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“I like this duo pretty darn good.
Big Mama Red wrote this review Thursday, February 14, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
”
“This is a really good novel. Completely new story line involving a burned down Reform School for Boys in Florida. Great new characters, I couldn't put it down.”
Birdie wrote this review Wednesday, November 7, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This will make you think and and will also make you mad and sad. ”
JD wrote this review Tuesday, September 25, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Thought provoking, exposes abuse, ”
Janet Rhoades wrote this review Thursday, September 13, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Dr Bill Brockton, forensic pathologist, responds to a personal call for help from a former student now working in Tallahassee. Her sister has died – reportedly a suicide – but Angie St Claire has her doubts. His quick trip to help Angie turns into a much longer assignment when a wandering hound digs up an old skull – or two.
Book Concierge wrote this review Tuesday, July 31, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I really like this series. Brockton is a serious scientist, and heads the Department of Anthropology at the Univ of Tennessee in Knoxville. This is the site of the (in)famous Body Farm, where donated cadavers are studied to provide detailed information that will help law enforcement in determining manner, cause and time of death. He is cautious, deliberate and thorough in examining the bones that come his way. The writing team that makes up “Jefferson Bass” knows forensics and does a good job of providing sufficient detail without making this a science textbook.
However … I thought the double story line didn’t quite work here. I would just get caught up in one investigation, only to have that dropped in favor of the other. I’d be immersed in case #2 and then have to go back to case #1. The result, in this book, is that one of the story lines really suffered; the woman’s murder deserved a more thorough investigation in the book (as it would in real life). This is the sixth book in the series, and I wonder whether they were out of ideas to fully flesh out the plot. Still, the plot moves quickly and has enough twists and turns to still provide a surprise at the reveal.
”
“Mary Ellen B said: 3 stars
Play Book Tag Shelf wrote this review Saturday, August 11, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
At the opening of The Bone Yard Dr. Bill Brockton, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee is conducting a seminar at The Body Farm. One of the participants, Angie St. Claire, a Florida forensic analyst, is suddenly called away upon the death of her sister. Dr. B gets an urgent request from Angie for help in proving her sister was murdered, not the official declaration of suicide. Being the great guy he must be, two hours later off he flies to Tallahassee. And therein hangs the tale, so you would think. But no, the next day, a skull has surfaced, and Angie asks good ole Dr. B to help with that, too. This turns out to be the real story. With the discovery of an adolescent’s skull and a buried tin can, the sister seems to disappear in the red Georgia dust.
I wish I had read the author’s notes first. I might have been more forgiving of the novel's flaws. The author is really two people. Dr. Bass is the world-renowned forensic anthropologist who founded the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility, the Body Farm. Jon Jefferson is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. . The main story is based on a real life Florida reform school, notorious for allegations of extreme punishment and abuse. A website, www. WhiteHouseBoys.org was formed by some of the school’s former students. There can be found some of their stories.
If only the authors had adhered to that central story. It was emotional and captivating. I have no idea why they muddied the waters with the sister’s death. There are times they wander off on tangents that seemingly do nothing to advance the plot line. A multiple page history lesson on Darfur, an extended flashback to excavating Indian graves for the Smithsonian, way more information than I needed on the workings of a bulldozer to uncover evidence. I would be interested in reading the first of the series. Dr. B is likeable, the forensics well-researched and interestingly presented. Maybe by this book six the series was running out of steam.
Book Concierge said: 3***
I really like this series. Dr Bill Brockton heads the Department of Anthropology at the Univ of Tennessee in Knoxville. This is the site of the Body Farm, where donated cadavers are studied to provide detailed information that will help law enforcement in determining manner, cause and time of death. The writing team that makes up “Jefferson Bass” knows forensics and does a good job of providing sufficient detail without making this a science textbook. However … I thought the double story line didn’t quite work here. One of the plot lines really suffered; the woman’s murder deserved a more thorough investigation in the book (as it would in real life). This is the sixth book in the series, and I wonder whether they were out of ideas to fully flesh out the plot. Still, the plot moves quickly and has enough twists and turns to still provide a surprise at the reveal.”
“At the opening of The Bone Yard Dr. Bill Brockton, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee is conducting a seminar at The Body Farm. One of the participants, Angie St. Claire, a Florida forensic analyst, is suddenly called away upon the death of her sister. Dr. B gets an urgent request from Angie for help in proving her sister was murdered, not the official declaration of suicide. Being the great guy he must be, two hours later off he flies to Tallahassee. And therein hangs the tale, so you would think. But no, the next day, a skull has surfaced, and Angie asks good ole Dr. B to help with that, too. This turns out to be the real story. With the discovery of an adolescent’s skull and a buried tin can, the sister seems to disappear in the red Georgia dust.
Mary Ellen B wrote this review Wednesday, June 20, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I wish I had read the author’s notes first. I might have been more forgiving of the novel's flaws. The author is really two people. Dr. Bass is the world-renowned forensic anthropologist who founded the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility, the Body Farm. Jon Jefferson is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. . The main story is based on a real life Florida reform school, notorious for allegations of extreme punishment and abuse. A website, www. WhiteHouseBoys.org was formed by some of the school’s former students. There can be found some of their stories.
If only the authors had adhered to that central story. It was emotional and captivating. I have no idea why they muddied the waters with the sister’s death. There are times they wander off on tangents that seemingly do nothing to advance the plot line. A multiple page history lesson on Darfur, an extended flashback to excavating Indian graves for the Smithsonian, way more information than I needed on the workings of a bulldozer to uncover evidence. I would be interested in reading the first of the series. Dr. B is likeable, the forensics well-researched and interestingly presented. Maybe by this book six the series was running out of steam.
”
“This novel takes Dr. Brockton away from his typical anthropology cases in Tennessee and leads him on a disturbing hunt for justice in the back woods of Florida. Dr. Brockton uncovers cases of severe abuse and murder that happened decades ago at a reform school for boys. While trying to uncover the truth, he is almost killed himself.
Jenn E. wrote this review Saturday, June 2, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
This book was different in alot of ways from the usual Bone Farm books. It centered around murders that happened decades ago while also spotlighting abuse that kids suffer today. It also involved Dr. Brockton working in a different state with alot of different people and agencies. As always, I was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. ”“Good characters and a plot line that raises a lot of questions on social issues.”
Elaine M wrote this review Thursday, January 12, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
