The bones beneath my skin

The sweetness of found family and the suspense of a secret government weapons project war for attention in this fun if somewhat clunky sci-fi thriller from bestseller Klune (The House in the Cerulean Sea). Journalist Nate Cartwright, 27, has nothing left to lose--no job, family, or friends--when he heads to his newly inherited Oregon cabin. Unfortunately, ex-Marine Alex Weir, 40, is already there, squatting on the property with a little girl calling herself Artemis Darth Vader. He takes Nate hostage, kicking off an uneasy domestic arrangement as Nate gradually bonds with them while remaining suspicious about why the pair is on the run. When Alex and Artemis's pursuers close in and they're forced to flee, Nate agrees to go with them. Along the way, the truth of who Artemis really is surpasses his wildest imaginings. Now the men work together to protect Artemis from government agents who will stop at nothing to capture her. Against this high-stakes backdrop, the men also, somewhat improbably, find time to begin a relationship. The plot and tone waver between emotional extremes throughout, which can feel jarring, but the three protagonists are easy to root for, and Klune sticks the landing with a surprisingly optimistic ending. It's worth a look. (Feb.)

It is spring 1995, and Nate Cartwright is a broken man. His parents are dead, his brother estranged, and his job as a Washington, DC, journalist has been taken away from him. Hoping to collect himself and see what comes next, Nate heads to the mountains of Oregon, where his family summer cabin lies in the small town of Roseland. Except, upon his arrival, Nate finds a man named Alex there, along with a 10-year-old girl who calls herself Artemis Darth Vader. Caught between his wounded past and an unexpected future, Nate joins Alex and Artemis in their frantic race for freedom. Artemis's name is actually the least unusual thing about her, and those hunting for Artemis want her back--no matter what. VERDICT Even as the character arcs pack emotional punches and the plot builds with intensity, the story is balanced with the humor and wry character introspection Klune (In the Lives of Puppets) is known for. Previously self-published, this reissued stand-alone only solidifies Klune's reputation for skillful prose and worldbuilding.--Kristi Chadwick