Bones of Betrayal by Jefferson Bass

I just completed the 4th book in the Body Farm novel series and its great. The review I read all said it was the best so far and I have to agree. I’ve enjoyed each book in this series and really enjoy the stories, the characters, the forensic details and much more.

For people who aren’t familiar with these books – they are a collaboration between Dr Bill Bass (from the University of Tennessee and the founder of “the Body Farm”) and Jon Jefferson (author, director, producer). They are both awesome people and they have collaborated on 6 books to date – unless I’ve missed any others. They have the Body Farm fiction series and also the Body Farm non fiction books – all center around Dr Bass’ experiences as a forensic anthropologist.

This is the 4th book in the fiction series and you can read each individually, but each story builds on the last and I like all the additional detail I bring to the story since I’ve read them all. BUT do NOT let that stop you from checking out this new book if you haven’t read the others. You can always go back and read them later

This book is set in Tennessee and it is centered around an interesting death in Oak Ridge – the home of the atomic bomb. I love novels that share real history and this book includes a lot of history and detail about what happened in this small town in the mountains in the 40s – before the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That history is woven into the story very well and we meet Beatrice – who is our narrator about much of the intimate history that took place in her life in Oak Ridge. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

All of the Dr Bass stories include interesting and unusual deaths – but I would expect no less This book is no exception. In the beginning of the book, Dr Brockton (the main character based on Dr Bass) is called to a crime scene and the dead body is frozen in the water in a pool. In true Dr Bass fashion – he uses his beloved chain saw to cut the body out of the ice.  The body is removed from the pool – but the chainsaw is also lost in the pool. That is only the first mishap. The body is taken back to the morgue and during the autopsy, it is discovered that the body died from the inside out – and a radioactive pellet is discovered inside the body. That all happens in the first 4 chapters.

There are so many details I’d like to share, but I don’t want to give too much away. However I will share some tidbits -

1 – the chain saw isn’t the only thing in the bottom of the pool

2 – the radioactive pellet stirs up a series of complications

3 – there are a second and third dead body as the story progresses

4 – Dr Brockton meets a woman who looks very much like his lady love that was killed in an earlier book

5 – Miranda (Dr B’s able assistant) meets a charming young man – and they bump heads early in on

6 – a roll of film in the freezer holds clues to spies and murder

7 – Beatrice may not be who she appears to be

8 – Dr Brockton’s new lady friend has a detailed history

9 – we even get a tour of the sewer lines in Oak Ridge

Highly recommended for people who like mysteries, murder mysteries, forensic detail, historic locations and events in fiction and anyone who just likes a really good story. Can’t wait for the next book

Mommy’s Little Girl by Diane Fanning

Mommy’s Little Girl: Casey Anthony and Her Daughter Caylee’s Tragic Fate by Diane Fanning

I’m one of the people who followed the tragic case of Caylee Anthony from the time her disappearance was finally reported to the police. I kept up with the online posts and of course, Nancy Grace who covered the case week after week and keeping it in the news for months.

So – I’ve heard the jail recordings, heard the breaking news nightly, etc – but I still learned some new tidbits from this book. I was curious if I would find anything new – and Diane came through for me It was also nice to read the story in chronilogical order along with Fanning’s scenario of what happened from the day Caylee “disappeared” until the story was covered aggressively by the media.

Anyone I talked to who followed the case – was familiar with basics of the case, felt bad for Cindy and George Anthony. Who wouldn’t be heartbroken for the loving grandparents who lost their granddaughter? There is Lee Anthony who seemed to be the caring brother and uncle – frantic to find his neice and to protect his sister. Over time, my impression of the Anthony’s changed. While I agree wanting to help and protect loved ones, I felt myself agreeing with Cindy’s frustrated family members as I read the book.

We will each draw our own conclusions about how Caylee died, about Casey’s guilt or innocence, whether the other Anthony’s have any knowledge of what really happened and much more. But Diane Fanning’s book is a great way to sort through all the media reports and to clearly see the timeline and the events as we know them to be at this time. Once the trial gets under way, I think it will also be helpful to have this “pocket guide” to verify or dispute claims made by the attorneys and witnesses. I have my own thoughts about what happened to poor little Caylee, but my heartfelt hope is that the person responsible for her death are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver

I haven’t had time to read a Jeffrey Deaver book in a while, so when I packed to head to Nags Head for a few days at Thanksgiving – I had to toss one of his latest books in the bag

I really like Kathryn Dance – a new character for Deaver. She is a kinesics expert – that means that she studies body language and I’ve really enjoyed learning more about her art in the books about her. The last one was The Sleeping Doll, which was very good. I was pleased to see this story picks up right after the end of the last book. They had just solved a big case, one of the officer’s died and things in Kathryn’s personal life are very much the same. The death of the fellow officer is a big part of this story and Kathryn’s parents – particularly her mother – are a big part of this story.

Kathryn is very good at what she does – but she is very human. She worries that she’s misreading the signs, she worries about her kids and her parents, she misses her husband and so much more. I just really like her

In this book – Kathryn’s mother is arrested for a mercy killing, a high school student is thought to be killing people who posted comments about him on a blog and there are some unusual things happpening with the people Kathryn works with. I like all the underlying stories that Jeffrey Deaver always includes in his books. Many layers and many unexpected turns in all his stories.

I was determined to finish reading this last night and with about 100 pages left – someone was arrested. That had me wondering – that left about 25% of the book for those unexpected twists and turns that I love so much — and he did not disappoint me I lost track of the surprises that were included after that first arrest – but they all made sense and just added to the story.

A bit more background about the story – people start discovering “road side crosses” along the highway and they have that day’s date on them. Later that day, someone is found hurt and possibly dying. These attempted murders seem to all be related to a blog post about a car accident. A short time before the book starts, a couple of high school girls were killed in a car wreck and many people post comments about the person who it was reported, was driving the car when the girls died. He is an outcast – with no real friends, a rough family life, and a rich online fantasy life – but is he a murderer? When the FBI and Dance’s team start to close in on him, he disappears and more people who posted comments about him are hurt. The more Dance works on the case, the more she begins to doubt if he is guilty, but all the evidence points to him.

In addition, Kathryn’s mother is facing a trial for the mercy killing of the young officer who was hurt at the end of the last book. One of Kathryn’s superiors is causing her all kinds of problems and what about the geeky, but attractive professor who is helping them with their computer research? Many layers, many twists and a book that I think all Deaver fans will enjoy. My schedule made it hard to find time to finish this one, but it was worth the wait. High recommended.

Lady Lightkeeper by Nikki Leigh

This is a review that was just posted for one of my novels. It is the second novel in the historic Misty Cove series and it is set along the Cape Ann coast of Massachusetts…

Lady Lightkeeper by Nikki Leigh
http://historicalromanceclub.com/index-R.html

Published: March 2007
Publisher: Write Words, Inc.
ISBN: 1594314098
Review Rating: 3.5 stars

Reviewer: Sandra Marlow

Tragedy has struck Lizbeth again. She hasn’t heard from her husband William in so many months. Sailing as captain of the Misty Pride II with his fishing crew, there has been no recent news about them at all. Lizbeth lost her father to the sea years ago when the keeper let the lighthouse that guards Misty Cove’s coastline go dark, and now going to that stalwart beacon makes her feel close to William. But she also has to take care of their children, Aiden and Marta. They’re so young and they don’t really understand why daddy has been away for so very long. And Lizbeth just can’t tell herself that William is never coming home. Not yet.

Trying to go on with life is difficult at times, but raising children alone, although with the help of friends, and being an active member of the community when needed at least gives Lizbeth a sense of family and accomplishment when she needs it most. People tell her that William would want her to move on, to find love again if possible. Even her surrogate mother, Sarah, knows Lizbeth must find a way to live again, but convincing her of that is nearly impossible right now. Putting aside eleven wonderful years of marriage with the love of her life is something Lizbeth just can’t do.

But when Lizbeth is selected to become the town’s lightkeeper when their current one must step down from his duties, her life starts on a new course, and even Lizbeth herself doesn’t realize how things are about to change. Taking her duties as the lady lightkeeper very seriously, she learns under the tutelage of Duncan Jones, the assistant keeper. Duncan is a stranger to the townsfolk of Misty Cove, but through his hard work and friendship with Lizbeth, he becomes important to their neighbors and to her heart. But it is not until a storm ravages the coast and she and Duncan must work together to save a boatful of fisherman that Lizbeth suddenly realizes what the man means to her.

But is she too late to let Duncan know what she feels for him? He is hurt during their rescue of the boat’s crew and Lizbeth is not sure she can withstand another loss of love. She now realizes that she must move on with her life; William will never be coming home, but is it a betrayal to her husband to love another? Will Duncan want to raise another man’s children? Will he understand that William will always have a place in heart? Is it too late for Lizbeth to be happy again?

Nikki Leigh’s Lady Lightkeeper is a heartwarming story of love, loss, and love regained amid terrible heartache and relevant issues of the time. Interesting tidbits about lighthouses and their keepers gives the story an added bonus. Ms. Leigh has done her homework well and you feel as though you are right there at the lighthouse during a storm. Secondary characters from Lizbeth’s children to the town shrew give the story depth. Second chance at love is always a wonderful read and Ms. Leigh does it justice.

Manhattan is My Beat by Jeffrey Deaver

This is one of Jeffrey Deaver’s early books and the main character is a very colorful young woman named Rune. She has a hard time finding a job and an even harder time keeping a job. Rune isn’t her real name of course, but I don’t think I remember her mentioning her real name. She was also in Death of a Blue Movie Star – very good book.

In this book Rune is working part time in a video store and she has become friends with an older gentleman who comes in the store and rents the same movie time and time – Manhattan is My Beat. He tells her that the movie is a high point in his life and that means Rune’s imagination is working over time. Then one day, she goes to his house to pick up a movie that needs to be returned and she finds him in his apartment — dead. Talk about kicking your imagination into overdrive.

She cared about the man and now she is determined to figure out what really happened to him. She is also curious about whether he was involved in the unsolved bank robbery that is the subject of Manhattan is My Beat. The problem is, she doesn’t realize killers are on her trail and working to tie up some loose ends.

This is an early work by Jeffrey Deaver – but it has his trademark plot twists and there were even a couple that I didn’t see coming.

Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass

This is the second novel in the Body Farm series. I really like this series – I will tell you this isn’t my favorite book in the series – but it leads into the 3rd which is very good.

Dr Bill Brockton (based on Dr Bill Bass) is back and facing an interesting combination of situations, people and mysteries. We meet a very attractive medical examiner who is also attracted to Dr Brockton and Dr Bill unearths some rotten apples within his acquaintances. He takes the high road and must point out the error and that sets a gruesome and danger set of events in motion.

I won’t give you the details — wouldn’t want to ruin the book for you – but there is plenty of action and Dr Bill is even arrested for the murder…. of his lady love. I recommend this book because you should keep up with the series – and even less than stellar from this team is good. There is great forensic detail and plenty of intrigue to keep you wondering what will happen next….

Beyond the Body Farm by Dr Bill Bass & Jon Jefferso

I have to read everything that this fantastic duo turn out. I was intrigued with Dr Bass and his work – but meeting Dr Bass and Jon Jefferson in person sealed the deal for me. Anything they write – I will have to read The full title of this book is Beyond the Body Farm: A Legendary Bone Detective Explores Murders, Mysteries and the Revolution in Forensic Science. That is a mouthful – but it does say it all.

This is the 2nd non fiction collaboration for Dr Bass and Jon – the first was Death’s Acre (read my review here – http://nikkisreviews.blogspot.com/2008/02/deaths-acre.html).

Both of these books are about Dr Bass’ experiences as a bone detective. For people who aren’t familiar with Dr Bass – years ago he started The Body Farm (made popular by a Patricia Cornwell novel). The Body Farm is a research facility at the University of Tennessee where Dr Bass worked for years. In his work he discovered that people could determine the time of death with more accuracy by studying the decomposition of the body – so he started a facility where they would study – body decomposition.

This may not sound glamorous – and its not. However through the pages of Death’s Acre and Beyond the Body Farm – you will learn why this is important information and how it can help law enforcement, the legal community and the family of the victims and people who are falsely accused of crimes.

Learn about plane crashes into rivers, an ancient mystery,the smallest clues in the bones, bite marks, the importance of bugs, the long term search to identify a skeleton and much more including exhuming the body of The Big Bopper. Its all here and if you are interested in forensics and forensic anthropology or a good mystery – this book is for you. Take a walk through the interesting career of this knowledgable and charismatic professional. If you have the chance to meet Dr Bass and/or Jon Jefferson – I highly recommend that you do it.

I’ve also reviewed several of their novels which include forensic information Dr Bass gleaned through the years – they are very good

http://nikkisreviews.blogspot.com/2008/01/carved-in-bone-by-jefferson-bass.html

The Broken Window by Jeffrey Deaver

I’m made myself a promise that each holiday, I’ll try to take some time off from working and I’ll treat myself by reading a book just for fun. The vast majority of the books I read are for clients and although I thoroughly enjoy those books – its fun to read a book just for fun. So, you will probably notice that on many holiday weekends, I’ve posted reviews for Jeffrey Deaver books

The Broken Window is a high tech story about identity theft taken to extremes. Picture this, you are at your home having dinner or watching TV and the police knock on your door. They ask where you have been that evening and even though you know that you haven’t done anything wrong, the police find evidence that ties you to a crime – murder. How can that be? They have a shoe print that matches your shoe, the condom at a rape scene matches the condoms you bought a couple of days ago, the potato chip crumbs at the scene match a bag in your garage and the worst news is that the victim’s blood was found in your car.

This master criminal thinks that he has all the necessary information to pull off repeated “perfect crimes” and he did for years. Then he makes a “fatal” mistake – he frames Lincoln Rhymes cousin. That brings the renowned forensic specialist to the case and that means the criminals days are numbered (he would appreciate the pun .

As the criminalist and his crew work on the crime, they find their way to a business that collects every bit of available information about every man, woman and child in the US. The business gives credence to the concerns about ‘big brother watching you’. They know where you were, what you did, what you bought and much much more. The idea that a company could have all this information is creepy enough – but then imagine that a criminal mastermind has access to that information.

We see bits and pieces of the criminal and he lashes out at Rhyme, Amelia, and the other people who work with Rhyme. Literally, no one is safe from him and while Rhyme is very good – he has limited access to the information he needs. As always there are plenty of people who appear to be guilty while the reader is given tidbits to help us figure out who the mystery man is.

For anyone who likes a detailed and well researched thriller, I highly recommend this book. If you are a fan of Jeffrey Deaver – this book does not disappoint.

NOTE: I read through a number of other reviews before I posted this and I enjoy the immense detail that Deaver brings to his book and as an author I know the amount of pain staking work that is involved in being authentic and bringing this realism to a story. There was a lot of detail in this book and his usual multiple sub plots, but those are all things that make a Deaver book so great. Its not short or full of fluff and it is very possible to get lost in the story. I didn’t think this book had as many whiplash twists to it, but with the detail that was included, I’m not sure that would’ve worked as well in this novel.