Cut to the Bone

Body Farm #8

by Jefferson Bass

In this long-awaited prequel to his New York Times bestselling series, Jefferson Bass turns the clock back to reveal the Body Farm's creation-and Dr. Bill Brockton's deadly duel with a serial killer

In the summer of 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and Tennessee Senator Albert Gore begin their long-shot campaign to win the White House. In the sweltering hills of Knoxville at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Bill Brockton, the bright, ambitious young head of the Anthropology Department, launches an unusual-some would call it macabre-research facility, unlike any other in existence. Brockton is determined to revolutionize the study of forensics to help law enforcement better solve crime. But his plans are derailed by a chilling murder that leaves the scientist reeling from a sense of déjà vu. Followed by another. And then another: bodies that bear eerie resemblances to cases from Brockton's past.

The police chalk up the first corpse to coincidence. But as the body count rises, the victims' fatal injuries grow more and more distinctive-a spiral of death that holds dark implications for Brockton himself. If the killer isn't found quickly, the death toll could be staggering. And the list of victims could include Brockton . . . and everyone he holds dear.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2013

About the author

Jefferson Bass on FACEBOOK
http://www.facebook.com/JeffersonBass...


Jon Jefferson
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Bill Bass
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...

Jefferson Bass is the pen name of Jon Jefferson, writer, and Dr. Bill Bass, renowned forensic anthropologist. Jefferson and Bass have collaborated on 2 nonfiction books and 6 crime novels; their 7th novel, The Inquisitor's Key, will be published in May 2012. Dr. Bass, founder of the University of Tennessee's "Body Farm," is an author on more than 200 scientific publications. Jefferson is a veteran journalist and documentary filmmaker; his two National Geographic documentaries on the Body Farm were seen around the world.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

There will be a patch of ground in Tennessee dedicated to the science of death, where human remains shall lie exposed to be studied for their secrets. The real-life scientist who will found the "Body Farm" will use this to break cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences.

Jefferson Bass presents this next novel in the series, full of as much excitement and thrill as any other. Set as a prequel, it meets the rigourous standards needed by not contradicting the later books in the series and lays wonderful groundwork for character development, alongside the novella that preceded it. When Dr. Bill Brockton begins investigating a murder along a mountainous hillside, he is reminded of an old case he worked, but chalks it up to coincidence. A serial killer is killing prostitutes throughout Tennessee, attracting not only the interest of law enforcement, but that of an unsuspecting Dr. Brockton. Meanwhile, Brockton and his graduate assistant begin laying the groundwork for the Body Farm, acquiring land and beginning their experiments with time of death through maggot development. When the killings escalate and come closer to home, Brockton must not only work with the authorities to capture the killer, but also ensure he does not enter this madman’s crosshairs. A brilliant prequel story that has all the impacts needed to add depth to the already-strong series!

In the sweltering hills of Knoxville at the University of Tennessee, this summer of 1992 will surely be something completely different for Dr. Bill Brockton. He’s the bright, recently hired head of the Anthropology Department with an idea. Brockton hopes to create an area on campus to receive donated bodies to better understand various forensic cases that are not clear to the authorities.
A body farm of sorts, which will have many academic benefits, even if it makes many squeamish.

Brockton is convinced that he can help advance the study of forensics and has a grad student willing to help develop the Body Farm, though a case brought to his attention has him feeling odd recollections from some of his past work. Many of his past cases are being re-enacted once more and Dr. Brockton is quite worried.

With the killer adding bodies to the list with each passing day, Dr. Brockton has to wonder if the man who was put away could have been a patsy. The victims targeted are prostitutes, likely because they will not be missed, but this does not lessen the concern Dr. Brockton has for the cases. In the early years of Dr. Brockton’s impactful time at UT and where he is making his presence known in forensic anthropology, this story lays the groundwork to for the highly successful collection that Jefferson Bass has crafted for readers.

Told from many perspectives, Bass uses a narrative technique that permits a more personalised story development, though not a string of 1st person perspectives. The story is also a great introduction to the entire series and the Body Farm. Many characters that play key roles later in the series make their debut within the pages of the novel, even if in passing. The story adds layers by mentioning some of the cases from Bass’ two non-fiction books on the Body Farm, adding to the enjoyment for the avid Bass fan. Powerful, humourous, with an ending that leaves you wondering HOW rather than IF, this book is a must read for Bass fans, those wishing to test the waters, or even those wanting an escape from their regular authors.

The plot developments are quite clear cut in this piece, leaving the reader entertained as the seeds for the series are planted herein. Complemented by the novella that precedes this novel, the two offer insight into how things came to be in Knoxville. There are some strong twists that push the reader to make references to some of the earlier novels, which are actually later in the Body Farm chronology. I always enjoy a little backstory building and Bass does a great job with that here.

Kudos Mr. Bass, for a great novel that pulls from the early Body Farm years!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Bill Brockton is a forensic anthropologist teaching at a Tennessee university. He also consults on criminal cases using his expertise in forensics to help local authorities. In this book the bodies are piling up and strangely there is something familiar about the crime scenes. When another body is found in a recreation of a crime scene Dr. Brockton investigated years before he realizes that not only is there a serial killer at work, but also this is a serial killer who possibly has a personal agenda with Dr. Brockton himself. Will the “body farm” he and his assistant have started help in the apprehension of the killer? Only time will tell and it seems time is running out quickly.

Jefferson Bass is the pseudonym for the writing team of Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bass is the originator of the real body farm, a laboratory dedicated to studying decomposition. Interestingly enough bringing the body farm into this novel supplied the reader with much unexpected humour. I knew this book was a prequel to his Body Farm series so I figured it would be a good place to start without any commitment to reading the rest of the series. (Because as I have stated numerous times, I simply do not have time to get involved in yet ANOTHER series) Well, as it turns out I enjoyed this book very much and now have two more “body farm” books in my TBR pile. Yes well … best intentions and all that.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my full review: http://bit.ly/12q1v9H

My opinion: OK...gotta preface this review with saying I am a HUGE fan of the writing duo of Jefferson Bass. Not quite an Annie Wilkes level of fan, but pretty dang close. I was hooked with the first book in the series and have just gotten more sucked in with each new release.

Cut to the Bone is no different. Incredibly strong writing skills partnered with dynamic, personable characters and a rockin', twisted storyline make this a not-to-be missed read. 'Nuf said on that front. I can't say it any stronger! This one was told in multiple points of view which did make it maybe a bit difficult to follow, at times, but not enough to detract from the storyline or the rating.

I will say that there was a bit more graphic violence to this book than was in earlier releases. When I say this, I say scenes that made me cringe and I tend to have a tough stomach on this stuff. I also found myself reflecting much more on occurrences in this book than I have in other books in the series.

Miranda was missing in this novel. I must admit that I missed the banter between her and Dr. Brockton. As a result, this one was much more of a "serious thriller" to me.

What made this book a particular treat for me is that I just finished listening to the duo's book, Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensics Lab.... It was amazing to see how many very specific "incidents" from there was brought into the Body Farm series.

On a final note, unlike the rest in the series, this is considered a prequel. In my humble opinion, it would be a great place to either start the series or to read as a stand alone.

[Becky Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

CUT TO THE BONE is a suspenseful, entertaining prequel to the successful BODY FARM MYSTERY SERIES written by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Bass is the real-life forensic anthropologist, Anthropology Department chairman, and Body Farm director upon whom the book's protagonist, Dr. Bill Brockton, is based. CUT TO THE BONE tells a fictional story of the vision and development of the real Body Farm at the University of Tennessee (UT) and parallels a suspenseful serial murder mystery. Though the story is told in several points of views, chapter and segment headings make the story easy to follow and assists in building suspense.

The mystery involves a serial murderer to whom the reader is introduced early in the story. Reading in the killer's point of view gives the reader insight into why he kills, how he picks his murder weapons, and who he chooses as his victims, and the FBI profiler characters help Brockton understand what kind of killer he's facing.

If learning a little about forensic anthropology is a draw, loads of body identification techniques and scene forensics are explained in the story. Brockton describes to local authorities how studying a body's bones can uncover the skeleton's gender, age and possible trauma suffered before death and what to look for in time-of-death and post-death trauma. The story also describes the specific and sometimes boring research needed to build a strong, fact-based database which can be accessed by medical and law officials to help solve crimes.

Humor, a common emotional release for forensic anthropologists and anyone else mired in the business of death, is scattered throughout the book. The bantering and conversations between Brockton and his grad assistant are totally believable, and several of their interactions with local rural county officials are funny and pretty authentic. I particularly enjoy Brockton's phone calls with his new, already beleaguered secretary and with the chatty dispatcher at the Morgan County sheriff's office.

I also like that the settings' details pull the reader right into the scenes and that the authors made sure to include other senses (touch, sound, smell and taste) to enhance the visual descriptions. I have a slight advantage in imagining where the story takes place, as I grew up in Knoxville. I also spent a lot of time in the Anthropology Department as an undergrad and for a short time as a grad student during Bass's tenure as department chair. I remember the room layout in Neyland Stadium and the unpleasant odors that bombarded me when opening the door to the department's hallway. But CUT TO THE BONE's detailed descriptions also bring up memories of good times in the labs and classrooms there.

All in all, I would recommend CUT TO THE BONE to anyone who enjoys suspenseful murder mysteries, forensic science, anthropology and archaeology, or just good, entertaining storytelling. The book is fine as a stand-alone, but if this is your first time reading a Body Farm Mystery, then CUT TO THE BONE is definitely a good place to start if you want to continue this interesting series. Just make sure to take a big chunk of time to read. If you're like me, you'll want to read this story at one sitting.

* Read my other reviews on the Blue Moon Mystery Saloon blog.
** An ARC was provided by Harper Collins/William Morrow and Edelweiss for an honest review.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut to the Bone by Jefferson Bass.

A prostitute is found murdered in a most heinous way and then another murder victim is discovered and another. Dr. Bill Brockton of the anthropology dept at Tennessee University feels more than the usual anxiety over these murders. Yes they appear to be committed by the same person...a serial murderer. Yes these atrocities are in in the extreme. Yet there is more so much more. Dr. Brockton realizes that these murders were committed by a shadow from the past. A shadow that got away with the first murder.

This was, in my opinion, one of the best in this series. The characters are multi dimensional with their own separate lives and the life they each lead while working together. Fantastic storyline and ultimate climatic ending. A must read.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the Body Farm series, and I especially liked this book. Might be the best of the series.

[Ericka Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting close to the end of the series and this one goes back to a time where Dr Brockton’s assistant is Tyler, not Miranda. The body farm has just gotten it’s three acre spot next to the medical center and it’s Tyler’s task to study bugs and their life cycles on bodies. The mystery starts with examining some old bones and introducing Jenny, Dr Brockton’s future daughter-in-law. Jenny is an art student who put a face to the bones. Meanwhile, women are being killed and staged in a way to get Dr. Brockton’s attention.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent addition to the series using a past timeline. Nice to see a bit of Bill, Kathleen and Jeff as a family way back when.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Copy Provided by Author via Sisterhood of the Traveling Book

After a bit of a disappointing read in the previous book in the series, I have to admit that I was a bit scared to pick up this one. But I was pleasantly surprised. This book took the reader back in time, a time when Dr Brockton’s wife is still alive (for those who have read the series, you know how that plays out) and a time when his relationship with his son was less fractured/ more like what you would expect a father son relationship to be like. It also featured many of the secondary characters who have appeared through-out the series from Art Bohanan (the fingerprint technician who plays a significant role in most of the books) to the disgraced (well, in the later books) Medical Examiner Garland Hamilton. It was really weird not to have Miranda though because she is one of the characters who has made the series for me, although I didn’t mind Tyler (although, I can’t remember if he has appeared in later books).

One of the interesting things to me was seeing how far that study of forensic anthropology/body decomp had developed from the time period when this book was set to the more modern books in the series. How, (while the authors admit in the author’s note that the timing was a bit different to how the body farm came about in real life (the real farm was established much earlier), the body farm was actually established – trying to get a space to conduct these often gruesome experiments, figuring out how body’s decompose (which i can’t say is something that I would actually like to study, but hey, to each their own right?). The experiment with the flies wearing Tennessee orange just made me giggle (but you have to read the book to see what I mean).

Anyways, overall, I gave Cut to the Bone 4 stars and felt that it was a big improvement on the previous book in the series that was released. This would be a good book for either someone starting the series as a brand-new reader, or someone well-established in the series.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are at all squeamish at all don't read this book. It's over the top descriptive of dead bodies, the crimes committed against women and into the mind of the killer who also tortures animals in detail.

So this is a prequel to the rest of the series. It's full of making smart men sound like red neck idiot hillbillies and an average man into a superman of a detective even though he is not. The time line of some of the research is also off by a decade or so. It is full of no mystery because one of the many POV is the killer complete with name. As we go on something will happen in the story to the "hero" and it will have some kind of meaning attached (first is a snake) that the next chapter is repeated in the reverse by the bad guy who of course has to follow quick unimaginative formula writing must be after the "hero" for whatever reason even if it doesn't fit the pattern the author has mapped out with all his other killings. There is no mystery, idiotic and annoying characters abound, gross out factor to the max for pure shock value and simplistic writing that had me rolling my eyes or wanting to throw the book across the room in disgust. Also the authors must have forgotten to look at their notes from previous books if they have any because there inconsistencies of information in this book and previous ones. An example that annoyed me was the fact that maggots can't stay on the upper half of a body that is in a vertical position. He even has his assistant write a thesis about the fly and maggot behavior which they have just discovered and yet 20 years down the road this is again news to him and an interesting discovery? Last I don't care if you caught a killer red handed in the act of murder with multiple witnesses they don't go on trial in 3 months.

[Cindy B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like series & characters, some cussing & detailed gore, which don't enhance the exciting plots. Can recommend to those whose tastes run to such.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cut to the Bone by Jefferson Bass is the 8th book in the Body Farm series. Although written later, this book is actually the prequel to the series and tells of how the Body Farm came about. Head of the Anthropology Department at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Dr. Bill Brockten is called to a crime scene to assist when bones are discovered in the hills. He realises the limits of forensics at the time and embarrassed that he is able to provide so little assistance, he embarks on starting a research facility that would be able to assist in providing information to help investigators with solving crimes. However, his plans are interupted when bodies appear with similarities to previous crimes he had been involved in and he realises that he is being targetted by a particularly sick and twisted killer. This book is told from the points of view of Dr. Brockten and the killer and is particularly gruesome and shocking. It was interesting to learn some of the history of forensics and the research that has needed to be undertaken to get the knowledge thet we have now. I liked that there was an added author's note telling us what has changed in the story comparing to the actual Body Farm's genesis. There is a lot of death and violence but also good outcomes for some of the characters. A sensational and gripping thriller.

[Gloria Cangahuala · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cut to the Bone" is the first Jefferson Bass novel I've ever read. What an introduction to a great writing team! In the tradition of other forensic thriller novelists like Kathy Reichs, Jefferson Bass combines a fascinating premise, interesting cast of characters, and skilled storytelling to produce a riveting novel. What makes "Cut to the Bone" different from other forensic thrillers is that it is not so much a mystery as it is a puzzle. From the start, the reader knows who the killer is; what's entertaining is finding out how the police and main characters figure it out. Each short chapter in the story is told from a different point of view: the killer, the killer's victims, the forensic anthropologist, the forensic anthropologist's assistant, the police detectives. With each chapter, the reader learns a little bit more of how all these people's lives are connected and understands more and more what motivates the killer. Considering that, as the reader, I knew the identity of the killer from the beginning, it is truly impressive how the author was able to keep me glued to the book wanting to know what happens next. There was still lots of suspense in the novel as the pieces of the puzzle started to come together. I read this book in 2 sittings, and I'm now going to go read Jefferson Bass's other novels!

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book from Goodreads First Reads.

Cut to the Bone is a prequal to the Body Farm series from Jefferson Bass. Since it's part of a series I don't want to get into too much detail in case it may spoil other books but the story takes place back in 1992 and features Dr. Bill Brockton who wants to begin his body farm to study the forensic science of decomposing bodies to help the police solve murders. Dr. Brockton works cases with the local authorities quite often getting called to crime scenes with his assistant but can't often determine a exact time of death thus the idea of the body farm.

I haven't read the other books in the Body Farm series but after reading this book they are certainly going to be added to my to read list. Loved the science aspects of helping solve the crimes and all of the characters and storyline in the book. Although you know in the book who the killer is, it is still filled with suspense waiting for the good doctor and the law enforcement to figure out the killer and what will be his next move. I couldn't put this book down until finding out how it turned out and look forward to reading others from the series in the future.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strange that I should choose this book to read as the first book by this author. It is considered a prequel to the series even though it was written eight books after the first book. After reading the synopsis for the book, I though it would be a fairly good read. I was not disappointed. Once I started reading I found myself totally engrossed in the book. Finding out it was somewhat about the origins of "the body farm" only served to further engage my interest. Being a fan also of the writings of Patricia Cornwell, I was familiar with "the body farm". Taken though on its own merit this was a very good read. Both thrilling and suspenseful. I totally developed an affinity for the main character Dr. Bill Brockton. In this prequel we find murders being committed that mimic crime scenes Dr. Brockton has worked in the past. Just who is committing these copy cat murders and why? Who is bent on getting Dr. Brockton's attention and will their angst spill over to Dr. Brockton's family and friends. A very good read and now I can't wait to begin with book number one and work my way to this point. I think I'm in for a glorious ride.

[Sheryl]

DNF @ 25%: This is most definitely a “me thing”. First, I’m a quarter of the way through and I’m surprisingly bored. Second, and more important for me, is that the chapters alternate between the main investigator/professor Dr. Brockton’s and the killer’s point of views. I do not like when books focus so much on the killer and their thoughts and actions; I’d rather see the investigation solely through the eyes of the investigators. That’s totally a personal preference. There’s nothing wrong with the writing or the storytelling, per se (other than the bit about me being kind of bored so far). The narration for the audiobook is very good and the only thing that kept me reading this far, but it’s just not enough. I’m returning it to the library.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like this book. I didn't like the story and there was too much violence and too much gore. Also, it seems that there was a chronological problem in the story line. The protagonist mentioned a 2 year old case about a woman's body that was found in the woods (body stuck to a tree that has been dragged by animals, stolen hyoid bone, etc.). This case actually happened in one of the previous books, which makes it in the future ; when the main character's wife was dead and his son was an adult. It didn't make sense.

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Coming to the series late I had the option to start with book #8 which is the prequel for the series.
Other set up the series, nothing too deep into the body farm or the characters. And as a mystery I give a D-. To those who read this after the first seven you must have given some thought to why and will you read the next.
I'll experience book number one now.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the ending. Moved this book from a 4* to a 5 *. I will certainly be reading more from this author. I have been meaning to read him for a year or more.

[Robin Overman · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first it was odd to be reading about things that happened back when everything started...I prefer to read books in order. But this didn’t disappoint. It was nice to get a feel for his wife and marriage and his son. I wish they would have identified the skeleton that started the book but otherwise loved this one.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

The depiction of the abuses of grad students was Dead On Accurate. However, I was confused that professionals were able to mistake drawings on arms that were done in 10 minutes' time for actual tattoos. Also, the three to four months' time it took between them catching the guy and him apparently being sentenced was insanely short.

[Katy Ghoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read. I enjoyed that the story is placed in Knoxville TN and touched on the county where I’m from and was familiar with many things they discussed. Interesting work of fiction with many aspects of real life here in Knoxville. And I like a good crime story lol the only thing I didn’t like was the explicit content describing some of the crimes.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book kept me excited to read it I’m getting the others now... awesome read

[Carol Sandford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent thriller from Jefferson Bass, although I must admit, I wouldn't like to be connected to this Dr B in any way. He sure does bring bad luck to his loved ones lol!

[Terri Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy-reading, interesting enough, crime thriller written by Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass. Part of The Body Farm collection, this story focuses on Dr. Bill Brockton, an anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, who assists with forensic fieldwork when he’s not teaching classes. Sheriff Jim Cotterell, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent Wellington Harrison Meffert II, Bubba Hardknot, to most people, Tyler Wainwright, Brockton’s graduate assistant, and Detective Kitteredge round out the main cast of characters in the story. Oh, there is one more, Janelle Mayfield, the one that gets away.

You know from the beginning who the killer is but you have to read further to understand his motivation. The authors develop the stories around the victims so you feel sorry for them or close to them before they face their last moments. Mayfield escapes and helps the police find the killer.
This is a quick read (the authors don’t bog the story down with a lot of forensic anthropology details) and you’ll like the laid-back personality of Dr. Brockton.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I liked this book - I wanted to like it, because I like the idea of the series, but the last several I've read have just been too graphic for me. This book is different from the rest of the series in that it changes perspectives between the various characters, which I didn't find compelling. I found myself skimming and skipping vast swaths because I was disgusted or bored. The forensics parts were interesting, as they always are, but the rest of it feels almost gratuitous.

I think my problem with this series is that I simply want it be something different. I wanted it to exploit this incredibly interesting and unique main character and be about solving the crimes. Instead each book seems to dip further and further into graphic sensationalized violence, torture, abuse, of people and of animals, and I just can't get into it.

I'm giving it three stars because I don't want to drag down the rating just because this book isn't for me.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes, I just hate books like this! I have read Jefferson Bass books for years, and I really enjoy them for the most part. But though this book was a prequel it was written recently, and it is a much rougher to read than the earlier books were. There is a a lot more violence, sex, and just plain uncomfortable situations in the book. Even though I enjoy reading mysteries and police procedurals...I don't usually want all the detail with the book. This was a bit more than I could handle. That's not to say this wasn't a good book. It definitely had a wonderful plot, and really kept up the tension to the end. Jefferson Bass book's are so well-written compared to other books from this genre out there, which is one of the reasons I pick them up. I'm also a professor of pathophysiology and I'm fascinated by forensics, which is the other reason I pick up books by this author (s).

Hope the next one I pick up isn't so detailed!

[Chuck Heikkinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the things I enjoy about novels is getting new information. As a result, when the information is wrong, I start to distrust any of the book's facts and I get annoyed. Early in this novel, I ran across a scientific name that had a Greek origin, not Latin as stated. Then, there was a claim that rattlesnake's head travels at 175 mph when striking, but the internet shows studies that increase that speed to 174,000 mph. All that, however, is picky. The story concerns a rather grisly serial murder case in which vulnerable women are killed and then some. As it gathered momentum I had trouble putting off reading to the end, and that is the ultimate test of whether I like a book. The ending is not really surprising, but nonetheless gripping. Worth a read if you don't mind some creepiness.

[Usman Nasir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first book of the body farm series. I read it because it is like a prequel to the body farm series, telling the origin of the series, it is a stand alone book. Overall the story and the build up in the book are great, but the final twist in the book was unexpected which I think was written as an after sight to just give the readers a last shock, which doesn't even amount to anything at all and just confuse the readers as to why it was put in the book at all. It could also be written with the intention of keeping the readers guessing as to what more can this series hold, so the readers pick another one of the body farm novels. I would give this book a 3.45 and recommend to read only if they don't have anything better to read, or if they are becoming orthopaedic, or are really interested in bone anatomy.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The prequel to the series, this introduces Dr. Bill Brockton and tells the story of the beginning of the Body Farm at the University of Tennessee. Actually, as he tells us at the end, there are several alterations which were necessary, but basically it's the beginning of the story. I thought it got off to a slow start, but once the action started, it really kept rolling! About halfway through, I couldn't put the book down. A serial killer with a vendetta against Dr. Bill carries out his nefarious plan culminating in his attempted murder of Dr. Bill and his family, with one of the most exciting endings of any of the books. Definitely looking forward to more good reads in this series!