This was so good, I love a mountain based novel. I read a lot set in the Appalachian Mountains so the Ozarks were a nice switch! A deep mystery read with hints of supernatural.

I'm such a fan of Ginny Myers Sain's writing. When the Bones Sing is exactly what I want out of one of her books and fit exactly the kind of book I've been in the mood for. Small town mystery, a little claustrophobic, with characters that are believable and interesting. The story felt very grounded in reality, despite its more supernatural elements. I will absolutely be recommending this!

This book honestly took me a while to get through it, but now I'm wishing I had finished it so much sooner!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I won't lie, I was pretty apprehensive when I first started reading it. I've never read a gothic supernatural thriller until this one, so this was essentially "new territory" for me. I will say that while it was pretty slow in the beginning, I loved how it had you trying to guess at who could be behind the hiker deaths and disappearances; and it continued to make you think you knew who it was before throwing in a sort of "sike" and then veering off in a different direction. I also simply loved the friendship and chemistry between Dovie and Lo; however, I will say though that I was highly confused when Dovie found herself in a sort of love triangle; it honestly was very confusing, and it felt like it came out of nowhere. But overall, I really enjoyed the book, even if I often found myself saying "I'm confused" lol.

This was the first book I have read by Ginny Myers Sain and after reading this I'm considering looking into more of Sain's other works.

This was a tough one to review but I’d land on a 3.75 stars… Loved our characters and the unique story but the writing and odd placed romance didn’t do it for me.

I loved our main characters and truly started to feel like I knew them and their emotions. Following our main character, Dovie, and her ability to hear bones sing was very interesting and such a unique concept. The setting of this story was also very unique and the descriptions of this town really helped the eerie feel of the story.

Where the store started to lose me was the repetitive writing. For example every time Dovie walked by the creek that ran through the town we were informed she gagged or smelled the horrid smell. Sometimes multiple times a chapter. After a few times it started to pull me out of the story. I also didn’t love the weird romance triangle thing that happened for no reason. It was very oddly placed in an otherwise suspenseful and mysterious novel.

Overall I would be very interested in reading more from this author but this specific book was a bit difficult for me at times.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and Penguin Young Readers Group for this advanced copy. You can pick up When the Bones Sing on March 4, 2025.

While paranormal mysteries aren't typically my go-to genre, I found myself intrigued by the premise of a girl who hears bones in the Ozarks and helps find missing bodies. And for the most part, the book delivered on the premise -- it was atmospheric, spooky, and slightly chilling. I did find myself getting a bit distracted at times, so I think the book could've been a bit tighter and more focused on one storyline, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain starts off with a slow build, but once the mystery deepens, the twists and turns will keep you hooked. The eerie atmosphere of Lucifer’s Creek, combined with the protagonist Dovie’s struggle to embrace her supernatural gift, creates an immersive and suspenseful read. Sain’s writing pulls you into a world where folklore and reality blur, making you question everything alongside the characters. The haunting melodies of the bones and the shadowy presence of the Ozark Howler add layers of tension that keep the story moving forward.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to manipulate trust. Just when you think you’ve figured out who’s behind the disappearances, Sain flips everything upside down. She masterfully leads readers to trust certain characters, only to shatter those expectations, making you want to scream, “It’s them!”—only to be proven wrong again. The unpredictability keeps the pages turning, and the final revelations are both shocking and satisfying. If you love eerie mysteries with an emotional punch, When the Bones Sing is a must-read.

Sain has a knack for creating atmospheric and gothic tales that leave me feeling like I've entered a dream. She toes the line between reality and fantasy in a way that makes me question if what I know to be true is so true after all. This book took me a minute to get into, but I am so glad I stuck with it. The writing and setting were both very phenomenal, but in some places, I felt they overshadowed the plot a little bit. The mystery in this book was never ending and I never saw the end coming. Sain has done a masterful job in creating an otherworldly experience and keeping the reader hooked by creating complex characters and a compelling storyline. I never expect to love her books as much as I do.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

When the Bones Sing is an atmospheric paranormal mystery/thriller set in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. That is where I grew up, so I was automatically hooked! While this book took me a little bit to really get into (probably more a factor of me needed to start/stop versus the story itself), once the action really got going, I had to race to the end to know what was going on! I loved that there was a paranormal element to the story, but humans were really at the heart of the mystery. I adored the two main characters, Lo and Dovie, and also really enjoyed the their grandmothers. This book is perfect for teen readers who like serial killer stories, strong characterization, strong sense of place, and twisty endings. I will be adding a copy to my classroom library!

The past three years have been tough for Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas, a small town quietly tucked away in the Ozark mountains. More than two dozen people have disappeared on the local hiking trails; there one moment, gone the next, not a trace left behind, until their buried bodies are discovered.

17-year-old Dovie doesn’t believe in magic even though she comes from a long line of women who can hear the bones of the dead sing, and for the past few years the bones have been crooning nonstop, calling out to Dovie to dig them up.

Some of the old-timers believe that it’s the monstrous Ozarks howler snatching people off the Aux Arc Trail. Well, Dovie doesn’t believe in the howler, and she doesn’t believe her best friend Lo when he tells her he is being haunted by dark shadows. All she believes in is her talent that guides the local sheriff to the bones when they begin their song, then reuniting the dead with their families to give them some peace.

Lo doesn’t know peace, though. The shadows follow him everywhere. He soon learns they’re the murdered hikers and they want answers. But the truth of their deaths isn’t buried with their bones; it’s hidden somewhere deep in the hills. And Lo and Dovie must unearth it before anyone else is killed.
*****
What a great story! This book was so full of mystery; it kept me guessing at every turn! I found Dovie really interesting, and the dynamic between her and Lo was so sweet and endearing. The writing was so mysterious! There were so many secrets amongst the townspeople, and it took me a while to figure it all out. Was it the preacher? Was it her best friend? Was it her dad? Where is her mom? I was constantly changing and questioning my theories... and honestly, I didn't expect that ending. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 stars rounded up

When the Bones Sing is a paranormal serial killer murder mystery set in a remote village in the Ozarks called (appropriately) Lucifer's Creek. Dovie doesn't believe in magic or ghosts, but she has inherited an ability to feel vibrations from the bones of the deceased and has been helping the local sheriff find the bodies of all the hikers that keep going missing in the woods near their town. Her best friend Lo is being haunted by the ghosts of the dead, or so he says, and believes they need to find the killer and put a stop to the murders in order for the dead to find peace.

It's a quiet, melancholy sort of book with a strong sense of place and characters who are deeply hurt but have still managed to survive. The mystery is pretty twisty and did not end up being what I expected. And yes, there is a romance subplot too. It's about the messiness of family, the difficulty of faith, and what it's like to be an outcast in your own community. It was lovely. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Where the Bones Sing is a gripping YA fantasy with a fast-paced, no-nonsense writing style that kept me hooked. Dovie can sense the presence of dead bodies, and her best friend Lo is haunted by shadows as they work to uncover the truth behind a string of disappearances. The book is perfect for the spooky season, with plenty of suspense and eerie vibes.

While there’s a subtle friends-to-lovers storyline, the romance isn’t forced, allowing the mystery to take center stage. The ending is satisfying despite all the chaos, and the gory descriptions add to the intensity without being overdone. One of the most thrilling YA books I’ve read this year!

I loved this story. Set in a very small town, Lucifer Creek (named for the sulfurous stench it puts out), Dovie has a special matrilinear gift; she can hear/feel the bones singing. The sheriff has been putting this to good use in helping to recover lost hikers on a major hiking trail through the Ozarks. In the last three years over two dozen hikers have gone missing and the town is oddly quiet about it. Well, not so odd when one considers without the hikers bringing dollars into the town the town doesn't exist so they're hushing up a serial killer.

Dovie's best friend from her earliest days, Lo(wan) returns from wherever he ran off to still haunted and frantic. He claims the ghosts of the murdered and buried hikers are after him and he must solve the mystery of their deaths. Dovie doesn't believe in ghosts or religion or the Ozark Howler (in spite of her father a glass artist making a huge one for his friend's massive lodge (a very poor local boy made very good and generous to the town).

Also in the story are Dovie and Lo's grandmothers former friends who fell out after Lo's mother was drowned in Lucifer's Creek and Dovie's mother disappeared. And we also have the hell and brimstone preacher who is turning the town against the kids as witches and Xan a young man who I don't want to spoil.

I found Dovie and Lo captivating. While I did figure out most of the mystery I think the red herrings were deployed to great advantage in this. The stakes are high as more and more hikers are disappearing and waiting for Dovie to find them. Are her friends and family involved? What about their missing moms (something else I did figure out but again enjoyed the journey to the conclusions) There were twists I didn't predict which is always a delight and I found the end very satisfying. I thought the setting was rich. You could practically feel the heat, humidity and the bugs. I love it when an author takes a rich setting and makes it almost its own character. It brings something extra to the story.

Ginny Myers Sain wrote the ever impressive Dark and Shallow Lies which made a long lasting impression on me. I was so excited to be approved for an ARC of her upcoming release When the Bones Sing.

WTBS follows best friends Dove ("Dovie") and Lowen ("Lo") who are both outcasts in a small Southern town- Lo because he lives up the mountain with his Grandma who taught him the ways of folk magic (would have loved a prologue or flashback of Lo's childhood... Maybe a future short story/prequel?), and Dovie because she is magic (though she'll tell you there's no such thing) and because of her maternal roots. Small towns can be brutal if you're not part of the flock.

Dovie sees her gift of feeling the bones of the dead call to her as just an ability or talent, same as someone who is naturally gifted at tracking or hunting. Sadly, her gift has been put to use far too often in the past few years with increasing rates of out of town hikers going missing and turning up dead and buried.

Not worse than the murders, but quite despicable in itself is the lengths that some will go to to keep the murders off the front page. For this small town relies on revenue from tourists to stay afloat and if word of the deaths gets out, the town and it's residents would surely go under.

Sain's writing is beautiful and immersive. I was caught in a storm with her characters, felt the water running down my face, making it hard to see, and felt their dread and adrenaline as the river rose increasing their risk of slipping and being washed away. I felt their anger at the continued loss of life and lack of answers. And I so clearly understood their unbreakable bond and the hesitation at letting it become something new.

What will it take to catch the monster praying on unsuspecting hikers/campers without ruining the town? Grab your copy on 3/4/25 to find out!

When the bones sing is a gripping upper YA supernatural thriller. The last Sain novel I read I enjoyed but worried that this one would be as sad as the last. I am happy to say it is not yay!
The supernatural element is perfectly twisted into this murder mystery novel. The whodunit isn’t the most unpredictable but the reason why was very good. The characters are well wrote. The romance was intertwined and blended perfectly. The only reason this isn’t 100% a 5 star is because there was some slow ends. A lot of going up and down the mountain. But the twists, the lore, and the plot give it a high 4.5 stars for me.

Blurb:
Dovie lives in Lucifer’s creek and has a unique talent. She can find dead bodies because they sing to her. For the past three years she had found 23 dead hikers and no one was doing anything about it. Her best friend Lowen says there is something supernatural going on and claims he sees their spirits. The only thing Dovie knows is she needs to find out who is killing the hikers before her best friend goes crazy and more murders happen. Can Dovie and Lo figure out who or what is committing these atrocious crimes?

Definitely a great thriller and a must read!
Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for the ARC.

I just lovee the way Ginny Myers Sain writes. The way she can completely transform the setting of a book into its own character, always amazes me. In this book, it was the small, super religious town in the Ozarks called Lucifer’s Creek.

Dovie has the ability to hear bones “sing” and assists the police in finding the bodjes of missing hikers. Her bestfriend, Lo, thinks he’s being haunted by these hikers and wants Dovies help solving their murders.

Ginny mixes magical realism and thriller in a truly masterful way. I really think no one does it like her. At one point or another, I was suspecting EVERYONE. I loved the twists, loved the ending, loved the magical spooky feeling throughout. This might be my favorite of all her books!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

I requested Ginny Myers Sain’s “When the Bones Sing” because it had an interesting premise to me. 17-year-old Dovie lives in Lucifer’s Creek, Arkansas, along with her dad, grandmother, and best friend, Lowan (Lo). Since she was a young girl, Dovie has been able to “hear” the bones sing to her of people who have died. Once she starts to “hear” the bones, she’s able to locate the bodies.

For the past three years, Dovie’s gift has been needed more than ever because over two dozen hikers have disappeared on the local trails. In recent months, Lo has begun to be haunted by dark shadows. He comes to believe they’re the murdered hikers and they want him to figure out who killed them.

Dovie begins to work with Lo on identifying the murderer, but they face multiple challenges and setbacks along the way. This novel was parts supernatural thriller, mystery, as well as a coming-of-age story. I wasn’t that surprised by the identity of the murderer, but enjoyed the ending. There were even times while reading that I was so engrossed in the book, the outside world disappeared around me.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

Another great southern gothic supernatural story from Ginny Myers Sain. I liked this book quite a bit because the narrator was a fun character. I may have found it odd that a girl who can feel the song of a dead person’s bones is so absolutely certain magic doesn’t exist, but it made her quirky and special. Dove has been able to feel the song of bones since she was four just like her mother and her grandmother before her. The other locals in the small town hills she lives in look at her with distrust but still ask her to go out and find the bodies of the missing hikers. And it’s strange but no one seems to be asking quests about how many there has been (23 in the last few years alone). As Dove and her best friend Lo try to figure out what is happening to the missing hikers they learn more about themselves and each other than they were bargaining for. Great book and a super quick read. I liked the mystery but wished it was a little more twisty than it was. Overall still a fun story.

This was such a fun time and so spooky, gives me slight T Kingfisher vibes but for young adults. I have students I think will really like this so it will be a book I add to my classroom library!

What I loved about this book is that it did not read as a YA book. It read like a wonderful mystery /suspense / ghost story with young adult characters. Ginny did a wonderful job with each character; made you care for each and every one of them whether they were guilty or not. Loved ho Dovie was both strong, stubborn and caring; loved the relationship she had with her dad and Lo and OMG, did I love Lo. Perfect for every age.

Dovie, can hear the bones of the dead sing, and has been helping the police the past few years find the bodies of the missing. With the help of her best friend she is out to find out what is really going on in the woods. This was very intriguing read, and hard to put down. However, I wish that romance aspect was taken out of the book. I feel it took away more from the story than adding to it.
4 stars.