Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
The Boneyard is the second Doc Holiday mystery by Loretta C. Rogers. Released 20th April 2022, it's 308 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Dr. Tullah Holliday is a veterinarian who winds up assisting a state and national investigation when her labrador brings her a skeletal hand he found. It doesn't take much time before more burial sites are found in the same area and the hunt turns toward putting the victims to rest and giving some closure to their families.
The author is adept at characterization and setting. There's an oppressive and very creepy atmosphere through a lot of the book which ratchets up the tension. It's a fast read and very engaging. There's also a significant paranormal element which ties into the Cherokee belief system and Dr. Holliday's own intuitions and insights as the investigation proceeds.
It's quite melancholy in places, but the denouement and resolution are satisfying and well wrought.With three books extant in the series at this point, it would be a good choice for a weekend binge or buddy read.
Four and a half stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Reviewed by annieb123 on
Reading updates
- 24 February, 2023: Started reading
- 24 February, 2023: Finished reading
- 24 February, 2023: Reviewed