The Bone Thief
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The Bone Thief

by Vanessa Lillie
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  • AuthorVanessa Lillie
  • PublisherBerkley
  • Pages384
  • ISBN9780593550168

About this book

“The Bone Thief is a riveting mystery with a plot that seamlessly blends history with fiction. And Syd Walker is an unforgettable protagonist.”

—Liz Moore, New York Times bestselling author of The God of the Woods

When a Native teenager vanishes from her small town—a place with dark ties to an elite historical society—archeologist Syd Walker is called to investigate . . . from bestselling author Vanessa Lillie.

In the hours before dawn at a local summer camp, Bureau of Indian Affairs archeologist Syd Walker receives an alarming call: newly discovered skeletal remains have been stolen. Not only have bones gone missing, but a Native teen girl has disappeared near the camp, and law enforcement dismisses her family’s fears.

As Syd investigates both crimes, she’s drawn into a world of privileged campers and their wealthy parents—most of them part of the Founders Society, an exclusive club whose members trace their lineage to the first colonists and claim ancestral rights to the land despite fierce objections from the local tribal community. And it’s not the first time something—or someone—has gone missing from the camp.

The deeper Syd digs, the more she realizes these aren’t isolated incidents. A pattern of disappearances stretches back generations, all leading to the Founders Society’s doorstep. But exposing the truth means confronting not just the town’s most powerful families but also a legacy of violence that refuses to stay buried.

From the national bestselling author of Blood Sisters (a Washington Post best mystery novel of the year and Target Book Club pick) comes a new Syd Walker novel that proves the sins of the past are destined to repeat until the truth is finally unearthed.

Author: Vanessa Lillie
Publisher: Berkley
Published: 2026-11-03
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780593550168

Praise for this book

Blood Sisters sets its hooks on page one and then pulls relentlessly and colorfully through buried secrets and rediscovered Native heritage.
C. J. Box , #1 New York Times bestselling author of Storm Watch
Lillie shines a spotlight on problems in the Native community, including the mistreatment of women and the lack of compassion and answers to address these issues. Syd Walker is a force, and Lillie has a perfect heroine to spotlight essential topics while also crafting a great mystery/thriller.
Criminal Element
Combines pulse-pounding action with Cherokee myth and customs. I loved Syd Walker, a compelling new character who’s dealing with her own disturbing family history while trying to unravel the disappearance of several Native women. I hope we’ll see more of Syd Walker soon!
David Heska Wanbli Weiden , award-winning author of Winter Counts
A riveting, thought-provoking, must-read mystery—a perfect blend of truth and fiction that resonated with this reader for days after reading the last action-packed page.
Mystery & Suspense Magazine
Blood Sisters is about Syd and Emma Lou, as well as the thousands of missing and murdered Indigenous women whose cases are never solved, if they’re investigated at all.
The New York Times
Gripping...provides a valuable insider’s look at the injustices that continue to be part of daily life for many Native Americans.
Washington Post

Quoted in excerpt, with attribution. Follow a source link for the full review.