SOLVED. Romantic Suspense- Female veterinarian is sent bone in missing heiress's case, somehow a ranch is involved. Spoilers ahead. [s]

[Kelley]

I remember reading a romantic suspense novel about a small town female veterinarian or doctor who was sent a bone that was connected to a missing heiress cold case who might have been related to her. I don't remember what part the guy played besides mysterious stranger who has his own agenda. I had a paperback copy. It was probably published late 90s/early 2000s. I thought it was by Karen Robards or Iris Johansen, but I went through their lists and nothing rang a bell.

There was a farm involved because SPOILER



the heiress was buried in the concrete of the barn that was being built/repaired at the time she was murdered. The end of the book has the vet trading the bone she was given for the jawbone of a dog and then leaving the real bone in the mail for might be investigator, might be journalist as she drives off with mystery guy.

[Kris]

Kelley, what part of the body does the bone represent (e.g., arm, skull)? How is it sent to the heroine?

What's the time period and location (country/region)?

[Kelley]

She was sent or somehow received a human jawbone, which is how she could trade it for a dog's that she had at her office, which is why I thought she was a vet. I remember it being described as dusty or old, possibly from a bulldog, maybe named Charlie, Henry, Harvey, something with vowels sounds at the end. I think the person she traded it to was the original murderer, but I don't remember how she was contacted for the drop off. Just that she tricked them by giving them the dog bone while she left the real one in a mailbox for ??? I very specifically remember her and the hero waiting in the car for the mail person to pick up the package with the real jawbone at the end of the book. I can also tell you almost verbatim their conversation, but nothing's coming up when I try googling it.

No clue how she got it originally or why. The missing person, a female adult, might be her aunt, great aunt, some distant relation where she knew the person went missing but not close enough for the heroine to be actively looking for details, I don't think. It was either a very old case or the missing person might have been the type to disappear or suddenly take off, which is why no one thought murder, just gone. Since I remember a barn being involved, she might have been wealthy. I think the original murderer or someone close to them kept the jawbone to prove she was dead in case of inheritance issues since the rest of the body was buried in concrete. But I have no clue who the killer was and if other murders happen.

Modern day for that time the book was written, so I'm guessing 80s or 90s. Small town, USA but that's as much as I know for location. I don't think any of the main action happened in big cities.

[Ayshe]

In the Dark by Meagan McKinney?

The Kirkus review (not very flattering) has more details: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...

[Juels]

For an identical post on another site, I recommended Too Many Secrets by Ellen Gray Massey.

Info provided on other site post:

Veterinarian Darcie Willis stumbles onto a fifteen-year-old mystery when she falls into a sinkhole on Everett Duncan's farm - a mystery no one in town seems to want solved.

ISBN 0803489102 (ISBN13: 9780803489103)

Other info from Google books.
Title Too Many Secrets
Avalon Career Romances
Author Ellen Gray Massey
Publisher Amazon Pub, 1991
ISBN 0803489102, 9780803489103
Length 192 pages

Info from Amazon:
Hardcover
Publisher: Thomas Bouregy & Co (December 1, 1991)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0803489102
ISBN-13: 978-0803489103

[Kelley]

Ayshe wrote: "In the Dark by Meagan McKinney?

The Kirkus review (not very flattering) has more details: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re..."

That's it! I recognize the author since I read her historical romances, guess I forgot she did some modern ones. Thanks so much!

[Kelley]

Juels wrote: "For an identical post on another site, I recommended Too Many Secrets by Ellen Gray Massey.

Info provided on other site post:

Veterinarian Darcie Willis stumbles o..."

Thanks, Juels, but the person who posted before you found it. Thanks for trying!

[Juels]

Glad you found it.