Jefferson Bass, The Bone Yard

The Bone Yard

Jefferson Bass

Morrow, Mar 8 2011, $24.99

ISBN: 9780061806780

Dr. Bill Brockton runs the Body Farm in Tennessee. The farm is actually a research facility where human corpses are studied to ascertain decay rates. Bill agrees to assist Floridian forensic specialist Angie St. Claire with a family trauma. In Georgia, Angie's sister Kate died from a shotgun blast to her head. Local law enforcement decided she committed suicide. Angie cannot accept the official denouement as she believes her brother-in-law Don Nicely murdered his wife.

Nicely nicely buries the evidence when he expedites the burial of his wife's body without telling Angie he moved the funeral forward. As he works the dead sister case, Brockton also becomes involved with a skull and subsequent graves found in the Panhandle. These remains of adolescent boys lead Bill to a reform school where the student-inmates were abused.

In the latest "Bone" forensic investigation (see The Bone Thief), the two subplots are fast-paced and fun though somewhat muted as the science supersedes the action. Readers will appreciate the insight into forensics but that overwhelms the cases. Still the Body Farm Doctor's latest soiree into human decay is an enjoyable thriller for those who like to remain current.

Harriet Klausner