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Bad To The Bones: An absolutely gripping crime thriller with a massive twist (Evan Buckley Thrillers Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.3 out of 5 stars 23,950 ratings

Some doors are nailed shut for a reason.
Evan Buckley’s wife Sarah went to work one day and didn’t come home. He’s never stopped looking for her. Haunted by his memories, driven by his relentless quest for the truth, he loses himself in other people's problems. Lucky for him his latest client, the reclusive Linda Clayton, has got more than enough to keep him busy.

Not so lucky for her. When her son Daniel disappeared ten years ago, she didn’t think her life could get any worse—until her husband ran away, that is. Makes you thankful you're not Linda Clayton.

After Evan’s last case ended in disaster, he’s at the end of his tether, his self-esteem at a dangerously low ebb—until fate throws him headlong into Linda Clayton's wretched world and a long-dead investigation that everybody wants to stay that way.

Except Evan never learned to do what everybody wants, and he vows to find answers for her that he can’t find for himself. As the suspense ratchets up, he’s caught in a desperate fight for his life with a stone-cold killer who will stop at nothing to protect his secrets ...

With action-packed twists and turns and a pace that doesn’t let up until the chilling conclusion, Bad to The Bones is a brilliant debut to a gripping new crime series from James Harper.

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There are 20 books in this series.

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From the Publisher

private detective mysteries,private investigator,crime thriller series,private detective series
private detective mysteries,private investigator,crime thriller series,private detective series

What Critics Say About James Harper and The Evan Buckley Crime Thrillers

“I absolutely loved this one. I laughed, cried and held my breath on more than one occasion. Lost sleep as I couldn't put it down, and you left me wanting more.”

"I love the honest grittiness of this new character, his flaws, his heart and his determination."

"So good I bought another....and another...."

"Boy oh boy page turner all the way."

"Try and solve this mystery. No chance."

"Don't pick it up, if you don't have time to not put it down."

James Harper Evan Buckley in order
Bad To The Bones: Evan Buckley Thrillers #1
Kentucky Vice: Evan Buckley Thrillers #2
Sins Of The Father: Evan Buckley Thrillers #3
No Rest For The Wicked: Evan Buckley Thrillers #4
Resurrection Blues: Evan Buckley Thrillers #5
Hunting Dixie: Evan Buckley Thrillers #6
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 23,950
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,928
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,093
4.3 out of 5 stars 1,033
4.4 out of 5 stars 944
4.5 out of 5 stars 807
Price $0.00 $2.99 $2.99 $2.99 $2.99 $2.99
The Road To Deliverance: Evan Buckley Thrillers #7
Sacrifice: Evan Buckley Thrillers #8
Rough Justice: Evan Buckley Thrillers #9
Touching Darkness: Evan Buckley Thrillers #10
A Long Time Coming: Evan Buckley Thrillers #11
Box Set: Evan Buckley Thrillers #1-4
Customer Reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars 781
4.5 out of 5 stars 828
4.6 out of 5 stars 751
4.5 out of 5 stars 709
4.5 out of 5 stars 689
4.4 out of 5 stars 336
Price $2.99 $3.99 $3.99 $3.99 $3.99 $6.99

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B076H9C28F
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ James Harper Books
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 16, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 20 ‏ : ‎ Evan Buckley Thrillers
  • Best Sellers Rank: #494 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 23,950 ratings

About the author

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James Harper
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James Harper is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the wildly popular Evan Buckley crime thrillers. His novels weave tales full of mystery, non-stop action and edge-of-your-seat suspense with laugh-out-loud humor and a touch of romance, and feature maverick private-eye Evan Buckley and his sometimes partner in crime, Detective Kate Guillory.

For the past twenty-five years James has lived in a 400 year old cottage in the woods with his wife and their cats, Leonard and Lily. In his spare time James does what he’s told (if he knows what’s good for him) and likes touring Europe on his motorbike.

You can sign up for James' readers' group at http://jamesharperbooks.com/free-book/ and get TWO FREE Evan Buckley short stories - Fallen Angel and A Rock And A hard Place. Both of these books are exclusive to James' subscribers - you can't buy them here on Amazon or anywhere else.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
23,950 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this crime thriller for its many twists and turns, with one review noting it's a great mystery read. The book receives positive feedback for its well-written dialogue, believable characters, and quick-moving plot that's easy to read. The humor receives mixed reactions, with some finding the banter laugh-out-loud funny while others find it hilariously bad in places. The violence level also draws mixed reactions, with several customers finding the graphic scenes too intense.

580 customers mention "Suspenseful story"511 positive69 negative

Customers enjoy the suspenseful story of the book, describing it as a straightforward mystery with many twists and turns.

"Suspenseful, exciting, thrilling. Evan is fighting his demons, while helping Linda with hers...." Read more

"...All in all, a good story, keeping you guessing." Read more

"I like that it had twist and turns to keep you turn page after page, guessing how everything was going to turn out." Read more

"What a surprise ending. Great story, easy read, fantastic finally...." Read more

468 customers mention "Readability"468 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and satisfying, with one mentioning it was a pleasant summer or COVID-19 read.

"...All the while, you never know who's sneaking up behind you! Great read!" Read more

"...Nice little clues and hints near and there. Good read." Read more

"...It's a good read and I look forward to reading more books, in this series...." Read more

"This was a great read! It held me spellbound through the whole book. Kept me reading until after 3:30 AM to finish it!" Read more

241 customers mention "Writing quality"205 positive36 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its well-crafted descriptive phrases and believable dialogue.

"...Overall, Bad to the Bones is a well written, riveting story that anyone interested in a good crime mystery would enjoy reading." Read more

"Very graphic ending Well written. It was easy to get inside the characters." Read more

"Great writing and a very good story. It holds your attention right up to the last page...." Read more

"...Will he be able to solve the mystery? Suspense filled and gritty. This is the first I've read by this author and I'm planning on reading more...." Read more

223 customers mention "Character development"195 positive28 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, finding them well thought out and easy to get inside.

"Really fun read! Great characters.All I needed to enjoy. I will be getting more of Mr. Harper's books. Give him a try you will love it." Read more

"...Excellent book, great characters, if you read this book in bed thinking you will doze off, think again...." Read more

"Fast moving story with interesting characters...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the book, the mystery, the characters and was interested in reading the following books just to see how the personal history of the..." Read more

126 customers mention "Pacing"101 positive25 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, noting that the story moves quickly, with one customer describing it as holding their interest while speeding like a freight train.

"Great read- fast paced, well written." Read more

"Entertaining, crisp, sometimes humorous story. Fast paced with good characterizations. Action scenes well played out...." Read more

"...Evan and defines his reason for leaving his reporting job and branching out as a PI...." Read more

"...I found it to be a fast read and very entertaining. I will continue on with the series." Read more

43 customers mention "Page turner"43 positive0 negative

Customers describe the book as a page turner, with one customer noting it maintains its engaging pace throughout.

"This author is remarkable. Excited to read more. Its a page turner for sure, one that will keep you up late to finish." Read more

"...It keeps you intrigued, and you can't guess the outcome. A real page turner, I can't wait to read the next book in the series." Read more

"...Page turner! Enjoy the story line... We are all meant for something good!" Read more

"Excellent read. Real page turner. Appreciate the lack of foul language...." Read more

97 customers mention "Humor"57 positive40 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book's humor, with some enjoying the witticism while others find it hilariously bad in places.

"This book was so good I couldn’t stop reading. Captivating, funny and sad . Couldn’t wait for the next story in Evan’s life." Read more

"Bad to the Bones, by James Harper, is a self published novel. Mr. Harper has a lot to learn about writing...." Read more

"...Great mix of mystery, humor, and insight along the way. I know what I’ll be reading to start the New Year join us." Read more

"Bad to the bones..." Read more

50 customers mention "Violence level"21 positive29 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the violence in the book, with some appreciating its descriptive nature while others find it too graphic.

"...noted that the frantic ending is a little graphic with depictions of injuries from violence and decayed bodies...." Read more

"...I was looking for something that entertains, keeps me hooked, intense and yet also not too heavy...." Read more

"...The last 3 chapters were a bit of a "wow". The final fight was pretty graphic and had me saying ouch a lot lol...." Read more

"...He certainly gives them a richness of thought and charm. Deep emotional trauma dealt with in an understanding way, an empathatic way. So much humor!..." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2025
    Really enjoyed the book. Started it one afternoon, didn't quite get to the point of no return, but finished it the next day. Couldn't put it down. Excellent story line with the characters fully believable. Look forward to reading more of his books.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2025
    It was OK at the beginning. Not alot of twists,but it was ok. Kind of boring and drawn out in parts.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2025
    Loved it!
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2025
    It's a fun crime thriller, I just was not into the lead character.

    First thing he did was break down a motel room door for photos. I would imagine in real life that would equate to that PI losing their license to do that job.

    There were several things I didn't buy into, but it was entertaining.

    If you like lots of hand to hand tough guy fights, you'll enjoy all the scrapes this guy gets himself into.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2025
    It is an interesting whodunit. The PI helps a lady find out what happened to her son and husband who both disappeared. 1 sitting read that was enjoyable.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2025
    Really fun read! Great characters.All I needed to enjoy. I will be getting more of Mr. Harper's books. Give him a try you will love it.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2024
    This series is available on Kindle Unlimited!
    I received a complimentary promotional electronic copy of this, the first of what is now 20 novels in the Evan Buckley Mystery Series, from self-published author James Harper and DigitalBookSpot, Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me! I have read Bad to the Bones of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this series to friends and family. Bad to the Bones is a well-written who-done-its with a complex plot and personable characters. Evan was a well-respected journalist when his wife Sarah disappeared without a trace five years ago, and the job the police did concerning finding out what happened to her never met even Evan's basic expectations. So he hung up his shingle as a private investigator who has time to continue his search for Sarah and do a bit of cheating-couples PI work, which is most of the work he is offered in his small hometown. Money is always tight, but he has what he needs most - some free time and an understanding landlord. He also has low expectations, and no pride in his work, but who has everything?
    Evan does have a recent contact on the police force whom he respects, and she gets him involved in a nasty cheating-wife case where she gets to know him well enough to recommend him to Linda Clayton, a woman who has spent the last ten years looking for her missing son, and the husband who disappeared a week or so after the boy did. It is a case that Evan can get buried in - and finding the duo becomes the obsession that may become his road to salvation. Which will be good, if he lives long enough to enjoy it.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2025
    My first James Harper book, thoroughly enjoyed it! It was a fast paced well written book. I would highly recommend it. I will be reading the next of the Evan Buckley series soon!

Top reviews from other countries

  • Bec Tizzard QLD Australia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read, story captivating
    Reviewed in Australia on March 8, 2025
    I really enjoyed the characters and thr storyline, hoping there are more in this series. Very good read. Highly recommend.
  • satwant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. What an absolute awesome thriller
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2025
    Thank you for this lovely free book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bad To Bones. It kept me guessing a lot what happened. But my goodness what an absolute fantastic thriller. Evan Buckley the underdog that won't give up until he finds all answers.. I feel so sorry for the chief of police. Kate Guillory she really comes through for Buckley. Once again thank you for this awesome thriller.
  • Angj
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in Italy on August 16, 2024
  • Cliente Amazon james.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good
    Reviewed in Spain on November 24, 2021
    Very good,looking for the next Evan Buckley book.kept you on pins right to the end.Bit of humour which I think it needed
  • John
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable thriller
    Reviewed in Japan on January 17, 2021
    Fast paced, witty, suspenseful and enjoyable story following the work of a former journalist turned P.I. and quite a disturbing case. The author has done a great book for the start of a series I'll be sure to read more of.

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