It just unfortunately doesn't read as smoothly as the first in the series. It's the mid point in this particular story arc, and there's a lot packed into it because of that. So, it comes down to the fact that I think The Bone Tree suffers from 'middle book syndrome'. The Bone Tree flowed, but just not as beautifully as its predecessor. Like it was put there simply to pick up the pace after a long dialogue or back story portion. The only downside to this particular book is that some of the action feels forced. There are some decisions made that, had I been able to, I would have smacked some of these characters for. I swear, I've never simultaneously wanted to cheer on and punch a character as often as I have during these books.

The action here is just as fast paced as before, putting Penn and his family in the face of danger at every turn. It's like a place set back in time, and it makes for an excellent jumping off point into Penn's newest adventure.

The setting here has its own kind of special magic, managing to set it apart from the rest of the world in a way. Natchez, as well as its surrounding cities, gets the same kind of love that it did before. Which comes in handy, especially the further that things delve into the past. Newly introduced characters are rich, and have deep history surrounding them. Now, on a happy note, there's definitely the same amount of attention to detail that there was in the first book. There are dense portions of explanation into histories of past characters, and how they tie into the ones we are dealing with today. While the premise here is fascinating, tying all the way back into the JFK assassination, the only way to keep that story line going is to throw down a ton of historical knowledge. Where I praised the first book for avoiding the dreaded info dump, The Bone Tree didn't seem to take that same road. I didn't feel that same sense of urgency, where I had to read at a rapid pace to keep up with the action. So, it was a little disappointing that I didn't love this book as much as the first. They have so much passion for doing the right thing, even when it's dangerous, that it's intoxicating. I admit that I've found a bit of a soft spot in my heart for Penn Cage and his little family. I couldn't wait to see what Penn would find himself involved in once I started The Bone Tree. Iles ended that book on a high note, with the kind of climax that leaves you breathless. I finished Natchez Burning with sense of excitement over what was to come.

The bone tree a novel