A Thousand Bones

by P.J. Parrish

Book Overview

From the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of An Unquiet Grave, a "top-notch whodunit" (Publishers Weekly) exploring one female cop's haunting past as she faces a terrifying killer.

The only female detective in the Miami PD's homicide division, Joe Frye has memories that haunt her, and a past that not even her lover, detective Louis Kincaid, truly knows. It began when Joe was an ambitious rookie...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416525874
• ISBN13: 9781416525875
• Release Date: June 2007
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.3" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

great series

loved it

Still not sure how I feel about the resolution, but a VERY good book

Joe Frye is the only female detective in the Miami Homicide division; this is a position she's used to being in. Her rookie days were spent as the only female in the entire Echo Bay, Michigan department. Even though it's not as bad as parts of the UP, northern Michigan is still not quite a welcoming part of the world for a woman in that kind of position, having that kind of power. Particularly twenty-five years ago, back in the mid-70's, when Joe was just starting out as a cop, and also just starting a relationship with veterinarian Brad Schaffer. It's a nice night on the beach, and Joe has a story to tell her current boyfriend, detective Louis Kincaid. It's a long and complicated story, and not a very pretty one. Back in 1975, a couple of kids stumble across some human bones. They aren't fresh, and they don't belong to any missing hunters. They appear to be the bones of a young woman, but that's about all that anyone can figure out. The detective on the force, Mack, is convinced that the bones belong to Annabelle Chapel, a missing girl from his days in Petoskey. Nobody else is quite as sure as Mack, who is inclined to be a little obsessive about the case. More bones are found. There are indications that this is a serial killer case. Joe finds herself at odds with Mack, concerned about her partner Mike, and not getting along well with Brad. Still, she's truly enjoying working the case. Not so thrilled about what she's finding out, but really getting into the process of detecting. Parrish writes lovingly and with great detail about the Leelenau area of Michigan: primarily lots of woods and some tourist towns, seasonal home to boaters and hunters, one of those places kids live to move away from. Is the killer somebody local? Difficult to believe that somebody known to everyone can be so disturbed - but it's possible. Or is it one of the seasonal people? Easier to handle, that scenario. A THOUSAND BONES is a gripping tale of suspense and murder. Parrish draws the reader into both the mind of Frye and the mind of the killer, just as much a contrast as the bucolic setting and the awful crimes committed in that setting. The resolution, while just, will perhaps not sit well with some readers.

ten stars if I could

I have read all P.J. Parrish books but this by far is the best. I couldn't set it down. It's a thriller. Close the drapes and lock the doors.

High on the suspense meter!

"A Thousand Bones" gives the back-story to Louis Kincaid's girl friend. Now a Miami cop, Jo Frye had a rough introduction to police work in her rookie year in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It continues to haunt her and she spools the tale out to Louis. The case involved a venal serial killer...but was uncovered by a chance finding of human bones in a secluded forest. It is 1975 and Jo fights the good old boy network...but picks up a mentor and believer in a Michigan State Police Investigator. As the clues are unearthed and more bones are found, Jo becomes both predator and prey. Unable to resist "just one more chapter" I finished this exhilarating novel in two sittings.

Lock the doors....check the windows....

As much as I love Louis Kincaid, this book was by far the best ever! I could not put it down, the characters are so deep and rich, and you can almost smell the woods and the dirt when they dig....and reach out to run your hand on the carvings in the trees...the suspense doesn't end, you will stay up reading all night with this one! Joe Frye is a character you won't soon forget, let's hope this is the start of many more novels in this series and with Louis Kincaid! Incredible work ladies......Patricia Cornwell needs to look over her shoulder! Thank you for a great book! Can't wait for the next one....

A great new series from the authors of the Louis Kincaid series

Wow! They've done it again! This is the start of a new series (hopefully) by the P.J. Parrish sisters. The protagonist in this one, is Joe Frye, who appears in The Killing Rain (Louis Kincaid series). She looks back to her first big case 13 years previously when she was just a rookie in Michigan. The storyline is great with a unique serial killer and the suspense keeps up through the whole book. They have expanded on Joe Frye's character, so that you get to know much more about her than was presented in The Killing Rain. This will endure her to you with both series! Hopefully we have not seen the last of Joe. This is a great book and if you haven't read the other series, you can read this one first, because it doesn't spoil the Kincaid series, but then you will want to go back and read all the Kincaid series too because you will love the authors that much! Go get this one NOW! (it's a paperback original).