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Mason Collins #3
Bones of the Innocent
Mason Collins grapples with secrets and murder as he races against time to save the lives of abducted teenagers in a case as twisted as the streets of Tangier’s medina.
Summer, 1946. Just as assassins from a shadowy organization close in for the kill, a flamboyant stranger offers Mason a way out: He must accompany the stranger to Morocco to investigate the abductions of teenage girls. Girls that vanished without a trace.
Once Mason lands in Tangier, he discovers that nothing—or no one—is what it seems. This playground for the super rich is called the wickedest city in the world, and he realizes those who could help him the most harbor a terrible secret.
But just as Mason begins to unravel the mystery, the assassins have once again picked up his trail. Now, Mason must put his life on the line to find the girls before it’s too late. If he lives that long…
Bones of the Innocent is the third in the Mason Collins series of historical crime thrillers that bestselling author Lee Child declares is “…a must-read series for me.”
If you like your murder mystery served with a dose of adrenaline and a dash of the bizarre then you’ll love Bones!
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 20, 2019
720 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
John A. Connell
14 books74 followersJohn was born in Atlanta, where he earned a BA in Anthropology, and has been a motion picture camera operator, a jazz pianist, a stock boy in a brassiere factory, a machinist, repairer of newspaper racks, and a printing-press operator. His first in the Mason Collins series was nominated for Barry Award, and Where the Wicked Tread has been nominated for Best E-book 2022 by ITW. The series has also received endorsements from the likes of Lee Child and Steve Berry. He and his wife divide their time between the U.S. and France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 8, 2019
With Bones of the Innocent this series has taken off. Excellent thriller - a must read.
November 17, 2021
Intense thriller!
This is a very well written thriller! It is taut with international intrigue! It set in an era of post war Europe and Morocco! It's a very delicate subject so its difficult to write about! It's about child abductions, murder and Nazis and elite rich social types. It's a time of political unrest in Tangier and the European expats are looking gong their best looking few with their wives and children. It's a spider web of deception, cunning, death and violence. Thankfully the main character, Mason Collins is well up to the job! I can't say much more than that. It's a riveting read and one you won't to put down! Kudos to the author who could have made this a very pornographic book. Instead he chose danger and suspense instead of lurid scenes! I would buy his books definitely. I know this book is part of a series. But the author writes this book as if it stands alone. No cute tricks to get you to buy another book with a dangling ending. Just a nibble of the character's brain as he questions who and what! Excellent book! Reminds me of Graham Green genre! Think Casablanca with really evil characters intentions! Read and have an adventure without leaving your armchair!
This is a very well written thriller! It is taut with international intrigue! It set in an era of post war Europe and Morocco! It's a very delicate subject so its difficult to write about! It's about child abductions, murder and Nazis and elite rich social types. It's a time of political unrest in Tangier and the European expats are looking gong their best looking few with their wives and children. It's a spider web of deception, cunning, death and violence. Thankfully the main character, Mason Collins is well up to the job! I can't say much more than that. It's a riveting read and one you won't to put down! Kudos to the author who could have made this a very pornographic book. Instead he chose danger and suspense instead of lurid scenes! I would buy his books definitely. I know this book is part of a series. But the author writes this book as if it stands alone. No cute tricks to get you to buy another book with a dangling ending. Just a nibble of the character's brain as he questions who and what! Excellent book! Reminds me of Graham Green genre! Think Casablanca with really evil characters intentions! Read and have an adventure without leaving your armchair!
May 22, 2020
When diplomats’ children are among the missing, it sparks a big investigation into the missing youths. Tangier is a melting pot of many cultures and distrust of other cultures is a key element in this narrative. The dialogue points out the problem with multi-languages being used in a very small country.
Distrust between ethnic groups hampers straight forward investigations. Disparity between the haves and have-nots is everywhere.
The author keeps this story going at a fast clip and a well-scheduled reading interval will help with the book. The climax is rewarding and satisfactory. 4.5/5 CE Williams
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
Distrust between ethnic groups hampers straight forward investigations. Disparity between the haves and have-nots is everywhere.
The author keeps this story going at a fast clip and a well-scheduled reading interval will help with the book. The climax is rewarding and satisfactory. 4.5/5 CE Williams
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
March 29, 2021
A Real Page Turner... John Connell's book, "Bones of the Innocent" did an excellent job of keeping me riveted to the story. It's an excellent story, told as in his other books, in a different era and in a locale that just reeks of foul secrets and horrible deeds. Mason Collins, with his deep-seated belief in finding the truth, is determined to uncover whatever secrets he must to achieve real justice on behalf of those who cannot help themselves. A great read with excellent pacing and many twists and turns along the way.
May 25, 2021
Bones of the Innocent was a fun read. It takes place in post-WW2 Tangiers. Somewhere I'm not familiar with, but I had no trouble feeling like I was there. The author did a wonderful job of pulling the reader into an exotic locale and keeping me reading late into the night as the clues kept pouring in. Nothing is quite what you expect and yet it all makes sense in the end.
Read the book. You won't regret the time spent with fascinating characters in a novel situation. Sometimes the good guys win.
Read the book. You won't regret the time spent with fascinating characters in a novel situation. Sometimes the good guys win.
September 4, 2020
Good read
I have read 3 of the series now and I have been enjoying the series. It starts in Germany, at the end of WWII, and Mason Collins is a US army CID. The issues he deals with and investigates are related to that era, which I find interesting. The detective is flawed, like us all but a very likable character and I like how he solves crimes without the use of modern technology. It’s fast paced, with relatable characters and I look forward to reading more.
I have read 3 of the series now and I have been enjoying the series. It starts in Germany, at the end of WWII, and Mason Collins is a US army CID. The issues he deals with and investigates are related to that era, which I find interesting. The detective is flawed, like us all but a very likable character and I like how he solves crimes without the use of modern technology. It’s fast paced, with relatable characters and I look forward to reading more.
September 10, 2020
Action packed thriller!
Bones of the innocent is an action packed thriller. It brings to light the terrible things that are happening in Tangiers. Mason is hired to find out what happened to three children only to find out there were more. Mason will not leave until he solves the case.
Bones of the innocent is an action packed thriller. It brings to light the terrible things that are happening in Tangiers. Mason is hired to find out what happened to three children only to find out there were more. Mason will not leave until he solves the case.
February 26, 2021
Mason Collins is the man!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed, and I especially enjoyed meeting Mason Collins! He is an awesome “hard-boiled detective”-type hero. This was a fascinating story set in an interesting place and time. I look forward to reading many more in the series!
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed, and I especially enjoyed meeting Mason Collins! He is an awesome “hard-boiled detective”-type hero. This was a fascinating story set in an interesting place and time. I look forward to reading many more in the series!
November 19, 2021
A gritty investigation that no one wants - but Mason Collins can't walk away from.
Great adventure with Mason Collins once again going against the most despicable criminals on earth. From war torn Europe and Germany to the equally devastated Morocco, Mason brings his tenacity to find kidnapped children and breakup a evil cult that exploits the innocent and poor.
Great adventure with Mason Collins once again going against the most despicable criminals on earth. From war torn Europe and Germany to the equally devastated Morocco, Mason brings his tenacity to find kidnapped children and breakup a evil cult that exploits the innocent and poor.
January 22, 2022
Great Thriller and mysterious story.
Very good storyline with great detail of the surrounding countryside so you felt you where there.I will be reading the next book to find out the rest of the story it was interesting enough that you want more.
Intriguing story with an interesting story thrilling and mysterious.
Very good storyline with great detail of the surrounding countryside so you felt you where there.I will be reading the next book to find out the rest of the story it was interesting enough that you want more.
Intriguing story with an interesting story thrilling and mysterious.
December 13, 2023
It has been a while since I read the first two books in the series and, frankly, after the first two books, I wasn't even aware there were more. But I am glad that I found out because I really enjoy the character of Mason Collins, this was a frightening and compelling mystery with non-stop action and intrigue and I cannot wait for the next book to arrive.
May 23, 2020
Page turner
This was the first John A Connell book I have read and I just couldn't put it down. The twists and turns of the plot kept you glued to the pages praying that he got to the children in time.
The first book as I said but definitely not the last.
This was the first John A Connell book I have read and I just couldn't put it down. The twists and turns of the plot kept you glued to the pages praying that he got to the children in time.
The first book as I said but definitely not the last.
May 26, 2020
Thrilling
This was a good book. It kept me interested and I generally didn’t know who or what was about to happen. I usually know who did it halfway through a book cause I read so many of them but not this time. I loved it!
This was a good book. It kept me interested and I generally didn’t know who or what was about to happen. I usually know who did it halfway through a book cause I read so many of them but not this time. I loved it!
June 23, 2020
Another good story
From start to finish the characters were believable, and the story has all manner of misdirection to keep the interest of the reader. The story sets up nicely for the further adventures of our hero.
From start to finish the characters were believable, and the story has all manner of misdirection to keep the interest of the reader. The story sets up nicely for the further adventures of our hero.
June 25, 2020
Mid-century thriller
If you like NOIR films from the mid to late 1940's, you'll find Bones of the Innocent a treat! Great plot, chill characters, and non-profit stop action. Satisfying to the end. Start at the start of the Mason Collins series for a cracking good time.
If you like NOIR films from the mid to late 1940's, you'll find Bones of the Innocent a treat! Great plot, chill characters, and non-profit stop action. Satisfying to the end. Start at the start of the Mason Collins series for a cracking good time.
September 26, 2020
Good thriller
Very good movement of story line and usage of time pressure on main characters. Little too dark in some parts for me. Exciting ending and good lead in to next book. Confused as to role of main villain other than convenient prop.
Very good movement of story line and usage of time pressure on main characters. Little too dark in some parts for me. Exciting ending and good lead in to next book. Confused as to role of main villain other than convenient prop.
November 21, 2021
A good read with well developed characters involved in an ugly crime. Location is a bonus and makes you able to imagine what the places are like!! Will watch for more good reads from John A Connell.
January 20, 2022
great series
It’s historical and good detective fiction. Post war Europe and tangiers a good mix of great characters and story. This is the third book in the series and really a fun read.
It’s historical and good detective fiction. Post war Europe and tangiers a good mix of great characters and story. This is the third book in the series and really a fun read.
September 18, 2022
Gripping
This is an excellent series, plot, characters, setting, and dialogue are all first class. What started as a 1940s police procedural has now developed overtones of Bond-with-a-conscience. Highly recommended.
This is an excellent series, plot, characters, setting, and dialogue are all first class. What started as a 1940s police procedural has now developed overtones of Bond-with-a-conscience. Highly recommended.
September 27, 2022
Riveting
His only goal was to save the abducted children. Were the parents to blame? What about the stalling investigation? Someone was putting the blame on the wrong people to distract from the true evildoers. How could he get to the truth?
His only goal was to save the abducted children. Were the parents to blame? What about the stalling investigation? Someone was putting the blame on the wrong people to distract from the true evildoers. How could he get to the truth?
May 7, 2020
Innocent?
With the language of this book, it is anything but innocent. I have chosen not to finish, as there are better things to read.
With the language of this book, it is anything but innocent. I have chosen not to finish, as there are better things to read.
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May 21, 2020Read 5/20
May 22, 2020
Mason is a Keeper
Enjoyed and wish had read 1st book, but will do so. Setting of Tangiers remarkable as knew nothing about this Country in this Era.
Enjoyed and wish had read 1st book, but will do so. Setting of Tangiers remarkable as knew nothing about this Country in this Era.
June 3, 2020
I always love the Mason Collins books. This didn't disappoint.
June 13, 2020
Extremely unusual
With the background in far away places and the story about unfamiliar people and situations, the intrigue and suspense was incredible.
With the background in far away places and the story about unfamiliar people and situations, the intrigue and suspense was incredible.
June 14, 2020
Definitely a Heart -Tugging Nail Biter!
There were no slow moving scenes in this novel! Connell writes With a masterful hold on excitement and it doesn't slow until it's over.
There were no slow moving scenes in this novel! Connell writes With a masterful hold on excitement and it doesn't slow until it's over.
June 20, 2020
Excellent!
A great and well written book! Very exciting and very hard to put down! I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a great mystery! Loved it!!!
A great and well written book! Very exciting and very hard to put down! I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a great mystery! Loved it!!!
June 30, 2020
Non stop action
Found out a ton re Tangier and had a riveting read to boot,Mason is a hard nosed James Bond with a soul
Found out a ton re Tangier and had a riveting read to boot,Mason is a hard nosed James Bond with a soul
July 27, 2020
Gjk
No I haven't seen the same way that the season really is the first time to get a good idea for
No I haven't seen the same way that the season really is the first time to get a good idea for
August 18, 2020
An excess amount of description. To wordy wordy wordy. Should have ended about twenty pages earlier. Not interested in what happens in Switzerland in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews