The Secrets of Bones: A Mystery

St. Catherine's all-girl school has arranged for professional woman all over the country to gather and talk to their schoolgirls about potential careers. Jazz Ramsey has signed up to promote her passion ... cadaver dog training. Her adorable new puppy Wally hasn’t been certified yet, so she borrows the fully-trained Gus from a friend and hides a few bones in the unused fourth floor of the school for him to find. Gus surprises them when he signals a find .... behind a door that no one has opened in ages, is a human skeleton. The clothing and a necklace point to the identity of the skeleton belonging to Bernadette Quinn, an ex-teacher who abruptly quit her job 3 years ago. Evidently she may have quit .. but she never left the school. The story takes the reader back to the years prior to Bernadette resigning and her obsession with a student, Mandy. Bernadette was not well liked, she was religious to the point where she felt all students should abide by her own personal rules of conduct. But who disliked her enough to kill her? There are plenty of suspects, as Jazz discovers, who have varied motives for wanting the woman dead. Jazz learns that Bernadette also had secrets that are just now coming into the light. The more Jazz searches out the truth, the more personal danger she faces. This is a page-turning mystery with deftly drawn characters. Suspects abound with varied, multiple motives leading to a surprising ending. Although second in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend reading THE SCENT OF MURDER first, though. The dogs are always a bonus and Wally, Jazz's pup, is a pure delight. Many thanks to the author /Minotaur Books / St Martin's Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime/mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

The Secrets of Bones by Kylie Logan is an engrossing cozy mystery. Although this newest release is the second installment in the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone. Administrative Assistant Jazz Ramsey fills in for a no show during Assembly Day at St. Catherine’s Predatory Academy. Because Jazz works with cadaver dogs in her spare time, she borrows a friend’s dog Gus to show off his skills to the students. Jazz has placed a couple of “finds” and the students are excited when he discovers one of her items. But when Gus alerts a second time, Jazz knows something is very wrong since he is indicating a spot where she did not place anything for the demonstration. Quickly ushering the girls back to class, Jazz is shocked to find a skeleton. And based on the clothing and a distinctive piece of jewelry, she and her boss Sister Eileen Flannery believe they have just found missing teacher Bernadette Quinn. The Religion teacher could be a bit difficult, but neither Jazz nor Eileen can guess who would have murdered her. Jazz is dismayed that Detective Gary Lindsey seems to have settled on a suspect so she begins investigating on her own. Will she unmask the killer before it is too late? Jazz cautiously begins searching for answers in an effort to find Bernadette’s murderer. Quinn was a good teacher but her interpersonal skills left a lot to be desired. She was also ultra religious which ordinarily would not be a problem but her beliefs took an unusual turn. Bernadette’s relationship with student Maddie Parks was also a little troubling. Neither Sister Eileen nor Jazz believe there was anything inappropriate going on but Sister Eileen did take steps to put the relationship back in a professional setting. As Jazz questions some of her co-workers, she unearths some intriguing information. She also learns that Bernadette’s only family is her cousin Sam Tillner who does not seem to have been overly worried about her disappearance. Jazz also recalls finding Bernadette very upset on one occasion and she is surprised when she finds out the reason for the teacher’s out of character distress. All of this is very interesting, but will Jazz figure out who is responsible for Bernadette’s murder? The Secrets of Bones is a well-written mystery with an intriguing plot and fantastic cast of characters. Jazz is too curious for her own good on occasion but her heart is always in the right place as she tries to find Bernadette’s killer. Jazz’s ex-boyfriend Detective Nick Kolesov makes a few timely guest appearances and gives her some inside information. Although now just friends, Jazz is encouraged that they might eventually reconcile. Late in the story, Jazz’s investigation takes a shocking turn and Kylie Logan brings this clever mystery to an exciting, unpredictable conclusion. Old and new fans will enjoy this newest addition to the Jazz Ramsey Mystery series. I received a complimentary copy for review.