When reporter Martha Strangeways is summoned to investigate the discovery of body parts on a remote railway track, she’s drawn into a strange case, as her own past comes back to haunt her…

The atmospheric, chilling series continues…
Rituals
Secrets
A killer who will protect them at any cost…

Martha Strangeways has settled into a quiet life in Strathbran, after the horrific events that traumatised the village a year earlier. But all this is turned upside down when her friend at Glasgow CID, DI Derek Summers, calls on her to help with a disturbing case: a human ear, with an unusual Celtic earring, has been found next to a railway line in the Highlands.

When the body of a young woman wearing matching jewellery turns up at a landmark church shortly after, the mystery deepens. Why has she been laid out in a ritualistic fashion? Does her trek along the little known Cailleach Way have anything to do with her death? And who is running the Facebook group where she posted details of her journey to the shrine of the Bone Mother goddess?

#TheBoneMother X/Twitter @writer_suzy @OrendaBooks #RandomThingsTours @annecater @RandomTTours 
Instagram @suzyaspleybooks @orendabooks @randomthingtours #blogtour #MarthaStrangewaysInvestigation #Scotland

As Martha tries to unpick the threads, she finds herself entwined with a ghost from her own past, and in conflict with the owner of a project that threatens to destroy the goddess’s sacred land.

With Halloween approaching, and someone determined to protect the goddess at all costs, can Martha and Summers catch the killer before they strike again, and this time much closer to home.

When another teenager goes missing in the remote landscape, Martha is drawn into the investigation, teaming up with DI Derek Summers, as malevolent rumours begin to spread and paranoia grows.

As darkness descends on the village of Strathbran, it soon becomes clear that no one is safe, including Martha…

My Review

As with the first Martha Strangeways book, Crow Moon, I still struggle with knowing that Martha’s three-year-old twins had died in a fire. I understand it gives depth to her character, but it still makes it hard to read. Somehow, it doesn’t seem necessary.

But moving on, I love everything else about the book. Anything Gothic, folklore, local myths is probably my favourite genre.

Basically, the premise of the book revolves around a local legend in which the Bone Mother goddess protects the land. There is a shrine dedicated to her. Disturbing the shrine will cause havoc for those around. But a developer is going to flood the land where he is building an energy plant, using sustainable methods. So which is more important? A Facebook group has been set up encouraging young women to trek alone to the shrine. ‘Alone’ should have rung a few bells.

Then an ear is found with a Celtic earring followed by a body with a matching earring. It all looks ritualistic but is it connected to the trek? DI Derek Summers of Glasgow CID calls on Martha to help him investigate the killing as things take a more sinister turn.

The story is far more complex than I have made it sound, with quite a few characters you will both love and hate. In fact there are a lot of characters, but it’s not at all confusing as with some books. And as with Crow Moon, the whole story is creepy and atmospheric, with a modern Gothic feel, set in the village of Strathbran (the name means Glen of Ravens), in a remote part of Scotland. It’s just my kind of book.

Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours

About the Author

Originally from the north east of England, former journalist Suzy Aspley has lived in Scotland for almost 30 years. She writes crime and short stories often inspired by the strange things she sees in the landscape around her. She won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect in 2019 with the original idea for her debut novel and was shortlisted in the London Capital crime festival’s new voices award. Her novel, Crow Moon, was longlisted for the Caledonian Novel Award, and shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and the Val McDermid Debut Award. Herald Scotland called it 2024’s most ‘eagerly awaited debut’. She lives in Stirlingshire with her family and multiple dogs.

About Orenda Books

Orenda Books is a small independent publishing company specialising in literary fiction with a heavy emphasis on crime/thrillers, and approximately half the list in translation. They’ve been twice shortlisted for the Nick Robinson Best Newcomer Award at the IPG awards, and publisher and owner Karen Sullivan was a Bookseller Rising Star in 2016. In 2018, they were awarded a prestigious Creative Europe grant for their translated books programme. Three authors, including Agnes Ravatn, Matt Wesolowski and Amanda Jennings have been WHSmith Fresh Talent picks, and Ravatn’s The Bird Tribunal was shortlisted for the Dublin Literary Award, won an English PEN Translation Award, and adapted for BBC Radio Four ’s Book at Bedtime. Six titles have been short- or long-listed for the CWA Daggers. Launched in 2014 with a mission to bring more international literature to the UK market, Orenda Books publishes a host of debuts, many of which have gone on to sell millions worldwide, and looks for fresh, exciting new voices that push the genre in new directions. Bestselling authors include Ragnar Jonasson, Antti Tuomainen, Gunnar Staalesen, Michael J. Malone, Kjell Ola Dahl, Louise Beech, Johana Gustawsson, Lilja Sigurðardóttir and Sarah Stovell.