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Diane Fallon #6
Scattered Graves
Local politics get nasty when Rosewood, Georgia, elects a new mayor-and Diane Fallon is replaced with an incompetent crony as head of the crime lab. But just as she's adjusting to life without murder, the newly appointed chief of police and the mayor are shot dead. Back on the job, Diane realizes that no one is safe-least of all her.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2009
29 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Connor
30 books247 followersI'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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 22, 2015
This book had me right from the start. Nothing I dislike more than a bad cop is a whole bunch of bad cops and a very dirty politician! Diane Fallon (forensic anthropologist and main character in the series) is stripped of one of her titles, that of Director of the Crime Lab which has its home in the Natural Museum. The "bad guys" have limited diplomacy skills and limited knowledge of why and how the Crime Lab is situated where it is. This book deals with cyber crimes and murder - great combo for us forensic junkies!
2 thumbs up and 5 solid stars!
2 thumbs up and 5 solid stars!
September 21, 2021
The twisty plot puts great characters into situations of white-knuckle suspense, involving artificial intelligence, cybergangs, and rock-climbing.
March 30, 2018
Per the editors:
Local politics get nasty when a new mayor is elected and Diane Fallon is replaced with an incompetent crony as head of the crime lab. But just as she's adjusting to life without murder, the newly appointed chief of police and the mayor are shot dead. Back on the job, Diane sees, but can't quite believe, the evidence damning the former chief of detectives as the shooter. Someone with plenty to gain intends to get away with more than murder, and as the investigation reveals an ever-widening web of corruption and treachery, Diane realises that no one is safe - least of all her.
This book was first published in 2009. I know because I checked:
- Government employees are summarily and humiliatingly fired to further the political and business interests of the few;
- Personal loyalty is the prime qualification for replacement personnel;
- Corruption of justice system in order to secure private goals.
It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
And tucked around this mystery, were the very interesting and varied ways in which people reacted to this unfortunate series of events - from victims to employees, to visitors to voters. I found that part almost as interesting as the mystery.
Local politics get nasty when a new mayor is elected and Diane Fallon is replaced with an incompetent crony as head of the crime lab. But just as she's adjusting to life without murder, the newly appointed chief of police and the mayor are shot dead. Back on the job, Diane sees, but can't quite believe, the evidence damning the former chief of detectives as the shooter. Someone with plenty to gain intends to get away with more than murder, and as the investigation reveals an ever-widening web of corruption and treachery, Diane realises that no one is safe - least of all her.
This book was first published in 2009. I know because I checked:
- Government employees are summarily and humiliatingly fired to further the political and business interests of the few;
- Personal loyalty is the prime qualification for replacement personnel;
- Corruption of justice system in order to secure private goals.
It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.
And tucked around this mystery, were the very interesting and varied ways in which people reacted to this unfortunate series of events - from victims to employees, to visitors to voters. I found that part almost as interesting as the mystery.
April 30, 2014
In Rosewood, Georgia, forensic anthropologist Diane Fallon still runs the River Trail Museum of Natural History. However, she has been fired as director of the crime lab by the town’s new mayor, who is so nasty that you know he will sooner or later get his comeuppance. One of the town cops has also attempted to murder her, a fate she escaped due to her climbing skills. The action is fairly fast paced and the plot not too outlandish. The backstory of the museum’s acquisition of a Neanderthal skeleton lends a little substance.
July 8, 2015
Another fun read. I did a double take when Diane was no longer in charge of the crime lab. Thought I had missed a book in the series. Nope, just a whole lot of bad cops and politicians. It's one of those who do you trust frustrating reads, but in a good way.
August 12, 2020
Clever
Sometimes hard to follow and I had to read some of it twice to confirm who was whom. Plot is intricately woven with an unexpected result. Had to keep reading until I was finished.
Sometimes hard to follow and I had to read some of it twice to confirm who was whom. Plot is intricately woven with an unexpected result. Had to keep reading until I was finished.
March 1, 2025
Rosewood has a new mayor, a new chief of police and a new director of the crime lab. Diane Fallon is still staying with Frank trying to decide whether to stay or buy a house; she is also enjoying her free time. Then nasty things begin to happen. She is stopped by a policeman who hates her and tries to kill her. Bryce Lloyd, the crime lab’s director, hires a forensic anthropologist and tries to take over the osteology lab - no can do as it belongs to the museum. There are more maneuvers to try to oust Diane, get control of her lab and get control of Jin’s DBA lab, which is also owned by the museum. Then the mayor and the chief of police are murdered, Diane is out back in charge of the crime lab and starts investigating.
January 26, 2020
Diane Fallon is at it again - solving crime (or trying to) while trying not to get killed. Neanderthal exhibit is getting ready to open but problems with politics, police, and projectiles are interrupting Diane's display planning.
Okay - so the plots can be far-fetched, but the characters we've come to love - Diane, Frank, Neva, Mike, Jin and the rest are all here and it creates for a nice, "relaxing?" crime read.
Okay - so the plots can be far-fetched, but the characters we've come to love - Diane, Frank, Neva, Mike, Jin and the rest are all here and it creates for a nice, "relaxing?" crime read.
January 25, 2020
This is the first Diane Fallon Investigation book I have read. I did not find the mystery in this book very compelling. I also found the characters somewhat unbelievable. While Diane is not a stereotypical female I found her a bit one dimensional. The writing was fine and I did finish the book. I wasn't surprised by the solution to the mystery but I didn't figure it out myself.
December 8, 2019
Suspense, murder and museums - yes!
I appreciate all the forensic science, the anthropological information involved with the museum and the fairly convoluted puzzle pieces - and especially Diane’s crew. Fun, absorbing read.
I appreciate all the forensic science, the anthropological information involved with the museum and the fairly convoluted puzzle pieces - and especially Diane’s crew. Fun, absorbing read.
March 20, 2020
If it has one star I liked it a lot
If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it
If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot If it has four stars I insist you read it
If it has five stars it was life changing
If it has two stars I liked it a lot and would recommend it
If it has three stars I really really liked it a lot If it has four stars I insist you read it
If it has five stars it was life changing
July 8, 2017
Love this series!
September 17, 2017
Again, I'll continue with the series, but it is not on par with Louise Penney or Sara Paretsky.
June 19, 2019
Best book of the series. I couldn't put it down.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
July 23, 2020
Political intrigue with an unidentified body and cyber criminals thrown in make for a complex mystery.
December 3, 2020
This may not be a fair review as I have not read the previous 5 books, but really have no desire to go back and read the previous books.
May 20, 2024
Diane and all the gang end up solving a cybersecurity crime with a twist at the end of the book.
March 11, 2017
I found this book at the library and didn’t realize it was a part of a series. This is book #6 in the series, and though I had not read any previous part of this series I was able to follow the connections. I am intrigued enough to go back and read the books 1-5.
June 9, 2010
Interesting forensic series..., January 25, 2010
This sixth in the series is another entertaining and educational read. The author, pedigreed herself, has written a character who is smart and spunky. Diane Fallon is the director of a museum of natural history (RiverTrail) and also heads another division housed in the same large building - a crime lab that has everything from an osteology laboratory (her own specialty) to DNA analysis. In addition to being an expert in many of the forensic sciences, she is a caver and is physically fit as well. This happens to be a good thing for Diane because she is nearly murdered, kidnapped, or imprisoned in every novel! Despite all the bruises and injuries she suffers as she escapes these attempts on her life, she usually manages to help the FBI or the local police solve the mystery.
In this investigation, Diane deals with a corrupt city government determined to take away her crime lab and a complicated identity theft scheme involving computer programmers and hackers -- and murders of course. Lots of murders including another attempt on Diane's life. This book in the series wasn't as interesting as some of the others have been.
Because of the combination of the natural history museum and the crime lab, the reader learns many interesting facts about different subjects in each book. The one thing that does irritate me about Diane is that she is a bit of a "know it all" and even manages to lecture her staff about John Locke's social contract.
Although these are not what I consider heart stopping, suspenseful thrillers, I think most readers will enjoy the science and also develop a fondness for Diane and the other recurring characters in this series and won't want to miss this one. I'm looking forward to Dust to Dust (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 7)
I also think it's a series that should be read in order, so start with One Grave Too Many (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 1) so you can get the full background on Diane Fallon and how all this came about.
This sixth in the series is another entertaining and educational read. The author, pedigreed herself, has written a character who is smart and spunky. Diane Fallon is the director of a museum of natural history (RiverTrail) and also heads another division housed in the same large building - a crime lab that has everything from an osteology laboratory (her own specialty) to DNA analysis. In addition to being an expert in many of the forensic sciences, she is a caver and is physically fit as well. This happens to be a good thing for Diane because she is nearly murdered, kidnapped, or imprisoned in every novel! Despite all the bruises and injuries she suffers as she escapes these attempts on her life, she usually manages to help the FBI or the local police solve the mystery.
In this investigation, Diane deals with a corrupt city government determined to take away her crime lab and a complicated identity theft scheme involving computer programmers and hackers -- and murders of course. Lots of murders including another attempt on Diane's life. This book in the series wasn't as interesting as some of the others have been.
Because of the combination of the natural history museum and the crime lab, the reader learns many interesting facts about different subjects in each book. The one thing that does irritate me about Diane is that she is a bit of a "know it all" and even manages to lecture her staff about John Locke's social contract.
Although these are not what I consider heart stopping, suspenseful thrillers, I think most readers will enjoy the science and also develop a fondness for Diane and the other recurring characters in this series and won't want to miss this one. I'm looking forward to Dust to Dust (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 7)
I also think it's a series that should be read in order, so start with One Grave Too Many (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 1) so you can get the full background on Diane Fallon and how all this came about.
September 10, 2009
Diane Fallon is a museum director and until the most recent election in her Georgia town, the director of the crime lab. The newly elected police chief and mayor appointed all their cronies to key law enforcement positions in the town including the crime lab. Revelling in her new found time, Diane is adjusting. Suddenly she is attacked by a cop with a grudge resulting in a suspenseful nailbiting chase the ended with his death.
This set forth a chain of events that endangered her and exposed corruption, murder, greed, and other heinous acts. As always with these mysteries, stories are interwoven and eventually seemingly unrelated events and subplots reveal relationships and cause/effect. And as always, Diane is a skillful and almost-too-perfect administrator. She always has the knowledge, skills, or capabilities to avert attack, death, and worse. In other author's hands this would be annoyingly implausible, but in this series it is edge of the seat suspense, intellectually satisfying, and a darn good story.
This set forth a chain of events that endangered her and exposed corruption, murder, greed, and other heinous acts. As always with these mysteries, stories are interwoven and eventually seemingly unrelated events and subplots reveal relationships and cause/effect. And as always, Diane is a skillful and almost-too-perfect administrator. She always has the knowledge, skills, or capabilities to avert attack, death, and worse. In other author's hands this would be annoyingly implausible, but in this series it is edge of the seat suspense, intellectually satisfying, and a darn good story.
December 24, 2012
I have not read a Diane Fallon series book before. It was fairly good. There is a lot of confrontation, as she does her job, and contends with people who want to crowd her out of it, and the space where her office and lab are located. She has a 'boy friend,' Frank, who is helpful to her in her job, and is teaching her to play the piano. A whole bunch of people get killed, including the person whose bones are found buried after being cut up in a wood chopper. Computers play an important role in this book. There is also a museum in the building, which is getting a Neanderthal exhibit--rather rare.
May 17, 2016
I really enjoy these books. Connor has a style that really works for me. I just plow through these within a few days (probably faster if I didn't have a toddler to chase after). The books are addicting and fun to read.
This one loses some stars though because of the all too common theme of Dr. Fallon being threatened/attacked/assaulted/kidnapped/etc as part of the story line. It's just become so common that it's lost some credibility with me. I also didn't particularly care for how this one ended. I felt with all that was going on, the ending was a bit rushed and not as plausible as some of her previous works.
All in all a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next one.
This one loses some stars though because of the all too common theme of Dr. Fallon being threatened/attacked/assaulted/kidnapped/etc as part of the story line. It's just become so common that it's lost some credibility with me. I also didn't particularly care for how this one ended. I felt with all that was going on, the ending was a bit rushed and not as plausible as some of her previous works.
All in all a very enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to the next one.
December 28, 2009
I have read all of Beverly Connor's "Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation Series". I have never been disappointed in her forensic writing; her plot development; her scientific analysis; her character development is amazing. You can pick her fourth book and know about the characters that have a recurring presence in her series. I was fortunate to have started with her first book: “One Grave Too Many” and went in order of the writings. Each book in the series will let you know about her character’s background. Every one of her books is a treasure and I couldn’t put them down!
July 25, 2011
I really enjoy this series. I find Connor's Fallon character complex, and the forensic and archeological details accurate and interesting. I place Connor right up there with Tess Gerritsen, early Patricia Cornwell, and Kathy Reichs. All of these author's heroines seem to come with a lot of baggage, and Fallon is no exception. However, I find that Fallon becomes much less distraught and more "healthy" as the series progresses. I enjoy the supporting characters, as well, and feel that if they were real people, I would probably seek them out as friends.
August 26, 2009
I generally haven't liked the Diane Fallon books as much as I did the Lindsay Chamberlain books. This fell into some of Connor's worse habits - too great a tendency for the bad guys to be part of complex conspiracies around the local government, and too many technology mistakes. I like the characters well enough to stay with them even when the plot is irritating, but I wouldn't recommend this one to a newcomer.
August 23, 2013
I'm broken about what to say. It was very different than all the others, in a way i did not like it; but it was still the same. But in the end, it was very much a Diane Fallon book, and the diversity within this book compared to the others, just makes it that much more enticing. The outcome was disheartening, but i'm glad Prehoda is on the case. The last paragraph was an excellent way to rejuvenate the audience, i loved it.
May 15, 2015
Diane Fallon has written an exciting series about a forensic anthropologist who runs a natural history museum and a crime lab. The characters are well-thought out and grow through the series from what they experience, which is a very important point for me. The mysteries are great; it's fun to learn about forensic anthropology. The plot keeps you going and it's hard to put down once you pick it up!
May 16, 2013
My heart sank when Diane was again fighting for her life within a few pages of the book starting she seems to do that a lot. The book is structured in short chapters and the story moves at a fast clip so no time to be bored. I am not such a fan of this story as it stretched my credibility although I did like the gang coming together and Izzy joining the team.
October 29, 2014
Ah, yes, another Diane Fallon. I liked this one too (they seem to be improving after a bit of a lull after the first book). It feels like they're getting better ... although there is still (predictably) someone out to specifically get her (which is getting a little tiresome for me). But I enjoy all the characters so will continue with the series :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews