An intriguing police procedural featuring Jhonni Laurent (who goes by Laurent), the first female sheriff for the farming community of Field’s Crossing, Indiana. The story opens with Laurent facing her first homicide investigation after the body of a high school senior is found under a pile of snow and ice. The investigation coincides with Laurent facing reelection against a devious and bitter deputy who she defeated four years prior. Adding to her problems is a secret from her past, a century-old family feud, a second murder, alleged election fraud, and an unscrupulous newspaper reporter. There is an appreciable cast of supporting characters including Laurent’s lively best friend Starr, the former sheriff/mentor who aids with the investigations, a couple of wise retired farmers who hold court at the local restaurant, and a potential love interest.

There are not many books featuring a 50-something-year-old protagonist (much less a 50-something-year-old cello-playing cigar-smoking protagonist), which is refreshing. I applaud the author for creating a mature relatable character and I look forward to future books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Mary Ann Miller, and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC (Advance Read Copy).

Enjoyed the book. Lots of interesting characters and story development. There was a problem with the download. Last few pages were missing so did not get all of the final story.

Jhonni Laurent is new to the job of sheriff in a small Indiana farming community. Her deputy sheriff resents the fact that Jhonni defeated him in the last election. He intends to do everything possible to stop her from winning a second term.

When the body of a high school girl is found frozen beneath a snowbank, Jhonni is determined to find the killer. As the investigation drags on, a second murder occurs. She wonders if these two murders could be connected. These are the first murder cases she has ever investigated. Sheriff Laurent is in a race against time to find the person or persons responsible for the crimes as the next election approaches.

This is an intriguing mystery with multiple suspects. The characters are believable and the rural winter setting adds to the feeling of gloom. At times the pace of the story slowed. It did pick up in the last part of the book, and the story was enjoyable.

Thank you to author Mary Ann Miller, Oceanview Publishing, and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read this mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the copy of Bones Under The Ice. I didn’t enjoy the writing style. The mystery was good, but the story was long and some parts were convoluted and didn’t seem to have any relationship to the murder because they were setups for the rest of the series. I never warmed up to Jhonni or any of the other characters because I never got to know them. If you don’t mind waiting for the other books to get to know more about them you would like this book. Maybe I’m too critical because I see many people loved this book, but it was not really for me.

Jhonni Laurent is a cigar-smoking, cello-playing 50-something sheriff in Indiana. With the election coming up, two unexpected events complicate her campaign. First, the daughter she placed for adoption has reached out after 30 years. And second, the body of a high school senior has been discovered under a pile of snow. A classic police procedural with a main character I'd like to get to know better. I hope that there will be more from Mary Ann Miller!

Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

Sheriff Jhonni Laurent is an oddity, a female sheriff in a small Indiana town. Facing an impending election, in which one of her officers is trying to unseat her, Jhonni now has her first murder case to solve. A young woman found after blizzard frozen in the snow presents many unknowns, and a difficult search for a killer ensues. When a local banker is murdered, the cases seem connected but how remains a mystery. It's a great read with a wonderful protagonist. I hope there is another Sheriff Laurent story to come.

Bones Under the Ice was a good read. This is the first of Jhonni Laurent mysteries series. The story takes place in Fields Crossing, Indiana. Jhonni Laurent is the first female sheriff and main character. Mike Greene ran against her but lost. He was not happy that he lost. They are running again for sheriff. The reporter and owner of the Crossing newspaper Ralph Howard and good friends with Mike hates Jhonni and is out to get her.

She has been called to Webster Park. Two boys, Danny Gibson and Tyler Haynes found a hand in a snow pile. Her name is Stephanie Gattison. Her body was frozen in the snow. later found to be murdered. She calls Caleb Martin, Public Works Director, her deputies, Mike Greene and Dak Aikens, the coroner and Henry Linville, funeral director to come to the site. When they are able to dig her out of the snow pile. Caleb recognizes her and tells Jhonni that she is his brother Dylan's girlfriend. Owen and Thresa Gattison are her parents She goes and tells them of her death. They tell her that Stephanie has not been home since Wednesday. She drove a truck.. There was a blizzard that day.

Jhonni goes to the Martin's Farm to tell the family about Stephanie and to talk to Dylan. He tells her that he did not kill her. They met after school at the water tower around 3 o'clock. He was the first there. When she got there she told him that she was pregnant. She told him that she did not want to marry him, etc. She got into her truck and he left. He went to his brother Caleb's office arriving around 4:30. Maggie, the secretary was just leaving. Dylan told his brother about the pregnancy Because of the blizzard the brothers stayed at the office. On the way to his brother he passed Theo Tillman who knocked the side mirror off Dylan's car. While there their uncle Vern called to tell them there were lights at the water tower.

Jhonni found Stephanie's truck at the water tower. Vern Martin, lives across the road. He had shoveled a path from his place to the truck. He told her that he had seen both Dylan and Stephanie's trucks but that Dylan had left. Then another car came between 4-5, It was Theo who was there to smoke weed. He spoke to Stephanie but again left. There was a 4th car but he did not know anymore about it.

There are two parts to this story. One is the sheriff election and the other is Stephanie's murder. There is so much going on with both of these stories that it is hard to tell in detail. The reader will have to read to find out what is happening. The story comes to an exciting climax with lots of action.

The story ends with a little of a cliff hanger with Mike Greene and Ralph Howard in trouble. Will this be resolved in the next book. There are so much that was left unsaid. Has Jhonni become sheriff and more about her daughter. What will happen with the windmills and Neil Tillman and his son Theo. What will happen with the Martin family and Dylan. I look forward to finding out and Jhonni's next adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for this ARC.

This was definitely a political book, it had some suspense, intrigue, action, murder, and a pretty good who done it! The storyline was interesting and flowed nicely! I will recommend reading this book as it was worth reading but it was just ok for me! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This book of fiction reads like nonfiction. It could be true. Sad.y, it could happen.the characters come alive on the pages. This talented author has written a book of intrigue and suspense. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Murders…feuds…friendship…love…jealousy…themes running throughout this book. This book did move slowly at times. I want to rush the protagonist. Guessing the ending was not easy.

“Bones Under the Ice.” by Mary Ann Miller (ISBN: 9781608095377), Published Date: 21 March 2023, earns four stars.

An excellent story featuring wonderful character development and a plot with more twists and turns than a remote switchback mountain road covered by fog. Numerous “hints” keep the reader guessing and the reader’s interest high.

The story’s protagonist is Jhonni Laurent, the first female sheriff of Field’s Crossing, Indiana, who came to office after a closely contested election with her archrival who is now her senior and untrustworthy deputy, who is in league with a corrupt newspaperman.

Sheriff Laurent now she has her first murder case, but before she can resolve that, another occurs—in addition to an attempt on the life of one of her colleagues. In the process, we have a clue-obscuring blizzard, multi-generational family feuds, embezzlement, potential election fraud and an insidious newspaperman.

Sheriff Laurent, who has her own past, wages an event-filled battle with multiple antagonists even as she seeks the counsel of the former sheriff, two old, retired farmers, and several others who throw their lot in with her. It’s a terrific read, and what appears to be the first in a series. Can’t wait for the next installment.

Sincere thanks to the author, and Oceanview Publishing, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley for helping to make that possible.

I DNF'ed this book at 45%. The writing was pretty rough. This felt like a very rough draft of a book for me.

The dialogue felt really forced and there was so much of it. I also noticed a lot of grammar issues.