Dust to Dust

Diane Fallon #7

by Beverly Connor

A woman dies under suspicious circumstances, supposedly after finding evidence of her incarcerated brother's innocence. Now to prove a possible murder, Diane Fallon must root through the victim's family secrets-and the many skeletons in her closet...

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

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 4, 2009

About the author

I'm Beverly Connor and I love archaeology. I worked in Georgia and South Carolina as an archaeologist doing both fieldwork and analyzing artifacts. I also love mysteries. I combined these two loves and now write mysteries in which I weave my professional experience as an archaeologist into stories of murder and intrigue in both my Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation series and Lindsay Chamberlain Archaeology Mystery Series.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe this author isn't more famous. The pacing in this story is very fast. I could barely bring myself to put this book down. Sometimes when I read a book I will skip whole paragraphs. In this one I didn't even skip a single word. There is always a secondary plot going on these stories. It is interesting to see how Ms. Connor wraps everything up. This one had a good twist that wasn't put off to the very end. The only bad thing I have to say about this book is that the print is too squished together, making this book difficult to read. I know that is a fault of the printer. If you are a fan of mysteries you really should try one of Beverly Connor's Dianne Fallon books. Although, I do miss the Lindsay Chamberlain character books.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in the series, and finally one in which Diane Fallon isn't having to prove her innocence or battle small town corruption. Now firmly in control of her domain at the RiverTrail Museum of Natural History, Fallon finds herself involved in several different cases linked to her roles as Museum Director, Forensic Anthropologist, and Crime Lab Director. (And she has time for a boyfriend!) There's the discovery of a "mad" potter who tempered his/her pottery with human bones, an assault on an archaeologist, and what may be the murder of a young woman who had been intent on proving her brother innocent of the murder of another young woman. Somehow it all comes to a satisfying conclusion, even if some of it is telegraphed.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW: I love the way the story comes together weaving all the threads of forensic evidence, practical footwork of the detectives and the psychology of witnesses, victims and the guilty. Beverly Connor doesn't use too much technical jargon and what there is is explained so a lay reader can easily follow the exchanges of Diane's team. Real nail biting stuff right to the end. Realism no but a good entertaining read.

But goodness this was a complicated one.

[Elvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed thei book from beginning to end. Once again plots and sub plots and a classic drawing-room Hercule Poirot ending. The book loses a star because once again Diane nearly dies. She is assigned two body guards yet traipses off unescorted by them or Frank at 0400 for the big confrontational scene. Duh.

[Danie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this seventh book in the Diane Fallon series was a bit hard to get into at first, and I'm not entirely sure why. I don't think it was the writing, because when I went back and read the beginning again it made total sense. Just a freaky thing I guess.

But, once I did get into it, the reading went as fast as usual with Beverly Connor books.

There was much less museum stuff in this volume which was a bit sad, but there was some Vanessa Van Ross in it as well as a bit of Jonas Briggs. I also liked seeing some new and interesting characters in the DNA lab, a couple of twin brothers who were just too funny for words. Not to mention the quips at Diane Fallon's interesting array of jobs and titles.

As always I wish that there was a museum like the one in the book anywhere near where I live. Connor describes the museum (as well as the rest of the building. Crime lab, Osteology lab, DNA lab) so well that they it jumps off the page.

Another solid addition to the Fallon series, and I was glad to read at the end of Dust to Dust an excerpt from yet another (The Night Killer I believe) Fallon series book (which has now come out), but I do miss the Lindsey Chamberlain series books too, and should probably go back and re-read some of them.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting education on pottery making in this book, in particular the elements used in the making some types of pottery :)

Just can't seem to get enough of forensic gathering books. The main character, Diane Fallon, gets hired by an independent investigative firm and the action begins. From being shot at, at the first scene, to an abandoned well in the back yard discovered by one of her new crime sceneemployees, to a house invasion, to restraining orders, the story just keeps getting better :)

2 thumbs up and 5 stars

[Janet Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second Diane Fallon book by Beverly Connor I have read. I enjoyed this one more than the first one. I found the character's actions more plausible then the first one I read. The mystery was complex and interesting. I only figured out part of it.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books in this series. The premise of the older crime was so creepy and I loved watching it unfold.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Beverly Connor's books.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcella Payden, an archaeologist specializing in pottery, is attacked in her home. She works for the RiverTrail Museum, so Diane Fallon is called to the house. While there with David, Dective Hanks, and police officer Daughtery, they are shot at; Hanks and Daughtery are wounded. Later Diane is asked to consult on the case of Stacy Dance who death was ruled an accident, but her father believes was murder. Stacy was searching for evidence to prove her brother, Ryan Dance’s innocence in the rape and murder of Ellie Rose Carruthers nine years ago. As the investigations continue, there is another murder and an attempt on Diane’s life. What is going on?

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and it was an amazing page turner. If you like murder mysteries, forensic anthropology and psychological thrillers, this is the book for you. Throw in some strange families and some work place push and pull..this has it all. I really wish it was not the first e-book from Beverly Connor that was available from my library. I hate reading books out of order :)

[MELISSA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read with intelligent good guys

Book seven in this series is as intriguing as every previous book. And Diane and crew were less physically beat up this time. Yay! More of the same fascinating crime scene, forensic and anthropological information and twisting plot devices. Love the puzzling clues.

[Brenda Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series!

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Diane Fallon plot....love this series!!

[Arleen O'Briant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good as always

Very intriguing as always. Suspense until the end.
Beverly Connor has a great way to hide the guilty until the last chapter.

[Paschalis]

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[Morag Riddell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great mystery. Lots of twists and turns including old murders, archaeology, pottery, and a prisoner who may not be guilty of the crime for which he was convicted.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than your earlier books, because you only made yourself the center of attention by only trying to be killed once.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series.

[Ericka Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a little slower to start but the way it ended was certainly crazy how everything fell into place.

[Maree Clarkson]

DNF—boring.

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of my favorite books in this series. The plot is complex enough to avoid easily solving and the characters as well as the topic are interesting. I enjoy this series as a whole, but this one is more brain power vs action which I appreciate.

[Taylor Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

This installment of the Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation series had an interesting storyline with clever connections. However, I found the story moved way too slow. There are two main story arcs here. The first one regarding a fellow Museum employees assault and the second being the pro bono investigation of a girls murder (ruled accident). I found myself only interested in the pro bono case which had very little page time even though the synopsis on back of the book led me to believe it was the main story. Without revealing any spoilers, I also found the ending a bit cliched. I hate when authors have the main character explain everything with you along for the ride wondering when they figured it out but didn't bother to fill you in until the dramatic climax. I still enjoy Connor's creativity and style though which is why this still earns 3 stars.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Head of the Rosewood Crime Lab Diane Fallon is called to the scene of a home invasion robbery and discovers that the victim is a friend and consultant to the Museum of Natural History that she also heads up. As her team is processing the scene the thieves return and a gun battle ensues in which one of them is killed. Meanwhile Diane is asked by an old friend to investigate the death of a young woman who has been trying to prove her brother innocent of the murder of a teenage girl for which he has been imprisoned for nine years. A fairly fast paced story with an interesting background of forensic science and a dose of archaeology and natural history.

[Lindig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been really enjoying this series. The heroine's jobs cover all sorts of scholarly enjoyment -- museums, crime labs, forensic anthropology. It doesn't get any better. And the author really is an multi-degreed person in these fields, so the accuracy is high, which is even better.

Occasionally, the dialogue can become a little stilted, especially when it's not dealing with the science. And the romantic relationships are glossed over somewhat. But, overall, these are minor quibbles and don't detract too much from the enjoyment of watching the puzzle being worked out.

[Marcia Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. The author created a good story with twists and turn that kept my mind wondering what would happen next. Dr. Diane Fallon is Director of the River Trail Museum of Natural and director of the crime lab. Her friend Marcela Payden, had bought an old house. She found a message on the bottom of a drawer of a desk.
Murders from years ago got tangle with crimes that was happening in different a cities. Diene has to find a connection and find the responsible for all those crimes.

[Apollonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the seventh, and for me the best entry in this series. Wow! Great stuff. I loved the interweaving of past and present. Very cleverly handled. The novel keeps you on your toes from beginning to end.
Were it not for the somewhat annoying stand-off at the end, I would have given it 5*. But still, wonderful entertainment.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the last book, this was much different from the rest. But i enjoyed the many different dimensions of the cases. All through the book, there are all these different loud cases - I had a feeling, but they were so vastly different. I would recommend the whole series; but if I had to choose one specifically, it might be this one.

[Phillipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mostly enjoyed this one. It did seem a little convenient that when they end up investigating multiple murders, they're all related. And, yet again, Dr Fallon ends up in the firing line. I think this is my most consistent complaint about this series.

This one also had a disappointing outcome ... I dunno why exactly. The whole crazy family thing just didn't sit right with me.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my first read in Beverly Connor's 'Diane Fuller Forensic Investigator' series. If this book is typical I am now a Diane Connor's fan.
Story starts with an attack on one of Diane's friends and co-workers and leads her on a path to a series of murders that seem to have no connection. Well crafted plot twists, plenty of believable action makes this a book difficult to set down.