I had a hard time getting into this - the writing felt a bit juvenile and didn't capture the mood needed for the story to be effective for me.

I was thrilled to be accepted for the arc for this book (my first ever acceptance!) so I devoured this in one sitting. I felt totally immersed in this world and its characters from start to finish and was entirely shocked at every twist and reveal. This book had me on the edge of my seat and never had a dull moment. It fell more in the mystery genre than what I’m used to but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it. If you love a scary folk tale you’ll love this book!

The Bone Queen is a thrilling rollercoaster that scares you to death but you keep going back. Every moment of this book was pure entertainment. It had me second guessing what I thought I knew. The story follows a mother searching for her daughter. What she finds is a horrific legend that somehow has ensnared her daughter. Exceptional debut horror. Looking forward to the author's next book. Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the Arc. All opinions are my own.

This horror thriller novel debut was a hit! It is chilling and eerie! I was fully immersed in this eerie story while reading it. This novel is captivating, well written and unique! This is a medium paced read that is both plot and character driven. This novel is haunting and dark. It is the nightmarish horror, not the spooky kind of horror. I really enjoyed the characters in this one. My favorite character in the story was Jenna, who is a single mom in the story. The vivid imagery in this novel is great! It has twists and turns that you do not see coming! The only part that felt short for me was the ending. The cover of the book is amazing and it is what initially made me want to read it! Overall, I give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars rating!

“The Bone Queen” is a novel that centers around a single mother named Jenna. She goes on to search for her missing daughter. Her teenaged daughter named Chloe disappeared from their London home. As this story unfolds, Jenna ends up exploring a mysterious village and learns about the bone queen and its victims.

I think fans of adventurous thriller mysteries would really enjoy reading this book! Content warnings include violence and death.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Will Shindler and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this electronic arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on February 3, 2026!

I went into this book about as blind as I could. Spooky? Check. Folktales? Check. Apart from that, I knew very little.

I was sucked into the story right away. The writing is straightforward but engaging, and very vivid. I read the whole book in... an evening? So it clearly had great momentum to pull me along and keep me going. More than once while I was reading, I was imagining a gritty British miniseries. Shindler's use of imagery really set the scene for me, especially since I've never been to the UK. The way he described the locations and made the people a product of those locations was also deftly done. Some of the spookier areas literally gave me goosebumps.

I also very much enjoyed the characters. They were engaging and fresh. They all had their unique voices and insights, and I was never confused when we jumped into someone else's point of view, because Shindler made it clear what was happening. He is a master of character voice and I appreciated it in a story that had so many secondary characters.

I enjoyed Jenna, despite all her troubles. She was complex and grey, but you never doubted her love for her daughter or her determination in getting to the bottom of the mystery. There were also times when she was so genuinely human and kind - holding that girl's hand - that she felt fully realized.

That said, I wasn't scared by this book. That's a tall order, admittedly, but I felt that there was a lot more "show" than I like in my horror novels. While there did remain a certain mystery behind the Bone Queen, a lot of it was too straightforward for me. It felt like a police procedural (which I know is what the author has written previously), and less like a horror novel. I think that by giving so many different perspectives on things, it clouded a bit of the mystique that I enjoy with my folktales. As a result, the ending felt a little flat to me. I ended up ambivalent about the epilogue, honestly.

Overall, it was a fun novel that I enjoyed, was a quick read, but which wasn't ultimately one of my favourites. I'll definitely keep an eye out if Shindler decides to write more horror, because for a first attempt, I think it was good!

There is something waiting for you on Athelsea Island and once The Bone Queen marks you, you're going to die!
Supernatural ledgeds, a dark and terrifying plot culminating to a killer twist or two!
I was completely hooked straight away from the prologue, and the fear and tension radiated from every page.
The plot is extremely engrossing and the twists caught me completely off guard, and that's a real accomplishment.
The writing flowed seamlessly across every single page.
A brilliant scary story by a very impressive author. Easily a five star read.

Excellent thriller. Grabbed me from the start and had me enthralled the whole time. As a mother of a young adult daughter, I could feel Jenna’s anxiety and worry over her daughter Chloe. As the history and legend of the island began to unravel and unearth itself, I could picture it quite vividly. How the past was meeting up with the present to appease the ancient “myth” of the Bone Queen, the story takes you deeper into events that happen 22 years ago. The biggest plot twist came with the revelation about Hattie. Honestly did not see that one coming. Grat book to read if you want a thriller that isn’t soul crushing.

The Bone Queen is a chilling mix of family drama, horror and folklore. I was not expecting it to be so terrifying but I had nightmares while reading - which means it did a job well done! The bond between mother and daughter creates a feeling of endearment, while the jump scares keep you on your toes. The two timelines are excellently woven together. The ending felt a bit rushed and was slightly predictable but overall I really enjoyed reading.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley for an honest review.

This was a DNF at 15% I just wasn't feeling it it didn't hook me from the start.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the e-arc in exchange of my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advance Kindle copy of this book.
Single mother Jenna arrives on the tranquil shores of Athelsea fueled by the desperate hope to find Chloe, her teenage daughter who’s disappeared from their London home. She has no idea why–all she knows is that Chloe had changed in the previous two weeks, haunted by something, or someone, and the ferry ticket here is the only clue she has.

As she explores the village and interacts with the locals, Jenna soon realizes a macabre secret is being hidden in plain sight. A dark legend of a vengeful woman called the Bone Queen is spoken of in hushed tones amongst the villagers, some of whom are frantically trying to suppress the tale that has long terrorized their lives.

As Jenna starts to learn more about the Bone Queen and her previous victims, the village’s grip on reality begins to loosen and no one can say for sure who, or what, is responsible for the deaths and disappearances on Athelsea. Suffering from what she can no longer distinguish between paranoid hallucinations or real manifestations, Jenna must act quickly before Chloe is next…

I found this book to be pretty fast paced. A little too much on the horror side for me though. 3.75 out of 5 ⭐️

The Bone Queen is a compelling debut horror-thriller that masterfully blends psychological suspense with folklore horror. Single mother Jenna's search for her missing daughter, Chloe, leads her to the isolated village of Athelsea, where she uncovers a chilling legend of a vengeful figure known as the Bone Queen.

Shindler's atmospheric storytelling immerses readers in a world where reality blurs with myth. The tension builds steadily, keeping readers on edge as Jenna confronts both her personal fears and the village's dark secrets. The novel's strength lies in its ability to evoke a sense of dread while exploring themes of motherhood, loss, and the supernatural.

I extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing a gifted copy of this book. The Bone Queen is a must-read for fans of atmospheric horror and psychological thrillers.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

<I> Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for an earc in exchange for an honest review </I>

3.5 stars rounded up.

I really enjoyed my time in this world with these characters. From when Jenna steps onto the island the atmosphere just thrusts you into a creepy, foggy, small town world. The island itself is built out into its own character and its a nice way to get lost in the world.

Overall the story was heavier on the horror side than I expected and that ended up being my favorite part. The story is told out of order, flashing back to the weeks and days before Chloe's disappearance and it keeps you moving through it very easily.

It just ended up being the ending that fell a little flat for me, as most do in this genre. A lot of strong build up for what becomes a page climax, but I still enjoyed the journey and the characters that were introduced. If you are a fan of mystery horrors you will enjoy this book!

A fast paced read that kept me hooked between real life and supernatural. The whole time I read this I battled between what was real and what wasn’t. I especially enjoyed the multiple time jumps from multiple pasts and present. I’m not especially into supernatural type things but I enjoyed this read nonetheless. Another big bonus for me as a reader is shorter chapters. I don’t like being in the same spot for 40+ minutes and it was great to jump around but the characters were easy to remember and separate.

This spine-tingling, eerie, and absolutely horrifying debut is a knockout start—one that’ll have you sleeping with the lights on, whispering a prayer that the Bone Queen doesn’t mark you next. Blood for blood, she demands.

At its heart, this is a chilling story wrapped around a fractured mother-daughter bond. Jenna Tipton, a disgraced journalist, recovering alcoholic, and newly divorced mom, is trying her best to raise her sixteen-year-old daughter Chloe—who’s been acting strangely. Pale, sleep-deprived, constantly scratching her arms, and haunted by terrifying nightmares, Chloe is spiraling into something dark. After stumbling across a cursed link online, she starts communicating with a mysterious figure who tells her she’s been marked by the Bone Queen. Her only chance at survival? Go to Athelsea. Alone. Leave everything behind.

And she does. Vanishes.

When Jenna discovers her daughter is missing, she follows her digital trail and realizes Chloe may have traveled to Athelsea—a remote, fog-drenched island shrouded in secrets. Accompanied by her supportive sister Hattie, Jenna boards a ferry in pursuit. But the moment they step onto the island, they learn human remains have just been found—believed to belong to Adam Nick, the man once suspected of murdering his wife, Lily Yates, and their baby boy Josh, whose body was never recovered.

As Jenna digs deeper, she encounters a group of locals—Ben Markham, Frank Archer, Katrina, Ruth, and Sheelagh—people who were last seen with Adam. The more questions she asks, the clearer it becomes: this island is haunted by more than ghost stories. The legend of the Bone Queen, an avenging spirit born from the brutal murder of a grieving woman in the 1700s, begins to bleed into Jenna’s reality. According to myth, Eleanor Aubney lost her children to her husband’s drunken rage, was tortured by his friends, and thrown into the lake—only to rise again, collecting the bones of the children of her murderers.

Now, Jenna sees her ghost.

And as the legend warns, the Bone Queen haunts abusive parents. But how is Chloe connected? Why would she be marked? Why are the islanders denying she ever arrived? What links a 20-year-old murder case with Jenna’s daughter? With time running out and visions closing in, Jenna refuses to leave Athelsea without answers—even if it costs her life.

Overall: This is a fresh, gripping, and haunting paranormal thriller set in a claustrophobic island full of secrets. The pacing is tight, the plot twists cleverly layered, and the ending? Absolutely chilling. Will Shindler has made a powerful entrance into the thriller genre, and I cannot wait to see what he conjures up next!

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was an okay read. It was not able to really pull me in all the way, but it was entertaining nonetheless.

he Bone Queen by Will Shindler is a captivating psychological thriller that grips readers with its dark atmosphere, complex characters, and intricate plot twists. The story centers around the investigation of a gruesome murder that seems to defy all logic. Detective Dan Raglan is the main character, and he's as flawed as they come—grappling with his own demons while trying to solve a case that seems to have no obvious motive or suspect.

Shindler does a fantastic job of creating an unnerving sense of tension throughout the book. The pacing is spot-on, maintaining a steady flow of suspense while keeping the narrative fresh with unexpected revelations. His writing style is both sharp and evocative, pulling the reader deep into the twisted world of the characters. There’s a palpable sense of dread that builds with each chapter, especially as more details about the victim and the crime come to light.

One of the book’s standout features is the complex, multi-layered characters. Raglan, the protagonist, is a deeply troubled and morally ambiguous figure, which makes him feel real and relatable. His inner struggles and emotional baggage add depth to the story, making his journey all the more compelling. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each one playing a vital role in unraveling the mystery.

The plot itself is both gripping and unsettling. What starts as a seemingly straightforward murder investigation soon spirals into something much darker, with Shindler masterfully playing with themes of guilt, revenge, and obsession. Just when you think you have a handle on the story, Shindler throws in a curveball, keeping readers on edge.

However, there are moments where the pacing slows down a bit, and some readers might feel that the narrative gets bogged down in details. But, for fans of crime thrillers that focus on psychological depth and character-driven storytelling, this won't be a dealbreaker.

Overall, The Bone Queen is a solid, engaging thriller that explores the darker sides of human nature. Will Shindler delivers a gripping story with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. Fans of suspenseful mysteries with deep psychological insights will find plenty to enjoy here.

Will Shindler's debut The Bone Queen expertly weaves a chilling tale of grief, legend, and lurking evil that will keep you on edge from start to finish. Jenna's desperate journey to find her missing daughter on the eerie shores of Athelsea is haunted by more than just her own fears — there's an ancient, deadly secret lurking beneath the village’s tranquil facade. From the moment Jenna steps onto the island, the atmosphere thickens with foreboding. The locals speak in hushed whispers about the vengeful Bone Queen, a figure shrouded in myth and bloodshed, whose presence seems to seep into every shadow and whisper of the wind. As Jenna digs deeper into the legend, reality begins to warp, blending paranoia with supernatural menace. Is she hallucinating? Or is the legend truly alive and hungry? Shindler masterfully crafts a tense, atmospheric story that balances psychological suspense with folklore horror. The characters are layered, and Jenna's desperation feels palpable as she fights against forces she barely can comprehend, risking her sanity and, perhaps, her life to save her daughter. While the plot occasionally leans into familiar tropes of cursed legends and isolated villages, Shindler’s skillful storytelling — along with some genuinely creepy moments — elevates the novel beyond typical horror fare. The ending provides a satisfying climax that leaves readers questioning what’s real and what’s myth, making The Bone Queen a haunting read that lingers long after the final page. Overall, a strong debut that’s perfect for fans of atmospheric horror and folklore gone awry. A solid 3.5 stars — rounded up for its chilling atmosphere and suspenseful storytelling.