I am a unabashed fan of Nalini Singh but this book was not her best effort. The hero (for lack of a better term) seems to vacillate between brilliant and stupid due to supposed brain injury which leads us to many pages of nothingness and a lot of red herrings because you see everything from his point of view. The book was starting to get boring and repetitive around the 4th chapter and after the 5th chapter I skipped ahead to chapter 45 and the book got really good and I felt like I had missed nothing which says a lot about the pages between chapter 5 and chapter 45 and I read the remaining chapters like it was on fire and loved it. Here is the problem, how do you rate such a story? Those first 5 chapters gave me all the background I really needed to proceed to the 45th chapter. The story from chapter 45 was much more riveting and I could not put it down until the early morning hours. So I am giving it 4 Stars even though I skipped a large portion of the novel because I did not feel like I had missed anything. As a reviewer of 22 years this is something I have done maybe 5-6 times and almost never giving a very good review but there is always an exception to any rule and all I can say is I love it and I can't act like I didn't even with my skipping portions. 4 Stars and have to recommend the story, the manner in which you wish to read it is your choice.

Quiet in Her Bones is a very well-written suspense about a man who's looking into the mysterious disappearance of his mother after her remains is discovered years after she disappeared. I really enjoyed the look into the diaspora Indian culture in the lush New Zealand setting, and of course, as a writer, I loved the descriptions of publishing and writing. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I was confused at first by the sheer number of characters there are in the book. We're introduced to so many neighbors that I found it hard to remember who's who. But aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it for anyone who's looking for a solid suspense read!

This is... fine? I adore Nalini's romance novels but I think the reason this didn't work for me is because it's primarily/exclusively from a male pov (which is a new choice compared to the author's backlist). Still love the atmospheric setting and writing style.

3.5ish, rounded up. I didn't enjoy this quite as much a last year's A Madness of Sunshine, but this was still a compelling psychological drama. There were a few threads that I felt were a little unfinished, but in retrospect that may be intentional due to other elements of the story (vague to avoid spoilers!). As the main character fairly unabashedly investigates all his neighbors in the wake of the discovery of his mother's body years after her disappearance, the tension builds, and neighborhood secrets leak out. This one held a fair number of surprises along the way, and easily kept my attention.

Veena’s review of Quiet In Her Bones by Nalini Singh
Thriller published by Berkley 23 Feb 21

On a dark, stormy night socialite Nina Rai disappeared with a quarter million dollars. Her son, Aarav, is haunted by memories of his mother’s love, a scream on that fateful night, and a cleanup effort of the family living room, making him believe, despite his father’s claims of stolen money, that the senior Rai had a hand in his mother’s disappearance.

Told mostly through Aarav’s viewpoint, Nalini Singh takes readers on a psychological thrill ride that will leave you with goosebumps on your arms and feverishly turning the pages to find the truth not just of that night long ago, but the stories that are still playing out beneath the placid surface of the exclusive cul-de-sac which Aarav calls home.


Once his mother’s body is discovered hidden in the nearby forest entombed in her car, Aarav is obsessed with finding the truth of what happened that fateful night and who’s responsible. In his obsession, Aarav is stirring up a hornets’ nest of secrets and lies that are buried beneath the placid surface of the exclusive neighborhood where his father still makes his home. There is no doubt that the cul-de-sac and some of the relationships and families will no longer be the same once the dust settles.

Aarav is a self-proclaimed sociopath who wears many faces and respects few and loves even less. The only meaningful relationship that he seems to have is with his young stepsister. His paranoia and sketchy memories make for a chilling tale as he tries to piece the clues together and throw bones in the way of the police detectives working the case.

Ms. Singh is a fabulous storyteller. This story further illustrates her range and virtuosity. Told from the viewpoint of a tortured adult who questions his own sanity at times, but is feverishly determined to get to the truth of what happened that distant, stormy night when his mother disappeared, the story will keep readers on edge even as they try to keep track of all the moving parts of the story.

An absolute winner with enough twists and hairpin turns to keep the reader guessing.

Grade: A

Fabulous mystery involving deep, rich characters; a rich neighborhood full of secrets; luscious landscapes; and a murder! Can't put this one down!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Berkley and Ms. Singh for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book. An honest review was requested but not required.

To be completely honest, I'm a big fan of Ms. Singh's psy/changeling series, and requested this book based on the strength of my affection for that series. I knew this was a mystery but not much more.

Unreliable narrator mysteries - this is NOT a spoiler, the book blurb will tell you so - are not usually my scene. I don't as a habit attempt to puzzle things out on my own either, as I much prefer to be "taken for a ride". Although this one was a bit of a slow-burner - I spent FAR too much time in dread as Ms. Singh verrrrrrrrry slooooooooowly unraveled the knot of the mystery - it ended up being completely gripping and I have to say, I was taken by surprise. The twistiness of the mystery and its very well-fleshed out secondary characters (I loooooved Pari!) make it entirely suitable for readers who like mysteries like Gone Girl or Woman in the Window , with the side benefit that you may actually LIKE one or two of the characters in the story.

The star of the novel for me was the rich New Zealand setting. The enticing and lush green foliage of the bush was practically its own character. The authentic cultural and ethnic diversity and the smattering of Maori words (as well as Hindi, of course) was refreshing and welcome.

Be advised, this is not, repeat NOT, a Psy/Changeling novel or even remotely anything like one, but it is enjoyable and eminently readable nonetheless. I can tell this will be a solid recommendation to many of my customers at work looking for their next good mystery.

Wowza, what a rollercoaster of a read! Completely captivating and riveting! Characters were developed in such an amazing, flawless manner, which really made me keen to find out what was going to happen and to whom! Fast paced, unputdownable, and uniquely told, it’s one that is sure to grip you! Tons of needed twists and turns, thrills, chills, and shocks! Looking for a book that is realistic but chock full of scandalous, thrilling pages; then this one is for you! Highly, highly recommend! Definitely clear your schedule before you start, and do Not start before bed time, or you’ll be staying up way too late!

Wealthy socialite, Nina Rai, disappeared ten years ago in a flurry of animosity with a quarter of a million from her wealthy enclave home. Fleeing into a rain lashed night after another explosive and vicious fight with her domineering husband, Nina resurfaces ten years later with nothing left of her but bones in a forest-hidden wrecked car near the Rai family’s exclusive neighborhood. Seemingly abandoned by his mother, sixteen-year-old Aarav was devastated as they were especially close. The discovery of the decade old wreck throws Aarav into an emotional tailspin. Aarav was already in a difficult place recovering from some serious injuries. The lushly verdant New Zealand landscape enfolds the people and their exclusive Cul-De-Sac homes providing a green atmosphere that is almost a character on its own.

At twenty-six, Aarav has attained fame and fortune with a hit novel and subsequent movie; he is under pressure while recovering from a major car accident to produce that next big hit. As this book reads like a psychological thriller, it is not surprising a lot of things are going on in Aarav’s heard that may or may not be real. The ghostly memories of his mother and their close, but somewhat unhealthy bond in a house that was enmeshed in wrenching emotions, few of them healthy or happy, show how damaged Aarav was by his ever-warring parents.

Growing up in a company of neighbors who seem to harbor secrets of their own, Aarav is determined to uncover the truth about his mother’s death realizing someone in their private reserve knows what happened implying sinister possibilities. Since Aarav is still recovering physically while being on a lot of meds, he struggles to know what is fact or fiction in his personal narrative. Aarav’s chocolate and Coke centric diet, caffeine and sugar seeming to be his drugs of choice, does not help with his clarity of thought either.

Many of the characters in this story are eccentric or entitled because of their wealth and privilege with some being quite unlikable. Aarav’s step-mother and young half-sister offer a bright spot in the disturbing and dark atmosphere. Aarav’s parents did quite a number on him mentally and emotionally so that his adulthood has had little joy. Other recent events in Aarav’s life may cause him to unravel further. Nina Rai’s love came with very sharp edges in which she used her son as a weapon or a pawn at times against his demanding and philandering father.

Ms. Singh’s prose creates an environment of mystery and intrigue leaving the reader wondering what is real and what is an illusion in this finely crafted story. The plot can be challenging at times to disentangle because there are so many possibilities of what actually happened. Aarav’s list of suspects also have complicated histories that intertwine with his family where for all of them, secrets and lies are the order of the day. The twists and turns will keep readers guessing to the end figuring out who is friend or foe in this dark tale which will take a lot of unraveling to reveal.

The author takes you on a rollercoaster ride of blackmail, revenge, hallucinations, murders, and deceptions in “Quiet in Her Bones,” and I enjoyed it a lot!

Firstly, Aarav is excellent in the role. He is broken, complex, a bit arrogant, but very interesting. He goes through all his resources to find out what happened to Nina that night. I loved how he suspects everyone, including his family members. I loved his relationship with Pari and the bond they shared.

Moreover, the author writes the story in a deliciously gripping manner. I loved how she makes everyone a suspect. At a certain point, you feel that everyone in the cul-de-sac had a motive to rid of Nina. Not only that, but Aarav himself is not reliable. Considering that his mind is not functioning correctly, he cannot differentiate memories of what happened vs. what his mind conjured. Similarly, I loved how the author kept toying with the plot and had the readers guessing as to who was behind it. Furthermore, the culprit turned out to be someone I didn’t suspect, making the story memorable. Also, there are quite a few shocking twists that I did not expect, especially the one revolving around Paige.

Probably the only downside to the tale is the number of characters. Sometimes, it felt like there were just too many characters on the canvas to keep track of. Moreover, I found myself going back a few pages to recollect who a particular person was. While they added nicely to the plot as potential suspects, it felt overloaded at times.

Apart from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. Overall, there is never a dull moment in “Quiet in Her Bones.”

Quiet in Her Bones is a slow-burning, atmospheric mystery with complex characters and Hindu culture playing an essential role in the story. Set in a gated community in a sprawling forest, the car and bones of a long-presumed missing resident are found and it’s clear there are a lot of secrets in this neighborhood. The writing is gorgeous and the characters are very intriguing. If you enjoy slow-burning crime fiction books, this is the perfect book for you!

Thank you so much to Berkley, Nalini Singh, and Netgalley for my copy of Quiet in her Bones. This story is about a family who lost a mother years ago. Now, her body has been uncovered and her son Aarav wants to know what really happened. I did not connect with the characters in this book and it was a bit much to read. I liked the premise, but the pacing was wrong and it was too slow of a burn. I ended up not making it past 40% unfortunately, but maybe one day I will come back and try again.

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. When Nina Rai leaves the house one night, she never returns. A scream wakes her 16-year old son Aarav up and he stands on the balcony and watches his mother drive away. 10 years later, after moving back in with his dad to recover from a car accident, the police come to notify that Nina's car has been recovered, and her bones were discovered inside. She died the night she left, and foul play is expected. Aarav tries to piece the memories of that night, questions the neighbors and looks for clues as to who could want Nina dead. Between hobbling around on crutches, suffering for debilitating migraines, and now suffering from paranoia, Aarav has very strong suspicions, that let's face it, change. Aarav has strong memories of his mother, the only woman who ever loved him. I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishers and Nalini Singh.

When I started reading this, I didn’t really like Aarav. He seemed like an arrogant jerk. By the end…well, he was still a bit of an arrogant jerk, but I loved him. He was damaged, but he was at heart a good and stunningly straightforward person. He was complex.

And that describes all of Singh’s characters in this book. With a sinuous turn of phrase, Singh turns simple characters into complex ones and manages to weave a plot that is just as complex. And it’s very well done. I think the only thing that stood in the way of my truly loving every bit of this book was our victim. She was so very hard to like.

I really enjoyed the cultural aspects of this book. I learned about Hindu Culture, Maori culture and more about New Zealand than I ever knew. I finished the book incredibly intrigued.

I know that Singh has been writing forever, but this was actually my first book by her. Looking forward to my next one!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Quiet in Her Bones is another engaging, page-turning thriller from Nalini Singh. Once again, she creates a very atmospheric story, transporting you to New Zealand, providing a lush backdrop for the nefarious events of the story.

And the story proceeds at a breakneck pace, not letting the reader go as events unfold and things are revealed. I enjoyed the structure of the story, interweaving the narrative with snippets of therapy sessions which only serve to amp up the air of unease.

I do have mixed feelings about the narrator/protagonist, Aarav. I don’t think he was meant to be likable, and stylistically, he definitely comes off as an unreliable narrator. But I still struggled to connect with it, especially both thinking back to the comparative effectiveness of the presentation of Singh’s first thriller and more recent comparisons to other thrillers that pulled off the unreliable narrator device more effectively while also allowing the reader to feel something for the protagonist.

I did enjoy this one, even with the flaws, and think this is a book where your full enjoyment depends fully on your ability to engage with an unreliable, often unlikable narrator.

This was a really good book with a narrator that you really don't know if you can trust. Aarav was a teenager when his mother disappeared after a fight with his father. Now 10 years later, Aarav is home again recovering from a car accident. While home, Aarav's mother is found. She was killed shortly after leaving the house that fateful night. Aarav is determined to figure out what happened to Nina. Aarav has migraines and suffered a brain injury in the car accident so he is having trouble figuring out what is real and what is happening due to the brain injury. I enjoyed this book and felt like I was in New Zealand. Such wonderful descriptions of the scenery. I did not have it figured out which surprised me! I love a good thriller! I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a page turner that kept me reading, through all the twists and turns from finding what was left of Nina to ultimately finding out who was responsible for her death. The storyline, the setting, and all the characters (quite a few of them) make for an enjoyable read. Thanks for the opportunity to read it before the pub date.

A very chilling thriller with so many twists and turns that it keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to figure out where you're going to go next. I loved the scenery and the eerie aura that Nalini depicted with her countless imagery of the bush entrapping corpses. It was also interesting to discover the murderers' identity through the kaleidoscope of Aarav's broken and damaged brain. Each observation and discovery that he makes as he struggles to uncover the truth needs to be second guessed and questioned to distinguish whether or not it's reality or paranoia. If you're looking for a thriller with multiple suspects, an unreliable narrator and the ghostly presence of a murdered woman, look no further! I'm very grateful to the publisher for providing me with an early copy!

The slow burn of this thrill was everything. With a setting in New Zealand, beautiful wife, Nina Rai has been gone for 10 years. Vanished. One night a violent fight with her husband, then nothing.
Now 26 yrs old, Son, Aarav has held out hope all this time that his mother will walk thru the door. When Ninas beloved Jaguar is found at the bottom of a ravine with remains inside- Aarav is bound to find the truth behind his mother’s disappearance that night long ago.
With Aaravs own troubles, his father’s violence and culture thrown in- this plot is one not to miss.

<strong>Quiet in Her Bones</strong> is a different genre than her long established series. Nalini Singh seems to be branching out into these mystery thrillers which are standalone and I'm really enjoying it.   The story is set in New Zealand (as was the previous one) and includes some different cultural groups.

Our point of view for the story is Aarav who is an adult, a newly famous mystery writer, and back at his childhood home recovering from a car accident with a broken foot. His mother has been missing for ten years and now her body is found, quite nearby in the bush.  Aarav gets to work on investigating how she could have died based on his scattered memories and digging for information with people in the neighborhood.

Arrav has a head injury from his accident and is taking some medication.  He is obviously smart but seems unsure of his memories at times, from the past and the present.  He doggedly works at piecing together facts to get at the truth.  He feels like an unreliable narrator and that isn't something I usually enjoy. Somehow he manages to gather evidence though and I didn't forget the facts, even when he did.

There were plenty of suspects, nefarious happenings in the neighborhood and secrets people wanted to keep.  There is quite a study of human nature in some ways. At some points, it was easy to think his father, various neighbors or even Aarav were responsible for her death.  With Aarav, it would be an accident of some sort though. In spite of her flaws, he loved his mother.  In the thrilling ending, Aarav solves her murder with some