The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White

Item: The Unquiet Bones
Rating: 5
Author: BaronessMom

Posted February 25, 2024 by BaronessMom in Review, Thriller and Suspense / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Unquiet Bones

by Loreth Anne White

Published by Montlake on March 5, 2024
Setting: British Columbia, Canada
Genres: Psychological Thrillers
Pages: 351
Format: Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Publisher
Goodreads
Bookhype
BookBub
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Nook

A shocking discovery of human bones reopens an almost fifty-year-old cold case—and rips apart the lives of a group of friends.

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. Homicide detective Jane Munro—pregnant and acutely attuned to the preciousness of life—hopes the grim discovery will finally bring closure to the girl’s family.
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. The friends are now highly respected, affluent members of their communities, and none of them ever expected the dark chapter in their past to resurface. But as Jane and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Quinn peel back the layers of secrets, the group begins to fracture. Will one cave? Will they turn on each other?

The investigation takes a sharp turn when Jane discovers a second body—that of the boy long blamed for Annalise’s disappearance. As the bones tell their story, the group learns just how far each will go to guard their own truth.

The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White is a cold case thriller with a shocking conclusion.

Will Jane find Annalise’s killer?

The story bounces around with numerous points of view, yet I found myself drawn to Sargeant Jane Munro’s story within the story so compelling. Not that Annalise or Darryl’s parts are less entertaining. I enjoyed how Ms. White showed the point of view of all those involved in the happenings of that one night so long ago.

Sargeant Jane Munro

Jane is a police sergeant whose fiancee is missing; she is pregnant and has been transferred to the cold case division of one herself. She is a strong woman but is having a hard time dealing with her loss. At first, she is pushing people away; however, by the end, she realizes that community isn’t terrible. I like that she is vulnerable and intelligent. Jane Munro is going to make a great mom.

The Victims

Annalise Jansen and Darryl Hendricks both go missing on the same night in 1976. Darryl was Annalise’s math tutor; other than that, the connection is minimal. However, two families lost their children, and their lives were changed.

Annalise and her crowd were at a party. They were privileged and indulged in alcohol and drugs. Darryl was highly intelligent and had a good heart. Yet, he lived on the other side of town, not privileged but noble. This story tells the tale of abuse, lies, and how that can affect the lives of all around them.

Darryl’s family motto is “Be the change you want to see.” He lived by that. It truly touched me that he felt and lived that way, only to be done in by a lie.

Five Stars

My rating for The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White is five stars. This story had me on the edge of my seat with all of the points of view and the cause of the deaths. I know the author lies blame on a specific person (which is true) and the ripples of those actions, but there were others with their selfish gains involved, too. I know the court case will be long and drawn out. At least the families have some closure, whether it is what they want or not.

I am unsure if I would have picked this book up at the bookstore on my own. However, I am glad that Megan sent it to us. The author spins a fantastic story, and the characters are so believable. I recommend this book to all you thriller readers out there.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White.

Until the next time,

About Loreth Anne White

Loreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts, Washington Post and Bild bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. With over 3 million books sold around the world, she is an ITW Thriller Awards nominee, a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple other industry awards.

A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now calls Canada home. She resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.

When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails with her dog where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears.

Reading this book contributed to these challenges: