When the mummified corpse of a pregnant teenage girl is found in a barrel it sets in motion a series of events that will uncover secrets hidden for almost four decades in the second installment of the Rockwell and Decker series. Meanwhile, there are shocking revelations about Olivia’s father and his past that are unveiled after he is found dead following his failed parole hearing.

I enjoyed the first book in this series last year and was looking forward to discovering if the follow up lived up to its promise. I was not disappointed. Once again the author has crafted a gripping, fast-paced thriller full of surprising twists and kept me guessing right until the dramatic finale.

One of the key points of any series is the protagonists and the author has got it spot on with Will Decker and Olivia Rockwell. They are likeable, compelling characters, and the murky side of both their families make for riveting backstories, subplots and supporting cast. One of the highlights of both books has been their sharp banter, chemistry and reluctance to admit how they feel about one another. The author has built on this in book two and I loved their progression both as individual characters and as a duo. I’m really rooting for them to get it together soon.

So if you’re looking for an exciting and absorbing mystery that will keep you on your toes, then this book is for you.

Good characters,lots of twists and turns make this a good read.We learn more about the two main characters and their back stories as they try to solve the murder. The chat and running between the two detectives is great fun.

Her perfect bones has a bit of everything in it crime , psychological and thriller. The story is centred around Olivia a criminal psychologist and detective Will Decker. This is the second book in their series and the characters have a well established relationship, but don't worry if like me you've gone straight to this one there's enough background you can get the gist of the debut.
The story has two storylines running parallel. The first is around Will, his neighbour discovers a dead body in a barrel in his grandfather's basement whilst clearing it out. Will is first on the scene and finds himself trying to uncover who the girl is and how she ended up dead, especially because she appears to have been in the barrel since the late 80s. Meanwhile Olivia is at a parole hearing for her father, which ends in tragedy. Olivia finds herself trying to work out who her dad really was and uncover his secret past. Whilst she also helps Will with his case.

I liked both main characters with the will they won't they storyline. It's clear they will at some point but the question of whether it's in this book or the next you are left pondering throughout. They clearly have a history from their previous case, which didn't end so well. They both have something to prove. It was funny going from each person's point of view and reading how they have very similar mindsets. They are characters that hold a lot of depth with not so great pasts.

The plot I must admit got a tad confusing at times, trying to remember who was who. But once I worked that out I managed to follow. I liked the idea of an almost mummified remains because of sand it was a very intriguing angle.
The suspects all seemed up to their necks in something and I honestly had no clue who was to blame. The conclusion even left a bit of ambiguity which I liked. It was great to be along for the ride.

I would totally recommend you won't get bored reading this I can promise you that. There's drama, romance, investigation, secrets and lies to name a few and all were done well. I rate this book 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you netgalley, Ellery Kane and bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinions.

I like Rockwell and Decker. In this second installment their lives become even more entertained than in the last. All of it twists and turns with the new case, a body of a young woman found in a barrel after 30 years. The cabin she is found in has been the home of or the neighbor of a shady cast of characters. While that mystery is compelling, it takes a backseat to the family drama of Rockwell and Decker's fathers. Underneath it all there is the will they or won't they of the two themselves. All of it will still be here in books to come. So will I.

As always I really enjoy the books by Ellery Kane. The second in the Rockwell and Decker series is no exception and I am looking forward to the next. I don't discuss plots, other reviews tell you all you need to know and maybe more than you need to know. I personally have a hard time getting things done until I finish each book and then would like to start the next book in the series (or the newest book out) ASP.

I received an advance review copy of the book from NetGalley with no expectations or obligations, this is just my honest review.

After the mummified body of a young girl encased in a barrel is discovered in the basement of a woodland cabin situated not far the home of Detective Will Decker,he and his partner JB find themselves investigating a frustrating and complex case with fingers that reach into the past. Struggling to uncover any viable leads, Will turns to Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell to see if she can help only whilst she is looking at the files,Olivia spots something which links the murder victim to her own past. Olivia is also dealing with her own personal issues concerning her father,the convicted murderer and the combination of what she saw in the files along with a shocking event results in her digging into his past,little realising that her search for the truth could be placing her own life in danger.

After a prologue in which we get a insight into Shelby's thoughts during her ill fated coach trip,the chapters then alternated between the perspectives of Will and Olivia. I thought that Detective Will Decker or City Boy as JB called him was a really likeable character, I loved the banter and camaraderie between the pair,they were like a old married couple who had been together for years,not just six months. They were the proverbial odd couple,chalk and cheese, JB the brash,loud mouth and Will,the quiet,caring one but they worked really well together and made me laugh out loud a number of times. I loved their cheeky interactions with Chief Flack and how the story wasn't bogged down with interdepartmental back stabbing and bureaucracy. As well as trying to figure out which of their multiple suspects had murdered and entombed a innocent young girl in a barrel and were now trying to stop the truth from being uncovered. Will was also dealing with the on going issue of his brother Ben and how to keep him safe from the people who were after him. A task that was made all the more difficult by the fact that Ben was in prison. Then,there was the continuing story line of the attraction between Will and Olivia,the will they,won't they scenario that ran throughout the book.

I thought Olivia was a very likeable character,she was strong willed,stubborn,very intelligent,spoke her mind,didn't take any nonsense from anyone and was very protective of her younger sister Emily. During this story Olivia uncovers some shocking secrets and lies involving her own family and she and the reader are left with unanswered questions when her story ends on a cliff hanger.

Interspersed throughout the book was chapters that were set in the studio and live in location in Fog Harbour where not very likeable and unscrupulous reporter Heather Hoffman kept the viewers informed about the progress of the investigation.

Omg...wow,just Wow, I loved this well written,addictive,gripping thriller,it's fast paced,packed full of twists and turns,kept me guessing and had me captivated and glued to my kindle. The chapters were short and snappy and many ended in a way that gave me a very bad case of just one more chapter syndrome. The author has created a fantastic cast of characters,individuals that worm their way into your heart and make you care about them. Although this is the second book in a series,it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. I really enjoyed this book and I would give it more than five stars if I could. I can't wait to find out what the author has planned for Will,JB and Olivia in book 3. Very very highly recommended

I enjoyed reading Ellery A. Kane's latest police procedural / psychological mystery-thriller. Her Perfect Bones is a well-plotted mystery, featuring a cast of complex characters, and with a strong sense of setting. Having travelled in northern coastal California several years ago, I found that the book brought a sense of nostalgia for the stunning setting of dramatic coast bordered by mysterious redwood forests.
Will Decker is a detective based in Fog Harbor (a fictional location somewhere in the vicinity of the real Crescent City), California. Off-duty, he's alerted by a frantic neighbour, who's made the blood-curdling discovery of a young woman's body, hidden in a sand-filled barrel in his cabin's basement.
The investigation by Decker and his colleague Detective Jimmy Benson, firstly to identify the woman in the barrel, then to solve the mystery of her death, leads the detectives to a San Francisco parolee, an elderly former porn-film producer who once owned the cabin and a lonely woman who lives in the backwoods.
Meanwhile, Dr. Olivia Rockwell, chief psychologist at the nearby Crescent Bay State Prison, is dealing with confronting personal issues, in addition to the demands of her professional role. Her father, imprisoned for the murder of a prostitute - which he has always denied - is up for parole. Her efforts to prove his innocence take her also to San Francisco, and the underworld of criminal gangs operating in the city's social housing areas.
Decker and Rockwell each harbour romantic feelings for the other, which they're reluctant to reveal. which gives rise to a sweet (if rather far-fetched) sub-plot, as they circle one another while balancing their professional relationship and several high-octane situations with suspects.
I felt there was a well-executed escalation of tension over the course of the book, as the various threads of the investigation come together to reveal a ruthless killer.
Her Perfect Bones was a satisfying, undemanding read with some excellent insight into the complexities of working in the criminal justice system. Author Ellery A. Kane has clearly drawn on her personal experience from her "day job" as a forensic psychologist, injecting a healthy dose of verisimilitude, without overburdening the narrative with technical detail.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy police/psychology crossover mysteries and evocative settings.
My thanks to the author, Ellery A. Kane, publisher Bookouture and NetGalley for the oppportunity to read and review this title.

COMPELLING crime thriller with very likable characters portrayed by Olivia & Deck, a well crafted plot mingled with tons of intrigue throughout to a terrific finale. First time reading this author but have already purchased #1 in this series & will be on the lookout for #3. Enjoyed immensely & RECOMMEND absolutely. Thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC in return for my honest review.

The description was super intriguing. The body of a young girl is found in a barrel inside a basement of a cabin. It seems like she has been buried there for a few decades at least. Furthermore, she was pregnant. Who would do something so cruel? Detective Will Decker and his partner will have to solve this cold case.
I actually haven't read the first book in the series but I don't think you necessarily have to. You would definitely benefit from reading the series from the beginning because I could tell that there are plot lines that start in the first book and are continued in this second installment and will probably carry over to the next books as well. I didn't feel lost while reading but if I had those details the story would have been deeper.
As it stands I really enjoyed this. The two main characters, Decker and Rockwell, are complex, flawed and layered individuals, great protagonists to read about. The chapters were very short, and I was flipping those pages faster, the pacing was really well done. The mystery was compelling, it kept me intrigued the whole way through. Closer to the end I started to realize who was doing all this but it did not take away from my enjoyment.
One criticism I have is that there is a lot going on in such a short book. There are so many plot lines that at times I forgot that there is a main mystery to be solved, so much time was spent on sideline plots. There is a main crime to solve, the mystery of Olivia's dad, the mysteries of Will as he has a few, the mystery of the big villain of the series, the General. It all reminded me of crime tv shows, only those can have like 24 episodes and 10 seasons to explore all that. And this is just a small book series. Maybe I feel this way because I haven't read book one, I don't know, we'll see when the next book comes out. But that is my only criticism, in all other aspects this was a solid thriller and I would definitely recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

📚 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 / 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝗪 ⁣⁣⁣📚
⁣⁣⁣
Title: #HerPerfectBones
Author: #ElleryKane
Publisher: @bookouture
Pub Date: 2/16/21⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ *OUT NOW*
Type: #eBook (thanks @netgalley)
Genre: #Mystery #Thriller⁣
Must Read Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⁣⭐⁣⁣⁣

Mini Synopsis:

When a girl’s body is found hidden in a barrel in a woodland cabin, the local police are at a loss. The film from an old camera found looped around her neck is their only lead, but Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell’s blood turns to ice when she recognizes the ragdoll in one of the girl’s last photographs. She used to own one just like it, and it can only mean one thing: if she doesn’t dig deep into the mind of a deadly killer from her past—her own father—more innocent lives will be in danger…

My thoughts:

-Thriller fans who love a good graphic and creepy book will definitely enjoy Her Perfect Bones! This was my first book by Ellery Kane and I've already requested Watch Her Vanish (book #1 in this series) from the library! Have no fear ... while this is a series, you can definitely read them out of order and not miss a beat. You'll miss a bit of character / relationship development, but I do think Kane did a good job of piecing things together for the reader.

-I loved that Olivia was a criminal psychologist and Will was a detective. This added 2 really unique perspectives to the story. These 2 had some serious chemistry, but I was definitely looking for a little bit more SPICE. Fingers crossed that they finally give in to each other in the next installment of this series! This dynamic duo is a force to be reckoned with and I am excited to see what case they'll solve together next!

-This is a fast paced read with a LOT of side stories, so be sure you're fully focused. I preferred the chapters where they were focusing on the current case, rather than her father's story. It would be been interesting to see the chapters written from both with and Olivia's perspective (we only got to see 1 POV which was Olivia's). The popcorn aspect may have been super powerful in this story.

I haven’t read the first book in the series and I think maybe I would’ve enjoyed this more if I had.

This is a good crime thriller, but it felt like there was a lot of different things going on as well as the main investigation. Characters also felt a little two dimensional, it was hard to feel much empathy.

I get the feeling that I may have enjoyed this more had I read the first book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Synopsis:
A teenage girl’s body is discovered, stuffed into a barrel in an old cabin in the woods. Now Detective Will Decker along with psychologist Olivia Rockwell, must try to unravel the 35 year-old mystery.

When the film from the old camera found around the dead girl’s neck is developed, Olivia sees something that sends chills down her spine. Now, she will have to reach back into her past to help them uncover to truth of what really happened in that cabin all those years ago.

There are a lot of side-stories happening here. First, Olivia and her sister Emily, still reeling from from shocking discoveries about their father and their family. Then you have Deck, struggling to rebuild his career after crossing the thin blue line and helping to send his older brother to prison. Not to mention all the tension between Olivia and Deck. Clearly they are attracted to each other, but neither are willing to take that first step.

Not having read the first book in this series, I feel like I missed a bit, but not so much that I was totally lost. These characters clearly have a lot of emotional baggage but I’m here for it.

I found this book to be well written and I appreciate a good series with character building and unraveling of past demons. The chapters are short and it jumps a bit between Deck’s POV and Olivia’s, but it builds to a crescendo that I never saw coming.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes thrillers or police procedural/criminal psych books. I’m excited to see where this series takes us and I can’t wait to read what comes next!

Thank you NetGalley, Ellery A. Kane, and Bookouture for the free digital arc of this book in return for my honest review.

Her Perfect Bones is the 2nd book featuring Ellery A. Kane's detectives Rockwell and Decker.

The story begins with seventeen-year-old Shelby Mayfield who is sitting alone on a smelly bus. She has her brother's blue duffel bag with her filled with everything she owns including a tatty book, an old T-shirt, her ragdoll and a little bit of money. She has thrown up twice, watching the remains of her peanut butter and jelly sandwich floating around in the bottom of the metal toilet bowl. She will get off the bus at Fog Harbor station and wait for the car to take her to her new life...

Four decades later, Detective Will Decker is doing a bit of weeding, when his neighbour, Sam Weatherby arrives, his face ashen. He has found a barrel in his basement which is too heavy to lift, emitting a foul odour. It contains a human hand, the skin an unnatural brown, as well as the rest of a body, densely packed with sand. Will's partner, Detective Jimmy Benson (JB) arrives soon after, as well as Fog Harbor's medical examiner, Chet Clancy. The corpse has lacerations to the back of the head, is later identified and the detectives realise they are dealing with a cold case.

Her Perfect Bones had a well-thought-out plot and there was a lot going on. The characters all had strong personalities and the vast array of suspects all with possible motives but few clues meant some hard work for the team. The author's writing was fluent, and I never found myself bored or bogged down with detail. There was never a dull moment with the main thread of the plot accompanied by other subplots chiefly concerning the private lives of Decker and Rockwell. An intense and riveting read. The main storyline is well wrapped up leaving a few dangling threads, paving the way for further development in future books. I can't wait to read more about Rockwell and Decker.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Ellery Kane has written a marvelous mystery/thriller. The writing flows and the main characters are very well developed but some of the minor characters need more "punch". I highly recommend this book to all readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, and the thrill of the adventure. Enjoy, because this is one merry-go-round that you can't get off of until the very end!!!

This is a brilliant mix of genres, an engaging family drama, contemporary crime thriller, police procedural and suspense filled potential romance in which Criminal Psychologist Olivia Rockwell and Homicide Detective Will Decker investigate the murder of a pregnant teenager whose mummified body has been discovered. It is the second in the series featuring these two and set in and around Fog Harbor, California. The author does remind readers of events from the first book which impinge on this one so it isn't essential to have read that book before this one - but I'd still recommend doing so.

The story has a surprising plethora of threads running through it, initially seemingly disparate but they gradually get woven together, connecting up to create a vivid tapestry portraying events from the past and present. It is a real page turner that had me enthralled throughout, though I was surprised some of the loose threads from the previous book, Watch Her Vanish, are still unconnected - I hope they'll be resolved in future books in this series. During the story, there are so many family dramas, including those for both main characters which reveal surprising links that neither had been aware of and their mutual attraction continues to grow but you need to read the book for yourself to discover if they actually acknowledge it! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading more by this author and in this series in future.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

Her Perfect Bones by Ellery A. Kane is the 2nd book in the Rockwell and Decker mystery series, and my first book by this author. Wow! If you are looking for a fast paced police procedural, that keeps you reading page after page, this is the book for you What a ride. I plan on reading book one Watch Her Vanish, so I'm all ready for book 3. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As the highly anticipated sequel to Watch Her Vanish, I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book! After finishing the first book, I immediately bought copies for family members, and I sang the praises of this author far and wide. I'm happy to say that she did not let me down in the continuation of Olivia Rockwell and Will Decker's adventures in the surprisingly scandalous town of Fog Harbor. While I am still anxiously awaiting the resolution from the murders in the first book, this book leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger as well, as things aren't tied up neatly with a bow, so this series is certainly not for the faint of heart. Your resolve will be tested, and your stomach will need to strengthen as you read about the grisly deaths Olivia and Will encounter. I felt that the first book focused heavily on the psychology side of murder, whereas this book was more around the politics of it. We learn more about Olivia's father, Will's family, and the world of the elite that is often glossed over as perfect when in reality it is quite dark. As soon as I put it down, I growled in frustration that I didn't have the next book to dive into.

Things never stay quiet for long in the small town of Fog Harbor, despite the police department's hope for some peace. When a body is found in a barrel in the basement of a home, hidden there for almost 30 years, questions abound. Who is the young girl? Why did no one discover her before now? And what was the reason for her murder in the first place? Detective Will Decker knows those answers won't be found on his own, and soon he loops in Olivia Rockwell, who is dealing with trauma of her own. As the chief psychologist at Crescent Bay State Prison, she normally keeps her emotions in check and is able to handle all sorts of stressful situations. But as her personal life quickly collide with her professional one, it becomes more and more difficult to keep the two separated. Soon she is heading into the gray area of her job, and as she helps Will solve yet another murder, she questions if their relationship is able to stay professional as well. Murder seems to stalk them both, and it's all they can do to ensure no one else dies before they can catch the killer.

Olivia and Will are such an amazing duo, and I continue to be amazed at how they interact with each other in this series. While there is romantic tension, and as a romance enthusiast, I am dying for them to cross that line beyond friendship, the main focus in both books has been on the crimes and the criminals. The romance takes a backseat to the suspense and drama, and Ellery Kane write the book in such a way that the romance is not missed. I am literally on the edge of my seat with each book, and after talk to family who have read the book too, this is a sentiment shared by many. I kept thinking I knew who the killer was, and I would seesaw between people as the characters gain more clues. Ultimately, I came close, but I still didn't guess the true killer until they were staring right at me from the pages of the book. Unlike the first book, my heart ached when it was revealed who had done the terrible crime. Murder can be calculated and without sense, and sometimes it is full of emotion and desperation. I have enjoyed how the author has shown that in both books, that not all murder is alike in motive, because I think Hollywood often sensationalizes murderers as unfeeling monsters. It's rarely that simple.

I can't wait for the next book to see what Olivia and Will encounter next. If I could please request that they at least have a little more romance, that would make my romance-mad heart go crazy. Please and thank you!

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review.**

The second book in the Rockwell and Decker series has some seriously creepy vibes. In the first book, readers met Olivia Rockwell, a forensic psychologist working with the Fog Harbor, California Police Department and her police contact, Detective Will Decker. They each have personal story lines that run through both books so you will get much more enjoyment from reading them in order. The main story in this book is a body, a long dead body, found in the basement of a home in Fog Harbor. As the investigation moves forward, Olivia will recognize some clues that tie to her personal story. There is a lot going on in this book. It moves quickly and will leave you looking back for clues missed along the way. BUT, it's a thriller's thriller and my reading circle all agree, it's well worth your reading time.

Her Perfect Bones is the second instalment in the criminal psychologist Olivia Rockwell and Detective Will Decker series set in Fog Harbour, California. The book opens with a prologue from 1985 when a seventeen year old pregnant teen boards the greyhound bus in order to run away from home. She travels to Fog Harbour believing it is the change she needs in life to make a fresh start. Fast forward nearly four decades and as Will is tending to his garden he sees Sam Weatherby frantically running towards him. He informs him that as he was clearing out his grandfather Jack's old cabin next door to Will's home he came upon a barrel too heavy to move complete with gruesome contents. Will ascends the basement stairs to try to find out what exactly the barrel holds and discovers the body of a mummified young woman with a ring around her fourth metacarpal and packed into the steel drum with sand, confirming what Sam had described. He awaits the arrival of partner Detective Jimmy Benson (JB) — who had a serious change of mood after giving up both nicotine and sugar in the past few weeks. A short time later JB and medical examiner Chet Clancy turn up to surveil the scene. Via the autopsy they identify the body as that of Shelby Mayfield and uncover a Nikon FA camera with a cracked lens and an undeveloped roll of film from the sand surrounding her corpse with the stonewashed jeans, high top sneakers and 1984 summer olympics t-shirt pointing them to the time period she was killed.

She seemingly died from multiple skull fractures as a result of three instances of blunt force trauma to the head with one of them causing an intercranial hematoma. The team find themselves with a thirty-five-year-old cold case on their hands and must comb through the evidence to attempt to bring closure to the case once and for all. But soon they have more than one murder on their plate. This is a compulsive and thoroughly engrossing police procedural with plenty of fast paced action, twists and turns, and a large pool of suspects with possible motives for the team to check out but with very few clues it's hard going and each step forward is earned through blood, sweat and tears. There is never a dull moment with the main thread of the plot being accompanied by several more minor threads primarily related to the personal lives of Decker and Rockwell. Decker's brother Ben, who is also a cop, resides in prison after committing the unlawful shooting of a woman that Decker witnessed and that resulted in his transfer to Fog Harbour PD. He has been threatened by the notorious Oaktown Boys which results in a move to FH prison for his safety. Whilst Olivia's father is also incarcerated but is up for parole. He was a member of the Oaktown Boys and was convicted of killing a prostitute but has always maintained his innocence. However, most don't believe him with the damning evidence that her body was discovered under his roof. A riveting, intense and well conceived read. Highly recommended.

Thank you Netgalley and Boukouture for the ARC!
3.5 stars - rounded up.
Publication Date: February 16, 2021

This is the second installment of the Rockwell and Decker series, but can easily be read as a standalone.

In the first book, Will had recently been transferred to Fog Harbor as he was no longer welcome at his former precinct for testifying against another officer, who also happens to be his brother, for shooting/killing an unarmed woman. In Fog Harbor, he was partnered up with JB, who at first appeared to dislike Will and be somewhat petulant, but as the book continued I found him to be hilarious and deceptively intuitive. By this book, it seemed like their relationship grew to a point that they trust each other more as partners and JB, though a side character, remains one of my favorites. I also love that Will's relationship with a stray that adopted him continues to grow; be still my heart!

The murder mystery moves forward at a fast pace and although this book is on the longer side, the chapters are short and the story never drags- maybe in part due to subplots. The characters are complex and continue to be developed throughout the case. The mystery itself kept me guessing with several viable suspects and I enjoyed the resolution of the case.

This is the 5th book I have read by this author. She is not only brilliant, but she applies insights from her career as a forensic psychologist into her writing resulting in realistic criminals and fascinating cases.

Now for some brutal honesty: The main characters, though attracted to each other, continue to deny the obvious due to mutual unresolved personal issues in their past. It is understandable and mature not to jump into a relationship unready. However, their relationship in Book 1 was downright childish at times due to nicknames like "Dr. Smarty Pants" used repetitiously through0ut the text. Thankfully, they moved past that by this novel and while still unwilling to deal with the tension, it was no longer a cringeworthy distraction from the investigation. I do hope that they either work past their issues like the adults they are or at the very least, acknowledge that big ole elephant. I like them very much individually and think their diverse perspectives can lead to a highly efficient team, like Booth and Bones, if they get to know each other in any real way.