Bones An Irene Kelly Mystery

In this Edgar Allen Poe Award-winning novel, Irene Kelly is on the hunt for the body of a murder victim…with the killer as her guide: "a journey into the heart of darkness" ( Los Angeles Times).For four long years, no one has known what became of Julia Sayre, since this mother of two disappeared. Despite Irene Kelly's best efforts, until now only one person has known where to find Sayre: her killer. Nick Parrish, brilliant and sadistic, already faces the death penalty in a torture-murder case. Now he wants to cop a plealife imprisonment in exchange for directing police to the isolated mountain grave where he buried Julia Sayre. The D.A. agrees to the deal and forms a specialized team of law enforcement and forensic experts to accompany Parrish on his grisly journey. When the Sayres pressure the D.A. to include Irene on the expedition, their wishes are honored over the protests of the team. From the start, Parrish makes Irene the object of his unnerving attention. His knowing smile and relentless stares make her wonder if heavy chains, armed guards, and a protective search dog will be enough to keep him at bay. But Nick Parrish's deadly plan to regain his freedom is already in motion, and Irene will need all her courage and ingenuity to remain the reporternot the victimin tomorrow's headlines.

Jan Burke is the author of a dozen novels and a collection of short stories. She is the founder of the Crime Lab Project and is a member of the board of the California Forensic Science Institute. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two dogs. Learn more about her at JanBurke.com.