The Bone Track

Alexa Glock Mysteries #3

by Sara E. Johnson

New Zealand's remote Milford Track seems the perfect place for forensic investigator Alexa Glock to reconnect with her brother Charlie, with whom she hasn't spent much time since they were kids. But their backpacking trip seems ill-fated from the she must stop on the way to examine nine skeletons?most likely M?ori tribespeople?whose graves have been unearthed by highway construction. Before she opens the first casket, a M?ori elder gives her a dire The viewing of bones can unleash misfortune to the living. Or worse. Though Alexa dismisses his words as superstitious, they soon come back to haunt her as the idyllic hike takes a sinister turn. First, Charlie is aloof and resentful of the time Alexa has spent at work. Then a rock avalanche nearly carries her away as it reveals the skeletal remains of someone who has clearly been stabbed to death. When a fellow hiker goes missing and is later found dead, it’s all Alexa can do to focus on the science as she investigates two murders, while trying not to become the third victim.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

Audio CD

Published March 8, 2022

About the author

Sara E. Johnson is a mystery writer who spent nine months exploring wondrous New Zealand. Everywhere she snooped, there was a mystery that needed writing.
Molten Mud Murder, Sara's debut novel, will be published September, 2019 by Poisoned Pen Press. It is the first in the Alexa Glock Mystery series set in New Zealand.
Sara lives in Durham, North Carolina with her husband Forrest and golden doodle Beaufort. She is a part-time educator and full time snooper. She is the current president of Triangle Sisters-in-Crime and a member of the North Carolina Writers' Network.

Reviews

[Miya (severe pain struggles, slower at the moment) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! I read it very quickly. The inclusion of Maori culture was what kept the book in my hands non stop. I love diversity in any book. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I would be interested after reading this. Great for mystery series lovers.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Alexa Glock is looking forward to spending time with her estranged younger brother Charlie. They’ve arranged a several-day long hike on the hiking trail in New Zealand, where she has lived and worked for a while. Alexa has been working for the Forensic services, using her specialty (teeth) in forensic examinations.

Alexa can’t leave her work behind her even on vacation, when she stumbles upon a skeleton, is deliberately almost flattened by a helicopter pilot lifting rocks out of the park, then must help police determine the cause of death when one of the hikers on the trail is found dead.

I’ve not read the previous instalments, but enjoyed this story, which held my attention from its opening. Alexa is occasionally irritating, but the author quickly shows how Alexa is much more comfortable with the complexity of a forensic investigation than with conversing with people.

The two different deaths required police presence, and we meet Alexa’s crush, DI Bruce Horne, and lead on both cases. I liked her ambivalence to their relationship, which is complicated by their roles.

The story moved well, and I’m intrigued by the mix of murder investigation, Māori culture, and Alexa’s fumbling attempts at connecting with people, to search for this author’s earlier books in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Clued-in With A Book (Elvina Ulrich) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Story: Forensic investigator Alexa Glock is on backpacking trip at New Zealand's Milford Track with her brother, Charlie. Soon after, a rock avalanche exposes the skeletal remains of someone who may had been a victim of homicide, and when the body of a missing hiker is discovered later, Alexa begins to suspect that these two cases are somehow connected.

My thoughts: This third book of the Alexa Glock series is one fantastic addition to this mystery series! Once again, the author transported me to the beautiful New Zealand. I loved how atmospheric the writing was!

The author weaves a complicated plot and I loved following Alexa's investigation in these two cases. She is one endearing character and I loved how smart and resourceful she was trying to collect and analyze evidence despite not having a lab! Oh boy, I learned quite a bit about forensic analysis methods in this book!

Overall, this was an engaging read with a steady pace. Although it is the third book, it totally works as a standalone. The author gives just enough backstory without any spoilers. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a forensic investigation and police procedural story!


Pub. Date: Feb 15th, 2022

***Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

272 pages

4 stars

Alexa Glock and her brother Charlie are taking a hike together in the lovely mountains of New Zealand. It has rained quite a bit and there are landslides in the area to which they are going. It has been several years since Alexa has seen her brother and she still feels guilty over childhood traumas.

Alexa works for the Forensic Service Center in Auckland, NZ. On her way up one trail she loses sight of Charlie - and everyone else - and is caught in a landslide. Once she regains her balance, she notes a skeleton buried in the mud and debris. It is a man. It hasn’t been there long because she can see the amalgam fillings in his teeth. He has stab wounds in his rib area. She must get somewhere so she can call in the team.

She finally stumbles to the lodge and learns that one of the guests is missing. Her name is Dr. Diana Clark. Charlie and Alexa join the search team. Charlie has a harrowing accident. A body is spotted. Alexa hurries back to the lodge and the police are called. They will be there in the morning. Meanwhile, the body is transported back to the lodge. Alexa looks at the body and discovers that it wasn’t an accident. It was murder.

More police are called in. Along with them is DI Bruce Horne. Alexa and Bruce have a distinct attraction to one another. Things begin to go awry. Mysterious things occur.

As Bruce, Alexa and the team work their way through the guests and the evidence. They get some firm clues.

The action picks up to a fever pitch as the police close in on their suspects.

This book is very well written and plotted. The transitions were smooth. This is a very good book that keeps the pages turning as the reader must find out what happens. The descriptions of the New Zealand mountains were wonderful. So colorful and descriptive that the reader can almost imagine that they are there. I had my doubts about Alexa at first. She seemed skittish and jumpy. I wondered if her imagination was getting away from her. She eventually smoother out and I came to like her better. I liked that the book talked about her and Charlie’s history.

I want to thank NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed here are solely my own.

[Jody Blanchette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time taking a trip to New Zeland through a book. You can tell the writer has either been there or did some massive research, by the way she describes the scenery, culture and dialect. I knew nothing about the Māori tribe or what greenstone (Pounamu) was, before reading this book. So, besides having read a great thriller, I left with a little history lesson.
This book was pretty nonstop. If it wasnt the intense hike, landslides, or constant helicopter presence that kept you on your toes, there is the discovery of old bones and the body of a fellow hiker. I can tell you I would be thrilled to be stuck in the wild ( or bush) with Alexa Glock. She is better then a BoyScout with what she had in her pack. Who else would bring a crime scene kit complete with yellow tape etc. Glock is the friend you need to have with you on every trip.
Lots of great angles in this story. It’s a bit of a locked room mystery, with everyone being stuck in the Luxe Lodge, due to bad weather. Only one murder, but lots of suspects with motive. The investigation was interesting and full of lots of forensics.
The Bone Track is part of a series, all with Alexa Glock. since I’m reading it out of order, I’m now going to have to find the rest and catch up!

[M Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

If the television show Bones was a book, this would be it. I loved the forensic parts of this book! It was a fun adventure with likeable characters, some fun red herrings and a solid plot. While this one is part of a series it was easily read as a standalone without missing much. I recommend if you enjoy a fun, easy whodunnit with some good 'ol CSI plot lines.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this #gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

My reviews can also be seen at www.instagram.com/justonemoorebook.

[Angelique Simonsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this kiwi crime novel. Its nice to read about things from here when it's done well

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa Glock is reconnecting with her brother, Charlie who she has not been close to since they were kids. On the trail Alexa is following she finds bones after a landslide. As she is retrieving a thumb and a belt buckle a helicopter dumps rocks on her and she has to move not to get attack. She makes it to the Hotel and alerts authorities to contact the New Zealand police. Then there is alert because a hiker has not made it in yet and so she and her brother go out to locate her and they find her body. Alexa discovers that there was foul play since there were hiking pole marks on the dead person's back. So Alexa is involve in solving two murders on her own while waiting for authorities to arrive. Another hard to put down book.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Alexa Glock series. I have not read the previous 2, but maybe now I will.

Alexa Glock is a forensics specialist and her speciality is teeth. She is 100% devoted to and obsessed with her job, which leaves her little time for no interest in anything else.

Her younger brother, Charlie, has flown down from the US to come and visit her in New Zealand, where she works now, and they have planned a trek on the Milford Track in the Fiordland National Park.

On their way there, she makes a quick stop to examine the teeth of nine bodies that were discovered on a coastal road near Wellington, to determine their age. The elder of the tribe tells her that looking at the bones will bring bad luck and danger, but it's her job and she's gotta do it.

The first 20 per cent of the book is more or less 'setting the scene', and it's only after that that the action begins. On the hike, she gets separated from the rest of the hikers and stumbles on a skeleton that she estimates has been buried for up to twenty years. The same day, a helicopter pilot tries to kill her by knocking her out with a huge bag of rocks that are usually used to control flooding.

When she reaches the nearest lodge, she discovers that a trekker is missing, and she and some other hikers set off to locate her, but to no avail. When she and Charlie go to search for her, he almost drowns when the bridge flips over, and they accidentally discover the body of the missing trekker.

When they bring the body back, Alexa examines it and finds that she might have been murdered, because of some marks found on the body.
Thus begins an investigation, into the two murders-one of the dead trekker, a doctor named Diana, and the skeleton that was found by her earlier. The doctor's case is titled 'Black Diamond' after the brand of the murder weapon (a trekking pole found at the scene of the crime) and the skeleton case is called 'The Bone Track'.

There are a bunch of suspects: Diana's sister Rosie, with who she did not have a very cordial relationship with, or her assistant Larry, or maybe the medical rep Cassandra, who she brought along on the trip with her. If you dig deep enough, a lot of them have their motives. However, it always turns out to be the one you least suspect, right?

Except that I just don't understand why someone would come all this way to kill the doctor. Yes, safety in numbers, one can get lost in the crowd, avoid detection and all of that, and frame someone else, but still. So much could go wrong.

In the case of the skeleton, a parallel investigation is being carried out and based on a belt buckle found at the scene, they are able to trace the murder victim, who happened to be a Maori greenstone carver. Greenstone is a semi-precious stone that is found in large quantities in that area, and there is a dispute regarding possession of the stone and therefore it is sold in the black market. But is the skeleton the reason why the helicopter pilot was trying to kill her? What secrets does it hold?

The skeleton mystery was the lesser interesting of the two, and I think most readers would guess the culprits pretty much immediately, so there was not much suspense in that plot.

I loved that the story was set in New Zealand. There was a lot to discover about the place, its culture and its people and flora and fauna. And the fact that it takes place in a National Park just adds to that outdoorsy flavour.

There are some passages in the book where I felt that the author just wanted to flex about her in-depth knowledge of science and forensics, which results in Alexa Glock giving us a 101 about whatever she thinks the other person is too dumb to know. There are a few forensic procedures, that while it's nice to know about, get a bit too technical and science-y sometimes.

Alexa Glock is completely unlikeable. She is an automaton, who avoids emotions and meaningful human interactions like the plague. There are many times throughout the book when either her life or the life of someone else is in danger, and all she can think about is the evidence, despite the apparent danger to human life!

She has a history of 'love them and leave them' relationships, and her relationship with her brother is a bit awkward. Her mother died when she was little, and her father remarried. She is convinced that an accident that she had when she was a little girl was caused on purpose by her stepmother who was happy to see her hurt, and refuses to accept her as her new mother. She's impatient and judgmental and has a hard time holding her tongue when she disapproves of things. This obsession that she has with her work-there's no way that's healthy.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book a great deal. Apart from the mysteries, I also really enjoyed the descriptions of nature that is the setting for this novel. And even though I don't particularly like the character of Alexa Glock, I think I might enjoy the other books in these series as well, because if this novel is anything to go by, then there is a lot more to enjoy in the book, even if I disregard her character.

Thanks to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Sue F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forensics on a famous hiking trail…

The Bone Track is the third in Sara E Johnson’s Alexa Glock series, set in New Zealand. Although I haven’t read the first two books, I was interested in The Bone Track both because of Alexa’s forensic science background, and because I have a bit of a thing for books set in New Zealand. And it lived up to my expectations on both fronts.

As the book opens, Alexa and her brother Charlie are starting on one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks”, the Milford Track. But things seem to go wrong almost from the beginning. Emotions between Alexa and Charlie are tense due to some years-old family issues, and, making things worse, they manage to get separated almost at the beginning of the “tramp”, as it’s known in NZ. Although this shouldn’t be a huge deal, since they can just meet up at that night’s sleeping hut, it turns out to be more complicated than that. While they’re apart, Alexa comes far too close to being caught in a dangerous mudslide, which also exposes the twenty-year-old-ish human bones that become the first of the two cases in The Bone Track. And minutes later someone in a helicopter tries to kill her. Since there’s no cell phone coverage on the Mitford Track, she heads for the closest lodge to report the incidents. There, though, she also learns that one of the other trampers is missing - and later found dead. So there’s a second case as well. Whew! Like any good investigator, Alexa has brought along her scene-of-the-crime kit (or at least most of it), so she starts to investigate both deaths, and the story takes off from there.

I loved the forensics in The Bone Track, which I found fascinating. I especially liked the scene where Alexa borrows the cheese from the lodge’s cook – you’ll recognize it when you get to it! And even though Johnson indicates in a note at the end that she made up some of the specific places used in the book, her overall descriptions of the Milford Track and the main sites along the way are wonderful. (I was inspired enough to go read more about the Track, and recognized the various huts/lodges, the day shelters, some of the waterfalls, the Mackinnon pass, etc.)

All-in-all, I really enjoyed following along as Alexa and the police cooperated to figure out whodunnit (x 2). I did have some minor reservations, however, around the high level of angst in parts of the book: Alexa’s relationship with Charlie, Charlie’s problems at home, Alexa’s relationship with DI Horne. Mostly this is personal preference – I’ve never been a big fan of extra angst in my mysteries. In the end, though, I found that I kind of skimmed quickly over some of those parts, without feeling as if I missed much that was super-relevant to the investigations, so this wasn't really a big deal.

Please keep in mind that I try to fight star-flation a little by not giving too many five-star ratings, and so my four-star review for The Bone Track is a solid “read this book” rating. And my thanks to the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the advance review copy!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌿🔍Great setting: plenty of suspects for murder mystery set in the great New Zealand outdoors🌏

4.5🌟 stars
First, I loved the setting of this book. The author has chosen a different, uniquely New Zealand setting for each murder mystery in this series and the Milford Track (a multi-day wilderness hike through Fiordland National Park), the setting here, gives so much scope for a dramatic chase and discovery of long-concealed secrets.

American transplant to Auckland/forensics expert Alexa, the lead, seems to be a magnet for danger and drama. Come to think of it, so is her brother who is visiting her from North Carolina😯. As she and her brother Charlie proceed on the wilderness trek, every stop, planned and extemporaneous, brings surprises and often, mortal threat. The story weaves between the investigation of two deaths and whether they may be linked to a fellow hiker on the trail from Te Anau to the Milford Sound. Even on her trek, this super-organized heroine carries a forensic kit and she is constantly putting it to good use!

With plenty of suspects, action and a tiny touch of romance on the side, I found the murder mystery a great bit of escape from the dreary days of a northern winter. There's also some interesting information on Maori culture and the importance of pounamu (New Zealand greenstone).

If you are a fan of forensic investigation, this has plenty of detail. Yet, it's done and explained so well that even forensic newbies will enjoy reading about Alexa's ingenuity as she takes her limited, portable forensic kit and makes it work in the middle of a technology dead zone.

There's also some relationship and character development for Alexa and her brother, and for Alexa's nascent romantic connection with her Detective Inspector associate Bruce. I liked the touch of romance: just a touch that allows the murder investigation to remain the front and center focus.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

[Dive Into A Good Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one action-packed, nonstop thrill ride from the first sentence. You will be transported to the beautiful, rainy scenery of New Zealand's southern island. Sara E. Johnson's attention to detail will have you running across cable bridges as they sway above the rushing water of the falls, you will be dripping wet as your feet sink into the muddied trails. All the while Alexa Glock's mind is swirling first with the thoughts of hiking with her estranged brother, in this remote vastness. To her nonstop work as a forensic investigator which has been invaluable to countless investigations and helped identify many skeletons as Māori. I loved how Johnson tied in the Māori beliefs and traditions into the book, adding another layer to this fast-paced story. The characters are well developed and show their flaws, which added depth.

As their hike quickly turns from a fun brother sister bonding time to one of murder, landslides, and suspects around every corner. Alexa can drive you mad at times, when she forgets to do the simplest of steps during her investigations. Yet, she is quick to call out others on their simple slip ups. You will identify the killers early on, there is so much action and adventure going on that really does not matter. I had a tough time putting this book down. Thank you to Sara E. Johnson and Poisoned Pen Press for sending me this book that is entrenched with danger and drama! I am off to check out the first two books in this series to see what Alexa was up to before this insane hike.

[First Clue · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Alexa Glock’s latest adventure (the third in a trilogy, after Molten Mud Murder and The Bones Remember) is reminiscent of the recent crop of books in which people are thrown together, or reunited, often on vacation, with a killer in their midst. But this book stands out from its plot-mates due to its unusual location and forensic-science focus. The setting is New Zealand’s (very) remote Milford Track, a real hiking trail that dispels all images of the country as hobbit-filled and quaint. Fiordland, where the Track is located, is treacherous, and the travelers face additional peril from rain-caused landslides and creeks that now have rapids. Alexa, an American who lives in New Zealand, realizes that there’s even more to fear when she finds a skeleton hidden on the trail; then a hiker is found dead and suddenly everyone looks suspicious. Vacationing with Alexa is her brother, Charlie. Their childhood misunderstandings and pain persist and are echoed in troubles revealed in the other hikers’ lives. This makes for a compelling thriller but also a thought-provoking look at how to move past hurt and find what’s important. A bonus: Johnson unobtrusively shares many details about Maori culture, New Zealand’s volcanic landscapes, and forensic science, especially involving Alexa’s fascinating specialty: dead people’s teeth.—Henrietta Verma

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Bone Track

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press, I was provided an ARC of The Bone Track by Sara E. Johnson via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

******Coming out Feb 15, 2022******


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A fun smart mystery that will have you hooked from the first page to the last.

Alexa Glock, a forensic investigator, lives in New Zealand where she works closely with the authorities to identify bodies. She loves what she does, so it’s hard for her to take a break. She even packs her work crime kit in case she stumbles upon remains on her trip.

Prior to her brother’s arrival, what was thought to be historic remains were found. The day she picks her brother up from the airport, she informs him she will have to work prior to their backpacking trip. He is annoyed, but knows he can’t change it.

Alexa is asked to examine the historic remains, but is warned if she does that she could be cursed. She doesn’t really believe it, so goes ahead to examine them. Will Alexa end up being cursed on their trip?This book will have you turning the pages to find out!

I loved all the New Zealand and forensics facts, it was a great addition to this mystery! This author kept you entertained with all the unexpected twists in turns that unfolded in this book definitely one to check out if you love a good mystery!

Even though this is the 3rd book in the Alexa Glock Series, it can be read as a stand alone!

[Julie Ferguson]

I read this book as an ARC.
The Bone Track is set on the South Island of New Zealand on a famous hiking trail. An American brother and sister, Alexa, have chosen it as a break from their lives. The sister is a forensic investigator for the police in Auckland who is anxious about both her fitness and wants to reconnect with her brother, Charles, who is visiting.
When the two were separated by a mudslide, Alexa discovers a skeleton who has clearly been murdered after she was nearly swept away. Soon after that incident, she narrowly avoids being murdered herself. Later another person is found dead in the raging waters of a creek.
The book starts slowly but is worth reading on as it picks up considerably.
The siblings hope to connect is severely strained by Alexa's efforts to investigate the two cases when she has little time for Charles.
The main characters are well defined in a large cast. The plot is deep and nasty, and the tension is tangible.
I enjoyed it but wouldn't rate it as a page-turner that would keep me up until the wee hours.
Recommended to those who like a mystery that is challenging to solve with the forensic details adding much to the story.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Maori curse, a skeleton uncovered, a hiking excursion, a rockslide, a reconnection with a brother from away, a new murder, more danger. Definitely riveting!
Alexa Glock is a forensic odontologist living and working in New Zealand on a visa from the US. Her brother from their home state in the Carolinas has come to decompress from problems at home and reconnect with Alexa while trekking a difficult trail. First Alexa finds a skeleton of a murdered man, then everything goes wrong. Then her brother finds the body of a currently missing hiker. Bring in the law enforcement team (by helicopter). Fast paced and with lots of things to learn. I love the realistic detailing of this beautiful country including hiking trails and violent weather.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bone Track is the third book in the Alexa Glock Forensics Mysteries series, but my first by this author. Alexa and her brother Charlie have planned a reunion as well as what should be a fun hike through New Zealand’s Milford Track. Unfortunately, things don’t go as planned. After a landslide, Alexa, a forensic odontologist with Forensic Service Center in Auckland, NZ, stumbles upon the bones of a body of a murdered man. As she reports this crime and calls in reinforcements, another body turns up. Things are going to get very hectic as Alexa tries to solve these crimes and keep herself alive. This novel is a well-written page-turner has entertaining characters and incredible descriptions of the New Zealand wilderness. I will definitely have to check out more books by this author. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Loni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, which I really enjoyed. There was always something happening, something to keep you interested and wanting to read more. The setting was amazing. This book made me want to go back to New Zealand. Such a beautiful place. And I really enjoyed learning more about the Maori culture. I did find that it was fairly predictable. I figured out who the protagonist was pretty early on. I also found the MC to be wound just a bit too tight. I realize that's her character, but she was kind of annoying at points. I also found the writing to be a bit scattered. I'd be reading and then think, 'Oh wait, I missed something...' but I really didn't.
Like I said though, over all it was an ok book. A good one to start the year off with. I would be open to reading more books in this series.

[Ramblin Hamlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis:
Alexa Glock is a forensic investigation decides to reconnect with her brother by taking a hike. While on the hike a mudslide unearthed bones. She does her best to investigate with no cell service and limited supplies. To make matters worse, one of the hikers turned up dead under suspicious circumstances.

My Thoughts:
This is a pretty typical whodunit mystery/crime fiction novel. I did not know that it was a series but I think it worked fine as a standalone. It was a little too descriptive for me but I know a lot of people really like that. There was two different storylines happening at the same time which I didn't love. I enjoyed the hiker mystery a bit more. I think people who are fan of crime thrillers will love this one.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alexa, an American forensic odontologist (how cool) working in New Zealand, thought it would be good a idea to take her semi-estranged brother Charlie who is visiting from North Carolina, on a hike. Not so much. The two of them are separated, Alexa discovers a skeleton, then she's asked to look at skeletons that have been unearthed by a construction project, and well, then she's the one in the cross hairs. She should have listened to the Maori chief. I've only read the first book in this series- this latest will be fine as a standalone. It's hard to categorize but I enjoyed both books for the New Zealand setting and the atmospherics. Things get a bit out of hand here but Alexa is a unique character and this is a good read. Thanks to Nergalley for the ARC.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The wild backdrop of the Milford Track in New Zealand is the setting for a mystery that's all about the bones. And teeth.
When forensic odontologist Alexa Glock -- on a reunion hike with her brother-- is almost killed in a landslide, she happens upon a skeleton in a rockfall. But that's only one of the mysterious deaths dogging the hikers. An imperious doctor has also met her demise in the landscape, and many people might have had a reason to push her over the edge.
Fun, twisty mystery that's part police procedural, part forensics, and part locked-room cozy as the suspects are isolated at a luxury lodge along the track.
Maori history and beliefs add another dimension to this mystery, the third in a series set in New Zealand.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Milford Sound is an area of spectacular beauty on New Zealand’s sodden southwest coast. It must have been an irresistible lure for the author to set a mystery there. Forensic investigator Alexa Glock sets off with her brother Charlie to hike the daunting Milford Track, far from any internet or mobile phone access. After a landslide, she discovers skeletal remains whose composite fillings clearly mark the murder within the last 20 years. By the time the police arrive, one of the hikers has been found and her death, too, Alexa determines is clearly murder. Alexa has some off-putting behaviors and the plots are rather contrived but the settings are beautifully described.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent entry into the series. You might particularly enjoy it if you do hiking. I love the map!!

I have done some day hiking along the Appalachian Trail and this evokes memories of that and more.

There are two kinds of hikers, those who use the rustic huts and those on the deluxe version with a nice heated lodge and cooked meals. Never the twain shall meet, except one of the deluxe hikers is missing and found dead, and anyone on the trail is a suspect.

In addition Alexa has found a skeleton during her trek (of course she does) and is also interested in finding an id for the body, using just a belt buckle that has survived.

I so enjoy Alexa and we meet her brother Charlie in this book too.

I bought a copy and have been suggesting this series to everyone I encounter.

[Darcia Helle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just okay for me.

I feel like I read a different book than most people. Unlike those calling this a fast-paced read, I found it slow, with an unnecessary amount of mundane detail.

The mystery was interesting enough, once we got there.

I haven't read the first few books in this series, but I had no problem jumping in. While there isn't a lot of character development, we're given enough information to understand the main character's personality and such.

This isn't a series for me, but lots of readers love it.

*I received an ARC from the publisher too long ago. I'm finally catching up on my backlist.*

[Noreen Trotsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid third addition to the Alexandra Glock series.
Lexie finds herself taking a so- called vacation with her brother whom is visiting her from the states. They take off on a hiking trip within a fairly remote location. Not one to leave work behind, Lexie comes across human bones, while at the same time has a fresh body to work on.
Full of great characters, two plots, and a lot of suspense, this book is not to be missed.
Thank you to Edelweiss, the publisher, and the author for a digital ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Lindzanne1_bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Follow along with forensic investigator Alexa as she ventures to New Zealand for a hiking trip with her brother. It’s supposed to be her vacation, but it soon turns into something sinister. A hiker goes missing and then she stumbles upon skeletal remains. Two murders to solve. This is a heart pounding and exciting story! Lots of intense moments and you’ll be cheering for Alexa the whole time. It’s just one misfortunate event after another! Although this is the third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you so much Poisoned Press for the gifted copy.

[Concha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press.
Although the book appears to be the third in a series, it can be read independently without complications.
Forensic scientist Alexa Glock finds herself in the middle of the New Zealand mountains with two corpses (a skeleton and a fellow hiker).
An entertaining thriller, with great characters and very interesting background information about New Zealand.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of The Bone Track by Sara E. Johnson in exchange for an honest review. I was originally interested in this book because the main character, Alexa Glock, is a forensic scientist and it's set in New Zealand. I am a Criminal Justice graduate and I have always wanted to go to New Zealand. I really want to read the first books in the series now, because this was a fantastic book and really held my attention.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘎𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦!

I was a bit nervous because this is the third book in a series, and haven’t read the first two, however I had no problem following the story. I loved the setting, the fast pace, the forensics and learning a bit about the Maori people. Overall an entertaining read.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for this gifted copy.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 by Sara Johnson, Author released February 15, 2022.

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[Sarah-Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new series for me, and I have mixed feelings about it. The plotting was solid; it was definitely a page-turner. I also enjoyed reading a novel set in undeveloped New Zealand. On the other hand, the central character irritated me at times. She's smart. She knows her profession. But she also considers a man as a love interest within minutes of meeting him. Seriously? I'll read the next volume in the series, but I'm still up in the air about this one.