Thank you Minotaur Books, #partner for the advanced copy of Restless Bones in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: June 16, 2026
Summary:
Fingerprint analyst Shaw Connolly grapples with both a new case and the lingering presence of her sister’s killer in Gillian French’s second compelling Maine thriller.
When a missing woman’s body is discovered in a submerged car one year after her disappearance, Shaw Connolly is called to process the scene. She finds a single print belonging to a long-dead female ex-con; could it be the key to identifying the murderer? As usual, Shaw won’t stop looking until she’s dredged up more than a few hidden crimes.
All the while, Shaw’s past won’t let her go. Just as the Connolly family begins to find some peace after the arrest of Shaw’s sister’s killer, Anders Jansen, Shaw receives a request from her state police contact. Anders, in prison awaiting trial, has claimed responsibility for the murders of two other young women whose cases have grown cold over the past decade. But he refuses to help the police unless Shaw agrees to act as a special consultant in the search.
Despite her misgivings―Anders’s love of malicious mind games is as toxic as ever―Shaw could never prolong another family’s suffering. Her agreement to assist jeopardizes not only the fragile healing of her own family’s wounds but the rebuilding of her marriage and her relationship with her youngest son, who’s colliding with some hard truths of how cruel people can be. It seems, for Shaw, closure is a long way off . . . but danger may be closer than she thinks.
My thoughts:
This is the second book in the Shaw Connolly Mystery series and boy is it becoming a favorite! It’s dark, atmospheric and completely addictive.
This book picks up right where the previous book, Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell, left off and there are many threads that are carried on in this installment, so I really believe that if you want to get the most out of this book, it’s best to read book 1 first. You will still enjoy this one without reading the other book, but you will have a richer reading experience if you do.
That being said, this one completely grabbed me from the get-go and never let up. I love how the book balances such an emotional component with the forensic aspect of the cases and the cat-and-mouse game that Shaw finds herself involved in. And speaking of Shaw, I just love her. She’s such a compelling, flawed character and I love that with each book so far, we learn a little more about who she really is. She is a very layered character and it’s going to take time to figure her out.
A story that focuses on small town secrets and the damage they leave behind, this was a great addition to the series and I cannot wait to find out what’s in store for Shaw next…
Books in this series:
- Shaw Connolly Lives to Tell
- Restless Bones
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