Flowers in Her Bones

Troubled Spirits #6

by J.R. Erickson

A stand-alone paranormal murder mystery inspired by a disturbing true story...

Two years ago, Gloria Cline had the worst night of her life. A music festival deep in the woods near the Porcupine Mountains turned deadly when Gloria and her best friend, Wren went for a night walk.

Twenty-four hours later, Gloria was found barely clinging to life with a horrific story of being abducted and nearly murdered.

No trace of Wren was ever found.

Today, Gloria has walled herself into a safe world that relies on routine and familiarity. She doesn’t leave her apartment-ever.

But somehow evil has gotten in...

When another young woman vanishes, Gloria realizes her hazy recollection of her own near-murder may hold the keys to finding the woman before she suffers a similar fate.

Don't miss this chilling paranormal murder mystery.

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Ghosts, Mystery, Thriller, Crime

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 24, 2022

About the author

J.R. Erickson writes novels that blend murder mysteries with haunted houses. Her Northern Michigan Asylum series are novels of paranormal suspense inspired by a real former asylum in Traverse City. Her current books, the Troubled Spirits series, are all inspired by real crimes, which she covers in her true crime podcast, Bitter Endings.

Jacki is a lifelong lover of all things spooky, and started penning scary stories in childhood. She grew up in Mason, Michigan and is a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Psychology. These days, Jacki resides near Traverse City, Michigan with her husband, son, and three cats.

Reviews

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really intense and emotional read. Heroine Gloria has suffered from agoraphobia for the past two years after an attack in which she lost her best friend. To make matters worse, there's been no progress on the case and Gloria lives with debilitating fear everyday that her attacker will return to finish the job. The story is told via flashbacks to that day and the present. Gloria gets pretty annoyed with her inability to leave home and begins to smell and see her attacker throughout her apartment making her one safe place and refuge a prison. Somehow Gloria still manages to wake up everyday and decides she needs to piece together the events of that horrible day if she ever hopes to move on. While Gloria is mostly on her own, she does have a true confidant and ally in her bff's brother Dorian. The suspense ramps up as the book goes on and it was hard to put down. The ending was pretty eye opening as I did not see it coming. While I still feel horrible for what happened to Gloria, she's finally able to know the full story and finally can move on with her life. Note this does deal with sexual assault, kidnapping and murder. Nothing is explicitly written but there is enough information to give you the chills even without details!

[Betsy Byrd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome book!!

[Samantha Moran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I do think it should have had trigger warnings for SA. That was difficult for me. It’s not often that a book that takes place nearly entirely in one setting can hold my attention as this one did, so kudos to the author on that front! I kinda saw the ending coming, but there were a few moments when I doubted myself as I read. That’s good. I’m glad it wasn’t Dorian! I liked his character a lot.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites in the series so far!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this and was very invested in this story. Mysteries aren't typically my thing but the paranormal aspect of this story plus the dark nature of the crime, the trauma the main character was dealing with, etc really made this story work for me. The only issue I had with this...and it really took me out of the story several times...was my difficulty wrapping my head around the incompetence of the police and also the main character just not sharing certain information with then. It seemed way too east for the main character to find certain things when the cops couldn't...particularly when they had access to certain things that should have led them there. I don't know...it bothered me enough to impact my reading experience...but overall I still enjoyed it and am definitely going to look into more books from this autbor/series.

[Deb Barringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flowers in Her Bones, by J. R. Erickson, is a dark, raw, chilling thriller that showcases the true evil in this world, and a young woman's struggle to survive in such a world after her brutal attack during which she lost her best friend. The storyline is relatively fast-paced and very well written, filled with twists and turns, fear, terror, murder, abduction, sexual assault, danger, agoraphobia and PTSD. The characters are well developed and engaging. Gloria is traumatized by her experience, yet shows remarkable strength in her quest to help Kelly. Can she survive facing the demon that left her for dead? Overall, this is a fantastic novel, based on a true story, that will send chills down your spine!

[Kathleen Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

FLOWERS IN HER BONES is outstanding. I read it in two days as it seemed so realistic and the perpetrator was a complete surprise! We've traveled in the Upper Peninsula, and J.R.'s descriptions are point on. Because of the attack, it is not surprising that Gloria was a recluse. So happy that she started to find herself out of her apartment.
Characters are great, and J.R. has done an incredible job of suspense and terror.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

“Flowers in Her Bones” hauntingly lures readers into the curious world of agoraphobia. J.R. Erickson does a fine job educating readers about the character’s condition, through her mental and physical struggles, creating a desire to see what happens next.

Read full review in the 2022 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Gee Bark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this- the storyline gripped me from the very beginning. I did predict who was behind that night however the second reveal really got me and how easily that reveal could have been missed if they didn’t press audio WTF.
4/5 for sure!

[Claire Tauscher Daidone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two life long friends, one awful night.
I randomly picked this book to read not realizing the author lives in Michigan. Book intertwines places in the UP as the story moves forward.
I’m interested in reading the other books in this series.

[Lisa Kubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved all of the books by J.R. Erickson. In fact when reading any of her books I get nothing done because I just want to find out what happens next. Flowers in her Bones is no exception. At first I sort of did not like the book. As a mental health professional - the experiences of Gloria were too gritty and real, but then it got really good. Even after I finished the book it sort of haunted me, not only the extreme PTSD but the loyalty and dedication of the characters and the love they felt was still overwhelming even after the trauma they had endured. I highly recommend this book.

[Leigh Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flowers in Her Bones hit me harder than some of the prior books in this series. I love the woods and this book made me reevaluate my situational awareness. I finished this one pretty fast.

[sassyreaderjas · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received the audiobook from J.R. Erickson*

Audiobook Review:
5/5 - I enjoyed listening to this book. The reader's voice was lovely and did a great job, I wasn't annoyed with the pacing or the tone at 1x speed (I read it on 1/5x though).

Book Review:
Pacing: Starting this book was difficult, I had to put it away for a little bit because this is a slow burn type of book where it takes a bit to build up. Once the book's pacing speeds up, I was hooked. I gasped a total of 3 times. I didn't expect those small twists in there, totally did not see it coming and I normally can guess books pretty well.

Characters: I liked the main character which was nice so I felt like I was rooting for her. The side characters weren't annoying, they were put there with purpose.

Tone: The creepy level was a medium (comfy for those that don't like super scary books). I
liked how the story went back and forth between memories and the current situation, that was really cool to listen to and it was well done where I wasn't left confused.

Trigger waring: SA

Overall I liked this book a lot. It was an easy read, had some twists in there to keep you interested, and I liked all the characters. I had a great time listening once I got through the begging where it was setting up the story.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been an avid fan of the Troubled Spirits series so far but admit Flowers in her Bones just didn't hit me like the other books have. I'm unsure whether its the slow burn of it all with Gloria and Wren's mystery or maybe it's that just a few months ago my best friend died and at times, I really understood how Gloria felt (Although nothing to do with murder I should add!!! I meant losing someone close to you).

If I'm totally honest this book was probably also the easiest book to work out the mystery of. It didn't take a lot and in previous books I always had to either second guess or had more than one suspect. I liked the poppet in this, that did make things interesting.

The story its self was ok, good even. Just so much time was spent on Gloria and her life 'after' coping with ptsd and agoraphobia (Something I know a lot of as my mother has suffered with it since I was a baby, so I do understand the crippling nature of it). I will say that those aspects were VERY well researched and I felt the author really had got that spot on.

Over all, this was a 3 star for me. I enjoyed it but I just didn't love it like the other books. I will however be picking up Black Hollow Hideaway when it drops in 5 days time!! As always, these books are on Kindle unlimited so free to read if you subscribe.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story, Flowers In Her Bones, part of the Troubled Spirits series, is a paranormal gem. For two years, Gloria Cline has kept herself hidden away in her apartment after living a nightmare. The night they were abducted, she saw Wren, her best friend, murdered and barely escaped death herself. Since then, she has locked herself away from the world. Unfortunately, a person living in their old apartment has gone missing and it seems to be connected to her and Wren’s abduction. Gloria knows she will have to remember that night because evil has come calling again. This wonderfully researched novel has some genuinely chilling moments. The characters and the descriptions are fantastic. The plot is mesmerizing, engrossing and filled with suspense and clever twists in this well-written, thrilling, and spooky novel. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacy Kingsley · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Some spoilers in this review*

I really wanted to like this book, and will likely try another book by this author, but this one in particular was not for me.

Issues - The first half of the book seemed very repetitive with the main character, Gloria, doing the same thing and having the same panic attacks over and over. I became bored with her, Dorian, and Riley. I also didn't care for how the agoraphobia was portrayed, as I have a close friend who suffers from it and the way Gloria eventually left was incredibly unrealistic. I also felt that Gloria's dependence on Dorian was unrealistic as, yes he knew her for a long time, but he also had a life and in this day and age it seems like she would have at least instacarted some of her goods and services. Also, the voodoo doll issue was never solved.

Good - some of the descriptions of the forest and the finding of bodies was good.

[Briana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read a lot of mystery, thriller, whodunnit books, so I typically am not floored anymore when the questions of the book are answered. However, this one was a bit more shocking it just wasn’t going in the direction it led to so I wasn’t expecting the dramatic turn. However, at some points of this book I almost felt sad for Gloria. She thought no life would be safer than being outside doing things she loved at one point, locking herself in her apartment was what she believed would keep her safe and alive. She locked herself away for 2 years. She never given much thought about the night she was attacked and wren was murdered she tried to block it out. She just wanted to simply exist. But when an abduction hits literally too close to home everything she built and believed was shaken and flipped upside down. She had to find out who attacked her and who killed her best friend.

[Alexis Flinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was equal parts creepy and sad. It mixed true crime and the paranormal perfectly. It's the kind of book that could keep you up at night for the ghosts and the even more terrifying reality of monsters inside of everyday people.

I loved Gloria, and I loved the ending. It was exceptionally satisfying.
Spoilers ahead::

I think she ends up with Dorian. It definitely like, alludes to that. In my head, Gloria does. It just makes sense. It was wonderful to see her get some closure.

I'm excited there's more of these books in the series, stand alone but similar. Can't wait to read more!

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was disturbing, but an excellent novel. It only took me two days to read. Unfortunately, I had other things to do, or I would have done nothing else. Everyone has heard horror stories on the news about kidnappings and murders, and we all believe it wouldn’t happen to us. After reading this, it may take a while before I hike alone again. The best part, though, was this book went from a 10 (on a scale of 1 to 10) to an eleven (I typed with a smile,) due to the supernatural element. With more and more people admitting to having a paranormal experience, this story is a lot more believable. (Fingers crossed that nothing like any of this happens to me.)

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gloria went through the worst experience and has been left with PTSD. She lived through it and secured herself in her own little world of safety. She can’t even think about what happened at the festival. Unfortunately, it’s back and she is drawn back in to help another young person who has gone missing. She doesn’t want to remember but she has to help. I love the mystery and paranormal and the Troubled Spirits books are great. I received an ARC copy from the author and this is my honest review.

[Christine Grandizio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!

I really couldn't put this book down! There was a perfect amount of supernatural and suspense. I loved all of the characters. I didn't want it to end but couldn't wait to find out all the details of how it ended. Without given specifics to spoil it, one scene toward the ending was heart wrenching, heartwarming, and hauntingly beautiful all at once. I can't get the imagery put of my mind. I highly recommend this and all books by the author (particularly Troubled Spirits and Northern Michigan Asylum series)!

[Trena _crackthespine_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book from J.R. Erickson and it will not be my last. This book was amazing. It grabbed my attention from the start and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

We have Gloria and Wren. Two best friends. They go to a musical festival and their lives are changed forever. One leaves the woods…the other does not.

Gloria has developed crippling anxiety and panic attacks and now suffers from agoraphobia.

Another girl goes missing.

Is the man haunting Gloria’s apartment?

A great book that I highly recommend giving a go!!

[varena manion · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not do the series justice

I want to preface by saying I binged this series, truly enjoyed each book. Thus book fell woefully short compared to the others. There were so many inconsistencies and grammatical errors I felt I was back grading seventh grade papers. By the seventeenth chapter I was ready to give up. I did finish the book and the ending, while predictable, was the best writing. Please, please, please, teach yourself to correctly use the first person singular pronoun I. It was misus

[Megan Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter gave me this book to read and I'm so happy she did.
It's about Gloria who was viciously attacked, with her best friend, at a music festival in the woods when they were 19. Gloria survived but with colossal mental damage done. Her friend, Wren, did not make it. Gloria can not leave her apartment in the following 2 years after the attack. She has serious panic attacks and even some hallucinations. Somehow she finds the strength to leave the safety of her apartment and look for the remains of her best friend and the killer who shattered their lives.

[Mary Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a powerful book. Like the rest of the series it had a great mystery inspired by true crime with a paranormal twist. But it was so much more. We got a glimpse into the real world of trauma and how it can affect a person's whole life. I think this was a powerful subject. While times I was so frustrated with our main character, I also felt for her. My heart broke for her and all she went through. But she proved to be a true hero. The mystery was really good. I was shocked at the end. A must read for mystery fans!

[Shannon Cruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish this one because it was kind of slow.. they made it seem like she was really being haunted especially since other people saw his ghost but then it was just not mentioned again? Then she just finally snaps out if it and is able to go all the way back to the mountains alone when she wasn't able to walk out the door without a panic attack the day before?... I do love that they didn't just throw her and Dorian together but you figure they will get together eventually. It was entertaining though I did really like it

[Rhonda Lother · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was a tough read. Gloria, our main character, suffers from agoraphobia and PTSD from a brutal attack to years prior that left her best friend dead. Her panic attacks are described so vividly, it started making me anxious!

I was happy to see detective Daniel Webb reappear as a character and was happy about the update on his personal life. I did not anticipate who the bad guy was--that was a shock. And I was pleased with the ending.

Murmured Count: 26
My pet peeve in this series is overuse of the word "murmured." This book has a whopping 26.

[Emily Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gloria and her friend Wren are abducted. Gloria escape's Wren is never found. As the two year anniversary approaches Gloria struggles to have a normal life. What happened keeps her trapped. She struggles to save her self. After another girl is taken. Gloria is determined to find her. Gloria must find strength to try and save herself and the girl. Surprise twist amazing characters. Intense story. Will pluk at heart strings.

[Tina L. Keifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flowers in her bones is another success for JR Erickson! This story compells you to keep reading. The story is of Gloria and Wren, two great friends, and their horrible ending to a concert in the woods. It follows the aftermath and the path that was followed to try to find a madman! The book will not only engage you but puts you in it to experience the emotions you're reading about. Do not miss this Good Read!!!!

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.