The Blurb
When hundreds of birds fall from the sky into Slayton's lake in a terrifying freak event, the waters are dredged - revealing a dark, long-held secret.
An old pram is pulled from the depths, with the bones of a baby still strapped inside.
It's the moment that new mother, Cora, has been dreading since she moved to Slayton - because someone knows, and is going to make her pay.
With the help of forensic anthropologist Sophia Hudson, and the extraordinary young Elliott Carter, Detective Sarah Noble gets to the bottom of a cold case that refuses to stay in the past. Will she survive the secrets of the bone house?
Don't miss this gripping new thriller from bestselling author Caroline Mitchell, that will have your heart pounding as you say 'just one more page!'. Perfect for fans of Cara Hunter, Alex North and Stephen King.
The Slayton Thrillers, with Detective Sarah Noble, can be read as standalones, or in any order.
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My Review
This was my first book by Caroline Mitchell, and consequently my first Slayton thriller but, as the blurb suggests, it read perfectly fine as a standalone. I like the idea of having a collection of novels, all featuring the same key characters, that can be read in any order. With a title like The Bone House I knew I was probably in for something dark and I wasn't wrong. Creepy and threatening from the get go, with a chilling prologue, it doesn't really let up.
The sudden mass death of hundreds of crows in the town of Slayton brings up a secret that one town resident has spent years moving on from. As it threatens everything she's built up, she approaches local policewoman Sarah Noble, herself still moving on from a trauma, for help. And from there things just escalate.
This is a complex take full of tragedy and sadness but also tinged with a sense of otherworldliness, a creeping evil that some can sense. Trying to make sense of it are a bunch of main characters, with Sarah and Cora at the centre. Both women are relatable, to an extent at least, with fully fledged out back stories. Young Elliott deserves an honourable mention, a kind, sensitive young man plagued by disturbing visions. And Richie, Sarah's partner at work and the one person who has always got her back - I've got to say, I quite like the sound of him!
The bone house of the title features heavily and, as you might imagine, it's not pleasant. But it is described in such detail I could see it easily in my mind. And as the different elements of the plot all come together it all becomes more awful, and sad. But it's well and vividly written.
The Bone House is a tense and claustrophobic thriller with evil in the air and a definite sense of foreboding. The detailed writing and some graphic scenes mean it's a tough read in places but well worth it. The story has some definite red herrings leading to a conclusion I didn't see coming. It's sad,but there's a definite feeling of hope too. I enjoyed it very much and would definitely read more of Mitchell's work.
The Author
Caroline originates from Ireland and now lives in a village outside the city of Lincoln. A former police detective, she has worked in CID and specialised in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences. She now writes full time.
Caroline writes psychological and crime thrillers. Her stand alone thriller Silent Victim reached No.1 in the Amazon charts in the UK, USA and Australia and was the winner of the Reader's Favourite Awards in the psychological thriller category. It has been described as 'brilliantly gripping and deliciously creepy'.
The first in her Amy Winter series, Truth And Lies, has been optioned for TV.
You can follow Caroline on Twitter at @Caroline_Writes and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CMitchellAuthor
Sign up to her reader's club for news, updates and a free short story here: https://caroline-writes.com
Thanks, I'm so glad you enjoyed the book!
ReplyDeleteMe too! Thanks. x
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