Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the quiet expanse of Field’s Crossing, Indiana, where snow blankets the landscape and secrets lie buried beneath frozen ground, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent steps into the chilling embrace of her first murder case. Mary Ann Miller's debut novel, "Bones Under the Ice," unravels a web of intrigue, betrayal, and long-held grudges against the backdrop of a small farming community.

Two days after a relentless blizzard, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent unearths the lifeless body of high school senior Stephanie Gattison—a girl whose dreams were cut short, her potential forever frozen. Murder is an anomaly in this tranquil farm country, and Jhonni's pursuit of justice thrusts her into a world of secrets and simmering tensions.

As Jhonni delves deeper, she uncovers a century-old feud between two families, their animosity as palpable as the icy winds that sweep across the fields. The stakes escalate when another body surfaces, and the past resurfaces with a vengeance. Miller deftly weaves the threads of history, love, and betrayal, leaving readers questioning the thin line between loyalty and vendetta.

Great mystery and good characters. The MC, Jhonni Laurent, is the new sheriff of Field's Crossing, Indiana. Not only is she new but she is female. Her deputy Mike Greene had run against her but lost, so now he is bitter and will do just about anything to win in the next campaign coming up soon. Mike has an in with the local newspaper since he has a good friend, Ralph Howard, who can't stand Jhonni so he'll run negative articles about Sheriff Laurent, true or not.

On top of all that, there is a body found that is a young 18 year old girl who had frozen to death. Laurent doesn't know for sure if it's a homicide or of some other cause. Every step of the way in her investigation Greene is right there to assure her that she's doing a lousy job. Greene believes that everyone has some dirt/secret you can dig up on them, and the sheriff definitely does. It's very personal and only a couple people know about her secret. If it gets out, it's a real possibility that she could lose the campaign for sheriff.

I wasn't crazy how she handled her secret, but I plan to read the next book when it comes out and find out more about it.

What a chilly, gripping, explosive, and completely mind-blowing mystery! I absolutely loved and enjoyed every bit of this fantabulous masterpiece. Bones Under the Ice is Mary Ann Miller's debut novel. Say WHAT NOW? I am speechless!

From Miller's writing to resilient and determined main character (Jhonni Laurent) to small town politics to murder mystery, this book kept me hooked till the end.

Laurent is a likable character. From her dedication to her job to juggling between work and family issues, Laurent is resilient and nothing can bring her down. I also loved the small town setting and its hometown turf battles. The narration is engaging and immersive. Miller's storytelling is rich and compelling. Character development is impressive.

Bones Under the Ice by Mary Ann Miller is a unique, compelling and completely engrossing thriller. If you love small-town settings and suspenseful plotlines, I highly recommend Bones Under the Ice by Mary Ann Miller.

A good mystery/thriller! A quick read with likeable characters and interesting plot twists. Recommend to any fan of the genre.

Suspenseful mystery with great character development. The combination of the first female sheriff, her first murder to investigate and a raging blizzard combine for a compelling story. Add in personal problems coming to a boil for the sheriff and the small town and you have a great first mystery. Can't wait for the next book. Highly recommended.

Written by a debut author this is the first in the Jhonni Laurent crime mystery series.
I found Laurent more interesting than the usual character in similar books. She was an older police officer who didn’t have to cope with a relationship as well as do her job ie solve the case of a young girl found dead in the snow.
The opening chapters were great at setting the scene and made it easy to visualise the details. My attention wandered a little when it seemed to get a bit political but that may have been just due to my lack of interest in that area. Overall I thought this was a good murder/police procedural and I recommend giving the author a try.
In Australia police aren’t elected to their position so Laurent’s situation was a novelty to me. In real life I can imagine this could be stressful for some. Also I felt Laurent’s deputy was quite disrespectful towards her and thought even less of him after I found out what he had been up to. Earlier in the book I don’t understand why he wasn’t reprimanded in some way.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the uncorrected proof.

"Bones Under the Ice" by Mary Ann Miller is a gripping and atmospheric crime thriller that takes readers on a thrilling journey into the dark underbelly of a small town. The story follows a determined protagonist who uncovers a shocking secret buried beneath the icy surface. Miller's writing is evocative, painting a vivid picture of the setting and immersing readers in a world filled with tension and suspense. With its well-developed characters and intricate plot, "Bones Under the Ice" is a page-turner that will satisfy fans of the genre.

Bones Under The Ice
A Jhonni Laurent Mystery, Book #1
Mary Ann Miller
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff of Field' s Crossing, Indiana— and now she has her first murder case

Two days after a blizzard hits Field' s Crossing, Indiana, Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers the frozen body of a high school senior under a fifteen-foot pile of snow and ice. Murder is rare in farm country, and this death marks the beginning of Jhonni' s first homicide case.

Just as the investigation gets underway, Jhonni' s opponent for sheriff from four years ago wages a bitter reelection battle to oust her. Then, Jhonni finds another body, and further complications arise when a century-old feud between two families reaches its breaking point.

Soon, a slew of newspaper articles causes the Indiana State Election Board to doubt her credibility. Jhonni must fight to maintain her reputation, keep the small farming community together, and find the murderer at large— all while demons from her own past threaten to crush her. Can she find the killer and mend her battered spirit before it’s too late?

Perfect for fans of J. A. Jance and C. J. Box (Amazon)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. Two days after a blizzard, Sheriff Jhonny Laurent discovers a body frozen on the ground. The body is a high school senior and it happens to be Jhonny’s first homicide. She has to figure out what happened to the girl and who is responsible. She also has to try and repair her reputation and fight for her job during a reelection year. She has a difficult task ahead of her.

The story flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the beginning and hung on. The mystery is well plotted and there were plenty of suspects to consider and clues to sift through.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted police procedural. It is the first book in the series and it was really good.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Oceanview Publishing, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is not a well-written book. There are so few characters and so little depiction of the town that it seems somehow as if Field’ s Crossing, Indiana has about 15 residents, of whom 4 or 5 work, or did work. for the Sheriff's Department. My attention quickly drifted away and I didn't finish.

In short: Jhonni is the 1st female sheriff in Fields Crossing, Indiana and is now faced with her 1st murder case.

What I liked:
❄️The setting and winter atmosphere
❄️Jhonni’s re-election campaign against one of her deputies.
❄️lots of action & a 2nd murder.

Final thoughts: I really enjoyed this debut mystery book! It had elements of CJ Box and Longmire but with a female protagonist. Between solving the 2 murders, delving into a centuries old family feud and the re-election story lines there was a lot going on. Great mystery with lots of action and a little cliffhanger.

A small-town police procedural with first term female sheriff, Jhonni Laurent. She is a cello playing fifty-two-year-old woman who will have to take on her detractors, the local newspaper as well as one of her own deputies. A body is found buried in the snow after a major storm. We follow along the procedure they go through to remove the body of the young teen as well as to determine if she was caught in the storm or if she was murdered. The loss of life is distressing to Jhonni as she is reminded of the baby that she gave up thirty years ago. Her daughter has indicated that she would like to meet her, what will she do? As Jhonni continues the painstaking investigation, a local man is found dead. An accident or another murder? I really enjoyed this first book in this series, the strength and empathy shown for the loss of life by the new sheriff as she fights against all odds to get justice. I really look forward to the next book. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

A Tragic Accident Or Homicide?

In rural Indiana a heavy snow had fallen the previous night, and the snow cleared from the street was dumbed in large mounts in a local park. Children were snowboarding down these mounts. One of them discovered a hand sticking out of the snow. Sheriff Jhonni Laurent and Caleb Martin, Public and Road Commissioner, respond to extricate the body. Once the body is uncovered, Caleb recognizes her as Stephanie Gattison. She was the girl friend of his brother, Dylan Martin. Some depressions are discovered on her head, but several days are needed to thaw the body before an autopsy could be conducted to determine the cause and manner of her death. From this start a complex investigation starts.

The author wove two main storyline threads into an intriguing mystery thriller. The mystery starts with two viable suspects with motive, means, and opportunity whose families have been at each other’s throats since the start of art of prohibition. The thriller aspects also start quickly. The election for the Sheriff is just weeks away. Sheriff Laurent won last time by a very small margin over Deputy Greene who now works for Sheriff Laurent. He is running against her again in this election. Their political relationship is as belligerent opponents, and their professional relationship is not better. Stir into this mix a very annoying newspaper paper reporter, Ralph Howard, who will slant any story into a scathing editorials of Sheriff Laurent’s inability to fulfill her responsibilities as sheriff. There is a third thread that is both a main storyline thread and B-storyline thread. It is a secret of Sheriff Laurent that Howard wants to use as a coup de grace to sink Sheriff Laurent’s reelection bid. While little real progress has occurred in the death of Gattison, another questionable death occurs. The tension rises quickly as the possibility of an active killer or killers is present in a once sleepy town. This main storyline captured and held my interest all the way to the end.

Besides Sheriff Laurent’s thoughts and interactions with others, there are two B-storyline threads. The first is her relationship with her predecessor, Sheriff Glen Atkins. While this is a sub thread of the investigation, it reveals much about Sheriff Laurent’s personal interactions with a friend. This thread also reveals much about her and some of her background. The second thread was also part of the main storyline. It is Sheriff Laurent’s deep secret that she only has shared with her best friend. This 20-yearold secret is starting to reemerge. This thread reveals much on how she handles this very personal issue. For me, she is a very well-developed character with strengths some warts and blemishes.

For the aspects that cause some readers to stop reading or not read at all, first there are not any intimate scenes. As for vulgar language, there is some, but there is a noticeable level of rude language. There is some impious language. Violence generally is described in the less edgy after the fact. Overall, I do not believe that most readers would find these aspects as objectionable.

I did not find anything that bothered with this novel, but I suspect that some readers will find the slowness of the start a liability. The bodies had been frozen requiring days for deaths were determined to by homicides. This aspect for me just showed Sheriff Laurent’s resourcefulness when her actions were limited. I did like the ending and that there were not any unresolved loose ends. I found myself not being able to stop reading until late at night and wanting to start again when I awaken in the morning. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel.

This is a new author for me. I am quite happy that I tried this author. I do not rate new authors until I read at least two novels by an author, but after reading this novel I suspect that she will be rated at least as a Will-Read at a minimum. I do recommend reading this novel. I am looking forward to reading further novels by this author. I rate this novel with five stars.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Oceanview Publishing. My review is based only on my own experience of this book. I wish to thank Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

Thank you to the author, Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut effort is a strong start to what seems set to become a series. The protagonist, a local sheriff facing challenges both professional and private, is a strong female lead, and the small-town atmosphere in the rural Midwest is authentic to a fault. The mystery, set in bitter midwinter weather, is well-written - although I have to confess I did work out fairly quickly who the killer was. However, the author made the story and the characters interesting enough to make it an enjoyable read right through to the satisfying end. I look forward to reading more from this author!

It's cold in the quad-counties of rural Indiana, the snow making life difficult and Sheriff Jhonni Laurent has a nasty cold. She also has to figure out who the body is in the deep pile of ice and snow at Webster Part. Two boys sledding discovered a hand poking out of the snow. With nothing more to go on but the white puffer coat and purple nail polish visible on the arm, she knows it's a young woman but must wait until her team clears the scene. It's not an easy wait. So begins the first of two story threads that make up this very well written debut mystery.
The second thread revolves around how various locals feel about her being elected sheriff. While she was a deputy for fifteen years and obviously knows what she's doing, somebody is out to get her, to get her out as sheriff. The man who ran against her and lost is eager for a rematch, one that makes him sheriff. The election is one thing but impugning her integrity adds another dimension to it.
From the very first page this mystery had me engaged. I took an instant like to Jhonni and I will not hesitate to read more about Jhonni Laurent.
My thanks to the publisher Oceanview Publishing and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

This looks like it is Mary Ann Miller's first book and it is a KEEPER!! I HOPE it is the first in a series, because I want to read more about Sheriff Jhonni Laurent.

The day after a February blizzard has blown through northern Indiana, quad-county Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is called to the scene of a body buried in a pile of snow in a popular park in Field's Crossing, Indiana.. The park where it was found is a popular sledding area and the local snowplows dump snow there for the kids to slide down. But today, two of the sledders noticed a hand sticking out of the pile of snow. No one knows if it is an entire body, who it might be, or how it got there, but it is the Sheriff's job to answer all those questions.

So begins a story that will keep you guessing almost to the end. It is not an easy puzzle to unravel, and a second frozen body adds to the mystery. Are they accidents or murder? If murder, is the same person responsible for them both? Does the old feud between two families, both of whom have members associated with the first victim, have anything to do with the deaths?

Mixed into the confusion is a looming election, in which Jhonni is hoping to retain her seat as Sheriff. And there is the letter from her baby girl, now 30, who she gave away all those years ago.

A really good read. I want more from this author and about this Sheriff!!

The book summary introduces the premise for the primary storylines, so I won’t repeat them here. However, what the book summary doesn’t really mention, other than very briefly is that the day that Sheriff Jhonni Laurent finds the first body is also the 30yr anniversary of the day she gave up her only child, a daughter, for adoption. Jhonni has also received a letter from the adoption agency indicating that the daughter is now searching for her bio parents.

The book summary also doesn’t make it clear that her opponent for Sheriff is a deputy that currently works for her and is still very bitter that he lost to her last time and is now leaking personal and professional info (some of it revolving around their active cases) to has his reporter friend who writing false crap about the Sheriff in hopes of derailing the upcoming election. None of this is a spoiler and is revealed early in the story.

In the second half of the story, another body is discovered, and while Jhonni certainly has her suspicions of who the killer(s) are, she is struggling to connect the two deaths together to show they are related. The dirty campaigning for the upcoming election started to ramp up and the residents began to take their respective sides. After an attack on her BFF, Sheriff Jhonni starts to zero in on a suspect/killer. After that, the ending comes in fast, and gets really dangerous for Sheriff Jhonni, but comes to a satisfying end.

Unless editing and/or writing errors actually affect my understanding and/or interpretation of the storyline and/or characterization, I rarely ever comment on them. I'm neither a writer nor an editor, just an avid reader. However, since this is an eARC of an uncorrected version, I feel compelled to comment. This book is in serious need of some thorough editing.

Throughout the entire book, it was confusing to determine which character was speaking because there was usually inadequate identification of the current speaker and/or there wasn’t a clear transition from one speaker to another. Even the times there was an identification of who was saying what, the very next paragraph, or several paragraphs, the words of multiple speakers would run together, without a clear transition from speaker to speaker. I had to often go back and try and figure out who was saying what. Once again, the writer and/or editor needs to go through the whole book and clean up these types of passages. I seriously doubt I am the only reader who has complained about this issue. Hopefully, this has already been addressed for the published copy.

Under normal circumstances, I would have DNFed this book pretty early in the story because of the writing/editing issues mentioned above that got really annoying, really fast. However, since it was a free eARC from NetGalley, I was committed to finishing the book. While I enjoyed the story and liked the MC, and based on that would consider continuing with the series, if there is one. If I could, I would rate the story 3.5stars. However, I’m not feeling compelled to round up because of the glaring oversights previously mentioned.

I want to thank NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing, for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

@NetGalley @OceanviewPublishing @BonesUndertheIce

An engaging page turner. Love the age bracket of Jhonni Laurent. A competent and capable woman sheriff. I am excited to see that this is the beginning of a new series. I look forward to reading the next one. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Two days after a blizzard hit Field's Crossing, Indiana, the body of a young woman is found in a pile of frozen snow at a local park. Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is faced with her first-ever murder investigation in the middle of a tough re-election campaign against one of her deputies, one who doesn't mind crossing a few lines or bending the truth to discredit his boss and competitor. Laurent's investigation puts her in the middle of a century-old feud between two local families, and gets more complicated when a second frozen body is found. Bones Under the Ice is a complex mystery with lots of action and good character development. I'm looking forward to the next book in this new series!

I loved this one! Jhonni Laurent was a great charcter to follow. Was she out of her depth by picking up a murder case when she's never worked a murder before in her law-enforcement career? Yes. But was she able to put the skills she did have to use? Also yes.

This was the kind of mystery where the whole time you have not much of an idea of who the bad guy is, but when it's revealed, you're able to look back and go "OH, I see it now". All the foreshadowing was there, but so subtle that it wasn't obvious.

I loved how diplomatically Laurent dealt with the community she works for, how she gets to know the people in town on a personal level, taking an active interest in their lives.

I didn't like, though, how much of a focus was placed on a very personal conflict in her life, and how it was poised to be a huge deal in the community, but then was very quietly almost shoved aside at the end. I would have liked to see how Laurent would deal with that conflict being made public, as was threatened throughout the story.

My other gripe was how she was always referred to as "Laurent", never by her first name "Jhonni". It would have been nice to have a mix, especially as the book was mostly written from her own perspective (limited third person) - and who refers to themselves by their last name? Not many people that I know of.

But overall, a great start to a promising new detective series, and I'm looking forward to seeing where things go next!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance digital copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley & Oceanview Publishing for providing me with this free ARC in return for my honest review.

Talk about a page-turner. Mary Ann Miller in her debut really knocks it out of the park in what appears to be the first in a series about Jhonni Laurent, sheriff in a quad-county area of Northern Indiana. I could not put this book down. Jhonni is the sheriff of a farming region and a day after a blizzard the kids at a local park discover a hand sticking out of a pile of snow and ice - pushed their by the snowplows - and which turns out to be the body of a local teenage girl. Who and why would someone murder this high school senior. Miller uses this to bring light to generational family feuds, along with a shady newspaper reporter who is in cahoots with one of Jhonni Laurent's deputies who will do anything possible to derail her career and have her lose the upcoming election. Along the way a local banker is found dead in his ice fishing tent and so is there one killer or two? The suspense drives story which I read in under two days. The dialog is both crisp and utterly believable and the plot takes us to the manyu different people, and issues surrounding farm communities. Even Sheriff Laurent has a hidden secret that could bring down her campaign. One mighty fine debut from author Mary Ann Miller, Kudos!!!!