Those Bones Are Not My Child delves into the crisis faced by an African American family in Atlanta during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a time when the city was gripped by a series of harrowing kidnappings and murders of African American children. The story centers on Marzala "Zala" Spencer, who embarks on a heart-wrenching journey to find her eldest child, Sonny, who mysteriously vanishes in 1980. Joined by her estranged husband Spence, Zala becomes entrenched in the collective anguish of other families struggling under the fear and reality of their missing or murdered children.

The Quest for Justice

As Marzala and Spence dive deeper into the search for their son, they uncover a troubling indifference from city officials, police, and federal authorities. Their priority seems to be maintaining the city's image for economic and touristic gain rather than addressing the horrific plight of the families. Instead of coordinating efforts to solve the murders, these leaders appear preoccupied with internal power struggles, ignoring the mounting evidence suggesting the killings are linked by racially motivated violence, drug-related crime, or other nefarious activities.

Connecting the Dots

The investigation takes a startling turn when Marzala's youngest child, Kenti, points out that the locations of the murders trace the outline of a boot. This discovery galvanizes Marzala, Spence, and concerned citizens to vigilantly monitor the "boot" area and scrutinize any potentially suspicious individuals or gatherings. Their efforts shed light on possible involvement from right-wing paramilitary groups or the Ku Klux Klan, creating a wave of public pressure on authorities who are forced to address these disturbing findings. Yet, their progress is thwarted by the arrest of Wayne Williams, a young African American man, whose conviction seems more like a convenient resolution than genuine justice.

A Misplaced Verdict

The arrest and conviction of Williams are met with skepticism by the Spencers and their allies, who view him as a scapegoat rather than the true perpetrator. Still reeling from the unresolved mysteries, the couple receives news of a boy fitting Sonny's description found disoriented and severely mistreated on a highway near Miami. This boy, indeed their long-lost son, has survived a year of trauma but remains unable or unwilling to divulge the full story of his ordeal.

Unearthing the Truth

As Sonny slowly recovers at his grandmother's home in Alabama, his behavior suggests he endured sexual abuse, hinting at a sordid underworld he's been pulled into. His repeated crafting of wax keys puzzles Spence, until it becomes clear that Sonny is pointing him towards a clandestine operation linked to their landlord. This revelation uncovers a heinous child pornography ring that had ensnared Sonny, implicating the landlord as a crucial figure in his abduction.

A Flicker of Hope

Despite rescuing Sonny from the clutches of this dark network, the Spencers find little solace as the overarching mystery of the child murders remains unsolved. Wayne Williams continues to serve as a convenient scapegoat, leaving the real culprits hidden in the shadows. The novel closes with the Spencers' triumph in reclaiming their son but leaves open the broader quest for justice and the search for the true architects of these heinous crimes.