A fascinating mystery written by one of the best. Chief of Police Clara Jefferies hasn’t been accepted by the polygamist sect of Alber, Utah and most likely never will be, especially by her mother. Investigating the cold case of a missing boy, Clara learns that his older sister also disappeared. Talking to the family of the missing boy results in more questions…did they really runaway or are they even alive? Clara is called to a construction site where the bones of a young female have been discovered. Even more distressing is that the bones of an almost full-term fetus is located with the woman. When Clara is notified that a pregnant girl is missing, she suspects that something evil has invaded her town. Clara’s mother, who disowned her when Clara left the sect, has had a stroke and is in dire financial straits. This time she is determined to make her mother finally accept help. Working along-side Chief Deputy Max Anderson gives Clara the hope of a new life and love. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The Blessed Bones #3 in the Detective Clara Jefferies series was a book I couldn't put down. When the skeletal remains of a young girl and a full term baby are found buried on the mountainside Sheriff Clara Jefferies and Deputy Assistant Max Anderson investigate how she could have ended up there. DNA testing to identify her, and a sketch made from her skull is rushed through by Ex-US Marshal Ash Crawford. Clara is mistrustful of the ex-marshal. He has inserted himself in the investigation, but doesn't seem to be truthful as to why he wants to help. Again, all of the characters in this story are wonderful. Clara is also investigating a case from the Alber "tombs". This has her investigating a case that is past the realm is statutory limits, but she still pursues. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and of course, it seems to end on a cliff hanger, so I am now anxiously awaiting #4! Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Kathryn Casey.

The Blessed Bones is my first introduction to Detective Clara Jefferies and it was an intriguing read. Not to mention a solid police procedural. That developed into an interesting mystery involving the discovery of bones and missing possibly pregnant teenagers.

But I did find the story a little slow paced and it never got me guessing or have any big twists/red herrings. Yet, I was engaged and the ending certainly kept me on my toes.

Book 3 in the Clara Jefferies series is the best so far. A good police procedural/mystery which finds Clara investigating the discovery of human remains at a development for a ski resort. There are plenty twists, an absorbing plot and I like the character development. Set in Utah in a polygamous town, it's a recommended read but I would advise reading the previous two for background information. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I swore no more series about female law enforcement officers for awhile. I have more than enough to keep up with. Then I read the synopsis for The Blessed Bones and my resolve was abandoned. This discovery was so rich. I have an endless fascination with polygamy families and to read a series where the chief is a former plyg wife, I thought bingo. I like Clare. She’s determined, self sufficient, but also vulnerable. I love the plot, the setting, and all the action. This series reminds of Linda Castillo’s series which I adore. I will be catching up with the first two books while anxiously awaiting the next Clare book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Blessed Bones, the third novel to feature Police Chief Clara Jeffries, set in the polygamous town of Alber, Utah.

When bones are uncovered during the construction of a new ski resort, Clara and her partner Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Max Anderson are called to investigate. They establish that the bones are those of a pregnant teenager with links to the polygamous community. Looking for her identity Clara discovers that there is more than one possibility.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Blessed Bones, which is an engrossing read with several twists and turns. The novel is told alternately between Clara’s first person narrative about current events and, in flashback, Violet’s experiences as a single mother to be. Violet, not her real name, has a harrowing story to tell, made worse by the values of her community and their strange approach to right and wrong, but I’ll let her tell her own tale. Clara, the apostate, struggles in Alber where she was raised, because she turned her back on the religion and is now shunned. Nevertheless she is determined to make a go of her life there. I don’t understand the fundamentalist way of thinking this religion has, but I find their world fascinating in its unbending arrogance. Of course, I have no way of knowing how accurate the portrayal is.

I found the plot interesting and absorbing. It has plenty of twists and turns with most of them relying on the traditions and mores of polygamy. It is easy to slip into them, fictionally, and be shocked at transgressions and understanding of their ways, although Alber seems to have more bad guys than most small towns.

The Blessed Bones is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Clara Jefferies has recently returned home to Alber Utah.. The home of many poligamist families whos leader was recently put in jail.. Clara was one of them.. She grew up with three mothers, one father, and many brothers and sisters.. She escaped that life, and didn't return home until many years later when one of her youngest sisters went missing. That was the first book in the series..
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Now she has decided at least for the time being she is going to be staying in town, even though she is considered an apostate.. Someone who has abandoned the faith, and alot of the families around town don't want her here.. However Clara is determined to stay and get to know her family again.. When bones are found up on the mountain where contruction is going for a ski resort Clara heads up there.. What she finds is a young womans remains, and even worse the remains of her unborn baby..
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Clara has been looking for a specific missing girl since she first arrived home, and its possible that this could be the girl, however they have to wait for DNA.. When an ex US Marshall offers to help speed things along, I was definitely suspicious of his motives, and so was Clara.. What reason does he have for showing up at the scene of this crime?
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While Clara is trying to figure out who this missing girl could be, she is also trying to dig into a case that she found in a secret room she recently discovered.. This is a place where certain cases were sent and never investigated. Things used to be done differently in Alber, because its full of poligamist families, no one wants any kind of attention from the police.. Even if they are the ones that are victims of crimes.. So Clara has her work cut out for her.
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This is a great new series I have recently discovered, and I have loved all three of them.. Clara is a great detective that is tenacious when it comes to solving cases.. You can feel how hard it is for her to return home, to a place she ran away from, and now that shes back her family is keeping her at arms length.. .
I don't think you have to have read the first two books in order to read this one, but I would recommend reading them as they are really good.

I can't wait for more books in this series..

Another great suspense/mystery from Clara Jefferies.
A skeleton is found up in the mountains, that of a teenage girl pregnant , her baby still inside her. Clara and her team are determined to uncover the identity of this young mother, and bring closure to her family. What she finds is a list of many missing teens, and she is determined to uncover what has happened to them. Clara has also uncovered a horrible case of child abuse that had been covered up years ago. She knows the family and knows there are young children in the house still. Clara knows she cannot prosecute on the old case as too much time has lapsed, but she doesn't want any other children suffering the same fate. What happens when the two cases clash and Clara is caught in the middle of a nightmare?
Lots of suspense and mystery as the story unfolds. Love this series and am looking forward to the next one.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.
Absolutely nail biting stuff!! From page one I was gripped. Full of twists and turns and the unexpected. Fast paced from start to finish. Definitely worth five stars.

Clara Jeffries is back with another emotional rollercoaster of a case. Told from multiple points of view, this one draws you in. The mystery is full of tension. I didn't see the reveal coming.
Clara also grows a lot in this one. By the end I was really rooting for her. I also love Max. With the patience and steadfastness that Clara needs he makes a great partner both professionally and personally.
The end left me on pins and needles. I can't wait for the next book!

If you haven't read the Detective Clara Jefferies series yet you are missing out! I have loved every single book so far in this series ! Book #3 is just as captivating as Book #1 which usually by the third book in a series the author kinda seems to be bored writing and fizzes out but not Kathryn Casey! This book had me flipping pages from the start not just because of the story line but you can't help but not want to keep reading about Detective Jefferies. I can't say enough great things about this book and this series !! Don't miss out you will want to read!!!

I love it when I stumble upon a new author and a new series that I've never read before. This is the third book in the detective Clara Jefferies series and it was no problem to read this book without having read the previous two. The story takes place in a polygamist small town where several pregnant girls are missing and Clara is not only facing a Mormon sect but also people from her past. Thrilling, suspense and very entertaining.

I really liked this book and Clara is a great character that you instantly care about. The book is thrilling, well-written and the pace is perfect. I will definitely go back and read the other book in the series. I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this advanced copy and to share my honest review.

First off I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Bookouture, the author Kathryn Casey , and to NetGalley for inviting me to join the blog tour for this book as well as letting me read and review it. While this is the first time I've read anything by this author its also the first thriller series that I've ever read that has polygamists in it, and that's one of the things I loved about this book was how the author gives insight into a different and very real culture that I know nothing about . Another thing I loved was how no matter what happened between the main character and her family she still wanted to be there for them and to help in any away she could . As for the story itself it flowed together and I had no trouble getting lost in it at well and I loved the into acting between the characters themselves so much so that I can't wait to read more of this series.

Another awesome installment of the Clara Jeffries story!

I absolutely love this protagonist, the setting, the the case file, the writing style.... just love it all! The whole thing is refreshingly different than all the other crime novels out there.

In this book, specifically, I loved how the Ash Crawford character was a wild card until the very it. That part was very well crafted.

This is the 3rd book in the Detective Clara Jefferies series and I have to say whilst I enjoyed the first 2 books immensely, I think that I enjoyed this book best of all in the series so far.

The characters have now become well developed, as is the back story, town and character relationships. This is an interesting premise where the town is mainly fundamentalist polygamists who aren’t quite adapted to a modern era. From a cultural perspective, it is truly fascinating and unique for this genre. The prejudice is to those who don’t practice the faith, yet the town is growing now as outsiders buy up foreclosed houses and open new businesses. Clara is now Police Chief, yet she has one foot in both worlds and shunned because she left the faith. More of her back story is revealed in this story, as is the ongoing storyline arc of the inequality of women and children due to the religion. The storyline in this book highlights this and it is truly sad. I didn’t predict the twist in this story and it’s really good.

Thank you to the Author, Bookouture and NetGalley for the digital ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing and giving my unbiased opinion of an eARC.

We travel to Alber for the 3rd time because once again a killer is on the loose.
I really feel for chief Clara and her team because it’s very hard for people there to open up to them and give the information they need in order to solve the case. More often than not people treat Clara like an intruder due to her past.
Religion is something that can help you through hard times, but sometimes the believe people have in something can be very extreme, too extreme even. It’s even worse when it’s used to do as you please without respecting others.
Money, power and a good name are more important than love and forgiveness. The Prophet’s rules have to be followed always and forever. Those who don’t are on their own, no matter when, where or what.
Clara finds herself more than once with her back against the wall, but that does not stop her from pushing through.
No matter how hopeless she feels, she will never give up and will use everything in her power to turn a dire situation into a positive and happy one.
She realizes that live is too short to not follow your heart and sometimes you just have to go for it.
Another great story that kept me captivated the whole time. I can’t wait for the next part to be published. 5 stars

Thank you, Kathryn Casey and Bookouture

Book Three in the Detective Clara Jefferies is another winner. Clara is now Chief of Police in Alber, Utah, her hometown. Alber is also the home of Elijah’s People, a fundamentalist Mormon sect that practices polygamy. Historically, Alber’s police department investigated or ignored cases as dictated by the prophet. Clara begins looking at the the ignored cases, determined to bring justice to as many old cases as possible. But Clara fled her “marriage” and the people of Alber more than a decade ago and “Elijah’s People” regard her as an apostate, someone to be shunned. In Book Three, Clara picks up an old child abuse case and begins investigating this previously ignored case. With Alber residents unwilling to trust her or speak with her, Clara finds the investigation difficult. Meanwhile, the bones of a young pregnant girl and her unborn baby are found by a crew digging at a construction site. Clara discovers there are several missing girls in the general vicinity of Alber and she wonders if the bones belong to one of the missing girls. Together with Chief Deputy Max Anderson and retired US Marshall Ash Crawford, they work to identify the bones of the pregnant girl and determine whether she is one of the missing girls. There is also a parallel story involving pregnant girls at a shelter and the sinister activities happening there. “The Blessed Bones” dives in and out of these competing stories and ultimately finds a way to weave them all together making Book Three in the series another great story.

Although it isn’t necessary, reading the first two books in the Detective Clara Jefferies Series will enhance your enjoyment of Book Three. I also recommend the Sarah Armstrong Mystery Series by Kathryn Casey.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review.

CLARA JEFFERIES ROCKS! She's not perfect... trying to deal with her past whilst trying to move forward is quite a balancing act, especially when the bones of a pregnant woman are found. As she and Max navigate both their personal and professional relationships, Clara is also forced to tangle with her Mother, Ardeth, as well as unravel the mystery of two missing children. This series keeps getting better and better with each novel (and that's something, as I thought the first one was outstanding). New readers can jump right into this one, and then catch up by reading the previous two. Clara is real, emotional, and such a strong female character - I look forward to upcoming adventures for her.

This third book in the Detective Clara Jefferies series does not disappoint. Clara is on another case that will test her skills and her mettle. The discovery of a shallow grave by a crew working on a ski run, brings Clara and Max to the scene, where they find the remains of a young pregnant girl. When Clara discovers a string of missing girls in the area, she's convinced that something sinister is going on. The unexpected appearance of a retired US Marshall raises Clara's suspicions about his interest in the case. The search for answers jeopardizes Clara's safety and uncovers a local family involved in kidnapping pregnant teens and auctioning their bodies to the highest bidder. The parallel story of a young pregnant teen ratchets up the suspense. Will Clara solve the mystery in time to save the girl's life and that of her unborn child. In the midst of the case, Clara's dealing with more drama around her family and the budding relationship with Max. Will she decide to take the risks necessary to put her past behind her and move forward? It's a great story, and I can't wait for the next book!

Best one in the series! This just keeps getting better as the characters evolve. Can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you @netgalley and @bookouture for the eARC.