On a square gray and red gradient background are mockup placeholder views of an ebook and a fat paperback of "Bone of Contention." the cover, which will NOT BE THE REAL COVER, shows Lucy A. Synk's "Running Rex" against a NASA photo of the Milky Way's galactic center. The words say, "Bone of Contention, Jan S. Gephardt."
Bone of Contention

Bone of Contention

If you’ve read What’s Bred in the Bone and A Bone to Pick, you’re two-thirds through the XK9 “Bones” Trilogy. What’s next? Bone of Contention! Jan is currently writing this book.

On a square gray and red gradient background are mockup placeholder views of an ebook and a fat paperback of "Bone of Contention." the cover, which will NOT BE THE REAL COVER, shows Lucy A. Synk's "Running Rex" against a NASA photo of the Milky Way's galactic center. The words say, "Bone of Contention, Jan S. Gephardt."

Dogs are people too! . . . Right?

XK9 Rex and his Packmates are bio-engineered and cyber-enhanced dogs, created to be the most perfect law enforcement tools ever made. They’re so smart, Rana Station has officially recognized them as uplifted sapient beings.

The rest of the universe isn’t so sure. Inspectors from the Galactic Alliance that rules this part of space must decide the matter once and for all. But the Transmondians who created the XK9s want a do-over. The uplift was an accident – one they won’t repeat. They plan to destroy all evidence of their mistake before the Alliance’s investigators arrive.

Can Rex and his pack stay one jump ahead of their foes and also round up the last members of a murderous gang that blows up spaceships? Or will the Transmondians’ dreams of dominance and empire crush everything that gets in their way?

You could be reading previews of this book today.

How? Subscribe to Jan’s Monthly Newsletter. Each issue offers inside glimpses, art ,and updates, plus FREE Featured Fiction Downloads. Get her highly ranked prequel novella The Other Side of Fear as a FREE ebook when you sign up.

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Chapter One Sneak Peek

The square image shows a 3D mockup of the story’s cover on an e-reader, an empty park bench, and the words, “Shady couldn’t see the entity on the bench in Glen Haven Park, but she could clearly smell it. Chapter One: Bone of Contention. Shady’s portrait ©2020 by Lucy A. Synk.”
If you subscribed to Jan’s Newsletter you could read this preview of Bone of Contention Chapter One!
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Chapter Two Sneak Peek

This banner shows a 3D mockup of “The Murder Brothers-‘Bone of Contention’ Chapter Two” as an ebook on a tablet, next to the words, “The truth can’t be told if no one believes the evidence. With help from their human allies, the XK9s decoded what Rufus and Neil Dolan did on the bridge of the doomed ship “Izgubil.” But it’ll all count for nothing if XK9 Rex’s partner Charlie Morgan’s reconstruction doesn’t communicate. Has he built a GR that will convince a skeptical prosecutor of the truth the scent evidence revealed?” Another line reads, “Cover art ©2022 by Jose-Luis Segura.”
If you subscribed to Jan’s Newsletter you could read this preview of Bone of Contention Chapter Two! Cover art ©2022 by Jose-Luis Segura
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Chapter Three Sneak Peek

Under an arch of trailing cucumber and morning glory vines and next to a 3D rendering of “Doubts and Hopes Bone of Contention Chapter Three” on an e-reader, the words on this square image say: “A doubting, dog-phobic national official to convince. A startling breakthrough on the ‘Izgubil’ case. And through it all, Rex and Shady can’t escape the Pack’s traumatic history with the XK9 Project. Don’t miss ‘Bone of Contention’s’ eventful Chapter Three! Artwork © 2023 by Lucy A. Synk.”
If you subscribed to Jan’s Newsletter you could read this preview of Bone of Contention Chapter Three. Artwork © 2023 by Lucy A. Synk.
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Collection Four Sneak Peek

Next to a 3D rendering of “Elevator to Nowhere” on an e-reader, the words on this square image say: “A daunting prospect. An elusive subject. And then it gets more complicated . . . Shady and her fellow investigators face repeated roadblocks and hectares of hallways in pursuit of a suspect with unexpected tricks up her sleeve. Meanwhile, Hildie and Rex face fears and frustrations of their own in this fourth preview-excerpt from the XK9 trilogy finale ‘Bone of Contention.’ Cover art ©2023 by Jose-Luis Segura.” On the cover of the 3D rendering it says, “Elevator to Nowhere, ‘Bone of Contention’ Preview Collection 4. (by) Jan S. Gephardt.”
If you subscribed to Jan’s Newsletter you could read this preview of Bone of Contention Collection 4! Cover art ©2023 by Jose-Luis Segura.

Bone of Contention wraps up the XK9 “Bones” Trilogy. It answers key questions about XK9 sapience and brings the Izgubil Investigation to a conclusion. But the XK9s’ story doesn’t end with the Trilogy. Learn more about planned future projects once this book is finished when you (we bet you saw this coming) Subscribe to Jan’s Newsletter! (Just do it).