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Body Farm #1
Carved in Bone
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.
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.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
763 people are currently reading
14858 people want to read
About the author
Jefferson Bass
21 books1,168 followersJefferson 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.
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.
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February 3, 2022
Jefferson Bass is the pen name of Jon Jefferson and Dr. William Bass. Dr. Bass is the founder of the U. of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility or the real "Body Farm" where human remains are laid out in different elements (out in the open, in bags, car trunks, etc) to study decomposition and bones.
The forensic science in Carved in Bone is fascinating and I wish I understand everything but I didn't. A mysterious woman's body was found in a mountainous cave in Cooke County in eastern Tennessee and Dr. Bill Brockton from the Body Farm was asked to help the local sheriff figure out the who, when, and how. I couldn't pinpoint what made this story mildly lacking when the beginning and plot have so much potential. Too detail perhaps? The ending was satisfying so I'm going with the middle of the road rating.
I read book #2 Flesh and Bone seven years ago (I didn't know then that I can see book orders on GR!) and really liked that one. Maybe this is a case of being the first and the writing gets better? I'll read book #3 at some point. I'm not ready to give up just yet and I do like the audio read by Corey M. Snow.
Read for Book Across America BINGO - Snag A Read For Free Group
The forensic science in Carved in Bone is fascinating and I wish I understand everything but I didn't. A mysterious woman's body was found in a mountainous cave in Cooke County in eastern Tennessee and Dr. Bill Brockton from the Body Farm was asked to help the local sheriff figure out the who, when, and how. I couldn't pinpoint what made this story mildly lacking when the beginning and plot have so much potential. Too detail perhaps? The ending was satisfying so I'm going with the middle of the road rating.
I read book #2 Flesh and Bone seven years ago (I didn't know then that I can see book orders on GR!) and really liked that one. Maybe this is a case of being the first and the writing gets better? I'll read book #3 at some point. I'm not ready to give up just yet and I do like the audio read by Corey M. Snow.
Read for Book Across America BINGO - Snag A Read For Free Group
June 18, 2018
This is the first entry in the "Body Farm" series. The author, "Jefferson Bass," is actually a team consisting of Bill Bass, the founder of the "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee, and Jon Jefferson, a journalist. The protagonist, Dr. Bill Brockton, supervises the Body Farm (actually, the Anthropology Research Facility) where anthropologists study the ways in which corpses decompose. Brockton has a heavy teaching and research load and is still grieving the loss of his wife who died two years earlier.
Brockton's routine is interrupted by an appeal from a rural sheriff for help with a body that has just been discovered in a mountain cave. The victim--a young woman--has been dead for years, but her body has been eerily preserved by the conditions within the cave. Brockton removes the body to the lab where he begins his examination in an effort to determine who the victim might have been and how she might have died.
The anthropological challenges that Brockton faces pale, however, compared to the other problems he has brought down upon himself by opening this can of worms. The isolated, rural mountain community where the victim was discovered is very tightly knit and has secrets and rivalries that go back generations. And as Brockton begins digging into the past as well as the present, his prodigious anthropological skills may not be enough to save him from the trouble and the danger to which he's exposed himself.
The strength of this book clearly lies in the science, and watching Brockton work and make his deductions from the corpses he's presented is fascinating stuff. The story itself is okay, but the strength of the book is also, in some ways, its weakness, because everytime the plot begins to build a little head of steam, it's interrupted by another dissertation on anthropology. Additionally, even without examining the bones, most readers will deduce what happened here well ahead of Dr. Brockton.
The book is a bit clunky in parts, and the authors make several strained attempts at humor which simply don't work at all. This is a relatively minor complaint, but it did interrupt the flow of the book for me. Those concerns aside, I enjoyed the book. Again, I found the science very interesting and I would probably read another book in the series to learn more about this field.
Brockton's routine is interrupted by an appeal from a rural sheriff for help with a body that has just been discovered in a mountain cave. The victim--a young woman--has been dead for years, but her body has been eerily preserved by the conditions within the cave. Brockton removes the body to the lab where he begins his examination in an effort to determine who the victim might have been and how she might have died.
The anthropological challenges that Brockton faces pale, however, compared to the other problems he has brought down upon himself by opening this can of worms. The isolated, rural mountain community where the victim was discovered is very tightly knit and has secrets and rivalries that go back generations. And as Brockton begins digging into the past as well as the present, his prodigious anthropological skills may not be enough to save him from the trouble and the danger to which he's exposed himself.
The strength of this book clearly lies in the science, and watching Brockton work and make his deductions from the corpses he's presented is fascinating stuff. The story itself is okay, but the strength of the book is also, in some ways, its weakness, because everytime the plot begins to build a little head of steam, it's interrupted by another dissertation on anthropology. Additionally, even without examining the bones, most readers will deduce what happened here well ahead of Dr. Brockton.
The book is a bit clunky in parts, and the authors make several strained attempts at humor which simply don't work at all. This is a relatively minor complaint, but it did interrupt the flow of the book for me. Those concerns aside, I enjoyed the book. Again, I found the science very interesting and I would probably read another book in the series to learn more about this field.
August 6, 2019
I realize that this review is nearly as long as the book but I felt is was important to lay the groundwork for the basis of the novel.
Jefferson Bass is the writing team of Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bill Bass is a world-renowned forensic anthropologist who founded the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Center, informally nicknamed the Body Farm. Jon Jefferson, a veteran journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker, has written and produced two highly rated documentaries about the Body Farm for National Geographic.
On the campus of the University of Tennessee, lies few acres of ground known as the Body Farm, where donated, human corpses are left to the elements in a multitude of various states so that every manner of decay can be fully explored.
The Body Farm has broken cold cases wide open and revolutionized forensics for the sake of science and the cause of justice.
Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, aka Jefferson Bass, have now ventured into the realm of combining real world, groundbreaking, forensic anthropology with a series of fictional crime mystery novels.
This is the first book in the Body Farm series that introduces a captivating and colorful protagonist, Dr. Bill Brockton, who teaches Forensic Anthropology at UT, both in the classroom, and on site at the Body Farm.
Dr. Brockton is asked to solve the murder of a woman whose body was found hidden in a cave in a remote mountain community in East Tennessee. Cooke County is a clannish, insular environment where no one trusts outsiders and nothing is quite what it seems.
As Dr. Brockton and his graduate assistant, Miranda, examine the woman's body, a heartbreaking picture emerges, the clues to her murder, clearly carved in her bone.
Slowly more clues to the woman's murder are revealed, reopening old wounds and sparking up a long simmering, decade old fued. The Sheriff, a very powerful and formidable opponent, becomes uncooperative, threatening to bring the investigation to a screeching halt. But Dr. Brockton can't ignore the facts he's uncovered and will stop at nothing to get justice for the woman who was murdered thirty years ago, even when it becomes clear that his life is being threatened, as well.
In addition, Dr. Brockton must face his lingering guilt over the death of his wife, Kathleen, from two years ago. Complicating matters further, he is also asked to present evidence in court against a medical examiner whose mistake during an autopsy may send an innocent man to life in prison for a murder he didn't commit.
I read this series many years ago and it's just as good, if not more so, the second time around.
All the characters are vibrant and big as life. Dr. Brockton is a master of forensic anthropology and the evidence obtained from his tireless studies learned from the Body Farm add an amazing and new dimension to this crime mystery series.
The engaging humanity and humor that Jefferson Bass created in the characters is astonishing and refreshing.
Despite this and the groundbreaking science that outlines the plot,
make no mistake, this is a twisted roller coaster ride at a heart stopping pace where real life is often more creepy and terrifying than fiction.
I highly recommend it!
Jefferson Bass is the writing team of Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. Dr. Bill Bass is a world-renowned forensic anthropologist who founded the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Center, informally nicknamed the Body Farm. Jon Jefferson, a veteran journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker, has written and produced two highly rated documentaries about the Body Farm for National Geographic.
On the campus of the University of Tennessee, lies few acres of ground known as the Body Farm, where donated, human corpses are left to the elements in a multitude of various states so that every manner of decay can be fully explored.
The Body Farm has broken cold cases wide open and revolutionized forensics for the sake of science and the cause of justice.
Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, aka Jefferson Bass, have now ventured into the realm of combining real world, groundbreaking, forensic anthropology with a series of fictional crime mystery novels.
This is the first book in the Body Farm series that introduces a captivating and colorful protagonist, Dr. Bill Brockton, who teaches Forensic Anthropology at UT, both in the classroom, and on site at the Body Farm.
Dr. Brockton is asked to solve the murder of a woman whose body was found hidden in a cave in a remote mountain community in East Tennessee. Cooke County is a clannish, insular environment where no one trusts outsiders and nothing is quite what it seems.
As Dr. Brockton and his graduate assistant, Miranda, examine the woman's body, a heartbreaking picture emerges, the clues to her murder, clearly carved in her bone.
Slowly more clues to the woman's murder are revealed, reopening old wounds and sparking up a long simmering, decade old fued. The Sheriff, a very powerful and formidable opponent, becomes uncooperative, threatening to bring the investigation to a screeching halt. But Dr. Brockton can't ignore the facts he's uncovered and will stop at nothing to get justice for the woman who was murdered thirty years ago, even when it becomes clear that his life is being threatened, as well.
In addition, Dr. Brockton must face his lingering guilt over the death of his wife, Kathleen, from two years ago. Complicating matters further, he is also asked to present evidence in court against a medical examiner whose mistake during an autopsy may send an innocent man to life in prison for a murder he didn't commit.
I read this series many years ago and it's just as good, if not more so, the second time around.
All the characters are vibrant and big as life. Dr. Brockton is a master of forensic anthropology and the evidence obtained from his tireless studies learned from the Body Farm add an amazing and new dimension to this crime mystery series.
The engaging humanity and humor that Jefferson Bass created in the characters is astonishing and refreshing.
Despite this and the groundbreaking science that outlines the plot,
make no mistake, this is a twisted roller coaster ride at a heart stopping pace where real life is often more creepy and terrifying than fiction.
I highly recommend it!
February 7, 2017
A friend recommended this series to me almost two years ago and I'm embarrassed it took me this long to get to the first book. If the first book is any indication, it's a great series. I really enjoyed the blending of fact and creative story. You learn a lot about forensic anthropology. Good strong characters - I'll be curious to see which of them outside the main character show up again.
April 3, 2024
There is a patch of ground in Tennessee dedicated to the science of death, where human remains lie exposed to be studied for their secrets. The real-life scientist who founded the "Body Farm" has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences.
This is a sensational first book in the series by the author known as Jefferson Bass. While not only laying out a comprehensive explanation of forensic anthropology for the layperson, Bass also creates a great story to keep the reader interested from beginning to end. I read the entire series years ago, so returning for another go round will allow me to see new things I did not catch before. Bill Brockton runs the Body Farm at the University of Knoxville. While there are cadavers scattered around the ’farm’ portion of campus, Brockton is also keen to use his skills to help solve crimes around the state. What begins as a simple identification turns into a full criminal investigation with intense moments for all involved.
Popular anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has been surrounded by death for much of his academic life, especially after creating the Body Farm on the campus of the University of Knoxville. Dr. Brockton has been busy teaching students for many year, but now is being called upon to help with baffling mystery in a remote mountain community. While not his usual body examination, to help the police is an honour that Dr. Brockton cannot turn down.
When Dr. Brockton and the local sheriff arrive, they discover a mummified corpse in a cave that turns out to be a woman from three decades before. The isolation has proven to be a great means of preservation, allowing for better analysis and initial investigation by Dr. Brockton. While Dr. Brockton does his thing and makes an effort not only to identify what the body says, he also ascertains some of the reasons that might explain how this woman ended up dead.
While Brockton is effective, it opens up new and old wounds for some, which impedes the ability to properly investigate and bring justice to the forefront. As Brockton pushes for the truth, he finds himself in many uncomfortable situations that could cause a great deal of harm for all involved. However, the truth is all that anthropology knows and Dr. Brockton is a slave to his science. A great debut novel that has me eager to continue my re-reading binge.
I remember how exciting this series was when first I discovered it. This has not dissipated over the years, as I devoured the book once more. Bass does well explaining scientific things while using great skills to move the narrative forward. Doing so while keeping characters developing, the setting realistic, and the plot from going stale sets this book apart from many others I have read. While not wrestling with the same inner angst as others in the forensic and private anthropology worlds in popular fiction, we see great progression from a character based in one of the authors' real life experiences.
This series is sure to gather followers along the way. It is so easy to read while also delving into some great topics. I am learning the Tennessee dialect of 'home South' as I enjoy the dual-pronged plot and the great character development. Having heard about the Body Farm in a television episode years ago, I am quite interested in learning more. Wonderful plot twists help add to my level of enjoyment and push me to read more in short order.
Kudos Mr. Bass for a great opening novel!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
This is a sensational first book in the series by the author known as Jefferson Bass. While not only laying out a comprehensive explanation of forensic anthropology for the layperson, Bass also creates a great story to keep the reader interested from beginning to end. I read the entire series years ago, so returning for another go round will allow me to see new things I did not catch before. Bill Brockton runs the Body Farm at the University of Knoxville. While there are cadavers scattered around the ’farm’ portion of campus, Brockton is also keen to use his skills to help solve crimes around the state. What begins as a simple identification turns into a full criminal investigation with intense moments for all involved.
Popular anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has been surrounded by death for much of his academic life, especially after creating the Body Farm on the campus of the University of Knoxville. Dr. Brockton has been busy teaching students for many year, but now is being called upon to help with baffling mystery in a remote mountain community. While not his usual body examination, to help the police is an honour that Dr. Brockton cannot turn down.
When Dr. Brockton and the local sheriff arrive, they discover a mummified corpse in a cave that turns out to be a woman from three decades before. The isolation has proven to be a great means of preservation, allowing for better analysis and initial investigation by Dr. Brockton. While Dr. Brockton does his thing and makes an effort not only to identify what the body says, he also ascertains some of the reasons that might explain how this woman ended up dead.
While Brockton is effective, it opens up new and old wounds for some, which impedes the ability to properly investigate and bring justice to the forefront. As Brockton pushes for the truth, he finds himself in many uncomfortable situations that could cause a great deal of harm for all involved. However, the truth is all that anthropology knows and Dr. Brockton is a slave to his science. A great debut novel that has me eager to continue my re-reading binge.
I remember how exciting this series was when first I discovered it. This has not dissipated over the years, as I devoured the book once more. Bass does well explaining scientific things while using great skills to move the narrative forward. Doing so while keeping characters developing, the setting realistic, and the plot from going stale sets this book apart from many others I have read. While not wrestling with the same inner angst as others in the forensic and private anthropology worlds in popular fiction, we see great progression from a character based in one of the authors' real life experiences.
This series is sure to gather followers along the way. It is so easy to read while also delving into some great topics. I am learning the Tennessee dialect of 'home South' as I enjoy the dual-pronged plot and the great character development. Having heard about the Body Farm in a television episode years ago, I am quite interested in learning more. Wonderful plot twists help add to my level of enjoyment and push me to read more in short order.
Kudos Mr. Bass for a great opening novel!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 8, 2024
Real forensic science trumps CSI any day!
In CARVED IN BONE, forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton obviously is the fictionalized version of his creator, Dr Bill Bass, the founder of the real-life Body Farm, a research facility that he runs in Knoxville, Tennessee. Although THE BODY FARM and DEATH'S ACRE were both exceptionally well written and compelling non-fiction books that provided clear, graphic, easily understood explanations of the exciting, innovative, pioneering research conducted on THE BODY FARM, many readers will still find a non-fiction approach just a little too cut and dry for their tastes. You'll pardon the joke if I suggest that CARVED IN BONE puts flesh on those real-life bones and converts the story of this research into a novel that manages to convey considerable scientific information in the format of an exciting, if somewhat predictable, thriller.
Solid, well-explained and credible forensic science; the decades old strangulation of a young pregnant mother-to-be; the limited gene pool and controversial social structure of a close-knit, parochial, religious mountain community; and a diverting side plot in which Brockton grieves for his recently deceased wife but is mortified to find himself romantically attracted to his graduate student assistant and a promising undergraduate student who is quite young enough to be his daughter; plus a decent smattering of red herrings and narrow escapes. Presto, you have a wonderfully enjoyable novel that knocks the stuffings out of the over-the-top and sadly unrealistic imaginings of the CSI screenplay writers.
Well done, Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. I was a fan of the non-fiction material and now I intend to seek out the rest of the fiction series as well.
Paul Weiss
In CARVED IN BONE, forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton obviously is the fictionalized version of his creator, Dr Bill Bass, the founder of the real-life Body Farm, a research facility that he runs in Knoxville, Tennessee. Although THE BODY FARM and DEATH'S ACRE were both exceptionally well written and compelling non-fiction books that provided clear, graphic, easily understood explanations of the exciting, innovative, pioneering research conducted on THE BODY FARM, many readers will still find a non-fiction approach just a little too cut and dry for their tastes. You'll pardon the joke if I suggest that CARVED IN BONE puts flesh on those real-life bones and converts the story of this research into a novel that manages to convey considerable scientific information in the format of an exciting, if somewhat predictable, thriller.
Solid, well-explained and credible forensic science; the decades old strangulation of a young pregnant mother-to-be; the limited gene pool and controversial social structure of a close-knit, parochial, religious mountain community; and a diverting side plot in which Brockton grieves for his recently deceased wife but is mortified to find himself romantically attracted to his graduate student assistant and a promising undergraduate student who is quite young enough to be his daughter; plus a decent smattering of red herrings and narrow escapes. Presto, you have a wonderfully enjoyable novel that knocks the stuffings out of the over-the-top and sadly unrealistic imaginings of the CSI screenplay writers.
Well done, Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson. I was a fan of the non-fiction material and now I intend to seek out the rest of the fiction series as well.
Paul Weiss
July 7, 2025
Anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death at the Body Farm. Now the mummified corpse of a young woman dead for thirty years has been found in a cave. The body preserved and transformed by the environments chemistry. Dr. Brockton's investigation is threatening to open old wounds among people who won't forget or forgive. And a long-buried secret if exposed could bring to light Brockton's own guilt and the dangerous hostility of bitter enemies determined to see him fail by any means necessary. The forensics in the book can be a bit graphic so it may not be for everybody. But if that doesn't bother you then I recommend it. Four stars.
March 11, 2017
Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass.
This is the 1st in the body farm mystery series and my 7th since I didn't start at the beginning. This story was an excellent read. the details, which this series is famous for, is in depth and brings the reader into the story and close to the characters involved.
A woman's body is found inside a cave under climatic conditions that preserved the body for decades without exterior decay. She, the victim, appeared to be comparable to a wax figure. Dr. Bill was asked to examine the body before bringing it out of the enclosed cave. Later upon closer examination he finds the woman had been strangled.
This discovery takes place in Cooke County, a backwards rural area where the police in charge and the criminals intermingle. There's been a war going on between families. a feud that has carried on from generation to generation. Does this feud have anything to do with this victim.
Don't miss this first entry in the body farm mysteries and don't miss this series. One of the best ever and now made available on CD.
This is the 1st in the body farm mystery series and my 7th since I didn't start at the beginning. This story was an excellent read. the details, which this series is famous for, is in depth and brings the reader into the story and close to the characters involved.
A woman's body is found inside a cave under climatic conditions that preserved the body for decades without exterior decay. She, the victim, appeared to be comparable to a wax figure. Dr. Bill was asked to examine the body before bringing it out of the enclosed cave. Later upon closer examination he finds the woman had been strangled.
This discovery takes place in Cooke County, a backwards rural area where the police in charge and the criminals intermingle. There's been a war going on between families. a feud that has carried on from generation to generation. Does this feud have anything to do with this victim.
Don't miss this first entry in the body farm mysteries and don't miss this series. One of the best ever and now made available on CD.
January 31, 2011
This is the first in a now established series by the writing team of Bill Bass, a real forensic professor at the University of Tennessee, and Jon Jefferson, a writer and reported. You can definitely tell this is a first effort. I found some of the humor and dialog to be a little immature and clunky in several places. I also found it difficult to believe that this widower is suddenly being seduced and fawned over by not one, but two college girls. Really??? Not too believable.
The mystery part was pretty good and the forensics information was interesting. The Body Farm wasn't really a major part of the story which is what I thought this was going to be about. The story ends up following a couple of cases. One is court case that was botched by a shoddy autopsy, the second is a body found in a cave. This second body has been entirely encased in adipocere, the solidified body fat that was left as the flesh decomposed. Creepy! I also enjoyed the eastern Tennessee setting. I don't know much about the hills of Tennessee so it was quite a lot of fun imagining the characters and accents and places.
Will definitely be looking for the second in the series.
The mystery part was pretty good and the forensics information was interesting. The Body Farm wasn't really a major part of the story which is what I thought this was going to be about. The story ends up following a couple of cases. One is court case that was botched by a shoddy autopsy, the second is a body found in a cave. This second body has been entirely encased in adipocere, the solidified body fat that was left as the flesh decomposed. Creepy! I also enjoyed the eastern Tennessee setting. I don't know much about the hills of Tennessee so it was quite a lot of fun imagining the characters and accents and places.
Will definitely be looking for the second in the series.
March 23, 2018
Before starting this book I read some of the background concerning The Body Farm and the subject matter sounded so repugnant I just had to read it.
What I found was a book that informed and entertained me.
The insight that the book provides on forensic anthropology is captivating. The anthropologists take a corpse and strip it back to the bare bones and the amount of information that the skeleton yields is mind blowing.
Meanwhile, the local sheriff askes Dr. Bill Brockton, the forensic anthropology from the body farm, for help with a corpse that has been discovered in a cave in the local area. Dr. Bill discovers that the corpse is a young female of about twenty years of age and, not only has been dead for thirty years, but she was also four month pregnant at the time of her death. How Dr. Bill comes to this conclusion is explained in fascinating detail.
All the law enforcement agencies are called in but Dr Bill is fed so much B.S. that he doesn't know who he can trust.
Who killed this young woman and why becomes Dr.Bill Brockton mission.
I found this to be a captivating thriller whilst educating me in subject that I had no knowledge of.
Highly recommended.
What I found was a book that informed and entertained me.
The insight that the book provides on forensic anthropology is captivating. The anthropologists take a corpse and strip it back to the bare bones and the amount of information that the skeleton yields is mind blowing.
Meanwhile, the local sheriff askes Dr. Bill Brockton, the forensic anthropology from the body farm, for help with a corpse that has been discovered in a cave in the local area. Dr. Bill discovers that the corpse is a young female of about twenty years of age and, not only has been dead for thirty years, but she was also four month pregnant at the time of her death. How Dr. Bill comes to this conclusion is explained in fascinating detail.
All the law enforcement agencies are called in but Dr Bill is fed so much B.S. that he doesn't know who he can trust.
Who killed this young woman and why becomes Dr.Bill Brockton mission.
I found this to be a captivating thriller whilst educating me in subject that I had no knowledge of.
Highly recommended.
October 31, 2019
3.75 stars
I liked this book more than I thought I would. Forensics have always been of interest to me - even though this book did not delve deeply into them. This was my first read for Jefferson Bass - who is a pseudonym for Jon Jefferson, filmmaker and writer, and Dr. Bill Bass, renowned forensic anthropologist.
This series starts out telling you a bit about the Bone Farm in Eastern Tennessee. Then sets anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton off on a mystery to find, the body of, and solve the murder of, a young woman dead for 30 years. However we are deep in the Tennessee hills and there are some bitter scars between families. The local sheriff comes from one of the feuding families, so is anything but helpful in solving this cold case.
This is the first book in the ten book Body Farm series. I will continue and read the second book to see if the dual authors get better, get worse or maintain their creativity. This first book does give some true facts about forensics, being as it was actually Bill Bass who set up the very first real body farm.
I liked this book more than I thought I would. Forensics have always been of interest to me - even though this book did not delve deeply into them. This was my first read for Jefferson Bass - who is a pseudonym for Jon Jefferson, filmmaker and writer, and Dr. Bill Bass, renowned forensic anthropologist.
This series starts out telling you a bit about the Bone Farm in Eastern Tennessee. Then sets anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton off on a mystery to find, the body of, and solve the murder of, a young woman dead for 30 years. However we are deep in the Tennessee hills and there are some bitter scars between families. The local sheriff comes from one of the feuding families, so is anything but helpful in solving this cold case.
This is the first book in the ten book Body Farm series. I will continue and read the second book to see if the dual authors get better, get worse or maintain their creativity. This first book does give some true facts about forensics, being as it was actually Bill Bass who set up the very first real body farm.
April 9, 2023
A terrific start to a new series. Full of unique East Tennessee characters, fantastic forensic detail and startling suspense Bass hooks your attention from the very beginning. He weaves a mystery that is believable and is so richly complex that you won’t want to put it down.
August 12, 2007
CARVED IN BONE (Forensic Mystery-TN-Cont) – G+
Bass, Jefferson – 1st book
Harper, 2007- US Paperback- ISBN: 9780060759827
***Anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton is summoned to a Tennessee mountain town where the local sheriff and deputy take him to see a mummified corpse of a young woman. His first task is to find out who she is and how she died. And then he has to find out who killed her while not dying himself.
*** I liked this book. The protagonist clearly knows his forensics but is down to earth, gets car sick, is emotionally insecure and very human. The story opens with a great hook and kept me going straight through to the end. The sense of place, dialogue and suspense and references to other authors, characters and books all contributed to my enjoyment of the story. The supporting characters are diverse; from the small-town sheriff to the Vietnam vet, to Brockton’s assistant; but they all have definite personalities. Some of the forensic detail may not be for the faint of stomach, but it is fascinating stuff. This was one really good read.
Bass, Jefferson – 1st book
Harper, 2007- US Paperback- ISBN: 9780060759827
***Anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton is summoned to a Tennessee mountain town where the local sheriff and deputy take him to see a mummified corpse of a young woman. His first task is to find out who she is and how she died. And then he has to find out who killed her while not dying himself.
*** I liked this book. The protagonist clearly knows his forensics but is down to earth, gets car sick, is emotionally insecure and very human. The story opens with a great hook and kept me going straight through to the end. The sense of place, dialogue and suspense and references to other authors, characters and books all contributed to my enjoyment of the story. The supporting characters are diverse; from the small-town sheriff to the Vietnam vet, to Brockton’s assistant; but they all have definite personalities. Some of the forensic detail may not be for the faint of stomach, but it is fascinating stuff. This was one really good read.
October 2, 2013
Ugh. I got this book as either the free Friday Nook book or it was the daily find and I paid $1.99 for it. Either way, I am happy I did not make a huge investment in this book. It barely scraped by at getting 2 stars from me. It is not that the writing is bad, but the editing is horrendous. This book has no idea what it is supposed to be (I seem to be coming across that a lot in books of late)- is it a thriller, a procedural, a story about small town dynamics? Not to say that a book can't be all three or more but it did not work in this book - it was clunky and the tangents (the cockfighting, the ginseng, the main character's infatuation with his student/teaching assistant, etc.) were jarring and completely unnecessary. I understand that this has gone on to be a very popular series, hopefully the subsequent books are better than this one. I don't foresee my reading anything else by this author.
January 17, 2015
4 Stars
Awesome read. Really enjoyed this new series.
All about forensic anthropology, which was more interesting than it sounds. There are more twists and turns than the Jersey Pike.
Dr Brockton is brought in to solve an old murder and finds that someone wants to stop him dead in his tracks. With the aide of his students and Art, who happens to be a kick-ass cop, one of the top criminalists, at that.
The entire time I read the book, I never had a clue as to who was the good guy. Just when you think someone is okay, it flips. Kept me guessing until the end, and then it got really crazy.
Great series to start; who is with me??
Awesome read. Really enjoyed this new series.
All about forensic anthropology, which was more interesting than it sounds. There are more twists and turns than the Jersey Pike.
Dr Brockton is brought in to solve an old murder and finds that someone wants to stop him dead in his tracks. With the aide of his students and Art, who happens to be a kick-ass cop, one of the top criminalists, at that.
The entire time I read the book, I never had a clue as to who was the good guy. Just when you think someone is okay, it flips. Kept me guessing until the end, and then it got really crazy.
Great series to start; who is with me??
August 28, 2019
There is a patch of ground in Tennessee dedicated to the science of death, where human remains lie exposed to be studied for their secrets. The real-life scientist who founded the "Body Farm" has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences.
I am absolutely engrossed by all the stories written by the Basses and Dr. Brockton. I've really enjoyed this excellent reading and writing. Highly Recommend. There is a big part of me that would like to go and view the different ways the bodies have been laid, preserved and so forth. Forensics is a fascinating science work that is included in this.
Renowned anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death at the Body Farm. Now he's being called upon to help solve a baffling puzzle in a remote mountain community. The mummified corpse of a young woman dead for thirty years has been discovered in a cave, the body bizarrely preserved and transformed by the environment's unique chemistry. But Brockton's investigation is threatening to open old wounds among an insular people who won't forget or forgive. And a long-buried secret prematurely exposed could inflame Brockton's own guilt—and the dangerous hostility of bitter enemies determined to see him fail . . . by any means necessary.
The real-life scientist who founded the "Body Farm" has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences. Highly recommend this book. Great read!!!
I am absolutely engrossed by all the stories written by the Basses and Dr. Brockton. I've really enjoyed this excellent reading and writing. Highly Recommend. There is a big part of me that would like to go and view the different ways the bodies have been laid, preserved and so forth. Forensics is a fascinating science work that is included in this.
Renowned anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton has spent his career surrounded by death at the Body Farm. Now he's being called upon to help solve a baffling puzzle in a remote mountain community. The mummified corpse of a young woman dead for thirty years has been discovered in a cave, the body bizarrely preserved and transformed by the environment's unique chemistry. But Brockton's investigation is threatening to open old wounds among an insular people who won't forget or forgive. And a long-buried secret prematurely exposed could inflame Brockton's own guilt—and the dangerous hostility of bitter enemies determined to see him fail . . . by any means necessary.
The real-life scientist who founded the "Body Farm" has broken cold cases and revolutionized forensics . . . and now he spins an astonishing tale inspired by his own experiences. Highly recommend this book. Great read!!!
August 15, 2012
Where can you find a world class research institute, decaying bodies, Skoal spitting rednecks, underground caves and steamy romance all within a mile of each other? Carved in Bone, of course!
Author Jefferson Bass is himself a fascinating character. Too bad he doesn't exist.
Bass is a hybrid between writer Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass - the forensic anthropologist who founded the notorious "body farm", a three acre breeding ground for rotting corpses in backwoods Tennessee. In fact, the area is a research laboratory for the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Department, but its morbid methodology and Deliverance-esque locale only add to its intrigue and general creepiness. In short, it is a perfect setting for a mystery/thriller.
Carved in Bone is a fun, fast-paced read full of suspense, intrigue, intellect and fascinating characters. I picked up the novel in an airport, and two thousand miles later I had become a full blown Jefferson Bass addict. As you can probably imagine, the story revolves around a body - the body of a young woman dead for thirty years and strikingly preserved. The quest of Dr. Bill Brockton starts out strange and only gets stranger as he races to unlock her secrets. He stabs dead people. He faints head first into a barrel of dead roosters. He vomits onto a massive bear of a good ol' boy named Waylon. The next time you think your job is rough, pick up a Jefferson Bass novel and try being a doctor of rot rates.
Author Jefferson Bass is himself a fascinating character. Too bad he doesn't exist.
Bass is a hybrid between writer Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass - the forensic anthropologist who founded the notorious "body farm", a three acre breeding ground for rotting corpses in backwoods Tennessee. In fact, the area is a research laboratory for the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Department, but its morbid methodology and Deliverance-esque locale only add to its intrigue and general creepiness. In short, it is a perfect setting for a mystery/thriller.
Carved in Bone is a fun, fast-paced read full of suspense, intrigue, intellect and fascinating characters. I picked up the novel in an airport, and two thousand miles later I had become a full blown Jefferson Bass addict. As you can probably imagine, the story revolves around a body - the body of a young woman dead for thirty years and strikingly preserved. The quest of Dr. Bill Brockton starts out strange and only gets stranger as he races to unlock her secrets. He stabs dead people. He faints head first into a barrel of dead roosters. He vomits onto a massive bear of a good ol' boy named Waylon. The next time you think your job is rough, pick up a Jefferson Bass novel and try being a doctor of rot rates.
January 2, 2011
Not sure what put me off about this one, which I got as a Free Friday ebook from Barnes & Noble, and would not otherwise have read. It might be that the protagonist had the usual Robert Langdon/Mikael Blomkvist trait of being an emotionally damaged middle-aged man who is irresistible to much younger women. It might be that the character I suspected of obstructing justice from the beginning was, in fact, obstructing justice. Or maybe it was the multitude of oddly placed tertiary characters, whose storyline(s) could easily have been deleted for the purpose of tightening the plot. In any case, I won't be checking out the rest of the series.
May 4, 2012
This book was so good! The author takes you step-by-step in the scientific processes and gives great, easy to understand background information so you don't have to worry about knowing anything about Forensic Anthropology to be able to enjoy this book. Infact, the story is presented in such a way that you actually learn true information as you go along and in a very fun way, if I may add. The discriptions of the places Dr. Brockton goes really comes to life in your minds eye because it is so well described. I even took the liberty of looking up the University of Tennessee's location and surrounding area and this book does well to encompass those locations.
That is the non-fiction side of the book,now to the fiction! The characters are great, some based on real people. Dr. Brockton assists in cases that make you read faster just to find out what happens next! He and a police buddy, Art, come into some close calls for their own safety just find out the truth on a very old Murder of a young women. You will be surprised about all the details surrounding her case! Jefferson Bass does an excellent job of showcasing Dr. Brocktons talents and he has an amazing ability to guide you through this adventure that makes you feel like you are helping in case too! This is a great book. Take my advise, read it!
That is the non-fiction side of the book,now to the fiction! The characters are great, some based on real people. Dr. Brockton assists in cases that make you read faster just to find out what happens next! He and a police buddy, Art, come into some close calls for their own safety just find out the truth on a very old Murder of a young women. You will be surprised about all the details surrounding her case! Jefferson Bass does an excellent job of showcasing Dr. Brocktons talents and he has an amazing ability to guide you through this adventure that makes you feel like you are helping in case too! This is a great book. Take my advise, read it!
September 16, 2013
I started this book out with a lot of eye rolling because it seemed to fall into the same traps of many novels written by experts: too much professional detail without enough true writing skill, and too much hokey dialogue. But the writing really grew on me, and although the writing choices make it clear it's written by a professional forensic anthropologist, you can't deny that the details are incredibly interesting. The humor and relationships between the characters felt more charming and real than goofy, and I finished the book pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
May 10, 2012
If I could work with anyone right now it would be Bass! He is my all time greatest male mentor!
I admire his work both at "The Body Farm" and in the literary field. I believe that his research and contributions in forensics is and will be monumental in sovlving the mysteries of both life and living; and death and dying for centuries to come.
I admire his work both at "The Body Farm" and in the literary field. I believe that his research and contributions in forensics is and will be monumental in sovlving the mysteries of both life and living; and death and dying for centuries to come.
June 18, 2013
This was a pretty good introduction of characters and what will hopefully be a long and interesting series of murder and mystery. I do like the fact that the author is -in fact- an actual author duo, one being the primary writer and one who is an actual scientist and was a key reason why the 'Body Farm' actually exists. It makes for a much more interesting read actually, as you know it's based more on truth than on fiction. So what you're shaking your head at (because it's out of the realm of your normal day to day existence and routine) is not pure crap and has an air of authenticity that can't be refuted.
The murder is unusual - and old - but it still has fresh roots that touch a lot of nerve endings of the local yokels. Set in Tennessee, the story goes between the University campus and the local hills of Cooke County and all the colorful characters the area is known for. No shortage of interesting locals that's for sure and it makes for endless suspects and red herrings. I personally would have liked to have had the body farm figure a little more prominently. It seemed to be more of a tease to get me into reading the book, although I didn't regret the read once I started into it.
All in all, a series worth pursuing.
The murder is unusual - and old - but it still has fresh roots that touch a lot of nerve endings of the local yokels. Set in Tennessee, the story goes between the University campus and the local hills of Cooke County and all the colorful characters the area is known for. No shortage of interesting locals that's for sure and it makes for endless suspects and red herrings. I personally would have liked to have had the body farm figure a little more prominently. It seemed to be more of a tease to get me into reading the book, although I didn't regret the read once I started into it.
All in all, a series worth pursuing.
June 3, 2022
Het Lijkenhuis was een teleurstelling. De Bodyfarm is ongelofelijk interessant en dat zie je in dit boek ook terug, maar voor een thriller mist dit boek alle thrill. In het begin dacht ik nog dat het gewoon op gang moest komen - misschien was het een slow burner. Dat bleek helaas niet het geval te zijn, het boek is gewoon echt hartstikke saai. De passages over autopsies blijven interessant (zolang je een sterke maag hebt) maar kunnen het boek niet redden. Daarnaast wordt er wel erg makkelijk gedaan oer het in beslag nemen en totaal vernietigen van lijken. Ik denk toch dat de nabestaanden daar in het echt nog wel even werk van zouden maken. Een laatste punt is dat de Nederlandse vertaling niet best is. Overdreven letterlijk (inclusief metaforen en dergelijke) waardoor het boek in het beste geval niet lekker leest en je in het slechtste geval dwingt om passages eindeloos te herlezen om erachter te komen wat die onzinzin nou eigenlijk betekent.
May 24, 2019
A generally enjoyable, well-paced forensic mystery set in Tennessee. Some of the story line was a bit convoluted, but overall, I enjoyed very much. I liked the setting, the interest in the Body Farm and hope more of that aspect is covered in future stories. The characters are interesting and the story held my interest throughout. I look forward to reading more in the series. Flesh and Bone is up next
January 19, 2011
really liked this book, much easier to read then Kathy Reichs. Believable characters, and much more likeable than the aforementioned series. Awesome forensic sceince, and local colorful folks. Will be wantin' ta read more o' these.
October 12, 2018
This is another body farm book that left me feeling “eh”. The beginning of the story really captured my attention but I lost interest the rest of the book. I actually finished it because of the detailed descriptions of the bodies in the body farm though.
Hate to say it but this didn’t leave me dying to read another book in the body farm series anytime soon.
Hate to say it but this didn’t leave me dying to read another book in the body farm series anytime soon.
June 19, 2013
Not for the squeamish, The Body Farm grabbed my attention from the get- go, and never let go until the end! I read it in one day. Fortunately this book was suggested to me by my GR friend Michael, as a candidate to read in my Road Trip USA Challenge, for the state of Tennessee. I am so glad I followed his advice. I will definitely be adding this series to my "must read" list.
There are so many elements within this book that ring true. Jefferson Bass is the pen name for two talented individuals who have collaborated brilliantly to write this series. Jon Jefferson is a GR author in his own right, and Dr. Bill Bass is a world famous forensic anthropologist. Dr. Bass is responsible for the creation of the Body Farm, a large area in Tennessee, that has been developed as a kind of "outdoor lab", where human bodies are left to decompose. Under a variety of closely watched conditions, and meticulously recorded to further understanding of this process a set up-all in order to provide additional analysis in forensic investigations. This the REAL Body Farm that Patricia Cornwell made famous in her Dr. Scarpetta series.
The main character, Bill, is one that I felt great empathy for, thanks to superior writing. He is a widower, still trying to cope with the loss of his wife, a dedicated teacher, and often finds himself in dangerous situations, since he doggedly follows the clues provided by the corpses he works with. Add in lots of interesting characters that are part of Bill!s crime analysis group, and local interest provided by the inhabitants of Cooke County, Tenn., and you have the makings for an entertaining read. There is a lot of very specific detail when it comes to dealing with murder victims, and Bill's lab work, and you can bet the descriptive text is right on the money.
This is a winning combination-Jefferson Bass- that Jon and Dr. Bill have created. I will be going along for the ride the next time the phone rings to call Dr. Bill to another dead body scene.
There are so many elements within this book that ring true. Jefferson Bass is the pen name for two talented individuals who have collaborated brilliantly to write this series. Jon Jefferson is a GR author in his own right, and Dr. Bill Bass is a world famous forensic anthropologist. Dr. Bass is responsible for the creation of the Body Farm, a large area in Tennessee, that has been developed as a kind of "outdoor lab", where human bodies are left to decompose. Under a variety of closely watched conditions, and meticulously recorded to further understanding of this process a set up-all in order to provide additional analysis in forensic investigations. This the REAL Body Farm that Patricia Cornwell made famous in her Dr. Scarpetta series.
The main character, Bill, is one that I felt great empathy for, thanks to superior writing. He is a widower, still trying to cope with the loss of his wife, a dedicated teacher, and often finds himself in dangerous situations, since he doggedly follows the clues provided by the corpses he works with. Add in lots of interesting characters that are part of Bill!s crime analysis group, and local interest provided by the inhabitants of Cooke County, Tenn., and you have the makings for an entertaining read. There is a lot of very specific detail when it comes to dealing with murder victims, and Bill's lab work, and you can bet the descriptive text is right on the money.
This is a winning combination-Jefferson Bass- that Jon and Dr. Bill have created. I will be going along for the ride the next time the phone rings to call Dr. Bill to another dead body scene.
February 27, 2015
This was my first introduction to this series of "Body Farm" books, and I really liked it. One of the authors, Bill Bass, is a forensic anthropologist, and created the actual "Body Farm" at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. The central character in this series, Dr. Bill Brockton, is also a forensic anthropologist, and assists many law enforcement agencies in the the area with criminal forensics. The author's knowledge made the story here quite credible; while much technical info is included, it is never beyond the reader's ability to understand. Dr. Brockton is a widower who struggles with loneliness, but isolates himself as he struggles to deal with his wife's death. The characters here are very well drawn, and the setting is great. Part of the current mystery Dr. Brockton is investigating takes him into the rural hills of Tennessee, near the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The detail given to the misty, dark landscape, as well as to the rural hill people, make this a great read.
May 16, 2008
Along with his partner Dr. Bill Bass, Jon Jefferson manages to weave some very technical information (you learn a lot about skeletal anatomy) into a story of murder and revenge in the hills of Tennessee. Not a whole lot of twists, but the characters are compelling enough to keep the pages turning.
I enjoyed reading this book, although it wasn't near as interesting as the crime scene investigation workshop I attended conducted by the author, Jon Jefferson. After hearing him describe what it was like to attend the illegal cockfight that appears in the book, I have to say I found the written version disappointing.
I enjoyed reading this book, although it wasn't near as interesting as the crime scene investigation workshop I attended conducted by the author, Jon Jefferson. After hearing him describe what it was like to attend the illegal cockfight that appears in the book, I have to say I found the written version disappointing.
October 5, 2013
For some reason, I didn't know The Body Farm was in Knoxville. When I read a review of the latest book in the "Body Farm" series, co-authored by Knoxville forensic anthropologist Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, I wanted to start the series. The main character, Dr. Brockton, is loosely based on Dr. Bass.
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I'm 50% through the book and it is so good! The forensic details are interesting rather than morbid - although I did have to quit reading about adipocere whilst eating a ham-and-Swiss rollup! :-~ The authors mention other books that I want to read and I am learning a lot from it. I plan to read the entire series.
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Marcy, I think you would really like this series.
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I'm 50% through the book and it is so good! The forensic details are interesting rather than morbid - although I did have to quit reading about adipocere whilst eating a ham-and-Swiss rollup! :-~ The authors mention other books that I want to read and I am learning a lot from it. I plan to read the entire series.
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Marcy, I think you would really like this series.
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