Another good and solid Sarah Alt (Salt) novel by this retired Atlanta policewoman and detective turned author. There are a combination of story lines here: a young Spelman student is murdered and people take to the streets; the body of a young woman from Salt's former beat is found; and the relationship between Old South and New is examined.

As Salt is called on to be part of the APD riot squad, the reader learns about the training that goes into being part of that team as well as the physical and mental demands on the officers. When rioting does break out, Salt encounters another of her young charges from The Homes, brother to the young girl whose body she finds (the "Old Bones" of the title), and when the POV of Lil D begins, a side of life opens for the reader. In addition, the home life of young Mary is explored, including her grandmother's abuse which led to Mary seeking what she saw as glamorous women who dance at strip clubs.

In an understated and still engrossing way, the relationship with Salt and Wills begins to deepen, leading to the decision about whose house they will live in and how they will keep their relationship secret from their bosses and co-workers. And Salt finds a box in the attic that contains a listing for her great-grandfather's slaves in the pre-Civil War era. ( )

In Old Bones, Trudy Nan Boyce brings back many of the characters from her first novel in another story involving Detective Sarah Alt and the city of Atlanta.

In this novel, she also interjects more police humor that I found lacking in the first novel.

The story this time involves Alt investigating a murdered young female, which again leads Alt and her co-workers to places many would wish be left alone. The investigation also unfurls as the city of Atlanta is in turmoil after college protesters, protesting police brutality, are fired upon by suspects believed to be tied to a white supremacist group. Alt's investigation is further imperiled by those with influence over those in Atlanta politics.

While reading this novel, I think it is clear Boyce is a novelist to watch. She captures and describes Atlanta, history and policing very well.

If I had to characterize her writing style, I would suggest it to be comparable to that of a blend of James Lee Burke (for capturing history and flavors of a region), Michael Connelly (for police accuracy and bureaucratic nightmares of the police culture), with a bit of George Pelecanos (for the heartbreak of cultural aspects of life) thrown in.

Boyce successfully creates tales that are believable in their plot lines and characters that are multi-layered.

As far as any negative criticism of this novel, after finishing the novel, I did realize she did leave some acts in the novel unanswered and one major plot line appeared to be completed in a very quick manner.

Still, she has created characters readers should grow fond of and look forward to in future novels.

Highly recommended.

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