Could not put this down. I spent all night reading, desperate to find the conclusion to this thrilling story. It kept me guessing and leading me down different paths, only to add another twist along the way. This has definitely been one of those books I'll have to read again and again in order to pick up all the small clues. Very much enjoyed it and loved falling into the world of serial killers.

This book, for me, was a little more complicated than it needed to be. Little Bones had a great setup: nonchalant dad, secretive mom, and a great kid who happens to get kidnapped. When Cherrie realizes her son Robin is missing, she doesn't know what to do. She's recently been outed on the internet as the daughter of a prolific serial killer, so on top of desperately searching for her son, she must worry about what people will think of her.

My one complaint about this book is how the plot seemed to drag a bit. The story was very good, but I was so tired of hearing about much Cherrie ate and how little she slept, that I was tempted to skip a few pages to get to the end.

I do love the twists and turns and the fact that in this story the reader never knows who they should trust. The mystery was intriguing and there was a decent amount of depth to the personality of each character. If the pace was just a little bit quicker, this book would've been a big hit for me.

I was really excited to read Little Bones by N.V. Peacock for two reasons. The first being that the plot was unique and stood out from the average missing child thrillers I often read. The protagonist is the daughter of Mr. Bones, a serial killer who murdered little boys and used their bones to create macabre works of art. Cherrie has given herself a new name and a new life in an attempt to escape her previous life as "Little Bones," the nickname she received at 8 years-old when the public discovered she was a potential accomplice in her father's crimes. Considering her involvement in the kidnappings of eleven young boys when she was a child, Cherrie is not the typical protagonist. The second thing that lured me in was the mention of a true crime podcast that stirs up Cherrie's life and leads to the subsequent abduction of her young son. I enjoy listening to true crime podcasts myself, such as "Serial," "Teacher's Pet," and "Up and Vanished" to name a few, so I was interested in seeing how the author incorporated her own version of this popular media into the story.

The book had me hooked from the beginning and I was not able to put it down for the first 60% or so. I was rooting for Cherrie to find her son and was very intrigued by her relationship with her serial killer father. Unfortunately, the last 40% of the novel did not live up to the beginning and I was left feeling disappointed and confused. While there were several red herrings introduced, the "bad guy" wasn't a huge shocker. I had suspected the culprit multiple different times throughout the story so the final reveal was less than shocking. My other complaint is that I lost my connection with Cherrie as soon as she switched into vigilante mode. I'm all for a bad ass protagonist, but Cherrie almost came across as being manic where she'd be frantically plotting and scheming on how to run her own investigation into her son's disappearance and the next minute she's sitting on the couch eating a bowl of cereal and watching Grey's Anatomy. Thankfully, my child has never gone missing, but if she did, I could promise you that I would NEVER be able to chill out and watch mindless television just a few days into her disappearance. One minute she'd talk about not being able to sleep because her mind is racing with fears for her son and the next minute, she's calmly going to bed early as a way of passing time as she waits for developments. It just seemed so unlikely to me that a mother in this position would act the way she does. Her actions made me dislike her which was frustrating because I didn't start the novel feeling that way.

Overall, this was an entertaining enough read, but the inconsistent characterization of Cherrie ruined it for me in the end.

My Rating: ★★★ 1/2 out of 5

*Thanks to the author, Avon Books, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review!

They used to call her Little Bones. Her father was the serial killer they called Mr. Bones. Now, 25 years later, she’s got a new identity and new life but they’ve started to call her Little Bones again.

This book was definitely creepy. I found the middle of the book to be boring in parts, it was a bit dragged out. There were a few twists and misleads and I was making guesses up until the very end. It still didn’t have the big shock factor I want in a thriller though. But it was still a unique take on a serial killer thriller that I really enjoyed.

I received a copy of Little Bones from N V Peacock and NetGalley for honest review

After multiple attempts to get into this book I finally had to admit this one just wasn't for me. Sorry.

Wow, this book had me gripped from the start, it had me on the edge of my seat throughout. I am looking forward to reading more from this author

I really enjoyed reading this crime/thriller; I felt that it did something a little different with a very saturated genre and had me guessing the whole way through. Little Bones is firmly in the past for Cherie, who's father was the serial killer Mr Bones, she's moved on from the awful crimes she witnessed. But, things begin to unravel when boys start going missing and her past is revealed. Then her own son disappears.

Cherie's character was unnerving at times, but on the whole she was relatable and understandable. Despite burying her past away, it's clear that she hasn't recovered or come to terms with what she witnessed and her role in the crimes of her father. As the novel progressed I felt she got more and more unhinged and unpredictable, which really helped the mystery element of the story as you're forced to consider whether she had done something to her son.

I loved the small clues that were scattered throughout this book - it really did keep you guessing until the very end. If you're paying attention there are hints dropped in at the very beginning that appear to point to a suspect later on; from missing items to paint colours, from random acquaintances to close friends. This is my favourite part about these kinds of novels: being able to piece together the clues and come up with your own theories is why, for me, crime/thrillers/mysteries will always be popular.

Little Bones is one of those books that grips you from the start and refuses to let you go. I finished it in just 24 hours - it, quite literally, kept me up at night. The mystery element is fantastic and Peacock elegantly leaves breadcrumb trails that will have you convinced you know the truth before revealing a shocking twist. And look at that cover, how could resist that this spooky season?

hank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and N.V. Peacock for an ARC in return for an honest review. The book is available from October 31st.

I read Little Bones over a couple of days. The plot intrigued me and it was a strong start for the book with me reading the first half really quickly. I found it ducked me in and became a real page turner. However I felt the pace slowed considerably in the latter half of the book as the main character became more unhinged. I didn’t particularly like her from the start but found her vicious outbursts became quite annoying and the foul mouthed rants uncalled for. I get what the author was trying to do but felt some if not was unnecessary and didn’t really add anything. I realised part way through the outcome of the book and felt the ending was a bit lacklustre hence the three star rating. Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books UK and the author for the chance to review.

Hmmm....
The first 60% of this book I liked. The last part of the book completely let it down in my opinion and I found myself irritated rather than intrigued.
Cherrie as a character was awful! And I don’t mean I didn’t find her likeable - she went from being a nice kind shop assistant to a food obsessed crazy person who was frankly down right terrible.
The way the characters interacted was stilted and unemotional and the way the “investigation” into robins disappearance was handled was unbelievable and just made me mad.
Cherries thoughts during the whole thing we’re not great to read and in most places were downright ridiculous 🤷‍♀️
I enjoyed the first half and so would be interested in reading the authors other works.

A dark tale with many twists and turns that makes you want to keep turning the page. A really enjoyable read - I would definitely recommend..

The idea behind this book was great, I found it to be a drag to read. I found Cherrie to be unlikable & spinning out of control, destroying everything in her path. It was just not for me.

Little Bones was is a thriller you won't want to put down during spooky season this year! We follow the daughter of a serial killer who has changed her name and created a quiet life for herself, successfully hiding her traumatic history, until a child abduction threatens to undo more than her hidden identity.

The beginning of this book was a bit slow but once it hit it's stride I was unable to put it down. Typically I can guess the end of a thriller about 100 pages in but this had so many twists and turns that I changed my mind several times before finally getting to the end.

The only major downfall for me was the main characters boyfriend was a total dud and their relationship felt a little unbelievable at points.

Thank you netgally for the ARC for an honest review. 3.5 stars

Do not dig others' secrets - because you've no idea what evil you'll unleash.

Mr. Bones called himself an artist and to create a masterpiece everytime - with his little daughter - the secret ingredient was bones. Bones of little boys. Mr.Bones - Billy Hendy would abduct little boys, boil their bodies in peroxide, remove their flesh and use the bones for his grotesque art work. His 8 year old daughter, Leigh Ann was a witness to all his acts. But was she aware of the severity of these acts ? Only she herself and God knows ! She was stigmatized - Miss Little Bones.

But is Little Bones really a villain ? She was an apprentice to her father afterall. This was 25 years ago. Mr.Bones was caught. That was in past.

Fast forward into the present - 'Is Little Bones a villain' is a burning question in whole of Northamptonshire's mind when Leigh Ann's little son Robin disappears into thin air in the middle of a fair while he was with her. But how could she be responsible for Robin's disappearance- she is his mother !

This is definitely one of the best books I've read this year. The excitement and anticipation each page holds is just so overwhelming. I read the whole book - 400 pages - in just one sitting. It was so hard to let go of the book for another time. Because every page held a twist, a new theory of the return of a new Mr. Bones, of a mother's struggle to find her son, of a serial killer's daughter to rise above the stigma and lead a normal life.

The characters were so greatly developed that I can't stop myself from appreciating the depth of their layers in making this book such a delightful albeit a bit stressful read. Leigh Ann's constant inner turmoil and aggresive attitude was pretty triggering.

This thriller was just so satisfying ! My adrenaline rush was at the peak while reading this book ! The brilliance with which this book is written is absolutely laudable.
The ending was a bit predictable for me when the primary suspect, according to me, got a clean chit.

I've read a lot of psychological thrillers in the fast few months and I can definitely say this was the best. I love reading thrillers which start off with a fast pace, scene after scene shocks and stimulations , more than the ones which take time to build and pick a thrill in few scenes only. And Little Bones has excitement embedded in each page.

If you're a psychological thriller lover, then trust me - you don't want to miss this kicking, rushing, super gorgeous thriller !

Little Bones is part of her father's process. Her father is Mr Bones - a serial killer of young boys.

Little Bones grows up and changes her name to separate herself from her past. Then a child is found dead - and her own son disappears....how is this happening again.

This is a twisty story that kept me reading late every night.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book

** Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read this e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Eight-year-old Leigh's dad is a murderer. He would use his daughter to lure little boys into his car, then take them home and kill them, making art with their bones. Leigh would assist in the art-making. Once her father is caught and sent to prison, Leigh goes through foster homes and eventually changes her name to Cherrie when she's of age to stop all the harassment and judgment she's gotten from being Mr. Bone's daughter, also known as Little Bones.

Now an adult, Leigh has established a new life: a loving boyfriend, her wonderful son, and a handful of great friends she's met at her job at the butcher shop. One day her friends talk her into going to a group psychic reading. She's so worried about details from her past being revealed, but she goes anyway. At first, she doesn't believe the psychic, but she's asked her for information about another missing boy in the neighborhood and the psychic reveals information that leads her to believe the boy is dead. Before leaving the psychic session, the psychic warns her about danger in her own life around her own son. We find out later in the story, the psychic was right about the other missing boy.

Meanwhile, Leigh finds out that due to the fact that there is a current abduction case taking place right in her own neighborhood, there's a new podcast being circulated digging up her past and now naming her as Little Bones. The podcast gave up her new identity and location, and everyone around her begins to realize who she is. Well, when Leigh's own son is abducted, of course, everyone suspects that Leigh must have done something to her own son because, after all, her father was a murderer of little boys.

Much of the story is about Leigh fighting her demons, fighting all the judgment, and going beyond what the police have been doing to search for her own son. I would certainly recommend this book to friends.

This was a book that I enjoyed but sadly it just didn’t blow me away as I had thought it would. The plot line was well thought out but predictable and I guessed, even though there were many red herrings, what was going on quite early in the story nevertheless this didn’t stop me from finishing the book as I did want to find out if I was right . My problem was I think is I just didn’t like the characters and I think that in many ways clouded my judgment but this may be just me and it was a fast read just not thrilling.
So I was left feeling a little disappointed with the book and it was one I had high expectations for after reading the overview but as I say I think others may enjoy this read more than I did.
A three star read and many thanks to NV Peacock I couldn’t write a book so I envy anyone who can and all credit to you for this one.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book started off great. The beginning really grabbed my interest and I was fully invested in this story and plot. The pace started to slow down and it started to get a bit repetitive in the middle. But then there was the ending. That ending was EXTREMELY anti-climactic. Like I’m kinda mad I read the whole thing just for it to end like that. Especially because the premise and most of the rest of the book was so good! It was such a huge letdown. This would have been an easy 5 star read if the ending was amazing, but unfortunately I was not completely impressed.

Cherries, Leo and Robin make wonderful characters in this book and from start to finish it really gripped me. The twist and turns are brilliant. I think it took me about a day and half to read I just could put it down.

Little Bones was a classic whodunit. The author weaves multiple character’s stories together and all of them are just unlikable and suspicious enough for you to think they played a role in a little boy’s disappearance. The ending truly shocked me! I really thought I had it all figured multiple times but the author did well with keeping me on the hook for every storyline. I really enjoyed this book!

Cherrie has a secret. Her father was a serial killer, nicknamed Mr Bones and the media called her 8 year old self Little Bones. It’s a secret she hopes no-one in her new life will ever discover, especially her boyfriend and young son, but when a boy in her town is murdered, a podcast is released, outing her to everyone. Cherrie thought that was the worst thing that could ever happen to her, but she was wrong. Now her own son is missing and everyone seems to think the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – has Little Bones taken after Mr Bones?

Little Bones was an engaging crime thriller, with several twists. I did guess the outcome before the end of the book but I enjoyed the red herrings along the way that made me question whether I was right. There were several unlikeable characters I would have been more than happy to see go down for the crimes 😅

There were several important themes explored, such as victim blaming, the dangers of believing everything you read on the internet and the way lives can be destroyed by the ensuing mob mentality. Little Bones is a great read, perfect for the Halloween season and a fun thriller for those new tp the genre or seasoned crime lovers!