I tried reading this one twice but just couldn't get into it. The first time I thought it was just me not being in the right mood for the genre but turns out it was just me and the book not vibing. This one sounded really interesting but as I couldn't get into it I just didn't get invested in the characters and wanting to root for them.
I think I DNFd at approx 45% the first time and 30% the second and final time.

3 things I love:
Books set in tropical locations
Books set during storms
Books set in an isolated location

And this book hit all 3!

This was kind of boring. I definitely never got into it. I did like the spooky storm atmosphere though!

I have been having a string of books lately that I don't know how to feel about and The Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums is just another to add to that list. I heard a ton of great things about her previous book (and debut) All That's Bright and Gone and when I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. The cover is also stunning, and the idea of the Key West setting had me immediately. I ended up really enjoying the first part of the book as well as everything after the teenage girl and her father arrive, but everything between that was a little off for me. There is a little bit of a mystery that I liked, and at times, a paranormal feel as well. I wasn't entirely sure what to think about Magda, and it seemed as though she may have some mental health issues or a mental illness, but that wasn't explored at all.

I'm also not sure what to think of the audiobook which is narrated by Nancy Peterson. I have listened to her voice other books and loved her, but the audio of The Bone Cay was just not great and I think it is due to whoever edited it. It was fine when I listened to it in my car with background noise, but with headphones in it was really frustrating. There were odd pauses, and I could hear Peterson swallowing throughout, as well as it feeling oddly slow even on a 3x speed. If you are going to listen to this without headphones that would probably be the best way to go, otherwise I'm not sure I recommend it, although listening at a slower speed could potentially help as well. There were a few moments where the story gets really tense, and I can't even imagine trying to brave a hurricane. The end also ends up being pretty suspenseful which I enjoyed, and I had no idea how it was going to end. Overall, even though this wasn't my favorite I would still read a future book from Nellums, and I still plan to read All That's Bright and Gone.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

⭐⭐⭐

This book can really be separated into two parts (ratings). Before the hurricane hit and the appearance of the teenage girl and her father (2 stars). And everything that came after. (4 stars). The first part I found was slow, dull and flat. Magda didn't seem to be mentally all there, and it is never explained if she was sick? Or what? Considering the reaction her ex had at seeing her. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Once the hurricane hit full force and Hank and Emily showed up, the pace picked up and I enjoyed it more. I will say my favorite part of this book was the setting. It was very atmospheric, with the creepy dilapidated Whimbrel House, and the hurricane slowly destroying everything.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

I enjoyed this much more than I thought; in fact, this would have been a 4-star read, had it not been for the ending. I liked the atmosphere, the author really brought across the claustrophobia of being stuck in a dilapidated building in the middle of a hurricane (so much so that I kept thinking that Whimbrel House was the only building on the Key, when in fact there are a couple of other structures around); I could also appreciate the use of flashbacks to flesh out the MC's character and her reasons for (re)acting the way she does, although at times I couldn't help but think that less might have been more, especially when it came to Magda and her relationship with her dad -- IMO the author went a bit crazy with this aspect of Magda's youth, or maybe my crazy/fun/irresponsible dad tolerance is a bit lower than average.
For the most part, I "got" Magda's single-mindedness when it came to preserving Whimbrel House and its contents, even her obsession with the house's most famous occupant, the Young Doomed Poetess (whose poetry, liberally quoted throughout the novel, certainly doesn't speak of deathlessness... I thought the "quotes" fell way short of what Magda and, in essence, the rest of this book's world makes of it). Towards the final third I got a bit tired of Magda's doggedness; by all means, drag that chair up those dissolving stairs, and this painting, and that book, but you know, tone it down a bit, maybe? Especially since Ms Nellums throws everything but the kitchen sink at our poor heroine, having her battle a fierce head cold, ominous newcomers, sick teenage girls, clueless lemurs, hypothermia, hunger, various ills and aches and pains and injuries and one or two near-drownings, a Huge Revelation (not so huge if you've read a gothic mystery or two in your life), and of course that darn hurricane and a rapidly declining mansion all at the same time.

And then there's that ending. I mean, really. After all this, this is what we're left with? A sailing-into-the-sunset kind of deal? What the hell?

There were some scenes I didn't need that much, e.g. that whole Tourist Family/House Tour spiel that seemed to be designed to make the background info dump feel a bit less suffocating; I could have done without Angsty Cellphone Mum and her two Annoying Youngsters, who seem to have changed gender somewhere between the final draft and this ARC (it's boy and girl, until finally a question is asked by "the youngest girl", which doesn't really make sense until there are at least two female children around). So much time was spent on this family and their visit that I was convinced they'd become important for the novel later, e.g. show up again and become stranded at the house with the rest of them, but no, they just drop off the planet, leaving nothing behind but Junior's cold. Instead, we get a visit from Magda's ex, who is of course a hunk with a heart of gold and would like to save Magda but totally respects her stubbornness even though it makes him sad, or something like that... I was too busy rolling my eyes to pay too much attention, the whole thing was too romance-y for me and felt like pages of pointless cringe.
I also wasn't entirely convinced that the poet girl drowning herself "was what drew desperate people to Whimbrel House" to the point that Magda routinely checks the surrounding waters for fresh bodies first thing in the morning, every morning -- I mean, travel out to some godforsaken Key down in Florida just to drown yourself? Do people shoot themselves in Ketchum, ID or stick their head in an oven in Primrose Hill, or go to Lewes to fill their pockets with stones and step into the river? If a place drew that kind of attention, and on that scale to boot, would it even stay accessible to the public? I thought that was a bit too much,
The scenes I enjoyed most were of Magda alone at the mansion, and her efforts to keep everything afloat. Yes, she behaves like an idiot at times (that whole gift shop incident -- I mean, really?), but I could relate to her situation. Then a Visitor arrives, and things start sliding into Sillytown; that guy might just as well have "Bad News" tattooed on his forehead, and his interactions with Magda reminded me of some generic '90s Hollywood "thriller" cheese (think Julia Roberts/Kiefer Sutherland/Marky Mark)... I mean, that guy was so *super* sketchy, you'd have to be basically braindead not to pick up on it. Which made it successively harder to root for Magda, who starts over- as well as underthinking things and all of a sudden goes all girl detective, finding and hiding stuff and deducting like crazy, just not exactly... swift enough. Let's just say she's no Veronica Mars.
So all in all, this was a fun read, although it suffered from a fairly unsubtle villain and an MC who had trouble putting two and two together; also, I still can't believe that ending. Oh, and whatever became of the lemurs??

A true heart stopping story. Historian Magda Trudell feels a responsibility and a purpose in restoring and preserving the legacy of poet Isabel Reyes. The poets home offers her a chance to find the truth to the rumors surrounding her death. A storm offers a sense of urgency. Two strangers give depth to the mystery. And finally Magda may have the answers to the mystery.

This was an interesting but unusual book. I felt there were many plot lines intertwined and sometimes became indistinct. It was a good concept that could have been written better but the characters were described with fair detail.

I was given an ebook ARC by Netgalley and this is my voluntary, honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This was a really different read! like wow! loved it tbh, really want to buy it and reread it!

All That’s Bright and Gone is one of my favorite books so I was incredibly excited to learn that Eliza Nellums had a new book to share with the world. I had expected to devour The Bone Cay, just as I had with her debut. I was dismayed when I struggled to get into the book, but I refused to let that deter me. I set it aside until my mood was right. I tried again. Set it aside again. Finally, I picked it up, pushed forward and realized I needed to stop lying to myself. This book just isn’t for me. I’d like to think Nellums did something remarkable with a story that I am just not the right reader for.

Magda is a historian and the caretaker of Whimbrel House in South Florida where the well known cultural identity Isobel Reyes grew up. She is determined to prove Isobel was more than this and believed her poetry had made a significant impact on literature. This same determination compels her to stay despite a severe cyclone warning to evacuate the area.
The elements were described in such a way I could feel the water creeping higher and higher and hear the the wind screaming.
I didn’t know whether to decry or admire someone who felt such a strong urge to protect the property of the dead when there was a raging cyclone headed their way. At least she had the handyman and his supposed daughter to keep her company if you can forget that shortly after their arrival that company took a turn for the worse.
While this had a good storyline and I enjoyed the read history related content isn’t on top of my favourite list.
The number of incomplete words dotted throughout the book would have to be an irritating distraction to any reader. This is sure to be corrected if it hasn’t already.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book in return for an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book but it was not something I could get into. It was to slow of a burn for me.
The writing was just not my style.
Thank you Crooked Lane for the Advance read.

The bone cay by Eliza Nellums.
Magda Trudell is the present-day caretaker of Whimbrel Estate, the Key West home of the famous poet Isobel Reyes. Isobel's suicide at the residence in 1918 has nearly overshadowed her creative legacy--but Magda, a botanist and avid historian, is determined to protect it. Over the past decade, Magda has lovingly restored the house to the exact condition Isobel would have known. And even though a fierce October hurricane is headed straight for the Keys, she isn't about to abandon her life's work to evacuate.
A very good read with good characters. Likeable story. 4*.

Magda Trudell is the caretaker of Whimbrell Estate in Key West, Florida. The stately property was once home to a famous American poet, Isobel Reyes, who committed suicide on the property in 1918. Magda, a botanist and historian, has dedicated her most recent years to restoring Whimbrell Estate to its former glory; something Isobel could be proud of.

Magda's hope is for Whimbrell to be recognized as a national historic site. It's important to her that Isobel's legacy be passed down for future generations to enjoy. Some might say she is a little obsessed with it actually.

When a fierce hurricane is reported to be headed straight for the Keys, local authorities call a mandatory evacuation. Magda isn't hearing it. There is no way she is fleeing and leaving her life's work at risk to Mother Nature. She must stay and protect the property, whatever the cost.

Once the storm hits, it proves to be just as dangerous as the experts predicted. Go figure. Now with her supplies wiped out and the house barely livable, Magda has company arrive. A teenage girl and her father, seeking shelter from the storm. Without many resources to spare, Magda nonetheless takes them in. It's the three of them against the storm. Will they be able to survive?

In amongst all of this, Magda discovers some hidden artifacts that she believes may be tied to Isobel's death. You know she will never leave those artifacts behind. This is her chance to leave her imprint on Isobel's story.

The Bone Cay is a good book. I had never read anything by Eliza Nellums and I'm glad that I had a chance to. I think for a lot of people, this will be a really great story. For me, it was good. It kept my attention and I'm glad that I read it. However, I wouldn't say it will remain particularly memorable for me.

It's a simply-told, linear story that makes a great escape from regular life. I enjoyed the setting of the Keys and Magda's role as caretaker for the Estate. Some aspects of the storm and the discovery of the new artifacts seemed a little strange to me, but in the context of the story, it did flow fairly well. As I mentioned above, I do think a lot of Readers will enjoy this. I think it could work well for history buffs, particularly Florida history buffs, and people just getting into the Thriller genre.

Thank you so much to the publishers, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I did listen to the audiobook and would recommend that as a medium for reading this story. It was quite well narrated.

An approaching hurricane sets the atmospherics for this mystery thriller, The Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums. As the caretaker of Whimbrel Estate which Magda Trudell has lovingly restored, she decides to stay, declining evacuation to safeguard the property. Maggie is surprised when a teenage girl and her father seek shelter at the Key West home of famous poet Isobel Reyes. As the disaster unfolds, a body is discovered in an old trunk and provisions are lost to the storm surges and lives are threatened. With its slow build up, a not so tense finale and ghostly allusions make for a three-star rating and squandered atmospherics. With thanks to Crooked Lane Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and are made without fear or favour.

It's been over a week since I read The Bone Cay, but I can still hear the roaring of the wind and still feel an old house crumbling beneath me as the waters rise-- Eliza Nellum's claustrophobic setting is that good. The mystery as to what really happened to the poet Isobel Reyes is easy to deduce, but that is such a small part of what is going on in this book that it almost doesn't signify.

Magda Trudell is a fantastic character. Smithsonian-trained, her dedication and focus on Whimbrel House and Isobel Reyes is total. She has spent over a decade of her life determined to restore the house and grounds to their original state so that, if Isobel were to return, the poet would find it exactly as she left it. From the lemurs living on the estate, to the condition of the floors, to her tender nurturing of heritage Key lime trees, Magda's own life is subsumed by Whimbrel House, and when the two strangers appear needing shelter, she wishes she didn't have to bring them in because it means she has less time to save "her" house. Readers will soon discover that when Magda says to herself "at least she could try," this woman is more than willing to die trying. She will not give up, even as her suspicions about the teenage girl and her father become more profound.

Everything is so serious. Two strange people Magda needs to keep an eye on. The hurricane raging all around them. Most of their provisions lost in the floodwaters. Her beloved old house being eaten alive by hungry-looking murky water. An old trunk filled with old bones. The tension is even higher than the suspense, so it's good that there are occasional flashes of dark humor that allow readers (and Magda) to laugh and lighten up for a moment or two.

The Bone Cay is a tension-filled tale of survival that kept me wondering how Magda Trudell could come out on top when everything was stacked against her. I was in the mood for an elemental, atmospheric, nail-biting tale about a strong, memorable woman. I wish that I could meet her again in the future.

Magda's made the decision to stay on the Whimbrel Estate, home of her hero poet Isobel Reyes in the middle of Hurricane Ida. Not a good one. The storm is stronger than she expected, among other things. And then Hank, the handyman who she's just used to board up windows, turns up with his pregnant daughter Emily. Hank's creepy and to be honest some of his comments (most notably about the lemurs) don't work. Now Magda has a house that's flooding, a teen who is ill, and a man she can't trust (but she's willing to.....) to cope with in the middle of the storm. She is however, mostly obsessed with a box she's found in a cistern that's uncovered as the house crumbles- no spoils. There are flashbacks to her peripatetic childhood. This veers between mystery and suspenseful survival story with a soupçon of menace. It is, to be honest, a bit all over the place but it's still a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Did the lemurs survive?

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved this book! It’s a survival thriller with multiple mysteries. The setting is so atmospheric. I have read and loved many blizzard mysteries but never one with an active hurricane. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I understood how much Magda loved the house and her job, and why she decided to stay there during the storm. I wholeheartedly recommend this entertaining book.

Magda is the passionate curator of a historic home in the Florida Keys. Famous as the home of poet Isobel Reyes, Whimbrel House is a tourist attraction and school field trip destination. From meticulously restoring the furniture and books in the home to be authentic to the time, to giving tours of the house and quoting Isobel’s poems, Magda eats, sleeps and breathes her job. The home has an added mystery in the fact that Isobel met her untimely death when she drowned in the cove behind the house. The story has inspired copycat deaths over the years, but it’s nothing Magda can’t handle.

With a hurricane bearing down, the Keys are evacuated. But Magda decides to hunker down in Whimbrel House during the storm. She will do anything to keep the home intact and unharmed. But it quickly becomes clear the storm is more powerful than anticipated and multiple disasters threaten to take Magda and Whimbrel House down. And then a man and his daughter arrive seeking refuge, and threatening the tenuous safety Magda has found…

HE BONE CAY by Eliza Nellums is a mystery story that begins just as a major hurricane is bearing down on the Florida Keys. First question: how can someone be so obsessed with her job and the life of a long dead poet to risk her own life and stay behind in the storm? That's Magda Trudell, caretaker of the estate where poet Isobel Reyes grew up in isolation and committed suicide. Next question: why is handyman Hank McGrath still on the island and can he and Magda get help for his pregnant daughter, Emily, during the worsening storm? Another question: Who is the skeleton that Magda finds buried in a trunk? Oh, and even more questions: Who broke the radio transmitter? As the storm stalls and causes major damage and flooding, how will they manage to get food and water? Will any of them survive? This soon-to-be-released fast-paced thriller is full of diverting action and creepy happenings (on several levels). Enjoy!

Magda has spent years idolizing and carefully honoring the memory of poet Isobel Reyes, who lived a troubled, brief life in Key West before committing suicide at her family's home, Whimbrel Estate, after completing only two books. Since then, her legacy has been caught up in the tragedy of her final act despite Magda's best efforts to emphasize her life's work. When a powerful hurricane heads straight for the Keys, Magda vows to remain at Whimbrel, no matter what, to protect the valuables inside. But soon things begin to go horribly wrong. Not only do her supplies get ruined, but wreckage unearths some disturbing discoveries. And when a father-daughter pair turns up, things only get weirder.

This is a highly atmospheric thriller with a great twist: not only do you have the hurricane angle, but then there's this whole subplot with the fact that there's a mysterious air surrounding the whole death of Isobel from the very beginning. And as the book goes on, things just keep getting shadier and more mysterious. It becomes something that you feel compelled to want to know the solution to after diving into the book.

Similarly, there's a lot going on in the present day that adds to the tense atmosphere and the creates a whole new mystery. I really enjoyed the entire story. Especially once it gets going. (It does drag a little in the middle as the hurricane begins and Magda is kind of just waiting around). The ending is very good and actually very perfect. I won't give it away, but I don't think I would have wanted it to end another way - I can't explain right now, but yeah. Good.

Magda herself was interesting. I liked her generally. You get frustrated with her stubbornness, but I got it. I mean, if I devoted my entire life to something, I wouldn't be able to see it go down the tubes in a flash without feeling like I did something. And that's what she was doing in the end. Only what she had to do to save something of what she worked hard for.

So yes, if you like tense, atmospheric thrillers, very gothic in nature. pick this one up. It's a great ride from beginning to end.