4.5 stars
I've been a fan of this author's books for years and was really pleased to be given a copy of this newest book to read. I requested it without even reading one sentence about it so was a bit surprised to find it telling the beginning of the Burroughs clan. The level of violence was also a surprise but it was ultimately critical to the plot. If you can get past that, you'll really appreciate the story last six or seven chapters. True friends do make all the difference in life. Bravo.

In Brian Panowich's latest offering, "Nothing but the Bones," readers are welcomed into the hardscrabble life of McFalls County, Georgia, where no one crafts Southern noir quite like Panowich. Serving as a prequel to his acclaimed debut, "Bull Mountain," this standalone novel delivers a gripping narrative that effortlessly stands on its own, yet seamlessly integrates into the larger tapestry of Panowich's literary universe. While I wholeheartedly recommend diving into all three books in his series, "Nothing but the Bones" is a compelling testament to Panowich's mastery of storytelling, making it an irresistible read that's hard to put down.

At the heart of McFalls County lies Gareth Burroughs, a patriarch with a grip on the land and a network of influence that extends like tentacles throughout the county. His brood of sons, mostly entangled in his crime syndicate, adds layers of complexity to the already intricate dynamics of the region. Among the characters is "Nails," or Nelson McKenna, a character shaped by indebtedness to his boss following a fateful incident in his youth. When "Nails" finds himself entangled in a dangerous situation involving a young woman named Dallas, the narrative catapults into a thrilling chase as the duo goes on the run. As the story unfolds, it weaves in an array of characters whose presence complicates the already tense atmosphere, drawing readers deeper into the heart of McFalls County's underworld.

What sets "Nothing but the Bones" apart from Panowich's previous works is its nuanced exploration of themes like friendship, loyalty, and the complexities of familial bonds. While violence and murder permeate the narrative, there's a palpable emphasis on the softer, more human elements of the characters' lives. Panowich deftly navigates these dynamics, offering readers a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is pulse-pounding.

One of the novel's standout features is the portrayal of Gareth's moral son, whose steadfast friendship with "Nails" serves as a poignant contrast to his father's iron-fisted rule. As he defies his father's authority in a quest to bring "Nails" home, readers are treated to a character arc that is both compelling and emotionally resonant. Through this lens, Panowich explores themes of redemption and the quest for identity in a world defined by its moral ambiguity.

In "Nothing but the Bones," Panowich demonstrates a remarkable ability to tackle socially uncomfortable topics with sensitivity and grace, inviting readers to confront the complexities of the human experience. With its breakneck pace and richly drawn characters, this is a book that demands to be devoured in one sitting. Whether you're a seasoned fan of Southern noir or a newcomer to Panowich's literary landscape, "Nothing but the Bones" is a must-read that promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of McFalls County's dark underbelly.

NOTHING BUT THE BONES by Author Brian Panowich is another raw, gripping, graphic addition to the Bull Mountain series set in McFalls County, Georgia. A novella and three full length books precede this one, and I highly recommend reading them in order. Having said that, each book will stand alone with no issue and that’s due to the author’s ability to weave the needed backstory into each book. If you're a fan of Southern Noir, don't hesitate to pick this book up and dive in. You'll need to clear your calendar, pour yourself a strong one and settle in for the long haul as there's no stopping once you start reading this book.

Author Brian Panowich has crafted another stunningly powerful tale in this award-winning series. NOTHING BUT THE BONES opens with a scene that takes place prior to Clayton Burroughs becoming sheriff of McFalls County. Readers learn how Nelson McKenna became known as "Nails" when adopted into the Gareth Burroughs crime family and how he became an enforcer - a role he's uncomfortable with. Fast forward in time and Nails steps in to save a woman from a horrific fate in a roadside pub igniting a series of explosive mishaps that lead to he and the woman, Dallas, on the run from a multitude of malevolent forces. Nails is so far out of his comfort zone with Dallas that it leaves him confused, speechless and undecisive, but when he learns that the family he thought he could trust to always have his back might have ulterior motives, he forges ahead vowing to protect the woman with his life. Nails and Dallas leave a trail of violence, death and utter chaos in their wake as they make their way south. With his back nailed to the wall, Nails makes one last stand knowing he may not survive. The repercussions are heard all the way back in McFalls County. Time has run out. Who'll be left standing? Who'll take the fall?

NOTHING BUT THE BONES is a tension laden, fast paced, gritty tale of blood, sweat and tears - a prime example of southern noir done right. Panowich strips the words down to nothing but the bones - no fluff, no filler, as he expertly manipulates tainted, larger than life antiheroes through a complex, multi-faceted plot line toward an explosive climax no one will see coming. His sharp, descriptive prose is well suited to communicating a keen sense of place and southern tradition as well as cajoling engaging characters to life to the point of them stepping off the page into your living room. Readers can see, sense and smell the gun powder and motor oil as Nails and Dallas barrel down the highway in his classic LTD Ford toward their destination, knowing with little doubt their fate is sealed. While this story is action driven, it's the emotional turmoil of the characters I want to emphasize - A man and a woman, both outcasts, both battling their own demons, both needing something neither believes they deserve finding each other on a journey to hell and back. The heart break, the despair, the self-hatred drips like blood off the pages due to the amazingly talented author.

Brian Panowich is a force to be reckoned with in the southern noir and grit lit genre, and no one's more deserving of the accolades coming his way. I can say without reservation he's on my short list of favorite auto-read noir authors. NOTHING BUT THE BONES is nothing but the best in southern noir today. I hope there's more to come! Highly recommended to fans of crime fiction, suspense and noir.

This book is definitely a slow burn, but if you stick it out, and get through all of the character build up, you’ve got yourself a very good read.

The first few chapters, I was a bit perplexed but once i started over & read it all again, I was able to fully understand what was being conveyed about the upbringing Nelson AKA Nails had with his father.

This story, was a reminder that not everyone has a say or choice in the path their life takes, sometimes, it can truly be influenced by those around you that think they’re doing you a favor and they later regret it.


The story shows the perspective of
Nails & Dallas - as they each navigate the world in a way they see fit dealing with their own traumas and secrets.

This book has made me pray for the best for some of the characters. Gasp at the different turn of events. And just watching Nails grow & get in tune with himself… man.

My heart.

& let’s not talk about the end of this book. I just.. it was unexpected and took me through every emotion imaginable.

Overall. It’s a great read.


I volunteered to read this ARC through NetGalley.

I have read all other books in this series. This could possibly be read as a stand alone because you didn't really have to know anything about any of the characters to understand what was going on.
That being said, I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
But beware, these books are rough, raw, violent and cringe worthy.
But that ending made every bit of that worth it.
I will not only recommend this book, but all others in the series.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I can't even express how excited I was to be approved.

Brian Panowich has created another intense, atmospheric novel about mountain life and this time, being forced to leave it. This is a prequel to Bull Mountain. Clayton Burroughs is still a young man, not yet the sheriff. His father, Garrett, is the crime boss of Bull Mountain.
“These mountains? This land? It’s not just rock and dirt. It’s a living, breathing thing. And when it gets hungry? It eats the soft meat and leaves nothing but the bones.”
Nails McKenna is a bit damaged. He sometimes can’t remember if he just thinks something or says it out loud. He’s an enforcer for Garrett Burroughs. But one night, he sees a man abuse a woman, loses his temper and is forced to go on the run. For the first time in his life, he has to leave the mountain. And Dallas, the young woman he protected ends up going with him, causing more trouble along the way, because she has a way of just making incredibly bad choices.
It’s not the first time Nails protected a young woman. And that leads to Clayton going after Nails to help him.
Panowich has created an excellent cast of characters. My heart went out to Nails, so far out of his depth. Dallas is a bit of an enigma. I couldn’t tell if she was a con, an idiot or just a sad, scared child.
The book moves at a nice steady clip. It’s dark and there’s plenty of violence. I was totally surprised by some of the twists. And I really loved the way it ended. This is much deeper than the standard southern noir story.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.

I am a fan of the McFalls County series and was thrilled to receive a copy of Nothing But The Bones. Panowich delivers a profound story with lots of action and characters dripping with southern heritage. Highly recommend to fans of southern noir. This is a prequel, so reading the previous books in the series is not necessary.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: 16 April 2024
#NetGalley #NothingButTheBones #BrianPanowich #StMartinsPressMinotaurBooks

Another brilliant southern noir fiction by Brian Panowich. This is a prequel from the McFalls County series with new and familiar characters but can be read as a stand alone. Panowich delivers a heartfelt story, filled with action and a few twists I didn’t see coming.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review. Pub Date: 16 April 2024
#NetGalley #NothingButTheBones #BrianPanowich #StMartinsPressMinotaurBooks

Nothing But The Bones is the fifth installment in Brian Panowich’s novels and short stories set in McFalls County, Georgia, focusing on the fictional Burroughs family and Bull Mountain.

While the novel takes place earlier in the Bull Mountain timeline and could be considered a stand-alone novel, reading the previous installments first will enhance the enjoyment of Nothing But The Bones.

In his latest novel, Panowich focuses on the previously introduced character Nelson “Nails” McKenna and his life within McFalls County, detailing how he became known as “Nails” and as an enforcer for the local crime boss, Gareth Burroughs.

After Nails intercedes during a horrific incident in a local nightclub, the ensuing events initiate a whirlpool of violence and the introduction of increasingly malevolent characters in the hunt for Nails as he goes to great lengths to rectify his earlier actions and protect those who are important to him, even if that means crossing paths with the fearsome Gareth Burroughs.

Revealing more of the plot would involve spoilers best left for the reader to discover.

Among contemporary writers of the Rural Noir/Southern Noir/Grit Lit genre, Brian Panowich stands out as a leading author, consistently producing tales that are far from clichéd or repetitive. He crafts stories brimming with intriguing characters and compelling plotlines, and with Nothing But The Bones, Panowich continues this trend.

Like so many skilled writers of rural themes, Panowich writes with precision, ensuring no word is wasted. He shares the common ability to vividly describe people, places, and times, making reading his work feel almost like walking alongside the characters within his stories.

For those who enjoy this genre, Nothing But The Bones is highly recommended. Panowich’s stories and novels are also highly recommended to those interested in starting a new series or exploring the works of a different author.

Nothing But The Bones is set to be published in April of 2024. This review was originally published at MysteryandSuspense.com.

Netgalley provided an ARC in return for a fair review.

withholdding review as a result of the SMP review boycott. like. pelase resolve this. genuinely apologize. make a plan to fix it.

Great characters make for an addicting book. It was good to step back into the world of Bull Mountain.

I first saw Brian Panowich when Bull Mountain debuted. I was hooked. Usually, I am not a fan of prequels because may are contrived and a way for an author to capitalize on the success of their novel. Not in this case. Panowich’s prequel to his Bull Mountain series is masterful. It can be read as a stand alone novel or as a way to understand how his characters got to where they were.

Clayton Burroughs was always looked down upon by his Deddy (yes, Deddy) as not worthy of being a member of the first family of crime on Bull Mountain. Clayton first appears as a high school student, who with his girlfriend Kate and her friend Amy try to help a friend who, although very large, was being bullied. Nelson had some mental issues and was born with a deformed but powerful hand. Nelson got into some trouble and Deddy came to the rescue. Deddy took Nelson under his wing, put him to work in his criminal organization and renamed him Nails.

Flash forward several years. Nails gets into trouble after an incident in a bar and goes on the run, although with his somewhat limited capacity, he has trouble understanding why. His friends need to find him and set things right. Panowich takes us on a remarkable journey of self-awareness, loyalty, friendship and love. There is plenty of action and twists to make you want to keep reading.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Nelson (Nails) McKenna is a very big, handicapped young man. He finds himself the target of every bully in the community. The bullies make the mistake of trying to rekindle their high school fun by taunting Nelson. His boss (Burroughs) catches them, however, and the lead perpetrator wounds up in very bad shape.

When he confronts the gang again, it is in defense of Kate. She leaves the building, but not before calling him “handsome.” Nobody ever called him that before.

The perp that attacked the woman will cause a show down and the town is going to pin it on Nails. He is given a bag of money and told to leave town and never come back. Nelson throws everything he owns in the back seat of his pride and joy, an early 1990s Ford LTD, and leaves. Kate has hidden under his clothes in the back seat. He allows her to stay in the car as he heads south to Florida.

Kate appreciates the way that Nails protected her from the others and wants to stay with him. The relationship between Nails and Kate begins on the road to Florida. This book is a fast-moving read and the characters make you admire them. Enjoy! 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. These thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hardscrabble is certainly the best descriptive adjective for this story set in the Blue Ridge area of Georgia. The characters are dripping in Southern heritage, scrappy people with few opportunities to better their circumstances. There are ordinary small town businesses and bars full of regular working class folks. There’s also a seedier underbelly of criminal enterprises, misfits who work for ‘The Man’. He makes his money selling whatever people with means and the ability to pay for it desire. He has powerful people in high places. The story is dark and gritty.
Nails made a seriously poor decision in his youth and now he’s indebted and works for that Man. A chance encounter sends Nails on a new path and nothing will be the same ever again. It’s a story about right and wrong, choices that alter the course of life. It’s a love story that’s years in the making. It’s full of pain, death and hatred. There were many aspects of Nail’s life that caught me off guard. The plot was full of surprises and unexpected outcomes. I really enjoyed it.
I have never read anything by this author previously but I really enjoyed his style and will watch for his future endeavors. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Nothing But The Bones” by Brian Panowich, St. Martin’s Publishing Minotaur Books, expected publication 04/16/2024. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without any compensation.

4+ stars

Back to the best southern noir author, and back to life on the mountain where the Burroughs family is in control.

This novel takes place years before Clayton Burroughs becomes sheriff… it begins when he is a teenager and he and two female friends come upon their friend Nelson being bullied out by a pond.
It ends badly as Nelson beats one of them to death in his rage.
Clayton’s father Garreth … brings Nelson under the protection of the family and he is then called “NAILS”
Fast forward a few yrs and Nails… in anger.. again kills someone, in a bar… while sticking up for a woman..
Well.. for this Garreth wants Nails taken care of.. sends him to Jacksonville… probably to have him eliminated…
Then the story really moves fast.

This was a really good, a page turner..not as brutal as his others and there is much warmth involved also.

This author’s other books are equally as good!


Thank you to Netgalley and St.Martin’s Publishing Group for the ARC!

Many thanks to Brian Panowich, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel. I’ve read all of Panowich’s novels, and he continues his streak of well-written southern noir thrillers here with Nothing But the Bones. Can’t wait to see what’s next for Clayton Burroughs.

Nothing but the bones is the novel where Brian Panowich sets the bar even higher than one of the gold standard of southern grit lit he published in 2015 when his first novel, BULL MOUNTAIN, came to light.
The story evolves as the characters do and he uses just the right amount of easter eggs and nods to the past works of the BULL MOUNTAIN universe to keep his fellowship happy, and to make this new installement accessible to new readers.
It is a remarkable work of fiction, brutal, honest, and where you can't help but root for half the cast of the story, while hoping to see the other half in a subsequent novel even though you'd hope to see them meet their maker.

Nothing but the bones is the novel where Brian Panowich sets the bar even higher than one of the gold standard of southern grit lit he published in 2015 when his first novel, BULL MOUNTAIN, came to light.
The story evolves as the characters do and he uses just the right amount of easter eggs and nods to the past works of the BULL MOUNTAIN universe to keep his fellowship happy, and to make this new installement accessible to new readers.
It is a remarkable work of fiction, brutal, honest, and where you can't help but root for half the cast of the story, while hoping to see the other half in a subsequent novel even though you'd hope to see them meet their maker.

Nothing but the bones is the novel where Brian Panowich sets the bar even higher than one of the gold standard of southern grit lit he published in 2015 when his first novel, BULL MOUNTAIN, came to light.
The story evolves as the characters do and he uses just the right amount of easter eggs and nods to the past works of the BULL MOUNTAIN universe to keep his fellowship happy, and to make this new installement accessible to new readers.
It is a remarkable work of fiction, brutal, honest, and where you can't help but root for half the cast of the story, while hoping to see the other half in a subsequent novel even though you'd hope to see them meet their maker.

NOTHING BUT THE BONES
BY: BRIAN PANOWICH

About 4.25 Stars!

In "Nothing But the Bones," Brian Panowich's latest Southern Noir fiction started off with a bang full of action and doesn't let up until the last ten percent of this novel. It's full of suspense and I was surprised how simple the language it's written in, yet it paints a strong vivid picture that's visually powerful. It starts out in North Georgia at a bar in which Nelson "Nails" McKenna kills a man while he tries to defend a young woman named, "Dallas," that is being taken advantage of. I was hooked from the very first page. The setting in this rural mountain feels authentic and foreboding of what's to transpire.


Nails is banished to Jacksonville, Florida by Clayton's father Gareth Burroughs who is the local crime boss that runs everything on the mountain. Nails has been Gareth's enforcer even though his heart's not really in it since he was a teenager. Nails has a typically abusive father who the reader understands early on why Nail's is primed from a young age to learn to defend himself as a crucial means of survival in this crime riddled environment.

The young woman named, "Dallas," who Nails was defending ends up going with him on the run to Northern Florida. I didn't like her at first because I got the sense that she had a role in what sets off the trajectory of everything that is to come. She is not who she appears to be and her actions while they are in Florida get Nails in situations he might not have otherwise experienced. It very soon becomes easy to root for these two misunderstood people. There are a multitude of characters, but it's never confusing trying to keep them all straight. This was a very easy reading experience throughout its entirety.

Gareth is helping his son Clayton build Clayton's house for Clayton and Kate. Nails had defended Kate and Amy when they were younger and they ended up talking Clayton into doing the right thing by Nails by trying to assist him in Florida. Clayton makes the decision to try to help his friend, and even though he is a member of the Burroughs clan he is nothing like his ruthless father. Quite the opposite he is loyal and a likable character as well as Nails.

Nail's reluctantly finds himself in the position of giving Dallas a ride to protect her from being alone walking at night by herself. She is not everything that she seems and with his car attracting attention from two unsavory brothers who overhear Nail's talking on a pay phone, they steal the eight thousand dollars of Nail's traveling and expense money. Dallas robs the store where they have stopped to get gas causing them to hide his car in the woods, and Nail's has to steal a black Honda for them to elude the police.

I have had the novel called, "Bull Mountain," sitting on my Kindle since it was first published, but never got around to reading it. I read another review of this in which it stated that this wasn't as good as that one in that reviewer's opinion. I was actually surprised at how much that I enjoyed this one which far exceeded my expectations. I had read the synopsis to this when I first requested this, but had totally forgotten the particulars of what this was about. I had heard of how wonderful "Bull Mountain," was many years ago. I'm glad that I knew as little about this as possible which only enhanced my reading experience of this.

What a roller coaster of a wild ride this turned out to be, albeit it's not my usual genre. For the most part it's a story of a man with a big heart who tries defending a young woman, but goes overboard with what he witnesses being done to her. Brian Panowich did an excellent job keeping his words stark therefore they strike with impact leading to visualization of one precarious thing leading to another. At 336 pages this did take me a lot longer to read than usual. I neglected my errands and my "to do," list in order to read this in one sitting. I'm definitely planning on reading "Bull Mountain," after enjoying this one so much.

I did think the last 10% dragged and bogged down what was otherwise a powerful narrative. I really liked the characters that were the main protagonists of this story. The nefarious characters were horrible lending to this being credibly realistically developed. This is probably going to be popular with male readers as well as some females. There is violence and blood, but only where necessary to serve the plot. That being said this isn't going to be for everyone so I recommend this with caution. I do hope that with some edits the ending doesn't need to get so bogged down. I truly enjoy the kind of storytelling that the pacing stays consistent from start to finish.

Publication Date: April 16, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Brian Panowich and St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#NothingButtheBones #BrianPanowich #StMartinsPressMinotaurBooks #NetGalley