Alone was not as good as the first three books in the Bone Series. I read in the acknowledgements that the author did not originally intend to tell Victoria's story and that comes through in the book. The story jumps around between the mystery and the romance, and they never really come together until the last few pages. The romance also jumps back and forth from the present and past in awkward places which makes it difficult to form an emotional connection between the reader and the characters. Overall this was a decent read but doesn't live up to the standard set by the first three books in the series. ( )

Another solid book by Kendra Elliot. The 'quick' romance is handled much better in this novel than her previous one by giving the couple a history. The book starts quickly when the discovery is made of 6 young women found arranged in a circle in the woods, and the hunt is on for the killer and the reason behind the crime.

What I find the author does very well is the introduction of new characters without losing touch with the core cast. It's all very natural; I prefer the resolution of relationships over the 20 series angst of Stephanie Plum, for example. Bonus in this book: we already have some new, interesting characters for future novels to include. I'm hoping to see more of Katy (hint hint).

I've already pre-ordered #5 in the series (Vanished).




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Alone
3 Stars

Forensic anthropologist, Victoria Peres is called in to assist when the bodies of several young girls are found in the woods and the case is connected to a decades old investigation. Victoria's life is made all the more difficult when the new medical examiner is revealed to be Seth Rutledge, the only man to ever get under Tori's skin. Can the two resolve their issues and work together to solve the case?

The mystery has potential, but is undermined by the tedious romance.

Victoria and Seth's second chances romance is not appealing mainly due to the lack of chemistry as well as the circumstances that led to their initial break-up. The reasons Seth gives for his actions are illogical and Victoria is far too forgiving given his choices. The fact that Seth married a woman who cheated on him and stayed with her for 18 years puts a significant damper on their rekindled relationship.

The mystery seems more of an afterthought and Victoria's personal connection to the case is contrived. In addition, the information on the cult is lacking foundation and the writing is characterized by excessive retrospective telling and insufficient showing. There are also too many inconsistencies in characterization and plotting.

All in all, a disappointing installment in an otherwise entertaining series.
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My final thoughts as I finished this book were this was a great example of overcoming adversity. The heroine, Victoria Peres overcame many during her life and as the book goes on you realize this woman really beat the odds.

We’ve met Victoria in previous books. She is a forensic anthropologist that has been nicknamed the ice queen and bone lady. She is perceived as being anti-social and unfeeling. But that is not the case and her walls begin to crumble at the site of a mass murder of young girls when one of the reason’s she sealed off her emotions, Seth Rulledge, shows up at the scene as one of the candidates for the medical examiner job that would make him her boss. Seth and Victoria were college sweethearts whose romance ended in heartbreak but Seth has vowed to make up for that now and hopes to win Victoria back.

The investigation of the murder of the young girls and its eerie similarity to one from the 60’s is treaded throughout the book with plenty of fascinating information on how a forensic anthropologist finds out who a person is just from bones and the inner workings of an autopsy but it was also a character story of how people overcome a bad childhood, relationship heartbreak and traumatic events to still succeed in life by being persistent and resilient and not letting circumstances or events knock them down for long and that in the end love, inspiration, faith and patience can finally pay off.

Mason Callahan and Ray Lusco with the Oregon State Police Major crimes are also back in this book and as always are a joy to read as they try to solve the case.

It may not seem like it from what I’ve written so far but this book did have plenty of suspense. From the moment the girls are found lying in a field all in white dresses and arranged in a perfect circle to the atrocious revealing of why, you are turning the pages and gasping as each clue is revealed.

I am never disappointed by Kendra’s stories and that was no different with Alone. I look forward to the next book from her.
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Thriller. Bone Secrets 4. Forensic anthropologist Victoria and 6 dead girls in white dresses. OK-
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