Enjoyable and we'll written it kept my interest throughout and was clever without being annoyingly so, I would recommend this to others

The Bones Remember by Sara E. Johnson

Alexa Glock, an experienced ,forensic investigator, travels to a remote island, in NewZealand for a difficult case..

This was an interesting story about sharks.  The town protected them,, but also baited them so tourists can see them up close.  Very educational reading about the whale and shark industry.  I recommend this book although it was a cliff hanger.

Thank you Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for review..

’At first, Alexa Glock's initial case as a traveling forensic investigator seems straightforward—her expertise in teeth helps her identify the skeletal remains of a hunter found on the remote Stewart Island in New Zealand. But when she realizes the bullet lodged in his skull was not self-inflicted, and then a second, shark-ravaged body washes up on Ringaringa Beach, it's clear that something dangerous is lurking in the beautiful waters surrounding the island.’
 
Did someone say Sharks?
 
Yes, Pleases!
 
THE BONES REMEMBER is Book Two in the Alexa Glocks Forensics Mysteries, I have yet to read Book One, MOLTON MUD MURDER, the former is easily read as a stand-alone.
 
Alex Glock isn’t a very likable character; the star in the series who faces formidable foes as a forensic investigator, which held my interest; the story overall was okay. 
 
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for loaning me an eGalley of THE BONES REMEMBER in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always happy when I find an enjoyable new series. Now I will have to go back and read the first book, Molten Mud Murder, though this second reads well as a stand alone.
Alexa Glock is a traveling forensic investigator who specializes in odontology, the study of teeth.
She lives in the United States, but has been working in New Zealand.
She is called to isolated Stewart Island, when the skeletal corpse of a missing hunter is found in the bush.
She determines he was murdered by a gunshot to the head that could not have been self inflicted.
When a body washes ashore on Ringaringa Beach that is savaged by shark bites, Alexa makes a horrible and surprising find on the body as she examines it.
Will she discover a connection between these two, seemingly unrelated events?
I loved the exotic setting of this police proecedural/mystery and found the local culture and habitat fascinating. It was interesting to learn about sharks and the cage diving industry.
The characters were quite varied and colorful. Alexa is a bit naive and gets herself into some difficult situations, but she is very amusing.
An entertaining and unique story.
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Something Dangerous Lurking In Tranquil Waters.....
The second Alexa Glock forensic mystery and something dangerous is lurking in the seemingly tranquil waters. An enjoyable, interesting mystery with a side of romance and a likeable enough protagonist in Alexa although she is a protagonist with a tendency to the reckless and, perhaps, outlandish.

The Bones Remember is a mystery that made me want to go to the scene of the crime. It begins with Alexa Glock traveling to an island off New Zealand to identify a cadaver that had recently been found by hikers, though everyone expected it to be a missing man who disappeared a year earlier. While she was there, another person needed to be identified after a frenzied shark attack. Alexa specializes in forensic odontology so this is all right up her alley. Surprisingly, both people were murdered.

So, two murders in a small village isolated from the rest of New Zealand. They must be related, right? Alexa would not be the lead character in a mystery series if she were content to stay in the lab looking at teeth. Nothing stops her from following her nose, even when it puts her in jeopardy. One of the most harrowing instances of lead character jeopardy ever is in this book. I won’t spoil it, but it was hair-raising.

The Bones Remember is a good, fair mystery. I liked Alexa and felt real anxiety when she was in jeopardy. I admire her quick-witted competency but was disappointed that her specialty, odontology, played such a minor role in solving the case. When someone is a forensic scientist, I want there to be some forensics needed in solving the case. I think Sara E. Johnson did a spectacular job of creating a sense of place. She did so well I want to go to Stewart Island now. I also want to read Molden Mud Murder (What a title!) which is the first in the series.

I received an e-galley of The Bones Remember from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Bones Remember at Poisoned Pen Press
Sara E. Johnson author site

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

This is a very detailed and descriptive crime novel - tons of details about New Zealand, sharks but not enough about the how or why of forensics that go into solving the story.

The story had a slow start but maybe that is because I didn't read the first book of the series?  

If the main character becomes more mature and capable, I would definitely read the next story.

A highly entertaining, gripping and well written story by a new to me author.
I loved the fast paced plot, full of twists and turns, the well developed characters and the solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Many thanks to the NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. 

The Bones Remember by Sara E. Johnson is the second book in her Alexa Glock series. However, if you have not read her first book, Molten Mud Murder, you may find yourself a bit thrown into the world of Alexa Glock. In this way, The Bones Remember doesn't act as a standalone story as other crime novels can despite being part of a series. Regardless, the casual genre reader will find plenty within to keep them entertained. 

Alexa Glock, a forensic investigator, travels to a remote pocket of New Zealand to investigate the death of a hunter. When the evidence reveals that there is more to the case than meets the eye, Alexa finds herself caught up in local politics that could wreck the local ecology and tourism which keeps the community afloat. 

Johnson clearly did an immense amount of research for this book to establish authenticity and verism. Yet, I found the work bogged down by the technical forensic jargon that was not always explained. Another clunky bit was the irregular reminders that Alexa was in New Zealand and had phonetic hangups when conversing with the locals. This came forward in odd moments like "beast practices" vs. "best practices", etc...It seemed unnecessary and instead of establishing more atmosphere for the story, these minor distractions added up and took me out of it. 

Johnson clearly has an eye for detail and an ability to conjure interesting crime stories, but I do not think she has mastered the ability to be objective about which details she chooses to include and why. I would like to see more from her when she has more throughly cut her teeth.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest, voluntary review. I loved this book! The intrigue and intensity of the story were different than most suspense/mysteries. The writing was spot on along with the locales and characters. If you enjoy something a little bit from the norm pick up this great book! Enjoy! 📚

Forensic odontologist Alexa Glock travels to remote Stewart Island when hikers find human remains.  The body could belong to Robert King who went missing 10 months earlier.  Then the team gets a call that a shark-ravaged body has been found on the beach.  The victim is Andy Gray, owner of a shark cage business.  But when the autopsy reveals Gray had been shot in the stomach, it becomes clear that the sharks are not the only predator on the island.

Are the two murders connected?  Alexa goes to find forensic evidence on Gray's boat and is attacked.  The lucrative business of tourists coming to see sharks, as well as the illegal harvest of whale and shark parts, are possible motives.  Alexa keeps putting herself in danger as she stubbornly hunts for clues and defies orders from the team leader, DI Bruce Horne.

The unusual New Zealand setting is a plus but the story was a bit convoluted and Alexa acts too recklessly and beyond her scope as a police consultant.

I received an eARC from Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press/SOURCEBOOKS with no requirements for a review.  I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Forensic odontology is at the forefront of this interesting procedural set on an island off the coast of New Zealand.  Alexa is an American  there to study when she's asked to take a look at a corpse.  Turns out, the man was murdered with a gun not bitten by a shark.  Then there's another murder and the heat turns up on Alexa to find answers.  I knew shark diving in cages is a thing but who knew what discord it could sow!  There's a bit of romance (unnecessary but ok), lots of local color, and a different sort of hook.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you didn't read the first book- this will be fine as a standalone.

If you like your main character a little unlikable and you like sharks this is the book for you.  This is the second Alexa Glock mystery, after Molten Mud Murder.  The Bones Remember takes place in New Zealand, Stewart's Island.  Alexa is a traveling Forensic Investigator, who is an expert in teeth and does what she wants when it comes to investigating. 
 There are two murders, one involving a body found to have been shot some months ago, which brings her to the island, and a second involving a body that washes ashore.  There is a little romance between Alexa and DI BruceI Horne.  I found the information regarding shark cage diving interesting.  The author goes into great detail describing the landscape, New Zealand sounds beautiful.  I highly recommend this book, the beginning is a little slow but when it picks up it moves quickly.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was an interesting read set in NZ (Stewart Island to be specific).  I thought the crime parts of the story were good, but the main character was annoying.  Overall, it was enjoyable but felt a bit flat.

Forensic investigator Alexa Glock finds herself in New Zealand working on two cases, one involving a missing hunter and the other a shark-mangled man.

A brand new position with the Forensic Service Center (FSC) requires Alexa, just moved from North Carolina, to travel to local police jurisdictions when they need assistance. Her boss sends her to Stewart Island to identify a body they suspect may be a hunter missing for the last ten months. 

After checking out the remains of the unidentified body, Alexa accompanies Sgt. Wallace to inspect the remains of a shark-ravages body on Ringaringa Beach. After Alexa identifies both men from dental records, the investigations begin looking for the who and why.  Both are victims of gunshots. 

Sara Johnson spins a good yarn complete with contextual background on New Zealand along with details on the differences in police/crime procedures from the U.S.

3.25 stars

This second mystery featuring Alexa Glock has a great and unusual setting: Stewart Island in New Zealand. The author includes a lot of interesting information on the sea, wildlife and culture of New Zealand. The mystery centers around two murders which might be involved with a touchy local issue: tourist trips featuring shark cage-diving. Proponents say it helps the local economy, but many others feel it puts local shell divers at risk and leads to misunderstanding and fear of great white sharks.

Protagonist Alexa Glock is a scientist, not a cop, but her specialty is forensics work involving teeth and bites. Alexa isn't the most likable character. She is prickly, nosy, peremptory and driven. As soon as she is told by a superior to do something, she seems to have to go countermand the order. In addition, she spends way too much time complaining about the spotty cell phone service on the remote island. And, she has a bad habit of leaving her professional crime kit behind every time she sets it down. She and her boss are sort of edging around beginning an unprofessional relationship which makes things awkward for the whole crew.

I might read another for the New Zealand setting and the interesting forensics facts but I'm hoping Alexa gets her act together a bit. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Alright, first things first, that cover is awesome and that’s what made me get it in the first place, also the title, how promising does that sound?!
Okay, onto the good parts now. I learned quite a bit from this book. Tbh, I didn’t know New Zealand was such an exotic country, with so much wildlife conserved and protected like that, all the descriptions made me want to google some of the rare birds mentioned in this book. And the whole part about Shark cage diving was really interesting, possibly the best part in this whole book, I picked up a few facts about it all, and also the whale beaching. Cool!

The not so good part is, this story is too much detailed, like, seriously, I don’t want to know, what objects did the characters pick out of their pockets, in what order, and in how many seconds and how their wrists moved, and which angle the rolled eyes and what though accompanied them while they were at it! I might have exaggerated it a bit there, but really, I love details, but that was a bit too much at every turn and kinda threw me off of the real story. Also, a nitpick here, but the main character “jumped” at every opportune moment every so often, and I got bored, good thing she had brains, and asked all the right questions too! Another nitpick is, I kinda found the title a bit misleading, I think it was more about the flesh than the bones in this one!
But it’s really good if you’re looking for a gripping and well-detailed read, like a 3hr movie going on in your head.

As far as mystery/thriller/suspense books go, this was okay, but definitely not a favorite. I hate jumping into series without usually starting the first book and going in chronological order, but I received this one for an honest review. Maybe if I had started at the beginning, I could have connected with the characters more and felt like I knew them a little bit better.
This book is the 2nd in the series about forensic investigator Alexis Glock. She finds herself on islands outside the coast of New Zealand, where the locals and shark cagers are in disagreement whether or not this is ethical practice by teasing shark with chum, basically ground up fish. Alexis finds herself in all kinds of scenarios, the most memorable being on the boat where a local shark cage tour guide is murdered on his own boat and she is forced to jump overboard, where she almost becomes the shark bait herself. She is there to solve not one, but two murders at a time, the other being a missing hunter introduced at the beginning of the book. 
There seemed to be way too many characters and things going on to help keep my interest and concentrate on the story at hand. I liked the fact I was not able to guess who the responsible murderer was, but that was due to the number of extremely shady characters in this book. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to give another honest review.

This was a quick and thrilling read.  The characters were beautifully flawed and sometimes I wanted to yell at them, but that's what makes a book enjoyable.  This is a murder mystery set in New Zealand.  Initially Alexa Glock is sent there for a recovered body, at first assumed to be self inflicted, and then shortly after she examines the first body, another body turns up.  The mystery deepens.  I learned a few things about sharks that I didn't know before and about the cage diving industry as well.  The cage diving industry has this whole island in uproars so Alexa must solve this mystery before it results in even more deaths.  There were some very sad parts in this book, I won't spoil it for you, but just be warned.  The descriptions were beautiful and horrible and refreshing and disturbing, Johnson is really great at setting the scene.  I haven't read the first one, but I had no problem following everything that went on in this book.  I'm definitely going to read the first book in this series.

This is the second book in the Alexa Glock forensic mystery series and it did not disappoint! The case is interesting and  I loved that the setting is in the beautiful New Zealand. 

The Story: Alexa Glock now works as the forensics investigator for Forensics Science Center, Auckland. Her expertise is needed when a decomposed body of a hunter who went missing ten months ago was found at the remote Steward Island. It looks like a straightforward accident case, but the bullet that is lodged in the skull suggests a homicide. Soon after, a second body was found washed ashore at the Ringaringa Beach. Again, it appears to be a straightforward shark attack case, but things quickly turns complicated when the autopsy revealed a bullet damage in the victim's abdomen. Meanwhile there is an ongoing dispute between the shark cage diving operators and paua divers in this island. Are they connected to these murders? 
 
My thoughts: I do enjoy a mutilayered murder mystery and this book delivered that! The plot is interesting and it kept me guessing till the end. I loved that I learned quite a bit about sharks, shark cage diving, paua diving and forensics! Once again, I was transported to the beautiful NZ by the author's descriptive writing!  It was really well done! I also enjoyed reading the investigations aspect in this story and I appreciate that the author made you feel like you're a part of the team, investigating these deaths. However, compared to this first book, this aspect in this story feels overwhelming, too much details and it slowed down the story. Fortunately, things picked up again later on. There are also a lot more characters in this story which I struggled to keep up with. 

Overall, this is still an interesting murder mystery and if police procedural and forensics are something you enjoy, this is the book for you. I enjoyed this series so far, and looking forward to read the next book in this series. I am curious to see how the friendship between Alexa and DI Horne will develop as the series progresses. 


Pub. Date: 8 Sept, 2020 

***Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for this gifted review copy in exchange for an honest review.***