Not for the squeamish, The Body Farm grabbed my attention from the get- go, and never let go until the end! I read it in one day. Fortunately this book was suggested to me by my GR friend Michael, as a candidate to read in my Road Trip USA Challenge, for the state of Tennessee. I am so glad I followed his advice. I will definitely be adding this series to my "must read" list. There are so many elements within this book that ring true. Jefferson Bass is the pen name for two talented individuals who have collaborated brilliantly to write this series. Jon Jefferson is a GR author in his own right, and Dr. Bill Bass is a world famous forensic anthropologist. Dr. Bass is responsible for the creation of the Body Farm, a large area in Tennessee, that has been developed as a kind of "outdoor lab", where human bodies are left to decompose. Under a variety of closely watched conditions, and meticulously recorded to further understanding of this process a set up-all in order to provide additional analysis in forensic investigations. This the REAL Body Farm that Patricia Cornwell made famous in her Dr. Scarpetta series. The main character, Bill, is one that I felt great empathy for, thanks to superior writing. He is a widower, still trying to cope with the loss of his wife, a dedicated teacher, and often finds himself in dangerous situations, since he doggedly follows the clues provided by the corpses he works with. Add in lots of interesting characters that are part of Bill!s crime analysis group, and local interest provided by the inhabitants of Cooke County, Tenn., and you have the makings for an entertaining read. There is a lot of very specific detail when it comes to dealing with murder victims, and Bill's lab work, and you can bet the descriptive text is right on the money.This is a winning combination-Jefferson Bass- that Jon and Dr. Bill have created. I will be going along for the ride the next time the phone rings to call Dr. Bill to another dead body scene.
Where can you find a world class research institute, decaying bodies, Skoal spitting rednecks, underground caves and steamy romance all within a mile of each other? Carved in Bone, of course!Author Jefferson Bass is himself a fascinating character. Too bad he doesn't exist.Bass is a hybrid between writer Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass - the forensic anthropologist who founded the notorious "body farm", a three acre breeding ground for rotting corpses in backwoods Tennessee. In fact, the area is a research laboratory for the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Department, but its morbid methodology and Deliverance-esque locale only add to its intrigue and general creepiness. In short, it is a perfect setting for a mystery/thriller. Carved in Bone is a fun, fast-paced read full of suspense, intrigue, intellect and fascinating characters. I picked up the novel in an airport, and two thousand miles later I had become a full blown Jefferson Bass addict. As you can probably imagine, the story revolves around a body - the body of a young woman dead for thirty years and strikingly preserved. The quest of Dr. Bill Brockton starts out strange and only gets stranger as he races to unlock her secrets. He stabs dead people. He faints head first into a barrel of dead roosters. He vomits onto a massive bear of a good ol' boy named Waylon. The next time you think your job is rough, pick up a Jefferson Bass novel and try being a doctor of rot rates.
What do You think about Carved In Bone (2006)?
This was a pretty good introduction of characters and what will hopefully be a long and interesting series of murder and mystery. I do like the fact that the author is -in fact- an actual author duo, one being the primary writer and one who is an actual scientist and was a key reason why the 'Body Farm' actually exists. It makes for a much more interesting read actually, as you know it's based more on truth than on fiction. So what you're shaking your head at (because it's out of the realm of your normal day to day existence and routine) is not pure crap and has an air of authenticity that can't be refuted.The murder is unusual - and old - but it still has fresh roots that touch a lot of nerve endings of the local yokels. Set in Tennessee, the story goes between the University campus and the local hills of Cooke County and all the colorful characters the area is known for. No shortage of interesting locals that's for sure and it makes for endless suspects and red herrings. I personally would have liked to have had the body farm figure a little more prominently. It seemed to be more of a tease to get me into reading the book, although I didn't regret the read once I started into it. All in all, a series worth pursuing.
—Sue Smith
Along with his partner Dr. Bill Bass, Jon Jefferson manages to weave some very technical information (you learn a lot about skeletal anatomy) into a story of murder and revenge in the hills of Tennessee. Not a whole lot of twists, but the characters are compelling enough to keep the pages turning.I enjoyed reading this book, although it wasn't near as interesting as the crime scene investigation workshop I attended conducted by the author, Jon Jefferson. After hearing him describe what it was like to attend the illegal cockfight that appears in the book, I have to say I found the written version disappointing.
—Judy
Carved in Bone, the debut novel by Jefferson Bass, introduces us to Dr. Bill Brockton, forensic anthropologist working at the Body Farm. The Body Farm is a three-acre patch of ground located near the University of Tennessee, where dozens of bodies in different states of decomposition are used for research.A visiting Deputy from Cook County asks Dr. Brocton to help with an interesting case. The mummified corpse of a young woman dead for thirty years has been discovered in a cave in the Appalachian Mountains. Brockton’s investigation threatens to break open the door of Cook County family skeleton closets and he finds himself on the wrong end of a gun more than once. Dealing with the death of his wife, Brockton is determined to solve the mystery of the dead woman.This book is filled with amazing detail when it comes to the subject of anthropology but it's not for the squeamish. Carved in Bone has an array of compelling characters ranging from chicken-fighting FBI agents, attractive anthropology assistants, and extremely large redneck sidekicks. I think the characters need a bit more development as I found the forensic detail too detailed, but I would be willing to try another book in the series.
— Olivermagnus
