Member Reviews

I thought the book was well-written. I liked the forensics and police investigation. It is more mystery than thriller to me. Initially, there seemed to be a lot of characters but their personalities develop throughout the book. The ending is a bit of a surprise but explains the weird reaction of one of the character.

Was this review helpful?

This was my first by her and definitely not my last. Great crime thriller to keep you guessing throughout.

Was this review helpful?

By Tom Mayer
tmayer@cullmantimes.com

Review
If you missed the recent, rocketing surges of AI stocks such as Nvidia or Advanced Micro Devices, you might be a bit late for the party. But not so Mark Greaney. Greaney’s 13th Gray Man novel, “The Chaos Agent” (Berkley), dropped just as things were heating up on Wall Street in late February with a thriller that couldn’t be more prescient.

With the premise of a tech company and its mastermind billionaire building on artificial intelligence platforms to create lethal autonomous weapons — complete with rocket-launching cyber watchdogs, humanoids and other artifices of destruction — the denouement was always going to be a HAL 9000-esque brain threatening to gain sentience.

Like the dozen Gray Man novels before — Court Gentry is the Gray Man, a covert freelance operative once trained by the CIA whose modus operandi falls somewhere between shades of white and black — Greaney handles all of this masterfully, moving us around the underworld with a … love interest (check) … best friend (check) … master nemesis (check) and … national arch enemy (check), in a cinematic scope that feels all too real.

The author is known for getting the details just right — guns in hand are real-world guns, boots on the ground are real-world boots — so the wonder isn’t that the novel brings us to today’s near-precipice of man versus machine, but how quickly we’re actually getting there. So quickly, in fact, that in early March, Vatican News published this story: "Holy See urges ethical oversight of lethal autonomous weapons" on the same day that the Wall Street Journal published the story, "The Pentagon’s Plan for More Ambitious, Affordable Jet Fighters: AI Pilots."

Given that novels are a year or longer in production before publication, and written even earlier, now, that's prescient.

Roundup
Other new titles worth your time (and dollars) this month conveniently adhere to a theme (and you won’t need ChatGPT to help figure out what that is).

“Almost Surely Dead” (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Amina Akhtar is part stalker, part ghost story and all psychological thriller. Akhtar is the author of the best-selling novel “Kismet,” and here offers a story about an extraordinary life that turns into a true crime podcast.

“The Lady in Glass and Other Stories” (Ace) by Anne Bishop collects shorter works set in the author’s most cherished, fantastical worlds, transporting us over a 25-year career of dark fantasy.

“A Haunting in the Arctic” (Berkley paperback) by C.J. Cooke is a dual timeline story with the main thread taking place after an early 20th century, haunting attack aboard the whaling ship Ormen. The wreck washes up a century later on the remote coast of Iceland, bringing to the present a dark past of cruelty and murder.


“Ghost Island” (Berkley) is Max Seeck’s fourth book in Ghosts of the Past, a series that has been building suspense and thrills since the author’s 2020 U.S. debut, “The Witch Hunter.” An atmospheric mystery, the novel is a driving Nordic procedural from the first Finnish author in seven decades to make the New York Times bestseller list.

Reveal
Some the titles I’ll be working on for next in "Review, roundup, reveal and rewind," with the books' scheduled publication dates, include:

“Hello, Alabama”(Arcadia) by Martha Day Zschock, March 4.

“The Unquiet Bones” (Montlake) by Loreth Anne White, March 5.

“I am Rome: A novel of Julius Caesar” (Ballantine Books) by Santiago Posteguillo, March 5.

“Murder Road” (Berkley) by Simone St. James, March 5.

“The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry” (Holiday House) by Anna Rose Johnson, March 5.

“The #1 Lawyer” (Little, Brown and Company) by James Patterson and Nancy Allen, March 18.

“Lilith” (Blackstone) by Eric Rickstad, March 19.

And, watch for a couple of interviews that are also scheduled for March, including “After Annie” (Random House) by Anna Quindlen and “Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood” (Montag Press) by Bradley Sides.

Rewind
Finally, in case you missed a few notable titles from earlier in the year:

“Unbound” (Blackstone) by Christy Healy is a tale of betrayal and unrequited romance, with the author bringing Celtic myths into a gender-bent reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast.”

“The Devil’s Daughter” (Blackstone) by Gordon Greisman is solid PI noir and gets a screenwriter’s touch — the author earned an Emmy Award nomination for his NBC mini-series “The Drug Wars: In the Belly of the Beast." Tempering period characters (Thelonious Monk, Marlon Brando) with private investigator Jack Coffey’s search for the daughter of an uptown financier presents a dark story about redemption.

“Masters of the Air” (Blackstone) by Donald Miller isn’t a new book, but it gets a new audio treatment with the addition of narration by veteran raconteur Joe Barrett. Not just for the World War II aficionado, you can find a visual complement to the story with a recently launched Apple TV+ series by the same name.

https://admin-chicago2.bloxcms.com/cullmantimes.com/tncms/admin/action/main/preview/site/opinion/columns/review-roundup-reveal-and-rewind-novel-variations-on-a-theme/article_5fbfe7f8-f703-5dd1-99ae-1ba0b29f2948.html

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Amazon Publishing for sending me the physical ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

There were multiple perspectives in this novel and they alternated between the chapters and though this wasn't a particularly fast paced thriller, this book kept me reading. My favorite point of view for this novel was the detective, Jane, trying to solve the cold case while at the same time coping with the mysterious disappearance of her fiancé. |also liked reading the perspective of the reporter trying to get a story of the cold case that has remained unsolved and how this character had changed her focus as we got closer to the end of the book and seemed to develop more of an ethical conscience when it came to reporting the story.

There were multiple unlikeable characters as well that were narrators in this novel, but having the couple that I did like reading made the others more tolerable and having unlikeable characters is fine with me as it fits the story.
This novel definitely featured the pasts of the main characters heavily in the storytelling. I feel like Jane's story still needs to be told and there is the potential of more books following these characters. I appreciated that this novel didn't focus too heavily on the police procedural part of the story in the writing.

I look forward to reading more books by Loreth Anne White as this is the first novel I have read by this author and I do have some of her backlist titles on my bookshelf.

Was this review helpful?

This was the first book I have read by Loreth Anne White. This book took me on a wild ride! I found this book to hold my attention from the very beginning until the end. This was one of those mystery thriller books that I thought I had things figured out but of course I was wrong!! The characters and the story are well written. If your looking for a book with shocking twists then you need to grab this one. I would definitely recommend this book and I can't wait to read more of her books.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

THE UNQUIET BONES was an enjoyable thriller with a great plot that evolved and unfolded over various timelines. This was well written and easy to follow, and enjoyed the author’s descriptions and way with words.

The downside was the sheer number of characters and how many false leads were thrown in. While the ending was a surprise twist, it came out of left field and didn’t feel authentic given the set up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Books for the opportunity to read and review THE UNQUIET BONES.

Was this review helpful?

The Unquiet Bones was fantastic! This was my first read by Loreth Anne White, but I’m excited to read more by her.

I’ve really started liking books with cold cases.
I enjoyed hearing from everyone that was involved in the case, and it made the end / killer reveal even more surprising! I didn’t expect that reveal, and am still shook half a day later 😭 The only part of the book I was disappointed with was not knowing what happened with the detectives fiancé. I would’ve loved a resolution with that, but I know the whole lesson of the book is that not everyone gets closure. 😕

Was this review helpful?

I thoroughly enjoyed The Unquiet Bones. It was dark and gritty with the overwhelming need to solve a cold case where only the bones speak. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and each chapter is told from a different view point. This can cause confusion at times, as each character knows a little additional piece of information. As things come together the POVs mean less and less. The ending is difficult to read, but is impactful to the simplicity of the plot.

I want to thank Netgalley & Montlake for an ARC of this book.

Was this review helpful?

Loreth is a top author of mine and this continues that trend of hits she has written. I loved this one, couldnt put it down, the twists and turns shocked me! I continue to enjoy everything she writes!

Was this review helpful?

Book Review: The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White

Rating: 3.5 Stars

In "The Unquiet Bones" by Loreth Anne White, a gripping tale unfolds as human bones are discovered under an old chapel, reigniting a nearly fifty-year-old cold case involving missing teen Annalise Jansen. Homicide detective Jane Munro, alongside forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Quinn, delves into the past of a group of friends known as the Shoreview Six, unearthing long-buried secrets that threaten to unravel their lives.

From the opening pages of "The Unquiet Bones," I found myself captivated by the intricate web of secrets skillfully spun by the author. The writing flows effortlessly, propelling the reader through a fast-paced narrative filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.

White expertly crafts a multi-layered plot that is rich in complexity, with secrets and lies at its core. The characters are well-developed, each harboring their own guilt and motivations that add depth to the story. The setting provides a haunting backdrop that enhances the suspenseful atmosphere of the novel.

The multiple points of view, allow readers to see the events unfold from different perspectives. This narrative technique adds an extra layer of intrigue and keeps you eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth behind the long-buried secrets of the Shoreview Six.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed "The Unquiet Bones" for its captivating storyline, well-drawn characters, and skillful execution of a complex mystery. Fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful novels will find themselves engrossed in this dark and twisty tale that explores the lengths people will go to protect their own truths.

In conclusion, "The Unquiet Bones" is a riveting read that delivers on its promises of suspense, intrigue, and a chilling mystery that will leave readers clamoring for more. Loreth Anne White has crafted a compelling narrative that keeps you engaged from start to finish, making this novel a must-read for fans of the genre.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Was this review helpful?

This story is very well written about a detective working on a cold case that develops into a stunning interesting unexpected solution. The detective herself is also dealing with her own unsolved case in addition to the work. Kept me interested completely.

Was this review helpful?

The discovery of a body under a chapel that is being renovated reopens a decades old mystery of a missing teenage girl. Focusing mostly on Jane, the detective, we do get a few other perspectives like from the friends of the missing girl who maybe had something to do with her death.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. I don’t know that we needed all the various perspectives- it didn’t really add much for me. I also don’t think the ending was too surprising if you were paying attention to the clues. Still a good investigation, etc. The last thing that was a little weird for me was that Jane’s tragic situation was mentioned a lot at the beginning and then rarely ever again except vaguely in passing. I’m assuming there will be more in this series so that will come up again. But if not, it was just a weird detail.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Loreth Anne White knocks it out of the park again with this book. I absolutely love all of her books and this one was great. She is such a good author and always writes some great suspense novels. Don't hesitate to read this one!

Was this review helpful?

The Unquiet Bones had me up way past my bedtime. This was easily a 5 ⭐️.read for me. Looking forward to more books from Loreth Anne White.

Was this review helpful?

A first for me from Loreth Anne white, a well paced, Well written crime thriller. I would definitely seek out other books by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Give me a book on cold cases any day day, especially when inspired by a true event. This is an unputdownable police procedural that once you get a hang of the large cast of characters, it will pull you in and not let up until the brilliant end.

Dark, creepy and full of twists, I cannot wait to read more from this author.
🙏 #montlake @amazonbooks @amazonpub @lorethanne

Was this review helpful?

The multiple viewpoints and dual timeline made this an excellent read! I was invested from the beginning and found myself caught up in the story. As always, the author writes with such a chilling, atmospheric vibe. The reader feels transported to the time and place. I was disappointed that there was no conclusion for one of the storylines. But I loved the lead character and really hope that this becomes a series featuring her!

Was this review helpful?

As with all of Loreth's books, I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was unique and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this read, but boy there were a lot of characters! The first part of the book reminded me a lot of the show "Bones" and I was here for it! I love the idea of bones telling a story and was super invested in the forensic anthropology part of the investigation. As the book progressed, it felt more like your typical police procedural and "past-coming-back-to-haunt-you" storyline. I enjoyed detective Jane though and wouldn't mind seeing her again in another book, especially if that means getting more information about her husband!

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Another win for Loreth Anne White! Loved this story and it's ability to keep me guessing the entire time.
a Wow ending and amazing character development. Love the multi POV and great storyline.
Can't wait to dig into another one already!

Was this review helpful?