The Bone Jar

The Bone Jar is the debut from new author S.W. Kane and is an intriguing start to hopefully a new series.

Starring 2 protagonists, rather than focusing on the Detective, this book introduces the kinda cool detective Lew Kirby and urban explorer (new to me) Connie Darke.

When an elderly woman is found dead in an abandoned asylum, Kirby and likeable partner Pete Anderson investigate and find Connie Darke is inexplicably linked to the derelict site.

With a property developer waiting to build on the site and a old patient still inhabiting an old building there are no lack of suspects..

The creepy atmospheric setting is done very well by Kane and almost gets under your skin in an unassuming quietly disturbing way.

There are some great characters in this book, Raymond Sweet is a great creation, but none of the characters seem to take over which is quite a change and something I quite liked.

Paced perfectly, this book holds your attention and the suspense builds well and the twists come at you as the book races toward its satisfying finale,

A very good debut, a quality police procedural and an interesting thriller in a darkly creepy setting with some cool new protagonists on the crime scene.

Recommended

4🔥🔥🔥🔥

The Bone Jar is a complex, chilling and an atmospheric police procedural by S W Kane. London is in the grips of one of the worst snowstorms for decades. When the body of an elderly woman is discovered in an abandoned asylum, scheduled for demolition, the police soon realise that this case isn’t going to be easy to solve. But who could have murdered someone so vulnerable? As they speak to people who knew the murdered woman, including her family, they uncover conflicting accounts about her. Was she a saint, or was she evil? Who held such a bad grudge against her that they wanted to see her dead?

The old asylum, Blackwater, which becomes the scene of the crime, gave the book a very haunting feeling. With the discovery of the body, it seemed to me that there were many undiscovered secrets about the place. Although the setting is near enough abandoned, there is one man who still lives there, who managed to claim squatter’s rights. Raymond Sweet is a former patient, but he isn’t willing to leave the area, even though he has been offered a handsome sum of money by the developers to do so. I wanted to know what he knew about the place, and it’s past. What went on when Raymond was a patient there? Did he know anything about the murdered woman? Raymond also has a secret which he is keen to protect at all costs.

As the plot developed, I became more and more intrigued about the woman, especially when dark secrets about her past were revealed. I was never able to guess how the plot was going to unfold and S W Kane built up the tension really well as the book came to a close.

I also really liked the two main characters. DI Lew Kirby is the detective working on the case, and I thought his character was well developed. He has a love for old cars but hates the police-issue Corsa he drives. Even his mother calls it a ‘student car.’ S W Kane also introduces us to Connie, an urban explorer who has a keen interest in the asylum. Both Connie and Lew are two really engaging characters who I would like to see explored further.

I have heard that The Bone Jar is the first book in a new trilogy and I’m excited to read what S W Kane has in store for us next. I highly recommend this book.

I confess that I was fully intrigued as soon as I took my first glimpse at the blurb of The Bone Jar. I always love a good detective thriller, and the promise of an abandoned asylum setting combined with hints at its past and secrets as well as a former patient involved in a present day murder investigation sounded simply irresistible. Talk about the perfect hair-raising backdrop for this first book of a new detective series! I had a hunch that I would enjoy this story, and my instincts definitely turned out to be right. The Bone Jar is a dark, eerie and atmospheric detective thriller that will chill you to the bone, and not just because of the winter wonderland descriptions. Without a doubt recommended if you enjoy the detective thriller genre!

There is no doubt that the Blackwater Asylum steals the show here. Not only does the majority of the story take place in or around the abandoned asylum, but its descriptions also give the story that spine-chilling feel as well as a hint of forboding. The descriptions are thorough and beautifully done, and really made the setting come alive for me. The fact that The Bone Jar takes place during the cold winter months only adds to the eerie atmosphere... The snow and cold weather used to add obstacles to the investigation as well as influencing how the plot as a whole develops. Especially the focus on the Blackwater Asylum was a huge bonus for me, as I have a weak spot for stories with that angle and its incorporation in the plot was handled splendidly.

The Bone Jar has quite a few characters in play, and I confess that initially I struggled a little to remember how they all connected. This feeling was only temporary though and as soon as I was able to fit them all into their place in the plot puzzle, I was fully hooked. I wish we could have seen more of new main character detective Lew Kirby, but we did get a few hints at his private life and I'm definitely intrigued. We mainly see the story and investigation through his eyes, but both Raymond and Connie are also key to the plot of this first book. Both will soon find themselves in the middle of everything and I quite liked getting to learn more about them. Especially Raymond is a fascinating character with his past and possible knowledge of present events as well as secrets about Blackwater Asylum.

I also really liked the mention of urban exploration and the connection more than one character had with this activity in the plot. It was interesting to learn a little about the urban exploration terms and I would have loved to see it even more present! The Bone Jar mainly focused on the asylum and its hidden secrets as well as the present murder case though. It was interesting to see Lew Kirby and the others investigating the crime and both the building up of suspense and the introduction of plot twists is more than solid. You keep wondering how everything and everyone connects and fits in, and the story will definitely have some surprises for you in store as well.

With its eerie and atmospheric derelict asylum setting, The Bone Jar sets the tone for what is an excellent start of a new detective series. Any fan of the genre will have a brilliant time meeting Lew Kirby as well as exploring Blackwater Asylum!

This review will go live at the link below on 6 July:

Hi and welcome to my stop on the blog tour for The Bone Jar! Many thanks to Anne Cater for the invite and to Thomas & Mercer for the eARC via NetGalley and the paperback copy.

The Bone Jar, what a title! I was fully intrigued and I hadn’t even read the blurb yet! And then I did read the blurb, and then I read it again, and in the end I virtually tripped over my own feet in my haste to sign up. You see, I have some trigger words, in a good way: words that are guaranteed to pique my interest and trigger me into wanting to read the novel if they’re in the blurb. One of those words is “secret”. Did you read the blurb? Check! Another, and one I hadn’t even realised until now, is “asylum”. Oh my giddy aunt, an asylum! An ABANDONED DERELICT asylum! With underground bunkers and secret rooms and *whispers* unspeakable psychological experimentation, ooooooh!

Kids, I was so enthusiastic about this one that I read it right after I got it, namely May. I regret nothing. Except maybe that I can’t read it again for the first time, but then again, I will definitely read it a second time, not in the least to try and spot any clues Ms Kane left and I missed the first time around. Yeah, it’s one of those novels where you reach the end and think: was the truth really staring me in the face this whole bloody time and did I still miss it?! I think it was! I need to go back and check!

So, what do we have here? An elderly woman found murdered in an abandoned asylum. Few pages in, and we already have our first mystery to solve. Because who is she? And why the hell would anyone want to murder an eighty-something woman? At the same time, a man has gone missing in the vicinity of Blackwater Asylum. Did he have anything to do with the murder? Did he just go on a bender? Or might he have witnessed something he shouldn’t have? Bam, second mystery! And they only pile on from there. The more the police discover about Blackwater, the more questions pop up.

Of course I gobbled up the mysteries, the questions whose answers kept eluding me, the slowly unravelling secrets, but there is more to The Bone Jar. While it’s excellent fiction, it also sheds a light on a treatment used in psychiatric hospitals in the 60s and 70s: Deep Sleep Therapy. I found that fascinating and most definitely an enrichment of the story, knowing that the practice and malpractice of said technique is based on real facts.

The Bone Jar has such an atmospheric setting, not just because of the asylum but also because it’s set in the dead of winter, with the cold and the snow creating a gloomy sort of mood. It has a whole array of interesting characters, notably DCI Lew Kirby, whom I adored, Connie, an urban explorer, and Raymond, a former Blackwater patient. I do hope to see more of Kirby, The Bone Jar would be an excellent start of a new police procedural series, and if that’s the case then hopefully Connie will be back too. I also feel there are a few details left to clear up or expand upon, and I’d be first in line for a sequel!

The Bone Jar is so intricately woven that at one point I wondered if I should start drawing up family trees to keep all the facts straight. My brain must have short-circuited at least once, but you know what? This is 100% worth straining your grey cells for! I loved how it all came together in the end and how Blackwater’s dark history was finally laid to rest.

For me, The Bone Jar more than lived up to the expectations the blurb had created, I thoroughly enjoyed it and if you, like me, can’t resist a brooding thriller set in an asylum, then I’d happily recommend you add this one to your TBR!

What a great book this was. So full of twists and turns. keeps you second guessing yourself. The premise is basically, the body of 85 year old woman turns up in the abandoned Blackwater Asylum. What is her connection, if any, to the asylum? Though it could be called a police procedural, I think it's more a psychological thriller, as it focuses on secrets and connections to the asylum. Thanks to the author , publishers and NetGalley for the ARC. which I've reviewed honestly.

This book is an Amazon First Reads choice this month and I almost picked it until I realised I already had the book as I was taking part in a #BlogTour. This is an excellent book and the kind of thriller I love to indulge in. I was hooked from the start when the body of Ena, an old woman is found in a derelict asylum. Why? How did she end up at the Asylum? Why did someone choose to kill her there, where she was a nurse when the Asylum was still in use? The most likely suspect is Raymond Sweet, a former patient who lives on a cottage on the grounds after winning the lease in court after squatting in the cottage for decades. But is he a little too obvious? This book raises so many questions and the author takes plenty of time to answer them. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

The Bone Jar begins with the discovery of the body of an elderly woman in the derelict Blackwater Asylum….she had been murdered.

DI Lew Kirby begins the investigation. He speaks to an urban explorer, Connie Darke who has reported her friend, Ed, missing. Her sister, Sarah had died in an accident some time before…..at the asylum.

Are these events linked? Does Raymond and his creepy bone jar know more than anyone realises?

I really enjoyed this creepy thriller. It has great characters in Kirby and Connie (and a 3 legged stuffed fox). I really felt for poor Raymond too, such a troubled soul. With its clever plot, this dark and twisted tale keeps you guessing. Gripping from start to finish.

Thank you to The author, the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.

The Bone Jar is both police procedural and psychological thriller. When the body of an 85 year old turns up dead at the abandoned Blackwater Asylum, there's more questions than there are answers. This book was definitely a wild ride that keep me guessing at every step. I applaud the author for all the twists and turns because I was not ready for the ultimate reveal in the end. I will definitely be reading more books by this author in the future.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish - after all, with two murders, a derelict asylum on the banks of the River Thames containing all kinds of dark and grisly secrets and a former patient who cannot let go of the past, what's not to like?
Right at the start we read about a death but have to wait until much later in the book to find out its relevance. The story really begins with the discovery of the body of a badly beaten eighty-four year old woman lying on an old hospital bed in a ward of the long abandoned Blackwater Asylum in Battersea, South London. The old psychiatric hospital has a chequered past, including rumours of strange experiments, deaths and improper behaviour from the staff. Even after it was closed in 1993, there were several more incidents there such as arson and suicide. The whole site, including a listed chapel, water tower and a lake, has now been acquired by a developer by the name of Patrick Calder for redevelopment into luxury accommodation. There is one blot on Calder's landscape though. A former patient who should have moved into a B&B never actually left and Raymond Sweet stayed living for so long in the Old Lodge that he now has squatters' rights over a piece of the land. Raymond was first admitted to Blackwater at the age of seventeen, lived there twenty seven years till it closed and now at the age of sixty seven cannot imagine life anywhere else. A harmless soul with a less than perfect memory, he keeps himself to himself and tries to keep out of sight of the Creeper, the ghost he believes haunts the old building. The case falls to DI Lew Kirby and partner DI Pete Anderson of Mount Pleasant's Murder Investigation Team, and as their enquiries proceed, the victim is identified as local woman Ena Massey, a veritable saint of a former nurse who spent her retirement making home visits for a local hospice. No one seems to have a bad word to say about her but the placing of her body somewhere with a murky past can hardly be a coincidence. A mobile phone was also found at the crime scene and this leads the detectives to a search for the owner, a teaching assistant called Edward Blake. His fellow urbex (urban explorer) Connie Darke has also been looking for Ed without success. They were supposed to meet at Blackwater to honour the death of her sister Sarah, also Ed's girlfriend, who died there five years ago in a freak fall. Connie was delayed by the bad weather and Ed hasn't been seen since. Since the accident Connie has remained friends with Ed and has discovered the hobby of urbexing for herself. Her job as archivist at the Repository for Architectural Drawings and Ephemera has given her even more of an interest as she has access to the plans of many old buildings. The plans to Blackwater would be a major find but no one seems to know where they went, like a lot of the records from the hospital that also vanished. Connie is first interviewed by the police about Ed's disappearance, but as the case moves along and another body is found, she finds herself drawn into Kirby and Anderson's investigations. Very dark and disturbing secrets about what really went on at Blackwater start to emerge as family histories are thrown open and the past comes back with a vengeance in one of the coldest winters on record in London. The pace really shoots up at the end, and there are some great twists after an explosive finale where the truth finally comes to light. The book contained great well drawn characters that were easy to get to know. I really liked the pair of detectives and the humour in the story, such as the car Kirby loathes and Anderson's faith in his lucky rabbit's paw. They have a good rapport which in turn inspires the other detectives in their team. The plot is clever and has lots going on but I found it was always well written, and it was easy to keep up with the story which drew me in and kept me glued to it all the way through. I don't know what the plans are but I would certainly love to see this becoming a series featuring Kirby and Anderson. 5*

Is there anything creepier than an abandoned mental asylum? I don’t think so. A woman’s body has been found deep inside the cellars of the old hospital, Blackwater Asylum and another body is discovered in the Thames nearby. Detective Lew Kirby is assigned the cases, are they related, and if so, how? Kirby is joined by urban explorer, Connie Darke, whose sister was killed in an accident in the asylum. Together they explore the past and present of the old building as they try to uncover its secrets before someone else is killed. Brooding and atmospheric, this story kept me riveted

* spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars

I do like a book set in a creepy asylum.
The more deserted and neglected the better... adds atmosphere.
This certainly had that when a dead body is found on one of the empty wards.
This ticked the right boxes for creepy setting,strange characters,hidden tunnels,secret rooms,family secrets and murders.
It had a lot of good stuff going on.
It also had a decent central character,in what is hopefully going to be a series.
Some excellent twists in the plot,and the ending left me just wanting more.

The Bone Jar was right up my street - creepy, chilling and atmospheric. Set in the middle of winter, snow all around an elderly woman is found in an abandoned asylum Blackwater on the banks of the river Thames. How she got there without being seen on the security cameras is a mystery that Detective Lew Kirby and his partner have to solve. As their investigation goes on secrets from the Blackwater asylum begin to rear their ugly truth as connects to dead woman come to light.

There are many characters in this story and a lot of interconnecting story lines that will keep you on your toes, though I did find myself getting confused at some of the red herrings thrown in. That being said, I really did enjoy this book and I hope that there will be more coming for  Kirby in the future

5 star

'The Bone Jar' by S.W. Kane is the first book in the Detective Lew Kirby series, a story that circles around the discovery of an elderly woman's body in an abandoned asylum on the banks of the Thames. As DI Kirby and his partner start digging into the details of the woman's death, a second body turns up in the river nearby.

Secrets begin to unfold regarding hidden rooms, secret experimentation, and the legends that places like Blackwater Asylum so often develop.. that there's a force about them. Ghosts of the past. Or at least, an inescapable vortex that seems to draw others to their doom.

When Kirby meets with Connie Darke, an urban explorer whose sister died in an unexplained accident on the asylum grounds, his queries spur her own obsessions with the truth and she grows determined to help him find answers.

There are several questionable characters that pop up throughout the investigation, some of them tight-lipped and severe.. others wild and brash. Each one is richly portrayed, their distinctive quirks making them easy to keep track of even with a wide suspect pool.

To start with.. there's Raymond Sweet, the former resident of the asylum who ends up living on the property for decades after it closes. He's an unusual man, but he seems almost sweet in his strange way. There's the hot shot developer who ends up losing Sweets plot of land to him via squatters rights litigation, the missing urban explorer whose cell phone is found at the scene of the crime, the heir to Marsh House just in from Perth, the daughter of the deceased who is more than a little rough around the edges, and plenty of others.

Nearly everyone has secrets they're keeping, some of which are devastating and not all of them even relate to the case. In fact, while Kirby is trying to track down the killer, he's fielding calls from his parents about something his mom has been hiding. Admittedly, I found her reveal a little odd, but the story was still great.

I loved the dark, gritty setting. The description of the property throughout the book is so vividly stark. The asylum has stood on the grounds for years and it feels as if its affected almost everything within its reach.

Kane did a fantastic job of balancing character and story development with well-paced scenes filled with action or suspense. It's definitely worth the read.

I couldn’t get enough of The Bone Jar. I was afraid I wouldn’t finish it in time for this review but, once I started, I just flew through it.

What really drew me was the murder location of this book: a former asylum. I love any book set in some kind of abandoned building, especially one where bad things happened in the past. You just know that it will give the story a chilling, haunted vibe, and The Bone Jar didn’t disappoint. Of course, Blackwater Asylum and what happens there is completely fictional. However, it feels totally realistic based on the stories we have heard regarding what went on in places like this.

Although the plot presented enough twists and turns to keep me on my toes, it wasn’t what carried the book. The characters were also great. The best thing about them was that they didn’t fit the stereotype I often come across in these kinds of books. Connie was brave and smart and she didn’t make stupid mistakes. Kirby was pretty normal for a detective, and by that I mean he wasn’t an alcoholic, moody, adverse to other people (you know the usual characteristics), he was just the average person. However, while these characters stood strong in The Bone Jar, it was the unpredictability of Raymond Sweet, a former patient, that gave the book its edge.

I nearly chose this as my amazon first reads choice but decided on another title, so I was so pleased to get this through Netgalley.
This was so my kind of book, I have a morbid fascination with thrillers about mental asylums but this took forever to get going. I was at 20% before I found out the identity of the murder victim!
Lots of characters with not enough clarity between them made this really challenging, and I found I wasn't engaged fully with wanting to know the ending.

The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected?

Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. Lew along with the help of an urban explorer, Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, must put the pieces of the puzzle together to keep the killer from striking again.

I really enjoyed this book. I was immediately intrigued with this book when the premise mentioned a murder in an asylum. That itself creates an interesting atmosphere for creepy thriller.

While at times I did get confused while reading because there were so many characters and sub plots going on at the same time. But, at the end all of it with all its twists and turns come together for a thrilling finish.

Overall an excellent start to a new series. Looking forward to more books in this series!

Thank You to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC

The Bone Jar by S W Kane is a debut novel, and one that caught and held my interest. Since this is listed as Book 1, I'm happy to know there will be more.

From description: Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?
The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected?

Before long, the secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. There are rumours about underground bunkers and secret rooms, unspeakable psychological experimentation, and a dark force that haunts the ruins, trying to pull back in all those who attempt to escape. Urban explorer Connie Darke, whose sister died in a freak accident at the asylum, is determined to help Lew expose its grisly past. Meanwhile Lew discovers a devastating family secret that threatens to turn his life upside down.

DI Lew Kirby is the protagonist, but he does not take over the plot; a couple of secondary characters are as involved and important as the DI, giving the novel an almost ensemble feel. Raymond Sweet, a former patient, lives his eccentric life on the grounds of the old asylum, and Connie Darke wants to know who was with her sister the night she died and
what has happened to a friend and fellow urban explorer who is now missing.

In the investigation to discover who wanted an 84 year old woman dead, secrets from past and present come slowly to light.

Like many readers, I find plots involving mental asylums suggestive of a thrilling and suspenseful experience, and the long abandoned Blackwater Asylum blends atmosphere, history, and memories that satisfy that notion. A promising debut and a suspenseful mystery set in the midst of a frozen winter, The Bone Jar more than met my expectations.

(Although this was a NetGalley offering, it is also available on Kindle Unlimited.)

NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer
Police Procedural. July 1, 2020. Print length: 327 pages.

The Bone Jar takes place in London Town where an old abandoned asylum is about to be redeveloped into prime luxury real estate, the only kicker being a squatter who, after 20 years of residing on the premise has won squatter's rights to keep a small portion of the estate for himself.

Have you ever heard of Urban Explorers(a.k.a the classy word for trespassers)? The Author apparently is one, and brings the Urbex experience into a spooky murder mystery. We all love abandoned buildings with the haunted and sinister past of an asylum. Who can resist?

But this building has a long history of abuse, murder, suicide, and controversial experiments.

A sweet old lady has been found dead in the asylum and as it turns out, she is anything but sweet.

A terrifically exciting murder mystery/police procedural focusing on a long-abandoned London asylum, slated for expensive redevelopment, its history of horrifying secrets, and its connection to the late wealthy family in the neighboring mansion, THE BONE JAR is both riveting and wildly entertaining. Weaving the current case with Blackwater Asylum's ugly, unforgettable past, and the backstory of the protagonist, London MIT Detective Lew Kirby, the plot keeps the reader well engrossed, even to the extent of reading heart-in-mouth.

Just the name - The Bone Jar - gets those hairs on the back of your arm tingling, it conjures up creepy places, unpleasant people with horrible agendas. Now with a name like that this book needs to live up to its spooky name, thankfully it does!

Detective Lew Kirby is tasked with finding a murderer of a seemingly innocent elderly lady, her body was discovered deep within the bowels of the majestic yet derelict Blackwater Asylum. The asylum is steeped in local lore, the vast complex is full of secrets and is a mecca for urban explorers such as Connie Darke.

Connie is mourning the loss of her sister, An urban explorer, Connie’s sister was found dead at the asylum years previously, her boyfriend has tried to find out more about her death and along with Connie they have explored the asylum grounds extensively. However her sisters boyfriend goes missing and when another body is pulled from the Thames, she finds herself working with Kirby to get to the bottom of Blackwater’s secrets.

Someone who knows a lot about Blackwater is Raymond Sweet, a former patient who has squatters rights within a house on the site, he has seen things and he remembers things, can they trust him or does he know more about deaths than he is letting on?

As they dig, they find out that the elderly victim was far from sweetness and light, they uncover a tangled web of lies and intrigue, I know that is a little cliched but it is a great web and SW Kane has done a great job of keeping you guessing until the very end.

This is a fantastic read, its perfectly set with the asylum described perfectly, the decay of the buildings inside and out comes through in the text and it gives you a definite sense of foreboding every time they set foot within the grounds.

I’m hoping there will be more stories with Lew, I have a feeling Connie will pop up again if there are more, sparks did fly between these two and as an urban explorer who knows what Connie might find the next time she is delving in to the unknown and unloved.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Omg what a chilling book. It did freak me out and was spinechilling. Really good page turner and loved it

They had me at abandoned asylum! I don't think I've ever read a book about one of these that wasn't awesome. The creepiest of settings with a dark haunted atmosphere, and Blackwater Asylum is no different. A murder victim is found deep within its walls and it's up to Detective Lew Kirby and team to figure out why. A feat not made any easier when one of their early suspects is also found murdered nearby. What went on in this place? Because surely it involves someone who lived or worked in Blackwater, making a statement by committing the crimes on or near the property.

Connie Darke is also investigating the case, but on her own. She's not a detective though, she lost her sister to a tragic accident on the asylum grounds. She knows there are dark secrets just waiting to be exposed and she wants to be the one to uncover them. She makes contact with a former patient who lives on the grounds but his damaged past makes it hard to trust and believe him. Does he really know truths, or did certain events take place only in his mind? Surely, the staff would not have experimented in such ways...but this is an asylum, after all.

Anyone with an interest in asylums or abandoned places would love this mystery, just for the atmosphere alone. But there are also plenty of twists and secrets exposed that draw you deeper into the story. You won't rest until you know everything Blackwater has hidden and you won't be disappointed!

The secrets of Blackwater Asylum are beginning to reveal themselves... the body of an elderly woman is found in the derelict asylum on the banks of the river thames and it is left to Detective Lew Kirby to discover them especially after another body is found further down in the river

Not read anything by this author and was taken by the blurb for this story, this is the first in what hopefully becomes another gripping must read series

The Bone Jar by S.W Kane is an atmospheric and chilling debut novel that had me from the first few pages. A snowstorm,an abandoned asylum and the discovery of a body...what else do you need to set the scene? I was spooked out immediately. With the exception of one man who lives within the grounds there is nothing and noone near. The police come to the conclusion this case is not going to be cut and dried anytime soon.
We are introduced to D.I Lew Kirby who is the detective working on the case along with his partner D.I Pete Anderson. They identify the body as an ex- nurse who spent her retirement visiting local hospices, the detectives can't find anyone who can say a bad word about her but this doesn't marry with her being left in the old asylum in anyway, surely someone out there has a grudge. A mobile phone is found at the scene which leads the detectives to search for the owner, an Edward Blake and discover someone is searching for him also.Connie Darke an urban explorer or Urbex, was meant to meet Edward at the asylum and he did not turn up so she has been looking for him since. Connie is interviewed by D.I Kirby and D.I Anderson in light of their enquiry but as the case goes on another body is discoveres and Connie gets drawn into the investigation herself.
All the secrets and dark pasts start to come to the fore and reveal a disturbing set of truths as the case unfolds. I was so creeped out at times but could not put the kindle down! It was all worth the spookiness as I arrived at the final portion of the book. The pace rackes up and I was dying to knie whay was going to happen! The twists were great and the finale was intense.
The characters were well drawn out and I easily earmes to them. I loved how Lew could not stand his police issue Corsa and Pete had his lucky rabbits foot, made me giggle a bit. Their chemistry was fantastic and in turn their team are spurred on by them. A great plot that, as I said, held me from beginning to end and I would absolutely love to go on another spooky adventure with Lew and Pete, any day! Thanks go to Random Things Tours and Netgalley for allowing me to on this blog tour and for the copy of The Bone Jar, a chilling debut!

4.5 STARS

I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser and the author for letting me take part in this tour, and thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading this book because the blurb and the cover really drew me in, I really like mysteries, but I'm quite picky and only like a few that are really centred on the actual investigation with forensic elements and police as well, and this one was exactly that, so I was sure to really enjoy it.

This book gripped me from the start and even though I was quite distracted at the time I was reading it for various reasons, it kept drawing me in and really held my attention when I was able to read. I thought that the setting with the asylum and the murder possibly being linked to something that happened while the asylum was still running was really interesting and I enjoyed this plot a lot.

In this book, we follow detective Lew Kirby as he is trying to piece together the murders and also try to find the culprit, as well as he is dealing with his own family issues. We also have Connie Darke who is having to deal with the same things and trying to find her friend Ed who has disappeared. As well as these two, we have Raymond who is an ex-patient of the institute, is still living on the grounds, and the title of the book is linked to his character, but I won't say more about it. I really appreciated that we got these three characters as well as the investigation because it made the book more complex and really gave us some intriguing subplots that kept me reading right through! I'm really hoping there are going to be more books, hopefully, a detective series, because I want to know more about these characters.

I wasn't expecting that ending and I definitely think there is potential for more books as even though I thought the crimes in themselves had been well wrapped up and the threads tied up and explained, something happens at the end that makes you think there is going to be more, so I'm really intrigued to find out.

I thought this was a great book, I really liked the backdrop of the asylum, and I thought that some of the subplots that were explored in this book, that were linked to the asylum and these three characters were really important topics and I found them to be really interesting. I do usually really like mysteries, and this was definitely the type of mysteries that I really enjoy.

I gave this book 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed it, it was a great mystery with a great plot, the characters were really relatable and well developed, the story was well written and kept me entertained right through. It was just missing that 5-star feel, but I did really enjoy it and would highly recommend.

This book was incredible. I unread soon as I read the synopsis I had to read it and I am so glad I did!

The setting for this book is perfevt, they haunting and haunted atmosphere of the abandoned asylum is portrayed perfectly by the author without being over the top.

The interlinking takes of the characters are clear and well constructed, giving a complexity to the mystery that leaves you guessing, hence enhancing the quality of the story even fuether.

Additionally, the personal story of Lew and his mother, and how this is interwoven throughout the tale, is done excellently, and the shocking revelation is utterly unguessable.

Ultimately this book is an excellent read, the various interwoven takes culminating in a wonderfully dramatic climax and a satisfying resolution. I would have liked more explanation about the character in the final scene, and his motives, however the ending was so well done that this is a very minor detail of little significance.

A really good fast paced read. This is a very well thought out story with plenty of action and a brilliant twisty plot. Great start to a series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The Bone Jar is hopefully the beginning to a great new detective series. The body of an 85 year old woman has been found in an abandoned asylum. What a great setting for a police procedural/psychological thriller! The author demonstrates a wonderful ability with description and pacing. Hope to read many more books by S.W. Kane. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I appreciate crime fiction where I can clearly picture the places described and the eerie threatening presence of the old Victorian asylum at the heart of this novel felt very real and very well described. In my student days, I had a friend in a dodgy part of London that was very close to a (now closed and even then rather dilapidated) Victorian hospital and this was the one I had in my mind when I was reading.

The choice of two protagonists - a handsome policeman called Lew with a taste in old cars and good coffee and a so-called 'Urbex' or urban explorer called Connie who works in an architectural library or museum - leaves a lot of scope for this story to develop into a longer series.

Investigating two deaths that seem to be linked but it's unclear how, gives Lew and Connie the chance to meet some colourful characters with plenty of dark secrets. An altercation in an unpleasant pub called the 'Welcome Inn' put Connie in contact with the father of one of the two dead whilst Lew is leered over by a onesie-clad dipsomaniac and maneater whose mother is the other.

The book is full of interesting characters - I particularly liked the ex-patient squatting in the grounds of the asylum and getting in the way of potential developers - and fascinating locations. It reads as very 'real' - if you know what I mean. There are plenty of sub-plots that leave space to take the series further but you don't have to worry that you won't get the story done and dusted in the one volume (That's a particular hate of mine - so-called 'series' books that don't finish the story within the first book so you have to buy another).

I'm reminded of a bit of a combination of early Minette Waters and a dose of Nicci French's Frida Klein books with a strong London authenticity and an interesting plotline.

When the body of an elderly lady is found in the old abandon mental asylum in London, DI Lew Kirby is assigned, along with his partner Anderson to solve the case. But Blackwater Asylum has more secrets that they could have imagined….And then another body turns up and Lew must solve the case before the asylum claims anymore lives….

Living in the grounds of the asylum is Raymond, an ex patient who refuses to move. Being on-site all time means he sees things – but does he know more about the murder than he’s letting on? And what other secrets will he reveal?

Connie has an interest in the asylum after her sister died from an accident there. Determined to find out more about her sister’s death, and help Kirby solve the murders, Connie finds herself fully wrapped up in the investigation, making an unlikely friend and putting herself in danger…….

I really enjoyed this. I love all things creepy, visiting abandoned buildings with history and a good crime/psychological thriller so this was right up my street! I thought the setting was fantastic, An unusually snowy London in the grounds of a huge abandoned mental asylum with a questionable past, right on the Thames. Kane did a fantastic descriptive job which allowed me to bring the scenery and the building to life, which added a fantastic, creepy atmosphere to the story.

The plot was well paced and enjoyable, with secrets revealing themselves throughout which kept me on my toes and interested, wanting to turn the next page. If you’re a fan of horror and have watched/read stories about asylums before, some of this may sounds familiar, but that didn’t take anything away from the story – in fact, I think it sucked me in more! There are so many secrets that the twists in this are fantastic, and I honestly didn’t have a clue who the murderer was until it was revealed!

In terms of the characters, I really like Lew. He seems to be one of the good guys and as the story goes on he finds out something from his Mum that will change his life forever. Handling such a big case, and the information his Mum reveals must surely take their toll and I think we might see evidence of this in any sequels. There are a few police staff in this which can seem slightly confusing at first, but once you’ve got your head around who’s who, it’s much clearer. Connie is interesting and definitely takes some unnecessary risks but I guess this is the urbex (Urban Explorer) in her. I really like her though, and found myself wanting her and Lew to get together (sorry to Lew’s girlfriend!). Raymond, the ex patient, has to be one of my favourite characters. He completely surprised me and I warmed to him so much quicker than I thought. He’s been though, and seen so much, that you can’t help but love him! As you would expect with a psychological/crime thriller there are some questionable characters in this, and Kane does a fantastic job of keeping you on the fence with some of them..

Overall, this is a fantastic debut by SW Kane. Atmospheric and creepy this will keep you turning the pages for sure. If you love a good crime/psychological thriller with fantastic characters, secrets unravelling at every turn and a plot to keep you turning the pages, then you should check this out. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author. Recommended by me!

I love it when I discover new series to love and The Bone Jar is a promising start to the Lew Kirby series. I mean, what's not to love? We have murder, an old abandoned asylum and a very snowy setting. All of these combined to engulf me in a mystery that had me guessing until the end.

The Blackwater Asylum has sat vacant for many years. It is about ready to be redeveloped when an old lady is found murdered in one of the old wards. Detective Kirby arrives on the scene and not only is the identity of the victim unknown, but it also seems like she mysteriously appeared in the facility with no trace to who killed her or how she got to there.

Kirby starts unraveling the mystery which initially starts out with very few clues to go on. He ends up meeting Connie Darke, an urban explorer, whose friend is also missing. Together, they end up putting the pieces together but will someone else die before everything falls into place?

I really liked Kirby. He is smart and headstrong and doesn't give up. We also get a glimpse into his personal life as we meet his current girlfriend, as well as his mother and father. On top of the main mystery in The Bone Jar, there is also a mystery surrounding Kirby's mother. Apparently she has some secrets of her own which Kirby never could have imagined.

As I mentioned, this is a wonderful mystery with a really eerie setting. It is extremely atmospheric, yet the story never dulls. I am definitely looking forward to future installments because although the main plot was resolved, there are still some lose ends, and I for one can't wait to see where they land.

After the death of his mother in a house fire when he was seventeen. Raymond Sweet was admitted to Blackwater Asylum. When the place closed down twenty-seven years later and all the patients left. Raymond stayed.

Detective Lew Kirby is assigned the case of the dead woman's body. Found in a bed in the derelict Blackwater Asylum. Kirby also has to deal with issues happening in his personal life.

A mobile phone is found at the scene. It belongs to someone who has not been seen for a few days. Are the two things connected? What will we discover in the depths of Blackwater Asylum.

When you have a backdrop of a derelict asylum in the story, you know your in for a great read. Kane describes the asylum in such a way that you feel you are right there walking the corridors. 

Kane's use of the weather in The Bone Jar is superb and it adds a quality to the story. It gives a mysterious depth to an already creepy storyline. The way the snow seems to envelop everything and take the mysteries.

The Bone Jar is a great mix of mystery and creepiness that gives us the reader plenty to think about.

The Bone Jar is the debut crime fiction novel by S W Kane featuring Detective Lew Kirby who, thankfully, is just a normal detective. He isn't a drunk, he isn't cheating on multiple women, no drugs, isn't on the take. I swear, I haven't read a crime fiction novel that didn't feature a messed up detective for so long that I, literally, kept waiting for the shoe to drop. It never did. It was refreshing and quite wonderful. The Bone Jar is a really good, well written, atmospheric detective story like they should be but rarely are any longer. It features an asylum that is written so vividly that it becomes a character in and of itself. There are marvelous secondary characters who could tip over into the nuisance variety, but never do. They actually are helpful, quirky and wonderful. I would love to see them back in future books. The ending left the reader on a bit of an edge but, for me, that was a fun twist at the end. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this new series.

"Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?"

The description of this book had me hooked and it didn't disappoint! The Bone Jar is an amazing book and I will be looking out for others in the series.
Blackwater asylum, a former mental health asylum is the perfect location for this eerie Crime Thriller.The story is told from the point of view of Detective Kirby and Connie Darke. I found both of these characters very likeable and interesting, they both had links to the Asylum in very different.

I thought the pacing of this book was perfect, it kept you in complete suspence right up until the big reveal towards the end. There are so many twists and turns throughout this book. You will need to pay close attention to the characters as they snake and intertwine together. However this could be confusing sometimes and could be hard to remember how they were all connected.

I could not put this book down and was so eager to find out who had killed the two murder victims. It is definitely worth the read if you enjoy mystery, suspence and thriller.



I received a free copy of this book from #Netgalley in exchange for this review

I love finding out the history of abandoned buildings, especially creepy ones such as asylums so I knew that this book would be right up my alley. The author created such a creepy and almost claustrophobic atmosphere with the thick snow in London which added to the suspense of the book.

I did find myself struggling with all the characters and trying to piece it all together in my head as it did become a little confusing near the end, however that may have just been down to me not being in the right headspace for such a complex plot (this slump I’ve been in shows no signs of leaving yet).
We have so many intriguing characters in here that I wanted to create my own investigation board just so I could appreciate them all!
I do hope Connie will make another appearance as I started to warm to her.

The tension and the twists in The Bone Jar made it difficult to put down, it’s a great start to the series and I will definitely be picking up the sequel.

The Bone Jar is a wonderful British whodunit debut novel by S. W. Kane. The story opens with Detective Lew Kirby taking on the case of an elderly woman found murdered in the abandoned Blackwater asylum. This is what drew me to this book as I have a strong interest in anything written about old asylums. A few years ago, I wrote two blogs posts on my genealogy blog about my husband’s two wealthy great, great aunts who were admitted to a New Jersey asylum in the early 1900’s and spent most of their adult lives there. The doctor there has been written about due to the many atrocities he committed against the patients all in the name of “curing” them.

This book did not disappoint. There were many twists and turns until the murderer was unveiled near the very end. Kirby also had family secrets thrown in as a side issue for extra interest to the story. If I have any complaint it would be the exceptionally long list of characters in the book. At times it was difficult to remember who was who. It seems the author intends to make this a series and if so I will definitely be reading the next one. Hopefully, she will be bringing back some of the secondary characters that made the book so enjoyable. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave it 3 ½ stars rounding up to 4!

The blurb about The Bone Jar had me sold when it mentioned a dead body being found in an asylum, so I went into this super intrigued as I love a good police procedural.

The Bone Jar is told in a multi view style, mostly bouncing between the point of view of Detective Kirby and Connie Darke. Connie has interest in the asylum due to her sister’s accidental death there, and wants more insight into what happened. She’s a bit of a wild card, and likes to get herself into some dangerous positions. We’re also introduced to Raymond Sweet, a former patient of the asylum still living on the grounds, who may or may not know more about that murder than he’s letting on. While investigating, secrets come to light from Kirby’s mom, and just whoa...

If you’re into police procedurals and thrillers/horror, this is definitely for you!

Police procedurals aren't usually my thing, but this one includes a derelict asylum and urban exploration. Those are the sort of thing that always catches my interest and I found myself really enjoying the book. The setting is seriously creepy and most of the characters are intriguing, especially the former patient who still lives on the asylum grounds. I did get two of the characters confused near the end of the book.

The book starts out as an elderly lady’s body is found in the grounds of an abandoned asylum. The first suspect is a strange man who has lived on the grounds since he was released from the same asylum years before. But when things come to light about the asylum’s shady past - the story and murder become a lot more complicated than first thought.

I’m conflicted on this one. I spent most of the book balancing between giving up and keeping on reading. And just when I would give up and admit defeat something would pique my interest again. So I guess I can say it kept me reading - but only just.

Kirby’s personal life was interesting. I loved how the developer who’d bought the asylum was also the same company he was having trouble with. His relationship with his mother was also interesting, and I loved finding out more about his life.

The blurb caught my interest purely just because I love crime thrillers but that it was also based around an asylum. I found the asylum’s past fascinating. I love the history of old places and often wonder what has happened there in the past so to see that incorporated into the story kept me reading, even when the story was slow.

Atmospheric Murder Mystery....
Introducing Detective Lew Kirby and partner in this atmospheric murder mystery. The discovery of a body in a disused asylum building near the Thames starts an investigation that becomes increasingly more sinister and more complex for the Detectives. It must be said that there’s a lot going on here, a hectic and busy plot with possibly some danger of confusion although nicely written with credible and engaging characters.

A good police procedural and a psychological thriller all in one read. An 85 year old woman is found dead in an abandoned asylum. What was her connection to this place. Atmospheric, dark and disturbing and in places terrifying. A new author for me and I hope the start of a new series. A glued to your seat read with plenty of heart in your mouth moments. A really good debut and can't wait to read more.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the ARC

My thanks to NetGaley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK for the electronic copy.

This is a great start to a new series! Intriguing, atmospheric, excellent writing and main characters. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
The abandoned Blackwater Asylum on the banks of the Thames in Battersea is due for redevelopment by Patrick Calder. Shifts of single security guards patrol the site but the fly-in-the-ointment of Calder's plans is that an ex-patient of the hospital, Raymond Sweet, had obtained squatters' rights on the Old Lodge and grounds within the site. He won't sell, he has his own secrets to keep about his days as a patient there, and has responsibilities to maintain. Nevertheless, he's convinced someone he calls "The Creeper" has been gaining access to the site at various times, including his own home.
Connie is an archivist of architectural plans. She and her friends Ed and Mole are urban explorers - take nothing and leave only footprints. Her sister died accidentally at the hospital, falling from a tower; it's the anniversary of her death and she cannot get hold of Ed to let him know she'd be late for their meeting at the site. Marsh House, on the edge of the site, whose owner was now deceased, is being occupied by Charles Palmer, a relative from Australia; Connie needs to collect some architectural plans from the house which have been bequeathed to her office.
DI Lew Kirby, with partner Pete Anderson, are called to the site after a security guard discovers the body of an elderly woman in an abandoned ward. She's fully-clothed - how did she get there? As the investigation proceeds it seems this woman was not all she appeared to be. What secrets has she been keeping?
Gradually the complex strands of the investigation converge with Lew working closely with Connie. A good 'partnership' which I look forward to reading further about.

Lots of twists and surprises; a creepy and chillingly-descriptive thriller.

Twenty years ago Blackwater Asylum was a fully functioning psychiatric hospital located along the Thames River. Patrick Calder, a property developer purchased the property 2 years ago and was looking to redevelop the property into luxury apartments. But his plans were halted when he discovered a former patient had been squatting at the Old Lodge for over twenty years. Now with the recent murders his plans are on hold.
Detective Kirby was the investigating officer in the murder case at the asylum. After interviewer a former patient he realizes his history at the asylum can benefit his case. Raymond helped Kirby piece together the secrets of this long forgotten psychiatric hospital.

Overall:
The premise held so much potential, but then I cracked open the pages and found it’s not a dialogue driven story.
I’m not familiar with this authors writing style. I recently learned she’s a British writer who lives in London. The setting of this book took place in London near the Thames River. I was excited by the prospect of reading about a murder investigation in an abandoned asylum, but the writing style held me back from enjoying this debut book. Almost immediately I wanted to ditch this book, but I persevered by skimming. After all I am curious to find out who is responsible for the murders.
The title the Bone Jar had me curious if actual bones were collected in jars during experiments at the asylum. Sadly it’s not holding my interest the way I had hoped. With its long list of characters it’s difficult logging each one into memory knowing they are somehow linked with the current murders. It’s especially challenging when characters are referenced not only by their first name but sometimes by their last name as well. It’s like introducing another character. I need a cheat sheet just to keep track of all these characters.
The execution of this investigation didn’t work for me. It was information overload. With the story being written in the third person narrative didn’t help either. Too many characters crowded this story with it dating back in the 1930s lended too many characters with siblings.

Are you afraid of ghosts?

"The Bone Jar" takes the reader on a journey through an abandoned asylum where the body of an elderly woman turns up. Detective Lew Kirby is on the case, but will soon find how it this case will become personal. In the end, the truth will be revealed.

I've always been intrigued and disturbed by what went on in these places. This book is a thrilling look at how the history of a building collides with the present. Who lives among these walls - whether in the flesh or as a spirit. And what exactly is "The Bone Jar"?

A quick read, this thriller was exciting and kept me on the edge of the page! I don't want to give it all away, so get your copy now! Thank you Netgalley and Amazon UK for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

i should have known a book about a closed asylum might not be my cup of tea and this mystery wasnt. there are many characters and different narratives that makes it hard to follow and a slowly drawn out p!ot i appreciate the ARC by NetGalley for this review.

Congratulations to Ms Kane for a refreshingly new outlook on crime thriller genre. Thoroughly enjoyable read well recommended. With an interesting look at the hobby of urban exploration if this actually exists had I been many years younger I would have loved to have participated . Read it and see for yourselves.

The Bone Jar is the first book written by S W Kane, and it is a fascinating thriller. An elderly woman is found dead in an abandoned asylum, and Detective Lew Kirby has to find the killer. This book had a lot going on regarding the story and the characters, sometimes a little too much. I still thoroughly enjoyed it, though, and would definitely recommend it since the characters, the story, and the setting were all very well done. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

An atmospheric chilling novel. One that takes you on a twisted journey through time. Loved the descriptions throughout so much so if I closed my eyes I was there in the asylum. The name the Bone Jar perfectly summed up the place under the lake. The book also showcases how the sins of the father can come back to haunt those left behind. Chilling,pacy and brilliant

I don’t normally go for police procedurals or series, but…this one was set in and around an old asylum. You can’t go wrong with that. It’s just so awesomely creepily atmospheric. Even if it wasn’t set in a middle of a crazy winter snowstorm (and it is). Even if it wasn’t very appealingly British (and it is). Even if it didn’t feature a very charismatic protagonist in DI Ludovico (Lew) Kirby (and it does) who lives on a boat (nice) and an intriguing mystery…there would still be that eerie spooky Blackwater asylum to behold. In fact, the story starts off there, with a body of an 84 year old woman found beaten to death. Who’d beat to death a nice old lady? But then again…why do we always think of them as nice old ladies? What if they are just old and not at all nice. Quite evil, in fact. So who’d want to kill an evil old lady? Well, that’s what DI Kirby is going to find out, although he’ll have significant assistance from other people peripherally involved in the crime. So it’s pretty much a fairly traditional police suspense thriller, enhanced by the fact that the reader gets to know all the players and then can try to figure out who’s guilty for themselves as opposed to those procedurals where you’re along for the investigation, uncovering clues slowly and only then getting to the killer. Plus the writing’s good, the characters are great and very engaging, the pacing’s tight, the suspense is taught and the location just can’t be beat. So yeah, totally worth making an exception and checking out. Entertaining read and a promising series debut. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.

A great mystery but there's a lot going on. It was almost hard to keep all the story lines and mysteries straight. Dealing with the asylum's mysteries from the past, the unusual death of Connie's sister Sarah and then the present day mysteries and deaths were...a lot to take in. There were also a lot of players to keep track of and, with different timeframes, not always easy to remember who was who and how they tied to each other. It was funny that at times this town felt much smaller than it maybe really was. All in all, though, the mystery was great and I really loved Sweet, Connie and Kirby. It definitely seems set up for there to be a book 2 and I'm absolutely in for reading it!

There was nothing predictable about this plot line. I had trouble keeping track of the characters but mainly because I read this so quickly, desperate to find out how it would end. I hope this is one of many featuring the lead character!

Police thriller with an interesting story and some good characters. What secrets does the asylum hide/hold?

If you are looking for a new series to get into please make note of this one. It has all the elements to keep you interested.....a spooky, deserted insane asylum, two bodies, suspicious characters and of course a ghost! What more could you ask for?

Atmospheric, engaging, and deeply moving I found myself drawn into the story line and quite surprised at the thrilling ending. I look forward for more with these characters and a nicely developing narrative.

Well, this was a creepy and gripping crime thriller. Full of twists and turns, plenty of characters and a family tree that was so cryptic that it left the reader bewildered. I simply loved this. It was the perfect blend of thriller mixed with a wonderful amount of downright creepy that lead me to devour this so quickly.

With two murders, a body found in an old asylum left on a particular bed and a body in the water. Detective Kirby is tasked with figuring this one out, with the asylum already having a horrific history and a hotspot for urban exploration its a challenging task trying to figure this one out. Through his investigations he begins to slowly unravel a connection to the asylum and with that, he starts trying to piece it together but a former patient might actually hold the key.

This book was intricately woven, i felt like i needed to map out a family tree by the end so i could work it out. As a reader it made it so enjoyable that you really had to work for the pay off. I liked Detective Kirby - he was a bit rough around the edges and i could imagine he would be quite brusk when needing to be, irritable but also hard working and dedicated. Connie was determined to get answers for not only herself but for her sister and Ed her urban exploration friend and would get them one way or another. Lastly, Raymond - i simply warmed to him to so much. He was awkward, eccentric and i think lonely, my heart went out to him as he fended for himself.

The writing style was in depth and dramatic, creepy and gripping. It was a real page turner and i really looked forward to every time i got to sit down and delve some more into this, i felt like an investigator myself because i was so invested in the story.

The title drew my attention and made me want to look more at the book.
I think this is a strong debut novel, by a UK author set in an abandoned mental institution in London. A throughly enjoyable read. I liked the different setting, and combined historic events with current crime.
The pace is a little slower than I would normally like. Although the pace and tension built up towards the end.
There are quite a few characters and you have to concentrate to keep track of who is who.
The character that I engaged with is Raymond, an ex patient a quirky likeable character with a difficult background. I would really have liked to have read about more of his time as a patient to have got a better feel of him. I wanted this to be Raymond’s story.
It’s a Detective Lew Kirby book, but he isn’t the focal character, it is shared between Lew,Donna and Raymond.
All the ends were neatly tied up, I felt this part could have been condensed slightly. You do get some interesting insight into Kirby’s family life. I look forward to the next instalment.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.
#netgalley #thebonejar

I hope to read other books by this author because this one is excellent.
It's atmospheric, a bit creepy and gripping. I loved the mix of police procedural and psychological thrilling that kept me on the edge till the end.
The setting is vivid and well described, the characters are interesting and the mystery kept me guessing.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

3.5 stars rounded up

This was a good read, but I must confess that it was hard to get into and I kept dropping it many times to read something else. When I got into it, however, it was really good and I couldn't wait to Solve the mystery.

It was a book that was gory and creepy. I love psychological thrillers and this one was a very nice one. The characters were good and well written, and I think the pacing could have been faster.

We've got a murder mystery, a police procedural, and a psychological thriller all mixed together to create this gripping story. The author did a good job.

The Bone Jar is an incredible novel. This novel is a chiling police drama set in London in during a terrible snowstorm. The body of an older woman is discovered and the hunt for her killer begins.

The characters are complex and well fleshed out. They story line has some twists I did not see coming.

This looks to be the beginning of a great series. Look forward to spending more time with these engaging characters.

3.5 stars

S.W. Kane's debut novel The Bone Jar is a police procedural that centers on the murder of an elderly woman at a dilapidated asylum on the banks of the Thames. By far the strongest aspect of the book is the setting, which is gorgeously eerie, especially because the murder occurs during a bitterly cold winter. Blackwater's interiors are full of shadows, broken glass, rusted beds, peeling paint and decayed mattresses. Outside, the grounds glitter in the sunlight and heavy snow clings to the trees. The asylum's best-kept architectural secret – which is revealed at the end - is just as beautiful, just as disturbing.

I also liked the characters, especially DCI Lew Kirby, former patient Raymond Sweet, and “urban explorer” Connie Darke. Kirby's and Connie's efforts to uncover Blackwater's sordid history grabbed my interest from the beginning and held my attention for the rest of the book. Both of them soon realize the asylum's past must be connected with the old woman's death—they just need to figure out how before somebody else turns up dead.

Kane's writing style is crisp and the story's pacing is brisk but not breakneck, which is perfect for a procedural. The biggest drawback, for me, was the plot. As others have mentioned, it's complicated and there are many peripheral characters whose roles are minimal. That doesn't usually bother me – I love complicated – and I don't mind lots of extras. The problem was that Kane doesn't tie up the loose ends by the close of the book. It's impossible to say more without spoiling the story, but there were at least three key plot points that either were not resolved or were rushed to the point that they didn't really make sense. If it hadn't been for the ending, this would have been a four-star rating for me.

The Bone Jar appears to be the first in a new procedural series and I look forward to reading the second installment. Kane's a promising author and it will be interesting to see how detective Kirby's character develops in book two. I'm also excited to see if Kane can create a setting as haunting as Blackwater.

Much thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blackwater Asylum has been empty for over 20 years and is about to be redeveloped. Detective Inspector Lew Kirby is called there after a security guard discovered a body in one of the old wards. The woman, Ena Massey, used to be a nurse at the asylum. Ed Blake is an urban explorer; his phone has been found near Ena's body and he is missing. His friend Connie Darke is very concerned about him as she was due to meet him at Blackwater but was delayed. The pair were going there on the anniversary of the death of Connie's sister Sarah, who was engaged to Ed. Sarah died while exploring the asylum site. Raymond Sweet is a former patient of the asylum who has won the right to remain living on the grounds much to the dismay of Patrick Calder the developer. Charles Palmer lives at Marsh House, next door to Blackwater. He has recently arrived from Australia having inherited the house following the death of a relative. Kirby and his team struggle to find out who killed Ena, why she was killed and how she was transported to the deposition site. While carrying out his investigations Kirby is also dealing with his worries about his mother's health. When she finally tells him the truth it knocks him for six.

A really good book with a well woven story linking past and present and connecting all the characters well. Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and S W Kane for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This was an unexpected read. I stumbled upon this book on NetGalley and was intrigued right away by the cover and title. I admit I judged this booked by its cover (but isn’t is gorgeous). To be safe I quickly scanned the description and saw the words “murder” and “asylum” stopped reading and downloaded the book immediately. I was totally hooked from page one.

This is your classic crime novel. From page one we are thrown into the murder of an elder women at Blackwater Asylum. The book has fantastic pacing with 3 different POVs, mainly that of our lead Detective Lew Kirby, but also some from Connie Drake and Raymond Sweet who are all connected to Blackwater Asylum and help solve the case. In my opinion there are no wasted scenes and I love the way the story/mystery unfolded itself. The ending has lots of suspense and thrill and once they catch the killer it wasn’t just over like some other books I’ve read. We actually get some closure along with some hints of things to look forward to in further books.

It was refreshing to have a main character that wasn’t messed up. Lew Kirby is an pretty average, normal, pretty decent Detective. He wasn’t a drunk or drug addict with secrets in his past, he wasn’t going around sleeping with multiple women, nor did he have an estranged relationships with his parents. Connie was also a fantastic character. She was smart and very brave and I wanted more chapters and scenes with her. And then there was Raymond, he is a poor, misunderstood soul and deserved better. Both Connie and Raymond helped the case tremendously and where such wonderful secondary characters. You can tell that S.W. Kane has a degree in History of Design because the way Blackwater Asylum is written and described is so vivid and exquisite that it becomes its own character.

I am beyond thrilled that this is going to be a series following Detective Lew Kirby. I can’t wait to see what other cases Kirby comes across. I’m also really hoping (more like begging) that we get to see more Connie and Raymond!!! I highly recommend this book to fans of murder mystery and crime novels. If it wasn’t on your radar before it should be now.

Unfortunately i DNFed this book at 27%, i dont know if it was a me problem or a problem with the book but there was SO many characters and i found it so hard to keep up with who was who and what their role was in the story, i kept have to flipping back to reread bits to freshen my memory which isnt the easiest thing to do on an e-arc. I do think ill give this book another go at some point as i did like the writing and the detective was interesting to read about.

Im very grateful to the publisher for a copy of this book. Im not going to review on Goodreads until i finish the book as i dont think it would be fair to rate at this stage but will try again next month when im in a better mind set

Where to start with The Bone Jar? If you like complex, psychological thrillers/suspense with brilliant atmosphereic description then this is a book for you. The centerpiece setting is an abandoned London asylum situated on the banks of theThames. During a massive and unusual snow storm, the body of an elderly woman, a former nurse at the asylum is discovered. The case lands with Detective Lew Kirby who soon realizes this isn't going to be your ordinary murder to solve, nor is the one that follows. The with this story the key is that EVERYTHING is connected and has a purpose, although Kane keeps you continually guessing at the hows and whys.

As new and very interesting characters emerge adding more and more threads to a very complex web of relationships and motivations, Kane expertly inserts them into a world that more times than not, is positively spine-chilling. Her descriptions of atmosphere and settings which change frequently, take you right into the space where she wants you. Not always an easy thing to accomplish.

Although we get a peek into Kirby's private life that isn't without its challenges, the involvement of SW Kane's characters, their histories going back decades resulting in these two murders will keep you turning the pages. Kane uses a lot of characters in this story which at times I felt made it a bit of a challenge to keep straight but I could not stop reading. In the end, she skillfully ties all the threads up with fascinating clarity which reminded me in many ways of Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'

I loved this book and look forward to the next one!

“Sometimes there’s a reason why buildings stay empty after their primary function has ended.”
~ S W Kane, The Bone Jar
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This is the first book in what is to be a three-book series featuring Detective Lew Kirby and the debut novel of the author. In this novel, the body of an elderly woman is found in the derelict Blackwater Asylum on the banks of the river Thames and after the investigation gets on its way, another body is pulled from the river. Are the two related? Investigations lead to an unravelling of a dark past and to discoveries of secrets the asylum has kept all these years. But there may be help for DI Kirby in putting the pieces together from an eccentric former patient and an urban explorer who tragically lost her sister years before in an accident at the same asylum. DI Kirby must solve the case while dealing with a shocking family secret.
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This was a good read especially since it is a debut novel. The setting and the description of where the story takes place was great and adds to the creepy suspense – it was very atmospheric and effective. There were characters that I loved especially Raymond and others who brought some humour like Karen. However, for much of the book there is really no action until the very last chapters. Then at the very end when it seems as though something else would occur the book ends in a very anticlimactic way. I could not believe that was the end. Despite this however, the major plot line was solved so it is not a case where the next in series must be read to see what happens. There was a good mystery to be solved and I loved the major plot and its unfolding. The twists in the book were not major and could be guessed for the most part but they were nice additions to the telling of the story. There were other sub plots that were developed to various stages with no real closure, but this might be the case because as the other books in the series are released these plot lines will be revisited and continued. I would read the next book in the series now that the foundation has been laid to see how the series progresses.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

Thank You NetGalley & Publisher for this gifted e-ARC!

Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?
The body of an elderly woman has been found in the bowels of a derelict asylum on the banks of the Thames. As Detective Lew Kirby and his partner begin their investigation, another body is discovered in the river nearby. How are the two murders connected?


This was a crime fiction novel.
Told from 2 POVs....DI Kirby and Connie Darke.
The story of this book was very well written out.
And who doesn't enjoy a good creepy asylum?
I did tend to get a little confused during the middle.....
but as I kept digging in it really started to pick up the pace.

I am looking forward to the next book from this author.

Review- 4/5

This book is about an unusual death in an even more unusual setting, an old abandoned asylum. The deceased has a connection with this old place. This story is full of twists and turns as we find out who killed Ena and why.
The book had a fairly good plot and I loved the setting and the inclusion of urban explorers.
I did find there were way to many characters which made keeping up with who everyone was a chore. I also found the story slightly drawn out. Overall it was a decent read.

Absolutely loved this book, really fast paced and interesting read that had me hooked from the description and more than fulfilled all the promise I hoped it offered, Highly recommmend.

The Bone Jar is set in modern-day London where a body has been discovered in the fictional Blackwater Asylum; a long abandoned asylum for mentally disturbed individuals. Heading the case is Detective Inspector Lew Kirby and his partner. The Bone Jar is an easy-to-pick-up crime novel, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested. It’s a classic ‘whodunit’ story that keeps the reader guessing right until the end reveals. There are a few other threads thrown into the story to keep it from being one dimensional, which helps to keep a higher pace throughout the novel.

Whilst reading The Bone Jar, I didn’t realise it was a debut, self-published novel. The standard was well above what is expected when thinking about those two aspects to an author and I am eager to see what S W Kane has in store for DI Lew Kirby in future novels, but that is jumping the gun!

As a lead character DI Lew Kirby is a captivating character to read about. He has his own personality and quirks that make him engaging. His hatred for his company car and how that contrast to his preferred method of transport, the blossoming romance he has with new his partner, his home and family situation. All these aspects feed in to make him a joy to read about. A shining light amongst the dark work in which he inhabits. It was wonderfully refreshing to have a lead character that displayed a healthy dose of normal! Normal is an underrated trait to give lead characters, or so it seems, so it was nice to engage with a character that seems to revel in every-day life. I found each of the characters in the story were handled with care and given their own, unique personalities. From the ex-Blackwater Asylum inmate Raymond to urban-explorer Connie and all the flavours of character in between, but these two are the ones that stood out to me the most as well as Lews mother and the tragic tale she weaves into the story.

The setting of The Bone Jar is both sinister and magical, the description of the places in which DI Lew Kirby visits are wonderfully vivid; especially considering the time of year – winter. The choice of winter added a layer of desolation to the read. An otherworldly threat layered on top of what is actively happening in the crux of the story.

Although I have called the plot of The Bone Jar straightforward, it’s deep enough to get a bit lost in. There is an element of ‘family tree’ and ‘connection’ that could easily render the reader lost. At times I had to put the book down and take mental stock of what I had just had revealed to me so that I could keep following the plot. It’s complicated, but easy to read and digest, S W Kane has a writing style which has a nice flow to it and this lends itself well to the genre and because of that I found that the complications in the plot were easy to keep up with – and I enjoyed the challenging aspect of trying to figure out who had killed ‘poor’ Ena Massey before the novel gave all the secrets away; it’s that half the point of a crime/whodunit novel? Trying to guess the culprit before we’re told? I am happy to say that all the threads of the mystery are wrapped up nicely to a good, satisfying conclusion – always a good thing from a crime novel. But there was enough left over in DI Kirbys personal life to pick up in another book featuring the same character.

Blackwater Asylum left me with some very strong imagery and I found the scenes involving the building and the people involved with it the most poignant. The fact that these places existed and the abuse that happened within them is highlighted within The Bone Jar and while the setting is entirely fictional it’s easy to understand where S W Kane got her inspiration from.

Summary
All in all The Bone Jar was a very enjoyable read that, while complicated in plot content, was easy on the reader in terms of writing style. The characters are rich in personality and quirks whist surrounded by a rich London-based setting. I highly recommend this book if you’re a fan of crime novels and are looking for a main character that isn’t; drunk, dishonest, thrown off the case for no good reason, abrasive or out to prove themselves!

This is my first book by S W Kane and already looking forward to the next book. Set in London, Battersea, an old lady is found dead in a derelict building. The building was a former asylum and it turns out the old lady was a nurse at the asylum. DI Lew Kirby leads the investigation which at times seems complicated, as there are many characters in this book. A well told police procedural novel with atmospheric and personal moments. A great debut by this author.

I really liked this story. It's set in London, and the lead character is Detective Inspector Lew Kerby. He is called in when a dead woman is found in the halls of an abandoned and derelict mental hospital. He works with his partner, and the help of an urbexer, helps unravel the mystery of the dead woman, who killed her and why.

I love a good police procedural particularly when the author is able to carry a story while developing the central characters to the point where I care as much about the main characters as I do the story that is being told.
The Bone Jar has this in abundance. The book begins with the discovery of the murder of an elderly woman in a run down, abandoned asylum. The setting is amazing and the way the author describes the asylum and surrounding area offers a glimpse of the eerie and isolated area inside and outside the asylum. I truly enjoyed the main characters especially DCI Lew Kirby. I like when I am able to get to know a character by not only through their professional persona but also their personal lives with all the highs and lows that come with life. It brings a depth to not only the character but also the story itself. I truly hope that this is the beginning of a series involving DCI Kirby.

I wound up really enjoying this book. I have a great fondness for anything that looks like either a cold case, or a modern day case with deep ties to past crimes. The Bone Jar have me exactly what I wanted.

“Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle to dark truth?” This tag line hooked me right in. Blackwater Asylum is a building filled with secrets. Soon to be renovated, it’s changed hands more than once over the years but something always goes wrong. This time it’s looking positive. And then an elderly woman is found dead in one of the beds of the derelict buildings. Detective Lee Kirby is called in, and the investigation begins.

This had the feeling of a much older novel. It put me in mind of Ellery Queen’s Wrightsville series or Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey, in that it’s a character study masquerading as a mystery, and it handles both elements really well. Kirby as detective plays a good role, and is a detective I could root for, even when I didn’t necessarily agree with how he chose to handle something. He becomes involved with Connie Darke, urban explorer, and the sister of a girl who died in the grounds some years before.

There are wheels within wheel, and so many ties between the past and the present that sometimes you lose track of the fact that sometimes ties can go beyond place. They can go beyond time. There is a great sense of time in this novel, both the slowness of time spent in an asylum, and of time running out to solve the murder.

Blackwater Asylum itself is a character. I read this book a few weeks before it came out and I can still see the design, beauty, and fading of the building. The author makes it live in both time periods and paints a very disturbing picture of what it would have been like to be in a horrible place like that even 50 years ago. The pacing is excellent and I wound up finishing it in one sitting. If you’re a fan of atmospheric writing and strong Gothic vibes, this is probably a great book for you.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Amazon.com UK, and Thomas & Mercer for this free copy in return for a review.

I found this book to be full of twists and turns, and a gripping read, overall.

Lew Kirby is a police officer who is tasked with finding out how and why an elderly lady died in an abandoned asylum. There are lots of quirky characters in this book who help him out in various ways and I found the novel to be nicely complicated, just the way it should be! There are things going on with Lew's mother which we don't find out about until the end of the book; hopefully we will find out a lot more about that in the next book. I can't wait to read it!

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

I really enjoyed reading The Bone Jar. The storyline was compelling and kept me guessing throughout.

The Bone Jar is a very atmospheric first instalment in a new series featuring Detective Lew Kirby.

Kirby and his colleague Anderson are called out to the site of an abandoned asylum when a security guard discovers the battered body of an elderly woman. Surely the victim has a connection to this place. Why else would she have been left there, when there are far more easily accessible places to dump a dead body? First though, detectives must figure out who the victim is and as they delve into her past, they uncover a multitude of secrets.

With such an intriguing title, I couldn't wait to get stuck in and find out what The Bone Jar was all about. For the most part, I really enjoyed this story. There are quite a few different things going on at the same time. It works really well as an introduction to the series as the reader gets to know Detective Kirby. However, I also found the plot just a little bit too complicated. Now, I will admit that my brain was somewhat foggy when I read The Bone Jar so it's quite possible that was to blame. But I couldn't help but get awfully confused at times. I'm still not entirely sure I have the right end of the stick.

What I do know is that the shenanigans that happened at the asylum are seriously disturbing, affecting quite a few characters in The Bone Jar. The murderer could seemingly be just about anyone and I was unable to figure out who it was or what their motive was. All in all, an enjoyable and entertaining read.

I enjoyed this book, I found the start was slow and I really struggled to carry on reading but it gradually picked up the pace and hit hard. I am loving reading new authors at the moment and would definitely read a S W Kane book again,

A twisty mystery read that takes place in an abandoned asylum in England. This was an engaging read and there were quite a few twists that I didn't see coming. The mystery also expands over a long period of time, so the detectives in the case were not only solving the current case but the ties that it had to an older mystery. I enjoyed the book and look forward to exploring more by this author. Free e-copy was received from NetGalley.

Incredible story that I truly enjoyed, not normally a genre that I read but I wanted to branch out and try something other than young adult and have to say I loved this.

The Bone Jar is a police procedural that starts as with investigation into the death of an elderly woman at a derelict mental hospital outside London. On the same night as the murder, a man who was supposed to be exploring the old building goes missing. The investigation into the murder and disappearance bring up old secrets and the dark history of the mental hospital and what happened there decades prior. Overall, this was a solid police procedural with a rotating cast of suspects, alibis, and twists as Detective Lew Kirby and cast investigate these crimes.

This novel employs one of my favorite thriller tropes which is secrets from the past coming back to haunt the present. I really liked how Kane used that idea in this novel where when the sketchy past of the hospital comes up, the investigators keep it in mind but then still look for present day suspects. They don't drop everything and start investigating a cold case from the decades before. I think this is where the other points of view were used the most effectively as they kept reminding the reader of the past while the detectives were talking to present day suspects.

I thought this novel also had some pretty good character relationships. We get some banter between Kirby and his partner, some interpersonal tension at work, and Connie's relationship with her urban explorer friends. I liked how Kirby wasn't a stereotypical jaded or grumpy detective and he didn't have any vices or any dark secret himself. As much as I love complicated heroes, it is nice to have the hero be an actual good guy. I do wish we had explored more of Connie and the urban exploration community, but we did get some good interactions between her and her friends.


The main issue I had with this book was the pacing. For the first half, it was a fairly typical police procedural. The first 2/3 of the book were pretty slow on the action, but the investigation was uncovering lies and secrets from decades prior - standard police procedural. The novel does switch points of view between a few characters, only one of whom is with the police, which gives the reader a break from the procedural elements. However, even these other points of view were paced slow as they investigated their own portions of the mystery. Now I'm fine with slow build police procedurals. I really like seeing all the puzzle pieces fall into place and seeing the detectives put it all together so I was reading along with no problems. But then the last 1/3 of the book kicked into high gear and it was super jarring. All three points of view came together in the same area but were just far enough away that they were still following their different plot threads. And each of the threads was high action so switching points of view would just continue to amp up the tension. Which, I'll admit, I would normally be totally into if the first 2/3 of the book wasn't so slow burn. It was like the first 2/3 ramped from 0 to 20 and then the last 1/3 went from 20 to 100 in just a few chapters. I have book whiplash, that's the best way I can explain it. I did appreciate how this book had the few chapters of 'cool down' after the main action conflict of act 3. I always like to be able to see how characters are able to integrate back into their regular lives after the events of the novel.

At the end, while we do find out who killed the elderly woman, there were more questions left open at the end of the book in regards to Kirby's personal life as well as Connie's sister. It felt like really obvious sequel bait and it was a bit disappointing. I have no issues with some unanswered questions, but the novel left off on such an obvious cliffhanger that it felt unfinished. The reveals at the end were also very important to the characters and it felt like those would have been better suited to be revealed before the third act and then they could have been resolved or at least explored more during the last part of the book. It felt like these last reveals were brought up and then the characters just left them aside to be dealt with later (in a sequel). In general, I'm just not a fan of the super obvious cliffhangers at the end of books. Leave enough open for me to want to explore in a sequel (like DI Kirby getting a phone call about another murder, for example) but this one left a little too much open for my liking.

A delight to read. The Bone Jar is a fresh addition to the police procedural genre, featuring an eccentric and varied cast of characters. It will leave you wondering until the very last pages.

This book was so not what I expected but had me gripped totally
Set in an old asylum in London it starts with the murder of a nurse and looks into the secrets and lies that surround her and the building
The main characters are Connie, an archivist at an architectural drawings office and Lew Kirby, the main detective investigating the murder and Raymond, a former patient of the hospital who now lives in the grounds
The main focus of the story is the secrets that surround the building and the people who used to be in it with the investigations that Lew and Connie conduct the conduit that allows the story to work. Without Raymond the story would have been odd and not flowed properly, he knows more about the building and its secrets but he has secrets of his own
I will admit that some things I guessed but my guesses weren’t confirmed until much later on but the ending was a twist that I didn’t see coming!
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy crime thrillers with so much intrigue that it could make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck (or at least it did mine!)

Loved it. Well told story that had me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. And the setting added a nice sense of creepiness. Looking forward to seeing what the next book holds

**Review **

I really wanted to love this story. The synopsis alone was enough to draw me in, give me an abandoned asylum any day and I want to read about it. Throw in some murder, and I'm sold!

Unfortunately, there were just too many characters that really didn't need to be there. There are times when the little bits and pieces that you get from different characters add to the story, in this case it was all way too much to keep track of. I found myself getting confused with all of this extra information.

The story itself was good if you are able to cut out all the extras. It is well written and atmospheric and I enjoyed the twists and turns that the story took. For a debut I think it was quite good and look forward to reading any upcoming books from this author.

**Audiobook Review**

I didn't love the narrator, not to say that he didn't do a good job. I always listen at 2x speed and was tempted to bump it up to hold my interest more but because of the accent, instead bumped it down to 1.8x. Davies does a great job, this is just a personal preference.

Besideds the pacing, Davies voice fit the MC perfectly. His vocal influctuations were on point and made you feel like there were real conversations going on. There weren't huge differences in character vocals, but they were there. I think a lot of confusion came from the story itself and not from the narration.

The Bone Jar was a great crime thriller that certainly had a few creepy elements to it, especially since it was set around an abandoned asylum where the body of an elderly woman is discovered. I really enjoyed the main character, Detective Lew Kirby and how Kane incorporated a plethora of various characters throughout the novel. As the reader, this kept me guessing at who was involved in the murder and kept the story fluid as new pieces of information were incorporated in the plot. Reading previous reviews of this novel, I saw many readers complain that there were too many characters included, however I felt this made the story line more believable. This also created different possibilities for the reader to try and guess at what could have happened and prevented the story from becoming predictable.

Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers. This was a quick read that had me on the edge of my seat from the start. I hope that Kane turns this into a series centered around Kirby – I would absolutely read future books in that series!

I really enjoyed the setting of this book - an abandoned sanitarium - what could go wrong!
The pacing in the beginning was a little off for me. It may have been too many characters introduced all at once, jumping around quickly, I'm not sure. I would have liked a little more time with each one and in each place to really "get" the stories that intertwine a little better. Halfway through it picked up and I was glad I stuck with it.
A decent, solid police mystery thriller. Thankful for the ARC!

The security guard of an old decrepit asylum scheduled for reconstruction finds an elderly lady dead in one of the rooms. When Detective Lew Kirby and his partner are called in to investigate, they discover another body in the river nearby.

Connie Darke is an urban explorer and is determined to help the detective. She has an agenda .. her sister sister died of a freak accident in the same asylum.

Book Blurb: The secrets of Blackwater Asylum begin to reveal themselves. There are rumors about underground bunkers and secret rooms, unspeakable psychological experimentation, and a dark force that haunts the ruins, trying to pull back in all those who attempt to escape.

Unrelenting suspense starts on Page 1 and doesn't let up until the unexpected conclusion. It's told mainly by two voices .. the detective's and Connie's. The characters are skillfully set amid the swirling dark secrets that someone wants to keep hidden in the shadows.

Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing UK / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime thriller .. a debut novel by this author. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

A big thanks to NetGalley for a copy of The Bone Jar by S.W. Kane. A thriller with the perfect setting – old, abandoned mental institution, frozen river, the harsh winter months – The Bone Jar was an interesting read that is reminiscent of the works of two authors whose works I’ve loved – Tim Weaver and Tony Parsons. Read on for more deets!

Genre:
Crime Thriller, Mystery

Length:
328 pages

Overall Rating:
8 out of 10

Plot:
8 out of 10

Characterization:
8 out of 10

Primary Element:
9 out of 10 for its mystery; 7 out of 10 for its thrill factor

Writing Style:
8 out of 10

Part of a Series:
Yes. This is the first book in the Detective Lew Kirby series.

Highlighted Takeaway:
The setting. S.W. Kane, according to her bio, is fascinated with “urban exploration and crime set in cold places”. She brings both these elements together really well, creating a setting that pulls you right in. Her descriptive narrative adds a whole new level to every scene and every event that takes place.

What I Liked:
I found the characterization really strong – S.W. Kane has created well-woven, complicated people that stand their own with every action and sentence. This is especially true for Detective Lew Kirby who is shown to be a quintessential good guy at his core, but with enough shades of gray to make him seem real and relatable.

What I Didn’t Like:
There was really not much to dislike in the book.

Who Should Read It:
Anyone who enjoys a good thriller or mystery. If you liked Simon Beckett’s Written in Bone (check out its review here), Tim Weaver’s The Dead Tracks (read its review here), and/or Tony Parson’s The Slaughter Man (yep, I reviewed that too and you can read that here), you’ll like S.W. Kane’s The Bone Jar.

Who Should Avoid:
Anyone who does not enjoy thrillers, especially those that tend to have a bit of a macabre setting and outlook.

Read It For:
The pace, and its ability to pull you in from the first page and not let you go until you’re done. For me, this was the start of another series that I’d definitely like to follow.

Well written crime thriller that had me turning the pages to see what would happen next! It had just the right amount of creepiness and a nice twist. I've read other reviews that said there were too many characters, however for me, that is what kept the story interesting. It always kept you guessing as a good thriller should! Interesting characters and clever plot.

I am happy that this is the first book of a series and I will once again be able to read more about these well developed characters in the future!

I would recommend this book, especially if you like crime thrillers!I

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The blurb really drew me in but there was nothing that blew me away on this. It followed the usual tropes and the characters were quite one dimensional. There were also a lot of people to follow which got a little bit confusing but the big reveal was actually quite obvious.

Thank you for providing me with an arc. 3 out of 5 stars.

As soon as I read a book summary that includes an abandoned insane asylum and a dead body, I'm all in. The premise of The Bone Jar is excellent: aforementioned asylum, dead body, missing person, a likeable detective, and a quirky urban explorer. Unfortunately, the author got bogged down with overly complicated storylines and too many characters. It made the book hard to follow. Even worse, two primary characters have similar and rhyming names, making it really difficult to keep their storylines straight (Charlie Palmer and Patrick Calder), which was a real issue as both characters are key to the mystery.

This appears to be the first book in what is to be a series starring DI Lewis Kirby. I think that with stronger editing, the series could be successful

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
The Bone Jar By S W Kane is a fascinating and interesting book and all sorts of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing about who did what to whom. It was just a little bit different from other police stories that you read because of the buildings playing such a major role in the storyline. Blackwater Alysum was a former institution for mental health patients and this former institution played a major part in the story, alongside some of its former residents.
The police officers also played a major role in the storyline and not all because of their solving of the crimes committed. I can see this police team becoming part of a new police series in the future and look forward to reading more books by SW Kane in the future.
Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed The Bone Jar. I wasn't sure what to expect but the more I read, the more I wanted to read, making it hard to put down. The weaving of storylines helped to keep the pace steady, the mystery behind the body found and who that woman really was kept me intrigued. I enjoyed exploring the bone jar and the all those hidden mysteries.

The title of the book intrigued me most and it did not disappoint. A complex mystery written in a chilling setting. Mental health and asylum that was shut down in the past sets the stage for a disturbing, frightening yet curious read.

Loved this book! So dark and twisted! One of top thrillers this year! It seriously gave me the creeps! I loved everything about it!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I have been looking forward to reading this book for forever! My TBR list is too long! Arg!

Back on track, this book has all my favorite things, an abandoned asylum, family secrets, and murder, I absolutely loved how interwoven all the characters became.

The only thing that was disappointing for me was finishing the book and wanting more. I like my stories to end packaged up with a nice bow. I'm hoping to see this become a series! Lew Kirby, our lead detective is an interesting character, as is his partner Anderson. The writing was really well done.

A special thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing, and SW Kane for providing me with an ARC.

A body of an old woman is found battered in a ward of a disused asylum amid a freezing cold winter. DI Lew Kirby is out in charge of the case and the woman is found to be a former nurse of the asylum. Why was she murdered and who would want to kill her?

This was a real creepy read. Anything to do with disused buildings, especially hospitals give me the willies!

There were quite a few characters to keep track of, but I liked the fact they were all interwoven into the plot. There were some characters who only made brief appearances who didn’t add much to the story.

A good ending, but I kind of guessed the twist. I’d like to see more from this author as it takes a lot to creep me out!

Pretty good overall but I did find my mind wondering a lot lol idk if it was the narrator or if I was just like zoned out or what but the ending was alright

London is groaning under a severe snowstorm and Siberian temperatures when the body of an elderly woman is found in an isolated ward of an abandoned and derelict asylum. As soon as Detective Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson start their investigation a second body is found in the River Thames. It soon becomes clear that the past of Blackwater Asylum ,with its tragedies,rumours and whispers,is to play a major part towards the solving of these crimes.
It is a good story and the setting,an abandoned asylum during wintertime,is fabulously atmospheric. The writing is sound and the two detectives are likeable and believable. But,there is always a but,there are so many storylines who are, some closely and some marginally, interweaved that it becomes a tad confusing and it does not always lead to a better story.
And then some secondary storylines are left unsolved ,probably for a second episode, but ,barring a fantasy trilogy, I don't really like that kind of open ending.

The body of an elderly is found at an abandoned asylum, and Detective Lew Kirby investigates the murder, which seems to be tied up in the past of the asylum itself. This was decent, not spectacular. The daughter of the victim was the best part of the book, an entertaining character. This is the first in a series, and I would give it a second try. Three stars.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I heard murder at an insane asylum SOLD!! This was an enjoyed read, but there were lots of characters to try and keep track of and whoa they were related to and whatnot. It wasn’t really scary or that creep so I took stars off. Also a bit slow.
Overall, just an okay read for me.

The Bone Jar mystery begins when the security guard of an old, dilapidated asylum discovers an elderly lady dead in one of the rooms. Soon DI Lew Kirby and his partner Pete Anderson are called to the scene to investigate. What they discover is the building is due for construction with limited access so the question isn’t just who is the lady and why was she killed, but how did they get in.

The story is primarily told from two POVs: DI Kirby and Connie Darke. DI Kirby is a bit unusual for detective novels these days in that he has a fairly normal life. He has a new girlfriend and he gets along with his family. He’s also a competent detective who gets along decently well with his coworkers and during the investigative process finds himself having some rather interesting interviews. Connie is someone we don’t meet until several chapters in. She has ties to the investigation and assists it effortlessly.

From the attention grabbing cover to the awesome jacket synopsis, if you're a crime thriller fan, you had to pick this book to read. Then you find yourself in the Blackwater Asylum, an abandoned facility due to be torn down for new construction. But the Asylum....yes, with a capital A....becomes a character in the story just as surely as the investigative team assigned when an aged murder victim is found in what was supposed to be a locked down facility. The only witness is the building itself and as you page through the story, the building does come alive, with it's eerie feeling of what happened during the hospital's less than savory history.

SW Kane describes the background of the area with such skill that you will feel the chill and keep checking over your shoulder, what was that noise? The characters come alive as each works through their attempt to solve what seems to be pointless violence on past patients. Their reactions to the Asylum and it's surrounding grounds only serves to make the building seem more alive.

Few writers have the skill to take you into the story and get goosebumps when the doors open onto the long held secrets buried in this book's pages. An absolutely first class reading experience that I'm looking forward to experiencing again when the next book is released.

I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. The fact that the murder happened inside a defunct asylum made it more intriguing. Kane has a wonderful mastery of character creation. Each character was different, several were a bit quirky, like the onesie wearing man eater, and the former patient turned squatter turned home owner. Kane knows how to tease out the plot and end on a cliffhanger. Each chapter ended with me anxious to move on to the next chapter just to know what happened next. I must confess that as I read and pictured Kirby (The police investigating the murder), I saw and heard David Tennant in my head (I know he's Scottish, but .it was his incarnation as the 10th doctor that I saw and followed throughout The Bone Jar.) This is the first book by Kane that I have read, and after reading this book, I'm definitely going to look for more. It had action, murder, mystery, thrills, suspense, and twists and turns that were utterly unexpected. Thanks for the adventure Ms. Kane, even if some of it was a bit gruesome.

Thanks so mich for early access this was a tremendous read. An author that beings so much of modern living into the most compelling of stories. Highly recommend this book and will be watching for more thanks

I was initially frustrated with this book as I tried to keep up with the characters and felt a lack of connection to the story. I put it down a few times but in the end I’m glad I stuck around. A few loose ends with characters that were introduced but not fully developed. Hoping that the next in the series is more captivating from the beginning.

An interesting backdrop where the body of can elderly woman was found dead. Lew Kirby must solve the mysterious death of Ena Massey to reveal the dark history of Blackwater Asylum. Kirby seems to find more questions than answers when the body of a missing person has been discovered in the Thames. It seems unlikely that there's a connection between the two mysterious deaths until Lew discovers that Ed was collecting information on Blackwater Asylum and enjoyed urban exploring. The scene is interesting and I enjoyed the story.

I really wanted to like this book. I wanted this to be a great book mystery and suspense. It was not bad but I didn't get the feeling I was hoping for from this book. I wanted more suspense and I wanted this book to be different from other like it I've read. It was similar to many mysteries I have read before. I think the author had some great ideas but I don't think they came together for me in this book. This book was also a bit long for me. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

I am so glad "The Bone Jar" is not a standalone book, but a series. The asylum, the book's setting, all the mysteries, provided the reader with a visual mystery thriller that will chill you to the bone. Some may not care for explicit language the book has scattered throughout the book. I look forward Detective Lew Kirby book 2.

Thank for Net Galley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Two murders. An abandoned asylum. Will a mysterious former patient help untangle the dark truth?

If creepy, psychological thrillers are your thing you will love this.

The Bone Jar is an atmospheric, well written book centred around a murder at a derelict asylum. The asylum is written about so vividly that this book gave me the creeps at times.

I really liked the characters, especially the police detective. It is so refreshing to have an unproblematic police detective who isn't a cheating, alcoholic dirtbag! Finally!

All in all, an impressive debut by Kane. I'll be keeping an eye out for any more books.

When the body of an old lady is found murdered in an derelict asylum Kirby is tasked with leading the police investigation into the woman’s death. He is under pressure to solve the case at the same time as coming to terms with a devastating heredity issue revealed by his mother.
Raymond visits The Bone Room to lovingly tend to his friends. He has never been the same since doctors used him as a guinea pig during his childhood. The trauma he experienced at the asylum caused his mind to block out the worst memories yet he feels a strange compulsion to stay connected to the now abandoned asylum. He sees something which may be helpful to police but can’t speak up.
An old asylum was the perfect location for murder conjuring up a fantastic atmosphere and the author’s skill made it almost impossible to work out the murderer.
I also found the idea of Deep Sleep Therapy fascinating and was very interested to learn it was actually practised and a Royal Commission formed to look into patient deaths.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free digital copy of the book.

This is the first book I have read by this author and it certainly won’t be the last. DI Lew Kirby is assigned to the case of an elderly woman found murdered on the grounds of the long shuttered Blackwater Asylum on the Thames in the heart of London. Who would murder a woman who appears to be in her 80s, whose cell phone is lying beside her body and why would she be murdered at the asylum just as development of the site is to take place?

Taylor presents a storyline carved out so intricately with a stream of twists and turns. They just keep coming. The eyes tend to deceive in this one. I mean, really deceive. Yes, it really is that good. I’ve read so many crime fiction or mystery-suspense novels that my senses subconsciously pick up even the slightest of clues, I can normally tell how the book will end before the author does, but The Bone Jar messed with my head so badly I was all over the place with this one.

The writing is solid and I sunk easily into the flow that moved along at a moderate pace. The characters were all well-developed and multi-layered, in fact they had so many layers they were like an onion, it took a lot of peeling to get to the mysterious heart of them. Short punchy chapters held my attention and made the storyline engrossing and addictive. The Bone Jar was one of those books that once I started I refused to put down, and managed to read in one sitting.

Intense and suspenseful, with an intricately woven web of lies and deceit, Kane skilfully has several threads of sub-plot running simultaneously throughout the main story before being neatly tied up at the end. The large group of surrounding cast were great characters, multi-dimensional and full of depth. The character development of the antagonist was absolutely superb and you get the see the “why” behind the things they did and how their smart thinking allowed them to go undetected for so long.

The Bone Jar is a taut, tightly wound, tension filled thriller that you will not be able to put down, and leave you yearning for more in the series.

A murder in an abandoned asylum where the lady used to help. For a debut book i believe the author did a great job of creating suspense and mystery. The reader was kept guessing to what happened. I really enjoyed.

The Bone Jar digs into antiquated mental health techniques, urban explorers, architectural follies and family histories everyone would like to forget.

Lew Kirby is a cop with a houseboat on the Thames; something I dream about! Though I can’t imagine his mooring fees (OMG!), just the idea of a houseboat promotes a fantastically romantic ideal which, despite practical issues of heating, maintenance and storage space, I’d love the opportunity to have one day. Ah well, I can dream …

The investigation revolves around the body of an elderly woman found in the derelict Blackwater Asylum, a former mental hospital. Blackwater participated in dubious treatments and shady practices – everything you expect from a mental hospital. I picture the archetypal ‘dark satanic mills’ when I think of Blackwater – it’s a place you don’t want to spend a lot of time, that’s for sure. (Though the Bone Jar itself sounds fascinating.)

Character development is fine for Connie, she’s fairly well outlined, but I found Kirby’s backstory lacking. Kirby’s story is so limited, I almost felt like this was book 2 or 3 of a series, like we already know all about him. Kirby is a likeable and relatable character. Moreover, as the focus of the story, he should be fully fleshed. Besides, I want to know where the 3-legged fox came from!

The story flows well, the characters are (mostly) believable, and it’s a fairly easy read. My main reservation is that there are a lot of story arcs and not all of them get resolved. I was left wondering about a few things, and found myself watching the remaining pages count down, waiting for closures that didn’t come.

All in all, I enjoyed The Bone Jar, but I’d be aware that your specific question may not be answered.

The Bone Jar is an excellent effort from a new author, and I’ll be watching for Ms Kane’s future releases.

★★★★ 4.5 stars

I love police procedurals with a difference. Ones that aren't entirely procedural but tend towards crime thriller with other voices adding scope to the story as we try to unravel the mystery in between. Add to that an atmospheric yet almost sinister setting with a creepiness that sends chills through even the most seasoned detective...and you have THE BONE JAR. A debut thriller by London-based author introducing readers to DI Lew Kirby.

The prologue begins with a witness to something not quite understood. The words "At last she now sleeps" offer nothing but maybe a killer's idea of a mercy killing or something maybe far more sinister. But what does it mean? And what did the witness see exactly? And what does it mean for them?

A security guard hears the ringing of a mobile phone in the abandoned asylum he is paid to keep secure. Following the tingling sound, he locates it in an old ward next to the now frozen lake...but what he didn't anticipate discovering was the body of an elderly woman in one of the remaining beds. DI Lew Kirby and his jovial partner DI Pete Anderson arrive on scene with SOCO to secure and investigate the area. Despite their inquiries, questions remained unanswered.

Detectives discover that if anyone knows anything that goes on in the old asylum it's Raymond Sweet, a former patient who now lives in the Old Lodge on the grounds and after twenty four years of residence has won squatter's rights to call the it home. But is anything Raymond says to be believed? After all, he was a patient at the asylum for nearly thirty years until it's closure in 1993.

Urban explorer Connie Darke was supposed to meet fellow "urbex" Ed Blake at Blackwater on the night of the anniversary of what would have been her sister's death. But she had been sent to Oxford and had been unable to meet Ed so he went to the asylum alone. Only thing is, he hasn't been seen or heard from since...and police soon learn that mobile phone found ringing in the derelict building was Ed's. So where was he? Had he seen something he shouldn't have? Or was he mixed up in something from which he couldn't escape? Either way, Connie is worried for her friend and sets about trying to uncover the mystery behind his disappearance.

As the investigation continues, Kirby uncovers the elderly woman's identity and apparently she was not all that she seemed to be. When he learns that she was once a nurse at the former asylum, Kirby knows that the answer lies within the past and the walls of Blackwater. But will the asylum give up its secrets of the past to solve the crimes of the present?

Connie teams up with Kirby to help uncover the secrets of the past and discover the truth about what happened all those years ago to help them solve the murder of the elderly woman. But are they prepared for the secrets that they will uncover? At the same time Kirby makes a disturbing discovery about his mother and her disconcerting behaviour which has him both worried and fearful.

The story centres around the now abandoned and decrepit Blackwater Asylum sitting on the banks of the Thames, the site now prime real estate and the site of a future redevelopment into luxury apartments. High powered developer Patrick Calder, CEO of Patricey Developments, has plans for the site and will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. But does that include murder? And what about former patient Raymond Sweet? Or the dis-quietening developments taking place next door at Marsh House? What does all this mean for Blackwater and how does it link the past and the present?

I thoroughly enjoyed THE BONE JAR. The setting of Blackwater asylum provided an atmospheric yet creepy undertone I just knew I would relish the journey it took me on...and I did. It is well written and very easy to read with no confusing undercurrent. Each of the subplots were woven together with expertise whilst giving the reader the thrill of all the twists throughout. By the end, whilst the main mystery was wrapped up, there were a few loose ends that were left dangling that I hope to see surface in a follow-up.

Overall, THE BONE JAR is a thrilling start to a promising new series I look forward to catching up with again soon. Recommended for fans of crime thrillers with a dark and twisted edge.

I would like to thank #SWKane, #NetGalley and #AmazonPub for an ARC of #TheBoneJar in exchange for an honest review.

This title had me the moment it mentioned two murders and an abandoned asylum! I know you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, or in this case its synopsis, but it really did live up to the expectations I set before reading.

An eccentric ex-patient who you can’t help but fall in love with, an adventurous urban explorer and a detective that’s shaping out to be a cool, calm, and collected character, makes this a cracking debut. Creepy atmospheric setting, underground bunkers, secret rooms, and unknown passageways this book really has it all.

I’m actually quite excited to find a new detective series that’s fresh and new. I am looking forward to the next instalment of Detective Lew Kirby.

Highly recommend – 4 Stars

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ThomasandMercer #AmazonPublishingUK, and #SWKane for an ARC of #TheBoneJar in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyed this novel. Was a slow starter for me, but once I got into it, i couldn’t put it down. Kept me intrigued and wanting to know the end!

Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley
A great debut thriller and I was hooked from the start. I wasn't sure this would be for me but it certainly was
I'd love another book by S W Kane so please keep writing

An interesting and intriguing premise, but sadly, this book did not work for me and I ended up not finishing it. The book have been shortlisted for an award, so it may just be my mood at the current time I read it. The language is one of the main reasons why I did not continue on reading. It felt shallow and not original. And the story was just too slow for me.

This is such a good book, I can't believe it's a debut novel. I look forward to reading more from this author, definitely! Ending was unexepcted and very satisfying. Thank you for my ARC.

This is a nice start to what I presume will be a new series. Det. Lew Kirby is well crafted but I liked Connie even more. Secrets, lies, and murder all around an asylum- what more can.a fan of the procedural ask for? Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

The Bone Jar Detective Lew Kirby by SW Kane

327 Pages
Publisher: Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer
Release Date: July 1, 2020

Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Mystery, Thriller, Murder

Blackwater Asylum has held its secrets for decades. Ena Massey, 84 years old is found dead in a bed in one of the abandoned buildings at the asylum. She was a nurse there during the 1960s. Raymond Sweet was a former patient that continued living on the facility grounds after the asylum closed. Since he has been squatting there for more than 20 years, he is awarded ownership of the property. Connie is looking for her friend Ed Blake. He has been missing for several days. Detective Inspector Lew Kirby oversees the murder investigations. He is trying to find the links to all the people and the two deaths. All the while, he is working about his mother who is acting strangely about the snowy weather.

The story has a fast pace, the characters are very developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. There are so many points of contact, I do not know how the author was able to weave all the stories together. Bravo! This book has so much in it, twists and turns, murder, human remains in jars, adoptions, and stolen property. If you like murder mysteries, you will enjoy this book. One of the best I have read so far this year. I’m sorry I waited so long to read it.

I loved this book.
I felt the darkness behind it. I appreciate when things go beyond the point of no return in societal norms.
Definitely recommending.

I really enjoyed this book it felt like a grown up version of Nancy Drew. Lots of twists and turns, sinister acts and things not being what they appear.

It was a little complex and trying to keep every single character straight was a bit much but the ending was delivered with a bow as you'd expect.