Are you afraid of ghosts?

"The Bone Jar" takes the reader on a journey through an abandoned asylum where the body of an elderly woman turns up. Detective Lew Kirby is on the case, but will soon find how it this case will become personal. In the end, the truth will be revealed.

I've always been intrigued and disturbed by what went on in these places. This book is a thrilling look at how the history of a building collides with the present. Who lives among these walls - whether in the flesh or as a spirit. And what exactly is "The Bone Jar"?

A quick read, this thriller was exciting and kept me on the edge of the page! I don't want to give it all away, so get your copy now! Thank you Netgalley and Amazon UK for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

Atmospheric Murder Mystery....
Introducing Detective Lew Kirby and partner in this atmospheric murder mystery. The discovery of a body in a disused asylum building near the Thames starts an investigation that becomes increasingly more sinister and more complex for the Detectives. It must be said that there’s a lot going on here, a hectic and busy plot with possibly some danger of confusion although nicely written with credible and engaging characters.

A good police procedural and a psychological thriller all in one read. An 85 year old woman is found dead in an abandoned asylum. What was her connection to this place. Atmospheric, dark and disturbing and in places terrifying. A new author for me and I hope the start of a new series. A glued to your seat read with plenty of heart in your mouth moments. A really good debut and can't wait to read more.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the ARC

My thanks to NetGaley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK for the electronic copy.

This is a great start to a new series! Intriguing, atmospheric, excellent writing and main characters. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
The abandoned Blackwater Asylum on the banks of the Thames in Battersea is due for redevelopment by Patrick Calder. Shifts of single security guards patrol the site but the fly-in-the-ointment of Calder's plans is that an ex-patient of the hospital, Raymond Sweet, had obtained squatters' rights on the Old Lodge and grounds within the site. He won't sell, he has his own secrets to keep about his days as a patient there, and has responsibilities to maintain. Nevertheless, he's convinced someone he calls "The Creeper" has been gaining access to the site at various times, including his own home.
Connie is an archivist of architectural plans. She and her friends Ed and Mole are urban explorers - take nothing and leave only footprints. Her sister died accidentally at the hospital, falling from a tower; it's the anniversary of her death and she cannot get hold of Ed to let him know she'd be late for their meeting at the site. Marsh House, on the edge of the site, whose owner was now deceased, is being occupied by Charles Palmer, a relative from Australia; Connie needs to collect some architectural plans from the house which have been bequeathed to her office.
DI Lew Kirby, with partner Pete Anderson, are called to the site after a security guard discovers the body of an elderly woman in an abandoned ward. She's fully-clothed - how did she get there? As the investigation proceeds it seems this woman was not all she appeared to be. What secrets has she been keeping?
Gradually the complex strands of the investigation converge with Lew working closely with Connie. A good 'partnership' which I look forward to reading further about.

Lots of twists and surprises; a creepy and chillingly-descriptive thriller.

Twenty years ago Blackwater Asylum was a fully functioning psychiatric hospital located along the Thames River. Patrick Calder, a property developer purchased the property 2 years ago and was looking to redevelop the property into luxury apartments. But his plans were halted when he discovered a former patient had been squatting at the Old Lodge for over twenty years. Now with the recent murders his plans are on hold.
Detective Kirby was the investigating officer in the murder case at the asylum. After interviewer a former patient he realizes his history at the asylum can benefit his case. Raymond helped Kirby piece together the secrets of this long forgotten psychiatric hospital.

Overall:
The premise held so much potential, but then I cracked open the pages and found it’s not a dialogue driven story.
I’m not familiar with this authors writing style. I recently learned she’s a British writer who lives in London. The setting of this book took place in London near the Thames River. I was excited by the prospect of reading about a murder investigation in an abandoned asylum, but the writing style held me back from enjoying this debut book. Almost immediately I wanted to ditch this book, but I persevered by skimming. After all I am curious to find out who is responsible for the murders.
The title the Bone Jar had me curious if actual bones were collected in jars during experiments at the asylum. Sadly it’s not holding my interest the way I had hoped. With its long list of characters it’s difficult logging each one into memory knowing they are somehow linked with the current murders. It’s especially challenging when characters are referenced not only by their first name but sometimes by their last name as well. It’s like introducing another character. I need a cheat sheet just to keep track of all these characters.
The execution of this investigation didn’t work for me. It was information overload. With the story being written in the third person narrative didn’t help either. Too many characters crowded this story with it dating back in the 1930s lended too many characters with siblings.

The book starts out as an elderly lady’s body is found in the grounds of an abandoned asylum. The first suspect is a strange man who has lived on the grounds since he was released from the same asylum years before. But when things come to light about the asylum’s shady past - the story and murder become a lot more complicated than first thought.

I’m conflicted on this one. I spent most of the book balancing between giving up and keeping on reading. And just when I would give up and admit defeat something would pique my interest again. So I guess I can say it kept me reading - but only just.

Kirby’s personal life was interesting. I loved how the developer who’d bought the asylum was also the same company he was having trouble with. His relationship with his mother was also interesting, and I loved finding out more about his life.

The blurb caught my interest purely just because I love crime thrillers but that it was also based around an asylum. I found the asylum’s past fascinating. I love the history of old places and often wonder what has happened there in the past so to see that incorporated into the story kept me reading, even when the story was slow.

"Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?"

The description of this book had me hooked and it didn't disappoint! The Bone Jar is an amazing book and I will be looking out for others in the series.
Blackwater asylum, a former mental health asylum is the perfect location for this eerie Crime Thriller.The story is told from the point of view of Detective Kirby and Connie Darke. I found both of these characters very likeable and interesting, they both had links to the Asylum in very different.

I thought the pacing of this book was perfect, it kept you in complete suspence right up until the big reveal towards the end. There are so many twists and turns throughout this book. You will need to pay close attention to the characters as they snake and intertwine together. However this could be confusing sometimes and could be hard to remember how they were all connected.

I could not put this book down and was so eager to find out who had killed the two murder victims. It is definitely worth the read if you enjoy mystery, suspence and thriller.



I received a free copy of this book from #Netgalley in exchange for this review

I love finding out the history of abandoned buildings, especially creepy ones such as asylums so I knew that this book would be right up my alley. The author created such a creepy and almost claustrophobic atmosphere with the thick snow in London which added to the suspense of the book.

I did find myself struggling with all the characters and trying to piece it all together in my head as it did become a little confusing near the end, however that may have just been down to me not being in the right headspace for such a complex plot (this slump I’ve been in shows no signs of leaving yet).
We have so many intriguing characters in here that I wanted to create my own investigation board just so I could appreciate them all!
I do hope Connie will make another appearance as I started to warm to her.

The tension and the twists in The Bone Jar made it difficult to put down, it’s a great start to the series and I will definitely be picking up the sequel.

The Bone Jar is a wonderful British whodunit debut novel by S. W. Kane. The story opens with Detective Lew Kirby taking on the case of an elderly woman found murdered in the abandoned Blackwater asylum. This is what drew me to this book as I have a strong interest in anything written about old asylums. A few years ago, I wrote two blogs posts on my genealogy blog about my husband’s two wealthy great, great aunts who were admitted to a New Jersey asylum in the early 1900’s and spent most of their adult lives there. The doctor there has been written about due to the many atrocities he committed against the patients all in the name of “curing” them.

This book did not disappoint. There were many twists and turns until the murderer was unveiled near the very end. Kirby also had family secrets thrown in as a side issue for extra interest to the story. If I have any complaint it would be the exceptionally long list of characters in the book. At times it was difficult to remember who was who. It seems the author intends to make this a series and if so I will definitely be reading the next one. Hopefully, she will be bringing back some of the secondary characters that made the book so enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4!

The blurb about The Bone Jar had me sold when it mentioned a dead body being found in an asylum, so I went into this super intrigued as I love a good police procedural.

The Bone Jar is told in a multi view style, mostly bouncing between the point of view of Detective Kirby and Connie Darke. Connie has interest in the asylum due to her sister’s accidental death there, and wants more insight into what happened. She’s a bit of a wild card, and likes to get herself into some dangerous positions. We’re also introduced to Raymond Sweet, a former patient of the asylum still living on the grounds, who may or may not know more about that murder than he’s letting on. While investigating, secrets come to light from Kirby’s mom, and just whoa...

If you’re into police procedurals and thrillers/horror, this is definitely for you!

Police procedurals aren't usually my thing, but this one includes a derelict asylum and urban exploration. Those are the sort of thing that always catches my interest and I found myself really enjoying the book. The setting is seriously creepy and most of the characters are intriguing, especially the former patient who still lives on the asylum grounds. I did get two of the characters confused near the end of the book.

The Bone Jar is the debut crime fiction novel by S W Kane featuring Detective Lew Kirby who, thankfully, is just a normal detective. He isn't a drunk, he isn't cheating on multiple women, no drugs, isn't on the take. I swear, I haven't read a crime fiction novel that didn't feature a messed up detective for so long that I, literally, kept waiting for the shoe to drop. It never did. It was refreshing and quite wonderful. The Bone Jar is a really good, well written, atmospheric detective story like they should be but rarely are any longer. It features an asylum that is written so vividly that it becomes a character in and of itself. There are marvelous secondary characters who could tip over into the nuisance variety, but never do. They actually are helpful, quirky and wonderful. I would love to see them back in future books. The ending left the reader on a bit of an edge but, for me, that was a fun twist at the end. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this new series.

I love it when I discover new series to love and The Bone Jar is a promising start to the Lew Kirby series. I mean, what's not to love? We have murder, an old abandoned asylum and a very snowy setting. All of these combined to engulf me in a mystery that had me guessing until the end.

The Blackwater Asylum has sat vacant for many years. It is about ready to be redeveloped when an old lady is found murdered in one of the old wards. Detective Kirby arrives on the scene and not only is the identity of the victim unknown, but it also seems like she mysteriously appeared in the facility with no trace to who killed her or how she got to there.

Kirby starts unraveling the mystery which initially starts out with very few clues to go on. He ends up meeting Connie Darke, an urban explorer, whose friend is also missing. Together, they end up putting the pieces together but will someone else die before everything falls into place?

I really liked Kirby. He is smart and headstrong and doesn't give up. We also get a glimpse into his personal life as we meet his current girlfriend, as well as his mother and father. On top of the main mystery in The Bone Jar, there is also a mystery surrounding Kirby's mother. Apparently she has some secrets of her own which Kirby never could have imagined.

As I mentioned, this is a wonderful mystery with a really eerie setting. It is extremely atmospheric, yet the story never dulls. I am definitely looking forward to future installments because although the main plot was resolved, there are still some lose ends, and I for one can't wait to see where they land.

After the death of his mother in a house fire when he was seventeen. Raymond Sweet was admitted to Blackwater Asylum. When the place closed down twenty-seven years later and all the patients left. Raymond stayed.

Detective Lew Kirby is assigned the case of the dead woman's body. Found in a bed in the derelict Blackwater Asylum. Kirby also has to deal with issues happening in his personal life.

A mobile phone is found at the scene. It belongs to someone who has not been seen for a few days. Are the two things connected? What will we discover in the depths of Blackwater Asylum.

When you have a backdrop of a derelict asylum in the story, you know your in for a great read. Kane describes the asylum in such a way that you feel you are right there walking the corridors. 

Kane's use of the weather in The Bone Jar is superb and it adds a quality to the story. It gives a mysterious depth to an already creepy storyline. The way the snow seems to envelop everything and take the mysteries.

The Bone Jar is a great mix of mystery and creepiness that gives us the reader plenty to think about.

When the body of an elderly lady is found in the old abandon mental asylum in London, DI Lew Kirby is assigned, along with his partner Anderson to solve the case. But Blackwater Asylum has more secrets that they could have imagined….And then another body turns up and Lew must solve the case before the asylum claims anymore lives….

Living in the grounds of the asylum is Raymond, an ex patient who refuses to move. Being on-site all time means he sees things – but does he know more about the murder than he’s letting on? And what other secrets will he reveal?

Connie has an interest in the asylum after her sister died from an accident there. Determined to find out more about her sister’s death, and help Kirby solve the murders, Connie finds herself fully wrapped up in the investigation, making an unlikely friend and putting herself in danger…….

I really enjoyed this. I love all things creepy, visiting abandoned buildings with history and a good crime/psychological thriller so this was right up my street! I thought the setting was fantastic, An unusually snowy London in the grounds of a huge abandoned mental asylum with a questionable past, right on the Thames. Kane did a fantastic descriptive job which allowed me to bring the scenery and the building to life, which added a fantastic, creepy atmosphere to the story.

The plot was well paced and enjoyable, with secrets revealing themselves throughout which kept me on my toes and interested, wanting to turn the next page. If you’re a fan of horror and have watched/read stories about asylums before, some of this may sounds familiar, but that didn’t take anything away from the story – in fact, I think it sucked me in more! There are so many secrets that the twists in this are fantastic, and I honestly didn’t have a clue who the murderer was until it was revealed!

In terms of the characters, I really like Lew. He seems to be one of the good guys and as the story goes on he finds out something from his Mum that will change his life forever. Handling such a big case, and the information his Mum reveals must surely take their toll and I think we might see evidence of this in any sequels. There are a few police staff in this which can seem slightly confusing at first, but once you’ve got your head around who’s who, it’s much clearer. Connie is interesting and definitely takes some unnecessary risks but I guess this is the urbex (Urban Explorer) in her. I really like her though, and found myself wanting her and Lew to get together (sorry to Lew’s girlfriend!). Raymond, the ex patient, has to be one of my favourite characters. He completely surprised me and I warmed to him so much quicker than I thought. He’s been though, and seen so much, that you can’t help but love him! As you would expect with a psychological/crime thriller there are some questionable characters in this, and Kane does a fantastic job of keeping you on the fence with some of them..

Overall, this is a fantastic debut by SW Kane. Atmospheric and creepy this will keep you turning the pages for sure. If you love a good crime/psychological thriller with fantastic characters, secrets unravelling at every turn and a plot to keep you turning the pages, then you should check this out. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended by me!

I appreciate crime fiction where I can clearly picture the places described and the eerie threatening presence of the old Victorian asylum at the heart of this novel felt very real and very well described. In my student days, I had a friend in a dodgy part of London that was very close to a (now closed and even then rather dilapidated) Victorian hospital and this was the one I had in my mind when I was reading.

The choice of two protagonists - a handsome policeman called Lew with a taste in old cars and good coffee and a so-called 'Urbex' or urban explorer called Connie who works in an architectural library or museum - leaves a lot of scope for this story to develop into a longer series.

Investigating two deaths that seem to be linked but it's unclear how, gives Lew and Connie the chance to meet some colourful characters with plenty of dark secrets. An altercation in an unpleasant pub called the 'Welcome Inn' put Connie in contact with the father of one of the two dead whilst Lew is leered over by a onesie-clad dipsomaniac and maneater whose mother is the other.

The book is full of interesting characters - I particularly liked the ex-patient squatting in the grounds of the asylum and getting in the way of potential developers - and fascinating locations. It reads as very 'real' - if you know what I mean. There are plenty of sub-plots that leave space to take the series further but you don't have to worry that you won't get the story done and dusted in the one volume (That's a particular hate of mine - so-called 'series' books that don't finish the story within the first book so you have to buy another).

I'm reminded of a bit of a combination of early Minette Waters and a dose of Nicci French's Frida Klein books with a strong London authenticity and an interesting plotline.

This book was incredible. I unread soon as I read the synopsis I had to read it and I am so glad I did!

The setting for this book is perfevt, they haunting and haunted atmosphere of the abandoned asylum is portrayed perfectly by the author without being over the top.

The interlinking takes of the characters are clear and well constructed, giving a complexity to the mystery that leaves you guessing, hence enhancing the quality of the story even fuether.

Additionally, the personal story of Lew and his mother, and how this is interwoven throughout the tale, is done excellently, and the shocking revelation is utterly unguessable.

Ultimately this book is an excellent read, the various interwoven takes culminating in a wonderfully dramatic climax and a satisfying resolution. I would have liked more explanation about the character in the final scene, and his motives, however the ending was so well done that this is a very minor detail of little significance.

A really good fast paced read. This is a very well thought out story with plenty of action and a brilliant twisty plot. Great start to a series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The Bone Jar is hopefully the beginning to a great new detective series. The body of an 85 year old woman has been found in an abandoned asylum. What a great setting for a police procedural/psychological thriller! The author demonstrates a wonderful ability with description and pacing. Hope to read many more books by S.W. Kane. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

They had me at abandoned asylum! I don't think I've ever read a book about one of these that wasn't awesome. The creepiest of settings with a dark haunted atmosphere, and Blackwater Asylum is no different. A murder victim is found deep within its walls and it's up to Detective Lew Kirby and team to figure out why. A feat not made any easier when one of their early suspects is also found murdered nearby. What went on in this place? Because surely it involves someone who lived or worked in Blackwater, making a statement by committing the crimes on or near the property.

Connie Darke is also investigating the case, but on her own. She's not a detective though, she lost her sister to a tragic accident on the asylum grounds. She knows there are dark secrets just waiting to be exposed and she wants to be the one to uncover them. She makes contact with a former patient who lives on the grounds but his damaged past makes it hard to trust and believe him. Does he really know truths, or did certain events take place only in his mind? Surely, the staff would not have experimented in such ways...but this is an asylum, after all.

Anyone with an interest in asylums or abandoned places would love this mystery, just for the atmosphere alone. But there are also plenty of twists and secrets exposed that draw you deeper into the story. You won't rest until you know everything Blackwater has hidden and you won't be disappointed!