Don't worry if you haven't read the earlier books in this long running series- this one will be fine as a standalone. This time out, Jane, a private investigator, is helping Britt, a woman who knows, just knows, she had a cousin Timmy, no matter what her aunts tell her. It's a good read.

No one wants to be the one everyone thinks is crazy. Did you imagine it? Was it all in your head? Thats what it main character is thinking before everything unfolds...

Solid 4-star adult mystery!

The first thing that drew me to this book was the cover. It's gorgeous. I love the colors...and it's a mystery, one of my favorite genres. I failed to note however that it was #25 in a series; completely blinded by the cover...again. However, I kept it in mind and kept checking reviews to see if I could read it as a stand-alone. I certainly didn't have time to go back and read 24 books in order to get myself ready for this one. I was so psyched when I discovered that this series, like many adult mystery series, do not need to be read in order; think Hercule Poirot, Murder, She Wrote, etc. You could definitely read this as a stand-alone so if you haven't read any other books in this series, please don't let that deter you!

Jane Lawless, our MC, is a restaurant owner and a PI who is hired in this case by a young woman named Britt Ickles. Britt is looking for answers about what happened to her cousin, Timmy, who she only met once when she was very, very young. The answers dwell with Britt's two old Aunts, Eleanor and Lena, who live together in a boarding house they own. Jane goes undercover and rents a room at the house for her investigation. Aiding her is her best friend, Cordelia Thorn, who was my favorite character of the whole book! She is an over-the-top theater director who brings so much joy and humor to the story that I laughed out loud during more than one scene that she was a part of! I seriously would read an entire series of just Cordelia Thorn books...honestly, I think the world needs that. Needless to say, a whole cast of wonderfully drawn out side characters arose, deep family secrets were revealed and it kept me involved as a reader the whole way through.

Another great element in this book, which I was unaware of going in, is the strong LGBTQ+ rep going on here. Jane is a lesbian and we get to read about her complex relationship with her on again, off again girlfriend Julia. I feel like sometimes it can be hard to find solid LGBTQ+ rep in Adult lit, particularly in the mystery genre, so this was a welcome change of pace and I definitely plan to pick up more books in this series. The good news is I have 24 more books I get to choose from! So, if you love a good mystery with a fun and engaging cast of characters and a great, classic whodunnit format, you should definitely pick up this book!!

Thank you so much to the publisher, and to NetGalley, for providing me with the opportunity to read this book and provide my feedback. I am confident other mystery fans will enjoy it as much as I did!

"Fans of Jane Lawless new and old will be fascinated by newly minted Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster Ellen Hart’s latest intricate puzzle in A Whisper of Bones.

Britt Ickles doesn’t remember much from her only visit to her mother’s childhood home when she was a kid, except for playing with her cousin Timmy and the eruption of a sudden family feud. That’s why, when she drops by unannounced after years of silence, she’s shocked when her aunts tell her Timmy never existed, that she must be confusing him with someone else. But Britt can’t shake the feeling that Timmy did exist…and that something horrible has happened to him. Something her aunts want to cover up.

Britt hires Jane Lawless, hoping the private investigator can figure out what really happened to her cousin. When a fire in the family’s garage leads to the discovery of buried bones and one of the aunts dies suddenly and suspiciously, Jane can’t help but be pulled into the case. Do the bones belong to Timmy? Was the aunt’s death an accident, suicide, or homicide? What dark secret has this family been hiding for decades? It all depends on Jane Lawless to unravel."

New fan.

I read this one a while ago — it was one of those “read it in one day!” kind of mysteries that I couldn’t put down. While it is part of a series, it certainly stands alone as I haven’t read any of the other titles. Suspenseful and well-plotted, I will look for more by this author!
Thank you for my review copy!

This book shines on every level: sentence after sentence is beautiful and precise. The characters are complicated and sympathetic, the ideas are sweeping and profound, but are never too overt. It’s a rare novel that is as accomplished in its meaning as it is in its storytelling while also succeeding wildly on the language level as well! A novel to lose yourself in and then reflect upon again and again.

This story stayed with me. It's the first book by Ellen Hart I read. I read it twice and enjoyed it way more the second time when I already know where the story was going. The first time was a bit confusing, some characters felt a bit out of place, almost as if their stories were on a completely different page and didn't contribute much to the main storyline, but once you get to the end you see that it's all connected.
I was a bit disappointed that Jane didn't seem to contribute much to the resolution of the mystery, but I like her character and her development throughout the book.
The story is interesting, it will hold your interest and will surprise you even if you suspect where it's heading from the beginning.

Minotaur Books and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of A Whisper of Bones: A Jane Lawless Mystery. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Jane Lawless is a private investigator, hired by Britt Ickles to find out what happened to her cousin Timmy. Despite her aunts saying that Timmy is a figment of her imagination, Britt is certain that something horrible happened that necessitated a cover up by her extended family. When a garage fire yields gristly results, will the subsequent police investigation and that of Jane Lawless give Britt the answers she seeks?

Although A Whisper of Bones was a decent book, it just plodded along and was not very exciting. None of the characters really stood out for me, not even Jane. With multiple side plots, as it seems that every character in the book had complications in their lives, the main mystery gets lost in the shuffle. Although it is part of a lengthy series featuring Jane Lawless, it is not strictly necessary to have read the previous books. Despite never having read any of them, I did not feel lost or confused as to the central idea surrounding the novels. As a result of the shortcomings that I listed above, I do not feel the desire to continue reading either the previous novels or any future ones. Because of this, I would be hesitant to recommend A Whisper of Bones to other readers.

When I requested A Whisper of Bones, I didn’t know that it’s part of a series. Apparently, the main character, Jane Lawless ~ part time PI, has solved crimes in many other books by Ellen Hart. The author is smart, though, because you don’t need to be familiar with any of the other books in order to read this one. I jumped right into the story. It’s an easy read that really held my attention. A few twists that I didn’t see coming helped to make the story even more interesting.

A Whisper of Bones starts off with an obvious crime. Years later, Jane is hired by a woman named Britt who is searching for her cousin, Timmy. Britt vividly remembers playing with Timmy when they were 6 years old but her distant aunts are insisting that Timmy never existed. Britt knows that he was alive &, with Jane’s investigating skills, she seeks to prove it & discover what happened to him.

Thank you NetGalley, Ellen Hart & St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read & review this arc.

It's been a while since I read a Jane Lawless mystery and I have to say I wasn't disappointed. Hart's characters are well-developed, Although this is part of a series, enough information is scattered throughout the book to bring a new reader up to date.
Britt Ickles returns to her family's hometown and house, to find out she's not a welcome visitor. Her two aunts insist that Britt's memory of a young cousin she used to play with is wrong & there was no such person. Jane gets involved in trying to unwind the strange situation. While reading the book I became a little disappointed that I could figure out the mystery fairly early on , and was pleasantly surprised to find out that, due to some twists and turns in the plot I was completely wrong.

Summary from Goodreads:

"Britt Ickles doesn't remember much from her only visit to her mother's childhood home when she was a kid, except for playing with her cousin Timmy and the eruption of a sudden family feud. That's why, when she drops by unannounced after years of silence, she's shocked when her aunts tell her Timmy never existed, that she must be confusing him with someone else. But Britt can't shake the feeling that Timmy did exist...and that something horrible has happened to him. Something her aunts want to cover up.

Britt hires Jane Lawless, hoping the private investigator can figure out what really happened to her cousin. When a fire in the family's garage leads to the discovery of buried bones and one of the aunts dies suddenly and suspiciously, Jane can't help but be pulled into the case. Do the bones belong to Timmy? Was the aunt's death an accident, suicide, or homicide? What dark secret has this family been hiding for decades? It all depends on Jane Lawless to unravel."

My Thoughts:

A Whisper of Bones is one of those books that I was intrigued by from the very beginning. With a great cover and a unique summary, I just couldn't help wanting to read this one. The idea of a woman remembering a little boy from her childhood only to be told that he doesn't exist was too much for me to resist. I just knew that I had to read it despite the fact that this is book #25 in this long standing mystery series. Happily enough, it didn't matter in the slightest that I hadn't read the previous books as I found myself sucked into this book with ease. The thing that I really liked about this book was the mystery portion and how unexpected that it all was. Jane is hired basically to determine if Timmy is real or not. That alone had me reading without stopping because I just couldn't figure out how she was going to be able to do that. Then the bones were found in the garage and I was seriously hooked. This book also featured some interesting secondary characters that I enjoyed reading about. I'm sure that without having read the previous books I'm missing some back stories there but it didn't detract from my reading experience in the slightest. Instead it just made me go and the first book to my TBR list to read soon. I really enjoyed my time with this book and found that I didn't want to stop reading. I loved the way this book wrapped up but I won't tell you much more than that so I don't spoil anything. I just found it to be perfectly tied up and it left me excited to read more from this series!

Overall, I found this book to be a really great mystery and a series that I want to read more of. I find it so surprising that I hadn't heard of this author until now but I'm glad that I found her books. I'm looking forward to picking up book one in the very near future. I do love that I have so many books to look forward to! Readers that are looking for diverse characters - this book features a main character who is LGTBQ. I thought it was worth mentioning because so many readers are really trying to expand their reading in ways like this - I know that I am! If you are looking for a unique mystery, I would definitely recommend this book! I think that this series is considered to be a cozy mystery series but I'm really not for sure on that. All I can say is that I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more! Mystery, suspense, and cozy mystery fans alike should give this book and series a shot!

Bottom Line: An enjoyable mystery that left me excited to read more from this series!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

I'm not sure if I wasn't in the right mood for this book or if it's just my cozy mystery reading binge had me expecting something that was a bit happier or nicer. I liked it but it wasn't one I that I couldn't wait to get back to reading.

The premise is fantastic. Britt is intelligent, logical and not particularly driven by emotion. Her memories of her cousin Timmy aren't a glowing haze of perfection. He was what made an awkward and tense trip to her mother's estranged family bearable and her memories were so real and realistic that she's sure she didn't make him up and bothered by the shrug off she gets from her aunts.

Jane is good at her job. She knows what she's doing in an investigation and isn't afraid to act on impulse at times. I did feel like her personal life got in the way a bit both for her concentration and page time. While I did like seeing her in her regular world her relationship with girlfriend Julia didn't feel like it advanced the plot and took up a lot of conversation space with friends that were helping with the investigation. However, this is book #25 so I may feel different is I was a long time reader.

The mystery is good with all kinds of twisty secrets. However, I did question how possible it was for the secrets to be kept for so many years. While I did like the conclusion and the setup I questioned this little detail - especially given how dysfunctional 2 of the primary characters were.

This was a solid mystery with an interesting and diverse cast of characters. If you're not in the mood for a cozy but don't want a high intensity psychological thriller this is a perfect fit.

Jane Lawless is a private investigator . Jane is contacted by Bliss , who is convinced something happened to her brother Timmy . Bliss's aunt's claim Timmy never existed . A well constructed plot with realistic and believable characters . A perfectly crafted work of art ! Incredibly gripping mystery that I highly recommend ! Thanks to #Netgalley #St.MartinsPress #MinotaurBooks
#AWhisperOfBones

Jane Lawless, restaurant owner and part-time private investigator, is asked to find a missing person. Visiting professor Britt Ickles spends some time with her aunts who she hasn't seen in 40 years. When she asks about a cousin she remembers, the aunts deny he existed. Jane begins to investigate and soon discovers all is not right at the house where the aunts live. Suspenseful and carefully woven.

So I did not read any others in this series but I was not confused or anything. The title drew me right in and it did not disappoint. Jane Lawless is a private investigator. Jane is contacted by Bliss, an academic in town for a conference, who is convinced that something happened to her cousin, Timmy. Bliss went to visit her estranged aunts, and both claimed that Timmy (a boy Bliss met only once) never existed. Jane takes one of the spare rooms available to rent in the aunts' house and the fun begins. This novel had great characters, a fun plot, and overall had a great feel. Job well done!

Thanks NetGalley!

I didn’t realize this was book 25 when I picked it up. Usually I steer clear of such a high number in a series; however, I’m glad I missed that little detail because this book works so well as a standalone that it could have very well been the first book.

The author throws in lots of little details about the main character, Jane, and those who are closest to her. It really makes the book come to life. Her good friend Cordelia adds a sense of of lightness to the book, and it was a pleasure to get to know her.

Moreover, I loved that there wasn’t cursing on every page; I can’t believe how many authors resort to that because they can’t figure out how to “show” when someone’s upset. This author could definitely give them some tips.


This is a wonderfully plotted book, and I recommend it highly.

A Whisper of Bones is a captivating thriller.  It is not a cosy, even though there is little violence.  The novel is well dramatized, with Ellen Hart making it possible to empathize with all the characters, to see their humanity despite all the flaws and your many reasons to dislike certain ones.

Britt Ickles comes to Jane with a curious problem.  She remembers playing with a young cousin many years before, but when she approaches her aunts, they claim he never existed.  Britt is convinced something happened and wants to know the truth.  It’s a difficult case, but Jane begins by renting a room from Britt’s aunts.

The two elderly women get on like oil and water, fighting constantly. But they both are remarkably silent when a fire burns their garage - and human bones are discovered.

A Whisper of Bones is a powerful book that demonstrates how weak people can be and how much damage they are willing to do to avoid responsibility.  Ellen Hart makes it easy to believe in the culpability of her characters.  But she also gives you hope in the form of Jane and her friends.

Some people may be offended by the Lgbtq aspect of the novel. The romance is tastefully done and not graphic.  It fits extremely well and is important to the plot.  Which is more than I can say for some novels who throw in the typical police/amateur romance just to add seasoning to the plot.  

A Whisper of Bones is a good mystery, but it is definitely dark.  It lingers in the grey area between cozies and thrillers.  It won’t appeal as much to the cozy crowd, but if you are up to a deeper read you will be impressed.

4 / 5

I received a copy of A Whisper of Bones from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

— Crittermom

What do you do when you remember someone from your childhood, but your family denies that he ever existed? In Britt Ickles' case, you hire Jane Lawless, private investigator. Jane starts on the case, but a set of bones found in a garage after a mysterious fire complicates matters even further.

Jane is a compelling main character. She is smart and resourceful, but still human, as she tries to figure out what she should do about an ex-love who now is back in her world due to a life-threatening illness.

I also love the premise. The idea of someone denying the existence of a person that you absolutely remember is really eerie, and makes me want to know more.

Hart just tries to fit too much in. There is so much going on, so many subplots, that the mystery suffers. I felt like the solution to the mystery was telegraphed too early, so there wasn't really a lot of suspense. And while I appreciated one of the twists, there was just so many stories flying at me simultaneously that it got sort of lost in the crowd.

This is by no means a bad book, it's an okay book with a lot of potential that never got realized. I think if Hart had decided what the focus was, and built from there, the book would have been a lot stronger.

Good book. It kept my interest finding out what really went on in the past between those two sisters. Was the missing little boy still alive? Who belongs to the bones found in the garage? Jane Lawless is a eccentric private investigator, with some unique friends. I like all the players and the theatrical feel to the book. It will keep you guessing.

I requested this book for review, not realizing this was book twenty-five (!!) of a series. But I could jump right in; it wasn't difficult to get to know the characters, the way it does in some series. You can easily jump in right here with A Whisper of Bones, though I'm now tempted to start at book one...

The mystery here was solid and intriguing: who is buried under the garage, and why is the whole family trying to cover it up? The story is very atmospheric, the mystery is well-written, and the series element doesn't get in the way of things--no lengthy sidetracking storylines about the secondary characters, like some series do, especially this far in.

There are quite a few perspective shifts, which made me want to get back to our lead character (loved her!), and how she was going to solve the crime. But overall, I really liked this, and I'll be checking out the authors other books. Recommended, if you're behind the curve, like me (book twenty-five! how did I miss this series for so long?).

**NetGalley provided copy for review**