I was truly honored when Kimberly Coghlan, the editor behind Enemies of Doves and A River of Crows, asked to read and review my third novel, The Bone Nest. You can read her review below:
I was so invested in The Bone Nest that I finished it in just a few hours, yet this novel lingers in your thoughts long after the final page. Set against the sweltering heat and simmering politics of small-town Texas, the story weaves together memory, guilt, friendship, and justice in a way that feels both intimate and unsettling, quietly pulling the reader deeper with each chapter.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths lies in its character development. In this story, there are no throwaway roles. Each character is complex and realistically human, and by the end of the book, you feel as though you truly know these people. That sense of familiarity extends even to the minor characters, who are rendered with just as much care and emotional weight as the main cast, which is no small feat.
That depth of character is supported by Gluhm’s precise, disciplined prose. With vivid descriptions that never become excessive, each sentence feels intentional. I never found myself skimming, which speaks to how effectively her language guides the reader forward while still allowing the story to breathe.
Gluhm alternates between two timelines, moving from the summer of the murders in the 1980s to the present day as Troy awaits execution, and she does so with remarkable ease. With seamless, clear transitions, this structure creates a satisfying tension rather than confusion.
While the central mystery focuses on a serial killer and a possible wrongful conviction, the subplots are just as compelling as the main investigation. As a reader, I was invested not only in uncovering the truth behind the murders, but also in the personal histories, regrets, and emotional entanglements that shaped each character’s path long before the crime itself.
The setting further amplifies the story’s impact. In The Bone Nest, Texas is not simply a backdrop, but a living presence. You can feel the oppressive heat, the claustrophobia of a town that never forgets, and the quiet pressure of its political and cultural expectations. The family dynamics are especially well done, particularly Troy’s desperation to escape his small-town life and Hayes’ academic ambitions colliding with his parents’ plans for him—tensions that feel authentic and deeply rooted.
One of the novel’s most impressive achievements is its handling of moral complexity. Gluhm allows readers to experience conflicting emotions, sometimes toward the same character, moving through sympathy, resentment, affection, and grief without offering easy answers. That emotional whiplash works because it feels honest, and because the novel never reduces its characters to simple judgments.
The romantic threads are equally well balanced. They deepen the emotional stakes of the story without distracting from the central mystery, from Greer’s quiet, unresolved love for Hayes to the slow-burn tension between Joaquin and Melrose. Each relationship feels layered, complicated, and emotionally grounded.
Finally, the novel addresses larger issues such as mental health, public perception, and the death penalty with nuance and humanity. Rather than feeling political or didactic, the story invites empathy and asks readers to sit with discomfort and uncertainty, allowing the themes to emerge organically through the characters’ experiences.
In short, The Bone Nest is a gripping psychological thriller that draws you deeply into its characters, delivers twists you don’t see coming, and lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished reading. While all of Shanessa Gluhm’s novels are amazing, this one stands as her most accomplished work to date
Kimberly Coghlan is the founder of Coghlan Professional Writing Services, where she offers editorial guidance, manuscript development, and writing support to authors. Her experience and insight have helped countless writers strengthen their stories and sharpen their craft. You can learn more about her work at her website: https://www.coghlanwriting.com/.
Shanessa Gluhm 