When a man suddenly moves his family to his hometown, the horrifying childhood secret he never told his daughters rises to the surface in the stunning thriller, Lies in Bone by Natalie Symons. When Frances (Frank) Coolidge is fifteen, her father, Chuck, suddenly moves her and her sister, Boots, to his mother's home in the town where he grew up. Upon their arrival at their grandmother's home, Frank realizes she knows very little about Chuck and his childhood including the fact he had a younger brother named Danny. Sadly, Danny vanished one Halloween while trick-or-treating with Chuck. At the same time, the body of a missing boy turns up, and most of the town's residents believe Chuck is responsible for both boys' demises. Unfortunately, soon after they move in, a small girl dies, and Chuck is arrested for her murder. Wanting to believe her father is innocent, Frank sets out to prove his innocence. But with all of the evidence pointing to Chuck, Frank begins to wonder if is it possible her father is a murderer? Or is he being set up?

Filled with mystery and suspense, Lies in Bone by Natalie Symons is a chilling thriller that had me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. The apprehensive and unearthly aura that colors the prologue perfectly creates a dark and eerie backdrop, leaving the reader with the sense that life and death hang in the balance. It is an extraordinary and enthralling story with an intricate plot, dramatic storyline, and outstanding protagonists. Frank's attitude is realistic concerning her trying circumstances, and I applauded her determination to care for her family. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down until I knew the outcome of Frank's and Chuck's dilemmas. This thrilling book will charm and delight everyone who enjoys mystery, suspense, and strong protagonists with attitude.

Lies in Bone by Natalie Symons is a mesmerizing mystery with strong hints of coming-of-age. The story starts with an unusual event in the town of Slippery Elm, Pennsylvania. In 1963, the town is blanketed by a toxic fog that leaves many dead. Six-year-old Danny goes missing after the fog clears. Twenty years after this incident, Chuck Coolidge still remembers his missing brother, but when his teenage daughter, Frank, plans an escape from the accursed town and the body of a child is discovered in the river, not only are her plans busted, but the crime is linked to the disappearance of her uncle in 1963. Frank must uncover the dark secrets of her family and the town that already feels dead to her.

Lies in Bone by Natalie Symons follows a young, relentless protagonist on her quest for answers. It is brimming with mystery and suspense. The author gives readers a compelling premise, puts strong questions into their minds, and then goads them slowly on as they navigate the strange world in which the quirky protagonist is in search of answers. The answers do come, but there is the price of painful waiting as the pages turn. Natalie Symons’ plot is twisty and the characters compelling, but the strength of the narrative is in the ingenuity with which the author writes the setting. It comes alive as a monster that sucks up the life of those who live in it. The prose is excellent and crisp and the narrative voice irresistible. Lies in Bone is a page-turning mystery with a sophisticated protagonist that readers will love.