This book so beautifully combined the deep lore ingrained in the Ozarks, with magic, and creepy thriller mystery vibes, with a dash of romance. I was hooked at the beginning, and this book didn’t let me go until the end, and even then I found myself wanting to stay in the setting of the world, and with the characters.
I was on the edge of my seat for a good chunk of this book. It kept me constantly wondering and trying to figure out what was going to happen, and when I thought I figured it out it would throw me off. I really really appreciated the twists and turns this book took.

3.5 rounded up to 4. This book was a bit predictable at times, which didn't take away from the thrill of it. I really enjoyed the atmospheric read and the sprinkles of magical mystery. I did feel very immersed in the small Ozark town. There were slow moments and fast moments that kept my interest overall. I didn't find anything ultimately surprising, but it was an enjoyable read overall!

This was so good! I also loved the previous book that Ginny wrote that came out a year ago or so. And it was just as good, if not better! I cannot wait to read what she comes up with next!

3.5 stars rounded up. Something terrifying is happening in the Ozark hills of rural Arkansas. Such a creepy setting lends to a suspenseful and dark thriller with hints of the supernatural. This was well written and kept me engaged all the way through to the action packed ending. I didn't even realize it was classified YA until after finishing but I think readers of any age would enjoy it. My thanks to Penguin for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks for the ARC! When the Bones Sing is haunting in all the best ways—lush prose, eerie Ozark atmosphere, and a mystery that gets under your skin. Dovie’s gift is chilling, and her connection to the bones adds depth to every page. The folklore, family legacy, and creeping dread make this a standout in the Southern gothic YA space. If you love your thrillers with ghostly secrets and soul-deep tension, this one delivers.

"From New York Times bestselling author of Dark and Shallow Lies comes a new southern gothic supernatural thriller about a teen girl in a small Ozark town who can hear the bones of the dead."

Ginny Myers Sain writes consistently good YA horror and When the Bones Sing is no exception. This was good, almost great.

Thanks to the Random House and Netgalley for this eARC.

Ginny Myers Sain’s "When the Bones Sing" is a haunting and immersive tale that pulses with atmospheric intensity and emotional depth. Known for her ability to craft evocative settings and complex characters, Sain delivers another Southern gothic mystery that lingers in the reader’s mind long after the final page.

Set against the backdrop of a Louisiana town steeped in folklore, the novel thrives on its eerie and poetic descriptions of place. The setting itself feels alive—swampy, haunting, and humming with the whispers of the past. Sain expertly weaves the supernatural into the ordinary, making the world of "When the Bones Sing" unsettling yet entirely believable.

The protagonist, Sloan, carries the weight of family secrets, personal grief, and the terrifying realization that the past refuses to stay buried. As she navigates a town unwilling to confront its own history, Sloan becomes the conduit for long-forgotten voices—some whispering warnings, others crying for justice. Her emotional journey is as gripping as the mystery itself, making her a compelling and deeply relatable character.

Sain’s storytelling has a cinematic quality—lush, sweeping, and filled with a tension that builds with each chapter. The novel’s supernatural elements are handled with the perfect blend of ambiguity and certainty, allowing the reader to teeter between skepticism and belief. The ghosts of "When the Bones Sing" are not just spectral figures; they are memories, guilt, and unanswered questions that refuse to fade.

For readers who revel in gothic fiction, eerie settings, and layered narratives, "When the Bones Sing" is a mesmerizing experience. It’s a book that grips you with its mystery, moves you with its emotional depth, and haunts you with its lingering whispers. Sain continues to prove that she understands the delicate art of crafting stories that feel both timeless and contemporary—a true talent in modern gothic fiction.

Reading Update History: !!!! O my. . . .at 90% breathless and can't do anything else but follow this . . .
100%. . . .phew. made it through. Instant End Rating: 5 stars gasping for breath (all had been holding their breath for very long time. . . .)

This author is new to me - and this book is in the YA category - which I discovered after reading it - so that explains some of the over-the-top-ness in the narrative of tumbling action upon action moments. Our protagonist is Dovie Warner, who at 17 years of age has a quirky talent of divining buried bones (they sing to her, cause a vib-y experience). Our setting is Lucifer's Creek, Arkansas, adjacent to a dark and atmospheric woodland by the Aux Arc Trail. Between the trees and shrubbery lurks a creature wreaking havoc called the Howler, and bodies are planted like green beans throughout the woodland. Who could resist this? Certainly not this reader.

I do, as do many others in the readers-of-mysteries category, indulge myself with the pastime of "calling it." That is to say the process of at some part in the read (the earlier the better) one predicts the solve, the ending. It may be necessary to readjust from time to time but it's an overall WIN when the predicted solve is confirmed at the book's conclusion. In this book I determined early on who it was - but was premature, requiring three reconsiderations, ending in a final fail. That's the reason for 5 stars. Initially I was firm on 4 stars, but getting one over on me like that earned the final star. Additionally, I stopped everything to read from 70% to the end. And there you have it - evidence of a great read!

*A sincere thank you to Ginny Myers Sain, Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #WhentheBonesSing #NetGalley

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the paranormal bits of this book! It added such a creepy vibe to the book that made the whole book eerie. The mystery in this book was great and I did not see that ending coming. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more books from this author.

I throughly enjoyed this book. It was mysterious, paranormal and romance which was a great mix.

How it all wrapped up in the end was really great. The k!ller was a little predictable but that didn’t make the story bad. I would definitely recommend this to others

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and setting as well as the twists in this book. The characters were well-developed and there was enough mystery to keep you guessing and turning pages.

Another captivating, atmospheric novel from Ginny Myers Sain! I will read anything she writes at this point. Her novels really transport me into the setting and give me the chills!

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain
When the Bones Sing offers a beautifully written, slow-burning horror that lingers in the mind. Sain’s prose is lyrical and evocative, though the pacing is deliberate and may test the patience of readers looking for fast scares.

When the bones sing is a supernatural thriller about a teenage girl Dovie who can hear bones sing to her. For the past three years more than a dozen people have disappeared in the Ozark mountains.
Dovie and her friend Lo are investigating their disappearance.
The writing is really fast paced and interesting. I really enjoyed reading the book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a YA paranormal mystery that I would recommend to anyone that likes a great atmosphere, super interesting characters and an interesting mystery. The descriptions of the setting really brought me there. I love when the writing is so well done I can really picture the places and feel like I’m a part of it. I feel like I figured out the mystery pretty easily but it is a YA so I think if I hadn’t I would have been mad at myself. However I did enjoy the story overall.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: horror/ mystery 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This one was so unique I ate it up! So much happened in this book I was never bored!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Paranormal mystery
Southern gothic horror
Folklore
Small towns
Deep rooted secrets
Themes of grief and loss
Murder investigation
Romantic subplots
Ozarks setting

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Eerie atmospheric setting
There were so many secrets uncovered

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
The romantic subplot felt a little underdeveloped
The resolution left a few questions unanswered

This is a book you read for the atmosphere. It's sooooo good!

Dovie is 17 and can hear the bones of people who have died. This starts the story of missing people, old haunts, and the truth behind the mystery.

Ginny Myers Sain's writing is so eerie and so beautiful that you can't help but be fully immersed into this book. It's so easy to get swept into the story and disappear into Dovie's world while you're reading. It's one of those books that will leave you with a book hangover once it's done.

Although Dovie hears the bones of missing hikers singing to her when they're ready to be found, she doesn't believe in magic. She doesn't believe in ghosts, monsters, or even her best friend's experiences.

When another hiker goes missing in their small town in the Ozarks, the police show up, waiting for her to hear their bones sing. Although two dozen have been killed in the area, no one really talks about it. No one seems to think it's unusual. But who--or what--is killing all of these hikers?

This is an engaging book that has creepy elements, magic, friendship, love, and self-discovery. I recommend it to anyone who enjoy magical realism, gothic tales, spookiness, and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was an excellent story. I love the combination of mystical and mystery. The author did an excellent job at tying everything together. I will make sure to read other books by them.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

4.5 stars rounded up to 5. WTBS is a YA atmospheric murder mystery thriller with a dash of magical realism set in the heart of the Ozarks. Truly, the descriptions in this book made me feel like I was deep in those hills and I could visualize each character so clearly. We follow Dovie, a teenage medium that has the uncanny ability to find the bones of the dead. She and her best friend Lo set out to find out why so many hikers have gone missing and end up dead. Enter the family and community secrets, betrayals, and some ghosts along the way. Overall, I very much enjoyed this read- the story was well paced, the characters fleshed out, and it kept me guessing until around 80% where I figured out the plot twist. There were only a few minor contrivances that tend to pop up with YA- mainly the improbability of law enforcement being *that* inept and for state/federal officials not swooping in after 24 murders in the same small town. If you're an audiobook fan, definitely check this out- the narrator was dynamic and did a great job with accents/local jargon.