kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
In Walking the Bones by Randall Silvis, the discovery of the bones of seven murdered young women is a fascinating mystery that has been impossible to solve for the past few years. In this second installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, Ryan and his girlfriend (and fellow state trooper) Jayme Matson agree to give the case a second look during their stay in Aberdeen, KY.
Still haunted by the death of his baby son several years earlier and struggling to cope with the death of his close friend, Thomas Huston, Ryan is ready to retire from Pennsylvania State Troopers. Jayme and their boss know he will regret the decision, so they come up with a plan for Ryan to take some time off before his retirement becomes official. While traveling together in their recently purchased RV, Jayme receives word her beloved grandmother has passed away so the couple heads to Aberdeen for her funeral. Not long after their arrival, Dr. Hoyle, Rosemary Toomey and David Vicente appeal to DeMarco to investigate the still unsolved murders of the girls whose remains were found behind a false wall in a local church. Will Ryan and Jayme be able to uncover the identity of their killer?
Hoyle, Rosemary and David have worked hard to solve the murders but they have run into dead ends at every turn. Their main suspects are Eli Royce, Aaron Henry, Chad McGintey and Virgil Helm. Royce is the pastor of the church where they remains were discovered and he has since moved out of state and now leads a mega church that is quite prosperous. Aaron is a former teacher who is a convicted child molester. Chad is a white supremacist who was once employed as handyman at the church where the remains were found. Virgil also worked at the church and no one has seen him since he disappeared right before the bones were discovered. With high hopes that Ryan and Jayme can figure out which of the four is the young women's killer, Holye, Rosemary and David turn all of their files over to the couple.
Although they have their doubts they can achieve what no other law enforcement agency has yet to accomplish, DeMarco and Matson methodically review the information and then proceed with their investigation. They re-interview Royce, McGintey and Henry and begin searching the still missing Helm. Their investigation yields a few new clues but will these discoveries be enough to unmask the killer? Can Ryan and Jayme track down Virgil? And if so, will he have new information that will help them crack the case?
Interspersed with the chapters detailing the investigation are flashbacks to Ryan's childhood. These memories are quite informative and provide valuable insight into what shaped him into the man he is today. As he becomes more aware of how deeply the events of his childhood continue to affect him, he gradually realizes he is in danger of repeating the past. DeMarco also continues to wrestle with the longstanding guilt from his son's death and by novel's end, he is much closer to coming to terms with his loss. Ryan also begins to admit the depth of his emotions for Jayme but before their relationship can move forward, he must deal with his still unresolved marriage to his son's mother, Laraine.
Despite the confusing weaving back and forth in time in the first several chapters, Walking the Bones is a fast-paced and compelling murder investigation. Jayme and Ryan are complex characters with realistic and easy to relate to strengths and weaknesses. Their investigation into who might have murdered the seven young women is interesting but readers will have to be patient as DeMarco and Matson meticulously unravel the threads of the perplexing case. Randall Silvis takes the story in a very unexpected direction and the truth about who killed the girls and how their remains ended up in the church is somewhat shocking. Old and new fans of the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series will enjoy this newest installment which features a very intrepid crime solving duo.
In Walking the Bones by Randall Silvis, the discovery of the bones of seven murdered young women is a fascinating mystery that has been impossible to solve for the past few years. In this second installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, Ryan and his girlfriend (and fellow state trooper) Jayme Matson agree to give the case a second look during their stay in Aberdeen, KY.
Still haunted by the death of his baby son several years earlier and struggling to cope with the death of his close friend, Thomas Huston, Ryan is ready to retire from Pennsylvania State Troopers. Jayme and their boss know he will regret the decision, so they come up with a plan for Ryan to take some time off before his retirement becomes official. While traveling together in their recently purchased RV, Jayme receives word her beloved grandmother has passed away so the couple heads to Aberdeen for her funeral. Not long after their arrival, Dr. Hoyle, Rosemary Toomey and David Vicente appeal to DeMarco to investigate the still unsolved murders of the girls whose remains were found behind a false wall in a local church. Will Ryan and Jayme be able to uncover the identity of their killer?
Hoyle, Rosemary and David have worked hard to solve the murders but they have run into dead ends at every turn. Their main suspects are Eli Royce, Aaron Henry, Chad McGintey and Virgil Helm. Royce is the pastor of the church where they remains were discovered and he has since moved out of state and now leads a mega church that is quite prosperous. Aaron is a former teacher who is a convicted child molester. Chad is a white supremacist who was once employed as handyman at the church where the remains were found. Virgil also worked at the church and no one has seen him since he disappeared right before the bones were discovered. With high hopes that Ryan and Jayme can figure out which of the four is the young women's killer, Holye, Rosemary and David turn all of their files over to the couple.
Although they have their doubts they can achieve what no other law enforcement agency has yet to accomplish, DeMarco and Matson methodically review the information and then proceed with their investigation. They re-interview Royce, McGintey and Henry and begin searching the still missing Helm. Their investigation yields a few new clues but will these discoveries be enough to unmask the killer? Can Ryan and Jayme track down Virgil? And if so, will he have new information that will help them crack the case?
Interspersed with the chapters detailing the investigation are flashbacks to Ryan's childhood. These memories are quite informative and provide valuable insight into what shaped him into the man he is today. As he becomes more aware of how deeply the events of his childhood continue to affect him, he gradually realizes he is in danger of repeating the past. DeMarco also continues to wrestle with the longstanding guilt from his son's death and by novel's end, he is much closer to coming to terms with his loss. Ryan also begins to admit the depth of his emotions for Jayme but before their relationship can move forward, he must deal with his still unresolved marriage to his son's mother, Laraine.
Despite the confusing weaving back and forth in time in the first several chapters, Walking the Bones is a fast-paced and compelling murder investigation. Jayme and Ryan are complex characters with realistic and easy to relate to strengths and weaknesses. Their investigation into who might have murdered the seven young women is interesting but readers will have to be patient as DeMarco and Matson meticulously unravel the threads of the perplexing case. Randall Silvis takes the story in a very unexpected direction and the truth about who killed the girls and how their remains ended up in the church is somewhat shocking. Old and new fans of the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series will enjoy this newest installment which features a very intrepid crime solving duo.
marilynsaul's review against another edition
1.0
So, I guess the title of this book refers to the major themes of the Ryan/Jayme sexcapades and Ryan relives his abusive childhood. I made it halfway through and, no kidding, probably only 25 pages of the 100+ pages I read had anything to do with finding out who killed the seven young girls. Absolutely ridiculous read - very disappointed.
perfectionotincluded's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 So, so, so dull. The first in this series was good but this one was not.
fanboyriot's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book started out promising. An interesting mystery and a decent description of the settings and characters, but after a while it seemed like there was a lot dragged out. I still have mixed feelings about the romance because it wasn’t totally bad, it just wasn’t something I was invested in. It seemed kinda dull and there was too much emotional damage. Jayme’s over sexualization was uncomfortable to read about especially her high school experience.
The writing style just wasn’t for me. I don’t like super long chapters but it was annoying having chapters not even a page long sometimes. In the end I just didn’t care, and yet, I was still disappointed with how it ended. Maybe I would have liked it better if I read the first book, but the world may never know.
The writing style just wasn’t for me. I don’t like super long chapters but it was annoying having chapters not even a page long sometimes. In the end I just didn’t care, and yet, I was still disappointed with how it ended. Maybe I would have liked it better if I read the first book, but the world may never know.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Death, Murder, Sexual violence, Rape, and Trafficking
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, and Cursing
slebs55's review against another edition
4.0
This book starts with Ryan DeMarco taking a medical leave of absence from his job as Sergeant of the Pennsylvania State Police, following events from the previous book Two Days Gone. Jayme, a fellow Pennsylvania State Trooper who is in love with DeMarco, also takes a leave to travel with DeMarco and get his head back in the game.
The two buy an RV and head out on a road trip. During this trip Jayme receives a call saying her Grandma passed away, having them head to Aberdeen to attend the services.
While in Aberdeen the Di Vinci Irregulars reach out to DeMarco and Jayme in hopes to help them solve a case. It's a cold case in which 7 young girl's skeletal remains were found in a hidden wall in a church. These girls ages varied between the ages of 14-19.
One of the Di Vinci Irregulars is positive it is the Reverend of said church who is behind these 7 girls murders. You see its been told the Reverend had a thing for the young girls of his congregation.
Another suspect was the caretaker who disappeared conveniently the night before the remains were discovered.
As DeMarco and Jayme delve into uncovering the truth of these death, long kept secrets are uncovered.
Who is responsible for the deaths of these 7 girls? Will there finally be answers everyone has been demanding?
**
I love the dynamics of Jayme and DeMarco; I hope there will be more books to follow in this series.
The two buy an RV and head out on a road trip. During this trip Jayme receives a call saying her Grandma passed away, having them head to Aberdeen to attend the services.
While in Aberdeen the Di Vinci Irregulars reach out to DeMarco and Jayme in hopes to help them solve a case. It's a cold case in which 7 young girl's skeletal remains were found in a hidden wall in a church. These girls ages varied between the ages of 14-19.
One of the Di Vinci Irregulars is positive it is the Reverend of said church who is behind these 7 girls murders. You see its been told the Reverend had a thing for the young girls of his congregation.
Another suspect was the caretaker who disappeared conveniently the night before the remains were discovered.
As DeMarco and Jayme delve into uncovering the truth of these death, long kept secrets are uncovered.
Who is responsible for the deaths of these 7 girls? Will there finally be answers everyone has been demanding?
**
I love the dynamics of Jayme and DeMarco; I hope there will be more books to follow in this series.
dgodek's review against another edition
2.0
In the author's defense, I read this one without reading the first, so maybe that had something to do with it.
jcinf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mrsboyko's review against another edition
5.0
SO much more than a murder mystery. The author calls them literary murder mysteries and I'm inclined to agree. This Ryan DeMarco is not a one dimensional character. There is a lot going on. I've very much enjoyed the first two books and can't wait to get my hands on the third.
unfoldingpages's review against another edition
3.0
The first book was amazing and I just realized now that it was the plot as a whole, the mystery that the main character is trying to solve that’s truly captivating. Because in this book, as we follow DeMarco as he deals with the pain of what happens in the first book and other things that happened in his past, I realized that I did not like him as a main character.
And I am here for the mystery but it felt like 30% of DeMarco’s past issues in life (quite a lot of it), 20% of his and Jaymee’s relationship (sex talk and sex scenes included) and 50% of the actual plot of them chasing the mystery that happened.
I really enjoyed the mystery solving aspect, I am okay with DeMarco’s issue from his past because we get to see his growth in this book. But Jaymee, I am not quite a fan though their relationship is tolerable. But the ending, that final chapter, I am not here for it.
And I am here for the mystery but it felt like 30% of DeMarco’s past issues in life (quite a lot of it), 20% of his and Jaymee’s relationship (sex talk and sex scenes included) and 50% of the actual plot of them chasing the mystery that happened.
I really enjoyed the mystery solving aspect, I am okay with DeMarco’s issue from his past because we get to see his growth in this book. But Jaymee, I am not quite a fan though their relationship is tolerable. But the ending, that final chapter, I am not here for it.
onceupon_a_bookdream's review against another edition
4.0
The story was more about DeMarco himself than about the mystery , which I enjoyed becuase I love his character. Jayme however I am not sure how I feel about, with what we learn about her past, it just doesnt sit well with me. The case itself was interesting and I wasn't able to figure it out which always make a great book. 4.5/5 🌟