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.

#TheBoneHouse @Caroline_writes @emblabooks @Tr4cyF3nt0n #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour

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?

My Review

Atmospheric and creepy, what secrets are hidden in The Bone House? Only Cora knows, but when an old pram is pulled from the lake with the remains of a baby still strapped in, she knows it’s time for her to pay. And that the residents of the strange town of Slayton will make sure she does.

Detective Sarah Noble from the first two books in the series is given the cold case to solve, but it turns out to be more than just that. I don’t know Sarah’s back story, but I gather it was traumatic, as I also don’t know about her next-door neighbour Maggie or Maggie’s son Elliott, who has extraordinary powers of clairvoyance. Is that what it is? He ‘sees’ things that others don’t, as does his teacher – we meet her part way through the book. I will need to read The Midnight Man and The Night Whispers to find out more. They also sound really creepy – just up my street.

But back to the ‘now’. Cora has a beautiful, eight-week-old baby named Millie and runs a bookshop called Turn The Pages. She has an assistant, Timmy, who also helps with babysitting. Life was looking up for her until hundreds of birds fell into the lake. It was when it was dredged that the pram was discovered.

Cora’s history is shocking. Her time at The Bone House with her stepfather, a well-respected consultant, her fragile mum and baby sister is just terrifying, but I won’t say more in case I give anything away. But you will be horrified, as was I. What follows is full of red herrings and numerous suspects, but it’s Cora’s story that will keep you up at night.

I can’t get over how good this book was; it’s absolutely riveting. I couldn’t put it down. I read Silent Victim by the same author some time ago (before I started reviewing on my blog) but this was even better.

Many thanks to @Tr4cyF3nt0n for inviting me to be part of the #CompulsiveReaders #blogtour 

About the Author

New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017, the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018 and the Audie awards 2022. Over 1.5 million books sold.

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.