Gather the Bones
3 Stars

After losing her husband in the Great War, Helen Morrow visits his family estate in the UK and becomes embroiled in a centuries-old mystery. Haunted by the ghosts of the past, Helen and her late husband's cousin, Paul, must work together to uncover the clues or they will find neither peace nor happiness.

Unfortunately, the slow pacing and poor execution undermine an otherwise excellent premise.

The dual mysteries with their shared wartime theme, the Napoleanic Wars and the Great War, are compelling. However, the inclusion of paranormal elements is unnecessary and actually detracts from the storyline as the characters are preoccupied with the ghosts rather than the investigation. Moreover, the ultimate explanations for both mysteries are rather lackluster. The culprit in the 19th-century case is obvious from the start and the revelations concerning Charlie's death are not nearly as dramatic as expected.

The romance between Helen and Paul also has potential; however, Paul's vacillations and Helen's willingness to marry another man put a damper on their relationship.

All in all, an OK read but not one of the best in the genre. ( )

I liked the time the author chose to pay attention to the heavier subjects along with the romantic ones. The effects of war and loss are huge themes in this work; I’d say almost as much as the romance. And I actually liked that balance. It makes the romance all the much sweeter. I also really enjoyed how the author chose to explore the world of Edwardian upper crust society and exploring how they might view this “interloper” from Australia. It was heartbreaking and intriguing all at the same time.

I liked the connection between Helen and Paul. They’re two scarred individuals, both inside and out. They seem to be trying to find their way in this new, post-WWI world where their surroundings and society are changing so quickly. I think the author did a fantastic job in creating a relationship that while a bit stormy, where the two parties balance each other out and create one cohesive whole at the end. There were times where the typical romance cliché of misunderstandings and miscommunication reared its ugly head, but I think the author balance that out with the books other virtues.

The supernatural elements of the book played a nice role in the novel without overpowering it. The author never makes the ghosts center stage but only utilizes them to further the story and romance between Helen and Paul. They add a hint of historical mystery that I enjoyed, yet I can safely say I guessed who the “third” guilty party was far before it was revealed. But that’s not why the ghosts were in the story, I feel. They add a nice spine-tingling mystery and back drop for the main attraction for me, this man and woman who complete each other and their coming together to overcome their obstacles and scars.

Overall, I found this a lovely historical romance with a hint of the supernatural. The author plays with some heavy subjects and creates a heartwarming story of healing and romance against its backdrop. While a few clichés and correct mystery solution guessing occurred, that in no way detracts from this book. I’d definitely recommend it as a historical or paranormal romance to any lover of the genres. ( )

I had a Great Uncle who died at Ypres in 1917 so was keen to read this story of WWI survivors from same time and place. And indeed, what I most enjoyed about this post WWI story was the character of Paul Morrow, a WWI survivor who had blocked out the details of his cousin's death at Ypres because it was so shocking. Throughout the story - eight years after the fact - the details become more and more lucid to him as other story lines developed (that of his growing friendship with his cousin's widow and the mystery of the ghosts that haunt the family home.) The book's title - Gather the Bones - is so apt and I found the section when they returned to Flanders after Charlie's bones had been found to be so palpable - a wonderful insight in to what closure (or lack thereof) must have been like for many families after the war and how hard it must have been for veterans to return to the battlefields that took their loved ones. A great read about this scarred war generation and what bound them together. ( )