FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde is back home on a remote Pacific Northwest island when she gets the call: a teenager’s skeletal remains have been found on a nearby island.
Together with Tessa Black, a childhood friend turned local deputy, Cate confronts dreary weather and bleak leads to make sense of the death. The complications pile up as Cate is distracted by the coroner on the case—and by nagging memories that draw her twenty years into the past. The remains suggest eerie similarities between this victim, and Cate and Tessa’s friend Samantha, who disappeared when she was fourteen.
Cate finds herself up against closemouthed locals, buried town secrets, and even her own heart. As the case unravels, will she be able to cut through the fog and find justice for the missing and the dead.
Close To The Bone is the first novella in a new series by Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh. These authors will be alternatively writing books for the Widow’s island series, which are all novella-length. This is their second collaboration after the Rouge River series which I hear had a few characters from this new series. I might check that out.
I am of the opinion that short lengths only do favors to a suspense genre. You get a faster pace and a tighter story-line. So, I had high expectations from this novella. But, in this case the length was the main problem with this book. It could’ve used a little more time for the plot and the mystery to build up and unfold.
To be fair, I think the characters were fleshed out pretty well, even in the short span of time. I liked the focus on the friendship between Cate and Tessa. I am curious about what’s ahead for the gang. Having said that, the potential romance between Cate and Henry failed to engage me. I found there to be a shortage of sparks between the main characters, something that I always eagerly look forward to in a romance.
My favorite part about the book was the setting. I loved the idea of Widow’s island with it’s fascinating history and background. An island where married men have a record of dying young? Color me intrigued! If nothing else, I’ll read the next book just to return to this captivating island.
My Rating: ★★★☆☆
Publication Date: 23rd November, 2018.
Source: ARC from Publisher (via Netgalley)
Links – Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository
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