Bred in the Bone

It started out as just a hit-and-run accident that led to a lead on a 20-year-old murder investigation.

FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde is still recovering from being shot and relaxing on Widow's Island with her boyfriend and childhood best friend County Deputy Tessa Black. On her way back from a date, they get called to a highway accident as her boyfriend is the only doctor on the island.

As Cate tags along with Tessa on the case to notify one of the family members, they get the shock of their lives. They get a lead to their murder investigation of their best friend Samantha who disappeared 20 years ago.

Kendra Elliot may drop us into a mystery that is 20 years old or covered in other books, but you would never know it. Bred in the Bone (Montlake Romance, B07G9YZTFF, 2019) is the fourth book in the “Widow's Island” series, yet the mystery could start it off as the first or last in the series. The book, or novella I should say, can be read as a standalone.

I was enthralled in the mystery. All of the connections were logical and by the book. Elliot packs a lot in 86 pages and you will not be disappointed.

Some reviewers I noticed tagged this as a romance and a romantic suspense book, but I do not see it as either. This is a straight mystery. It is all about following the leads and you do not miss the romance because the case is that interesting. I should say cases because this ends up being more than one mystery.

If anything I would have also tagged it as Christmas because the holiday is mentioned multiple times (laugh). Kudos to Elliot for packing a great mystery in a small package. This would have made a great full-length book. ✶✶✶✶

I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.