The Bone Thief by Vanessa Lillie is a good but hard to read story of Bureau of Indian Affairs archaeologist Syd Walker and a dig at an elite summer camp run by the Founders Society, an exclusive club claiming possession of Native land. When bones and other artifacts found on this land end up missing, Syd gets involved in finding them and a missing native girl. The conflict between rich white club members and the tribe laying claim to the archaeologic finds is handled well.

I'm super grateful to have read a book by an Indigenous author about the Indigenous people of my home state. That's a perspective that is unfortunately lost here in Rhode Island. I loved the reframing of artifacts as "belongings." The author really wants us to know that tribes are still around, despite how we've been taught about them in school, as if they're a thing of the past. I think that purpose was driven home very well.

I would've given this 5 stars, but I found the plot difficult to understand at times. There were one or two moments that felt disconnected from the plot, though they added some perspective on the way Native Americans have and continue to be treated by the government (e.g. the raid on the smoke shop). I also found it a bit hard to remember how some characters were connected to the plot. I'm not sure if there were just too many or if there wasn't enough characterization to differentiate them.

What I was missing from Blood Sisters (the first in the series) was also missing from this iteration — it is mentioned once or twice that Syd is Two Spirit, but it never comes up outside of that. I would've liked to see that part of her identity influence the things she does or says, especially when it comes to her personal/family life.

I enjoyed being back in Syd's perspective. I also enjoyed that Luna had an important role in this one. I like them as a duo!

Give The Bone Thief a shot, even if you haven't read Blood Sisters. It also works as a standalone!

I absolutely loved the Blood Sisters and was so excited to hear there would be more in the series! This book picks up a few months after the first one ended. Tensions are still high as they deal with the outcome of the first book and of course there’s more mysteries to solve. This book deals with some heavy issues but I love that Vanessa Lillie is bringing attention to MMIW and the issues so many Indigenous people face. If you love the Kate Burkhalter series you should pick this one up as well. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Let me start this review by saying that while I only know Vanessa Lillie via social media and her books, she seems so incredibly cool and smart and I need to find a chance to actually meet her. Also, she is addressing really important topics and themes in her books!

As a history girlie who grew up in and has lived her entire life in the Northeast, I loved the connection to New England history. I think the general public sometimes forgets that Native tribes lived and thrived in the New England area until many were systematically destroyed or forced off their land by colonists, and that these tribes still exist, although some are still feeling the impacts of that colonialism and displacement. Lillie approaches the subject in a way that both forces readers to confront and think about the historical context and its impact, while also highlighting current issues and road blocks tribes still face today, like MMIW and tribal sovereignty. She tells important stories that amplify the voices of Indigenous communities and in particular Indigenous women, as well as addressing the MMIW crisis.

I really like the layers and different storylines Lillie intertwined throughout the novel, although occasionally it left me feeling a bit lost as to what information I needed to remember, or who in the story knew what. I have mixed feelings about Syd generally, although I liked her more in this book than in Blood Sisters. I appreciate that her internal compass points towards justice and fighting for Indigenous communities, but sometimes her disregard for the consequences of her actions really stresses me out.

Overall, I really enjoyed this Indigenous thriller, even a bit more than I liked Blood Sisters, and I would absolutely recommend it!

The Bone Thief picks up several months after the conclusion of Blood Sisters - Bureau of Indian Affairs archaeologist Syd Walker is called on to investigate skeletal remains recently discovered at a nearby summer camp, as well as the disappearance of a Native teen girl who worked at the camp. The story is set entirely in Rhode Island, centering around the camp, which has ties to the ancient Founders Society and is attempting to conceal the theft and the teen's disappearance, and ensure that their version of history (an inaccurate whitewashed version) takes center stage at their planned Foundation museum. Syd is relentless in her pursuit of the truth and of justice, but she struggles to keep her personal life and her emotions in balance in that pursuit, and that real, flawed persona is what makes her such a memorable character. At the heart of this book is an unapologetically honest look at the history of the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island, and what the indigenous experience is today, in the state and in the country as a whole. It's a worthwhile read for that reason alone, but Vanessa Lillie has again artfully informed us of extremely important history and current issues facing indigenous cultures while weaving a wonderful suspenseful mystery that's also heartfelt and emotionally captivating.

Syd Walker's adventure in Blood Sisters was fast paced and high-stakes, leaving you breathless until the end. The Bone Thief, however, rolls in like a fog from page one, creating an eerie, spine-tingling chill. Bones and artifacts of the Narragansett tribe have gone missing, and at the center is centuries old society. When a member of the tribe goes missing, Syd knows she has to follow whatever route necessary to justice. Even if she has no idea how dark that path is.

Thank you to Vanessa Lillie and to Berkley for letting me read an early galley of this book! Vanessa always does an phenomal job with mysteries that are deeply layered and continuely leave you guessing. The heart of this book is an unflinchingly honest look at the history of the Narragansett tribe and the Indigenous experience today that I recommend for anyone and everyone to read.

No one works harder than Syd on a mission. Our favorite BIA agent is back fighting for justice and bringing corruption to light. There's a new missing woman, along with missing artifacts, and the trauma from book one is still strong.

This book was definitely a heavy read. We're introduced to The Founders Society, a white-washed version of history where the wrong people are leading the narrative. Her history is their entertainment and Syd finds herself in the middle to protect both the past and those of the present.

This is one of those books best read over a week or a few days so you can take in each piece rather than a quick bingeable read. Excited to be part of the launch team and The Bone Thief comes out 10/28/25!

I'll buy this book, as it fills a niche for folks who enjoy thrillers and authentic indigenous voices are always welcome. I do think, however, that it would have benefited from a stronger editor. The characterizations were flat and I was unable to get engrossed in the story due to this.

THE BONE THIEF was so much more than a missing persons story. It had deeper themes woven throughout about a sense of belonging that tugged at my heartstrings, making it relatable and personal on a human level. The book shone a spotlight on tribal history, past and present, particularly with the Narragansett tribe. Everything about this story lived and breathed the traditions, treasures, and continued hardships with erasure of a people. It was a gentle, but bold reminder of how easily history can be rewritten, how false that narrative can be twisted to support one's own agenda.

Yes, this is a missing persons story. It is also a missing artifacts story. There are the surprises and twists and turns that you delight in reading Vanessa's stories. It is fast-paced and a story that I gobbled up over a weekend. However, perhaps more importantly, this story is also about community. I wish I had slowed down, savored the messaging more, because it is prevalently sprinkled in amongst the action, and it is not to be missed. A true gem that is a fun, wild ride with plenty of characters (ahem suspects) to keep you guessing. So, don that detective cap and figure out a whodunit, but more importantly, is the why.

Vanessa Lillie has done it again! From the first page I was completely enraptured. I could not put the book down. I went to bed and could not stop thinking about it, got back up and continued reading. This is a book that I completely devoured. I think my husband and son spoke to me; I am not sure. I was caught up in Syd Walkers world. I mean you know I must read every book that has to do with archaeology. Add in an Indigenous BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) agent as the main character and I am there. This is the second book in the Syd Walker series. I highly recommend both of these books, and I have given them all of the stars.

Syd is back in Rhode Island and now has her old boss's job. She is called out to the Founders Society when they find a female skeleton. When Syd arrives, they want to continue digging on their own. If you do not have the tools or know how this is not an easy task. While Syd is there, she witnesses some odd behavior. Men and women coming in with full on headdresses, dressed as colonizers, and a camp for children is starting this week. What is going on with this place? When she discovers that her old boss had an active site at the society, that went on for decades and seemingly just pulled skeletons and artifacts from the soil. No notes, no cataloging, no science. The thought turns Syd's stomach. That is not all. There is a missing Narragansett woman and guess what she has ties to, the Founders Society. As Syd dives deeper into the society there is way more than what meets the eye. Rooms where members go for more than a cigar. Missing skeletons and artifacts that seem to have vanished into thin air. While all the members are able to trace their roots back to the Mayflower. Making them all the more powerful in their eyes. The Foundation has big plans for the future, and they need everything to go smoothly. They need Syd to stay quiet and not bring anything back to the local Narragansett tribe.

Syd is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. She is fiery, spunky, intelligent, and will do anything to find the missing indigenous women and girls. Who also seems to disappear into thin air. While people will search for the artifacts, the women not so much. The way in which the Natives have been treated since the Americas were "discovered" haunts me. The Trail of Tears, the stealing of their land, Indian Boarding Schools, eugenics, and now with the discussion that Natives are not citizens. I mean come on now. It is more important than ever to read Indigenous authors, and Vanessa Lillie is one of my favs. The last line of the book made me tear up, "We are still here". We are still here, no matter what you have thrown at us. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Vanessa Lillie for having me as part of your Launch Team!

I do really enjoy this series from Vanessa Lillie, but I think that I liked the first book a tad more. I liked the storyline and the mystery a great deal, but I feel as though the ritualistic activities were a bit underdeveloped.