An interesting concept, to be sure. Oren and Joshua Hobbs went into the woods one day, and only Oren, the older brother, came out. The younger brother disappeared. After years at school and later working for the CID in the army, Oren returns home - called back after his father's housekeeper writes to him. He then learns that the bones of his brother are being left on his father's front porch, bone by bone.

Most thrillers keep the reader digging and guessing for a suspect. What sets this novel apart is that the author instead inundates the reader with suspects, every one of them with plausible motive to have killed the boy. Josh was a brilliant photographer who followed people, capturing their secrets on film...and how many people would kill to hide their secrets?

You then wonder how you would handle it - could you investigate the murder of your younger brother, and to what lengths would you go to solve it? How much emotional pain could you inflict on yourself and those around you to bring the truth to light and a murderer to justice?

It is an excellent novel, and Carol O'Connell weaves an intricate tale. My only criticism is how quickly she switches between characters is a little over-used. While later in the book, once you are familiar with the characters, it's a great plot vehicle, at the beginning it just makes things downright confusing.

That minor point aside, I highly recommend this book.

Carol OConnell excels in plot in this mystery which, true to O'Connell's psychological bent, delves into the past and present of small town life as Oren seeks to understand the mystery of his younger brother's disappearance and death. Oren's brother, Josh, was an amateur photographer with a gift for capturing the secrets behind every relationship. There are, of course, many. Illicit love affairs, obsessions, alcoholism, and seances are all part of this story -- and expertly done.

OConnell has a particular writing style that is somewhat offputting. She is the author who knows everything and manipulates her audience through the gradual revelation of secrets. So this is not a story in which we journey with a protagonist through revelatory experiences, but rather one in which you sit back, visit the thoughts of various characters when O'Connell wishes -- and watch the plot unfold. She uses a lot of past perfect and passive voice as part of this process which is sometimes a bit clunky and wearying. However, I am a fan -- I enjoy the books although I am not as fanatical about buying every book.

This book is a very good read -- and I do recommend it.

"Bone by Bone" by Carol O'Connell was a decent character driven mystery. However, as I am fairly new to this genre I just wasn't impressed. I normally read fantasy, but my wife reads mysteries and thrillers and she has been trying to get me into the genre for a while. The storyline looked interesting so I decided to give it a try and this along with the serial killer books by Chelsea Cain are the only ones I have tried. That being said this book in particular reminded me of a watered down Stephen King thriller. Granted it may be an unfair comparison but its really the only thing I have to compare it to. I guess I should just stick with fantasies, sci fi, and horror and leave the mysteries and thrillers to my wife. However, I guess if you like mysteries and are a normal reader of Carol O'Connell then pick it up.