White Bones

I've been reading Masterton since his first novel, [b:The Manitou|1828266|The Manitou (Manitou #1)|Graham Masterton|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387738423s/1828266.jpg|2949432]. I absolutely adored his horror novels, but then, for whatever reason, I kind of fell away from him. Likely due to the fact that I simply couldn't find a lot of his works in the bookstores in town.

Fast forward several decades, and I see that he's now writing crime thrillers (on top of all the other genres he's in). Which leads us to the first in the Katie Maguire series.

I really enjoyed this novel. Not much gets to me, but I actually found myself cringing when the author relayed certain scenes. They were visceral. I've read so much, in so many genres, and know show more so much about the mechanics of writing, I've become a rather jaded reader. So, for me, any author that pulls a reaction from me, well, they win.

Aside from that, I also found myself grinning, because, unlike most crime thrillers, this one carried a very heavy horror undertone that I think only made it stronger.

The novel is not without its faults. There's a domestic violence bit that's unfortunately underplayed a touch, though I believe I know why (and can't really say without spoilers). There's also a bit of an awkward lesbian scene toward the end that simply didn't work for me. Again, I know what the author was doing and why, but it didn't quite get to where it needed to go.

Other than that, just knowing all the burning hoops of fire Katie had to jump through in this, her first story, I can't imagine what the author has in store for her in the next few books.

And that's part of the fun, isn't it? show less

If you like Irish folklore and stories of irish ancient magic, and if you don't mind some scenes of graphic ritual torture, maiming and death, and if a few scenes of sudden violence peppered about doesn't bother you, all set to an unstoppable pace, then you will love this book. I surprisingly truly enjoyed it. It's visceral and shocking, but there are scenes of human warmth and comfort as well. The only reason that I don't give it 5 stars is because Katie Maguire just doesn't ring true at times. Her unexplained forbearance for her wayward and cheating husband didn't make sense to me. To all intents and purposes though, Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is a strong, fearless woman, and she is the first female DS Gardai in Irelend's show more hisotry in County Cork. She has a lot to prove and she has to be twice as tough as the men. She pretty much handles everything that is thrown at her which includes a mass of 80-year-old human bones found under an old shed, a girl from the present day, found dismembered and laid out on a wet Irish field, to an attempt on Katie's own life as well as that of her husband, who is paying the price for trying to swindle some very dangerous local gang members. This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller, and with the mix of the occult and Irish magic throughout, it is one that will get me back to read more. show less

White Bones introduces Detective Katie Maguire. When the bones of 11 women are found on an isolated farm in County Cork in Ireland, Katie is initially told to drop the case as the deaths date back to 1915. But then a young American tourist goes missing and her body turns up on the same farm.
I've been hesitant for a while now to start this series because of the mixed reviews and mentions of 'supernatural', but it turned out to be a really solid Irish crime procedural and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot centers around old Irish folklore/myths rather than the paranormal elements I was expecting and that added a really interesting aspect to the story. Mr. Masterton has previously written horror novels and while this certainly shines show more through, I didn't find any of the details overly gory, but I think more sensitive readers may.
The author also provides plenty of background on the main character of Katie Maguire. By the end of the book, you really feel you have a good picture of her as a person. She has to work hard as a female in a very conservative, male dominated environment and her personal life is under scrutiny which isn't helping her marriage.
The audiobook narration was done really well, and I appreciate that the narrator must have had a very difficult time switching from characters with Irish dialect to American accents. I loved the Irish lilt, the American accent felt a bit off (sorry).
If you enjoy rather sinister thrillers in an Irish setting and would like to explore some Irish history and Celtic mythology, I would definitely recommend White Bones. show less

There are things I need to know...

On a farm in southern Ireland, the dismembered bones of eleven women are found in a common grave, buried eight decades ago. Detective Superintendent Katie Maguire is used to bloodshed, but this ivory litter of human remains is unimaginable butchery.

Of other worlds apart from this...

In isolated darkness not far away, an American tourist is at the mercy of a serial killer. His tools are a boning knife, twine, and a doll fashioned from nails and fishhooks. The murder of his victims is second only to the pleasure of their pain.

Darker places inhabited by evil monstrosities...

As an eighty-year-old mystery unfolds, so does a modern-day ritual that's marked Katie Maguire as its next victim. For what happened show more once in this small picturesque village is happening again. It's more than a series of horrifying crimes. It's tradition.

Take me there.

Crime/horror hybrid not for those of a delicate constitution. Full of Celtic otherworldly shenanigans, police procedural and horizontal rain.

I know the book was originally printed for the American market but please UK publishers sort it out. Travelers,tires,colors - not to mention fenders and sidewalks...really? In Cork? No feckin way!

Star off for distracting this reader to the point of physical pain but some strong writing and especially as a man writing as a woman... show less

This book has some very descriptive, gory death scenes in it but it helped set the pace of the novel. I thought the plot was fun and the only thing I didn't like was the supernatural bit at the very end of the book.

First in the Katie Maguire series, this is another good novel from this author who I consider to be one of the most original and scary storytellers there is. This author is well known for writing horror but has now turned his hand partly to crime, although this book does have its supernatural moments. It can be gory so if this upsets you then better not read it, although you’ll be missing out on a very good read and series.

WHITE BONES
(A Katie Maguire thriller) Book 1
Graham Masterton

On the outskirts of a small hamlet in Ireland called Cork sits a Meagher farm. On a cold, wet morning while working to keep the farm pliable, John Meagher unearths the unimaginable. 11 skeletons are unearthed and that sets in motions on the finest detective series this reader has ever encountered.
Called to the scene is Detective Garda Katie Maguire, battered emotionally from the recent death of her son and the constant illegal plagues brought about by her husband Paul. As Katie begins her investigation the reader is dropped into the middle of a maelstrom of not only testing everything she believes in but more importantly the unimaginable fact that what this case is involving show more is beyond normal comprehension.
As the identities of the skeletons are revealed (all women or young girls), Katie and her team of forensic investigators come to a startling conclusion, at the turn of the century 11 women disappeared in or around the area quietly and then it seemed to end in 1915.
Intrigued? Cut to a young American girl Fiona Kelly hitchhiking across Ireland with hopes of kissing the Blarney stone. With slight hesitation she accepts a ride from a seemingly nice gentleman, after a few minutes of uncomfortable banter Fiona realizes she has made a very bad mistake.
I must stop here and warn those with squeamish constitutions that this well written, intense thriller has it’s moments of sheer, mind bending torture. To stay true to the atmosphere and the overall reality of the situations Mr. Masterston delivers a thriller charged to the hilt with descriptive verbiage.
What ties the past and the present together is unsettling but well worth the turning every page. I have been a HUGE fan of Mr. Masterton’s for many years. My first venture into his talented mind was with THE MANITOU. The supernatural thriller was eventually turned into a major motion picture starring Tony Curtis. Hit the stores or the internet and find a copy and enjoy!
As for WHITE BONES, I am hooked…..
There are three other Katie Maguire detective thrillers. All of them can be found on Amazon Books.
Book 2 BROKEN ANGELS
Book 3 RED LIGHTS
Book 4 TAKEN FOR DEAD show less