Book Review: The Bone Hunger

Author: Carrie Rubin

Published: 2020

Rating: 5/5

Benjamin Oris’s life is going well, for once. After a supernatural ordeal three-and-a-half years ago in The Bone Curse nearly derailed his medical career before it began, and jeopardized the lives of those he loved, Oris seems to be living the American dream. He is now a second year orthopedic resident, is being mentored by a renowned surgeon, and has a wonderful young son. It doesn’t take long before all of that is threatened.

Oris is on a jog in a park when discovers a severed leg. As he examines the leg closer, he notices a shiny orthopedic implant in the detached limb. It isn’t just any implant –  it’s a specially designed implant that he himself helped install in the victim. 

Detectives immediately add Oris’s name to a list of potential suspects, along with the rest of the close-knit surgical team. To make matters more complicated, Oris discovers that his mentor, Dr. Lock, isn’t the humanitarian he makes out to be and may have stolen the design for the revolutionary implants from his friend, the chief resident.  

Detectives intensify their investigation and scrutiny of Oris as more bodies begin to turn up. All of the victims share certain features: 1) they were orthopedic patients who received implants from Dr. Lock and his team, and 2) the limbs had been partially consumed by someone…or something. 

Once again, Oris finds his career and life in jeopardy and he takes it upon himself to investigate the mysterious deaths with the help of his long-time friend, Laurette. 

Although serial killer novels are nothing new, the medical setting and supernatural elements keep this novel fresh and exciting, and the reader wanting more. Rubin expertly crafts this story in a way that makes it hard to put down from its mysterious beginning to its dramatic end.