The Wrong Bones by Melinda Leigh

Sometimes you don't realize you need something short and good. This novella fit the bill for that for me. This is the 10th book in the Widow's Island series. In this one three boys are out playing by the local cemetery. The boys here someone digging at one of the graves and are spooked they call Tessa Black who happens to be on duty that night.

Tessa Black heads to the cemetery and realizes what the boy's saw is true and pursues the gravedigger who runs into the woods and drops a box of bones. Black eventually loses sight of them in the state park. Her boyfriend Logan Wilde is the park ranger for the park and she contacts him to help her locate the individual digging at the grave. While they do that they find a tent and equipment that belongs to a boy. The boy is running away from a dysfunctional family. The story goes from this point where they figure out the box of bones belongs to a runaway girl. Now the pair need to figure out who killed the girl and bring them to justice.

This is a very quick read and will keep you on your toes from start to finish. I personally like thrillers that keep you on your toes so this fits the bill for me. Sometimes good things come in small packages and they feed your thriller addiction. I will continue reading the series and for those who haven't read any of the series this still can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake publishing for a free copy of this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Tessa Black, a small town deputy on an island off the coast of Washington State, is on patrol one night were she runs into a grave robber at the cemetery. After a grueling chase, falling on her face and losing him in the woods, she discovers that he was not trying to rob a grave, but instead, bury a box of human bones in it.

Logan Wilde, the only park ranger of Widow's Island and Tessa's fiancée, joins her on her investigation to find out who the bones belong to and solve the mystery of why someone would be burying bones in a cemetery. Did they murder the person? Do they feel guilty? Did they love the person and are giving them a proper burial?

When search results come back as a 17-year-old missing girl from the mainland and their only witness is an uncooperative teenager, Tessa and Logan search for the killer using whatever lead they find.

My thoughts:
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book! I don't read crime very often but it didn't seem dreary to me. The writing had a younger tone to it that kept me interested. The storyline was good and so was the progression. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery of who the killer was was definitely not obvious. The book was fast-paced and exiting.

I would definitely recommend it 💙🤍

Loved it! As usual everything was amazing, and I could not read it fast enough. I enjoy this series so much. The characters are wonderful, the plot interesting and the action quick. Love it, love it, love it!

This is the 10th book in the series and while I was able to read it as a standalone I still feel like I was missing something so I am truly looking forward to go back to the beginning and starting with book 1!

This book leaves you on the edge of your seat and when you think you might have it figured out you will realize you don't! It all starts with Tessa's new case in a graveyard where some boys see someone digging up bones!

Thank you Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my ARC!

The Wrong Bones is an intriguing, interesting suspense with some sweet romance. I've not read any of the other books in the series and while I'm sure they would have provided insight into the characters, I didn't feel lost starting here.

Tessa and Logan are well written and they both care about their work. They've not let it make them jaded and uncaring. They're good at their jobs and investigate quickly and thoroughly. Novellas tend to be too short to really beef out a story but this one is well presented and didn't leave me wanting more, Well wait, I'd take more of the series but this story as well concluded.

I'd be interested in more of this series past and future.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely love these quick reads by Leigh and Elliot. They are connected by the main characters and each offers a new mystery or crime. We have Tessa and Logan this time as they chase down a series of events that must be connected. A box of bones, a runaway, a trespasser and Killer Hen are connected somehow but the guys can’t catch a break to think. The story is fast paced but it’s bursting with puzzle pieces, intriguing people and a wedding. It appears Cate, from the Elliot books, and Tessa are finally getting HEAs with their men. This might be the end of the Widow’s Island series and I’m okay with that because these people were a thrill to read and the writing is captivating. I received an early copy from NetGalley and I wrote the review voluntarily.

An engaging novella - police procedural meets mystery meets psychological thriller up to its conclusion, this was a great quick read!

The Wrong Bones by Melinda Leigh.
Widow's Island Novella Book 9.
Deputy Tessa Black spots a man disturbing a grave in the local cemetery and gives chase. But when Tessa catches him, she learns that the ghoulish trespasser wasn’t robbing graves; he was burying a box of bones. With the help of her fiancé, park ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa discovers that the remains belong to a missing teenager from a nearby island. After the girl disappeared nine months ago, police labeled her a runaway. Now, though, it’s clear the teenager was murdered. When the only witness is an uncooperative teenager, Tessa and Logan must find the killer before the boy becomes the next target.
Really enjoyable read. Great story. 4*.

The Wrong Bones is the tenth book in the Widow Island series. This book features Tessa Black and her complicated family while working as the Deputy.

Tessa is on patrol when she sees three kids with flashlights who say they saw someone digging at a grave in the cemetery. Tessa gives chase to the person but isn't successful, however the person drops a box which is full of bones. As they discover who the bones belong to, they also investigate a few strange new characters.

This is a very fast paced with plenty of action from the very start of the book. Tessa and Logan are led on a chase across the island as several people are put in danger. This is a wonderful continuation of the Widow Island series. This can be read as a stand-alone but in my opinion the series is so good you will want to start at the very beginning.

Love this series!!!I enjoyed this as much as Bone Deep. There was a lot packed into this and I was hooked immediately. I loved the story. The box of bones and the reason behind the murder is crazy. There was definitely something wrong with the people involved in the murder. These were scary, messed up people. Widow's Island sounds like a lovely place to live, Tessa's only noise complaint was a Rooster crowing at all hours. Although, the Island sure does attract its share of murderers, kidnappers, and creepy people up to no good. Which means Tessa will have job security. The ending was perfect. Loved Killer Hen. She was the best wedding guest and definitely upstaged the bride. She better watch it or fried chicken will be on the dinner menu. Hopefully this wasn't the last book in the series. I love reading about Tessa, Logan, cate and Henry.

Definitely recommend the book, but you should to read the previous books in the series. It was a great mystery/thriller. I'm sure there will be more murders for Tessa to investigate. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Montlake through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really loved this addition to the Widow's Island series. Tessa and Logan work so well together, and add in all the friends/family/coworkers that help them get it all done each day, I just enjoy so much reading these installments.

This time around Tessa is trying to find whoever it is that was trying to bury bones in the cemetery. Usually grave robbers take bones out, not put them in. It was a fast paced guessing game of who killed a teenage girl and why, and why were they trying to bury her bones?

Whether it's Kendra or Melinda, I have really just loved this series. And we finally, after so long, get to see Tessa and Logan tie the knot! This edition is one of my favorites of this series.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Another good book in this series. I really am enjoying this series about Detective Bree. I look forward to the next one in this series.

Great series that I highly recommend!
This is the 10th book in the Widow’s Island series but can definitely be read as a standalone.
This story grabbed my attention right away with a cemetery scene and a box of bones. To find out someone wanted to add bones to a grave instead of taking bones out was a unusual discovery for sure.
So many twists and turns….you don’t know where the story is going.
Loved the ending with Tessa and Logan.
Sorry to hear this is the last book in the series. Hoping the authors have another series coming out soon.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Montlake and the authors for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Wrong Bones is the tenth and final novella in the Widow’s Island series. Each one of these has been an enjoyable read, and this final installment falls right in line. Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot created a seamless and beautiful world full of engaging characters and a wonderful storyline which just goes to show how talented they truly are as authors. The story grabs your attention from the very beginning and will keep you turning pages until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Once again Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot are able to bring the world of Widows Island to life that will have readers wondering what they will come up with next?

Tessa and Logan story continues, that will keep readers wanting more of the Widow Island after they finish this novella.

How is it possible for the author to put together a series that are short and to the point. Yet the author weaves a world of death, family and love using only a few short pages.

Everything readers have come to love from Melinda Leigh are pouring out of these pages.

Thank you to Netgalley for advance copy of The Wrong Bones.

A quick read about Tessa and Logan on a small island off the coast of Washington.
Someone had been digging in the grave yard, but who and why?
I liked trying to solve the mystery and all the action.
The culprit has an interesting angle.

The Wrong Bones is the tenth and apparently last novella in the Widow’s Island series. I’ve enjoyed each of these novellas and I’ll definitely miss these characters.

Melinda Leigh and Kendra Elliot were able to weave such lovely world building and character development in such a short works and it’s absolutely proof of their talent as authors.

The Wrong Bones is a lovely end chapter but I surely hope we get to visit this lovely world Leigh and Elliot crated :)

I recommend you read the novellas in order, but you’ll sure devour them all very quickly.

I appreciate getting an advanced copy and being able to give my honest opinion :)

I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for sending this book for review consideration.

Short, but packed with action

The plot: Tessa Black is a Deputy on the Widow's Island, which is a small and close community. One evening while on her duty she sees a person in the cemetery who is digging something near a grave. She tries to pursue him, but the person gets away. All she is left with is a box full of bones and a mystery to solve.

What I didn't like:

1. the writing. It is quite simple and there are a lot of "she said/he said or she did this and he did that" moments. I have previously read 5 books by the author (from 2 different series - about Morgan Dane and Bree Taggert) and this is the first time when I find the writing to be a bit elementary.

What I liked:

1. the story. Although short, the story is fun to read. There are several cases and characters that seem to be unconnected at first, but then as the plot develops it is shown how everyone is involved. To be honest, I did not guess who the criminal is and was surprised by how the book ended. The explanation of the killer's motives was also unusual for me, although I have read my fair share of suspense/thriller books, and to me, that is telling something about Ms. Leigh's ability to spin the plot.

2. the characters. They are all well-written, distinct, interesting, and described so, that they evoke emotions. Tessa and her fiancé Logan are nice and kind; their close family and friends from the community are supportive and always there to help, and the suspects' personalities are shown well so that we can see their evil side. All the people in this story are there for a reason, and I liked that there are no random characters.

3. the dynamics. The book is fast-paced and does not get boring, because something is always happening. And the ending is intriguing and action-packed. Tessa and Logan are running out of time to stop the criminal and do everything they can, even with the lack of resources.

Overall opinion: this is the first book I read about Tessa and Logan, and although it is the 10th book in the Widow's Island series I still really enjoyed it. I felt like I already knew the characters and liked them, so it was great to follow them on their investigation and day-to-day life. The book is fast-paced, easy to read, and full of nice people (mostly), thus, I think I will definitely read other books from this series.

I always enjoy a book by Melinda Leigh and the Widow's Island series is a great one. My only complaint is that the novellas are short, so they are over faster than I like. This book follows Tessa and Logan as they solve the mystery when they find a box of bones. While the story is short, it has a lot of twists and a good number of suspects. The ending is very satisfying. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

On a night that should have been like any other Tessa is stopped by a group of kids who swear something creepy is going on in the cemetery. Upon investigation she finds that yes something is going on and what looks like someone digging up a grave turns out to be someone with a box of human bones. The person gets away and Tessa gets the bones which open up a new mystery only a week before she’s supposed to get married. But what choice does she have as a sheriffs deputy in an island with a very small law enforcement team? Good thing she’s marrying the island’s park ranger who has been known to help her out on a case or two. The bones end up belonging to a missing girl from another island. But who would try to bury them and why? Is that person the killer or did they just know what happened?

For Widow’s to be such a small island it’s insane how murder and various other crimes goes on there. It’s an ok quick read I just think I’m bored of Widow’s Island and the lives of Cate and Tessa and all the things that happen on the island. It is the tenth book in the series and I’ve read them all so it could just be me.