Although I received The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks for review from the CFBA, the book arrived past the deadline for review thus making mine late.
We join Gwen Marcey in this second novel post breast cancer and out of work. She's a forensic artist who's suffered a messy and particularly hurtful divorce during her battle with cancer, and job gaps make everything tough. When her dog Winston comes home with a skull and leads her to a nearby deserted homestead in the woods where she finds a tortured young girl on the verge of death, she is suddenly employed once again by her friend and Sheriff Dave. However, an incident with the sheriff's cell phone at the crime scene causes the Missoula sheriff to take over the investigation with a competitor forensic artist who Gwen taught everything he knows. Just as quickly, she's unemployed again.
Gwen is never satisfied to be on the bench during an active investigation especially when the previously murdered girl whose skull Winston found and the recovering young victim (Mattie) in the hospital both look very similar to her daughter Aynslee. However, her efforts to find out who's doing this lands her in a boatload of trouble with Dave.
Adding to the chaos, a group of white supremacists are staging a parade through town, and the sheriff is scrambling to put enough people on patrol. Gwen's best friend Beth, a research guru, provides detailed information on the group and helps Gwen connect some vague dots in the case. When Gwen, Beth, and Aynslee concoct a plan to see Mattie in the hospital, everything that can go wrong does.
Carrie gives us a vulnerable woman in Gwen who fights bitterness over her divorce, works hard to continually prove herself, bravely tackles impossible circumstances to protect and rescue her daughter, and endures humiliation to accomplish hard goals while struggling with her faith. Her life isn't easy and frustration follows her around, but her strong will enables her to persevere and regain those things which are most important in her life.
If you enjoy the mysteries of forensics, out of the ordinary storylines with mysterious villains, you'll certainly enjoy Carrie Stuart Park's two novels A Cry from The Dust and The Bones Will Speak. There's a wealth of unique information in them and building suspense that turns to intense action toward the end.
Father, please continue to provide for Carrie's every need while blessing her body, soul, and spirit. Inspire her, assist her in her storytelling, and may she feel your pleasure as she writes in obedience to you. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.