In terms of story and characters, this is a readable, solid novel. The plot is engaging and the main character is interesting, as are members of the "supporting cast." Where it fails badly is the lack of careful proofreading. The version I have feels like a final draft that escaped into the wild before it was fully tamed. Besides the typos, there are places where the writer seems to assume knowledge that the reader does not yet have, which caused me to flip back a page or two several times, asking, "Wait. When did that happen?" I also lost count of how many times individuals "furled their lips." Fair enough- that is an acceptable usage, but some variety in describing facial expression would have been a relief. Similar were numerous references to someone looking at something or closing (his/her) "one eye." In that formation, (especially since the first time it occurred, the character has 2 prosthetic legs), I thought the person literally had only one eye.

Some other errors probably wouldn't bother most people, but I tend to be more than somewhat obsessive. So when I see "... run the GAMBIT..." instead of "gamut" and a reference to the US military using vehicle-mounted "60 caliber machine-guns" in the recent past, I cringe. (Guessing that the armament mistake is due to a misunderstanding of the "M60," which (pedantic, I know) is .30 caliber, not .60.

With better attention to details of writing, this book would get a better rating. ( )

The first book in Baer Charlton’s new mystery series is a winner. A Skeleton in Bone Creek introduces Nash Running Bear, a Native American FBI special agent living in Washington, DC, with her wife, Mina, who is battling cancer for the second time. When a skeleton is found near Nash’s hometown in northern California, the former Marine heads home for her first visit since her mother died more than twenty years ago. While Nash learns little from her sister, Daisy, her conversations with Uncle, the old man who lives in a teepee behind her sister’s barn, are more revealing. Nash ultimately meets up with the sheriff, Thomas Brady, who is as popular now as he was when they were in high school.

Nash picks up a new partner, a dog named Powder, whose knack for finding things rivals her own sixth sense when it comes to solving crimes. Things get interesting when a search of the creek uncovers more bones, and Nash begins to wonder whether there’s more afoot (pardon the pun) than just one missing person. The complexity of the case leads to the involvement of multiple federal agencies, much to the consternation of the local sheriff. Nash tries to keep him and everything else under control until it’s time for the authorities to make their move.

A Skeleton in Bone Creek is an excellent book and a great read for mystery lovers. Charlton flawlessly weaves together contemporary Native American issues, environmental concerns, and LBGTQ+ themes into a complex narrative that only a character like Nash Running Bear knows how to handle. Here’s hoping that all of the books in the series are as good as the first. ( )