The best day for a book birthday – especially when it’s a favorite author of mine! Perfect birthday gift to myself.
Thanks to Minotaur Books for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review
NOTHING BUT THE BONES – Brian Panowich (Releasing April 16th, 2024)
You can see my reviews for his other books: LIKE LIONS (here) and HARD CASH VALLEY (here)
Book Description:
In McFalls County, local crime boss Gareth Burroughs runs everything on the mountain. And Nelson “Nails” McKenna has been his enforcer since he was a teenager, though his heart’s not really in the dirty work. Then one night in a local roadhouse, Nails goes too far, defending a woman, and even Burroughs’s reach can’t get him out of this one. With a dead body and countless witnesses, Nails and the woman become fugitives on the run, and unlikely partners.
But on the road to Jacksonville, where a possible escape awaits, there’s more than one interested party on the pair’s trail, and the glimpse they had of getting away scot free suddenly seems elusive. In the end, Nails must make one final stand for his freedom—or pay with both of their lives.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
I am a huge fan of Panowich’s Bull Mountain series, so when I saw he had a new book coming out, I knew I needed to snag a copy (also immediately preordered one for my dad). NOTHING BUT THE BONES is a prequel to the Bull Mountain series and takes place years before Clayton Burroughs becomes sheriff of McFalls County.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars
I absolutely love the Bull Mountain series, so when I saw this was coming out, I could wait to snag a copy (also have one pre-ordered for my dad, already). This is a prequel of sorts to the Bull Mountain series and takes place when Clayton Burroughs is a young man – years before he becomes sheriff of McFalls County – and how Nelson “Nails” McKenna became the man he is in the series. The road to becoming the enforcer for a powerful crime family isn’t an easy one.
One night, Nelson intervenes to protect a woman, Dallas, and takes things too far and kills the man. He then goes on the run with Dallas by his side, and what unfolds is an immensely gritty and harrowing tale. The core of this series has always been the incredible characters and how flawed and real they are. While Nails is present in the Bull Mountain series, he wasn’t the star of the show, and I’m so happy we got to know him better in this book.
While it’s not as violent as the other books, there is still plenty of it, and it’s still a dark, gripping, and intense ride. This book read so quickly, and I love anything involving organized crime and crime families, so I enjoyed the reunion with the Burroughs family and their hold on McFalls County.
If you want Southern lit and crime, something wholly atmospheric, powerful, emotional, and a little violent – then this needs to be on your TBR. And don’t worry, while I think you should read the series, this does read perfectly as a standalone!
Jessicamap Reviews 