Library Journal

Spragg's latest novel (after An Unfinished Life) is a gleaming tale about a ranch family in Ishawooa, WY. Not one word is out of place, and each and every character is well drawn and intensely believable. Though ostensibly about a local murder?a teenager is found dead in a meth lab?the book is told from shifting perspectives and succeeds on many levels, with mystery an added attraction. The central character is perhaps Griff, the hub anchoring the spokes that are the other characters, including her 80-year-old grandfather Einar, whom she's dropped out of college to care for. Griff is an artist?the title refers to a piece she has created?and her struggle is the central theme of the book. This "bone fire" is in fact the burning we call life, symbolizing our shared pain as human beings. VERDICT A tribute to the human state and an outstanding work highly recommended for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted novel.?Henry Bankhead, Los Gatos P.L., CA