Devils Bones If you like forensic science mixed in with a fictional story then you will love this book. If you have not read the first 2 books, I would recommmend you read them first since this is a series. If you do not like to read about research on cadavers I would recommend you not read this series.
Reviewed for Midwest Book Review Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton is trying to figure out who murdered Mary Latham and how her car caught fire and burned so extensively when his criminal defense attorney gives him what are claimed to be the cremains (cremated remains) of his aunt, which look more like concrete mix than bone ash. With the help of forensic scientist Art Bohanan, Brockton investigates the crematorium in Georgia that was responsible for the cremation but keeps butting up against stone walls. Eventually, he discovers a horror the likes of which he has never seen before. Meanwhile, he learns that his nemesis, former medical examiner Garland Hamilton, has escaped from prison and is on the prowl. Knowing he's in Hamilton's sites, Brockton is relieved to learn Hamilton's charred body is discovered at a fire scene in Cooke County. However, as Brockton soon finds out, things are not always as they seem.
This third installment in the Body Farm series is, as usual, chock full of interesting forensics information relayed through Brockton and his assistant, Miranda. Readers may find the book distracting as it seems to meander along from one investigation to the other, then dashes off to the conflict between Brockton and Hamilton. Although the three mysteries within the plot are good ones, perhaps focusing on one or two would provide a stronger read. The forensics investigations help buffer the distraction and will keep the reader invested throughout the book.
Southern Skullduggery I like the home town, down South flavor of this book. If you like forensics, the author has drawn on the real life case of the crematory in Georgia that did not actually cremate dozens of bodies. I believe the characters could have been developed a little more thoroughly, but I believe the CSI type information and realism makes up for it. It is obvious that the author knows what he is talking about. An enjoyable read, but it won't keep you on the edge of your seat. Good book good store I liked finding this book for a good price and got it within a short period of time. An Incredible Suspense Dr. Bill Brockton is an anthropologist. Under his guidance the anthropology department at the University of Tennessee went from a little known department to one of the best in the country. Part of their research was done on the Body Farm, a section of land that was used to watch and study how a body decays when exposed to the elements.
Bill was still grieving the loss of his friend and lover, Dr. Jess Carter, but was starting to pull his life back together. Jess was murdered by Dr. Garland Hamilton, one of the county's medical examiners. Hamilton blamed Bill for destroying his reputation when he testified for the defense contradicting his findings.
Hamilton retaliated by killing Jess. For a time Bill was the prime suspect for her murder. When Hamilton's cover was blown, he tried to kill Bill. Time had passed, but Bill was still haunted by the memories. Keeping busy was the only antidote he could come up with.
The Anthropology Department, ie. Bill and the body farm, was currently assisting the police in an investigation. A woman supposedly burned to death when her car exploded. The situation was suspicious and the husband suspect, but he had an airtight alibi hundreds of miles away. To break his alibi they had to figure out how he did it.
While wrestling with one problem, Bill's lawyer arrived with another. He was carrying a box of cremains, ashes of the deceased, that the crematorium claimed was his Aunt Jean. Burt DeVriess, aka "Grease" didn't believe them. The ashes were lumpy and his Aunt Jean's artificial knees were missing. He wanted Bill to do some checking, figure out what was really going on.
Bill agreed to look into the situation. It wasn't something he would normally do, but it would keep his mind off Hamilton's trial scheduled for the following week. Bill would be testifying against Garland Hamilton on two points, the murder of Jess Carter and the attempt on his life. Hamilton hated him with a fervor that bordered on obsession. Bill wasn't looking forward to facing him in the courtroom.
Following the source of the cremains took Bill across state lines and to a sight too horrifying to describe. The crematorium wasn't cremating the bodies. They were stacking them up helter-skelter in the woods behind the property.
Up to his eyeballs in decomposing bodies, Bill received another blow. Garland Hamilton had escaped and it was a good bet that he would be gunning for him.
The Devil's Bones gives us a fascinating look at forensic anthropology and how it is used to solve previously unsolvable crimes. Bill Brockton is as much a police officer as he is an anthropologist. His insatiable curiosity and the need to know is a major driving force in his personality. There were times when the self-reflection and dialog slowed the story to a crawl, but the in-depth look at forensic anthropology balanced it out.
Jefferson Bass is a write team comprised of Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bass is a world-renowned forensic, anthropologist and the founder of the University of Tennessee's research faculty, the Body Farm. Jefferson and Bass spin an excellent story with plenty of hard science to back it up. If you're a sucker for CSI, you'll love The Devil's Bones.
