Old Bones

Old Bones, the second novel by Trudy Nan Boyce, continues the story of homicide detective Sarah Alt, “Salt.” Having spent over thirty years in law enforcement in Atlanta, Boyce is qualified to take readers to places they would not consider going alone. She presents her version of law enforcement members and the society with which they interact without glorifying either, while tackling the tough subjects of racism and sex trafficking.

The main character, Salt, is trying to come to terms with a difficult family history while she embarks on a new stage in her life. At the same time, she is working to help a young man who faces serious challenges to his future.

Boyce skillfully walks the line between providing too much or too little in the way of resolving these conflicts. However, the character development and plot don’t seem to hit their stride until approximately two-thirds of the way through the book. This may be intentional; not all books are written in the same style. It did seem that there was a rush at the end to tie up a lot of loose ends. Even so, the ending is worth the wait.