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  • Published: 22 July 2025
  • ISBN: 9780806542621
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 384
  • RRP: $55.00
Categories:

Down to the Bone

A Missing Familys Murder and the Elusive Quest for Justice




A twisting, deeply engrossing investigation into the many lingering questions surrounding the sudden disappearance of the McStays, a family of four who vanished from their suburban San Diego home without a trace – until their skeletal remains were found in the Mojave Desert nearly four years later –  from New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother.

A twisting, deeply engrossing investigation into the many lingering questions surrounding the sudden disappearance of the McStays, a family of four who vanished from their suburban San Diego home without a trace – until their skeletal remains were found in the Mojave Desert nearly four years later –  from New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother.

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.

  • Published: 22 July 2025
  • ISBN: 9780806542621
  • Imprint: Kensington
  • Format: Hardback
  • Pages: 384
  • RRP: $55.00
Categories:

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Praise for Down to the Bone

Praise for Caitlin Rother:

“Rother presents the riveting story of a botched investigation, multiple suspects, and a web of lies. Was justice ever served?  The question will remain with you long after you finish reading.” —Diane Fanning, author of the Edgar Award finalist Written in Blood on Down to the Bone

“Rother takes readers with meticulous detail through the journey to find answers to the McStay mystery and the often-troubling investigation and prosecution of the case.  If you love true crime books where the author goes far beyond what is already known and has been proven in court, and raises questions that need to be asked, this is a book for you.” —Justin Brooks, co-founder, California Innocence Project and author of You Might Go to Prison, Even Though You're Innocent on Down to the Bone

"True crime at its best. Rother successfully dissects this heart-wrenching case. There are so many twists and turns to this tragedy, but it is examined with compassion and detail.”—Alana Quintana Albertson of the Se7en Deadly SEALS serial on Down to the Bone

“Rother’s meticulous research shines in this masterful page-turner, as does her skill at placing readers inside the investigation and the courtroom. Down to the Bone is the definitive rendering of a vexing, horrific family mass murder. When it comes to case coverage, Rother never disappoints.” —Dr. Katherine Ramsland, professor of forensic psychology and author of The Serial Killer’s Apprentice

"A close look at a killer...Lost Girls is a deeply reported, dispassionately written attempt to determine what created a monster and predator. It is a cautionary tale and a horror story, done superbly by a writer who knows how to burrow into a complex case without becoming captive to her sources." The Los Angeles Times

"We've finally found the next Ann Rule! A chilling read by a writer at the top of her game." —Gregg Olsen, author of A Twisted Faith on Dead Reckoning

“A frightening and fascinating glimpse into a killer's mind.” —Ron Franschell, New York Times bestselling author on Body Parts

"Caitlin Rother skillfully chronicles one of the most fascinating and controversial cases of the past decade. Big money, sex and a questionable death make for an addictive read." —Kathryn Casey, bestselling author of In Plain Sight on Death on Ocean Boulevard

"Was it suicide or was it murder? Investigative journalist extraordinaire Caitlin Rother masterfully examines the controversial death of Rebeca Zahau in Death on Ocean Boulevard. What truths does she uncover? Riveting!" —Dan Zupansky, host of the "True Murder" podcast on Death on Ocean Boulevard

"A suspicious headline-making death proves to be only the beginning as Rother unlocks the door of this real-life mansion of horrors to reveal a shocking true story of money, power, duplicity and scandal." —Michael Fleeman, New York Times bestselling author on Death on Ocean Boulevard

"Using her innermost understanding of suicide, Caitlin Rother connects you with the heart-wrenching details of the Coronado Mansion Case. Prepare to be deeply immersed in this beautifully written, impeccably researched book right up to the gripping epilogue. The new facts never before exposed about this case will shock you!” —Alan R. Warren, host of the "House of Mystery" podcast on Death on Ocean Boulevard

"A true crime triumph for Caitlin Rother... It's a grim and bloody tale, one that directs our attention to the often-shocking complexities of the human animal and the sordid depths to which he may descend. Rother, who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize during her tenure at the U-T, tells it well, thereby solidifying her star status in the field of true crime." The San Diego Union-Tribune on Dead Reckoning

"Riveting... a story that will haunt you... Rother presents a fascinating study of one woman's evil and greed—that ultimately leads to the murder of a kind-hearted millionaire. The compassion the author shows for the victim and the victim's family makes this book an emotional and gripping tale from beginning to end." —Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author, on Then No One Can Have Her

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