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The Bone Cay
From the critically acclaimed author of All That's Bright and Gone comes an atmospheric thriller that unearths a cache of age-old secrets--and a hidden danger--in the Florida Keys.
Magda Trudell is the present-day caretaker of Whimbrel Estate, the Key West home of the famous poet Isobel Reyes. Isobel's suicide at the residence in 1918 has nearly overshadowed her creative legacy--but Magda, a botanist and avid historian, is determined to protect it. Over the past decade, Magda has lovingly restored the house to the exact condition Isobel would have known. And even though a fierce October hurricane is headed straight for the Keys, she isn't about to abandon her life's work to evacuate.
As the mighty storm makes landfall, the dangers mount. First, a fire and flood threaten to destroy the house. Then the storm claims most of Magda's supplies. When part of the house collapses, she unearths an old steamer trunk in the rubble that contains a woman's remains. Is there more to Isobel's story than Magda knows?
The unexpected appearance of a teenage girl and her father seeking shelter from the storm poses unnerving new questions. Are they really who they seem? And could they have a connection to the house's shadowy past? As the storm rages, Magda desperately tries to solve the real mystery of Isobel's death--and keep the living in one piece.
Magda Trudell is the present-day caretaker of Whimbrel Estate, the Key West home of the famous poet Isobel Reyes. Isobel's suicide at the residence in 1918 has nearly overshadowed her creative legacy--but Magda, a botanist and avid historian, is determined to protect it. Over the past decade, Magda has lovingly restored the house to the exact condition Isobel would have known. And even though a fierce October hurricane is headed straight for the Keys, she isn't about to abandon her life's work to evacuate.
As the mighty storm makes landfall, the dangers mount. First, a fire and flood threaten to destroy the house. Then the storm claims most of Magda's supplies. When part of the house collapses, she unearths an old steamer trunk in the rubble that contains a woman's remains. Is there more to Isobel's story than Magda knows?
The unexpected appearance of a teenage girl and her father seeking shelter from the storm poses unnerving new questions. Are they really who they seem? And could they have a connection to the house's shadowy past? As the storm rages, Magda desperately tries to solve the real mystery of Isobel's death--and keep the living in one piece.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published December 7, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
December 7, 2024
Magda Trudell is the caretaker of Whimbrell Estate in Key West, Florida. The stately property was once home to a famous American poet, Isobel Reyes, who committed suicide on the property in 1918.
Magda, a botanist and historian, has dedicated her most recent years to restoring Whimbrell Estate to its former glory; something Isobel could be proud of.
Magda's hope is for Whimbrell to be recognized as a national historic site. It's important to her that Isobel's legacy be passed down for future generations to enjoy.
Some might say she is a little obsessed with it actually.
When a fierce hurricane is reported to be headed straight for the Keys, local authorities call a mandatory evacuation.
Magda isn't hearing it. There is no way she is fleeing and leaving her life's work at risk to Mother Nature. She must stay and protect the property, whatever the cost.
Once the storm hits, it proves to be just as dangerous as the experts predicted. Go figure.
Now with her supplies wiped out and the house barely livable, Magda has company arrive. A teenage girl and her father, seeking shelter from the storm.
Without many resources to spare, Magda nonetheless takes them in. It's the three of them against the storm. Will they be able to survive?
In amongst all of this, Magda discovers some hidden artifacts she believes may be tied to Isobel's tragic death. You know she'll never leave those artifacts behind. This is her chance to leave her imprint on Isobel's story.
The Bone Cay is a good book. I had never read anything by Eliza Nellums and I'm glad that I had a chance to.
I think for a lot of people, this will be a really great story. For me, it was good. It kept my attention and I'm glad that I read it. However, I wouldn't say it will remain particularly memorable for me.
It's a simply-told, linear story that makes a great escape from regular life. I enjoyed the setting of the Keys and Magda's role as caretaker for the Estate.
Some aspects of the storm and the discovery of the new artifacts seemed a little strange to me, but in the context of the story, it did flow fairly well. As I mentioned above, I do think a lot of Readers will enjoy this.
I think it could work well for history buffs, particularly Florida history buffs, and people just getting into the Thriller genre.
Thank you so much to the publishers, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I did listen to the audiobook and would recommend that as a medium for reading this story. It was quite well narrated.
Magda, a botanist and historian, has dedicated her most recent years to restoring Whimbrell Estate to its former glory; something Isobel could be proud of.
Magda's hope is for Whimbrell to be recognized as a national historic site. It's important to her that Isobel's legacy be passed down for future generations to enjoy.
Some might say she is a little obsessed with it actually.
When a fierce hurricane is reported to be headed straight for the Keys, local authorities call a mandatory evacuation.
Magda isn't hearing it. There is no way she is fleeing and leaving her life's work at risk to Mother Nature. She must stay and protect the property, whatever the cost.
Once the storm hits, it proves to be just as dangerous as the experts predicted. Go figure.
Now with her supplies wiped out and the house barely livable, Magda has company arrive. A teenage girl and her father, seeking shelter from the storm.
Without many resources to spare, Magda nonetheless takes them in. It's the three of them against the storm. Will they be able to survive?
In amongst all of this, Magda discovers some hidden artifacts she believes may be tied to Isobel's tragic death. You know she'll never leave those artifacts behind. This is her chance to leave her imprint on Isobel's story.
The Bone Cay is a good book. I had never read anything by Eliza Nellums and I'm glad that I had a chance to.
I think for a lot of people, this will be a really great story. For me, it was good. It kept my attention and I'm glad that I read it. However, I wouldn't say it will remain particularly memorable for me.
It's a simply-told, linear story that makes a great escape from regular life. I enjoyed the setting of the Keys and Magda's role as caretaker for the Estate.
Some aspects of the storm and the discovery of the new artifacts seemed a little strange to me, but in the context of the story, it did flow fairly well. As I mentioned above, I do think a lot of Readers will enjoy this.
I think it could work well for history buffs, particularly Florida history buffs, and people just getting into the Thriller genre.
Thank you so much to the publishers, Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. I did listen to the audiobook and would recommend that as a medium for reading this story. It was quite well narrated.
December 10, 2021
Magda is an historian who has long been obsessed with the life of a famous poet who committed suicide in 1918 when she was 23. The poet, Isobel Reyes, spent her entire life on the estate following an accident that killed her mother and left her mute. She used her observations of nature on the estate to provide insight into the larger world, and she was rumored to have been a witch. Now Magda is the caretaker of the Reyes estate. She conducts tours, looks after a colony of lemurs and researches Isobel’s life.
A hurricane is approaching Key West, Florida and Magda refuses to leave when everyone else evacuates the area. That turns out to be an unfortunate decision. She comes down with the flu, the estate is flooded and unexpected visitors get stranded on the estate. I found the book a little slow and bland at the beginning, but the last third was a lot more interesting and suspenseful. I would read this author again. The narration by Nancy Peterson of the audiobook was very good.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
A hurricane is approaching Key West, Florida and Magda refuses to leave when everyone else evacuates the area. That turns out to be an unfortunate decision. She comes down with the flu, the estate is flooded and unexpected visitors get stranded on the estate. I found the book a little slow and bland at the beginning, but the last third was a lot more interesting and suspenseful. I would read this author again. The narration by Nancy Peterson of the audiobook was very good.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.
July 2, 2021
Key West is a tropical paradise. One my fiancé raves about and one I’ve personally only ever visited through books, so I do go there any chance I find. Then again it may be a tropical paradise on paper only, the name creepily enough means bones and the place is entirely at mercy of the sea. And oh how that sea loves to make the bones rattle.
So this isn’t the sort of story that’ll make you want to visit the Keys. This is the kind of story where the place gets hit by the worst case scenario global warming powered storm. Essentially a survival story. And I do like those.
It’s all about poetry, which for me is an obsession difficult to relate to, in fact any obsession that would make someone stay behind and risk life and limb in an extreme weather event is difficult to relate to (safety first, people), but then there would be no book. So yes, poetry, specifically poetry of a young woman who has lived all of her 23 years in a castle like Keys estate under the care of her overprotective father, wrote poems and then walks into the sea and never came back. Or so the story goes. Goes convincingly enough to make a place a popular suicide locale. Also, a museum. A museum whose caretaker is so obsessed with the dead poet that she has dedicated her life to her and is willing to die for her. Enough to stay behind during a state wide evacuation.
And if taking care of a place that nature seems determined to obliterate isn’t challenging enough, and if finding a skeleton in a trunk wasn’t eerie enough, two visitors show up and throw their own stranger danger drama into the mix. There are mysteries to solve now, but first priority is to survive.
So that’s basically it. The bones of this novel are a survival story and it shines at that, with vivid realistic descriptions of nature’s brutality and increasingly desperate conditions. The rest, meat, sinew, whathaveyou, the skeleton in the trunk, the two people who show up, the mystery elements …all of that isn’t quite on the same level, mainly due to general predictability. Creepy is as creepy does and no surprise there for one thing and lack of suspects for another. So I’d say don’t read it for mystery, read it for the action driven survival suspense. This is one of the wettest books you’ll ever read and should probably ideally be read during a storm for maximum effect. Either way, it’s fairly entertaining. Thanks Netgalley.
Additional note for Netgalley readers and a reminder for myself…avoid this publisher’s ARCs. They provide really crappy ones. This book omitted first words of chapters, letter or letter combinations of fl, fi, ff and all numbers. WTF is that and why does a publisher think it’s ok to offer a copy like that and how do they not expect the reading enjoyment of the book to be affected by that? Seriously, there are plenty of books out there and plenty on Netgalley that manage to publish all 26 letters and all the numbers and there’s really no reason to read something in this condition. Advance reading is a privilege but there should still be standards of quality. So if you do decide to read a book, maybe wait for a properly published copy.
So this isn’t the sort of story that’ll make you want to visit the Keys. This is the kind of story where the place gets hit by the worst case scenario global warming powered storm. Essentially a survival story. And I do like those.
It’s all about poetry, which for me is an obsession difficult to relate to, in fact any obsession that would make someone stay behind and risk life and limb in an extreme weather event is difficult to relate to (safety first, people), but then there would be no book. So yes, poetry, specifically poetry of a young woman who has lived all of her 23 years in a castle like Keys estate under the care of her overprotective father, wrote poems and then walks into the sea and never came back. Or so the story goes. Goes convincingly enough to make a place a popular suicide locale. Also, a museum. A museum whose caretaker is so obsessed with the dead poet that she has dedicated her life to her and is willing to die for her. Enough to stay behind during a state wide evacuation.
And if taking care of a place that nature seems determined to obliterate isn’t challenging enough, and if finding a skeleton in a trunk wasn’t eerie enough, two visitors show up and throw their own stranger danger drama into the mix. There are mysteries to solve now, but first priority is to survive.
So that’s basically it. The bones of this novel are a survival story and it shines at that, with vivid realistic descriptions of nature’s brutality and increasingly desperate conditions. The rest, meat, sinew, whathaveyou, the skeleton in the trunk, the two people who show up, the mystery elements …all of that isn’t quite on the same level, mainly due to general predictability. Creepy is as creepy does and no surprise there for one thing and lack of suspects for another. So I’d say don’t read it for mystery, read it for the action driven survival suspense. This is one of the wettest books you’ll ever read and should probably ideally be read during a storm for maximum effect. Either way, it’s fairly entertaining. Thanks Netgalley.
Additional note for Netgalley readers and a reminder for myself…avoid this publisher’s ARCs. They provide really crappy ones. This book omitted first words of chapters, letter or letter combinations of fl, fi, ff and all numbers. WTF is that and why does a publisher think it’s ok to offer a copy like that and how do they not expect the reading enjoyment of the book to be affected by that? Seriously, there are plenty of books out there and plenty on Netgalley that manage to publish all 26 letters and all the numbers and there’s really no reason to read something in this condition. Advance reading is a privilege but there should still be standards of quality. So if you do decide to read a book, maybe wait for a properly published copy.
August 15, 2022
A decent thriller. Fascinating background landscape of a hurricane closing in - ratchets up the tension appropriately.
The big reveal was pretty obvious, but I guess not in a disappointing way.
Narration a bit distracting- spoke to slowly and some odd pronunciations.
Recommended for mystery/thriller lovers.
The big reveal was pretty obvious, but I guess not in a disappointing way.
Narration a bit distracting- spoke to slowly and some odd pronunciations.
Recommended for mystery/thriller lovers.
April 9, 2022
I have been having a string of books lately that I don't know how to feel about and The Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums is just another to add to that list. I heard a ton of great things about her previous book (and debut) All That's Bright and Gone and when I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. The cover is also stunning, and the idea of the Key West setting had me immediately. I ended up really enjoying the first part of the book as well as everything after the teenage girl and her father arrive, but everything between that was a little off for me. There is a little bit of a mystery that I liked, and at times, a paranormal feel as well. I wasn't entirely sure what to think about Magda, and it seemed as though she may have some mental health issues or a mental illness, but that wasn't explored at all.
I'm also not sure what to think of the audiobook which is narrated by Nancy Peterson. I have listened to her voice other books and loved her, but the audio of The Bone Cay was just not great and I think it is due to whoever edited it. It was fine when I listened to it in my car with background noise, but with headphones in it was really frustrating. There were odd pauses, and I could hear Peterson swallowing throughout, as well as it feeling oddly slow even on a 3x speed. If you are going to listen to this without headphones that would probably be the best way to go, otherwise I'm not sure I recommend it, although listening at a slower speed could potentially help as well. There were a few moments where the story gets really tense, and I can't even imagine trying to brave a hurricane. The end also ends up being pretty suspenseful which I enjoyed, and I had no idea how it was going to end. Overall, even though this wasn't my favorite I would still read a future book from Nellums, and I still plan to read All That's Bright and Gone.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I'm also not sure what to think of the audiobook which is narrated by Nancy Peterson. I have listened to her voice other books and loved her, but the audio of The Bone Cay was just not great and I think it is due to whoever edited it. It was fine when I listened to it in my car with background noise, but with headphones in it was really frustrating. There were odd pauses, and I could hear Peterson swallowing throughout, as well as it feeling oddly slow even on a 3x speed. If you are going to listen to this without headphones that would probably be the best way to go, otherwise I'm not sure I recommend it, although listening at a slower speed could potentially help as well. There were a few moments where the story gets really tense, and I can't even imagine trying to brave a hurricane. The end also ends up being pretty suspenseful which I enjoyed, and I had no idea how it was going to end. Overall, even though this wasn't my favorite I would still read a future book from Nellums, and I still plan to read All That's Bright and Gone.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 30, 2021
5 stars for Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums. Narrated by Nancy Peterson who did an excellent job. I chose to listen to this book on audio and I’m so glad I did. The novel is built around a historian who is obsessed about this dead author. She’s made it her life’s work restoring and sharing everything she knows about this historical site.
If you don’t love history you might not enjoy this as much as I did but the writing is good with great suspense and mystery. I loved learning about Isobel and the place she lived. The story gets really interesting when the weather turned bad. I highly recommend listening to this and hope you put this on your TBR list.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley. #TheBoneCay #NetGalley
If you don’t love history you might not enjoy this as much as I did but the writing is good with great suspense and mystery. I loved learning about Isobel and the place she lived. The story gets really interesting when the weather turned bad. I highly recommend listening to this and hope you put this on your TBR list.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley. #TheBoneCay #NetGalley
March 19, 2022
⭐⭐⭐
This book can really be separated into two parts (ratings). Before the hurricane hit and the appearance of the teenage girl and her father (2 stars). And everything that came after. (4 stars). The first part I found was slow, dull and flat. Magda didn't seem to be mentally all there, and it is never explained if she was sick? Or what? Considering the reaction her ex had at seeing her. 🤷🏻♀️ Once the hurricane hit full force and Hank and Emily showed up, the pace picked up and I enjoyed it more. I will say my favorite part of this book was the setting. It was very atmospheric, with the creepy dilapidated Whimbrel House, and the hurricane slowly destroying everything.
**ARC Via NetGalley**
December 6, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Magda is the passionate curator of a historic home in the Florida Keys. Famous as the home of poet Isobel Reyes, Whimbrel House is a tourist attraction and school field trip destination. From meticulously restoring the furniture and books in the home to be authentic to the time, to giving tours of the house and quoting Isobel’s poems, Magda eats, sleeps and breathes her job. The home has an added mystery in the fact that Isobel met her untimely death when she drowned in the cove behind the house. The story has inspired copycat deaths over the years, but it’s nothing Magda can’t handle.
With a hurricane bearing down, the Keys are evacuated. But Magda decides to hunker down in Whimbrel House during the storm. She will do anything to keep the home intact and unharmed. But it quickly becomes clear the storm is more powerful than anticipated and multiple disasters threaten to take Magda and Whimbrel House down. And then a man and his daughter arrive seeking refuge, and threatening the tenuous safety Magda has found…
I loved this book! It’s a survival thriller with multiple mysteries. The setting is so atmospheric. I have read and loved many blizzard mysteries but never one with an active hurricane. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I understood how much Magda loved the house and her job, and why she decided to stay there during the storm. I wholeheartedly recommend this entertaining book.
Magda is the passionate curator of a historic home in the Florida Keys. Famous as the home of poet Isobel Reyes, Whimbrel House is a tourist attraction and school field trip destination. From meticulously restoring the furniture and books in the home to be authentic to the time, to giving tours of the house and quoting Isobel’s poems, Magda eats, sleeps and breathes her job. The home has an added mystery in the fact that Isobel met her untimely death when she drowned in the cove behind the house. The story has inspired copycat deaths over the years, but it’s nothing Magda can’t handle.
With a hurricane bearing down, the Keys are evacuated. But Magda decides to hunker down in Whimbrel House during the storm. She will do anything to keep the home intact and unharmed. But it quickly becomes clear the storm is more powerful than anticipated and multiple disasters threaten to take Magda and Whimbrel House down. And then a man and his daughter arrive seeking refuge, and threatening the tenuous safety Magda has found…
I loved this book! It’s a survival thriller with multiple mysteries. The setting is so atmospheric. I have read and loved many blizzard mysteries but never one with an active hurricane. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I understood how much Magda loved the house and her job, and why she decided to stay there during the storm. I wholeheartedly recommend this entertaining book.
June 22, 2021
If you read ALL THAT’S BRIGHT AND GONE, you already know Eliza Nellums is a skilled storyteller. THE BONE CAY is chock-full of that signature atmosphere and emotion. A Key West estate with a dark secret, a hurricane that threatens to expose it, and a woman who’s willing to risk her life to save another make for a haunting and enthralling thriller.
December 8, 2021
Surviving the Storm
Thrilling and suspenseful this is a mystery and a story of survival. It starts a bit slow but quickly picks up speed and is a very emotional and action packed story.
Magda is the caretaker of the historical home of the famous poet Isobel Reyes who committed suicide in the 1800's. She takes her job very seriously and has restored the home back to its original state during Isobel's time in history, right up to the trees and flowers. She wants the poet to be remembered for her poetry and not for the suicide. When a hurricane threatens Key West where the home is located she decides to stay with the home instead of evacuating.
As the hurricane hits land , first a fire in the gift shop, then a flood threaten the home in the midst of the storm taking most of her supplies with it. As if this is not frightening enough when part of the house collapses during the storm in the rubble a battered suitcase is unearthed containing a woman's remains. Magda wonders if there is more to Isobel's story than history shows.
To add to the mayhem, a man and his pregnant daughter arrive in the middle of the storm seeking shelter. At first she shows compassion for the man and his ill daughter. Then as events happen she wonders if they are really who they say they are. Is she in more danger from the storm or from her guests? Can she survive the storm and solve the mystery of Isobel's story?
This was a good story, the narrator did a great job telling it on the audio book and I did enjoy listening to it. I would recommend it.
Thanks to Eliza Nellums for writing a great story, for the wonderful narration by Nancy Peterson and to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for making it available to me.
Thrilling and suspenseful this is a mystery and a story of survival. It starts a bit slow but quickly picks up speed and is a very emotional and action packed story.
Magda is the caretaker of the historical home of the famous poet Isobel Reyes who committed suicide in the 1800's. She takes her job very seriously and has restored the home back to its original state during Isobel's time in history, right up to the trees and flowers. She wants the poet to be remembered for her poetry and not for the suicide. When a hurricane threatens Key West where the home is located she decides to stay with the home instead of evacuating.
As the hurricane hits land , first a fire in the gift shop, then a flood threaten the home in the midst of the storm taking most of her supplies with it. As if this is not frightening enough when part of the house collapses during the storm in the rubble a battered suitcase is unearthed containing a woman's remains. Magda wonders if there is more to Isobel's story than history shows.
To add to the mayhem, a man and his pregnant daughter arrive in the middle of the storm seeking shelter. At first she shows compassion for the man and his ill daughter. Then as events happen she wonders if they are really who they say they are. Is she in more danger from the storm or from her guests? Can she survive the storm and solve the mystery of Isobel's story?
This was a good story, the narrator did a great job telling it on the audio book and I did enjoy listening to it. I would recommend it.
Thanks to Eliza Nellums for writing a great story, for the wonderful narration by Nancy Peterson and to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for making it available to me.
December 2, 2021
Magda's made the decision to stay on the Whimbrel Estate, home of her hero poet Isobel Reyes in the middle of Hurricane Ida. Not a good one. The storm is stronger than she expected, among other things. And then Hank, the handyman who she's just used to board up windows, turns up with his pregnant daughter Emily. Hank's creepy and to be honest some of his comments (most notably about the lemurs) don't work. Now Magda has a house that's flooding, a teen who is ill, and a man she can't trust (but she's willing to.....) to cope with in the middle of the storm. She is however, mostly obsessed with a box she's found in a cistern that's uncovered as the house crumbles- no spoils. There are flashbacks to her peripatetic childhood. This veers between mystery and suspenseful survival story with a soupçon of menace. It is, to be honest, a bit all over the place but it's still a good read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Did the lemurs survive?
June 18, 2022
Full disclosure I think this would be a book better suited for those who think career is more important than human relationships.
Because that’s what Magda seemed to do this whole book. She’s more than a little obsessed with a poet named Isobel who died ages ago—and the biggest part of this story besides the hurricane is her talking about Isobel, reading Isobels poetry, giving so many facts about Isobel (who I could care less about) that it detracted from the truly thrilling parts of this book.
The hurricane was a great setting for this survival thriller. This is a genre I really have enjoyed but that wasn’t this books focus and the mystery around Isobel as well as Hank and Emily wasn’t as interesting as it should have been. In the case of Isobel obviously I didn’t care much about her story but Hank and Emily could have been so much more. The plot twist with them was INSANE and I wish more time had been spent really ramping up that tension.
One last Isobel complaint and then I’m done talking about her. At the end of the book Emily and Magda are about to make their escape from a homicidal rapist BUT Magda who is out of her flipping mind HAS to go back for Isobels body, putting not only herself but Emily (a minor who has been abused by Hank) in extreme danger and nearly gets them killed. And for what? I get the importance somewhat but Emily’s life should have trumped it.
Brief shoutout to that totally random and uselessly descriptive sex scene that was thrown in there. Took me out of the story and jarred the experience—did not need to be there.
Content: violence, strong language used regularly (f-word, b-word, etc), mentions of rape and implied grooming, a minor is impregnated by an adult man
Because that’s what Magda seemed to do this whole book. She’s more than a little obsessed with a poet named Isobel who died ages ago—and the biggest part of this story besides the hurricane is her talking about Isobel, reading Isobels poetry, giving so many facts about Isobel (who I could care less about) that it detracted from the truly thrilling parts of this book.
The hurricane was a great setting for this survival thriller. This is a genre I really have enjoyed but that wasn’t this books focus and the mystery around Isobel as well as Hank and Emily wasn’t as interesting as it should have been. In the case of Isobel obviously I didn’t care much about her story but Hank and Emily could have been so much more. The plot twist with them was INSANE and I wish more time had been spent really ramping up that tension.
One last Isobel complaint and then I’m done talking about her. At the end of the book Emily and Magda are about to make their escape from a homicidal rapist BUT Magda who is out of her flipping mind HAS to go back for Isobels body, putting not only herself but Emily (a minor who has been abused by Hank) in extreme danger and nearly gets them killed. And for what? I get the importance somewhat but Emily’s life should have trumped it.
Brief shoutout to that totally random and uselessly descriptive sex scene that was thrown in there. Took me out of the story and jarred the experience—did not need to be there.
Content: violence, strong language used regularly (f-word, b-word, etc), mentions of rape and implied grooming, a minor is impregnated by an adult man
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2021
I'm not retelling the synopsis or giving spoilers. This is classified a mystery/thriller, and in my opinion it is written for Young Adults at best. I listened to the audio and am exhausted mentally. I didn't like the characters. I did like the idea of the House being loved by the historian. However, the dialogue, the hurricane plans, and survival was juvenile. In addition, there is profanity. I did like the narrator's voice, but not for this book.
While the storyline sounded good, it didn't work for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to read and review The Bone Cay.
#NetGalley
#DreamscapeMedia
#TheBoneCay
#ElizaNellums
#NarratorNancyPeterson
#MysteryThriller
While the storyline sounded good, it didn't work for me.
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to read and review The Bone Cay.
#NetGalley
#DreamscapeMedia
#TheBoneCay
#ElizaNellums
#NarratorNancyPeterson
#MysteryThriller
November 18, 2021
3.5⭐️
The Bone Cay is a story of survival in more ways than one. I thought the book was well thought out and presented but I wish there was a little more action to the story. Magda, the caretaker of the estate, would randomly rattle off facts about the house during the weirdest times (even during a sex scene). I enjoyed the narrator (Nancy Peterson) and she was probably the reason I continued to listen to the end. The big plot twist with the visitors is what bumped it to a 3.5 for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!
The Bone Cay is a story of survival in more ways than one. I thought the book was well thought out and presented but I wish there was a little more action to the story. Magda, the caretaker of the estate, would randomly rattle off facts about the house during the weirdest times (even during a sex scene). I enjoyed the narrator (Nancy Peterson) and she was probably the reason I continued to listen to the end. The big plot twist with the visitors is what bumped it to a 3.5 for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 21, 2021
Interesting read with a literary mystery as it’s focal point. Magda has devoted her life to an author’s home in the Florida Keys when Aragon hurricane decimates it. Magda discovers some long covered up secrets as she sorts through the destroyed ruins. This book reminded me of a cross between the movie the Shining and Friday the 13th (the original one from the 70s). At times I thought Magda was totally obsessed with Isobel and was a bit deranged. It was an interesting tale. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the early reads.
December 9, 2021
The Bone Cay by Eliza Nellums is a fast-paced mystery with a unique storyline.
Historian Magda Trudell is obsessed with poet Isobel Reyes. She works at Isobel’s family home, Whimbrel Estate, in Key West. Isobel died in 1918 and Magda is dedicated to bringing Whimbrel back to its former glory. But funding is tight, so she has only managed to complete the first floor. With a possibly deadly hurricane bearing down on Florida, Magda refuses to evacuate so she can protect Isobel’s treasures. With the hurricane raging around her, Magda is shocked when handyman Hank McGrath returns by boat with his teenage daughter Emily. Although her attention mainly focused on a shocking discovery, she cannot help but worry about Emily. Can Magda protect the historical home and keep everyone’ safe ?
After an unsettled childhood with her musician father, Magda has set down roots in Key West. She discovered Isobel’s poems while on the road with her father and she immediately connected to the poet’s words. Magda is fiercely protective of Isobel’s history and she is determined to keep the Whimbrel Estates’ treasures, house and property as safe as she can during the hurricane.
Trouble ensues almost immediately as Magda makes costly mistakes. She is less than thrilled when Hank and Emily arrive but she has no choice but to ask them to join her. Magda is distracted by what she just unearthed but she realizes something is just a little off with father and daughter. Her uneasiness grows as the hurricane worsens and dangerous flooding threatens to overtake the house. However, Magda soon learns that she might be in more danger than just the hurricane.
The Bone Cay is an intense mystery with a clever storyline. Magda’s obsession with Isobel is a distraction as she rides out the hurricane with people she finds difficult to trust. The setting vividly springs to life and it is impossible not to feel the extreme threat posed by the hurricane. The storyline is well-developed with stunning twists. Magda is a little irritating as she continually puts herself in peril because she makes unsound decisions. Emily is a sympathetic character but is she telling Magda the truth? Hank becomes more menacing as Eliza Nellums brings this suspenseful mystery to a pulse-pounding conclusion.
Historian Magda Trudell is obsessed with poet Isobel Reyes. She works at Isobel’s family home, Whimbrel Estate, in Key West. Isobel died in 1918 and Magda is dedicated to bringing Whimbrel back to its former glory. But funding is tight, so she has only managed to complete the first floor. With a possibly deadly hurricane bearing down on Florida, Magda refuses to evacuate so she can protect Isobel’s treasures. With the hurricane raging around her, Magda is shocked when handyman Hank McGrath returns by boat with his teenage daughter Emily. Although her attention mainly focused on a shocking discovery, she cannot help but worry about Emily. Can Magda protect the historical home and keep everyone’ safe ?
After an unsettled childhood with her musician father, Magda has set down roots in Key West. She discovered Isobel’s poems while on the road with her father and she immediately connected to the poet’s words. Magda is fiercely protective of Isobel’s history and she is determined to keep the Whimbrel Estates’ treasures, house and property as safe as she can during the hurricane.
Trouble ensues almost immediately as Magda makes costly mistakes. She is less than thrilled when Hank and Emily arrive but she has no choice but to ask them to join her. Magda is distracted by what she just unearthed but she realizes something is just a little off with father and daughter. Her uneasiness grows as the hurricane worsens and dangerous flooding threatens to overtake the house. However, Magda soon learns that she might be in more danger than just the hurricane.
The Bone Cay is an intense mystery with a clever storyline. Magda’s obsession with Isobel is a distraction as she rides out the hurricane with people she finds difficult to trust. The setting vividly springs to life and it is impossible not to feel the extreme threat posed by the hurricane. The storyline is well-developed with stunning twists. Magda is a little irritating as she continually puts herself in peril because she makes unsound decisions. Emily is a sympathetic character but is she telling Magda the truth? Hank becomes more menacing as Eliza Nellums brings this suspenseful mystery to a pulse-pounding conclusion.
December 14, 2021
This was an interesting book. That’s really the feeling I walked away from the book with. There were moments of tension and suspense mixed with moments of strength and discovery all while under the shroud of a category wipe-the-coast-of-Florida- off-the-map hurricane.
Set in beautiful Key West, Magda, is the caretaker at Whimbrel House, a historic home turned museum of a turn of the 20th century poet who committed suicide in 1918 at the age of 23. Magda is slightly obsessed with the home and works of Isobel Reyes, and that’s putting it mildly. So, when an evacuation is called, Magda decides to stay at Whimbrel House to ride the storm out.
I guess I don’t need to tell you how that turns out! While there are the issues caused by the hurricane - flooding, house damage, injuries - to say that Magda is a little obsessed would be an understatement. There are times throughout where she endangers her own life to protect aspects of Whimbrel House. Those preservation plans are impeded by the unexpected arrival of Hank, the local handyman and his daughter, who float up on their boat caught by the storm and unable to get out in time. Sometimes, you just don’t know the people around you as well as you think you do.
When I started reading, I had such high hopes. I loved the mysteriousness surrounding Isobel’s century old death, and it was clear that there was more to the story than we knew. I loved the survival story of making it through the hurricane. The intentional build up to the storm actually hitting Key West was done very well. Everything just got muddy when Magda was no longer the lone wolf and had to share the pages with Hank and Emily. In the end, I enjoyed the book. It was different from the other things I have been reading lately, so if you are looking for a change of pace, a story of survival and natural disasters with a touch of history and unexpected guests, you should put this one on your TBR list.
I am grateful to Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Set in beautiful Key West, Magda, is the caretaker at Whimbrel House, a historic home turned museum of a turn of the 20th century poet who committed suicide in 1918 at the age of 23. Magda is slightly obsessed with the home and works of Isobel Reyes, and that’s putting it mildly. So, when an evacuation is called, Magda decides to stay at Whimbrel House to ride the storm out.
I guess I don’t need to tell you how that turns out! While there are the issues caused by the hurricane - flooding, house damage, injuries - to say that Magda is a little obsessed would be an understatement. There are times throughout where she endangers her own life to protect aspects of Whimbrel House. Those preservation plans are impeded by the unexpected arrival of Hank, the local handyman and his daughter, who float up on their boat caught by the storm and unable to get out in time. Sometimes, you just don’t know the people around you as well as you think you do.
When I started reading, I had such high hopes. I loved the mysteriousness surrounding Isobel’s century old death, and it was clear that there was more to the story than we knew. I loved the survival story of making it through the hurricane. The intentional build up to the storm actually hitting Key West was done very well. Everything just got muddy when Magda was no longer the lone wolf and had to share the pages with Hank and Emily. In the end, I enjoyed the book. It was different from the other things I have been reading lately, so if you are looking for a change of pace, a story of survival and natural disasters with a touch of history and unexpected guests, you should put this one on your TBR list.
I am grateful to Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2021
Magda is the historian of Whimbrel Estates, the Florida home of a poet who died of a suicide more than a decade ago. Now there is a hurricane barreling towards them and an evacuation order is in effect. However, since this house has withstood more than a decade of storms she is pretty sure she will be able to stay. She sets out to package and move as many of the treasures as she can to ensure they are safe. There are also lemurs on the property that need to be saved. What Magda finds is a cistern uncovered by the storm and a steamer trunk. In the midst of the storm a boat finds its why to them with a man and his pregnant daughter in need of shelter and medical attention. So many twists and turns and with the hurricane definitely being a character all on its own. This one took place over only five days but they were action packed days.
**Received this ARC for review in audio from the publisher via NetGalley**
**Received this ARC for review in audio from the publisher via NetGalley**
September 10, 2023
I picked this book up simply because of its setting in the Florida Keys, but it turned out to be an excellent reading choice and a page-turner. It's set in a museum in the Florida Keys where a (fictitious) poet, Isobel Reyes, had lived. It's fairly obvious that the poet's writing and reclusiveness is modeled on Emily Dickinson. However, her story is different in that she grew up with a limp, unable to speak, and never left her home's property. Because the poet killed herself by jumping off the pier leading from her house to the ocean, the location has become a common place for people to end their lives. The book revolves around a major hurricane that rolls in and the museum curator who refuses to leave the museum during the storm. As the hurricane rages, it uncovers some secrets the house has been hiding. You wouldn't think that the story of three days of survival during a hurricane would be so riveting, but I couldn't put this book down.
October 27, 2021
Some places are steeped in mystery. And sometimes danger is just drawn to them.
In this intense story, Magda Trudell is willing to risk her life to save a bit of Florida history. Even if it means staying put in the middle of the hurricane of the century. But that is just the beginning of her fight for survival.
What I Liked
I love the main character. With emotional baggage from a past relationship and a need to prove herself, Magda is woman after my own heart. This book had plenty of twists and turns and so many edge-of-my-seat moments…and then we got to the really juicy stuff. The action never stops.
Magda is a strong, intelligent, independent woman who isn’t afraid to get dirty and get things done. It’s a wonderful contrast to her affinity for history and bittersweet affection for a young poet who lived and died over a century before.
There are some very adult themes in this book, but the author handled them with grace and purpose.
For its ability to keep me glued to the page, its incredible yet relatable female lead, and the ultimate triumph at the end, this book earns 4.5 stars…
In this intense story, Magda Trudell is willing to risk her life to save a bit of Florida history. Even if it means staying put in the middle of the hurricane of the century. But that is just the beginning of her fight for survival.
What I Liked
I love the main character. With emotional baggage from a past relationship and a need to prove herself, Magda is woman after my own heart. This book had plenty of twists and turns and so many edge-of-my-seat moments…and then we got to the really juicy stuff. The action never stops.
Magda is a strong, intelligent, independent woman who isn’t afraid to get dirty and get things done. It’s a wonderful contrast to her affinity for history and bittersweet affection for a young poet who lived and died over a century before.
There are some very adult themes in this book, but the author handled them with grace and purpose.
For its ability to keep me glued to the page, its incredible yet relatable female lead, and the ultimate triumph at the end, this book earns 4.5 stars…
August 8, 2023
3.25⭐️
March 14, 2023
This was on the slow side but I enjoyed it. Dealing with hunkering down in the middle of a hurricane was interesting. I listened to the audio which was well narrated.
December 3, 2021
A really good suspense novel. There's a bit of a mystery as well. The audiobook was well done. The cast is small so it was easy to follow the story. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads.
November 30, 2021
A hurricane is coming, but Magda cannot leave. She has to stay and protect her life's work- preserving the estate of Whimbrel Estate, home of tragic poet Isobel Reyes. Soon the storm reveals long buried secrets and brings danger, too. Will she, and the estate, survive?
This started out slow for me. So slow that I contemplated DNFing it. You get a lot of historical facts about a fictional poet. Way too many facts. But, I was given an ARC for review, and I try to honor my commitments, so I persevered.
It did get better, but I found it predictable. Overall, it was just pretty "meh" for me.
I listened to the audio version. For the most part, it was fine, but I could regularly hear the narrator swallowing, and it kind of annoyed me. That was another factor in my DNF debate.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This started out slow for me. So slow that I contemplated DNFing it. You get a lot of historical facts about a fictional poet. Way too many facts. But, I was given an ARC for review, and I try to honor my commitments, so I persevered.
It did get better, but I found it predictable. Overall, it was just pretty "meh" for me.
I listened to the audio version. For the most part, it was fine, but I could regularly hear the narrator swallowing, and it kind of annoyed me. That was another factor in my DNF debate.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 4, 2022
For the first 40% of the story we're following the main character as you preps for the hurricane she doesn't think will come. Then she finds the trunk, then the father & daughter show up. Fast forward, the hurricane hits and its a struggle to survive. Sorry to spoil it but nothing is getting resolved. The main character's back story is way more interesting.
January 10, 2022
Caught my eye because the location was the keys during a hurricane.
Ended up being a lame ghost story, with a body unearthed from years
Prior and a madman on the loose.
Ended up being a lame ghost story, with a body unearthed from years
Prior and a madman on the loose.
February 4, 2022
A slow slog
March 17, 2022
I enjoyed this much more than I thought; in fact, this would have been a 4-star read, had it not been for the ending. I liked the atmosphere, the author really brought across the claustrophobia of being stuck in a dilapidated building in the middle of a hurricane (so much so that I kept thinking that Whimbrel House was the only building on the Key, when in fact there are a couple of other structures around); I could also appreciate the use of flashbacks to flesh out the MC's character and her reasons for (re)acting the way she does, although at times I couldn't help but think that less might have been more, especially when it came to Magda and her relationship with her dad -- IMO the author went a bit crazy with this aspect of Magda's youth, or maybe my crazy/fun/irresponsible dad tolerance is a bit lower than average.
For the most part, I "got" Magda's single-mindedness when it came to preserving Whimbrel House and its contents, even her obsession with the house's most famous occupant, the Young Doomed Poetess (whose poetry, liberally quoted throughout the novel, certainly doesn't speak of deathlessness... I thought the "quotes" fell way short of what Magda and, in essence, the rest of this book's world make of it). Towards the final third I got a bit tired of Magda's doggedness; by all means, drag that chair up those dissolving stairs, and this painting, and that book, but you know, tone it down a bit, maybe? Especially since Ms Nellums throws everything but the kitchen sink at our poor heroine, having her battle a fierce head cold, ominous newcomers, sick teenage girls, clueless lemurs, hypothermia, hunger, various ills and aches and pains and injuries and one or two near-drownings, a Huge Revelation (not so huge if you've read a gothic mystery or two in your life), and of course that darn hurricane and a rapidly declining mansion all at the same time.
And then there's that ending. I mean, really. After all this, this is what we're left with? What the hell?
There were some scenes I didn't need that much, e.g. that whole Tourist Family/House Tour spiel that seemed to be designed to make the background info dump feel a bit less suffocating; I could have done without Angsty Cellphone Mum and her two Annoying Youngsters, who seem to have changed gender somewhere between the final draft and this ARC (it's boy and girl, until finally a question is asked by "the youngest girl", which doesn't really make sense until there are at least two female children around). So much time was spent on this family and their visit that I was convinced they'd become important for the novel later, e.g. show up again and become stranded at the house with the rest of them, but no, they just drop off the planet, leaving nothing behind but Junior's cold. Instead, we get a visit from Magda's ex, who is of course a hunk with a heart of gold and would like to save Magda but totally respects her stubbornness even though it makes him sad, or something like that... I was too busy rolling my eyes to pay too much attention, the whole thing was too romance-y for me and felt like pages of pointless cringe.
I also wasn't entirely convinced that the poet girl drowning herself "was what drew desperate people to Whimbrel House" to the point that Magda routinely checks the surrounding waters for fresh bodies first thing in the morning, every morning -- I mean, travel out to some godforsaken Key down in Florida just to drown yourself? Do people shoot themselves in Ketchum, ID or stick their head in an oven in Primrose Hill, or go to Lewes to fill their pockets with stones and step into the river? If a place drew that kind of attention, and on that scale to boot, would it even stay accessible to the public? I thought that was a bit too much.
The scenes I enjoyed most were of Magda alone at the mansion, and her efforts to keep everything afloat. Yes, she behaves like an idiot at times (that whole gift shop incident -- I mean, really?), but I could relate to her situation. Then a Visitor arrives, and things start sliding into Sillytown; that guy might just as well have "Bad News" tattooed on his forehead, and his interactions with Magda reminded me of some generic '90s Hollywood "thriller" cheese (think Julia Roberts/Kiefer Sutherland/Marky Mark)... I mean, that guy was so super sketchy, you'd have to be basically braindead not to pick up on it. Which made it successively harder to root for Magda, who starts over- as well as underthinking things and all of a sudden goes all girl detective, finding and hiding stuff and deducting like crazy, just not exactly... swift enough. Let's just say she's no Veronica Mars.
So all in all, this was a fun read, although it suffered from a fairly unsubtle villain and an MC who had trouble putting two and two together; also, I still can't believe that ending. Oh, and whatever became of the lemurs??
For the most part, I "got" Magda's single-mindedness when it came to preserving Whimbrel House and its contents, even her obsession with the house's most famous occupant, the Young Doomed Poetess (whose poetry, liberally quoted throughout the novel, certainly doesn't speak of deathlessness... I thought the "quotes" fell way short of what Magda and, in essence, the rest of this book's world make of it). Towards the final third I got a bit tired of Magda's doggedness; by all means, drag that chair up those dissolving stairs, and this painting, and that book, but you know, tone it down a bit, maybe? Especially since Ms Nellums throws everything but the kitchen sink at our poor heroine, having her battle a fierce head cold, ominous newcomers, sick teenage girls, clueless lemurs, hypothermia, hunger, various ills and aches and pains and injuries and one or two near-drownings, a Huge Revelation (not so huge if you've read a gothic mystery or two in your life), and of course that darn hurricane and a rapidly declining mansion all at the same time.
And then there's that ending. I mean, really. After all this, this is what we're left with? What the hell?
There were some scenes I didn't need that much, e.g. that whole Tourist Family/House Tour spiel that seemed to be designed to make the background info dump feel a bit less suffocating; I could have done without Angsty Cellphone Mum and her two Annoying Youngsters, who seem to have changed gender somewhere between the final draft and this ARC (it's boy and girl, until finally a question is asked by "the youngest girl", which doesn't really make sense until there are at least two female children around). So much time was spent on this family and their visit that I was convinced they'd become important for the novel later, e.g. show up again and become stranded at the house with the rest of them, but no, they just drop off the planet, leaving nothing behind but Junior's cold. Instead, we get a visit from Magda's ex, who is of course a hunk with a heart of gold and would like to save Magda but totally respects her stubbornness even though it makes him sad, or something like that... I was too busy rolling my eyes to pay too much attention, the whole thing was too romance-y for me and felt like pages of pointless cringe.
I also wasn't entirely convinced that the poet girl drowning herself "was what drew desperate people to Whimbrel House" to the point that Magda routinely checks the surrounding waters for fresh bodies first thing in the morning, every morning -- I mean, travel out to some godforsaken Key down in Florida just to drown yourself? Do people shoot themselves in Ketchum, ID or stick their head in an oven in Primrose Hill, or go to Lewes to fill their pockets with stones and step into the river? If a place drew that kind of attention, and on that scale to boot, would it even stay accessible to the public? I thought that was a bit too much.
The scenes I enjoyed most were of Magda alone at the mansion, and her efforts to keep everything afloat. Yes, she behaves like an idiot at times (that whole gift shop incident -- I mean, really?), but I could relate to her situation. Then a Visitor arrives, and things start sliding into Sillytown; that guy might just as well have "Bad News" tattooed on his forehead, and his interactions with Magda reminded me of some generic '90s Hollywood "thriller" cheese (think Julia Roberts/Kiefer Sutherland/Marky Mark)... I mean, that guy was so super sketchy, you'd have to be basically braindead not to pick up on it. Which made it successively harder to root for Magda, who starts over- as well as underthinking things and all of a sudden goes all girl detective, finding and hiding stuff and deducting like crazy, just not exactly... swift enough. Let's just say she's no Veronica Mars.
So all in all, this was a fun read, although it suffered from a fairly unsubtle villain and an MC who had trouble putting two and two together; also, I still can't believe that ending. Oh, and whatever became of the lemurs??
September 3, 2021
The Bone Cay is a certainly a very atmospheric, dark mystery, full of bone chilling twists. I have not read this author before and didn't know quite what to expect. The book is by no means your typical mystery. The poet and her haunting prose is such a unique concept to build upon. The story has a timeline of 5 days that are absolutely an adrenaline rush.
Magda has been caretaker at Whimbrel House for a decade, the former estate of Isobel Reyes in the Florida Keys. It's now a museum with tours. Isobel was a young girl who penned dark and mysterious poetry more than 100 years ago. Her death by suicide continues to be legendary.
There's a hurricane bearing down on the island. Knowing the house has withstood storms for decades, Magda decides to stay. She tries to put away and protect the important, historical relics. In addition, there are lemurs housed at the estate which need to be saved. Hank, the handyman and a local, stays to help her. Magda discovers an old steamer trunk in a long forgotten cistern and becomes quite obsessed with it. The contents may change everything she thinks she knows about Whimbrel House and Isobel. There's still some history to discover and rewrite.
In the midst of this, some questionable guests, (Charles and his pregnant, young daughter), arrive seeking shelter. Magda may regret her hospitality.
Ironically, I read this just a matter of weeks before the real hurricane Ida slammed into New Orleans. The horrific damage, the power of the wind and flooding was accurately descriptive and terrifying in this fictional story. Many years ago I was vacationing on a small island when a hurricane developed. I could only survive one claustrophobic day of being all boarded up and I evacuated. As I read this I wondered who in their right mind worries about an ancient trunk in the midst of a hurricane? Magda's much more dedicated and brave than me!
The Bone Cay was so interesting and different that it's impossible to find a place to stop reading. Carve out some quiet time and prepare to be thrilled with suspense, twists and surprises. I did guess some things early on, which did not deter me from continuing to read at breakneck speed. I especially enjoyed the poetry and historical aspects.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Eliza Nellums for the opportunity to read this advance digital copy. The thoughts and opinions stated hate are mine alone, given voluntarily.
Magda has been caretaker at Whimbrel House for a decade, the former estate of Isobel Reyes in the Florida Keys. It's now a museum with tours. Isobel was a young girl who penned dark and mysterious poetry more than 100 years ago. Her death by suicide continues to be legendary.
There's a hurricane bearing down on the island. Knowing the house has withstood storms for decades, Magda decides to stay. She tries to put away and protect the important, historical relics. In addition, there are lemurs housed at the estate which need to be saved. Hank, the handyman and a local, stays to help her. Magda discovers an old steamer trunk in a long forgotten cistern and becomes quite obsessed with it. The contents may change everything she thinks she knows about Whimbrel House and Isobel. There's still some history to discover and rewrite.
In the midst of this, some questionable guests, (Charles and his pregnant, young daughter), arrive seeking shelter. Magda may regret her hospitality.
Ironically, I read this just a matter of weeks before the real hurricane Ida slammed into New Orleans. The horrific damage, the power of the wind and flooding was accurately descriptive and terrifying in this fictional story. Many years ago I was vacationing on a small island when a hurricane developed. I could only survive one claustrophobic day of being all boarded up and I evacuated. As I read this I wondered who in their right mind worries about an ancient trunk in the midst of a hurricane? Magda's much more dedicated and brave than me!
The Bone Cay was so interesting and different that it's impossible to find a place to stop reading. Carve out some quiet time and prepare to be thrilled with suspense, twists and surprises. I did guess some things early on, which did not deter me from continuing to read at breakneck speed. I especially enjoyed the poetry and historical aspects.
Thanks so much to Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books and Eliza Nellums for the opportunity to read this advance digital copy. The thoughts and opinions stated hate are mine alone, given voluntarily.
November 24, 2021
Magda has spent years idolizing and carefully honoring the memory of poet Isobel Reyes, who lived a troubled, brief life in Key West before committing suicide at her family's home, Whimbrel Estate, after completing only two books. Since then, her legacy has been caught up in the tragedy of her final act despite Magda's best efforts to emphasize her life's work. When a powerful hurricane heads straight for the Keys, Magda vows to remain at Whimbrel, no matter what, to protect the valuables inside. But soon things begin to go horribly wrong. Not only do her supplies get ruined, but wreckage unearths some disturbing discoveries. And when a father-daughter pair turns up, things only get weirder.
This is a highly atmospheric thriller with a great twist: not only do you have the hurricane angle, but then there's this whole subplot with the fact that there's a mysterious air surrounding the whole death of Isobel from the very beginning. And as the book goes on, things just keep getting shadier and more mysterious. It becomes something that you feel compelled to want to know the solution to after diving into the book.
Similarly, there's a lot going on in the present day that adds to the tense atmosphere and the creates a whole new mystery. I really enjoyed the entire story. Especially once it gets going. (It does drag a little in the middle as the hurricane begins and Magda is kind of just waiting around). The ending is very good and actually very perfect. I won't give it away, but I don't think I would have wanted it to end another way - I can't explain right now, but yeah. Good.
Magda herself was interesting. I liked her generally. You get frustrated with her stubbornness, but I got it. I mean, if I devoted my entire life to something, I wouldn't be able to see it go down the tubes in a flash without feeling like I did something. And that's what she was doing in the end. Only what she had to do to save something of what she worked hard for.
So yes, if you like tense, atmospheric thrillers, very gothic in nature. pick this one up. It's a great ride from beginning to end.
This is a highly atmospheric thriller with a great twist: not only do you have the hurricane angle, but then there's this whole subplot with the fact that there's a mysterious air surrounding the whole death of Isobel from the very beginning. And as the book goes on, things just keep getting shadier and more mysterious. It becomes something that you feel compelled to want to know the solution to after diving into the book.
Similarly, there's a lot going on in the present day that adds to the tense atmosphere and the creates a whole new mystery. I really enjoyed the entire story. Especially once it gets going. (It does drag a little in the middle as the hurricane begins and Magda is kind of just waiting around). The ending is very good and actually very perfect. I won't give it away, but I don't think I would have wanted it to end another way - I can't explain right now, but yeah. Good.
Magda herself was interesting. I liked her generally. You get frustrated with her stubbornness, but I got it. I mean, if I devoted my entire life to something, I wouldn't be able to see it go down the tubes in a flash without feeling like I did something. And that's what she was doing in the end. Only what she had to do to save something of what she worked hard for.
So yes, if you like tense, atmospheric thrillers, very gothic in nature. pick this one up. It's a great ride from beginning to end.
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