The Bone Thief

Narrator Dan Woren can't be held solely responsible for the uneven presentation of this latest addition to the Body Farm series. While his diction is clear and he brings a sense of urgency to some of the action scenes, his difficulty developing convincing Southern and Spanish accents distracts and accentuates the flatness of the supporting characters. Authors Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson (Jefferson Bass) begin with an intriguing-enough premise--the investigation of stolen cadaver body parts--but the plot is frequently interrupted by lengthy scientific exposition or the introduction of subplots. These breaks disrupt the story's flow, leaving the listener to wonder if the text will ever allow Woren to hit his narrative stride. M.O.B. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

January 25, 2010
Those looking for a mystery in this so-so sequel to Bones of Betrayal
, the fifth forensic thriller from bestseller Bass (the pseudonym of Bill Blass and Jon Jefferson), may be disappointed to find the solving of an embalmer’s murder relegated to a subplot. Bill Brockton, the chair of the University of Tennessee’s anthropology department and head of the human decomposition research facility known as the Body Farm, is still preoccupied with the fallout of the previous book’s events, which left his emotions in turmoil and a close friend maimed. The woman Brockton had fallen for, who turned out to be the killer he was seeking, escaped after Brockton confronted her. The present book largely focuses on Brockton’s efforts at undercover work after the Feds involve him in a case against an unscrupulous tissue bank. No less than two deus ex machinas at the end undercut the realism.

March 15, 2010
The latest Body Farm novel picks up not too long after the previous one, Bones of Betrayal (2009), ended. Isabella, the murderous seductress, still haunts Dr. Bill Brockton, forensic anthropologist and founder of Tennessees unique research facility known as the Body Farm (hes loosely based on Dr. Bill Bass, the Body Farms real founder and one-half of the novels writing team). Isabella disappeared at the end of the previous novel, and Brockton is concerned she might not have gone too far. Current events, however, including a couple of cases of corpse-dismemberment, are helping him keep his mind off heruntil he makes a shocking discovery that could turn his life upside down. The Body Farm novels get better with each new book; not only are they more compellingly plotted and more tightly written but Brockton also has become a more fully realized character, not merely a stand-in for his creator. A very good mystery, suitable not just for fans of the Brockton novels but also for readers who enjoy forensic thrillers by Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)