I am always amazed at the skill of an author to take a storyline, add side stories, twists and turns while still managing to make a complete story. Melinda Leigh is so very talented. The story of the missing father intrigued me, then she added in the stalker, and some new murders tying it all together perfectly. There were clues that led me to believe that I knew who was guilty of the various crimes and how the stories would all come together. I am happy to report that I was not quite the PI I thought I was. The ending was still a surprise to me.

The characters in Bones Don’t Lie were interesting. I was invested in Lance finding out what happen to his dad 23 years ago. Lance deserved to know what happen to his dad. He deserved to find out the truth for his own sake and his mother’s sake. It was great to see his friends willing to help him solve this mystery. I never dreamt who was guilty of the murder. The relationship between Morgan and Lance was almost an afterthought to the rest of the story. It was just understood that they were together and there wasn’t much romancing but the romance isn’t what drew me into the story.

Bone’s Don’t Lie is a book that I could not put down. I was invested in the characters, the storyline, and the ending. I recommend picking up your own copy and solving the who-dun-it mysteries.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. First time reading this author. I didn't actually realize this was the third in a series until I already had the book. Regardless if reads well as a stand alone book. A good intriguing mystery with a few twists and turns and a bit of romance to boot. I think most mystery fans would enjoy this book. I certainly did. A solid 4. Great read.

Goodreads - Jan. 22, 2018.
Amazon - Mar. 20, 2018.
I was immediately pulled into this story and read it in one setting. I loved meeting again Lance, Morgan and Sharp and the other characters. Both main characters have strong, complex personalities, each of them with painful issues to overcome.
The suspense part was also interesting, but what moved me in this book was really the character development and the close and strong relationships between characters.
The focus on Lance’s father character was brilliant: the way Vic’s story impacted his wife and son’s life was heartbreaking to read. Lance is truly a great hero; Melinda Leigh constructs his softer side (his relationship with Morgan’s girls is an example) skillfully, creating a multi-layered and fascinating character.
As in the first book of the series, I was totally seduced by Sharp, the older PI. His caring and kind nature and his freaking (or perhaps natural?) obsession with healthy living are really amazing and make me wish to see his character even more developed. And I’m just very curious about who will be his woman.
I hope we will also meet again Nick, another great character introduced in the first story.

Third in this bestselling series, if you haven’t read the first two, I don’t recommend starting here.

Can you tell I started here? I feel like I didn’t get to know Morgan all that well, particularly since although she is the protagonist, probably half the book was told from the point of view of either her boyfriend, Lance Kruger, or his partner in investigation, Lincoln Sharp. Morgan doesn’t even appear until Chapter 3. With so many PoV hops, it’s occasionally difficult to know who is where and what’s going on. The character I liked best was actually Lance’s mother, living with a host of issues including agoraphobia, anxiety and depression which were very well depicted in the book.

That said, this is actually a cracking murder mystery. The ‘red herring’ about Morgan’s stalker was pretty obvious from early on, but that aside, there were some genuine surprises and twists in the story which were excellently done. I can’t quite give it five stars because of the character issues, but it’s certainly a solid four.

Wow. I love this series!

Lance Kruger has been haunted by the disappearance of his father 23 years ago when he was only 10. His mom has mental health issues and he’s been protecting and taking care of her since then. Lance is such a solid guy. He’s a hottie, physically fit, reliable, loyal, caring, big hearted, sincere, yet also has a slight touch of the alpha protective male.

Lincoln Sharp, Lance’s current partner in a PI firm, was the cop on the case. He was relentless looking for Lance’s dad. He recognized that Jenny, Lance’s mom, had issues and he took Lance under his wing. Lincoln’s organic outlook and insistence on protein shakes and bars and total disgust of sugar and unhealthy eating had me laughing a couple times.

Lance’s dad’s car is discovered at the bottom of the lake with bones in the trunk. They have the first break in the case. Lincoln, Lance and Morgan jump right in re-investigating the case, going over everything again with a fine tooth comb.

I kind of thought I knew who the murderer was from the beginning based on a few things said. I was right. Still Ms. Leigh takes us on quite the adventure ride to get all the answers.

I just love Morgan and Lance as a couple. Morgan has had her share of heartache. Lance isn’t sure he’s the right person for her. When Lance tries to leave Morgan out of his turmoil and chaos, she digs her heels in. There’s not much romance in this story but the relationship evolving and growing is engrossing. Heartfelt conversations, realistic expectations, the importance of just being there emotionally and physically in person, for each other and the balancing act that requires. Sigh.

I love all the members of Morgan’s family, Lance and his mom, Lincoln. Just a great group of people. I’m always sad when I finish the book and start anticipating the next one!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher.

I'm going to go out on a limb and call this the best romantic suspense book of 2018! Melinda Leigh has written a great series with likeable characters and the suspense oozes through each chapter until the shocking conclusion! I highly recommend this book!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Murder, Stalking

First off, I have loved all of the books in the series so far. I do believe that you should read them in order, but you wouldn't be completely lost if you didn't.

This is Lance's story. He has always been more of a rough and rugged type and he doesn't talk much. However, he has fallen in love with Morgan and there is no going back from that. Despite his life, he has a mother who has a very fragile sensibility and he is always looking out for her. He knows that his father's disappearance affected her greatly, just as it did him.

Morgan is not without her struggles in this story, but hers are minor in comparison to Lance's in this book. I liked how she was quiet, but a solid support throughout the story. She was never one to back down from a fight and still doesn't in this book.

There is a lot of backstory and people who betrayed those they care about. There is running, hiding, and stalking. Mayhem and murder and eventually, the questions are mostly answered. This was a fast-paced and intriguing story. I don't want to write too much because doing so would give away the awesomeness of the story. I am looking forward to more.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This time it is Lance’s personal and professional lives colliding when his father’s car is pulled up from the bottom of a local lake. With the support of Morgan and Sharp, Lance starts to reinvestigate his father’s disappearance more than twenty years earlier.

I really loved the twists and turns in this story. Everyone is a suspect as Lance has to confront hard truths about his father’s disappearance. And there are more deaths before Morgan and Lance can solve the case. The story is well paced, and I loved the thrilling final chase scene.

Part of me wanted more character and relationship development in this story. We get glimpses of single mum Morgan’s slightly chaotic home life and there are some great scenes between Lance and his mother. But this series remains more mystery than personal drama. It’s an exciting read and although I didn’t figure out the whodunnit before Lance and Morgan do, the pieces of this story come together in an entirely satisfying conclusion.

When the long-missing Vic Kruger’s Oldsmobile is wenched up out of Grey Lake, those of us fully immersed in Melinda Leigh’s “Morgan Dane” series knew that at last, the question of what happened to Lance Kruger’s father would be answered. For 23 years, Lance wondered what caused his father to disappear out of his life. That disappearance forced the 10-year old Lance to grew up too quickly as he watched his mentally-fragile mother crash and burn. Former Detective now Private Investigator Lincoln Sharp was haunted by the case as well. Not only was it his case, but he had a front row seat to the fallout for young Lance and Jenny Kruger. Now Sharp watches the car slowly appear out of the Lake’s murky depths, fearing yet relieved that closure is at hand. But this discovery only creates more questions, ripping open old wounds for Lance and Jenny. More terrifying is that it is disturbing someone who is determined that the answer to that long-cold case remains forever submerged.

Wow, just wow, wow, wow! I am not sure I can write a review that does this book justice! The writing, that pace, the plot - just sheer perfection. Lance Kruger went through hell the moment his father disappeared; his glimpse of heaven was his developing relationship with Morgan and her beautiful daughters. Now with the mystery of his father’s disappearance is back, front and center in Scarlet Falls and the surrounding County, Lance is doubting his memories of his father and his worthiness as Morgan’s beau. And although the spotlight is not shining brightly on Morgan, she is very much part of the story, supporting Lance,battling a new obnoxious and possibly dangerous foe in a new ADA and balancing her family with work. But when the chips are down - move over Eve and Roarke, Sam and Nick - Lance and Morgan are our new romantic suspense power couple!

As for the resolution of the mystery - not only was it satisfying, but I am one of the many readers that “did not see that coming!” The whole “whodunnit” was complex yet simple, if that makes any sense. There are mysteries where you sense where the story is going and who may be revealed as the villain. But here, I really had no clue until Lance and Morgan came to the realization just who was behind it all - I felt their shock to my core! And towards the end, when Lance looks up and sees Morgan “like Wonder Woman?” Yes, Lance, indeed she is….

Now, as an aside, I usually shy away from series that have the same Hero/heroine in each book. I always find myself losing interest as the writer has to come up with new scenarios between the couple to develop drama. But so far Ms. Leigh has done a stellar job of realistically developing Morgan and Lance’s relationship! I have full faith that this author will continue to make this series fresh and exciting. Fortunately, there are a couple of Dane siblings “wandering” out there just waiting for their stories to be told. And as for Lincoln Sharp? Now there’s a character deserving of a book and HEA!

Wow! Just, just wow! Bones Don't Lie is Book 3 of the Morgan Dane series by Melinda Leigh and while you could probably read it okay as a standalone, it works much better as part of the series since this is the thrilling conclusion to a story line we first learn about in Book 1.

At long last we FINALLY learn what happened to Lance's father twenty-three years earlier. This was an intense, fast-paced, engaging, on the edge of your seat thriller that kept me guessing right up to the end. These stories do tend to be lighter on the romance side and more focused on the mystery/suspense but they work and quite well.

The Morgan Dane series is one of my all-time favorites and I look forward to what Ms. Leigh has in store for us next.

Don’t mistake Bones Don’t Lie for a romantic suspense cozy despite the loving families, the sweet romance and the stalwart friends. This is a hard-hitting heart-breaking thriller with plenty of terrifying moments.
Morgan Dane has returned to Scarlet Falls after being widowed two years ago. She has returned with her three young daughters to live with her father. After a career as a prosecutor who has joined the dark side as defense attorney, taking an office in the private investigation firm belonging to Lincoln Sharp and her new lover Lance Kruger.
Sharp has been a father figure and a mentor to Lance Kruger ever since his father went out to the store and never returned twenty three years ago. Sharp was also the lead police investigator on the case. This was his bête noire case, but he has never given up hoping to solve it; or on his guidance of Lance nor his friendship with Lance’s damaged mother.
Lance’s father’s car is pulled from a local lake, and it looks like a long-standing mystery might be solved. Instead the mystery is just beginning, putting all that Lance and Lincoln have believed, and the lives of witnesses and loved ones in jeopardy.
Morgan is determined to help Lance and Lincoln despite being stalked once again.
Leigh presents the reader with a terrifying and surprising end. You “are a better (wo)man than I am, Gunga Din” if you can figure out the killer.
I say this is a thriller, not a cozy, but I do want to sink myself in the lovely Dane family, I want to hang with Lance and Lincoln. I’d even drink one of Lincoln’s green concoctions.
Leigh does a lovely job with her characters.It always great to see returning characters from the other Scarlet Falls/Morgan Dane books. Leigh treats most of her characters with sensitivity and gentleness. Have a hankie ready when Morgan and her daughters visit her late husband's grave on his birthday.
Leigh writes her criminals and miscreants fully developed too, but with their sins at the forefront. I will admit to finding Kruger’s re-examination of his relationship with Morgan and her daughters to be disturbing and sad; especially when he finds himself coming up short.
An enjoyable addition to the Morgan Dane series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
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For years Lance Kruger has wondered what happened to his father when he went missing, and now with his father's car being found, he might finally be able to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. However, someone is determined to make sure Lance never finds the truth, even if it means silencing him and his partner, Morgan Dane. Will Lance finally discover what happened years ago, or will he never learn the truth because someone is determined to make sure the past remains buried?

This series just keeps getting better and better and this third story of Ms. Leigh's Morgan Dane series was thrilling and highly entertaining and proves that Ms. Leigh is a master when it comes to romantic suspense. Really, the way this story opens sets the fast-pace of the story and drew me in immediately because of what happens and how it gets Lance, Morgan and their boss Sharp to start working to a case to discover what happened to Lance's dad years ago when he disappeared. Will Lance finally get closure?


As for the dialogue, it was intense due to everything the main characters face because of the case and someone determined to make sure the truth stays buried. How far is the killer willing to go? Will Morgan and Lance come out on top against the bad guys? Moreover, Morgan is smart, resourceful, strong, brave and I liked how determined she was to help Lance find the answers to a twenty-three year old mystery. I also liked everything this couple go through, especially the final showdown with the killer, as it took me by surprise to discover just who the person responsible for what happened to Lance's dad and everyone else that needs to be silenced to keep a terrible incident buried. Yet, what I liked most of all about Morgan is how she supported Lance with everything he's going through, as he finally discovers the truth of what happened to his father and how the heroine's support helps the hero to finally lean on her instead of continuing to go at things alone.

Overall, Ms. Leigh has delivered a story filled with plenty of emotion that I could feel along with the characters; plenty of edge-of-your-seat moments that had me worried for the main characters; the secondary characters bring that little extra something special to the story, as they do their best to help Morgan; and the ending had me concerned for Morgan and Lance, as they face off against the killer. Will they come out of the battle relatively unscathed? I would recommend Bones Don't Lie by Melinda Leigh, if you enjoy romantic suspense or books by authors Kendra Elliott, Mary Burton, Rita Herron and Karen Rose.

Nonstop suspense from the first page, sucks you in immediately. This newest installment in Leigh’s series solves Lance’s family secret, among other secrets and suspense. Keeps you guessing until the end! Another great novel from Melinda! *thank you, Melinda and NetGalley for the advance read

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

The Morgan Dane Series is one of those rare breeds that delivers a fantastic mystery plot while growing a sweet romantic relationship. Sorry, you romance fans, this one is strictly PG, but the mystery more than makes up for the missing hot romance.

Lance Kruger has spent the last 23 years wondering what happened to his father, Vic Kruger. Lance's friend and partner, Sharp, has lived with this case for that long too, first as the Detective on the case and then as a PI. After Vic's disappearance, Sharp looked out for Lance and his mother but couldn't provide the one thing they needed most - closure. Now Vic's car has been recovered, but the skeleton found in the car submerged in Gray Lake isn't Vic. Instead of a missing person's case, now it's a murder case.

With each new piece of evidence or witness it becomes clear that someone is tying up the loose ends, permanently. Time is running out and Lance and Morgan are faced with nothing but lies and deceptions as a murderer methodically covers his tracks.

Bones Don’t Lie by Melinda Leigh is the third installment of the Morgan Dane series. The series is probably best classified as romantic suspense as the main characters are slowly forming a romantic connection but the books focus way more on the thrills and suspense and are not full of the steamy moments known in that genre but a cleaner read.

Each book in the series has featured a new case for the main characters to become involved in investigating so it would be possible to understand on their own. However the series is best enjoyed from the beginning to get the full character building the author has done as events between them do carry over from book to book.

In Bones Don’t Lie a car has been pulled from a lake that is found to have belonged to Lance Kruger’s father who had disappeared from his life more than two decades before leaving him to begin caring for his mother as a boy. It’s immediately thought that the bones within the vehicle would belong to the missing man but instead end up belonging to a female victim.

Morgan knows that this case is hitting Lance very hard but after two decades of not knowing he wants nothing more than answers from himself and his angoraphobic mother who were devastated at his father’s disappearance. But not only do the pair need to find answers to this decades old case Morgan seems to have gained a stalker when some things begin occurring to her.

I have been following the Morgan Dane series from the beginning and still absolutely love every book so far in this series. Morgan and Lance make such a great combination with Morgan’s law experience and Lance being a P.I. and I love that their relationship continues to grow with each book.

To go along with a great, strong lead couple in this series is always a pretty good investigation to follow along and try to solve. There’s just the right amount of questioning suspects, following clues and forensics to give it a realistic feel with some great twists and turns along the way. So with another great addition to the series I’d still recommend checking these out to any fans of this genre.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was an easy, pleasant read but nothing more. Some books draw you in and hold you gripped, making them very hard to put down. This was not one of them. The characters lack depth and there was no passion in the writing. I am referring to the author's passion - that almost indefinable, magical something which some authors seem to express through their work.
Having said that, I didn't dislike the book, just felt a little disappointed.

I have read a previous series by Melinda Leigh last yr when I had a book to review and devoured 3 books in as many days. Loved them.
This series was good too, took a little bit longer as life got in the way this time, but thorughly enjoyed them, keeping me awake in the small hours for a2 nights.
I think the family is quite dynamic and always running into trouble. All the more drama for me to read about.
Another great book! Definitely looking forward to the next one due in August.
Thanks to NetGalley, Melinda Leigh and publisher Montlake Romance.

Bones Don't Lie is the third installment in the Morgan Dane Series by Melinda Leigh. I have loved this series since its beginning and hope we will be seeing more of Morgan and Lance in the future. I'm a big fan of Ms. Leigh and have read everything she has written. Her character development and style of writing draw me in from the very beginning, something that isn't always easily done for me. If you're looking for an excellent read, do yourself a favor and try out this - or any one of the other series - by Ms. Leigh. You won't regret it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Montlake Romance and Ms. Leigh for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.

This is the book we've been waiting for in the series. And I appreciate that Ms. Leigh resisted the urge to make it the first or second book. Throughout the series the reader has known that Lance and his mom are still trying to deal with the disappearance of his father, many years prior. At the beginning of the book, his father's car is pulled from a lake and bones are found in the trunk. While providing a bit of information, the discovery brings up even more questions. Then the people who might have the answers start being killed off. Lance, Morgan, Steve, and an ever growing posse of support work together to not only track down the killer but to try and stop others from dying along the way. At some points the deaths didn't make sense but by the end all the puzzle pieces come together to form a very surprising picture! I love how Ms. Leigh is able to include some romance in this series without it taking over the story and ruining the characters' strengths. Can't wait to read the next one!

This is the third book in this series by this author. This is an exciting fast paced book read. This book has amazing characters. This story will keep you guessing right up to the last page. This author always brings you a gripping read with these books. You are always guaranteed an amazing story mixed with amazing characters. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Bones Don't Lie by Melinda Leigh that I read and reviewed.
This was an excellent book. It was an excellent addition to the Morgan Dane series and it answered a lot of questions that were brought up in earlier books. I loved the fact that we found out what happened to Lance's dad and also how the relationship between Lance and Morgan continues to grow.
This book was was full of surprises and who the killer was just about knocked me off my seat and that is what I love about Melinda Leigh and her books. She is not afraid to shock her readers and throw them a curve ball that will make them shake their head and say "WOW I never saw that one coming!"
Bones Don't Lie get five out of five stars from me.