Death's Acre

Death's Acre by Bill Bass
Non-Fiction

This book highlights Dr. Bill Bass's life and the creation of The Body Farm. Some of the cases Bass has consulted on are detailed, sometimes with too much detail. This book is not for those who have a weak stomach.

What is very interesting is how forensic anthropology has progressed over the years. From how bodies decompose to how dead bodies host insects and how each of these can backdate the time of death. Bass relates each of these scientific innovations with real life cases. Patricia Cornwell and her relationship to the real Body Farm is also noted.

Of particular interest to me was the Bernardo case and the dismemberment of Leslie Macaffery. A colleague of Bass is an expert in saw cuts on bones.

I have read Jefferson Bass books and it is curious to note how real people are incorporated into these stories

First Line: ""A dozen tiny bones, nestled in my palm: They were virtually all that remained, except for yellowed clippings, scratchy newsreel footage, and painful memories, from what they called 'the trial of the century.'""

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Carved in Bone

Carved in Bone by Jefferson Bass
Mystery

From the Publisher
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, thisthrilling novel heralds the debut of a major new voice in crime fiction -- and an unforgettable work from the hand of a scientific legend.


A great book about forensic anthropology. A well-crafted murder mystery set in the back woods of Tennessee. The details of the forensics are sometimes stomach turning but still riveting.

A body dead for 30 years is found. What is the involvement of the sheriff? Does he know what is going on in his own county?

Rating:

(4.0/5)

Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass

Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass
Mystery

Dr. Brockton is the head of the body farm at the local university. When the body of a pedophile is found hung from a tree, Brockton tries to duplicate the decay of the body to determine how long it has been there. During this time he gets close to Dr Jess Carter, an ME from the neighbouring town. The two get a little too close though, and Brockton finds himself in big trouble.
This book flows exceptionally well. You are compelled to keep turning the page to find out how Brockton is going to get himself out of trouble, and who the murderers are. Yet at the same time, there is great in detail descriptions of how a body farm works. Bass does go off on a few society tangents that are obviously his view that he maybe should have kept in his head rather than in the pages of the book. For example, the "creationist" debate never really gets solved. And the information about keeping child safe on the net was sort of out of the blue as well.
That being said, this novel had multiple murders, lawyer manipulations, love interests, and pretty good writing. The ending wrapped up great and I was so happy the Grease grew a conscience.

Rating:

(4/5)

Flesh and Bone

Flesh and Bone by Jefferson Bass
Mystery

This book has a bit of everything: mystery, forensic science, and even romance. Dr.Brockton is attempting to solve a mystery involving a young man tied to a tree when the medical examiner is killed and he is the main suspect. What ensues is a number of twists, a sleazy lawyer and friends who help Brockton solve the crime
Favourite Character: Dr Brockton. He seems like a well balanced guy who has a very interesting job, studying decomposition of bodies.
Least Favourite Character: All the people around Brockton who don't believe in him and suspend him from his jobs
Best Part of the Story: The finale when the mystery is solved. I never suspected who the murderer was.
Least Favourite Part of the Story: I liked the whole story
What was Missing: Nothing

Rating:

(4.0/5)