A review by weaselweader
The Bone Thief by Jefferson Bass
4.0
A disturbing tale of grave-robbing and black market traffic in body parts!
Author Jefferson Bass (well ... joint co-authors Bill Bass and John Jefferson, actually) have got a great thing going here! THE BONE THIEF is the sixth entry in the exciting and remarkably successful series depicting fictional forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton's adventures, research, investigations and checkered life as the director of the Body Farm. The Body Farm, as it is quaintly known, is a very real and very renowned research institution located on the campus of the University of Tennessee that investigates the mechanics and the subtleties of bodily decomposition after death under a bewildering array of variable conditions.
Like Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, Preston and Child's Aloysius Pendergast or Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme, Bill Brockton is a formidable sleuth but he's also a credible character who evolves with every passing story. As one would expect from a modern protagonist, like Bosch, Pendergast or Rhyme, Brockton is a little edgier, a little darker and a little more angsty than the literary heroes of yore. He's got communication problems with his adult son. His love life is definitely shattered in the sewer and the rats are gathering to feed on the remains. Although the story never comes out of the closet and spells it out, his feelings for his young assistant, Miranda Lovelady are honourable but clearly conflicted.
It ought to be sufficient to spark your interest if I disclose that THE BONE THIEF is a compelling and provocative story taken from today's headlines that digs into grave-robbing (get it? ... digs into grave-robbing) and peeks behind the dark curtains of the global black market in human organs and body parts used in transplantation as well as dubious research and surgical training methods.
One more highly recommended successful notch on your belt, fellows. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Paul Weiss
Author Jefferson Bass (well ... joint co-authors Bill Bass and John Jefferson, actually) have got a great thing going here! THE BONE THIEF is the sixth entry in the exciting and remarkably successful series depicting fictional forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton's adventures, research, investigations and checkered life as the director of the Body Farm. The Body Farm, as it is quaintly known, is a very real and very renowned research institution located on the campus of the University of Tennessee that investigates the mechanics and the subtleties of bodily decomposition after death under a bewildering array of variable conditions.
Like Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot, Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, Preston and Child's Aloysius Pendergast or Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme, Bill Brockton is a formidable sleuth but he's also a credible character who evolves with every passing story. As one would expect from a modern protagonist, like Bosch, Pendergast or Rhyme, Brockton is a little edgier, a little darker and a little more angsty than the literary heroes of yore. He's got communication problems with his adult son. His love life is definitely shattered in the sewer and the rats are gathering to feed on the remains. Although the story never comes out of the closet and spells it out, his feelings for his young assistant, Miranda Lovelady are honourable but clearly conflicted.
It ought to be sufficient to spark your interest if I disclose that THE BONE THIEF is a compelling and provocative story taken from today's headlines that digs into grave-robbing (get it? ... digs into grave-robbing) and peeks behind the dark curtains of the global black market in human organs and body parts used in transplantation as well as dubious research and surgical training methods.
One more highly recommended successful notch on your belt, fellows. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Paul Weiss