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Adam and Grace #5
Two Hundred Bones
He's been lying in the forest for forty years.
His killer thought he'd never be found.
Then Hope Rampling, in pursuit of wild berries, stumbles and falls . . . and finds a bone lying under the leaves and dirt. At first, she and her lover wonder if it once belonged to a bear. Or a deer. But no. It's a human shoulder blade.
By the next day, Hope's sister Grace and brother-in-law to-be, Inspector Adam Davis, are on the scene along with a forensic anthropologist. Slowly, painstakingly, the dead man's skeleton is exposed . . . and so is the bootlegging history of a remote region where greed once ruled and the law was late in coming.
His killer thought he'd never be found.
Then Hope Rampling, in pursuit of wild berries, stumbles and falls . . . and finds a bone lying under the leaves and dirt. At first, she and her lover wonder if it once belonged to a bear. Or a deer. But no. It's a human shoulder blade.
By the next day, Hope's sister Grace and brother-in-law to-be, Inspector Adam Davis, are on the scene along with a forensic anthropologist. Slowly, painstakingly, the dead man's skeleton is exposed . . . and so is the bootlegging history of a remote region where greed once ruled and the law was late in coming.
94 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2021
10 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Paulson
10 books196 followersJ.C. Paulson thinks a mystery can, and perhaps should, also be a love story.
Switching from fact (journalism) into fiction (novels, mostly) later in life, it seemed a natural thing to combine the two. Evil versus good. Hate versus love. Think Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, and a host of cozy mystery couples — not that her novels are very cozy.
Changing the world would be nice, too. Fiction allows us to swallow the bitter pills of social injustice and still (hopefully) be entranced, entertained and entangled in their solutions.
A rabid reader of mystery novels, J.C. Paulson has long admired the works of Dorothy Sayers, P.D. James, Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves.
She lives in a rambling bungalow on a quiet street in Saskatoon, Canada with her husband, Ken, a goldsmith. She therefore wears a tiny golden replica of her first murder weapon around her neck.
Switching from fact (journalism) into fiction (novels, mostly) later in life, it seemed a natural thing to combine the two. Evil versus good. Hate versus love. Think Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, and a host of cozy mystery couples — not that her novels are very cozy.
Changing the world would be nice, too. Fiction allows us to swallow the bitter pills of social injustice and still (hopefully) be entranced, entertained and entangled in their solutions.
A rabid reader of mystery novels, J.C. Paulson has long admired the works of Dorothy Sayers, P.D. James, Louise Penny and Ann Cleeves.
She lives in a rambling bungalow on a quiet street in Saskatoon, Canada with her husband, Ken, a goldsmith. She therefore wears a tiny golden replica of her first murder weapon around her neck.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 28, 2021
I received an ARC of this book!
The Saskatoon duo are at it again. Adam and Grace are called back to the lake when bones are found. J. C. Paulson has created a detective duo to rival Sherlock and Holmes. It seems that with a minimum of clues even from the oldest of cases Adam and Grace find the answers.
I love these books. They feel like visiting family and listening to the exploits of one of the family heroes.
The Saskatoon duo are at it again. Adam and Grace are called back to the lake when bones are found. J. C. Paulson has created a detective duo to rival Sherlock and Holmes. It seems that with a minimum of clues even from the oldest of cases Adam and Grace find the answers.
I love these books. They feel like visiting family and listening to the exploits of one of the family heroes.
September 3, 2024
Two Hundred Bones: Adam and Grace Book 5 is the first book I've read by J.C. Paulson. The story takes place in Saskatoon, Canada, where they stumble upon a forty-year-old skeleton. Murder cases are tough enough to solve, but forty years ago, there was no DNA testing to find out who the victim was.
The characters, Detective Sergent Adam Davis, and reporter Grace Rampling, are likable and relatable. The story flows at a steady pace and kept me flipping pages to find out who was responsible for the man's death, and the reason behind it.
An excellent, well-paced, well-laid-out clues novella, with enough suspense and danger to satisfy thriller buffs. I will definitely read more of Paulson's books. Good job. 5-stars
The characters, Detective Sergent Adam Davis, and reporter Grace Rampling, are likable and relatable. The story flows at a steady pace and kept me flipping pages to find out who was responsible for the man's death, and the reason behind it.
An excellent, well-paced, well-laid-out clues novella, with enough suspense and danger to satisfy thriller buffs. I will definitely read more of Paulson's books. Good job. 5-stars
April 11, 2021
I’ve read two books in J.C. Paulson’s Grace and Adam series and so had no doubts about picking up her newest installment, a novella titled Two Hundred Bones.
The murder site is far from Adam’s area of Saskatoon, in Saskatchewan, Canada, but is located just a short distance away from Grace and Hope’s family vacation camp. Hope is the one who discovers the murder site by falling on some human bones while berry picking. She calls Grace to tell her about the discovery. Grace tells Adam the story and the two can’t resist checking it out while enjoying what they hope is peace and quiet in a beautiful area near a lake. They end up solving a murder case that no one (well, except for the murderers) knew had happened forty years earlier. They also end up discovering that the truth isn’t what some people want to hear.
I look forward to reading more in this series.
The murder site is far from Adam’s area of Saskatoon, in Saskatchewan, Canada, but is located just a short distance away from Grace and Hope’s family vacation camp. Hope is the one who discovers the murder site by falling on some human bones while berry picking. She calls Grace to tell her about the discovery. Grace tells Adam the story and the two can’t resist checking it out while enjoying what they hope is peace and quiet in a beautiful area near a lake. They end up solving a murder case that no one (well, except for the murderers) knew had happened forty years earlier. They also end up discovering that the truth isn’t what some people want to hear.
I look forward to reading more in this series.
May 5, 2021
Hope Rampling and her partner stumble upon a grisly find during their romantic getaway to her parent's cabin in the woods. When Hope's sister, reporter Grace Rampling hears of what's found, she and her boyfriend, Detective Sergeant Adam Davis join the couple to see if they can unravel what turns out to be a decades old mystery.
As the RCMP and forensic team investigate the evidence, Grace and Adam query their neighbors to see if anyone can provide additional insights. As clues from the past are uncovered, it's clear someone still wants them hidden, putting Grace and Adam in danger's path.
Author Paulson weaves an intriguing tale of politics, cover-ups and nefarious deeds in this page turning tale. I'm a big fan of Grace and Adam's series--readers will not be disappointed!
As the RCMP and forensic team investigate the evidence, Grace and Adam query their neighbors to see if anyone can provide additional insights. As clues from the past are uncovered, it's clear someone still wants them hidden, putting Grace and Adam in danger's path.
Author Paulson weaves an intriguing tale of politics, cover-ups and nefarious deeds in this page turning tale. I'm a big fan of Grace and Adam's series--readers will not be disappointed!
April 23, 2021
The first book I read by J.C. Paulson was Adam’s Witness, and Two Hundred Bones is the 2nd. I wasn’t sure if I should read this book out of order, but the title and cover intrigued me too much. Normally I read series in order, but I have to say, I wasn’t confused at all. The author did a fantastic job. This was a great mystery, and I loved it. Now I’m even more intrigued to go back and read books 2-4.
May 7, 2021
This is the fifth book in the Adam & Grace Mystery series (if one doesn't count the cookbook), and it lives up to the previous books. This time it's Grace's sister and her new lover who bring Adam & Grace into the mystery.
Old problems which led to a murder are revealed as the search is on for a killer. History is woven seamlessly into the plot adding another dimension.
I'm delighted this series in continuing. I can't wait to read more.
Old problems which led to a murder are revealed as the search is on for a killer. History is woven seamlessly into the plot adding another dimension.
I'm delighted this series in continuing. I can't wait to read more.
October 2, 2022
Two Hundred Bones is the fifth book in J.C. Paulson’s “Adam and Grace” series, but it’s the first of her novels I’ve read. The title refers to the approximate number of bones in the human body and, more specifically, to a nearly complete skeleton found in the woods of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. We expect a detective story, even a police procedural, to be a fast-paced page-turner, and Two-Hundred Bones doesn’t disappoint.
Even though I haven’t read the other books in the series, I found the main characters—Police Inspector Adam Davis and Reporter Grace Rampling—to be likable and easily relatable. In fact, all of the character portrayals in the novel rang true for me, even though I don’t have any personal experience with crime solving or the Canadian wilderness.
The story moves quickly, as do most novels that need to cover a lot of ground in a limited number of pages, and Paulson’s smooth writing style makes the pace feel natural. The detective work is impressive, and Adam turns out to be the smartest person in the room, just as we’ve come to expect from detectives we find on television, in movies, detective novels, and police procedurals. You’ll try to follow the clues along with Davis, but he’ll always be one step ahead of you.
The plot is straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. There are twists and turns along the way as the discovery of a forty-year-old skeleton leads to a long-ago murder, political corruption, greed, and a history of rum running in the area back in the day. Two Hundred Bones has its share of intrigue, danger, and confrontations with evildoers—including an attempt to force our main characters off of a narrow canyon road to their deaths and a canoe trip you won’t soon forget. It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff for sure.
If you like a good detective story, you’ll love J.C. Paulson’s work
Even though I haven’t read the other books in the series, I found the main characters—Police Inspector Adam Davis and Reporter Grace Rampling—to be likable and easily relatable. In fact, all of the character portrayals in the novel rang true for me, even though I don’t have any personal experience with crime solving or the Canadian wilderness.
The story moves quickly, as do most novels that need to cover a lot of ground in a limited number of pages, and Paulson’s smooth writing style makes the pace feel natural. The detective work is impressive, and Adam turns out to be the smartest person in the room, just as we’ve come to expect from detectives we find on television, in movies, detective novels, and police procedurals. You’ll try to follow the clues along with Davis, but he’ll always be one step ahead of you.
The plot is straightforward, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. There are twists and turns along the way as the discovery of a forty-year-old skeleton leads to a long-ago murder, political corruption, greed, and a history of rum running in the area back in the day. Two Hundred Bones has its share of intrigue, danger, and confrontations with evildoers—including an attempt to force our main characters off of a narrow canyon road to their deaths and a canoe trip you won’t soon forget. It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff for sure.
If you like a good detective story, you’ll love J.C. Paulson’s work
July 13, 2022
J.C. Paulson has crafted a fabulous tale of a cold case murder that disrupts a quiet summertime community in the cottage country of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Paulson is a master storyteller, and this book is no exception. As the RCMP are called in, a forensic expert and his team meticulously unearth the victim.
While Adam and Grace assist in investigating this decades-old murder seeking to find someone or something that will lead them to an understanding of what happened and who the person is buried in the woods.
Little do they know that they will get more than they bargained for.
There is something for everyone in this book.
For me, it brought back memories from my childhood of tracking through the woods of Ontario and coming across abandoned cars and shacks, sometimes even with bullet holes.
Paulson delivers a fascinating tale of deceit and greed and harkens back to a time when it was best to keep your mouth shut and your eyes closed.
Paulson is a master storyteller, and this book is no exception. As the RCMP are called in, a forensic expert and his team meticulously unearth the victim.
While Adam and Grace assist in investigating this decades-old murder seeking to find someone or something that will lead them to an understanding of what happened and who the person is buried in the woods.
Little do they know that they will get more than they bargained for.
There is something for everyone in this book.
For me, it brought back memories from my childhood of tracking through the woods of Ontario and coming across abandoned cars and shacks, sometimes even with bullet holes.
Paulson delivers a fascinating tale of deceit and greed and harkens back to a time when it was best to keep your mouth shut and your eyes closed.
May 21, 2022
Its hard to maintain a readers interest in a series - this is the longest adult one I have read. I have read them one after the other and not much else besides, which is itself unusual for someone who often has three books on the go. I love the threads running through combined with the individual stories in each book. You get a little more insight each time into Adam and Grace and there are no inconsistencies which can occur in a series. JC's research is as evident here as it is in the other books in the series. Paulson's 6 star status remains very much intact.
March 5, 2022
A puzzle for sure
This novella was my introduction to the writing of author J. C. Paulson. The mini mystery is a perfect jigsaw puzzle of clues where the reader will try to fit one against another to try to solve the mystery. I enjoyed meeting Adam and Grace in this setting and watching how they figured out the puzzle. My pieces didn't fit, but I enjoyed the challenge. I will read more from this writer.
This novella was my introduction to the writing of author J. C. Paulson. The mini mystery is a perfect jigsaw puzzle of clues where the reader will try to fit one against another to try to solve the mystery. I enjoyed meeting Adam and Grace in this setting and watching how they figured out the puzzle. My pieces didn't fit, but I enjoyed the challenge. I will read more from this writer.
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September 20, 2021Abandoned cars rusting away in woodlots: not an uncommon sight in my rural childhood. They'd likely have bullet holes in them, too, the way road signs on gravel roads often do. Did I ever stop to think that those bullet holes might have a cause other than a frustrated hunter?
The opening scene of J.C. Paulson's Two Hundred Bones is so familiar - except for the grave the lies near the abandoned car. Why there is a car - and a body - deep in the woods is revealed in a fast-paced, but not rushed, story, written with skill and an ear for realistic dialogue. The setting, too, felt both familiar and real: for many Canadians, the cottage on the lake is part of our shared experience. Two Hundred Bones read like a true story, one some local families would prefer was forgotten, told by those who helped uncover the truth. It had me enthralled. Now I have to read the rest in the series!
The opening scene of J.C. Paulson's Two Hundred Bones is so familiar - except for the grave the lies near the abandoned car. Why there is a car - and a body - deep in the woods is revealed in a fast-paced, but not rushed, story, written with skill and an ear for realistic dialogue. The setting, too, felt both familiar and real: for many Canadians, the cottage on the lake is part of our shared experience. Two Hundred Bones read like a true story, one some local families would prefer was forgotten, told by those who helped uncover the truth. It had me enthralled. Now I have to read the rest in the series!
April 6, 2021
Old Bones, New Mystery
Author JC Paulson’s novella, “200 Bones” is a fast-paced, delightful read. It centers around the main characters in her six-book Adam and Grace series and puts them on the spot where forty-year-old bones are discovered and murder is suspected. Adam the police detective and his fiancé Grace, the star reporter, team up to solve a very cold case. They encounter interesting characters, danger, and surprising truths about the past. I highly recommend Paulson’s Adam and Grace series and this novella that will leave you wanting more.
Author JC Paulson’s novella, “200 Bones” is a fast-paced, delightful read. It centers around the main characters in her six-book Adam and Grace series and puts them on the spot where forty-year-old bones are discovered and murder is suspected. Adam the police detective and his fiancé Grace, the star reporter, team up to solve a very cold case. They encounter interesting characters, danger, and surprising truths about the past. I highly recommend Paulson’s Adam and Grace series and this novella that will leave you wanting more.
November 28, 2021
Once again, author J.C. Paulson does not disappoint. This is an excellent book and my favorite in the series so far. It is eerily suspenseful and kept me on the edge of my seat. And while the puzzling mystery is being investigated, the reader also gets to enjoy the romantic relationship between Adam and Grace which, in this book 6 of the series, is clearly deep and committed. Overall, an enjoyable "who done it!"
April 7, 2021
Another winning entry in this series. This novella has everything you want in a Paulson story... the romance, the intrigue, the winning characters, and the sly humour... all in a shorter form! Enjoy!
April 29, 2021
Another great Adam and Grace mystery.
The story starts with Hope, Grace’s sister, stumbling over some human bones and an old car, hidden in the woods for 40 years.
I was instantly intrigued by the beginning and enjoyed reading a mystery about a murder that has been hidden for such a long time. It soon becomes clear that the man found has been murdered and that someone is wanting to protect the dark secret, even after such a long time.
It’s the second book in the series that I read, but not the second book in the series. While it may be best to read all books in the correct order, the story also works well as a stand-alone book and does not require you to read all previous books. It is a bit shorter than most other Adam & Grace books and thus perfect if you want to read a book on a rare day off or when you don’t get as much time to read on a daily basis.
The story starts with Hope, Grace’s sister, stumbling over some human bones and an old car, hidden in the woods for 40 years.
I was instantly intrigued by the beginning and enjoyed reading a mystery about a murder that has been hidden for such a long time. It soon becomes clear that the man found has been murdered and that someone is wanting to protect the dark secret, even after such a long time.
It’s the second book in the series that I read, but not the second book in the series. While it may be best to read all books in the correct order, the story also works well as a stand-alone book and does not require you to read all previous books. It is a bit shorter than most other Adam & Grace books and thus perfect if you want to read a book on a rare day off or when you don’t get as much time to read on a daily basis.
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January 1, 2023Den bones
I love this series, in fact I am quite sad that I have now read all five books plus the recipe book. The regular characters are all so likeable and so is May the relatively new one. I hope to meet them all again one day, if not I will start again with Adams witness and that man bashing the bishop.
I love this series, in fact I am quite sad that I have now read all five books plus the recipe book. The regular characters are all so likeable and so is May the relatively new one. I hope to meet them all again one day, if not I will start again with Adams witness and that man bashing the bishop.
October 31, 2025
Two Hundred Bones, the fifth and final instalment in the Adam and Grace Series by J.C. Paulson, is a fantastic conclusion to what has been an amazing series. After Grace’s sister, Hope, discovers an old abandoned car and a human bone in the forest, a whole skeleton is soon uncovered – one that has been hidden for decades. Grace and Adam become part of the investigation to uncover what really happened, and they quickly find themselves caught up in an old bootlegging murder mystery.
As in all the other books in the series, J.C. Paulson balances tension and emotional depth brilliantly, along with the electric relationship between Adam and Grace. Each book has built on the last, allowing us to see more of who these characters are, and by now I feel as though I truly know them. I’ve become so invested in their journey throughout the series. The plot here is intricate and fast paced, keeping me completely hooked from start to finish. The writing is vivid and authentic, and the story flows beautifully. I absolutely loved this book and can’t recommend it – and the whole series – highly enough. A must read!
As in all the other books in the series, J.C. Paulson balances tension and emotional depth brilliantly, along with the electric relationship between Adam and Grace. Each book has built on the last, allowing us to see more of who these characters are, and by now I feel as though I truly know them. I’ve become so invested in their journey throughout the series. The plot here is intricate and fast paced, keeping me completely hooked from start to finish. The writing is vivid and authentic, and the story flows beautifully. I absolutely loved this book and can’t recommend it – and the whole series – highly enough. A must read!
April 11, 2021
Old bones, intrigue, and romance
Great Adam and Grace novella with guest appearances by some of the characters we’ve gotten to know and love while reading the series.
Grace’s sister, Hope, is vacationing at their cabin with her beau when she happens on old bones. As Grace and Adam investigate they uncover old secrets that a current someone wants to stay hidden. Highly recommend.
Great Adam and Grace novella with guest appearances by some of the characters we’ve gotten to know and love while reading the series.
Grace’s sister, Hope, is vacationing at their cabin with her beau when she happens on old bones. As Grace and Adam investigate they uncover old secrets that a current someone wants to stay hidden. Highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews