Dust to Dust (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 7) [Mass Market Paperback]

Beverly Connor (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2009

A woman dies under suspicious circumstances, supposedly after finding evidence of her incarcerated brother's innocence. Now to prove a possible murder, Diane Fallon must root through the victim's family secrets-and the many skeletons in her closet...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Before she began her writing career, Beverly Connor used to work as an archaeologist in the South-eastern United States. She weaves her professional experiences from archaeology and her knowledge of the South into interlinked stories of the past and present. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Original edition (August 4, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451227689
• ISBN-13: 978-0451227683
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #158,681 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, fast paced forensic mystery, August 10, 2009

By 

M. Hughes (Winnebago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dust to Dust (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

When Dr. Diane Fallon, head of the Rosewood, Georgia crime lab, is called to the scene of a home invasion, the case becomes personal. The homeowner, Dr Marcella Payden, a colleague and friend, is hospitalized in critical condition. Another friend, Dr. Jonas Briggs, is being questioned by the police as a possible suspect.

Determined to find evidence leading to the person or persons responsible for the attack, Diane arrives at the crime scene. Her headlights illuminate an old farmhouse, peeling paint, rotten wood and eerie gargoyles standing sentry in the lawn. Before she can begin collecting evidence, Diane sees a shadowy movement inside the house and gunfire erupts from the nearby woods.

So begins another fast paced adventure featuring Rosewoods museum director, CSI and forensic anthropologist, Dr Diane Fallon. Before long, Diane is up to her knees in bodies, multiple cases, and strange, conflicting evidence. As determined as she is to let the evidence lead her to the solution, someone is just as determined to prevent it.

Connor always includes a little archeology, a little anthropology and just enough semi-technical crime scene detail to wet the appetite of arm chair CSI's. This novel also has some personal insights into the controversial science of criminal profiling which I found interesting. Connor's novels are roller coaster rides, one dramatic event leading to another with little time between. Strong female characters are one of the most appealing elements of these books. Fallon is no victim and never wastes time waiting for a hero on a white horse to rescue her. She manages to take care of herself in any situation.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent novel by an undiscovered gem of a writer, August 14, 2009

By 

W. Dobson - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dust to Dust (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

DUST TO DUST is the seventh in Beverly Connor's delightful Diane Fallon mystery series. From the start of her career Ms. Connor has consistently written entertaining mysteries set in the forensic world made so popular by Patricia Cornwell and others but while Cornwell has become less and less readable and insanely complex, the Connor books have managed to deftly balance the scientific and human aspects of her stories such that each book is better than the last. And unlike Cornwell she remains true to her characters allowing them to grow both emotionally and in their understanding of the technical aspects of their jobs.

This series is set in a north Georgia town near Atlanta that is home a natural history museum that bears a striking resemblance to the Fernbank Science Center (www.fernbank.edu). This setting allows for the addition of museum management and the politics of a small insular intellectual community to the criminal and forensic aspects of these fine novels. The local crime lab is located at the museum allowing a mix of forensic and scientific avenues to broaden the playing field considerably while keeping all the technical investigations under one roof such that aspects of investigations that might otherwise be referred to in passing can be more closely examined for the readers enjoyment (and education). Ms. Connor also provides a fair amount of small town political infighting and departmental jealousies in her stories adding not just more meat to the potatoes but a nice bit of spice as well..

As usual with a Beverly Connor mystery there are several stories taking place at once. An old friend recruits Dr. Fallon to assist in looking into the death of a young woman who was investigating the murder that sent her brother to prison. While any experienced mystery reader (or TV watcher) has seen this plot line done many times before, Ms. Connor manages to find some new twists to keep the reader's attention. Simultaneously an archaeologist associated with the museum is attacked at her home and when the crime scene techs arrive to work the scene they find themselves under fire before uncovering what appears to be an art theft. Throw in traumatized relatives, feuding medical examiners, distrustful police detectives, pink haired girl guitarists, a couple of hundred year old ladies, serial killers and some fascinating information about pottery and you've got a fast moving and highly entertaining book.

Beverly Connor is a wonderful writer. I highly recommend all of her books to everyone and if you happen upon an old copy of one of her much missed Lindsay Chamberlain series in a used book shop buy it immediately before some other lucky soul can beat you to it!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Under-appreciated author!, August 9, 2009

By 

L. Rogers "MissLue"" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dust to Dust (Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation, No. 7) (Mass Market Paperback)

Beverly Connor has written a clever, interesting, not-too-violent mystery series featuring a very likeable female lead who is surrounded by very entertaining secondary characters -- all expert in some field. Dust to Dust is the latest entry, and one of the best in the series. My suggestion: Read them all! OK, suspend reality when it comes to Diane Fallon's job description, but it's hard to deny that she has a plum job -- if one like it existed. But how entertainning is it to be in charge of a museum, a forensics lab, a first-class group of employees and able to call all the shots in a murder investigation when you're just an anthropoligist? (Heh, heh) Connor is a clever, expert writer, a great story teller and her dialogue is right on. I truly enjoyed reading every one of the books she has written about Diane Fallon, including this latest one, as well as the series about Leslie Chamberlein. I sincerely believe she will entertain you as well.