Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Bones of Betrayal-Jefferson Bass

Bones of Betrayal
Jefferson Bass
Morrow, Feb 2009, $24.9
ISBN: 9780061284748

A corpse of an elderly man is found in a lake near the Oak Ridge, Tennessee nuclear research facility. The victim is identified as Dr. Leonard Novak, a leader on the government top secret Manhattan Project during WWII. The autopsy reveals that Dr. Novak died from ingesting poisons that concerns local medical examiner Dr. Bill Brockton who fears others might suffer the same fate. Additionally since he is unsure how the researcher ingested the poisons, he is not ruling out murder.

At Novak's funeral, Brockton talks to the scientist’s ex wife. Following that discussion the ME begins to hypothesize that the homicide is tied to the victim’s past; perhaps as far back as WWII and the nuclear bomb project. With the assistance of a local librarian, Brockton investigates the second half twentieth century history of Oak Ridge.

The latest Brockton reading the bones forensic investigative thriller (see CARVED IN BONES, FLESH AND BONE and THE DEVIL'S BONES) is an exciting tale starring an engaging hero. Although readers will solve the whodunit rather easily, the fun in the fast-paced story line is the contemporary link to the 1940s Manhattan Project.

Harriet Klausner

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