The first in a gripping new series by Paula Munier,A Borrowing of Bones is full of complex twists, introducing a wonderful new voice for mystery readers and dog lovers.

Grief and guilt are the ghosts that haunt you when you survive what others do not….

After their last deployment, when she got shot, her fiancé Martinez got killed and his bomb-sniffing dog Elvis got depressed, soldier Mercy Carr and Elvis were both sent home, her late lover’s last words ringing in her ears: “Take care of my partner.”

Together the two former military police—one twenty-nine-year-old two-legged female with wounds deeper than skin and one handsome five-year-old four-legged Malinois with canine PTSD—march off their grief mile after mile in the beautiful remote Vermont wilderness.

Even on the Fourth of July weekend, when all of Northshire celebrates with fun and frolic and fireworks, it’s just another walk in the woods for Mercy and Elvis—until the dog alerts to explosives and they find a squalling baby abandoned near a shallow grave filled with what appear to be human bones.

U.S. Game Warden Troy Warner and his search and rescue Newfoundland Susie Bear respond to Mercy’s 911 call, and the four must work together to track down a missing mother, solve a cold-case murder, and keep the citizens of Northshire safe on potentially the most incendiary Independence Day since the American Revolution.

It’s a call to action Mercy and Elvis cannot ignore, no matter what the cost.

Paula Munier's profile page

PAULA MUNIER is the author of the bestsellingPlot Perfect,The Writer’s Guide to Beginnings,Writing with Quiet Hands,andFixing Freddie: A True Story of a Boy, a Mom, and a Very, Very Bad Beagle.She was inspired to writeA Borrowing of Bones by the hero working dogs she met through MissionK9Rescue, her own Newfoundland retriever mix rescue Bear, and a lifelong passion for crime fiction. She lives in New England with her family, Bear, and a torbie tabby named Ursula.

"Munier’s perfectly paced tale crackles with fast-paced dialogue and elegant descriptions that would make the likes of John Hart and James Lee Burke proud. But it’s her writing about animals, dogs in particular, that truly sparkles and distinguishes her from the pack." —Jon Land,Booktrib

"Comparisons may be made between Munier's debut mystery and Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 mysteries. A stronger read-alike is Julia Spencer Felming's mysteries featuring Rev. Clare Fergusson, another female veteran. The believable dogs, the touches of humor, the independent, determined Mercy, and well-crafted characters will bring readers back." —Library Journal (starred review and debut of the month)

"The portrayal of working dogs will appeal to fans of David Rosenfelt and Margaret Mizushima. The blend of lovingly detailed setting and lively characters, both human and canine, makes this a series to watch." —Publishers Weekly

"Finally, a suspense novel that combines my two loves: a thrilling police procedural, assisted by two fabulous working dogs. A one-sit read that will make you happy you did." —Lisa Gardner, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofLook for Me
"A compelling mix of hard edges and easy charm - I loved this book.” —Lee Child, #1New York Timesbestselling author

“A Borrowing of Bones is a nuanced nail-biter with a compelling quartet of crime fighters: two extraordinary rescue and rescued dogs and their human handlers." — Hallie Ephron,New York Times bestselling author ofYou’ll Never Know, Dear

"This is why we read crime fiction! The immensely talented Paula Munier had me at page one with indelibly drawn characters in a heartbreaking, compelling and incredibly intelligent story. Plus, the greatest dogs on the planet. Fans of William Kent Krueger and C.J. Box will devour this terrific book." —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, Mary Higgins Clark and Macavity Award-Winning Author

"Who let the dogs out? Paula Munier did, in a terrific new mystery thriller about two admirably resilient human characters and their smart, sturdy, resourceful canine sidekicks, who track a collection of murderous suspects across the glorious Green Mountains of Vermont. Come for the action and the mystery, stay for all the other pleasures of a novel that will keep you turning pages right up to the satisfying final passages." —William Martin,New York Times bestselling author of Back Bay andBound for Gold
"Paula Munier has that special gift for bringing fictional dogs to life, and she's just as adept with humans. I read this book in one sitting, and so will you. A Borrowing of Bones is a terrific mystery." —Spencer Quinn,New York Timesbestselling author

"Wow! I couldn’t put it down. (Warning: Don’t start this one at bedtime.) Paula is an artist. Her prose is breathtaking, the story compelling, the pace exhilarating. Truly, I loved it.A Borrowing of Bonesis an exultant exploration of decency, honor, and patriotism. Beautifully crafted, thoroughly enjoyable." —Jane K. Cleland, Agatha Award-winning author

"If you love dogs and mysteries, you have two reasons to loveA Borrowing of Bones. Paula Munier's page turner is made even more memorable by her keen insight and love of dogs." —Larry Kay, award-winning dog author ofTraining the Best Dog Ever andLife's A Bark

"An entertaining, escapist retreat." —Shelf Awareness
"A novel that hooks the reader from the first page and begins a projected series,A Borrowing of Bones shines as a paean to veterans and service dogs." —Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star