Rating: 
Summary: impressive debut
Review: Other reviews have praised Burke's grasp of forensic details, but I think what really distinguishes her writing is her fine grasp of psychological detail-- there is hardly a false note in its 420 pages. Events follow logically from characters' motivations, which is not to say that the novel is without its small pleasures and surprises (not to mention a few big ones near the end), it's just that the story doesn't have to jump through hoops or pull rabbits out of a hat to blindside the reader. The serial killer is intelligent and cunning without seeming to have superhuman powers, and is all the more believable and chilling for it. Anyone unfamiliar with this novel should know that Burke takes her time to develop her story; in lesser hands, this would be a fatal flaw, but her sheer confidence in her story-- and her characters-- is able to overcome this. Of the dozens, maybe hundreds, of crime novels I read every year, there is usually only one or two which really stand out. This is one of those novels.
Rating: 
Summary: A Twisty Little Mystry
Review: This thing is brain candy of the Edgar Award winning variety (deservedly so), but it is clever and quite unpredictable at times. It's not clear who the baddies are, or who the allies might be. And there is a Very Good Dog, for those of us who like canine character development.It would help to have read some of the preceeding books in the series, as heavy mention is made of earlier adventures, but this one can stand on its own. Most characters beside Irene are of the cardboard-cutout school, but with all the action in motion, who has time for character development? Hey, it's a fun read, though it kept me up late and got my husband some extra hugging for the next few nights!
Rating:
Summary: Tick Tock- Just A Matter of Time until You Cant Put It Down
Review: This is one of those books that you read where you dont want the characters to take another step - because you know where they are going, and you want to save them. Couldn't put this book down- once I tore out the first page when someone screamed Gods name in vain- no one needed to read it especially in the prologue for heavens sake! I took this book on a trip to Mexico, read it every second in the airport, read it anywhere there was a 5 minute break until I finished it- and passed the book on- (minus the first page:).
Rating:
Summary: Thrilling
Review: At first when I picked up this book I expected it to be mediocore and just ok. But after probably the first 10 pages I just couldn't put the book down. I don't want to give away what happens in the book but all I can say is that it was excellant and for all of you who may be thinking about reading it, please dont hesitate. You will love it!
Rating:
Summary: A quick read with a suspensful plot and excellent characters
Review: This is one of my all time favorite psychological suspense novels. If you enjoyed "Silence of the Lambs" read this novel. The author writes characters you won't soon forget. The sequence in the woods with the serial killer is another you won't easily forget either! A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Realistic or not, it still achieves severe goosebumps!
Review: I was surprised when I read some of the other reviews written here. Yes, some things were predictable if you are an avid serial-killer-suspense reader, and there may not really be that many super smart psychos out there in the real world, but, it is fiction! It was meant to entertain...and that it did. This is without a doubt the best book of Jan Burkes I have read to date. The hike into the woods, the discovery of the bodies, the super intense events that followed all had me on the edge of my seat. The way Burke ended each chapter made it impossible not to turn to the next for "just a little bit more." It certainly provided the thrills, chills, and goosebumps necessary for a good mystery.
Rating: 
Summary: A Waste Of Time
Review: The last 200 pages were worse than the first 200.I can't believe I read the whole thing!!!!! Jan Burke's writing style is extremely simple and her words do not "flow" in a way that you can experience from other writers who are more gifted.Maybe she is trying to appeal to the masses,but it certainly didn't do anything for me. The story dragged on and on and was fairly predictable.This book had a lack of significant character development and a plot that could have taken 200 pages less to develop.I did not make a strong connection with the main characters and I was hoping that the serial killer would murder them all quickly so I could start a Michael Connelly or John Nance novel.Reading a Jan Burke novel for the first time was like eating broccoli when you were a kid. I tried it once , and hated it.
Rating:
Summary: How many real serial killers are out there?
Review: This newest chapter in Irene Kelly's life in interesting, but I kept wondering just how many real serial killers are out there in the world? I like scary books, and I enjoy all the blood, guts and gore of forensic work but by the end of most all serial killer works I am always left thinking there are just not that many super smart killers in the world... I just don't live in fear of a psyco-murderer showing up and wisking me off to perform grusome acts with my cadaver... With all the Hannable/ Parish want-a-be's lurking around perhaps I should be more carefull.
Rating: 
Summary: BONES
Review: B risk start as Irene takes off to search for bodies hid afar
O ver the top psycho Nick Parrish says he knows where they are.
N ick is one of the most malevolent characters I've ever seen
E scapes and then proceeds to terrorise and stalk Irene.
S imply put, Irene's up to her neck in trouble yet again.
Rating:
Summary: A breakout book for Jan Burke
Review: I've never read any of the Irene Kelly mysteries before but there was a subaudible buzz about BONES that good, perceptive readers had heard about THE ALIENIST, A MAIDEN'S GRAVE and THE BONE COLLECTOR. While BONES doesn't quite match up to the abovementioned books (the characterization and dialogue is a bit stale and the book features a bewilderingly large array of supporting characters), the character of Nick Parrish is an intriguing one and the various "messages" that he leaves for Irene are chilling and disturbing.
And it is Nick Parrish who's also the reason I gave this book only three stars. I would've liked to have seen more space given to Parrish's point of view and more vivid descriptions of his handiwork, which Burke shies from. An interesting character like Parrish deserves to have his psychopathology explored and explicated for the reader.
The premise for BONES is this: Take the last scene of SE7EN and then write a story from there. Nick Parrish strikes a deal- commutation of his death sentence to a life sentence if he shows the authorities where the body of his last victim is buried. Much mystery is built up and one even begins to speculate whether she's even dead. But when her corpse is exhumed, Burke never explains adequately why Parrish tortured and killed her, which would've at least begun to explain his twisted motives for killing who he did and continues to kill.
Parrish's escape is ingenious and the identity of his assistant The Moth is a genuine surprise. If Burke can think of a way to bring Parrish back, I'd certainly buy a hardcover sequel.
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