Book Review
Down To The Bone by Caitlin Rother
Publisher: Citadel Press
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
Format: Hardcover - 384 pages
Kindle - 1.8 MB / 438 pages
Nook - 2 MB / 368 pages
Audible - 11 Hours 50 Minutes
ISBN: 978-0806542621
ASIN (Kindle): B0C3WXVD7C
ASIN (Audible): B0FD8245BQ
BNID: 978-0806542645
Genre: True Crime
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Book Description:
It was as if time had stopped for the Southern California family of four who mysteriously vanished without a trace.
On February 15, 2010, Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two young sons were reported missing from their new home in San Diego County. They left eggs and fruit rotting on the counter. Their Dodge truck sat in the driveway. Their dogs were abandoned outside without food. But investigators found no blood, signs of a struggle, or clues to their whereabouts. Did the family take an unannounced vacation? Were they running away from personal problems? Or were they victims of foul play?
Nearly four years later, a motorcyclist found the McStays’ remains in and around two shallow graves, one hundred miles away in the Mojave Desert. Their skulls showed signs of blunt-force trauma, likely due to the sledgehammer buried with them. Authorities focused on Charles "Chase" Merritt, a close friend and subcontractor for Joseph’s company. Despite a lack of physical evidence, scenarios that defied logic, and numerous unanswered questions, prosecutors convinced a jury of Merritt’s guilt. After an emotional sentencing hearing, the judge imposed the death penalty. But did another possible suspect, who was ignored by investigators and ducked a subpoena to testify, get away with murder?
In this twisting, deeply researched true-crime mystery, New York Times bestselling investigative journalist Caitlin Rother hunts for answers to reveal the truth behind a heinous crime that became a nation’s obsession, with a controversial trial in its wake, and lingering questions of justice.
My Book Review:
In her latest novel, Down To The Bone, investigative journalist / author Caitlin Rother takes the reader behind the scenes of a riveting true crime for an in depth look at a highly publicized and traumatic murder case set in San Diego County, California.
On February 15, 2010, The McStay family (husband Joseph, wife Summer, and their sons Gianni and Joseph Jr) were reported missing by their family members. The family was last heard from on February 4th, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department began an investigation that provided no leads. Four years later on November 11, 2013, a motorcyclist found the remains of the McStay family in two shallow graves located on a trail in the Mojave Desert. What ensues is a murder case with a shoddy investigation by the San Diego Sheriff's Department and the San Bernadino County Sherriff's Department, who focused their attention solely on Joseph's friend and business associate, Charles "Chase" Merritt, and a trial that led to his death row conviction, even though the investigation and trial was fraught with a lack of physical evidence, misconduct, and a lot of unanswered questions, which showed obvious flaws in the criminal justice system.
Down To The Bone is a riveting true crime story that easily draws the reader in from the start, keeping them captivated as the author weaves a thoroughly intriguing and intricate recounting of a traumatic murder case and trial that was filled with unanswered questions, leaving an elusive quest for justice.
The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant, and extensive research of the investigative and legal aspects of the case.
You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping dark account of the traumatic murders of the McStay family. It is shocking and mind boggling that this murder case was fraught with so many flaws and misconduct within the criminal justice system. The author provides the reader with a thought-provoking tale of the heinous murders of the McStay family, that leaves a lot of questions of whether the quest for justice was really served.
The author provides the reader with a fascinating and richly detailed and in depth look into the back stories and lives of each participant, and extensive research of the investigative and legal aspects of the case.
You can't help but get drawn into this complicated, fascinating, and multi-layered story, it is a gripping dark account of the traumatic murders of the McStay family. It is shocking and mind boggling that this murder case was fraught with so many flaws and misconduct within the criminal justice system. The author provides the reader with a thought-provoking tale of the heinous murders of the McStay family, that leaves a lot of questions of whether the quest for justice was really served.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this was one of the most disturbing true crime stories that I have ever read. It was mind boggling to follow the shoddy investigation and flawed trial. I really don't believe that justice was truly served, unfortunately I don't believe that we will ever find out the truth behind the tragic murders of the McStay family.
Down To The Bone is a gripping and chilling account of a traumatic murder case that is a must read for all true crime fans.
RATING: 5 STARS
Down To The Bone is a gripping and chilling account of a traumatic murder case that is a must read for all true crime fans.
RATING: 5 STARS
About The Author
New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother has written or co-authored 14 books, ranging from narrative non-fiction crime to mystery and memoir. Her newest book is DEATH ON OCEAN BOULEVARD: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case (April 27, 2021). Her backlist includes HUNTING CHARLES MANSON; SECRETS, LIES, AND SHOELACES; LOVE GONE WRONG; DEAD RECKONING; THEN NO ONE CAN HAVE HER; I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU; NAKED ADDICTION; POISONED LOVE; BODY PARTS; TWISTED TRIANGLE; LOST GIRLS; WHERE HOPE BEGINS and MY LIFE, DELETED.
A Pulitzer Prize nominee, Rother worked as an investigative reporter at daily newspapers for 19 years before quitting the news biz in 2006 to write books full-time. Her journalism has been published in Cosmopolitan, the Los Angeles Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and The Daily Beast. She has done more than 200 appearances as a crime commentator on TV, radio and podcasts, ranging from "20/20," "People Magazine Investigates," "Nancy Grace," and "Crime Watch Daily," to shows on HLN, Oxygen Network, Investigation Discovery, C-SPAN, XM Radio and PBS affiliates. She also works as a writing-research-promotions coach and consultant.
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