Close to the Bone by Kendra Elliot

October 22nd, 2018 Kimberly Review 46 Comments

22nd Oct
Close to the Bone by Kendra Elliot
Close to the Bone
by Kendra Elliot
Series: Widow's Island #1
Genres: Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Goodreads
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star

FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde is back home on a remote Pacific Northwest island when she gets the call: a teenager’s skeletal remains have been found on a nearby island.

Together with Tessa Black, a childhood friend turned local deputy, Cate confronts dreary weather and bleak leads to make sense of the death. The complications pile up as Cate is distracted by the coroner on the case—and by nagging memories that draw her twenty years into the past. The remains suggest eerie similarities between this victim, and Cate and Tessa’s friend Samantha, who disappeared when she was fourteen.

Cate finds herself up against closemouthed locals, buried town secrets, and even her own heart. As the case unravels, will she be able to cut through the fog and find justice for the missing and the dead

Novella MURDERMYSTERY Law Small-town

Set on Widow’s Island off the Pacific Northwest. Close to the Bone by Kendra Elliot is the first of four scheduled novellas. Each book contains a murder-mystery and there is an overall arc about a missing person from twenty years ago. From the characters to the island history I quickly slipped into this series.

I’ve been enjoying Elliot’s FBI series, Mercy Kilpatrick and was curious about her Rogue River series of novellas written with author Melinda Leigh. So when I got the chance to review this new series by them I jumped in. I am so thrilled that I did. Right now there are four books slated; Close to the Bone, A Bone to Pick, Whisper of Bones, and Bred in the Bone. They are all available in KU, Kindle, and it looks like Audible.

In Close to the Bone, FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde has returned to her childhood home to heal from a gunshot wound. With the ferry put of commission, they call Cate in to be the FBI liaison on a case. The locals have found the skeletal remains of a teenager on a nearby island. The FBI believes it might be the bones of a young girl who went missing two years ago. Cate cannot help but wonder if it might be the bones of her childhood friend who went missing. On the island she meets up with a childhood friend, Tessa Black. Tessa is now a local deputy.

I love small-town island settings. At the crime scene we meet the local doctor, Dr. Henry Powers. Powers is new to the island and imagine his surprise when he learns he is also the county coroner. I quickly slipped into the story. While this is a novella, it didn’t feel rushed because there are overall series arcs and we get to know key town players. We even get hints at a romance.

What I appreciated was that they solved the current case. It wrapped up quickly but felt realistic. I loved the stories surrounding the island’s name and the surrounding islands. Cate herself, or her family is part of that history. I loved the setting, but I don’t think I will take my husband there to live anytime soon. You will understand when you read the book.

A great start to a promising new series, Close to the Bone is the perfect romantic suspense, mystery-thriller to dive into this fall.

A great start to a promising new series, Close to the Bone by Kendra Elliot is the perfect romantic suspense for mystery lovers to curl up with this fall. #NewRelease #KU #ebook #MustRead Share on X
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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46 Responses to “Close to the Bone by Kendra Elliot”

  5. Rachel @Waves of Fiction

    This sounds like a fun novella series! I’ve read both Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh and enjoyed their mysteries. The setting of the Pacific Northwest is a favorite one of mine. It’s so beautiful! Wonderful review, Kimberly. 🙂

  9. Sophia Rose

    These are already on my radar since I’ve been on a Melinda Leigh binge lately, but love seeing your stars of approval and thoughts on this one. The old case and the setting are definite draws for me, too.

  10. Lorna

    I read four of the Rogue River books for Pure Textuality a long time ago. Is there more than that now, I wonder? I liked them. This one sounds pretty good too. Hope the next ones are just as good.

  12. Anne

    OK I like her Mercy Kirkpatrick series and this sounds like also FBI agent comes back to home town. But this is a favorite genre of mine so I might read at some point. Great review. Nice that it is on KU too. Anne – Books of My Heart

    • Kimberly

      Yes, that was how I discovered her. Well, in truth I got book one for free, then did the KU 3 month deal to read the rest of that series. LOL

  15. Heidi

    I would read this one for the Pacific NW setting. Love reading stuff set in my neck o the woods.

  19. kindlemom1

    I love that these are all going to be novellas and from the looks of it, well done ones. We really do need more of these because sometimes you just don’t have time for a full length read.

    • Kimberly

      Yes, it is nice to sit down and devour a mystery in a single evening. The fact that the setting and characters are familiar a plus. I loved the next one too.

    • Kimberly

      It was, and I like that the stories while all different cases have the overall series mystery tying them together. Well that and the islands.

  21. Ailyn Koay

    if i find out that I’m a doctor and coroner, I’d be surprised too. But sounds creepy, hope the next one bites

  22. CHINA ALEXANDRIA AUTHOR

    ENJOYED THE BOOK AND THOUGHT THE COVER WAS FANTASTIC, CHINA