Jayme's Reviews > The Unquiet Bones

3.5 stars

When human bones are found beneath an old chapel in the woods, evidence suggests the remains could be linked to the decades-old case of missing teen Annalise Jansen.

But for a group of Annalise’s old friends, once dubbed the Shoreview Six by the media, it threatens to expose a terrible pledge made on an autumn night forty-seven years ago. Despite the intense police and media scrutiny, the group stuck to their story, their lies. (Yes, this tired trope again!)

Nearly fifty years later, three women are now digging for the truth.

Homicide Detective Jane Munro’s fiancé, Matt Rossi failed to return from a Solo hiking trip six months ago, and she is carrying his baby-a baby that he never even learned about. It’s been an emotional few months since the disappearance and Jane has since been assigned to the Cold Case unit, so when the bones are discovered-the case falls to her.

Angela Sheldrick, a reporter known for reporting breaking news first, and for often “sensationalizing” stories, gets wind of the news and doesn’t mind putting it out there, before fact checking what she has learned. Her goal is to get approval to host a reality crime series calls “Someone Always Knows” and this could be the case that sells her idea to her bosses.

And, forensic anthropologist, Dr. Ella Quinn, will allow the “unquiet bones” to speak the truth.

Although this plot has been used much too frequently this year, what elevates this story a bit above the rest is the Science shared by Dr. Quinn about forensic genealogy and familial DNA testing.

It is being used to solve many decades old murders such as the high profile Golden State Killer case, and most recently the case in Idaho involving a criminology student charged with killing 4 fellow university students.

Who knew that bones can will reveal if a person was healthy or ill, muscled or frail, vegetarian, or carnivore, and even if the person had been breastfed and for how long?

I enjoyed this aspect of the story much more than the story itself.

But despite that, the women are great characters and there is unfinished business so I get the feeling we just might meet them again for another case in a second installment.

And, I would be okay with that!

AVAILABLE NOW!!

Thank You to Montlake for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!