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Emma Griffin Retro #4

The Girl and the Winter Bones

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In the morning Ellie walked to school. All was seemingly predictable.
Until one day, the unexpected occurred and little Ellie was never seen again...

When an unexpected storm hits, forcing a young couple on a road trip to seek shelter within an abandoned school in the woods. They witness strange phenomena and stumble upon corpses. Soon FBI agent Emma Griffin finds herself in the middle of a case that forces her to investigate the past to sort out the mystery behind the twisted occurrences in the present. With a trail of missing girls, strange oddities, and red herrings.
Emma and all involved find much more than they bargained for.

It’s no longer about surviving a night of haunting and evading a storm.
It's about escaping the things that should have remained forever frozen in time...

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2023

745 people are currently reading
333 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Rivers

148 books1,540 followers

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5 stars
753 (59%)
4 stars
355 (28%)
3 stars
116 (9%)
2 stars
30 (2%)
1 star
7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
Profile Image for Carolyn.
2,233 reviews
January 27, 2023
I didn't think it was possible because they are already so good, but they keep getting better. This is my favorite book in the series so far. I hope that there are more to come!
Profile Image for Karen Wright.
605 reviews4 followers
January 30, 2023
Emma is back in the limited series along with Sam, Xavier and Dean. While taking a road trip, Emma gets pulled into a fascinating mystery. Whether it is this limited series or the regular Emma Griffin series, they are well written and Interesting.

Over time, we as readers have gotten to know the recurring characters and get to know new crime scenes. Everything is always well described in detail. I love the writer's style and ability to pull you into the story. Conversations and interactions feel natural and flow smoothly. I love how the story unfolds and how Emma is gifted at catching clues or understanding what exactly has gone on.

This story is no different, she seems to see what others don't. I also love how Emma, and maybe Dean and Xavier at times, see connections to other cases. It's really nice too that this could be read as a stand alone book but to me is far better read as a series. I love Emma and the rest of the group and can't wait for the next case.
9 reviews
January 26, 2023
A hero I can identify with

I so enjoy losing myself in the world of Emma Griffin! She is strong, brilliant, dedicated, but most of all human. AJ has crafted a character who is passionate, caring, and flawed who goes to great lengths to help, answer questions, and provide answers to those left behind.

Emma has gathered a solid team/family around her that helps her live her best life. I have enjoyed watching her grow and build meaningful relationships with her chosen family.

The cases are always dark and twisty and constantly keep you guessing until the end! What a rush! The way AJ crafts the grouping of her novels provides us with plenty of cases both large and small to enjoy and keep us working through! I cannot wait for more!
241 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2023
Better and better

I didn't and guess i don't really know why this book is retro. But beside that, it's another Good story. I'm always sad to come to the end of these books by AJ. I really like The characters in Emma's adopted family. Each person has such a distinct personality and play an Integral part. Im hoping xavier will tells us more. The story was a little hard for me to follow too. Because each.scenario seemed so outside the story line, I had to reread a couple chapters thinking I was being forgetful. And usual with these stories, everything flows together in the end and I'm sorry it's over. I'm excited and relieved that there is a book #5.
Profile Image for Kelly Smelcer.
404 reviews1 follower
October 23, 2023
Suspenseful!

In an abandoned park sits an abandoned building that was originally a private home, then a boarding school, then a day school. It's been closed for five decades. When a young couple go hiking in the park but get caught in a sudden snow storm, they take shelter in the abandoned building. This is where spooky things start happening. And when they find a corpse they go to the police. There's a legend that kids have gone missing from the grounds when it was a school. Now, police have discovered adults going missing in the area, too. Can Emma Griffin get to the bottom of it?
Profile Image for PNW.
28 reviews7 followers
February 10, 2023
Transitions

I don't have a lot of time to sit and read; so I take advantage of the text to speech option which allows me to multi-task. I'll be listening and all of a sudden there is a change in point of view or the timeline if there is a lot of then and now. It can get really confusing. It would be great if the screen reader can announce the chapter number and or title. The screen reader is unable to read the decorative text. Thank you for putting Emma's to let us know the POV is transitioning back to her, that was very helpful.
Profile Image for Deb.
32 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2023
Emma!

Another great book in the Emma Griffin (Johnson) series. This time she is investigating mass murders that have taken place over thirty years. The mystery of who the killer was isn't clear until the very end. I hadn't figured out who was behind all of it and was surprised when the killer was revealed.
I enjoyed this book band look forward to the next Emma Griffin, FBI agent, is released.
Thank you for all the great reads A.J. Rivers.
Profile Image for Mary Tuohy.
Author 1 book8 followers
November 27, 2024
As usual I’m not disappointed. This was yet another great read by A. J. Rivers whose plots suck you right in from page one. Emma Griffin with the help of her husband Sam, cousin P. I. Dean Steele and dear friend Xavier Renton have lead us through a maze peppered with clues as well as interesting supporting characters. I highly recommend this novel as well as the entire retro series so far.
Happy reading.
1,507 reviews7 followers
January 21, 2023
The Girl and the Winter Bones.

This was not a very good book. This is not the kind of Emma Griffin. type of book I always enjoyed. Most of the book did not even include Emma. The last quarter of the book is the most exciting. I do not recommend this book. I hope the next book is the kind of Emma books that I enjoy.
Profile Image for Patt.
466 reviews6 followers
January 27, 2023
Another great read in the A. J. Retro series. Lots of action, lots of mystery, and plenty of excitement. If I see an abandoned school building, I will remember this book vividly! Emma can’t even take a vacation without ending up solving a murder case , or I should say several murder and missing person cases! A very good read.
76 reviews1 follower
February 3, 2023
Another great read!

Her books just keep getting better and better! I have read all the Emma Griffin books so far. My husband is in a nursing home, I read at night in bed. I could not stand to put the book down. On the other hand, it is not for the faint of heart at night. Now I am waiting for the next book and all of her wonderful characters.
Profile Image for Kendra.
313 reviews
February 5, 2023
Best Book Yet

I love AJ Rivers and Emma Griffin, I have really enjoyed this retro series and I hope there are more! I am sad I have come to the end! This one was the best book ever, I couldn’t put it down! I guess I will need to start a new AJ Rivers series! I am seriously going to have withdrawals!
418 reviews4 followers
February 5, 2023
The Girl and the Winter Bones(Emma Griffin FBI Mystery Retro-Limited Series Book 4)

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I loved this book. I can't believe the things Emma finds herself investigating, it started out as a ghost story, lead into a bunch of murders and ends with an accidental death. I can't wait for the next one.
119 reviews
February 5, 2023
Excellent

This book had so many twists and turns I had a little trouble keeping the story in perspective. It is very well written and keeps you totally intrigued and engrossed from start to finish. Hopefully, there will be much more Emma Griffin in the near future. I highly recommend this entire series, both of them.
Profile Image for Abigail Engle.
1 review
February 14, 2023
Not as thought through as her other books

By the end of the book, I liked the main story. However, the first 10 chapters or so I found myself getting bored and wondering how anything connected (and some of it never did.). If it had been restructured and some of the characters and scenes left out that never tied well into the story, I would have enjoyed it beginning to end.
276 reviews
May 22, 2023
good book

This was one spooky thriller! I loved the twists and turns. It is an edge of your seat page turner! The description of the beautiful old home was perfect and the tragedies that happened in it was sad and heartbreaking. I liked the ending. I never suspected who was behind it! I love all of these books and wait for more!! Please!!
23 reviews
December 8, 2023
Excellent read

Another winner by AJ. I've read all.of the Emma
Griffin series while recovering from a broken leg. She has kept me spellbound from.prologue to epilogue with each new story. Not enough words to describe what an amazing author, with incredible storytelling skills she is
38 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2024
Who doesn't love a good ghost story?

This ranks high as a favorite. There were so many nuances that are so tangible. The story line, though sad, is still enthralling. AJ doesn't give too many clues about how it's going to end but there was enough to make my alarm bells go off. I was rooting for the underdogs all along. Forever a fan of your work A.J.
3,801 reviews7 followers
March 11, 2024
This was my least favorite in the series so far. It started off pretty well but there wasn’t really much Emma and the group involved in this book. It was about the history of the house/school and it went on a bit too long for my taste. It was more confusing than intriguing and too many possible characters that could have done it. Even after finishing the book I don’t really get the involvement of one of the characters. Oh well, on to the last book in the series.
Profile Image for Lisa Moody.
70 reviews
October 2, 2024
STRANGE ENDING.

The story was fascinating and well written but I'm not sure about the ending. Did Angelo Carmine kill all those people and, if so, why?? Or was it Vee (whatever his last name was) doing it as part of his child trafficking gig??
Loved the story but a very confusing end-clarify please? See you next time, Emma!
Profile Image for Natalie Jordan.
38 reviews
July 15, 2025
Spooky

Creepy at its finest! Very chilling from the start. I was curious how the story was going to play out, but as soon as Emma got involved her process of connecting the dots and seeing what no one else can always inspire me…loving the series so far, excited and sad to start the last of the Retro - Limited Series…
259 reviews5 followers
January 21, 2023
So good!

This is the best book in this series, so far. It has multiple overlapping stories that eventually intertwine to a great ending. The action starts on page one and never stops.
737 reviews1 follower
January 24, 2023
This was a exciting book with Emma finding out about strange happenings at a old school. There was lots of suspense and drama and a ending you didn’t see coming. This book was awesome and eerie but why came into play. Thank you.
28 reviews
January 29, 2023
Surprise ending!

Loved that the
book kept me guessing who , where, why and what. I think this is my favorite of all . It kept me guessing the entire time and the ending was a shock! What a great read
83 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2023
I really enjoy the Emma Griffith series. There are some errors in the writing, but Rivers spins a good tale with lots of detail. I'd consider reading her other series as well, but there are only so many hours that I can read and so many other good authors.
399 reviews4 followers
January 31, 2023
So Good.

I loved this story. It was sad and heart breakiIng at times but so good. The characters, along with Emma and Sam, were great. It was hard to put down. I know you will enjoy it too.
53 reviews
February 13, 2023
This was my favorite

This was a great story. It was kind of frightening at times and I never guessed the correct killer that was committing these murders. Loved this book! My favorite.
Profile Image for Mary Rowe.
2,624 reviews8 followers
February 13, 2023
so heartbreaking in conclusion!

The book starts out with one case, then sidetracks to an entirely different sort of investigation, as the case of a missing schoolgirl from three decades past takes front and center stage.
1,394 reviews4 followers
February 20, 2023
Emma is my heroine

I love Emma’s stories, with all the twists and turns they take. Every case she takes on consumes her until it’s resolved, with help from Sam, Dean and Xavier along the way. This one just has a few extra twists to it, and it’s fascinating reading.
76 reviews
March 2, 2023
Kept me guessing

I really liked the plot & all the well told history. Strong characters. Lead characters weren't in it as much as normal, but it makes sense with all else that needed to be unfolded. Great read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews

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