-
Close to the Bone
- Widow's Island Novella Series, Book 1
- Narrated by: Christine Williams
- Series: Widow's Island Novella, Book 1
- Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Crime Fiction
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $9.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
A Bone to Pick
- Widow's Island Novella Series, Book 2
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Christine Williams
- Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deputy Tessa Black gave up her career as a detective with the Seattle PD and returned to the Pacific Northwest island she calls home to care for her ailing mother. Tessa thinks her mother’s illness is the worst thing she’ll face - until she responds to a routine call in the state park and discovers a local man harpooned to a sign. As the murder investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the victim harbored secrets. Together with her FBI agent best friend, Cate, and park ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa must connect the pieces before the murderer strikes again.
-
-
Meh
- By rose on 10-24-19
By: Melinda Leigh
-
A Merciful Death
- Mercy Kilpatrick, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land — and off the grid — in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event.
-
-
I look forward to more in this series
- By Maine Knitter on 01-22-19
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Hidden
- A Bone Secrets Novel
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eleven years ago, the Co-ed Slayer murdered nine female students on the Oregon State University campus. Lacey Campbell barely escaped his attack, but lost her best friend whose remains were never found. As the sole surviving victim, Lacey helped send the sadistic serial killer to prison for life. Now a forensic odontologist examining teeth and bones for the state Medical Examiner, Lacey is devastated when she arrives at a crime scene and identifies the skeletal remains as her college friend’s.
-
-
3.5 stars OK For Under $10
- By Lia on 03-13-17
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Death and Her Devotion
- Rogue Vows, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It should be the happiest weekend of Officer Stevie Taylor's life. She's finally going to marry Police Chief Zane Duncan and live happily ever after in Solitude, Oregon. But all wedding plans grind to a halt when a dead body is found at a nearby campground. A vacationing A-list TV actor has been murdered...and all hell is about to break loose.
-
-
Awesome novellas..
- By Trish R. on 11-27-16
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Twisted Truth
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Detective Seth Harding responds to shots being fired, he faces a familiar sight: a double homicide. However, he is shocked to find a young boy chained in the basement. The terrified child refuses to speak, but Seth knows he is the key to something sinister. Reluctantly, Seth calls the only social worker he trusts with the traumatized boy - his wife. Carly is recovering from her own trauma suffered on the job, but she can't turn away from this case, not from another child in trouble.
-
-
New novella from Melinda Leigh
- By Wayne on 11-03-17
By: Melinda Leigh
-
The Last Sister
- Columbia River, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Mikael Naramore
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twenty years ago Emily Mills's father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed. Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night - until an eerily similar murder brings it all back.
-
-
It was ok
- By Kelly C. on 01-15-20
By: Kendra Elliot
-
A Bone to Pick
- Widow's Island Novella Series, Book 2
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Christine Williams
- Length: 3 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deputy Tessa Black gave up her career as a detective with the Seattle PD and returned to the Pacific Northwest island she calls home to care for her ailing mother. Tessa thinks her mother’s illness is the worst thing she’ll face - until she responds to a routine call in the state park and discovers a local man harpooned to a sign. As the murder investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that the victim harbored secrets. Together with her FBI agent best friend, Cate, and park ranger Logan Wilde, Tessa must connect the pieces before the murderer strikes again.
-
-
Meh
- By rose on 10-24-19
By: Melinda Leigh
-
A Merciful Death
- Mercy Kilpatrick, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Teri Schnaubelt
- Length: 10 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
FBI special agent Mercy Kilpatrick has been waiting her whole life for disaster to strike. A prepper since childhood, Mercy grew up living off the land — and off the grid — in rural Eagle’s Nest, Oregon. Until a shocking tragedy tore her family apart and forced her to leave home. Now a predator known as the cave man is targeting the survivalists in her hometown, murdering them in their homes, stealing huge numbers of weapons, and creating federal suspicion of a possible domestic terrorism event.
-
-
I look forward to more in this series
- By Maine Knitter on 01-22-19
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Hidden
- A Bone Secrets Novel
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 10 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eleven years ago, the Co-ed Slayer murdered nine female students on the Oregon State University campus. Lacey Campbell barely escaped his attack, but lost her best friend whose remains were never found. As the sole surviving victim, Lacey helped send the sadistic serial killer to prison for life. Now a forensic odontologist examining teeth and bones for the state Medical Examiner, Lacey is devastated when she arrives at a crime scene and identifies the skeletal remains as her college friend’s.
-
-
3.5 stars OK For Under $10
- By Lia on 03-13-17
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Death and Her Devotion
- Rogue Vows, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 2 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It should be the happiest weekend of Officer Stevie Taylor's life. She's finally going to marry Police Chief Zane Duncan and live happily ever after in Solitude, Oregon. But all wedding plans grind to a halt when a dead body is found at a nearby campground. A vacationing A-list TV actor has been murdered...and all hell is about to break loose.
-
-
Awesome novellas..
- By Trish R. on 11-27-16
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Twisted Truth
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 3 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Detective Seth Harding responds to shots being fired, he faces a familiar sight: a double homicide. However, he is shocked to find a young boy chained in the basement. The terrified child refuses to speak, but Seth knows he is the key to something sinister. Reluctantly, Seth calls the only social worker he trusts with the traumatized boy - his wife. Carly is recovering from her own trauma suffered on the job, but she can't turn away from this case, not from another child in trouble.
-
-
New novella from Melinda Leigh
- By Wayne on 11-03-17
By: Melinda Leigh
-
The Last Sister
- Columbia River, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell, Mikael Naramore
- Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Twenty years ago Emily Mills's father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed. Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night - until an eerily similar murder brings it all back.
-
-
It was ok
- By Kelly C. on 01-15-20
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Vanished
- Callahan & McLane, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Nick Podehl, Amy McFadden
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When an eleven-year-old is abducted on her way to school, the FBI doesn’t waste a moment, sending agents to scour the area and embedding Special Agent Ava McLane with the distraught family. In the eye of the storm is local detective Mason Callahan, whose life is crumbling to pieces - he’s related to the victim, and his longtime confidential informant has just been murdered.
-
-
Annoying narration.
- By Katie on 06-30-16
By: Kendra Elliot
-
On Her Father's Grave
- Rogue River Novella, Book 1
- By: Kendra Elliot
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 3 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Stevie Taylor had left her sleepy Oregon hometown for a more exciting life. But after her police chief father passes away, the LAPD cop returns to Solitude and signs on as a patrol officer, hoping to heal from her loss... and from the horrific things she's seen in the city. In Solitude, everyone knows everyone else's business - and, to Stevie's dismay, local gossip soon ties her to the new police chief and a man from her past.
-
-
Oh so good! Good plot. Good characters and nicely written. An easy read but interesting
- By DeeJ on 05-28-15
By: Kendra Elliot
-
Tracks of Her Tears
- Rogue Winter Novella, Book 1
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Kate Rudd
- Length: 3 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
County investigator Seth Harding intends to spend the holidays with his newly reconciled family, but a few days before Christmas, a homicide thwarts his plan. Seth arrives at the scene and makes a painful discovery: the victim is his brother-in-law's girlfriend. Her apartment has been ransacked and her toddler left motherless. To make matters worse, Seth's brother-in-law, Bruce, is missing. With Solitude locked in a rare, deadly deep freeze and the temperature plummeting, the residents launch a desperate search.
-
-
I couldn't finish this.
- By Amazon Customer on 01-24-20
By: Melinda Leigh
-
Hour of Need
- Scarlet Falls, Book 1
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
While fighting in Afghanistan, Major Grant Barrett receives devastating news: his brother and sister-in-law have been murdered in Scarlet Falls, the sleepy suburb of Grant's youth. Emotionally scarred from war, the career soldier returns home on emergency leave to temporarily care for his orphaned nephew and niece. But when someone tries to kidnap the kids and their teenage babysitter, Grant knows it's not a random act... and neither were the murders.
-
-
Unoriginal
- By happycrazymommy on 04-17-15
By: Melinda Leigh
-
Midnight Exposure
- Midnight, Book 1
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Scott Schumaker
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When two hikers disappear from their hometown in Maine, everyone blames the blinding storms. But the truth is far more sinister. Unaware of the danger, tabloid photographer Jayne Sullivan follows an anonymous tip to find the most reclusive sculptor in the art world. Instead, she finds mysterious handyman Reed Kimball - and a small town full of fatal secrets.
-
-
A-W-F-U-L narrator!! Be warned!!!!!!!!!
- By Valerie J. Dumond on 01-29-17
By: Melinda Leigh
-
Say You're Sorry
- Morgan Dane, Book 1
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Cris Dukehart
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
After the devastating loss of her husband in Iraq, Morgan Dane returns to Scarlet Falls, seeking the comfort of her hometown. Now, surrounded by family, she’s finally found peace and a promising career opportunity - until her babysitter is killed and her neighbor asks her to defend his son, Nick, who stands accused of the murder.
-
-
Trite, tired dialogue
- By C. Owley on 06-17-17
By: Melinda Leigh
-
She Can Run
- She Can, Book 1
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Amy Rubinate
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Elizabeth was a young widow with two small children when she met Congressman Richard Baker. Handsome and wealthy, with a sparkling public image, Richard seemed like the perfect man to provide the security that Beth and her kids were craving. But when she uncovers a dangerous secret about her new husband, Beth realizes he will go to any lengths - even murder - to keep it. After barely escaping with her life, she and her children flee.
-
-
Started Off Slow
- By Katrina on 02-13-15
By: Melinda Leigh
-
Cross Her Heart
- Bree Taggert, Book 1
- By: Melinda Leigh
- Narrated by: Christina Traister
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For more than twenty-five years, Philadelphia homicide detective Bree Taggert has tucked away the nightmarish childhood memories of her parents’ murder-suicide…. Until her younger sister, Erin, is killed in a crime that echoes that tragic night: innocent witnesses and a stormy marriage that ended in gunfire. There’s just one chilling difference. Erin’s husband, Justin, has vanished.
-
-
A good procedural drama with a hint of romance
- By Yara N. on 03-30-20
By: Melinda Leigh
-
Vanishing Girls
- Detective Josie Quinn
- By: Lisa Regan
- Narrated by: Eilidh Beaton
- Length: 11 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Everyone in the small town of Denton is searching for Isabelle Coleman, a missing 17-year-old girl. All they've found so far is her phone and another girl they didn't even know was missing. Mute and completely unresponsive to the world around her, it's clear this mysterious girl has been damaged beyond repair. All Detective Josie Quinn can get from her is a name: Ramona. Currently suspended from the force for misconduct, Josie takes matters into her own hands as the name leads her to evidence linking the two girls.
-
-
Beware! Story would have been really good,but NOT the narrator!!
- By Valerie J. Dumond on 09-30-18
By: Lisa Regan
-
The Girls in the Snow
- Nikki Hunt, Book 1
- By: Stacy Green
- Narrated by: Kate Handford
- Length: 11 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the remote forests of Stillwater, Minnesota, you can scream for days and no one will hear you. So when the bodies of two 15-year-old girls are discovered frozen in the snow, Special Agent Nikki Hunt is sure the killer is local: Someone knew where to hide the girls and thought they would never be found. Though Nikki hasn’t been home in 20 years, she knows she must take over the case.
-
-
Everything was just...bad
- By Theotokos on 03-27-21
By: Stacy Green
-
Near You
- By: Mary Burton
- Narrated by: Melissa Moran
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Forensic psychologist and single mother Ann Bailey has joined forces with Montana Highway Patrol officer Bryce McCabe. An expert in untangling the motives of depraved minds, Ann is tasked to help solve the mystery of two murdered women doused with gasoline and set aflame. It’s not hard for Ann to be reminded of the charismatic Elijah Weston, who served a decade in prison for arson - a crime that nearly cost Ann her life. Elijah may have been exonerated, but the connection to these rage killings is impossible for Ann to ignore.
-
-
Too predictable and no thrills
- By Madeline Burkhardt on 08-17-21
By: Mary Burton
-
The Deep, Deep Snow
- By: Brian Freeman
- Narrated by: January LaVoy
- Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deputy Shelby Lake was abandoned as a baby, saved by a stranger who found her in the freezing cold. Now, years later, a young boy is missing - and Shelby is the one who must rescue a child. The only evidence of what happened to 10-year-old Jeremiah Sloan is a bicycle left behind on a lonely road. After a desperate search fails to locate him, the close bonds of Shelby’s hometown begin to fray under the weight of accusations and suspicion. Everyone around her is keeping secrets.
-
-
M'eh!
- By Kelly W. on 11-19-19
By: Brian Freeman
Publisher's Summary
An Amazon Charts bestseller.
From Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kendra Elliot comes the first novella in the thrilling Widow’s Island series.
FBI Special Agent Cate Wilde is back home on a remote Pacific Northwest island when she gets the call: a teenager’s skeletal remains have been found on a nearby island.
Together with Tessa Black, a childhood friend turned local deputy, Cate confronts dreary weather and bleak leads to make sense of the death. The complications pile up as Cate is distracted by the coroner on the case - and by nagging memories that draw her twenty years into the past. The remains suggest eerie similarities between this victim, and Cate and Tessa’s friend Samantha, who disappeared when she was fourteen.
Cate finds herself up against closemouthed locals, buried town secrets, and even her own heart. As the case unravels, will she be able to cut through the fog and find justice for the missing and the dead?
More from the same
What listeners say about Close to the Bone
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Trish R.
- 10-25-18
Okay story and lousy narration..
Okay, this could never be one of my favorite novellas by Kendra Elliot. However, I don’t know if it was a bad novella or if it was the bad narration that made it bad. If I get the next book it will be to just read it.
It was about bones that were dug up and the search for the killer, which was a surprise when I found out who it was.
I liked Kate (FBI) and Tessa (Deputy) and Henry (new doctor in town) they were great characters
A slight touch of romance and the F-bomb was used 6 times.
As to the narration: 29 Performance reviews and 24 were 4 and 5 stars? You gotta be kidding.
Christine Williams totally stunk. Every single person, male and female, sounded the same. How can anyone give a narrator 5 stars while listening to a man that sounds like a girl? Not to mention she reads without emotions. I’m done listening to Kendra Elliot if that’s the kind of narrator she and her publisher choose. I’ve read or listened to 11 of KE’s books and novellas and this is the worse yet. Christine Williams narrates the next novella too, A Bone to Pick, so I won’t be getting that audio. If you can’t even attempt to sound manly Ms. Williams you shouldn’t be a narrator. IMO.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Patricia M. Brown
- 10-25-18
Not for Me
Maybe an ok story but I can't get past the narrator. Her performance is not what I like. There is no "acting" in her reading, it's like she just reads a book without feeling for the characters. I stopped trying about half way through the book.
I really like Kendra Elliot but not this performer.
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- Marilyn
- 05-23-19
Ending stinks
I don't like to be left hanging like that! Do they get the bones identified???? Bummer ending!!!!!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Wayne
- 11-03-18
Not up to Kendra Elliot's normal standards
All of Kendra Elliot's audiobooks are in my Audible library and almost all have earned 5 stars. Her novella CLOSE TO THE BONE is OK, but is a disappointment. The bigger disappointment is the narration by Christine Williams. Kate Rudd has narrated most of Elliot's audiobooks superbly. I wish she had narrated this novella.
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amanda Gerber
- 07-05-20
AWFUL
The narrator was awful the book was really short corny about an island with ghost and killers and FBI agent with a past it was awful!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kindle Customer
- 10-27-18
Kendra Elliot continued to intrigued
I loved the book! Kendra continued to hold me on the edge of my sit with this book as she did with the prior ones!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tamye Whitener
- 05-10-22
Engaging Mystery with a bit of romance.
I was captivated from beginning to end. Relatable characters, yummy ice cream, and happy cows. What more can you ask for?
The narrator did a wonderful job giving different voices to the various characters.
Overall, this was an excellent story to listen to. I look forward to listening to more stories in this series, and by this author.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- dbbooknerd
- 04-27-22
Mysterious Island Life
This is a quirky mystery with some quaint islanders and plenty of potential for more to come.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Booklass
- 04-21-22
I liked this short one
I wasn't sure I would like this because it is a new author and really short. However, I am interested enough to read/listen to the next in this series.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 03-23-22
nice mystery good ending. like narration unless sh
nice mystery good narration except when changing voice for a man talking sounds nothing like it
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Christina
- 12-01-21
Good Listen But Overpriced
These are inly 2 hour stories yet are charged the full price a book lasting 13 hrs would be. Seems crazy! They are easy to listen to and decent short stories but waaaayyy overpriced! Should be half the cost of a normal book.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- J.R
- 03-05-21
Great story line, interesting and gripping.
Was brilliantly narrated by Christine Williams. Loved the story and the characters were believable and interesting.