Product Description

Irene Kelley bets her life on a deal she makes with a serial killer in the novel that "firmly ensconces [Burke] in the mystery pantheon with Patricia Cornwell, Sue Grafton, Robert B. Parker, and John Sandford."(The Tennessean)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #730423 in Books
• Published on: 2001-02-01
• Released on: 2001-02-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780451202475
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Nobody writes better than Jan Burke about the real world of print journalism, and that aspect of her latest Irene Kelly mystery is as strong as ever. The tensions of being the wife of a cop and continuing to work as a crime reporter in the Southern California desert city of Las Piernas have increased with each big story Irene covers: it's almost as though her associates are waiting for her to make some mistake, to fumble a story. When an edgy, rebellious teenage girl asks her to look for her missing mother, Irene crosses the path of a very dangerous serial killer--Nicholas Parrish. He is one of those totally anonymous but enormously gifted and resourceful villains found only in fiction. Parrish kills women who happen to look like Irene (and his abusive mother), and attracts devoted disciples to his grisly cause. Because of Irene's involvement, several more lives are damaged or endangered, and the strain takes its toll on the reporter's mental stability.

Burke is such a fine, realistic writer that she can tread her way carefully across territory already well covered by Patricia Cornwell, Jeffery Deaver, Thomas Harris, et al. and still find something new to say about ritual murder and forensic science. But her real talent is bringing to full, instant life a remarkable woman--and the city she lives and works in. --Dick Adler

From Publishers Weekly
In her seventh outing (after Liar, 1998), journalist Irene Kelly is part of the investigative team on the hunt for serial killer Nicholas Parrish's many victims. Their graves are in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, and Parrish, having entered a plea bargain, is there too, leading the team to the women's corpses in exchange for a life sentence instead of the death penalty. But Parrish has planned a surprise or two. When a grave explodes, most of the team are killed, Irene flees, and the killer escapes. Back home, Irene continues to work at the behest of Gillian Sayre, the daughter of one victim. Her hunt for Parrish is made considerably easier by his growing obsession with her. A cunning psychopath with a calm demeanor, Parrish heavily resembles Hannibal Lecter. Rather than eat his victims, however, he tortures and dismembers them. Burke spends the first third of the novel overbuilding Parrish's reputation, so by the time she actually depicts his depravity the horrors are a bit anticlimatic. Later, the killer's mysterious accomplice, "The Moth," will be too easily identified by readers, especially after Burke unsuccessfully labors to mask his/her gender. And Parrish is only generically, not memorably twisted. Though Irene and other characters are well wrought and realistic, too many red herrings are introduced, all meant to distract the reader from the true evil, which, once fully revealed, just isn't quite evil enough. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
In order to escape the death penalty, a serial killer agrees to show authorities the grave of one of his victims in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Leaving a fretful detective husband behind, inveterate reporter Irene Kelly follows the taunting psychopathic killer, his guards, guides, two forensic anthropologists, a photographer, and one amazing canine into the wilderness. A traumatic reversal, however, turns the already risky journey into a lethal game of the hunter and the hunted. Detailed surroundings, chilling prose, and an unforgettable, "isolated-with-a-killer" plot recommend this for all collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Bones by Jan Burke
I just recently discovered the Irene Kelly series, and am quickly becoming one of Jan Burke's devoted fans. This book is a suspense filled, spine-tingling read. Just don't read it late at night when you're home alone. Ms. Burke has created a memorable, charismatic serial killer in Nick Parrish, who is as devoted to his work as Hannibal Lecter. Irene Kelly becomes the focus of his attentions after he engineers a horrific escape from his captors in a scene of unbelievable carnage. Kelly is a reporter married to a cop, which causes many complications in her life. She's a remarkably likable, well rounded protagonist who has a strong marriage, good friends and lovable pets. Burke's portrayal of the cadaver locating dog, Bingle, is worth the price of the book. She's a fine writer who has created believable characters and has made me care about them.

It's Good, Make No Bones About It
Irene Kelly, newspaper reporter, is invited on a search for the mountain grave of a woman killed by convicted sadist Nick Parrish. Surprising and unexpected events leads Kelly down a road of psychological torment and self doubt. She experiences survivor guilt and other symptoms of post-traumatic stress as she attempts to heal herself and avoid being found by Parrish and victimized in a more brutal and tortuous way. The story actually had two seperate climaxes both of which were realistic. There was enough well-modulated suspense to move the story at a brisk pace. The ending was a surprise but at the same time believable. The value of reading the book reviews of editors and the readers' comments at the Amazon website has once again been fruitful. Having seen titles by Jan Burke but never having read one of her books I decided to after seeing all the 5's put up by the readers. I can now add my 5 to the rest. In fact, this story was good enough to pique my interest and persuades me to read another Irene Kelly Mystery.

Perfect, If you Like This Kind of Book
I have read the whole series and watched Ms. Burke's writing become stronger and more enticing. This one was almost a bit too much for me. People have said cruel things such as the only interesting character is a dog, too many characters, killer not developed, etc. I can't agree with any of that. This book is superb. Complex, compassionate, interesting, surprising, capitivating. I wanted to put it down because it was making me scared. This killer became too real and she went too far into his personality for my comfort, but the book was so good I couldn't stop. Yes, something startling happens in the beginning of the book, and I wonder what would happen next because there was so much book left. Burke gives us our money's worth to the VERY END, and it's a long book. My only complaint, is that she brought me a little too close to the motivations and pleasures of the killer for my comfort. Where did she learn to do that? Too much information for my enjoyment, but it's a talent I have to admire. I fear now she won't be able to go back. All of the books will be this scary. Yes, it did seem odd that Jan Burke would create such a perfect killer and then work the night shift in a dark, deserted building, but her Irene Kelly is an independent cuss. She deserves a break of good luck in the next book. My favorite one of the series was HOCUS. Burke matured from the earlier books, developed her characters, and her story line, and didn't scare the BEJESUS out of the reader the way she did with BONES. I hope she'll go back to the intelligent book that's not so scary. This killer really gets it though. Perfect punishment. Perfect book. Too perfect. :) I'm still scared.