A review by travelsalongmybookshelf
The Bone Hunters by Joanne Burn

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

‘Ada isn’t a hunter of fossils for the sake of impressing the visitors to Lyme. Orion even to make a living - not truly. She hunts because she always has.’ 

 

Ada Winters is a woman born out of her time, much like Mary Anning, the inspiration for this character. Not recognised for her intelligence and worth by Societies created by men, who claim her work as their own. 

 

‘It is a paddle, she thinks, of some aquatic creature, and she has seen no fossils like it previously…her heart kicks hard in her chest, for laid at her feet is a mystery.’ 

 

Ada is dismissed because she is a woman and it makes me furious reading this. I was so engrossed in her struggle to unearth a monster, the descriptions and detail are fabulous. I love Lyme Regis and know it well and have walked in Ada’s steps searching for fossils, it has also had me back down some rabbit holes reading about Lyme and Mary Anning again. 

 

‘I understand the skull came from Street in Somerset.’ 

 

This story is just beautifully written, at times tense, at times utterly enthralling and completely gripping. 

 

Joanne Burn, I salute you, for this is something truly special.