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deen734's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Hate crime, Murder, Pedophilia, Gun violence, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief
francinesisterreads's review against another edition
4.0
Crime is not my usual genre, but I do enjoy well-written, dare I say literary crime, and The Bone Readers by Jacob Ross does not disappoint. This may be in part because I am from Grenada, the island on which the fictional location in the book was based, and as such related completely to this story. I have certainly never read a Caribbean novel quite like this, it's a true crime procedural, but with the West Indian twist that I recognised and reveled in.
Ross deftly exposes the social and political issues that seem engendered in post-colonial countries like Camaho, but that Grenadian humour was ever present as the story progresses, even through the somewhat horrific portions. An excellent crime novel with characters that endear themselves to you.
Ross deftly exposes the social and political issues that seem engendered in post-colonial countries like Camaho, but that Grenadian humour was ever present as the story progresses, even through the somewhat horrific portions. An excellent crime novel with characters that endear themselves to you.
ebonyutley's review against another edition
4.0
The Bone Readers is about violence against women. I had know idea that would be the crux of the book by the title and description. Neither of which do the book any justice. That said, the book is very much about justice and that’s a feel good situation considering the dark subject matter. I love a thriller that throws me for a loop which the book does. I didn’t see all of the end coming. The language is fun as is the Caribbean context. I love a book that makes me Google—vocabulary, culture, history.
And the main character is an incredibly likable asshole. He’s got a smart mouth and a chip on his shoulder and will cut off his nose to spite his face, and I love every good and every bad decision that he makes. Ross does a great job of fleshing him out so that we want to know what he’s going to do next. Actually, all of the characters are complete and frustrating in their blanks. You’ll know what that means when you read it. No one speaks plain, but that’s a reflection of Caribbean culture. The whole book is in its plot, its geographic descriptions, its dialog, and its characters. I wanted to read a well-written non-struggle story thriller that takes place in the Caribbean and The Bone Reader did not disappoint.
And the main character is an incredibly likable asshole. He’s got a smart mouth and a chip on his shoulder and will cut off his nose to spite his face, and I love every good and every bad decision that he makes. Ross does a great job of fleshing him out so that we want to know what he’s going to do next. Actually, all of the characters are complete and frustrating in their blanks. You’ll know what that means when you read it. No one speaks plain, but that’s a reflection of Caribbean culture. The whole book is in its plot, its geographic descriptions, its dialog, and its characters. I wanted to read a well-written non-struggle story thriller that takes place in the Caribbean and The Bone Reader did not disappoint.
bookofcinz's review against another edition
3.0
A Crime series set in the Caribbean…. GIVE ME MORE!
The Bone Readers is the first of a four-part crime series set on a small Caribbean of Camaho, with the main detective being Michael “Digger” Digson. Digger was on the streets when he witnessed a crime, he was then brought in for questioning and requited by DS Chilman whose mission is to create a new and fresh police squad verse at thinking critically and solving crimes.
Digger begrudgingly takes up a role in the squad with his ulterior motive being, solving the disappearance and murder of his mother. Digger and other members of his team are sent get trained in ballistics and he is sent to London to train in forensics. DS Chilman’s only case for the squad is to find a young man called Nathan who disappeared years ago. Not everyone is keen to taking up this cold case because on an island where praedial larceny runs rampant and everyone is a “bad man” members of the squad of have their hands full.
The Squad evolves with the retirement of DS Chilman and Miss K. Stanislaus joins the team. She is set on finding out more about Nathan and what happened to him- but they get side tracked when a famous pastor on the island is killed until mysterious circumstances… everyone on the squad must now work to clear their names.
Honestly, I enjoyed this book. This was the first time I am reading a crime fiction written by a Caribbean author, set in the Caribbean. I LOVE to see it! I also loved how “realistic” and “unrealistic” at the times the circumstances where- I mean- where do you hear of a Police man just walking off the streets and getting a scholarship to go learn forensics… madness. I also loved the entire island feel of this book-from debriefing happening in a rum shop to roti being a peace offering to everyone knowing each other and knowing who the criminals are.... very island vibe.
Overall I felt the plot did waiver a bit, and didn’t go as deep as I would hope but this is the first in a series so I am looking forward to see what Digger gets up to next.
The Bone Readers is the first of a four-part crime series set on a small Caribbean of Camaho, with the main detective being Michael “Digger” Digson. Digger was on the streets when he witnessed a crime, he was then brought in for questioning and requited by DS Chilman whose mission is to create a new and fresh police squad verse at thinking critically and solving crimes.
Digger begrudgingly takes up a role in the squad with his ulterior motive being, solving the disappearance and murder of his mother. Digger and other members of his team are sent get trained in ballistics and he is sent to London to train in forensics. DS Chilman’s only case for the squad is to find a young man called Nathan who disappeared years ago. Not everyone is keen to taking up this cold case because on an island where praedial larceny runs rampant and everyone is a “bad man” members of the squad of have their hands full.
The Squad evolves with the retirement of DS Chilman and Miss K. Stanislaus joins the team. She is set on finding out more about Nathan and what happened to him- but they get side tracked when a famous pastor on the island is killed until mysterious circumstances… everyone on the squad must now work to clear their names.
Honestly, I enjoyed this book. This was the first time I am reading a crime fiction written by a Caribbean author, set in the Caribbean. I LOVE to see it! I also loved how “realistic” and “unrealistic” at the times the circumstances where- I mean- where do you hear of a Police man just walking off the streets and getting a scholarship to go learn forensics… madness. I also loved the entire island feel of this book-from debriefing happening in a rum shop to roti being a peace offering to everyone knowing each other and knowing who the criminals are.... very island vibe.
Overall I felt the plot did waiver a bit, and didn’t go as deep as I would hope but this is the first in a series so I am looking forward to see what Digger gets up to next.
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which was a recommendation.
The character of Michael Digson is engaging as are his colleagues, a strange mix of police officers hand picked to solve crimes.
This book revolves around the historical murder of a young man but also brings in some of Digger's own history including his mother's disappearance/death and his status as the child of an unwed mother and an influential but absent father.
The writing is excellent and the patois is in keeping with the setting. The story develops into something much more than one murder and the relationships between Digger, his women and his colleagues is beautifully developed.
Looking forward very much to reading the sequel.
The character of Michael Digson is engaging as are his colleagues, a strange mix of police officers hand picked to solve crimes.
This book revolves around the historical murder of a young man but also brings in some of Digger's own history including his mother's disappearance/death and his status as the child of an unwed mother and an influential but absent father.
The writing is excellent and the patois is in keeping with the setting. The story develops into something much more than one murder and the relationships between Digger, his women and his colleagues is beautifully developed.
Looking forward very much to reading the sequel.
riceanddial's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
lostcupofstars's review against another edition
3.5
A little difficult to get into at times but overall an interesting story. Not really sure what the relevance of Lonnie as a character was. And Dessie tbh I don’t feel like either of them were needed to keep the plot moving.
Everything was tied up well in the end.
Everything was tied up well in the end.
jenmat1197's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of Michael Digson who is recruited by the local police to help solve a cold case. He has a natural talent for forensics, so he starts the hunt for a missing boy, and in the process continues to try and solve his own cold case - the one involving the disappearance of his mother. What Digson uncovers is not only the missing boy, but several other people who went missing on the island and uncover a spree killer
This book was fine. It got a lot of 5 star reveiws and my guess is there are not a lot of books that take place in Granada. The color of the island came through nicely in the book - the author writes as the locals speak - and that adds some flavor you don't see in many books. It found it a bit "all over the place" and only mildly entertaining. However- it is a short book, and it checked the box for my Read The World challenge, so we will hang onto it for now.
This book was fine. It got a lot of 5 star reveiws and my guess is there are not a lot of books that take place in Granada. The color of the island came through nicely in the book - the author writes as the locals speak - and that adds some flavor you don't see in many books. It found it a bit "all over the place" and only mildly entertaining. However- it is a short book, and it checked the box for my Read The World challenge, so we will hang onto it for now.
rosielazar1's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amyjo25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0