Product Description

A woman's corpse lies hidden in a cave in the mountains of East Tennessee. Undiscovered for thirty years, her body has been transformed into a near-perfect mummy. Clueless, the local police enlist the help of Dr Bill Brockton, renowned anthropologist and founder of the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility - the Body Farm - 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 body has been found in Cooke County, a remote community that's clannish, insular and distrustful of outsiders. When Brockton's autopsy discloses an explosive secret, old wounds are reopened and feuds rekindled. As the powerful and uncooperative sheriff and his inept deputy threaten to derail Brockton's investigations, even Brockton, after years surrounded by death and decay, is baffled by this case unfolding in a unique environment, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129364 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Review
Carved in Bone brims with terrific forensic detail...the real deal - Kathy ReichsFantastic forensic detail and an engaging hero...an authoritative, compelling new voice to the forensic mystery - Jeff AbbottA superb mystery...written with more flair and literary sensibility than anything by John Grisham - Charlotte Observer

Jeff Abbott
Fantastic forensic detail and an engaging hero...an authoritative, compelling new voice to the forensic mystery

Charlotte Observer
A superb mystery...written with more flair and literary sensibility than anything by John Grisham

Customer Reviews

FEUDING, FIGHTING, AND FORENSIC DETAIL
Actually, the name of the site at the University of Tennessee is the Anthropology Research Facility, but it's known to the world as "Body Farm," a nickname chosen by a Tennessee FBI agent and made famous by Patricia Cornwell's popular crime novel. The facility, a three acre site devoted to postmortem-decay research, was founded some 25 years ago by Dr. Bill Bass, renowned for his expertise in forensic anthropology. Now, in addition to his studies and the assistance he gives to law enforcement officials, Dr. Bass has teamed with journalist/filmmaker Jon Jefferson to pen a novel so loaded with forensic detail that some may decide to sleep with the lights on.

This writing team wastes no time in snagging readers with a prologue detailing protagonist Bill Brockton's probing of a corpse with a hunting knife. After locating a space just behind the heart's lower chambers, "...I set the tip of the hunting knife there–it snagged in the soft flesh–then leaned in and began to push. It took more force than I'd expected......As my victim jerked and skidded from the force, a rib broke with the sound of a green tree branch splintering."

Definitely not a story for the squeamish or weak of heart. The graphic prologue is fair warning of descriptions to come as Brockton is called upon by Cooke County's sheriff Tom Kitchings to accompany him to a remote cave hidden in the Appalachian Mountains. This is a trip fraught with peril for Brockton as he suffers from vertigo and motion sickness. Nonetheless, his malaise is forgotten when he enters the cave and finds a mummified body on a rock ledge.

Of course, there are many questions: is it a male or female? How long has the body been there and how did he/she die? Those familiar with forensic science will find much in Brockton's descriptions of adipocere (grave wax) which, evidently, leaves a corpse resembling a wax museum figure. The body is returned to the Body Farm, and the research begins. It's a challenge that both intrigues and baffles Brockton as even with his wide experience he has never seen anything like this before.

Both affable and curious Brockton enjoys a challenge, but his investigation into this person's death is not all welcome among the residents of Appalachia, plus a jealous medical examiner throws roadblocks at every turn. In addition, Sheriff Kitchings, the all-powerful, chooses not to cooperate. Eventually, we learn of a long ago but not forgotten feud among the mountain people, but what really sets the narrative apart is copious forensic detail. Fans of this genre of crime fiction won't want to miss a word; others may shiver and shudder a bit.

- Gail Cooke

COMPELLING DEBUT NOVEL OF A BONE DETECTIVE...
This is a superlative mystery, well-written and full of rich forensic detail that is seamlessly woven into the intriguing plot. The characters, especially the engaging protagonist, are well-fleshed and interesting. The anthropological forensics are explained in fascinating detail. Moreover, the author certainly has a way with words, as he has mystery, humor, and science join forces in a way that ensures that the reader will remain riveted to the pages of this book.

The story takes place in Tennessee, where the world renowned "Body Farm", officially known as the Anthropology Research Facility of the University of Tennessee, is located. It is there that the highly respected forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton works, heading up the postmortem-decay research lab.

When he is called to a crime scene by Sheriff Tom Kitchings of Cooke County, which is located in the remote mountains of Tennessee. Dr. Brockton is taken to a cave where he sees the body of a young woman who has been dead for about thirty years. He is shocked to find it preserved in a unique manner that is due to a set of unusual environmental conditions in the cave in which the body was laid to rest.

Removing the body to his research lab, Dr. Brockton sets out to unravel the mystery surrounding this woman's death. Little did he know the can of worms that he would open. Secrets that had long been festering in that insular, backwoods mountain community would now rise to the surface, and old wounds would come to a head, unleashing a bitterness that threatens to derail Dr. Brockton's efforts. It seems that those intent on preserving the status quo will stop at nothing. Moreover, It also seems that those least expected to be involved in a cover-up are doing their best to thwart Dr. Brockton. Just what is going on in Cooke County?

Keeping up the Reichs tradition
As a Kathy Reichs fan, this was always going to be on my 'must-read' list. The writing team continues her tradition of combining good writing with the excellent science and knowledge of the job which come from having done it yourself - and the writing is good. I particularly like Brockton's line in easy but slightly macabre humour, as illustrated by the excellent opening scene in which he's found with a knife in a corpse - the reader might almost be forgiven for thinking this is some kind of bizarre forensic/serial killer update of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd! I look forward to more.