Another excellent Gideon Oliver mystery. ( )

murder of fornesic anthropologist solved by Gideon Olover

"The irascible Albert Evan Jasper, 'dean of American forensic anthropologists,' is a man who lives up to his eccentric reputation well beyond the grave: he has willed his skeleton to science. For ten years the famous man's bones have lain in a drawer while his fellow scholars have argued about what to do with them.

"The problem is solved with the opening of an exhibition at the Museum of Natural History in Bend, Oregon: as part of a forensic anthropologists' conference. Jasper's remains are installed in a permanent display. In attendance at the conference is Gideon Oliver, looking forward to a stimulating and education week in the fragrant pine country of central Oregon.

"The stimulation begins in earnest when Jasper's bones are stolen from their case. More sinister events quickly pile up: the body of a murdered man is discovered in a shallow grave on the grounds of the scenic but decaying resort where the conference is taking place. While this is being investigated by local police, there is another killing -- of a scientist connected with the conference. Gideon, forced to the unwelcome conclusion that the murderer must be one of his own colleagues, narrowly escapes an attempt on his own life,

"Aided by wife, Julie, and old friend John Lau of the FBI, Gideon is faced with his most difficult challenge to date -- unmasking a clever, dangerous killer ... who knows every bit as much about forensic anthropology as he does."
~~front flap

Oh I do love these books! The author sets his novels either in places I'd like to go to or in places I've already been and loved. The latter is the case with this book: I attended a lithics class at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which is 117 miles west of Bend Oregon, which is the setting for this book.

It's also one of my favorites because I actually noticed a clue, and so I knew how the murder was set up as an alibi for the murderer. (Did I remember that from when I read this book before? I don't think so because I didn't remember anything else about the plot. So I'll just take credit this once, since I miss so many of them.)

A very clever plot and various characters that certainly would fit right into any anthropological conference I've ever been to. Mr. Elkins certainly has a gift for creating characters who seem genuine, and runs the gamut doing so. As usual, his description of the location is appreciative and detailed, allowing the reader to slip more easily into the book and feel as through they're part of the cadre of bystanders trying to sort out the murderer from the cast of suspects. Thoroughly well done! ( )

Pretty good. Not one of my favorites - an abundance of unpleasant characters (though I was relieved to hear why Nellie wanted the secret kept - very in character, no nasty surprises there). The reconstruction was neat, and its failure and success were nicely done. The villain was thoroughly opaque - even after the reveal, I can see the motive(s) but it still seems odd. A few nice bits with John and Julie, and as usual Gideon just accidentally stumbles on the big point - though he might not have if there weren't any questions raised by the bones being taken. Neat murder coverup - both of them. Sneaky! Well, a trained forensic scientist is going to think of stuff most wouldn't. ( )

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/4436889 ( )