This was a very good mystery with plenty of twists and turns. It was a lighter read and the pace clipped along. I think it was an excellent addition to the series.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It’s been a year since Special Agent Susan Marlan and Professor Eric Evans worked a taxing missing persons case together on the Olympic Peninsula. Though the couple have since separated, Eric must reluctantly turn to Susan for advice when a student accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend comes to Eric for help proving his innocence. Susan—busy tracking down two missing employees of San Francisco’s Gruben Dam—warns Eric to be cautious, as the young man has connections to Defenders of the Earth (DOTE), an ecoterror group operating out of San Francisco.

After the suspected student dies of an apparent suicide, Eric starts having visions that point to a more disturbing truth. Determined to figure out what really happened, Eric works with his old friend Jake Bergman to infiltrate DOTE.

A great spooky read for those who like crime with a hint of the supernatural. Part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

Susan, Eric, and Jake are back and what a twisted group of cases they have been sucked into. Full of suspense and action this one keeps you gripped. The characters are what really make this book. The mystery has plenty of surprises. I loved that Jake got more page space. The ending was perfect.

Vivian Barz’s “Campus Bones” is a very exciting, adventurous mystery. It involves murdered students on a big San Fransisco university and modern-day ecoterrorists who are plotting mass destruction. Unfortunately, the paranormal element in “Campus Bones” isn’t as strong and pervasive as it is with the previous installments in this unique series. However, I love the characters (especially Jake Bergman) and can’t wait to read the next installment. Hopefully, it will be creepier, gorier, and more atmospheric than “Campus Bones.” For my complete review, please read the September issue of Gumshoe Review at www.gumshoereview.com.

I think a key trait of being alive in the 21st century is that you’re always at least subconsciously aware that the Earth is about to die. I distinctly remember having the phrase “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” being drilled into me from a young age and growing up concerned about the state of the ozone layer. Of course now, being concerned about the environment is a whole new mental ballgame, from trying to live a sustainable lifestyle to abnormally hot or cold temperatures across the world to land repatriation.

I doubt our protagonist, Eric Evans, would classify himself as any sort of eco-warrior. But when he is unwillingly roped into solving a presumed murder on account of his clairvoyant abilities, all signs are pointing towards an ecoterrorist group/cult known as DOTE. The bodies are starting to pile up and it appears that DOTE may be playing dirty to save the Earth.

Campus Bones is actually the third novel in the Dead Remaining series so when NetGalley was kind enough to send me an ARC, I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to understand the story. But even going in blind, the story’s premise was easy to follow and enough backstory was sprinkled through the pages for me to get to know the characters.

The premise of the story is definitely intriguing; I love how Vivian Barz managed to weave environmentalism, clairvoyance and a love story all into one novel. I don’t think I’ve ever seen ecoterrorism set up to be the Big Bad in any story.

Barz definitely tried to inject some nuance into the story; without the explanation about capitalism and how it ties into environmentalism, I think DOTE would have came off as an unrealistic villain. With that being said, some of the writing did come off a little boomer-esqe, “look at this silly young kids and their internet haha” in tone.

Clocking in at 251 pages, the writing came off rushed towards the end. At the 200 page mark, new clues were still being revealed and I was a little concerned about how all the loose ends would be tied up within the remaining pages. The climax of the book was resolved way too quickly, and I felt that Campus Bones could have benefited from having an additional 50 or even 100 pages to really let Barz tie up everything more neatly.

Personally, I feel that the flaws of the novel are a little too obvious to ignore but regardless, Campus Bones’ premise is unique enough to warrant a read. If you’re looking for a contemporary murder mystery that stands out from the typical novels in the same genre, Campus Bones is the one for you.

This book was an excellent continuation of the series, and it kept me on my toes until the very end. The first quarter of the book started off a bit slow (it took me a beat to recall where things left off from book 2) but halfway through things began to really ramp up. This book had just enough of the supernatural without being over the top, and it was interesting to see how Eric, Susan, and Jake have settled into their new roles. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes next, and this is by far one of my favorite authors.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of Campus Bones! It's book 3 in the Dead Remaining series.

There are two mysteries in this book: The first is when a student accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, comes to Professor Eric Evans for help proving his innocence. The second is when Susan, a Special Agent with the FBI, is tasked with tracking down two missing employees of San Francisco’s Gruben Dam. Eric and Susan were once a couple, but they went their separate ways in a previous book. Adding to the mix is Jake Bergman, Eric's friend and TA.

I liked the characters a lot. Eric has a newly discovered ability to see the dead, which he is still trying to figure out. He has wisdom and a sense of humor - my favorite combo! (I would love to sit in on some of his lectures at the university.) Susan seems like she's on track for becoming a great Special Agent, although she's still a wee bit green right now. I loved Jake, who is a dwarf, and is hilarious!

Surprisingly, the two stories ended up having a connection that I definitely didn't see coming! Eric, Susan, and Jake make a great team. I generally read books that are more serious but I SO enjoyed this lighter fare!!

From and Jake are on campus, Susan is with the FBI. When a young co ed is killed, he ex boyfriend is blamed. He turns to Eric for help, only to be murdered himself. Eric and Make work to solve both murders, but must contact Susan for help. This is the third book in a series. Thanks netgalley

I will come back back with .y review after I've read the first two books on Kindle Unlimited!
Thank you NG Publisher and Author for this erc!

Another great addition to the Dead Remaining series. I was like, 70% through the book when I realized that uh, I was 70% through the book. It all went so fast that I didn't even notice I was plowing through it. And that's basically the ideal for me.

This is not the type of thriller I tend to enjoy, but I'd heard good things about this author and wasn't disappointed. Expertly fast paced, this was a quick, enjoyable read.