Ink and Bone

By Lisa Unger

The explosive new thriller by the New York Times bestseller, Lisa Unger.

Twenty-year-old Finley Montgomery has always been different. She’s never been able to control the things that happen to her – not even the pain of a new tattoo or the roar of her motorcycle can drown out the chaos. When she moves to her grandmother’s house in the small town of The Hollows in upstate New York, Finley is hoping to a fresh start.

Then a detective shows up. He knows about Finley’s unusual gifts and he wants her help. There’s a little girl missing and the police investigation has gone cold. Now, time is running out. Only Finley can uncover the truth – but can she find the answers before it’s too late? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Jul 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781471150494

Lisa Unger

Lisa Unger is a NYT and internationally bestselling author. Her books are published in 32 languages, with millions of copies sold worldwide. In 2019, she received two Edgar Award nominations, an honor held by only a few writers including Agatha Christie. Her work has been named on "Best Book" lists from Today, People, GMA, EW, Amazon, IndieBound and many others. She has written for the NYT, WSJ, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives in Florida with her family.

Reviews for Ink and Bone

[veeshee-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was given to me as an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I read the description for this novel, I almost jumped up and down in my seat for excitement. It literally has everything that I love all rolled into one. Mystery? Check. Crazy killings and kidnappings? Check. Badass female protagonists? Check!! Supernatural events? CHECK, CHECK, AND MORE CHECKS! I'm so grateful I got a chance to read this novel so here is my review!

Finley Montgomery is not your ordinary twenty-year old. For as long as she can remember, Finley has had a special gift: she can see into the future and can see beyond the physical world, allowing her to make supernatural things happen. But Finley has no control over her powers, which seem to be growing stronger every day. The only person who can help is her grandmother, Eloise, who lives up in the Hollows, a small town in upstate New York. Finley decides to move there to continue on with her life - while learning how to use her gift. But this "gift" seems both a blessing a curse, as Findley finds herself drawn into the investigation of a young girl that has been missing for ten months. With time running out, Finley is starting to feel the supernatural pull of the Hollows. Will she be able to get to the little girl? Or will the Hollows take her instead?

This book was ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC! Every single aspect of it was well thought out. The story, the characters, the supernatural... it all fit in seamlessly. This novel had so many different areas that it explored; from the need to belong and know who you are to the question of whether there is an afterlife, everything was covered in a brilliant way. I could not put this book down and nor did I want to! Apparently, there were three short stories that the author wrote prior to this novel that were on the same topic of The Hollows; I plan on getting my hands on them ASAP, just because I liked the story so much! There is no need to read the short stories before this one as it all flows well. I cannot wait to read more by this author and I urge you all to give it a shot, too!

[tiffy_reads · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fast paced, edge of your seat thriller that will keep you reading late into the night. Set in a place called The Hollow, there's more than meets the eye of the picturesque town. Finley who is rough around the edges but has a good heart was a very likable character. With a plot twist you don't see coming this book is sure to keep you wondering what's going to happen next. I hope Lisa Unger makes this book a first in a series.

[mmoj_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is my first book by Ms. Unger and now I'm wondering what took so long for me to read her books, after this one you can be sure I'll be reading more.

Finley is a psychic who is living with her grandmother, Eloise, a psychic who is training Finley to use her gifts while Finley attends a local college. Rainer, her former boyfriend and one of the reasons she moved from Seattle has followed her to The Hollows (the family's hometown) because he can't give Finley up. Merri and Wolf are a couple whose daughter, Abbey has been abducted. Merri is convinced Abbey is still alive and she comes to the Hollows in a last ditch effort to find her. She meets with Jones a private detective who sometimes works with Eloise. But Eloise says this case isn't for her, it's for Finley.

Finley is a strong, smart character who has enough brass to keep everything on edge. I enjoyed the relationship between her and Rainer. Eloise and her friend Agatha (anyone catch that one?) are that voice of wisdom - exactly what you would imagine a grandmother and her friend to be. There were lots of clues in the story but it was like looking at a bunch of fun house mirrors - all distorted and not what you would expect so you had to think a bit.

[carpe_librum · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger is about a young woman (Finley) with a paranormal gift who finds herself involved in the search for a missing girl. Finley's grandmother is a well-known psychic who often helps a local detective but Finley isn't ready to listen to her gift. The disappearance of the young girl soon spirals into the investigation of several disappearances in The Hollows in upstate New York. Eerie scenes in the woods and a dark and fearful first person point of view from the missing girl create a palpable feeling of suspense.I'm a real Johnny-come-lately when it comes to author Lisa Unger. Some of her 14 novels have come across my radar in the past - and I've been aware of her popularity amongst fellow readers for a long time - but Ink and Bone is the first novel of hers I've read. I really enjoy the 'crime meets paranormal' genre, and I'm excited to check out her back catalogue.Part crime novel, part paranormal thriller, I thoroughly enjoyed Ink and Bone and can recommend it widely to fans of the crime genre who don't mind a tattooed female protagonist coming to grips with her abilities and trying to do good in the world.* Copy courtesy of Simon & Schuster Australia *

[robynelee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent thriller with paranormal elements that are reminiscent of Stephen King's best novels. This is a character driven work that grabs and keeps the reader's attention. I could not put it down and finished it in a day, despite hunger pangs. I was compelled to get to the conclusion. It's that good! Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

[aztwinmom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Finley, like her grandmother Eloise, has psychic abilities. She hears the whispers of those gone, but still bound to the world. A little girl is kidnapped and a family is in torment, not knowing what has happened to her. Finley hears a sound, over and over. It is a clue to the location of the little girl, but can Finley understand in time? Part horror, part thriller, and part paranormal, I was completely caught up in the story of Finley and her growth and acceptance of her gift and the lost girl's fight to survive. I look forward to reading more of Lisa Unger's books.

[lschwarzman_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book very much. The connection between Finley and Eloise was touching, and the plot kept me reading. I well written, entertaining read!

[jjaylynny · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Deft thriller with supernatural components. I like that the characters are not all likeable, but they are honest (though apparently everyone in Unger's world is pretty beautiful). For some reason I love creepy stuff about creepy backwoods people who do creepy shit. Like that horrible "X-Files" episode that when I say just one or two words about it everyone is always OH MY GOD THAT ONE. We're all fascinated by icky hicks.

[grumpydan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A young girl is abducted when her family goes hiking while staying in The Hollows. Ten months later, her mother, whose marriage is collapsing and her son, a hollow shell of what he was once, hires a P.I. who works with a psychic. He usually works with a psychic name named Eloise, but Eloise has a granddaughter named Finley that has strong visions of events that surrounds The Hollows. As she tries to learn how to deal with her psychic abilities she is also trying her damnedest to locate the missing child. I usually don't read paranormal stories, but do enjoy a good mystery. This was enjoyable.

[lamotamant · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Touchstone for the opportunity to read this title as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Finley Montgomery has been chosen, in her grandmother Eloise's words. She is a listener, a dreamer, and her life has become quite crowded because of it. Desperate to learn more about her nature and whether being chosen will ever feel more like a gift than a burden, Finley moves across the country to live with Eloise and attend a local college in the small, seemingly idyllic town of The Hollows, New York. Sensing a mysterious pull in The Hollows, Finley begins to realize that there are whispers stirring in the woods and she might end up hearing more than she ever bargained for.

Reading the synopsis for Unger's Ink and Bone certainly piqued my interest. I was eager for something thrilling and suspenseful to get wrapped up in and this seemed to punch the ticket with a resounding one two. (How do you like them mixed metaphors, eh?) Noting the supernatural/fantasy elements of the novel further stoked my hopes for an entertaining read.

Unfortunately, Ink and Bone ended up disappointing. It certainly offers an interesting plot premise but the meat of the plot straddled both psychological thriller and the supernatural clumsily whilst deploying very typical genre tropes on the part of both characters and setting that could have been delved into quite a bit more. I think I simply wanted more nuance, more personality. There was a murkiness in how the story unfolded and how little its characters were developed that made the story confusing and hard to grab onto with any real traction.

This is my first experience reading anything by Unger so I don't have a comparison with previous work to draw from/offer. I have heard good things about other books however, which may have inflated my expectations somewhat.

[dianekeenoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was lucky enough to get the ARC directly from Lisa Unger, the author. On one hand, I was really thrilled but, then, I thought what if I don't like it? Well, that didn't happen, I read this book straight through and loved it! There's a lot going on here in The Hollows. Finley Montgomery has always seen people that no one else can see and they are starting to get out of control. She decides to move to The Hollows to live with her grandmother, Eloise Montgomery, a psychic who has been working with Jones Cooper, a detective. She needs her grandmother's help in getting a handle on her own gift. Merri Gleason is a mother who has been looking for her daughter who disappeared ten months ago. Her family has fallen apart after the loss of her daughter and she has nothing else to lose, so she goes to Jones Cooper for help. It's Finley, though, who's getting messages from a young girl and she, more so than her grandmother, starts working on this case. As they get into the investigation, they find out that Merri's daughter, Abbey is not the only young girl to go missing from The Hollows. There are so many layers to this story that it is difficult to put down and I didn't until I finished it. It went on sale this week, don't miss it!

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It has been a few books past since I have read one by this author. Yet I liked this book. The main character, Finley is cool. However I wanted to see more of her gift in action. I found it very intriguing and when she her viewed the whole scene as it played out in front of her with her out of body experience. I felt really connected in that moment to the story and the characters. If Jones was there to be a love interest for Finley, I was not seeing the sparks. Finley and Jones together as friends was the vibe I got. Although, neither one really took the lead on solving the disappearance, they did it together. It was pretty apparent early on how Merri's story tied into the whole investigation. It was a sad one but Merri is a fighter. Even with a broken marriage, she did not give up fighting to discover the truth. The ending was good even if it did take a while to get there. The beginning was great and then about a third of the way into the book it lost some steam. Luckily the last third of the story came together and picked up steam again.

[booksgaloreca · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. I enjoyed the book. It is a fast-paced read with many twists that kept me engrossed. A recommended read.

[amkee-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book tends to jump around and be confusing. The basic story line is great, yet it meanders here and there and has great potential. I think that the author is trying to pull too many stories into the mix, grabbing at too many lead ins to keep the main story focused and on point. The ending seems almost like a dump of information in a quick wrap up, almost as if the author was tired of the story and just wanted to be finished. Better character development with the minor characters rather than just trying to cover their full story in the last two chapters would have lead to a much better book. I loved the fact that it was not the "story book ending" and doesn't leave the "yay, everyone is saved" ending.

[deelightful-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this one. It mixed good old fashioned mystery with the paranormal in some interesting ways.

[Laurika Bester · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The longest book I have ever read. Good story, but so drawn out with unnecessary content.

[Patricia Amodeo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Riveting and intricate...interesting mix of paranormal and crime. A must-read!

[irenecole · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I loved the beginning, and was sure this was going to be a real page turner, but the pace was too slow for my taste. Finley was the only character that I really liked, probably due to her "gifts." I enjoyed the supernatural/paranormal elements of the story but there weren't enough thrills for me to consider this a thriller.

I received a complimentary copy for review

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rarely have I seen a perfect merging of paranormal/psychic ability and crime thriller, but this is it. Creepy in some places, heartbreaking in others, I found it almost impossible to put down. I hope to see these characters many more times, as their continuing adventures promise to keep me on the edge of my seat, and I already care what happens to them. Jones Cooper's steady presence perfectly balances Finley's wild young energy.

advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a dark, psychological thriller set in The Hollows in upstate New York. Jones Cooper returns as a private investigator calling on the help of Eloise Montgomery, a psychic. However, Eloise does not see the situation as well as her granddaughter, Finley, does. Finley assists on the case to locate a missing girl, Abbey Gleason.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A little paranormal, some sociopaths, family drama and crime/private investigators all weave together in this tale. Twenty-year-old Finley Montgomery has supernatural gifts that she is unable to control or really know what they are. Having gotten into trouble at home, she decides it is time to head to "The Hollows" to live with her grandmother and go to school there. Her grandmother will know how to help and guide her. Her boyfriend Rainer, follows her and even though she is trying to end their relationship, there is something pulling them together. Unfortunately for Finley, once she arrives, she starts to hear noises and see even more spirits. Her grandmother is not a lot of help as she just tells her to do what she feels is right and follow the images and feelings. Of course when the story opens, a young girl goes missing, so we know that is going to play into the story. Finley knows that she has to do something and when the missing girl hires the local PI, she steps in to help. She feels time is running out and that she must do something to help. Her grandmother, Eloise, is losing her strength and powers and is not sure what to do to help rid "The Hollows" of the menacing evil that seems to be lurking. Will they find the missing girl? What is the evil?

This was a gripping story with everything I like in a psychological thriller. There are multiple POVs, some interesting characters, good vs evil, and a strong but reluctant heroine. There were some things that happened that I expected, but several that came in a swift twisting conclusion. A good story and exactly what I have come to appreciate in Lisa Unger's writing. If you like a psychological thriller with a paranormal theme, then you will enjoy this book.

[lenamaybooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Hollows is a place with many whispered secrets and Finely Montgomery is one of very few people that can hear them. Twenty-one years old, covered in tattoos and accompanied by three ghostly sisters, Finley just wants to silence the ongoing racket in her head. She can’t make sense of the little boy who sits silently playing with his toy trains or why the ghost of a woman named Faith is always giving her looks of disapproval. Upon waking one day, Finley is met with a brand new ghostly sound that she can’t begin to understand. As much as she tries to ignore the new and probing noise, she just can’t escape it. Could it be linked to a missing person’s case from almost a year ago?
Lisa Unger created a phenomenal masterpiece in Ink and Bone. There is so much mystery hidden in the layers of the story that I never quite grasped ahold of it all until the very last page. Unger gives us a haunting town history, characters that we can love to hate and just enough love and passion and fear to keep us turning pages. The paranormal twist on this particular story never felt unrealistic or too farfetched.
There were several moments throughout this story that were absolutely bone chilling. I found myself jumping at a knock on my door and again when my cat sidled up to me. I found myself holding my breath, begging for answers that never quite came soon enough. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of Ink and Bone, even when it evoked anger, sadness and fear inside me. I recommend this to everyone, if you think you can handle it!
I received a digital copy of this book in an exchange for an honest review via NetGalley

[mary6endersbe · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a book that was a quick read, drew me in right from the beginning and held me into the story until the big finale, which was absolutely breathtaking. Unfortunately, the big finale came at 90% into the book and there was another 10% of “fluff” after that. After the huge adrenaline rush from that incredible scene, it was really hard to read all the nice wrap up the author put in the last part. I understand what the writer was going for—to have all questions in the reader’s mind answered, all the loose ends tied up nicely, and have the reader left in a better feeling place. But honestly, a lot of those things had been foreshadowed or were quickly mentioned before, so I kind of knew them already. The rest, as I said, was a lot of what I would call fluff or filler—things that didn’t add much to the story. I felt like I was moving through quick sand to read that last 10%. As an avid reader, I can say that I don’t mind being left to fill in a few small things for myself. I don’t want to give spoilers so I won’t mention anything specific. The rest of the storyline, the writing was fabulous. I absolutely loved the characters and the main story. Again, the big finale was one that had me turning pages as fast as I could read. I’d have given a full 5 stars but I was let down with the writing at the end of the book, so will give 4 stars. I definitely would recommend this book to thriller readers and fans of paranormal books.

[jfe16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Finley Montgomery doesn’t want to be the person who sees the ones no one else sees. She doesn’t want to have prophetic dreams. She doesn’t want to embrace her “gift.” But she dreams the dreams, sees the unseen ones and, though reluctant to embrace the psychic gift, she rides her Harley-Davidson into The Hollows, sporting pink and black hair and tattoos where her grandmother Eloise sets about helping her to accept her gift.Merri Gleason, a mother desperate to find her missing daughter, approaches private Investigator Jones Cooper and Jones enlists Eloise’s aid. However, the spirits speak to Finley and draw her into the investigation. But Abbey’s been missing for more than a year and, like other children who’ve disappeared in The Hollows, there’s no a trace of her and The Hollows is reluctant to reveal its secrets.As much a story of Finley’s growing into herself and her psychic gift as a mystery, “Ink and Bones” is a well-written, fast-paced paranormal thriller grabs the reader at the beginning and doesn’t ever let go as it twists and turns its way though terror and continually ratchets up the suspense. Interaction between the moody, atmospheric Hollows and the multifaceted, well-developed characters adds dimension to the narrative. The complexity of the plot will keep the pages turning and readers will find themselves reluctant to set this one aside.Highly recommended.

[cathygeha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Characters in this book grabbed me and held on tight. Finley: doing her best to come to terms with being a medium and determining how being as she is will impact her future. At twenty she has her future ahead of her. I want to know more about her.Rainer: loved Finley and followed her from Seattle to The Hollow. I do hope he and Finley will get their happily ever after eventually.Eloise: Finley’s grandmother who has worked as a medium assisting P.I. Jones Cooper find missing people.Abbey: a little girl taken against her will one horrible day.Bobo: damaged and unforgettable.Jason: a young man who may show up in the next book if it is part of a series.Well written with perspectives given from various viewpoints and a plot that drew me in and kept me reading – I found this a powerful story with chilling, dark, intense elements that were all intertwined together to make a splendid if not always happy read. I loved it and loved not being able to fully predict the ending. I also liked the fact that the flaws of characters were not glossed over but instead were exposed allowing me to experience emotions that I would not otherwise have felt. Great story and great writing! I have read that there were books that preceded this one but this is a story able to stand alone. Thank you to Touchstone and NetGalley for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[gpangel_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ink & Bone by Lisa Unger is a 2016 Touchstone publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Having read the three short stories which are preludes to this full length novel, I had a little background about ‘The Hollows’ and the three generations of women empowered with psychic powers, each one coping in different ways. Finley represents the third generation, but is less than thrilled by her gift and the responsibility of it. However, when a case comes to her attention which involves a missing girl, Finley gets sucked into the search whether she wants to or not. I immediately liked Finley, the inked, motorcycle riding wild child, who is not afraid to speak her mind. As conflicted as she is about her future and the emotional drama she will face by accepting her psychic abilities, she does the right thing, and perhaps even learns to not only accept her fate, but embrace it, with a fierceness neither her grandmother or mother ever could. I have some mixed emotions about the story, although it has all the elements needed for an atmospheric chiller, and even came with a few Gothic undertones, which I loved. Everything clicked along nicely with the suspense building with each chapter, the mystery solidifying, and the characters developing, becoming clearer, sharper, and stronger and the story progressed. But, the conclusion, while tense and emotional, lost ground, becoming a little murky, confusing, and with some threads not completely explained or fully closed, leaving me with a feeling of dissatisfaction. I would love to delve into that cryptic opinion, but doing so would give too much away. Despite feeling a little let down and sad by the way some things turned out, I was pleased by the characterizations, the ultimate feeling of closure, and the promise of new beginnings. Finley is a character I will look forward to hearing from again, as she perfects her natural talent and uses it to help others. I think the past generations of gifted women will be very proud and ‘The Hallows’ may actually feel peace- for a little while at least.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Finley Montgomery possesses some unique skills – she can see and communicate with the dead. It is a trait she comes by honestly as her grandmother shares a similar talent that she has used very successfully solving difficult crimes with local police agencies. While Finley has had some difficulties acknowledging her talent, she does admire her grandmother and returns to her childhood home to learn how to deal with her talents in a more positive manner. Unfortunately, a small child has been abducted and it becomes Finley’s case to solve. The action builds continually as the story races to a conclusion that I did not anticipate, making it a great story!

[samsattler · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ink and Bone is one of those books that seem to have so much going for it right up front that I couldn’t wait to get started on it. It combines elements of several genres (mystery, thriller, crime fiction, horror, etc.) and does it in a way that takes each of the various genres seriously enough to keep the story more or less believable no matter how strange some of its paranormal elements eventually become. But at a point just over half way through, the plot took a twist (exaggerated, I think by a slight style-change decision) that began to frustrate and confuse me. And even though the book’s ending is a satisfying one, I still wish it had not become so unnecessarily complicated before reaching that point.Longtime fans of Lisa Unger are likely already to be familiar with Eloise Montgomery, one of the main characters of Ink and Bone because Eloise, a psychic who works closely with a New York state detective to find missing persons, has been featured in several Unger novels and short stories preceding this one. This time around, Eloise has been joined in The Hollows (a rather quaint upstate New York village) by her twenty-year-old granddaughter, Finley, who seems to share the same psychic skills that have so defined her grandmother’s life. Finley’s own powers are growing noticeably without her being able to control or understand them, and the young woman has come to her grandmother for help and advice.And, as it turns out, she is exactly where she needs to be. Little girls and young women have been periodically disappearing (or have otherwise been abused) in The Hollows for a long time – and it is happening again. One mother, who has been looking for her missing daughter for almost a year, and who refuses to give up hope until a body is found, has finally gotten desperate enough to place her last hopes in Eloise and Private Investigator Jones Cooper even though she is not herself a believer in Eloise’s supposed skills. But as it turns out, Eloise is not the psychic in the house who can help her.Ink and Bone has enough of a mystery about it to keep mystery fans turning its pages throughout, and its three main characters are easy ones with which to identify. Too, it has enough of the elements of a pure horror novel going for it that fans of that genre are sure to remain intrigued. Unger stumbles a bit, however, by over-complicating the plot to the degree that it becomes difficult to keep up with a multitude of side-characters and how they relate to main plot. There are so many layers to Ink and Bone that I never did resolve some of them in my mind – and I find that to be frustrating.

[lizme-336298 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book with Finley, Rainer, and MR. Jones and Eloise. It had a good story line alt hough sometimes the back and forth with all the people Finley saw that no one else saw Other than Eloise , took a long time to get back to the part of the story you wanted to read. Even though they did add hints. I want Finley and Rainer to get together. No other hints.Read the book you will really enjoy.