Laying Out The Bones, Kate Webb

Following flash floods, something sinister is brought to the ground’s surface; a human skeleton. Forensic tests soon reveal that the body belongs to Lee Geary, a man who went missing nine years earlier and the case is passed to DI Lockyer to solve.

As Lockyer digs into Geary’s past he unveils the fact that Geary was questioned during the same year he went missing in relation to another crime- the murder of Holly Gilbert.

Alongside DC Gemma Broad, Lockyer delves deeper and discovers a web of mysteries which he is left to untangle.

At last! The long awaited sequel to Stay Buried has arrived. Laying Out The Bones is the next in the DI Lockyer series. With such a high standard to follow I was relieved the second book in the series did disappoint!

Laying Out The Bones is another fast paced, multifaceted mystery about unsolved murders and buried secrets. The story spans over a long timeframe, and involves many characters with intertwining stories- the fact Kate Webb pulls this off is truly a testament to her writing skill. Very much like the first book – every character is well thought out, and despite there being so many you really gather an insight into each of their histories, struggles and motivations.

Similarly to its prequel the series continues to highlight themes surrounding inequalities, grief and injustice. I thought these were presented well and added substance to the story, evoking emotion beyond your typical crime mystery/thriller.

Overall, Laying Out The Bones is masterfully crafted, from compelling characters to intricate plot twists and with the book ending on a cliffhanger, I am very hopeful this is not the last of DI Lockyer. 5 stars.