really loved Sweet, Connie and Kirby. It definitely seems set up for there to be a book 2 and I'm absolutely in for reading it!
A great mystery but there's a lot going on. It was almost hard to keep all the story lines and mysteries straight. Dealing with the asylum's mysteries from the past, the unusual death of Connie's sister Sarah and then the present day mysteries and deaths were...a lot to take in. There were also a lot of players to keep track of and, with different timeframes, not always easy to remember who was who and how they tied to each other. It was funny that at times this town felt much smaller than it maybe really was. All in all, though, the mystery was great and I really loved Sweet, Connie and Kirby. It definitely seems set up for there to be a book 2 and I'm absolutely in for reading it!
June 17, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bone Jar, it was chilly and atmospheric, set mostly in and around an abandoned asylum.
A body is found setting off an investigation that has its roots firmly in the past, the plotting is clever and intelligent, the writing addictively flowing.
I liked the unpredictable nature of this, some engaging characters and a great descriptive sense of place..The backdrop is intriguing and speaks to a dark past.
An entertaining, subtly disturbing read that I have no problem recommending.
A body is found setting off an investigation that has its roots firmly in the past, the plotting is clever and intelligent, the writing addictively flowing.
I liked the unpredictable nature of this, some engaging characters and a great descriptive sense of place..The backdrop is intriguing and speaks to a dark past.
An entertaining, subtly disturbing read that I have no problem recommending.
July 11, 2020
The Bone Jar is a wonderful British whodunit debut novel by S. W. Kane. The story opens with Detective Lew Kirby taking on the case of an elderly woman found murdered in the abandoned Blackwater asylum. This is what drew me to this book as I have a strong interest in anything written about old asylums. A few years ago, I wrote two blogs posts on my genealogy blog about my husband’s two wealthy great, great aunts who were admitted to a New Jersey asylum in the early 1900’s and spent most of their adult lives there. The doctor there has been written about due to the many atrocities he committed against the patients all in the name of “curing” them.
This book did not disappoint. There were many twists and turns until the murderer was unveiled near the very end. Kirby also had family secrets thrown in as a side issue for extra interest to the story. If I have any complaint it would be the exceptionally long list of characters in the book. At times it was difficult to remember who was who. It seems the author intends to make this a series and if so I will definitely be reading the next one. Hopefully, she will be bringing back some of the secondary characters that made the book so enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4!
This book did not disappoint. There were many twists and turns until the murderer was unveiled near the very end. Kirby also had family secrets thrown in as a side issue for extra interest to the story. If I have any complaint it would be the exceptionally long list of characters in the book. At times it was difficult to remember who was who. It seems the author intends to make this a series and if so I will definitely be reading the next one. Hopefully, she will be bringing back some of the secondary characters that made the book so enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4!
June 12, 2020
London-based author S.W. Kane makes her literary debut with the crime thriller "The Bone Jar," a Thomas & Mercer release due for publication on July 1st, 2020 that is listed as one of Amazon's June "First Read" titles offering Prime members a first glimpse at up-and-coming titles.
The story centers around Blackwater Asylum, a former mental health asylum still sitting on prized property on the banks of the Thames River. High-powered developer Patrick Calder wants the Battersea stain to go and has largely acquired the property with plans for a luxury development. The only thing, or only one, in his way is the mysterious Raymond, a former patient whose release from the facility upon its closure sent him out into a world he wasn't equipped to deal with and back into the safety of one of the facility's now abandoned shelters where he squatted long enough to be named the small shelter's owner.
With Patrick Calder closing in and Raymond hunkering down, things begin to come to a head when the body of an elderly woman is found in Keats Ward, an isolated unit of the former asylum that had been a bit of a mystery even to those familiar with the place. When another body is soon discovered in the river nearby, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves compounded by the relentless searching of urban explorer Connie Darke, whose sister had died in a mysterious accident in the asylum, and Detective Lew Kirby, whose job it is to figure out this entirely too complicated mess of a mystery.
There's a phrase used in construction called "good bones." "The Bone Jar" has good bones, an intriguing concept of a story set in a compelling setting and with characters who seem worthy of further exploration. Unfortunately, "The Bone Jar" never really fleshes out its story, visualizes the potential of its setting, or gives us characters with whom we become invested.
As "The Bone Jar" appears to be the first in an intended series of books centered around Detective Lew Kirby, the series itself has potential to develop into an intriguing mix of crime thrillers and police procedurals complete with Kirby, a bit of a flawed character with his own bit of baggage to deal with in life and a predictably stale love life.
Again, "good bones."
While "The Bone Jar" is set in the London area, the story itself feels universal despite references to familiar landmarks that clearly set its locale.
"The Bone Jar" is most effective as a police procedural, the jigsaw puzzle of a mystery engagingly put together by Detective Kirby and a partner who is criminally under-utilized. While the mystery itself is rather light, as in I had the story pegged less than a quarter of the way through the novel, the journey to get there is involving and nicely constructed.
"The Bone Jar" is less effective as an actual crime thriller. While asylum-set mysteries and horrors are a dime a dozen these days, "The Bone Jar" never really immerses the reader inside the world of Blackwater Asylum and in the tensions lying underneath the seemingly above-water deals and beneath the surface secrets and deceptions. Multiple characters have their own secrets, a fact we know because the characters usually say it as an aside. It's a weird approach that lessens the mystery and seems to not trust the reader to actually get it.
Feeling like the introduction to a world that it actually is, "The Bone Jar" is a decent enough read even if it falls short of being the incredibly engaging, dark, and mysterious crime thriller that you want it to be. Yet, there's something promising here and given the marketing push the book is receiving it's likely that enough readers will become introduced to the world that many will go along for the ride and eagerly anticipate Kane's next Detective Kirby adventure. Here's hoping that the next adventure further immerses us in its world and into the lives of characters who feel paper-thin here and lacking in the valued relationships that would give them more substantial meaning.
As noted, "The Bone Jar" is a Thomas & Mercer release scheduled to arrive on July 1st.
The story centers around Blackwater Asylum, a former mental health asylum still sitting on prized property on the banks of the Thames River. High-powered developer Patrick Calder wants the Battersea stain to go and has largely acquired the property with plans for a luxury development. The only thing, or only one, in his way is the mysterious Raymond, a former patient whose release from the facility upon its closure sent him out into a world he wasn't equipped to deal with and back into the safety of one of the facility's now abandoned shelters where he squatted long enough to be named the small shelter's owner.
With Patrick Calder closing in and Raymond hunkering down, things begin to come to a head when the body of an elderly woman is found in Keats Ward, an isolated unit of the former asylum that had been a bit of a mystery even to those familiar with the place. When another body is soon discovered in the river nearby, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves compounded by the relentless searching of urban explorer Connie Darke, whose sister had died in a mysterious accident in the asylum, and Detective Lew Kirby, whose job it is to figure out this entirely too complicated mess of a mystery.
There's a phrase used in construction called "good bones." "The Bone Jar" has good bones, an intriguing concept of a story set in a compelling setting and with characters who seem worthy of further exploration. Unfortunately, "The Bone Jar" never really fleshes out its story, visualizes the potential of its setting, or gives us characters with whom we become invested.
As "The Bone Jar" appears to be the first in an intended series of books centered around Detective Lew Kirby, the series itself has potential to develop into an intriguing mix of crime thrillers and police procedurals complete with Kirby, a bit of a flawed character with his own bit of baggage to deal with in life and a predictably stale love life.
Again, "good bones."
While "The Bone Jar" is set in the London area, the story itself feels universal despite references to familiar landmarks that clearly set its locale.
"The Bone Jar" is most effective as a police procedural, the jigsaw puzzle of a mystery engagingly put together by Detective Kirby and a partner who is criminally under-utilized. While the mystery itself is rather light, as in I had the story pegged less than a quarter of the way through the novel, the journey to get there is involving and nicely constructed.
"The Bone Jar" is less effective as an actual crime thriller. While asylum-set mysteries and horrors are a dime a dozen these days, "The Bone Jar" never really immerses the reader inside the world of Blackwater Asylum and in the tensions lying underneath the seemingly above-water deals and beneath the surface secrets and deceptions. Multiple characters have their own secrets, a fact we know because the characters usually say it as an aside. It's a weird approach that lessens the mystery and seems to not trust the reader to actually get it.
Feeling like the introduction to a world that it actually is, "The Bone Jar" is a decent enough read even if it falls short of being the incredibly engaging, dark, and mysterious crime thriller that you want it to be. Yet, there's something promising here and given the marketing push the book is receiving it's likely that enough readers will become introduced to the world that many will go along for the ride and eagerly anticipate Kane's next Detective Kirby adventure. Here's hoping that the next adventure further immerses us in its world and into the lives of characters who feel paper-thin here and lacking in the valued relationships that would give them more substantial meaning.
As noted, "The Bone Jar" is a Thomas & Mercer release scheduled to arrive on July 1st.
January 3, 2021
I thought this one was a good mystery, and I liked the setting and suspense of an insane asylum/psychiatric hospital. DI Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson (who is also a taxidermist) investigate the horrific murder of an elderly woman. There are quite a few mysterious circumstances surrounding her death/murder. One of which is why on earth she'd be at/near the Blackwater Psychiatric Hospital, which is closed and had been originally simply Blackwater Asylum. The hospital is made out to be a very creepy, eerie place for a murder, so it adds to the suspense. One thing this story is full of is twists and turns and I love them! It's not a super predictable mystery, at least not for me.
The story is also told from two different POV's: DI Lew Kirby and Connie Darke. Their characters were very different as were their personalities, so I thought the two POV's worked out really well. I thought Connie especially added to the investigation. I wasn't expecting her to be so helpful and concise with her areas of expertise.
I am really glad this one is the first in a series. I think it'll be a really good series. I'm curious if DI Kirby will have any new partners.
The story is also told from two different POV's: DI Lew Kirby and Connie Darke. Their characters were very different as were their personalities, so I thought the two POV's worked out really well. I thought Connie especially added to the investigation. I wasn't expecting her to be so helpful and concise with her areas of expertise.
I am really glad this one is the first in a series. I think it'll be a really good series. I'm curious if DI Kirby will have any new partners.
July 11, 2020
The Bone Jar is a wonderful British whodunit debut novel by S. W. Kane. The story opens with Detective Lew Kirby taking on the case of an elderly woman found murdered in the abandoned Blackwater asylum. This is what drew me to this book as I have a strong interest in anything written about old asylums. A few years ago, I wrote two blogs posts on my genealogy blog about my husband’s two wealthy great, great aunts who were admitted to a New Jersey asylum in the early 1900’s and spent most of their adult lives there. The doctor there has been written about due to the many atrocities he committed against the patients all in the name of “curing” them.
This book did not disappoint. There were many twists and turns until the murderer was unveiled near the very end. Kirby also had family secrets thrown in as a side issue for extra interest to the story. If I have any complaint it would be the exceptionally long list of characters in the book. At times it was difficult to remember who was who. It seems the author intends to make this a series and if so I will definitely be reading the next one. Hopefully, she will be bringing back some of the secondary characters that made the book so enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4!
This book did not disappoint. There were many twists and turns until the murderer was unveiled near the very end. Kirby also had family secrets thrown in as a side issue for extra interest to the story. If I have any complaint it would be the exceptionally long list of characters in the book. At times it was difficult to remember who was who. It seems the author intends to make this a series and if so I will definitely be reading the next one. Hopefully, she will be bringing back some of the secondary characters that made the book so enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4!
June 19, 2020
What a great book this was. So full of twists and turns. keeps you second guessing yourself. The premise is basically, the body of 85 year old woman turns up in the abandoned Blackwater Asylum. What is her connection, if any, to the asylum? Though it could be called a police procedural, I think it's more a psychological thriller, as it focuses on secrets and connections to the asylum. Thanks to the author , publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. which I've reviewed honestly.
October 6, 2020
London is groaning under a severe snowstorm and Siberian temperatures when the body of an elderly woman is found in an isolated ward of an abandoned and derelict asylum. As soon as Detective Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson start their investigation a second body is found in the River Thames. It soon becomes clear that the past of Blackwater Asylum ,with its tragedies,rumours and whispers,is to play a major part towards the solving of these crimes.
It is a good story and the setting,an abandoned asylum during wintertime,is fabulously atmospheric. The writing is sound and the two detectives are likeable and believable. But,there is always a but,there are so many storylines who are, some closely and some marginally, interweaved that it becomes a tad confusing and it does not always lead to a better story.
And then some secondary storylines are left unsolved ,probably for a second episode, but ,barring a fantasy trilogy, I don't really like that kind of open ending.
It is a good story and the setting,an abandoned asylum during wintertime,is fabulously atmospheric. The writing is sound and the two detectives are likeable and believable. But,there is always a but,there are so many storylines who are, some closely and some marginally, interweaved that it becomes a tad confusing and it does not always lead to a better story.
And then some secondary storylines are left unsolved ,probably for a second episode, but ,barring a fantasy trilogy, I don't really like that kind of open ending.
September 23, 2025
A terrifically exciting murder mystery/police procedural focusing on a long-abandoned London asylum, slated for expensive redevelopment, its history of horrifying secrets, and its connection to the late wealthy family in the neighboring mansion, THE BONE JAR is both riveting and wildly entertaining. Weaving the current case with Blackwater Asylum's ugly, unforgettable past, and the backstory of the protagonist, London MIT Detective Lew Kirby, the plot keeps the reader well engrossed, even to the extent of reading heart-in-mouth.
June 27, 2020
I felt like I read forever and still couldn’t connect all the characters.
July 17, 2020
I don’t normally go for police procedurals or series, but…this one was set in and around an old asylum. You can’t go wrong with that. It’s just so awesomely creepily atmospheric. Even if it wasn’t set in a middle of a crazy winter snowstorm (and it is). Even if it wasn’t very appealingly British (and it is). Even if it didn’t feature a very charismatic protagonist in DI Ludovico (Lew) Kirby (and it does) who lives on a boat (nice) and an intriguing mystery…there would still be that eerie spooky Blackwater asylum to behold. In fact, the story starts off there, with a body of an 84 year old woman found beaten to death. Who’d beat to death a nice old lady? But then again…why do we always think of them as nice old ladies? What if they are just old and not at all nice. Quite evil, in fact. So who’d want to kill an evil old lady? Well, that’s what DI Kirby is going to find out, although he’ll have significant assistance from other people peripherally involved in the crime. So it’s pretty much a fairly traditional police suspense thriller, enhanced by the fact that the reader gets to know all the players and then can try to figure out who’s guilty for themselves as opposed to those procedurals where you’re along for the investigation, uncovering clues slowly and only then getting to the killer. Plus the writing’s good, the characters are great and very engaging, the pacing’s tight, the suspense is taught and the location just can’t be beat. So yeah, totally worth making an exception and checking out. Entertaining read and a promising series debut. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
July 31, 2020
Detective Lew Kirby is called to the Blackwater Asylum when the guard discovers the body of an elderly woman in the Keats ward of the abandoned asylum. Situated on the banks of the Thames River the asylum has long been abandoned. It was rumored to have underground bunkers and secret rooms. In its heyday, unspeakable psychological experimentation took place. Some say a dark force haunts the ruins.
When another body turns up along the river Detective Kirby will need to decide if the bodies are connected and why they were murdered.
I loved the abandoned asylum and the sinister atmosphere. Kane paired the setting with an interesting cast of characters.
We have DI Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson who are under pressure from a developer to wrap the case up. Then we have Connie Darke, an urban explorer whose sister died on the grounds of the asylum. Then there is Raymond, an ex-patient who lives in the old caretakers cottage. We get to know each and all were developed and intriguing.
Raymond and Connie are secondary characters who became vital to the case and whenever they appeared in a scene the tension increased. I do hope they are permanently woven into the series.
This was not an easy case but slowly DI Kirby and Anderson piece together the clues and made the necessary connections. Twists, unexpected ties and complications kept me listening. The atmospheric setting of the abandoned asylum added to the overall suspense as we uncovered leads and facts. With each discover the danger mounted.
The audio narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies, enhanced the tale with unique voices, tone and pacing. His voice run true for the voice of DI Kirby and his female voices rang true.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
When another body turns up along the river Detective Kirby will need to decide if the bodies are connected and why they were murdered.
I loved the abandoned asylum and the sinister atmosphere. Kane paired the setting with an interesting cast of characters.
We have DI Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson who are under pressure from a developer to wrap the case up. Then we have Connie Darke, an urban explorer whose sister died on the grounds of the asylum. Then there is Raymond, an ex-patient who lives in the old caretakers cottage. We get to know each and all were developed and intriguing.
Raymond and Connie are secondary characters who became vital to the case and whenever they appeared in a scene the tension increased. I do hope they are permanently woven into the series.
This was not an easy case but slowly DI Kirby and Anderson piece together the clues and made the necessary connections. Twists, unexpected ties and complications kept me listening. The atmospheric setting of the abandoned asylum added to the overall suspense as we uncovered leads and facts. With each discover the danger mounted.
The audio narrated by Matthew Lloyd Davies, enhanced the tale with unique voices, tone and pacing. His voice run true for the voice of DI Kirby and his female voices rang true.
This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
July 9, 2020
I love it when I discover new series to love and The Bone Jar is a promising start to the Lew Kirby series. I mean, what's not to love? We have murder, an old abandoned asylum and a very snowy setting. All of these combined to engulf me in a mystery that had me guessing until the end.
The Blackwater Asylum has sat vacant for many years. It is about ready to be redeveloped when an old lady is found murdered in one of the old wards. Detective Kirby arrives on the scene and not only is the identity of the victim unknown, but it also seems like she mysteriously appeared in the facility with no trace to who killed her or how she got to there.
Kirby starts unraveling the mystery which initially starts out with very few clues to go on. He ends up meeting Connie Darke, an urban explorer, whose friend is also missing. Together, they end up putting the pieces together but will someone else die before everything falls into place?
I really liked Kirby. He is smart and headstrong and doesn't give up. We also get a glimpse into his personal life as we meet his current girlfriend, as well as his mother and father. On top of the main mystery in The Bone Jar, there is also a mystery surrounding Kirby's mother. Apparently she has some secrets of her own which Kirby never could have imagined.
As I mentioned, this is a wonderful mystery with a really eerie setting. It is extremely atmospheric, yet the story never dulls. I am definitely looking forward to future installments because although the main plot was resolved, there are still some lose ends, and I for one can't wait to see where they land.
The Blackwater Asylum has sat vacant for many years. It is about ready to be redeveloped when an old lady is found murdered in one of the old wards. Detective Kirby arrives on the scene and not only is the identity of the victim unknown, but it also seems like she mysteriously appeared in the facility with no trace to who killed her or how she got to there.
Kirby starts unraveling the mystery which initially starts out with very few clues to go on. He ends up meeting Connie Darke, an urban explorer, whose friend is also missing. Together, they end up putting the pieces together but will someone else die before everything falls into place?
I really liked Kirby. He is smart and headstrong and doesn't give up. We also get a glimpse into his personal life as we meet his current girlfriend, as well as his mother and father. On top of the main mystery in The Bone Jar, there is also a mystery surrounding Kirby's mother. Apparently she has some secrets of her own which Kirby never could have imagined.
As I mentioned, this is a wonderful mystery with a really eerie setting. It is extremely atmospheric, yet the story never dulls. I am definitely looking forward to future installments because although the main plot was resolved, there are still some lose ends, and I for one can't wait to see where they land.
June 4, 2020
I picked 'The Bone Jar' as my free Amazon prime 'first reads' choice for June and I enjoyed it a lot. I appreciate crime fiction where I can clearly picture the places described and the eerie threatening presence of the old Victorian asylum at the heart of this novel felt very real and very well described. In my student days, I had a friend in a dodgy part of London that was very close to a (now closed and even then rather dilapidated) Victorian hospital and this was the one I had in my mind when I was reading.
The choice of two protagonists - a handsome policeman called Lew with a taste in old cars and good coffee and a so-called 'Urbex' or urban explorer called Connie who works in an architectural library or museum - leaves a lot of scope for this story to develop into a longer series.
Investigating two deaths that seem to be linked but it's unclear why, gives Lew and Connie the chance to meet some colourful characters with plenty of dark secrets. An altercation in an unpleasant pub called the 'Welcome Inn' put Connie in contact with the father of one of the two dead whilst Lew is leered over by a onesie-clad dipsomaniac and maneater whose mother is the other.
The book is full of interesting characters - I particularly liked the ex-patient squatting in the grounds of the asylum and getting in the way of potential developers - and fascinating locations. It reads as very 'real' - if you know what I mean. There are plenty of sub-plots that leave space to take the series further but you don't have to worry that you won't get the story done and dusted in the one volume (That's a particular hate of mine - so-called 'series' books that don't finish the story within the first book so you have to buy another).
I'm reminded of a bit of a combination of early Minette Waters and a dose of Nicci French's Frida Klein books with a strong London authenticity and an interesting plotline.
Recommended.
The choice of two protagonists - a handsome policeman called Lew with a taste in old cars and good coffee and a so-called 'Urbex' or urban explorer called Connie who works in an architectural library or museum - leaves a lot of scope for this story to develop into a longer series.
Investigating two deaths that seem to be linked but it's unclear why, gives Lew and Connie the chance to meet some colourful characters with plenty of dark secrets. An altercation in an unpleasant pub called the 'Welcome Inn' put Connie in contact with the father of one of the two dead whilst Lew is leered over by a onesie-clad dipsomaniac and maneater whose mother is the other.
The book is full of interesting characters - I particularly liked the ex-patient squatting in the grounds of the asylum and getting in the way of potential developers - and fascinating locations. It reads as very 'real' - if you know what I mean. There are plenty of sub-plots that leave space to take the series further but you don't have to worry that you won't get the story done and dusted in the one volume (That's a particular hate of mine - so-called 'series' books that don't finish the story within the first book so you have to buy another).
I'm reminded of a bit of a combination of early Minette Waters and a dose of Nicci French's Frida Klein books with a strong London authenticity and an interesting plotline.
Recommended.
July 2, 2020
Review
The eerie location of The Bone Jar was more than enough to draw me in. Luckily, the well written and compelling plot kept me hooked.
Blackwater, the abandoned asylum looming at the centre of this story, was almost a character in itself. Its almost spectral presence not only shaped the lives of many of the characters in this book, but it also shaped the community around it- more often than not in devastating ways.
If you’re wondering how an asylum can remain abandoned in London where space is already at a premium, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Despite being a large piece of extremely valuable London real estate, any development attempts at its site inevitably fell apart. It was almost as if the asylum was protecting itself and its secrets, repelling away any attempts to erase it from history.
It was right to harbor its secrets. As the plot unfolded, twisting and turning in so many unexpected ways, you began to see how sinister the asylum’s past was. Except it wasn’t the asylum that was evil. Instead, it was those running it that were the cause of all the horrors within its walls.
The writer’s background in architecture as well as her interest in urban exploration (urbexing) were clear throughout The Bone Jar. She was able to use her knowledge to describe settings in such a realistic way that you could picture yourself there with the characters. Often I could even almost smell the damp and mildew of some of the places they went to as well as hear the waters of the mighty Thames.
Final Thoughts
With this being the first in a series, there was bound to be a lot of set up. In DI Lew Kirby’s case in particular, there were several pages devoted to giving us information about his life, his job, and his background. Because of this, quite a few of his storylines and loved ones were barely more than mentioned in passing as he investigated this bizarre murder.
I’ve seen some reviewers that were unhappy with this, feeling like way too much was crammed into the book. However, I can only see that being an issue if this were a standalone novel. Since more installments are coming, I’m hopeful that some of the more compelling things that weren’t explained in depth will be broached throughout the series. I’m also hopeful Connie Darke will continue as a main character, maybe acting as like Lew’s cracking urbex sidekick/civilian consultant. Otherwise, I’ll have a bone to pick with S.W. Kane because you can’t just let us get invested in such a captivating character to only hide her away from us!
Read my full review on my blog tour post!
Thanks to Random Things Tours and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my review on The Bone Jar blog tour.
The eerie location of The Bone Jar was more than enough to draw me in. Luckily, the well written and compelling plot kept me hooked.
Blackwater, the abandoned asylum looming at the centre of this story, was almost a character in itself. Its almost spectral presence not only shaped the lives of many of the characters in this book, but it also shaped the community around it- more often than not in devastating ways.
If you’re wondering how an asylum can remain abandoned in London where space is already at a premium, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Despite being a large piece of extremely valuable London real estate, any development attempts at its site inevitably fell apart. It was almost as if the asylum was protecting itself and its secrets, repelling away any attempts to erase it from history.
It was right to harbor its secrets. As the plot unfolded, twisting and turning in so many unexpected ways, you began to see how sinister the asylum’s past was. Except it wasn’t the asylum that was evil. Instead, it was those running it that were the cause of all the horrors within its walls.
The writer’s background in architecture as well as her interest in urban exploration (urbexing) were clear throughout The Bone Jar. She was able to use her knowledge to describe settings in such a realistic way that you could picture yourself there with the characters. Often I could even almost smell the damp and mildew of some of the places they went to as well as hear the waters of the mighty Thames.
Final Thoughts
With this being the first in a series, there was bound to be a lot of set up. In DI Lew Kirby’s case in particular, there were several pages devoted to giving us information about his life, his job, and his background. Because of this, quite a few of his storylines and loved ones were barely more than mentioned in passing as he investigated this bizarre murder.
I’ve seen some reviewers that were unhappy with this, feeling like way too much was crammed into the book. However, I can only see that being an issue if this were a standalone novel. Since more installments are coming, I’m hopeful that some of the more compelling things that weren’t explained in depth will be broached throughout the series. I’m also hopeful Connie Darke will continue as a main character, maybe acting as like Lew’s cracking urbex sidekick/civilian consultant. Otherwise, I’ll have a bone to pick with S.W. Kane because you can’t just let us get invested in such a captivating character to only hide her away from us!
Read my full review on my blog tour post!
Thanks to Random Things Tours and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my review on The Bone Jar blog tour.
July 9, 2020
Finished reading: June 11th 2020
"He wondered what it was like to live here all alone - and not only that, but in the grounds of the very institution that had once removed you from society."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
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