Unsettling..
The second in the Carla James Crime series finds the archeological professor being called to investigate an unusual burial and, simultaneously, she becomes concerned with a case of a missing student at Jericho College. As she digs deeper into both cases, secrets and corruption will out. With an unsettling and atmospheric plot populated with a credible cast of characters and firm sense of place, this is a worthy follow on to the first in the series.

I went into Quiet Bones not realizing it was the second book featuring the same main character — while it works as a standalone, I’d recommend reading Death Rites first to fully appreciate some of the backstory and references that felt a bit out of reach.

The book is a relatively quick read, though the pacing felt slow at times and the suspense didn’t always deliver the intensity I hoped for. That said, the writing is strong, and I really enjoyed the alternating perspectives of Carla and Erin — both well-drawn, relatable characters.

The twists were satisfying, though a bit predictable if you’re paying attention to the clues along the way. Overall, this one leans more toward a light mystery than a gripping thriller, and while it was enjoyable, it likely won’t stick with me the way some darker, more complex crime novels do.

Perfect for readers who prefer a thoughtful, character-driven mystery over a high-octane thriller.

A dead baby is found wrapped in a swan's wing. A student is missing, and it is not clear whether she is the baby's mother.
A body is found in a dig - also a student - but from a quarter of a century ago.

Are all of these connected? Carla has to unravel the clues.

I came to the party late on this series. I haven't read book 1.
Carla is a determined sleuth and the police call her in for assistance when they are stuck.
I enjoyed the book, but would have preferred to have read the first one before I dived into this page turner.
Twists and shock reveals........ and a warning. Do not trust anyone.

3.5/5 stars from me.

Quiet Bones is the second on the series featuring Prof Carla James, an English academic at New England's Jericho College. The archeology expert is again drawn into a murder investigation because of her professional expertise, and finds herself dealing with years of privilege and tradition in the college.

There are a lot of strands to this novel and Carla has to figure out which pieces fit and which are separate. Her dogged determination and intelligence see her working with the pathologist and police officers, although she's not certain who to trust.

This is a good novel with plenty of intrigue and it keeps the reader guessing. The characters are strong and Carla's struggles are well described.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

I enjoyed this compelling mystery, and although I didn't race through it because I couldn't wait to see what happened, I found it intriguing and look forward to more from this talented author.

Slower paced than the majority of mystery and thriller books I read, this took me a while to get into the rhythm of.
Glad I did, it was intriguing.
A lot going on, and never sure if things were connected or not.
It had me asking questions almost to the end, which is always good.
Good central characters.
An enjoyable read overall.