On the campus of the University of Tennessee lies a patch of ground unlike any in the world. The "Body Farm" is a place where human corpses are left to the elements, and every manner of decay is fully explored -- for the sake of science and the cause of justice. The scientist who created the Body Farm has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics, and now, in this heart-stopping novel, he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences.
A woman's corpse lies hidden in a cave in the mountains of East Tennessee. Undiscovered for thirty years, her body has been transformed by the cave's chemistry into a near-perfect mummy -- one that discloses an explosive secret to renowned anthropologist Bill Brockton. Dr. Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death and decay at the Body Farm, but even he is baffled by this case unfolding in a unique environment where nothing is quite what it seems.
The surreal setting is Cooke County, a remote mountain community that's clannish, insular, and distrustful of outsiders. The heartbreaking discovery of the young woman's corpse reopens old wounds and rekindles feuds dating back decades. The county's powerful and uncooperative sheriff and his inept deputy threaten to derail Brockton's investigation altogether. So do Brockton's other nemeses: his lingering guilt over the death of his wife, and the fury of a medical examiner whom Brockton dares to oppose in court.
Carved in Bone is a richly atmospheric, superbly suspenseful, and magnificently rendered trip into the world of forensic science, the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, and the dark passageways of the human psyche. Full of vivid characters and startling twists and turns, this thrilling novel heralds the debut of a major new voice in crime fiction -- and an unforgettable work from the hand of a scientific legend.
Barbara S. (barbsis) - Netcong, NJ wrote on 8/19/2009...
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This book is written by a scientist and it shows. It's very technical and reads like a textbook not a novel. I found it very dry and rather boring. I know it's about death and corpses but there was absolutely no life to the story. Just blah. It was tough to keep my mind on the mystery with all the extraneous medical and autopsy-like information thrown out there. This is not an author that I will read again.
This was a great book! If you enjoyed Patricia Cornwell when she used to write really good forensic mysteries (basically, her first three or four books), then you'll love the BODY FARM series of books by Jefferson Bass. This is a must-read for fans of CSI, BONES, and similar shows/books.
This book was amazing! It's a wonderful mystery/thriller with lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. The characters are realistic, complete with human frailties and as well as talents.