Quiet in her Bones is a mystery – thriller set in Aukland, New Zealand.   It is told in the first person, telling the story of a writer whose mother disappeared ten years earlier.     Almost all of the events of the mystery take place in a cul-de-sac of well-to-do families who have a number of secrets that are gradually hinted at, then pried from hiding places.

As the mystery progresses we find out that the story is told by an unreliable narrator and the narrator-investigator has limitations in his ability to conduct an enquiry.    Plot twists, small revelations, and unpredicted actions from key characters turn the mystery on its side, revealing the secrets provide the way to solve “whodunnit.”    But this is not a tale of a professional sleuth.    Ari’s efforts are scattered and erratic, the police are on the wrong track , and the killer shows no weak points.

Characters are well-developed with all their faults.   Tension is maintained throughout the story and there are many layers revealed, not in a methodical manner, but in a messy, emotional, hazy, and twisted series of revelations.   It was a sustained mystery, but I did not find myself connected to the characters so I read for the resolution, not with the characters, but at a safe distance.

Recommended, with some reservations – 4.3 out of 5.0 stars4.3

An audioexcerpt: