Skeletal is the latest mystery thriller by Katherine Hayton. It follows the recollections of Daina Harrow, forever 14 in the afterlife, following her grisly death as a Coroner’s Court convenes to consider the case of her bones, recently discovered on a building site following a decade in the ground. The story moves in time from Daina’s post-mortem thoughts to her last living days in a suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand. Daina has not had a happy life: following a tragedy when she was young, her parents separated, her mother turned to drink and drugs and she rarely saw her father. Despite this, she’s a resilient teenager, who manages to look after herself and do well at school, although this is repeatedly hampered by her mother constantly moving homes and Daina having to move schools. In her latest school, Daina quickly catches the attention of a cruel bully, a superior school secretary, and a young teacher. As the cast of characters line up to give their testimony, Daina commentates on proceedings and takes us through the events that led to her death.

Skeletal is a riveting story. I always enjoy a story with multiple timelines or narrators and this was no exception. The mystery of what happened to Daina is compelling but the book is much more than this. It is also part drama, part YA fiction and, partway through, just when you think you know where the story is going, it veers off at an unexpected tangent. Parts of the book are very moving and completely heart-breaking, but there are also a few funny moments to lift the mood, and there are many exciting and thrilling moments. It is very well written, with believable characters and realistic dialogue. I have no hesitation in recommending Katherine Hayton to all.

Skeletal is a paranormal crime drama by Katherine Hayton, narrated by the long-dead Daina Harrow, whose death is being investigated after her body was discovered in the foundations of a building some ten years later. The narrative shifts between the coroner’s hearing in the modern day and the months leading up to Daina’s death back in 2004 when she was a high school student. A host of unpleasant ordeals twist and turn as they lead readers towards the end of her life. Daina guides readers through the varied cast of characters who made her final months of life a living hell, through bullying, sexual predators and a childhood secret that Daina is just unlucky enough to rediscover.

I’m not usually a fan of contemporary crime drama, but the thing that inspired me to genuinely enjoy Skeletal was Katherine Hayton’s witty narrator in the form of the dead Daina. Where I would usually have found topics such as bullying and assault difficult to read, the dry humour with which Daina looks back on her past seems to alleviate a lot of that hardship, making Skeletal a blackly comedic read. There are many dark moments in the plot too, but Daina’s post-mortem urge to see justice done really rubs off on the reader, and her unrelenting descriptions of her former nearest and dearest are vivid and truly real. Skeletal is an intriguing read that doesn’t play out in the way readers would expect, with an engaging style of storytelling and a conclusion that leaves you reeling in wonder. Bravo.

Ten years ago, Daina Harrow was a troubled teenager. Raised in a single parent home with an alcoholic mother, Daina suffered, often going hungry on a daily basis. Transferring to a new school, which she often did, she was to become the target of the school bully. Within just a few months she was to suffer at the hands of the bully, experience an assault in the park and steal information, a secret that people would kill to protect.

Now, ten years later, her skeletal remains have been found at a construction site. A coroner’s request has been opened to determine exactly what happened. And now the lies of a parade of witnesses starts, some of her friends, some of her enemies and, of course, her killers. Just who is the mysterious Grey Man? And then there’s Daina herself, watching every day and silently hoping that, no matter what lies are told, the coroner will eventually learn the truth.

When I picked up this story I wasn’t sure what to expect; was it a mystery, paranormal or a combination of both? In all, I found Skeletal to be an interesting read. It is set in the present, but with a series of flashbacks it unfolds over the period of years of the girl’s short life with Daina (a spirit or ghost) now telling most of the story. The writing is well done, the characters well developed and the dialogue strong. There is a lot of detail which made the story slow down a few times, but overall the story moved at a good pace.

Ten years ago, Daina Harrow died. In Skeletal by Katherine Hayton, we learn that three months before she died, Daina Harrow faced a bully at school. Six weeks before she died, she suffered an assault in the park when tricked by girls she believed were her friends. And one week before she died, she stole a secret people had killed to hide and she fought to keep it safe. Her bones have now been found on a building site. A coroner's inquest has been reopened, and witnesses are called to give testimony about the time before she died. And Daina's there in the courtroom every day as her mother cries, and while her friends and her enemies talk about her on the stand.

This is a captivating mystery that unfolds in a unique manner and leads you on a trail to discover things you never expect to find out. An intricate plot woven and disguised until the author unveils all. The story being told from Daina's point of view after she's dead fills in a lot of background information and also gives you a peek into her mental state during the time before her death. There are some surprises in store for you, though, when the whole truth is revealed. The truth and nothing but the truth. Characters are complex and their personalities compel you to find out more about them. My sympathy for the life Daina lead and ultimately the way she died bowled me over. I enjoyed and recommend Katherine Hayton's Skeletal.