The Wrong Bones

Widow's Island #10

by Melinda Leigh

A frantic chase to catch a grave robber reveals a startling discovery in this tenth installment of the Widow’s Island novella series by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh.

Deputy Tessa Black spots a man disturbing a grave in the local cemetery and gives chase. But when Tessa catches him, she learns that the ghoulish trespasser wasn’t robbing graves; he was burying a box of bones.

With the help of her fiancé, park ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa discovers that the remains belong to a missing teenager from a nearby island. After the girl disappeared nine months ago, police labeled her a runaway. Now, though, it’s clear the teenager was murdered.

When the only witness is an uncooperative teenager, Tessa and Logan must find the killer before the boy becomes the next target.

Genres: Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Novella, Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Thriller

119 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2022

About the author

#1 Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Melinda Leigh is a fully recovered banker who learned that writing books is way more fun than analyzing financial statements. Melinda’s debut novel, SHE CAN RUN, was nominated for Best First Novel by the International Thriller Writers. Since then, she has garnered numerous writing accolades, including two RITA® Award nominations and an induction into the NJ Romance Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have sold more than 15 million copies across the world. Melinda loves martial arts, rescue dogs, and sea turtles.

WEBSITE: https://www.melindaleigh.com/

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/melindaleighauthorpage/

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MelindaLeigh1

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wrong Bones is the tenth novella in Widow Island series written by Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot. If you have been following the series, you are surely going to enjoy this instalment and the happy event at the end of it. It was great to see how the stories from the two authors (Melinda Leigh wrote books 2,3, 6,7, and 10, Kendra Elliot -1,4,5,8, and 9) merge seemlessly. Melinda Leigh's novella are written from the point of view of Deputy Tessa Black, while Kendra Elliot's ones focus on Tessa's best friend Cate, a former FBI agent, who also happens to be Tessa's fiance's sister.

Tessa Black has a complicated family life. Her mother has been diagnosed with an early onset dementia and Tessa is taking care of both her and Tessa's much younger half-sister Patience. While Tessa knows nothing is going to change the course of her mother's dementia, she tries to help Patience have as normal and stable life as possible in the circumstances. Luckily, Logan Wilde, Tessa's fiance and the only park ranger on the island, is her rock of strength, and the whole island community pulls together to take care of Tessa's mother.

Tessa responds to frantic calls of three kids who have spotted a stranger digging a grave at the island's cemetary. Although the chase Tessa gives the stranger isn't successful, the man drops a box he was trying to bury in the grave and the box is full of human bones. The remains belong to a teenage girl who was clearly murdered, but who is she and who is the monster behind the crime? Suspects abound and Tessa and Logan have to move fast to make sure the killer doesn't get away with the crime.

The pace was excellent and there was a lot of action packed into the story which culminated in a nail-biting finish that would have made Hollywood action movie writers proud. Fans of Melinda Leigh know she has a very engaging writing style that compels her readers to keep turning pages until the small hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I lost track of this novella series several books back. Let's see if they can standalone or if you need to read the whole series to know what is happening. I am glad to report that you don't need to read all the books if you want to enjoy the mystery/suspense plot. I recommend you read the book by Kendra Elliot Bone Deep, which was fantastic. "The Wrong Bones" is great, but not quite to the fantastic rating. As a short novella, it is a quick read and a decent mystery/suspense plot.

When Deputy Tessa Black is on night patrol and is alerted to someone digging in the cemetery, she chases the person but loses them in the state park. They have left behind a box of bones and quite a mystery.

Tessa contacts her fiancé, State Park Ranger, Logan Wilde, for assistance in tracking down this perp.
Together they discover an illegal camp site and a surly teenager, and he isn't saying what his connection to the box of bones is. When the bones are identified as a teen girl who disappeared from a neighboring island nine months ago as a runaway, it becomes important that they find out how her remains came to be on Widow's Island and more importantly, who killed her.

My thanks to Montlake, Publisher, and Melinda Leigh, author, for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

When Tessa stumbles upon a gravedigger, she's drawn into a murder investigation linking several people to a missing teen. With a wedding to plan, and a missing killer hen on top, Tessa going to need all the help she can get to hunt down the killer.

As with the rest of the Widow's Island series, this is a fast paged thriller that starts from the first page and doesn't let go until the last. Although it's lost some of the atmosphere of the early books, and maybe a bit of the charm now that both main protagonists are settled down, there's still a lot to love here. It's an easy read with guaranteed action with some mystery elements thrown in. Being so short, it doesn't have time to meander and throw in too many red herrings before wrapping up. It's the perfect hit of a small town, isolated island setting mini thriller with a neat tied up ending. That's said, the short length does mean we loose a lot of backstory and therefore reasonings behind the killers motives. Some of the action scenes are a bit over the top too, but I can live with this for a bit of a fun time.

I'm unsure if this is the last in the series, as I can't find information regarding any further novellas, but I'd certainly continue to read about Tessa and Cate should Melinda and Kendra choose to carry on. I've really took a shine to Widow's Island and would love to see more of this world and its inhabitants.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wrong Bones was a fantastic conclusion to the Widow's Island romantic suspense series.

One night while out patrolling on Widow's Island, Deputy Tessa Black runs across a group of kids who are convinced they saw someone digging up a grave in the cemetery. After Tessa confronts the trespasser, they run off and Tessa quickly discovers they weren't trying to dig up a grave but rather they were trying to bury a box of human bones. With the help of her fiancé, park ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa discovers the bones belong to a teen girl who disappeared nine months ago from a neighboring island. Tessa and Logan must work quickly to find the killer before their only witness, a teenage boy, becomes the killer's next target.

The box of bones and the fact someone was trying to bury them in a cemetery made for an interesting case. The first order of business was getting the bones identified which was made more difficult due to the fact there were only bones left. Working with Logan, Tessa does manage to figure out the identity of the victim and learns she was a missing teenage girl from a neighboring island. The girl's identity posed a whole new set of questions and challenges for Tessa as she worked to figure out how the girl's remains came to be on Widow's. With the death being some time ago, there aren't really any fresh leads to follow aside from tracking down whoever was trying to bury the bones. A few possible suspects come up throughout the investigation and I liked that Tessa didn't leave any stone unturned in her search for the killer. I was ultimately surprised by the killer's identity and thought the final confrontation with them was very well done. The ending had the perfect blend of suspense and action to keep you pulled in to the story.

Tessa continues to be a great character and I've enjoyed how much she's grown over the course of the series. She has a lot going on in her personal life and I feel she's handling everything well as she's become more accepting of asking for help. Her relationship with Logan is fantastic and I love how at ease they are with each other. The two work well together both professionally and personally which is nice to see. I thought the ending was very well done and I loved where the pair's relationship stood at the end of the book.

Overall The Wrong Bones was an excellent read and I would highly recommend this series if you're looking for some great romantic suspense.

**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

[Carvanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This had me looking every which way for the villain and I was wrong at every turn. This kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much from the first page until the last. For such a small package, this had me antsy with anticipation as Tessa and Logan struggled to find answers regarding a box of bones before exploding with drama and danger as it came to an end.



Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama
Triggers domestic/child abuse
Steam 0 /5; nothing on page

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Wrong Bones, a man is found disturbing a grave in the local cemetery. He soon has Deputy Tessa Black and her fiancé, park ranger Logan Wilde digging for answers. Those answers lead to a nine-month-old missing persons case.

This was another exceptional case with plenty of twists and turns. We’ve got strangers on the island, a kid camping in the woods and bones. I loved it. The tale was perfect for the spooky season, with its dark tones and graveyard.

We get updates on life at home and get to spend some moments enjoying life on the island, family and friends. The romance is always there and fans of the series will enjoy it. I know I closed the book with a smile. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Henry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly enjoyable conclusion to this 10 book series. The plot is pretty implausible, but it's good to see a satisfactory conclusion to the various characters in these novellas.

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aw, The Wrong Bones started great, but it got a little underwhelming as it went on. I'm not sure why I found the writing to be a little stilled here. And the mystery in this novella didn't grab my attention or interest me in any way. I did love the final chapter, though, since it was super sweet and wrapped up Tessa and Logan's story nicely.

*

#1 Close to the Bone: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#2 A Bone to Pick: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#3 Whisper of Bones: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#4 Bred in the Bone: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#5 Below the Bones: ★★★☆☆ | 3 stars
#6 A Broken Bone: ★★★★☆ | 4 stars
#7 A Buried Bones: ★★☆☆☆ | 2 stars
#8 The Lost Bones: ★★★★★ | 5 stars
#9 Bone Deep: ★★★★★ | 5 stars

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!!!I enjoyed this as much as Bone Deep. There was a lot packed into this and I was hooked immediately. I loved the story. The box of bones and the reason behind the murder is crazy. There was definitely something wrong with the people involved in the murder. These were scary, messed up people. Widow's Island sounds like a lovely place to live, Tessa's only noise complaint was a Rooster crowing at all hours. Although, the Island sure does attract its share of murderers, kidnappers, and creepy people up to no good. Which means Tessa will have job security. The ending was perfect. Loved Killer Hen. She was the best wedding guest and definitely upstaged the bride. She better watch it or fried chicken will be on the dinner menu. Hopefully this wasn't the last book in the series. I love reading about Tessa, Logan, cate and Henry.

Definitely recommend the book, but you should to read the previous books in the series. It was a great mystery/thriller. I'm sure there will be more murders for Tessa to investigate. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Montlake through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A gripping, fast thriller featuring deputy Tessa Black, working closely with fiancée park ranger Logan Wilde, “The Wrong Bones” (Montlake) is again an exploration of the balance between a demanding job in law enforcement and an also challenging family life.
The novella, apparently the last in the series, shows how Tessa and Logan are reaching that hard and fleeting balance while dealing with a new case that put their lives in danger.
There’s sadness in the case because of the victim’s young age, and a sudden cruelty when the identity of the villain is revealed.
The main and secondary characters are likable and well developed and their interactions realistic, making the story enjoyable and engaging.
I liked seeing the web of family, friends and community rallying when needed. The easy, sweet relationship between Tessa and Logan is also interesting.
Tessa’s issues with her ageing, dementia-affected mother and Logan’s war trauma are also addressed, and I liked Melinda Leigh’s sensitivity about it.
I loved how the author tackles, even if briefly, matters like wildfires or domestic violence, sometimes showcasing the stupidity or lack of social conscience associated. It’s amazing that in such a short work, Leigh manages to raise awareness of such issues.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

And for our last book in the series we have what first appears as a grave robber. A group of young boys are playing tag in the cemetery and come across someone digging into a grave. Because they are wearing a dark hoodie it looks like the grim reaper to them. They flag Tessa down while she is out on patrol. She goes to look and the person runs off. Although she chases after them she loses him when she face plants after tripping over something. She goes back to inspect the grave and discovers a box of bones that someone was trying to hide by burying them in a newish grave. Now Tessa must find who was burying the bones and why. The answer she finds is shocking.

I'm a bit sad that this is the last book of the series. I love the characters and will miss them. I kinda felt that I was only scratching the surface in getting to know them. They were well fleshed out for the series, I just wish there was more of the series. It would be nice to see a new series of some of the side characters like Tessa's sister, Patience, There friend Samantha who was just recused after 20 years in captivity, and a few other characters.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another win by Melinda Leigh. Catches you in the very beginning as Deputy Tessa Black finds a couple kids out by the grave yard shaking in their boots. They saw someone digging up bones! Tessa goes to investigate and the mystery just keeps on going. Besides being the entertaining page turner that Melinda Leigh always provides there is so much more woven within. Her mom's dementia, her sister Patience who deserves a normal childhood and struggles to help Tessa. The knitting group that is always there for her mom, showing family comes in all shapes and sizes. Domestic abuse which also comes in all shapes and sizes of society. PTSD that her ex military fiance, park ranger Logan still deals with. All woven gently throughout this fast paced mystery that ends with a shocking twist and a grand hea that so fits within the life of Deputy Tessa. I will miss Widows Island and the family they have become to me. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #thewrongbones #melindaleigh #montlake #netgalley

[Star Gater · Rating 2 out of 5]

Novella on my Kindle, audibly read today as part of the 500 book clear my shelf challenge -- (See YouTube for more information.)


The story itself was clever; however I'm left wondering if Leigh met her F quota.

The narrator was a bad choice. Sweet whispering voice, so dainty replying FU would have been funny if this was a satirical production.

I want my money back.

#30/500

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one started out crazy and ended up crazy with the bad guys. I was stunned at how one unhinged person caused so much damage. The wedding at the end more than made up for all the crazy and a great way for Tess and Logan to start their new life.

[Charlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best last book of a series. The book was boring because it easily Tessa focused and IMO Tessa is boring and not a very good cop. The book didn’t become interesting until the 70% finished mark.

[Nicole Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do so many people get killed on this little island?

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just in time for the Spooky season, Tessa’s case starts in a graveyard and involves a box of bones. The Wrong Bones is the tenth in the addictive Widow’s Island romantic suspense series bringing together two fabulous authors.

Tessa is on routine patrol, but a misty Widow’s Island night doesn’t end in routine. She prevents an unlawful burial and the person gets away. Now, she and Logan, her fiancé and island park ranger, band together to solve the cold case of the bones that heats up with a frightened teenager, mysterious house renter, and angry guest all could be her suspects. Meanwhile, her wedding draws near as her mother’s mind drifts further and further away.

A darker element and a macabre motive give The Wrong Bones a lovely suspense plot to join the engaging regular cast of characters and well-layered relationship side of the story. Widow’s Island series is a must for romantic suspense fans.

I rec'd an eARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for an honest review.

My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Oct 23rd.

[jmoura01 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It takes some kind of talent to write a novella that pulls you in, develops characters and tells a complete story. I had no idea this was a short novel before I started reading. Add that to the fact that this is book #10 in a series I’ve never read, and Melinda Leigh has my complete admiration. This was a fast paced, interesting book with likeable characters that I was able to finish in a few hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#TheWrongBones #NetGalley

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the copy of The Wrong Bones. I had no idea this was book 10 of a novella series! Usually I avoid novellas because I prefer to read longer books, where the story and the characters get really developed. This book might change my mind! The characters and story were fully fleshed out and I loved how strong Tessa was and how she and Logan worked together. The story was intriguing and had a surprising conclusion. Pick up this series if you want some quick, amazing reads.

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐

The Wrong Bones, book ten in the Widow's Island series sees Deputy Tessa Black days away from marrying her fiancè park ranger Logan Wilde.

But before they can wed they must hunt down the killer of a seventeen-year-old teenager whose remains are found in a box in the local grave yard.

And with the danger of wildfires, two suspects, a teenager scared to return home, and someone desperate to retrieve the remains. This really was an enjoyable and engaging read. That had plenty of twists and turns and that felt much longer than it actually was.

**I was kindly provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number ten, another great novella in the Widow Island series, which I'm assuming is the last in this series, because the two couples the books are centred around both achieve their HEAs. I have read all the previous novellas. This story can be read as a standalone re the crime and investigation; but why wouldn't you want to read this series from the beginning, as it's very entertaining. Side characters are explained briefly as the novella advances, but not in a way that would confuse a new reader.

There's a pinch of romance, because the H/h are engaged, but any sex scenes (etc), are behind closed doors, as this book focuses on the plot and the current murder/crime being investigated. It's well written with a few twists, some action and tense scenes and I read it in one sitting, because I needed to know what happened. My thanks go to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me the eARC in return for my honest opinion. Publication date is 25th October 2022. Loved it!

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Wrong Bones is the tenth and final novella in the Widow’s Island series. Each one of these has been an enjoyable read, and this final installment falls right in line. Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot created a seamless and beautiful world full of engaging characters and a wonderful storyline which just goes to show how talented they truly are as authors. The story grabs your attention from the very beginning and will keep you turning pages until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

[Jessica Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the idea of these books. They were satisfying mysteries with a touch of romance, showcasing strong women who supported each other, and were short enough to easily finish in one sitting. Sometimes I don't have the patience to read long books that can take me several days/weeks to finish. This was a perfect afternoon distraction. Highly recommend this series and hope these authors will do another in the future.

[Shauna Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the Widow’s Island series overall. I found the second half of the series even better than the first! The characters really start to come to life and you get properly drawn into their stories. Some of the books had me totally hooked and I didn’t want to put them down. I honestly think it would make a great TV series too! Such a good set of reads and would recommend for short snappy books that are easy to follow!

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Widow’s Island novella closes the series

3.5 stars
This book, as several others in this series, suffers from being a long short-story and/or too-short novella. Although the law enforcement protagonists have been developed over this series, secondary characters like the Dooleys need more fleshing out. I do like Deputy Tessa Black, who has a challenging family life, investigating the sudden appearance of old bones and new murders. Park Ranger Logan Wilde, her fiancé and veteran of wars in Afghanistan, helps Tessa with the case. The plot is good but messy due to the “short novella syndrome,” but I liked the denouement, including the expected HEA ending.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A box of bones. Why was someone trying to bury them. Who did they belong to. As Deputy Tessa Black and her fiancé, park ranger Logan Wilde start investigating and following the clues which leads to a twist of an ending.

If this is the last book of the series it wraps things up well. Hopefully Kendra and Melinda can continue to write these novella series.

[Rhonda Kirtley saiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I love these shorter murder mysteries. The best parts are how the community in the island stick together. It was wonderful to see the main characters get a happy ending but also left open for more to come.

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I not think of the person being the bad guy??? They were NUTS! Just goes to show... you never know... But, I am bummed to see this series end. 😭😭 I've never read a novella series before. Off to read the other novella series this duo penned! 🙌🏽🙌🏽😃

[Lindsey Ruppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling ride! From start to finish The Wrong Bones rode a fast ride. This series is like catching up with friends and love reading them each year. The plot was riveting and caught me by surprise. Especially when you remember the character Chandler and how he figured into this box of bones. Outstanding! Thank you Melinda and NetGalley

[Trina Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced novella. A jam packed story with a twist at the end. Definitely one to read if you like detective novels