The Bone Tree

To Ed Stackler, my copilot.

To Dan Conaway and Simon Lipskar of Writers House, and Kassie Evashevski of UTA, for enthusiastic support and sage advice.

To Betty Iles, Madeline Iles, Mark Iles, Joe Iles, Larry Iles, Geoff Iles, and Betsy Iles, for constant support.

To my team of Southern Philosophers: Courtney Aldridge, James Schuchs, Jim Easterling, Rod Givens, and Billy Ray Farmer.

For brilliant life insights and an infinite number of dissonant chords: Scott Turow, Stephen King, Dave Barry, Michelle Kaufman, Sam Barry, Erasmo Paolo, James McBride, Roy Blount Jr., Mitch Albom, Amy Tan, Lou DeMattei, Ridley Pearson, Ted Habte-Gabr, and Lisa Napoli (and Josh and Gary!).

Medical research: Dr. Michael Bourland, Dr. D. P. Lyle, Dr. Kellen Jex, Dr. Roderick Givens, Dr. John White, and Dr. Brad LeMay.

For other valuable research assistance: Judge George Ward, John Ward, Joseph Finder, Sheriff Chuck Mayfield, Mimi Miller, Keith Benoist, Darryll Gre

For unstinting physical support: Rick Psonak, Richard Boleware, and Blake Carr at UMMC Prosthetics. Also thanks to Sarah Greer for friendly diagnosis while partying on the bluff.

Finally, to new friends (and wonderful writers) Tom Franklin and Beth A

All mistakes are mine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo by Caroline Hungerford

GREG ILES spent his youth in Natchez, Mississippi. His debut novel, Spandau Phoenix, was the first of fourteen New York Times bestsellers, and his new trilogy, begi

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ALSO BY GREG ILES

The Death Factory (e-novella)

Natchez Burning

The Devil’s Punchbowl

Third Degree

True Evil

Turning Angel

Blood Memory

The Footprints of God

Sleep No More

Dead Sleep

24 Hours

The Quiet Game

Mortal Fear

Black Cross

Spandau Phoenix

CREDITS

Cover design by Amanda Kain

Cover photographs © by Allister Clark/Arcangel Images (sunset); Kathy Hicks/Getty Images (tree)

“A Change Is Go

COPYRIGHT

This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity and are used fictitiously. All other characters, and all incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

THE BONE TREE. Copyright © 2015 by Greg Iles. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

FIRST EDITION

ISBN 978-0-06-231111-5 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-06-237938-2 (international edition)

EPub Edition April 2015 ISBN 9780062311146

15 16 17 18 19    OV/RRD    10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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