Review: Old Bones by Trudy Nan Boyce

A Mysterious Review of Old Bones by Trudy Nan Boyce. A Sarah Alt Mystery.

Review summary: The recurring and other principal characters are engaging and crisply drawn. The story is a strong one, topical, and well-structured. Though this is only the second book in this series, both are solid and both recommended. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Old Bones
Trudy Nan Boyce
A Sarah Alt Mystery
Putnam (February 2017)

Publisher synopsis: During a vigil calling for police reform, students from Spelman College, a historically black women’s institution, are assaulted by rifle fire from a passing vehicle. On her way to interview witnesses, Detective Sarah “Salt” Alt confronts the fleeing vehicle of the suspects, but they get away.

While other detectives take the lead on the Spelman murders, Salt is tasked to investigate the case of a recently discovered decomposed body. When she combs through the missing-persons reports, it becomes clear the victim is a girl Salt took into custody two years before, and Salt feels a grave responsibility to learn the truth about how the girl died. But before she can pursue any leads, Salt is called onto emergency riot detail—in the wake of the assault on the Spelman students, Atlanta has reached the boiling point.

In a city burdened by history and a community erupting in pain and anger, Salt must delve into the past for answers.