Buried bones, a missing eco-activist, and a deadly fire? It’s not what Maya Rivers bargained for when she moved to the coastal city of Newport, Oregon to reunite with her brother, Harley. Yet when Harley is accused of an unthinkable crime, Maya insists on adding “amateur sleuth” to her career options. It isn’t long before she discovers an eerie clue . . . but the closer she gets to the truth, the closer a murderer follows.
About the Author:
Christine Finlayson borrowed from her “past lives” as a waitress, barista, environmental educator, and water scientist when creating her debut mystery novel, Tip of a Bone—a tale that takes place on the stormy Oregon coast. In her spare time, Christine loves to run on forest trails, watch waves break, compete in triathlons, and photograph anything Northwest-weird or wild. She’s now working on her second book, a novel of suspense.
Jennifer’s Review of Tip of a Bone
Review (4 Stars):The first thing that I liked about this book was that it takes place in Newport, Oregon which isn’t very far from where I grew up. Maya, the main character, has been struggling, trying to pick up the pieces after her divorce and working as a waitress at the Clam Strip Cafe. She spends her free time with her brother, Harley, trying to repair their relationship and hoping that her luck will change. Harley’s current involvement with the local activist group, The Coast Defenders, has Maya troubled especially since one of their members recently disappeared on a hiking trip. When a fire destroys a building and Harley is accused as the arsonist, it is up to Maya to help clear his name. But with each step, she finds that things aren’t what they seem and she may be the next person to disappear.
This mystery was a little on the darker side than the other mysteries that I have read but it doesn’t take away from this story. I liked Maya from the beginning even though things didn’t seem to be going her way. I liked her personality and the fact that she never gave up on clearing Harley’s name even though people were telling her to leave it alone. I enjoyed this mystery with all its twists and turns and I loved spending time with these characters in a city I know all too well.
Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for taking the time to read Tip of a Bone and leave a thoughtful review. Now I’m curious to know where you grew up! My second book is set in a different location, but I’ll definitely return to the Oregon coast for another story. It’s a beautiful spot.
Oh, that little grumpy green face made me laugh! Maybe I’ll get a happier one this time?
Well, I for one am sure glad I saw this blog post today as Christine Finlayson is a new-to-me author of suspense and I crave as much of this genre as I can. I’m happy to add another author to my reading list. Thanks for the introduction!
Thank you, Janice! Tip of a Bone is mystery veering into suspense, but my next book is a true suspense novel. I enjoy reading the genre, and am having a great time writing it, too. Thank you for giving a new author a chance!