Published: 2022
Author: D.D. Black
Genres: Crime Thriller, Mystery, Police Procedural
Audience: Grade 12, Adult (Mature themes)
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: The Bones at Point No Point
Content Warnings: Infanticide, serial killers, body mutilation/dismemberment, and death of a spouse.
Publisher’s Summary
How do you catch a killer who is already behind bars? Thomas Austin was once a star NYPD detective, famous for locking up the “Holiday Baby Butcher.” Now retired to a small, tranquil beach town in the Pacific Northwest, Austin runs a quiet café and tries to heal from the tragic murder of his wife, a former District Attorney.
His peace is shattered when a mysterious bag of bones appears on a nearby beach. The M.O. is identical to the Butcher, but that killer is currently imprisoned. As Austin is dragged back into the world of law enforcement to hunt a potential copycat, he realizes the killer is closer to the original than he ever imagined. To solve the case, Austin must confront the darkness of his past and a twist that threatens to shake him to his core.
Full Review
This was a gripping, high-tension read with a protagonist who feels incredibly approachable and realistic. Thomas Austin is a man looking for a literal and metaphorical “escape” from his grief, trading the chaos of the NYPD for the tranquility of a beachside restaurant. It’s a setting that feels “just right” for a man trying to outrun his memories—until the horror of his past catches up to him.
As a reader (and especially as a parent), this book can be difficult to get through at points. The concept of the “Holiday Baby Butcher” is inherently horrific, and the author does not shy away from the emotional devastation of a family losing an infant. While the plot moves quickly, I found myself wanting a deeper dive into the killer’s psyche. The “why” behind the murders felt a bit “cookie-cutter” or too easy. I personally felt that replacing the newspaper reporter character with a forensic psychologist would have added the necessary depth to the investigation. However, the atmosphere and the central mystery are strong enough to keep you turning pages. D.D. Black is certainly an author I would return to for future thrillers.
🌊 From “The City” to “The Point”: A Study in Setting
The contrast between Austin’s life in New York and his retirement at Point No Point highlights the theme of escapism vs. reality.
- The Urban Jungle (NYPD): Represents the trauma of his wife’s death and the professional peak of catching the original Butcher.
- The Tranquil Beach (Point No Point): Intended to be a place of healing, the “lapping water” serves as a sensory contrast to the “horrific” bones found on the shore.
- The Café/Store: A symbol of Austin’s attempt to provide “nourishment” and community rather than dealing with death and bone-deep trauma.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
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Psychology (Criminal Profiling): Use the book to discuss why someone might become a copycat.
Activity Idea: Research the “Werther Effect” or media contagion. How does the sensationalism of a nickname like “The Holiday Baby Butcher” potentially encourage copycat behavior?
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ELA (Character Archetypes): Analyze Thomas Austin as the “Retired Hero.”
Activity Idea: Compare Austin to other famous retired detectives in literature (like Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot). What “forces” them back into action? Why is the “one last job” such a popular trope?
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Sociology (The Role of the Media): Discuss the reviewer’s critique of the newspaper writer character.
Activity Idea: Debate the ethics of crime reporting. Does a journalist help an investigation by keeping the public informed, or do they “get in the way” by sensationalizing the horror?
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Forensic Science (Osteology): The discovery of a “bag of bones” starts the mystery.
Activity Idea: Research how forensic anthropologists can determine the age, sex, and cause of death just from skeletal remains. How quickly can a body become “just bones” in a coastal environment?
