Joseph and Summer McStay and their two young sons disappeared from their home in Fallbrook, California, in February 2010. Video footage of a family resembling the McStays crossing the border led sheriff’s deputies to initially conclude they had left voluntarily and gone to live in Mexico.

I admit, I have been reading true crime for decades. When I worked in public libraries in the 1980s and 90s, my favorite section was always 364.1523…and although at times these days it seems the public obsession with true crime has made it somewhat challenging to find stories that grab the reader, are well-written, and tell a good story, there are some authors that true crime fans view as reliable and whose books are gobbled up as soon as they come out. Caitlin Rother is one of my favorites (if you know the story of Rebecca Zahau who was murdered and found hanging from the balcony of a mansion on Coronado Island, CA, you HAVE to read Ms Rother’s book on the subject!) So I was happy to dive in to Down To The Bone (thanks to Kensington Publishing/Citadel and NetGalley) which tells the true story of the McStay family.

In 2010, the McStays (parents and two sons) vanished from their home in Fallbrook (northern San Diego County in CA). Fallbrook isn’t all that far from the border, so when a video turned up that showed a family that supposedly looked a lot like the McStays crossing into Mexico, the sheriffs’ deputies who were investigating the disappearance concluded the family had left voluntarily (never mind the eggs and fruit they left rotting on their kitchen counter).

Fast forward a few years, and the remains of the McStays were found in the desert by a motorcyclist, along with the sledgehammer that was used to kill them. In 2019, Joseph McStay’s business partner, Charles “Chase” Merritt, was convicted of the crime, and after a long trial, he is apparently still on Death Row at San Quentin Prison.

There is so much in this story to pack into a book! The family disappeared from San Diego County, and the remains were found in the desert in San Bernardino County, so there were two law enforcement agencies involved, along with two crime scenes to investigate, a LONG and sometimes bizarre trial, and a ton of theories shared by journalists, witnesses, suspects, and true crime buffs. Ms Rother does a great job of capturing all these disparate pieces of this puzzle and making the story entertaining and readable along the way. Four stars, highly recommended for true crime fans in particular.

This true crime book dives deep into a baffling case where confirmation bias, missteps by law enforcement, and greed lead to a story where justice remains frustratingly out of reach.

This book started off mysterious and hooked me immediately. I appreciated how the author subtly pointed out the errors law enforcement made from the very beginning—especially how their early assumptions shaped their behavior and, in many ways, sabotaged the case. Maybe if they’d assumed the worst from the start, things could’ve turned out differently.

I also found the story’s exploration of greed and selfishness compelling. It’s a sharp reminder of how dangerous it can be to blindly trust people, especially in business.

The investigative format of the story worked well for me. It felt like I was getting all the details right alongside the detectives: family histories, friendships, business dealings. I had a pretty strong suspicion of who committed the crime, but the author kept just enough ambiguity to make me doubt myself, much like I imagine real investigators experience.

What really stood out was how this reminded me of John Grisham’s Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Conviction. The parallels were clear, especially regarding confirmation bias—a key factor here that seemed to derail the investigation. Reading this, it’s easy to see how innocent people get wrongfully convicted.

The research and detail are seriously impressive. It’s clear this was a massive story to tackle, and the forensic accounting angle added an especially fascinating layer.

Ultimately, though, the ending left me dissatisfied—not because of the author, but because justice wasn’t served. Maybe. I should’ve taken the subtitle, “The Elusive Quest for Justice,” more seriously going in. I closed the book feeling frustrated that the accused may actually be innocent.

This book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

|:: Down to the Bone
By Caitlin Rother
Chapter 40 Page 229
4 / 5🌟🌟🌟🌟

{ “If somebody took it from the edge of the tire and it was flatter or had less air, then it could expand another inch or whatever.”
“Not seventy-six?” Mr McGee asked, reminding the jury of the width of the second set of tracks.
“We roughly got seventy-one and a half, so that's what I have.”

***
Meanwhile, as Leonid Rusin listened to Liscio's testimony on YouTube, he grew concerned enough to call the defence.
As Maline put it, Riding said, essentially, “I told the prosecution it wasn't your guy's truck and therefore I had to tell you. They should have told you on their own.” }

This features a gripping, disturbing story of a family who disappeared one moment and was accidentally found four years later, murdered.. with only bones and scattered clothing left behind to try and tell the story of the McStays.

I have to admit I didn't know this was a true story to begin with. I loved the way the author navigated through the tough, emotional facts of the case and then delved into suspicion, secrets and lies, weaving this immense blanket of half-truths, deceit, fiction, fantasy, accusations, theories and slander. I was torn so many times during the book. That actually now it's ended I'm not sure where I stand, who I believe for what actually happened

Whatever happened to the McStays, justice was not delivered. If anything it seemed to bring up more questions. Questions I have to admit, revolved heavily around the American justice system and how it portrayed itself. Part of me felt so much sympathy for the person who was arrested for their murders but I also had to think back to a time towards the beginning of the book where I actually questioned whether it could have been them too.

This is what a good author makes you do. They give you a question and a plethora of answers and allow you to dissect how you feel about what could have happened. As much as you try to keep emotions out, you can't because when something like this happens the first thing you think about is, your family :
“Thank God they are safe”
But is that fair? What did Joseph, Summer and their two little boys do to earn such a harrowing end to their young lives?

And who is really to blame?
The person sitting in jail, accused of the crimes?
The digital genius who can hide wherever and whenever he needs to?
The Family members who behaved in a suspicious way both with timing and in actions?
An outside source which is.. a little far-fetched but still a possibility?
The ex-partner who didn't know how to stay away?
A family connection that was overlooked, jumpy and hard to rely on.. which some mistook for sadness

A huge thank you to Caitlin Rother, Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback. ::|

Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother is the story of the long search for justice in the murder of the McStay family. If you are a dyed-in-the-wool true crime fan (or a criminal trial buff), you’ll definitely want to read this book. If you are a more casual true crime fan, you might be a bit overwhelmed by all the detailed information in it. Remember, there were two different sheriffs departments involved, two potential crime scenes, one massive, overlong, and sometimes ridiculous trial, a documentary film, and a million theories spawned by everyone from authors and journalists to the witnesses and suspects themselves. That is a lot to cover, but Rother manages to get it all in and keep the story moving. I personally found the book fascinating, especially as I was familiar with the events at the time and knew many of the locations.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book covers the full details of the McStay murders that took place in February 2010, from the beginnings of their family all the way through the trial. No detail is spared and I did find, at times, that it was hard to remember who everyone was as they some people would come in and out through the book.

I enjoyed the book - the level of detail really painted the full picture of what happened and allowed the reader to make their own judgement. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime, although I would recommend regular reading in order to remember all the names, places and situations.

In her latest novel, Down To The Bone, investigative journalist / author Caitlin Rother takes the reader behind the scenes of a riveting true crime for an in depth look at a highly publicized and traumatic murder case set in San Diego County, California.

On February 15, 2010, The McStay family (husband Joseph, wife Summer, and their sons Gianni and Joseph Jr) were reported missing by their family members. The family was last heard from on February 4th, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department began an investigation that provided no leads. Four years later on November 11, 2013, a motorcyclist found the remains of the McStay family in two shallow graves located on a trail in the Mojave Desert. What ensues is a murder case with a shoddy investigation by the San Diego Sheriff's Department and the San Bernadino County Sherriff's Department, who focused their attention solely on Joseph's friend and business associate, Charles "Chase" Merritt, and a trial that led to his death row conviction, even though the investigation and trial was fraught with a lack of physical evidence, misconduct, and a lot of unanswered questions, which showed obvious flaws in the criminal justice system.

Down To The Bone is a riveting true crime story that easily draws the reader in from the start, keeping them captivated as the author weaves a thoroughly intriguing and intricate recounting of a traumatic murder case and trial that was filled with unanswered questions, leaving an elusive quest for justice.

The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant, and extensive research of the investigative and legal aspects of the case.

You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping dark account of the traumatic murders of the McStay family. It is shocking and mind boggling that this murder case was fraught with so many flaws and misconduct within the criminal justice system. The author provides the reader with a thought-provoking tale of the heinous murders of the McStay family, that leaves a lot of questions of whether the quest for justice was really served.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this was one of the most disturbing true crime stories that I have ever read. It was mind boggling to follow the shoddy investigation and flawed trial. I really don't believe that justice was truly served, unfortunately I don't believe that we will ever find out the truth behind the tragic murders of the McStay family.

Down To The Bone is a gripping and chilling account of a traumatic murder case that is a must read for all true crime fans.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

https://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2025/06/down-to-bone-by-caitlin-rother-book.html

This is a very perplexing case which has stuck with me over the years since reading about it. The San Bernardino County McStay family was comprised of Joseph, his wife Summer and their two little sons, aged three and four. Along with business partners Dan Kavanaugh and Charles "Chase" Merritt, Joseph was in the water fountain business, Earth Inspired Products. In February, 2010, the four family members were reported missing. Their home looked as though it was deserted in a hurry with Summer's purse and food remaining behind and their vehicle was in their driveway. They were declared endangered missing until nearly four years later when a motorcyclist encountered a grisly sight in the Mojave Desert, a small skull. Two shallow graves were later uncovered and bones of four bodies were discovered. DNA revealed the McStays were violently killed, most likely with a sledgehammer which was buried with them. This was a case of greed and fraud.

Author Caitlin Rother delves into the family and business partners' pasts and personalities. The more the detectives peeled back the layers, the more secrets were revealed. Amongst other things, they sifted through phone and financial records and Merritt was found guilty. He protested his innocence and by the end of the book, I still have many questions and am left unsettled. Errors were made by detectives, adding to the feeling of unease. The author notes several people involved declined interviews with her and she explained her job was to present the facts, leaving the conclusions up to the reader. Murder is always tragic but to kill children is unspeakably evil. The case gave me chills. Was justice meted out to the right person?

The research is thorough, compelling and enlightening. I appreciate the finer details which give personal insight. The investigation itself was both fascinating and infuriating. This book is a must for True Crime readers.

Joseph McStay, his wife Summer and two young sons disappeared from their San Diego County home in early February of 2010. There seemed to be no sign of a struggle, but there was eggs and fruit left on the counter and their dogs were left out in the backyard with no food. Four years later, their skeletons were found in the Mojave Desert and law enforcement announced that the family was victims of foul play. But who was the culprit and why was the family targeted?

This true crime book, written by Caitlin Rother, investigates the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the McStay family, the suspects in the case and the courtroom drama that follows after an arrest. I give the author credit, this case is meticulously researched. However, there is ALOT of information to be consumed with this case, which sometimes made the story feel overwhelming. There were times I had to step away from it because it was just too much to digest at one time. I think a reader who is detail-oriented would like this book. I would rate it 3.5 stars.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

In 2010, the McStay family was just settling into a new home in the San Diego area and life seemed to be good for Joseph, Summer and their two boys, ages 3 and 4.

Evidence at the house showed they left in a hurry, with food out in the kitchen and the dogs outside in the back yard. Their Isuzu Trooper was found in a parking lot close to the Mexico border, and a picture taken at the border showed a family of four walking into Mexico. But the discovery of their bodies in shallow graves in 2013, the arrest of Charles Merritt in 2014 and the resulting trial in 2019 revealed the horrific story.

Caitlin Rother extensively researched the case, reading search warrants, 1,200 trial exhibits, the four-volume court file and interviewing anyone who would talk with her. Her dedication is commendable and in a case where much of the evidence is financial transactions and improprieties, is essential. Much of the book reads like a concise summary of complex details. However, with a family at the heart of the story, I miss the emotional connection with the victims, the simple human element.

Where this book works is in the research and Rother's commendable focus on remaining neutral and presenting all sides of the case (especially given that there is someone that many people feel might actually be the murderer). It's not a page turner and could have used more of a cohesive narrative, but overall it's focused, detailed and neutral. 3.5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing | Citadel, and Tantor Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this true crime book by Caitlin Rother, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Christina Delaine. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

A Southern California family of four seemed to just disappear without a trace in 2010. Everything at home looked normal with no signs of a crime, but the family was just gone. Almost four years later, a motorcyclist found the McStays' remains in the desert, showing signs of murder. A suspect was found, put on trial, and sentenced to death. But is that the end of the story?

This was a very well-researched account of this crime, with questionable actions by the investigators, and a controversial trial. The author did a great job of walking through the suspects, the crime scene and investigation, and trial. It's such a sad story and leaves you questioning the system. Pick this one up if you like a true crime mystery ripped out of the headlines.

I loved this book. It’s so classic Caitlin Rother. I most enjoy how the author goes down every rabbit hole so I don’t have to follow up with my own side research. I would have looked up whether EIP was still running with new owners but instead it was all delivered to me right as I thought I should look it up.
I enjoy the depth that this author gets into and I enjoy the way that things are brought under similar themes so I can evaluate how I feel about the major players in the story.
The last thing that I enjoy that this author does very well is leave me feeling like the detective so I can draw my own conclusion based on the evidence. The author doesn’t implicitly say what they believe and that’s appreciated.
It’s only not a 5 star because I’m not a fan of courtroom back and forth - but that’s not an edit! It was necessary to the story - just not for me.

Down to the Bone reflects extensive research conducted by the author. Details of the crime and conviction were thoroughly divulged, albeit a bit too minute and technical at times. Overall, the narrative was interesting, but the sections of lengthy scientific discourse were, at times, confusing. The author unravels a chilling and horrific crime that will make your blood run cold. Recommended. Thank you to NetGalley.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 24, 2025
In February of 2010, the McStay family, Joseph, Summer and their two young sons, were reported missing. Tragically, four years later, their bones were discovered buried in the desert, one hundred miles away from their home. The McStay family finally had closure but they wanted answers- who could have killed the entire McStay family, including the children, in such a brutal, senseless act? After a long, dragged-out trial, prosecutors put the blame on Chase Merritt, Joseph McStay’s best friend, eventually sentencing him with the death penalty. True crime author Caitlin Rother examines every angle of this case and its controversial conclusion, in her newest work, “Down to the Bone: A Missing Family's Murder and the Elusive Quest for Justice”.
Whatever your opinion on this case, the crime itself is devastating and tragic, and I hope that whatever justice has been served has helped the McStay family find closure and peace. From my background reading, outside of this book, it seems that this case is very divisive, with people falling very clearly on one side or the other in their beliefs on whether or not Merritt was the murderer. Rother does not give her opinion, which is expected from any true crime writer worth their name, but does the best she can to express the facts from both sides, leaving readers to make their own assumptions.
Although the crime was tragic, “Bone” itself was dry. Joseph and Merritt were business partners, and Merritt’s supposed motivations stemmed from disputes in their business, so there is a lot of specific details about receipts, invoices, construction, debts, balances owing, etc. that you need to sift through in order to make any sense of the facts. Also, more than half of the story is the trial itself, which is entertaining surely, but only because of the ridiculous dramas that the lawyers engaged in.
Like most people who have any knowledge of this case, I’m not one hundred percent convinced of Merritt’s guilt, but it certainly is not due to Rother’s presentation. Rother provided as honest of a portrayal as one can when discussing an entire case surrounded by lies and liars, and it is obvious that she was passionate about bringing whatever truth she could to light.
Although I enjoyed Rother’s true crime story, “Body Parts: A Serial Killer’s Companion”, better than this one, her writing in “Bone” was just as fresh and polished. This case leaves a lot to be desired in every way, and I hope truth will out in the end, for everyone involved.

Caitlin Rother is an incredible true crime author. The cases that she writes about are complex and not always resolved how you’d assume they’d be. Down to the Bone is no different. Rother details the disappearance of the McStay family, the discovery of their bodies and the subsequent trial. She provides (in my opinion) an unbiased view of the case; providing details that don’t put anyone involved in a good light but a clear picture of who everyone is. Here, she details the case against Chase Merritt, Joseph McStay’s business partner, and provides enough detail for the reader to agree with the prosecution or lean into the defense’s position that Dan Kavanaugh (another business partner) was the more likely killer.

It’s infuriating to read how the detectives and county sheriff’s department created a blinded view of Dan Kavanaugh and his actions; taking his statements at face value and not following up on persistent leads from friends and family members. That despite the disarray of the house at the time of the family’s disappearance and items left in the vehicle, officials firmly believed they’d voluntarily disappeared. It’s no wonder many of them declined to be interviewed for this book.

Trials are overwhelming and mostly focus on scientific details that can easily bore you. This case in particular focused a lot on Quickbooks and financials that could make your head spin! Rother makes these dry details easy to understand. Ultimately, I feel the prosecution got this case wrong.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Citadel for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This case was one I had always found especially unsettling: a family with young children who seemed to leave their home in the middle of a regular day, food on the counter, things in disarray. Where did they go? Did they choose to leave, or did someone make them, and if so, why?

This is my second book by the author and she does an excellent job of laying out the facts and portraying people and events with objectivity, refraining from editorializing.

Now, for the aspects that didn't work so well: while Rother clearly did her research, the nature of the case meant delving into financial records and business dealings that were dry, detailed, and at times hard to keep straight in terms of the names of various people. In the absence of a narrative in this portion, it made it hard to keep turning the pages.

This book would be of interest to readers already familiar with the case and willing to put in the work for a deep dive into possible motives for the crime, but the general true crime fan may lose interest after the opening chapters as the story is removed from the victims and focuses on the financial/business investigation.

(Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the ARC)

This case was always overwhelming for me to follow in the news so I really appreciated how well written this book was. It was easy to follow and had so much detail. While the author stuck to the facts, it still offered insight into the impact these murders and the case has had on so many lives.

You can tell the author put a lot of time into researching this book. It’s incredibly thorough, with an immense amount of details.

I personally struggled with the lack of narrative, at moments it felt as if I was reading from a textbook. Very descriptive, but I would have appreciated the authors input into the story.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This book started out strong- it immediately grabbed my attention and had me hooked. You can tell how thoroughly the author researched this case, almost to the point of boring her future readers.

There was SO much about the finances that I found myself zoning out. Yes, they were a very important aspect of the case, but unless you're more familiar with the case I wouldn't say it was useful to be so detailed.

I also disliked the level of detail that was gone into over Summer. It almost seemed like the author was attempting to take sympathy away from this woman who was ultimately a victim. Sorry she wasn't the "perfect" victim- she is a flawed human being just like the rest of us. I was genuinely waiting to turn the page and see some aspect of this somehow blamed on her. That didn't sit well with me.

I received this book as part of an ARC on Netgalley.

Overall, it was a great book that really delved into the details of the McStay Family case. It kept me reading, wondering what the next twist would be.

I noticed that a lot of those involved in the case declined to be interviewed for the book, this is not the fault of the author but I think that would have made the book a lot better.

The details of the investigation were mostly unknown to me and I enjoyed reading the nitty gritty of the police work that went into solving the case.

I would have appreciated pictures of the home, grave site and other locations to give a clear visual. I am not sure if this will be included in the final release.

I enjoyed this book, and look forward to more reads by Caitlin Rother.

What a mess. Down to the Bone by Caitlin Rother recounts the story of the murder of the McStay family in 2010. The case was a truly confounding one. Husband, wife, and two children seemingly disappeared one day with no signs of violence and no idea where they might have gone. Almost four years later, the bodies of the entire family are found in the desert. So who the heck did it?

Well, after finishing the book, I know that someone was convicted and it is probably not the person Rother thinks it is. When I said this was a mess, I meant the investigation, the personal relationships, and finally the trial can all be classified as less than stellar.

For the most part, I love when my true crime books are very factual. Tell the story with the facts at hand and skip the editorializing. For the most part, Rother does this. Yes, she clearly points to another suspect, but she sticks to what is in the record. In fact, I think she goes too far that way. The first half of the book reads like a police report with only a few asides to break up the blistering pace of names and dates. She foreshadows a few things and the reader doesn't get a chance to breathe. There can be no question that Rother has done her homework. Her research is beyond reproach. Unfortunately, she needed to present the case as a story to keep the reader's attention.

I wouldn't tell someone not to read the book, but I think the best audience for it would be people who are already familiar with it. I think those people would be less thrown off by the beginning of the narrative.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing.)