Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Jenny O’Brien for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

After reading a police procedural that didn’t feel all that authentic, I anticipated having the same reaction to Cage of Bones. I haven’t read the first two books in the series, so I wasn’t acquainted with Detective Alana Mack and her crew of Irish policemen. However, after reading this book I am eager to go back and read the first two of the series.

When a fisherman pulls dead crab and human bones from his crab trap, there are few clues as to who the victim is. The bones are nearly picked clean and it’s up to Detective Mack and her team to figure out who it is. As they are questioning the fisherman, Barney Mulcahy about his find, his estranged brother suddenly turns up missing as well. These are the first in several deaths that seem to be centered around the family – so who do the bones belong to?

Cage of Bones uncovers family secrets and lies that reach back decades. Alana Mack is a unique character as she’s in a wheelchair due to an accident, but still manages to be an effective investigator. As the investigation progresses, she is attacked not just once but three times, the last time nearly claiming a number of lives along with hers. This creates some conflict with her boss, and begs the question if he would have reacted the same way were she not already in a wheelchair. Leo is not a bad person, though, as his character is humanized throughout the story rather than becoming a caricature. Alana also acquires a new helper along the way as well as a new addition to her team who doesn’t fit in with the rest all that well.

Although I guessed the killer and the motivation pretty early on, Cage of Bones was great fun to read. It read like Ann Cleeves’ Shetland mysteries that I have fallen in love with. The descriptions of the country and the locations were exceptional for someone who has never visited Ireland (something I want to rectify next year). The pace was great as I could really get a feel for what the investigators were going through. The team works together well and really has the feel of people who work together to solve the mystery, all the while getting snippets of their lives outside of the police station.

There was an authentic feel to the case as well with the subject of the Irish mother and baby homes where children were stolen from unmarried pregnant women. Being adopted myself, I’ve read quite a lot about this from people who were affected. At first, I was afraid it was going to end up being exploitative of the situation, but O’Brien handles the topic quite well, showing what it was like for the girls who were sent away to these homes in brief vignettes.

I can honestly recommend Cage of Bones as a great read. The setting is detailed enough to give the reader a feel for the small island nation. I really enjoyed the pacing and the intrigue of the story. It had the feel of an ongoing story and left me wanting more from this group of investigators.