Customer Reviews

Dust to Dust: A Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

I've read all of Beverly Connor's mysteries. I thought the series had been going down hill (my wife gave up on the previous one in the middle). The villains lost all believability and the tendency to use government conspiracies as the major plot driver just didn't ring true.

BUT, this one is one of her best - taught, interesting, and credible. The plot and the story that is uncovered as the book goes on is not run-of-the mill and I found the way she handled it, and her characters' reactions to it, very well drawn and interesting.

I have read most of the books in Beverly Connor's Diane Fallon series and have enjoyed each one. "Dust to Dust" was an interesting book with a unique, if somewhat creepy premise. (Don't want to spoil the mystery, but it has to do with pottery and human bones.) This was a great book from beginning to end.

I like the character of Diane, because she is smart, independent, and ethical. It's also nice to read about co-workers who are friends and truly enjoy working together. I find each book to be exciting as well as educational - without being dull. Besides details related to archaeology, the book also included some interesting information on decoding, which is the specialty of Diane's boyfriend Frank.

If you haven't read the prior books in the series, you could start with this book and quickly get to know the characters and enjoy the book. However, after finishing "Dust to Dust", you will want to check out the earlier books!

DUST TO DUST provides a fine Diane Fallon forensic investigation telling of an FBI agent turned PI who comes to Diane for help after his client's family suffers a double tragedy involving a murder and an accusation. Diane finds herself in dangerous waters when she agrees to a favor and finds her own world endangered. Mystery collections will relish the intrigue here.

I love all the books written bij Beverly Connor. Can not stop reading till the end and when I have finished the book I am sorry its already over. Can't wait for the next one.

The books by Beverly Connor are exceptional. I have now read the whole series and have enjoyed them all. In each and every one I learn something that I didn't know before. The stories hold my interest from the first page to the last. The characters are very believeable interact with each other very well.

The RiverTrail Museum of Natural History consulting archaeologist, Barnum University Adjunct Professor Dr. Marcella Payden is shaken up when she is attacked. The museum's director and the head of the Rosewood Crime Lab Diane Fallon and her unit work the assault scene along with Detective Hanks and a uniform when bullets are fired at them. When the dust settles, and the perpetrators are gone for the second time with paintings and pottery stolen whatever is gone is not worth the risk of the second assault.

Former FBI profiler Ross Kingsley visits Diane to ask a favor. He tells her he no longer believes in profiling after the BTK case and a serial rape case he worked. Instead he works for Florida based Darley, Dunn and Upsahw as a private investigator; currently doing a pro bono action. Nine years ago Ryan Dance was given a life sentence for murdering fifteen year old Ellie Rose Carruthers. His younger sister Stephanie believed he was innocent and tried to prove it. Last week the obstinate twenty-three year old was found dead; the cops claim autoerotic asphyxiation as the case. Her father believes she found the proof and was murdered for it. Ross shows Diane a photo of the death scene and the forensic expert begins to make a case that murder occurred.

The latest Diane Fallon investigation (see SCATTERED GRAVES) is a super entry with two strong diverse cases; most fascinating is the refreshing knot forensics spin that shows when readers think they've read or seen everything, something new surfaces. Diane is at her best as she uncovers secrets buried in the dust that those who concealed them thought would be blown away by the wind. This is a great forensics investigative thriller due to a strong cast working complex cases, but especially the super look at criminal science will have the audience profiling Beverly Connor as one of the top mystery writers.

Harriet Klausner

An archaeologist moves to Rosewood, a small town in Georgia, and moves into an old home that has many disturbing secrets that will be revealed to the reader by the end of the story. The novel opens with the archaeologist, Marcella Payden, sensing a hint of evil in the air.

Dr. Diane Fallon, is called to the home of Marcella Payden, since an attack has been reported on Marcella at the old house. Dr. Fallon is head of the crime lab and has been called to the home where Marcella has been attacked.

As Dr. Fallon launches her investigation into the attack on Marcella, an ex-FBI friend visits Diane to request her help with a cold case in which his client has requested help. The client's son is in prison for allegedly murdering a young woman 13 years earlier and his sister has been murdered while trying to have her brother released from prison.

Both of the cases, that of the archaeologist and the brother and sister will become entwined as Dr. Fallon begins to research all of the crimes. Long lost secrets will emerge and the author reveals them slowly to the reader. I enjoyed the novel but some of it was a bit macabre for me. This one is a bit dark for me but those who enjoy forensic mysteries will really enjoy it. The writing is good, the mystery is spooky, and there is plenty of action. I shuddered at times when some of the gruesome details are brought forth. For fans of forensic crime mysteries this is a good addtion to the genre. I gave it 3 stars because I am not keen on the content. But hey that's just me. Anybody else will probably give it a higher rating. If you like the genre, read and enjoy.