The atmospheric, chilling series continues…

Book blurb

When reporter Martha Strangeways is summoned to investigate the discovery of body parts on a remote railway track, she’s drawn into a strange case, as her own past comes back to haunt her… 

Rituals

Secrets

A killer who will protect them at any cost…

Martha Strangeways has settled into a quiet life in Strathbran, after the horrific events that traumatised the village a year earlier. But all this is turned upside down when her friend at Glasgow CID, DI Derek Summers, calls on her to help with a disturbing case: a human ear, with an unusual Celtic earring, has been found next to a railway line in the Highlands.

When the body of a young woman wearing matching jewellery turns up at a landmark church shortly after, the mystery deepens. Why has she been laid out in a ritualistic fashion? Does her trek along the little known Cailleach Way have anything to do with her death? And who is running the Facebook group where she posted details of her journey to the shrine of the Bone Mother goddess?

As Martha tries to unpick the threads, she finds herself entwined with a ghost from her own past, and in conflict with the owner of a project that threatens to destroy the goddess’s sacred land.

With Halloween approaching, and someone determined to protect the goddess at all costs, can Martha and Summers catch the killer before they strike again, and this time much closer to home

My thoughts

Martha Strangeways is back in this second book of the series by Suzy Aspley. Martha is a journalist. It’s twelve months on since the dreadful happenings of Crow Moon Suzy Aspley’s debut book and the consequences of that story are still being felt particularly with regard to Martha’s good friend Orla, who is expecting, and the father of her baby Peter Locke who had a breakdown and is in church residential care as he continues to recover after the actions of his father Elijah.

The book opens with an eerie, atmospheric scene in which an unknown narrator tells of an ancient ritual that surrounds a deity who protects the area and all its creatures. After winter in the shelter of a cave stones representing the Cailleach and other ephemera are brought out into the open. It may be the last time it can take place as a development is to submerge the area. The narrator sees a snow-white fox and resolves to do everything possible to save this place. Placing some offerings down a prayer is said to the Bone Mother.

Martha gets a call from her boss at the newspaper about a potential newsworthy story as a police presence is spotted on rail tracks up towards Oban. It doesn’t seem worthy enough for Martha to trek all the way up there but she decides to call D I Derek Summers to check it out. What he tells her in confidence really peaks her interest. It was time she got on the job, a trip north was needed to find out for herself.

Orla wasn’t sleeping strange noises and weird things were upsetting her. She’d seen Martha and heard about a grisly find near Oban. It hadn’t helped her to settle although the chat had been calming. She thought about Emma who had been referred to her by the Facebook group and had come to stay before starting on her trek of the Cailleach Way.

So, whilst the police and the temporarily promoted DCI Summers conduct their investigation into the case of the severed ear, Martha begins her own enquiries into what is going on and the more she learns the more troubled she becomes about the young woman who’s ear was found. When she hears of another young woman walking the Cailleach Way she feels very concerned. How does this all tie in with the development project? What is the significance of the jewellery? As Samhainn, halloween, fast approaches will there be more deaths? Can Martha find the young woman to warn her? What is happening with Orla? Is she being targeted by supernatural forces? As a dread and darkness spreads in Martha’s mind things get worse and when Orla disappears Martha is terrified for her friend, what is happening? Will Martha find her? Will Orla be alive? Who is behind all these terrible, murderous acts? As Martha puts herself into great danger will Summers get to them in time?

In this dark, atmospheric tale of rituals, unearthly powers and very human tragedy Suzy Aspley has given us another excellent story. In this complex, fascinating story we are once more gripped by mysterious, dark and deadly events that are so well written that it had me hooked from the start to the very thrilling conclusion.

What a story, I definitely recommend it!

Thanks

With many thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for the invitation to this amazing BlogTour and to the wonderful Orenda Books for providing an ebook in order to read and share my thoughts on The Bone Mother by Suzy Aspley.

BlogTour

It’s been a delight to be part of this BlogTour so why not take a look at these terrific blogs and then pop below to purchase your very own copy of The Bone Mother.

Information

Published: Orenda Books Ltd| 7 May 2026 | 276 pp | EAN/UPC9781916788886

Buy: Orenda Books | Your local bookshop | Hive |AmazonSmileUK | bookshop.org (affiliate link) | Your local library

Author: Originally from the north east of England, former journalist Suzy Aspley has lived in Scotland for almost 30 years. She writes crime and short stories often inspired by the strange things she sees in the landscape around her. She won Bloody Scotland’s Pitch Perfect in 2019 with the original idea for her debut novel and was shortlisted in the London Capital crime festival’s new voices award. In 2020, she was mentored by Jo Dickinson as part of the Hachette future bookshelf initiative. Her novel Crow Moon was long listed for the Caledonia Novel Award. When she’s not writing, she’s either got her nose buried in a book, or is outside with her dogs dreaming up more dark stories.

Twitter @writer_suzy on | instagram @suzyaspleybooks | website: Suzy Apsley Writer

Books

Martha Strangeways Series

Crow Moon | The Bone Mother