Make no bones: a Gideon Oliver novel [Import] [Hardcover]

Aaron ELKINS (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Collins Crime; First Edition edition (May 7, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0002323796
• ISBN-13: 978-0002323796
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,787,315 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a former anthropologist who has been writing mysteries and thrillers since 1982, having won an Edgar for Old Bones, as well as a subsequent Agatha (with my wife Charlotte), and a Nero Wolfe Award. My major continuing series features forensic anthropologist-detective Gideon Oliver, "the Skeleton Detective."

Lately, I've seen myself referred to as "the father of the modern forensic mystery," and, by gosh, I think I am! Before "Fellowship of Fear," the first Gideon Oliver, published in 1982, you'd have to go back 70 years and more to Austin Freeman and his Dr. Thorndyke series. Between the two good doctors (Thorndyke and Oliver), there was only Jack Klugman's "Quincy," so far as I know, and he was a TV character.

The Gideon Oliver books have been (roughly) translated into a major ABC-TV series and have been selections of the Book-of-the-Month Club, the Literary Guild, and the Readers Digest Condensed Mystery Series. My work has been published in a dozen languages. Charlotte and I live on Washington's Olympic Peninsula, our marriage having survived (more or less intact) our collaboration on novels and short stories.

Although I've been a full-time writer for some time now, I also remain active in real-life forensics by serving as the forensic anthropologist on the Olympic Peninsula Cold Case Task Force.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, June 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Make No Bones (Paperback)

I adore mysteries where a man has to figure out what happened with his head rather than his fists. Elkins is a remarkably talented and intelligent individual, and his books about the "Skeleton Dectetive" are charming and fascinating. A lot like how Sherlock Holmes or a Magician, Oliver seems able to pull amazing facts off of skeletons - and even after he explains how it's done, it's still pretty amazing. With Gideon, John, and Julie - who have become some of my favorite characters - there's more of the action for everyone. An Elkins mystery is always perfect for a rainy day.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Funny But At Times Morbid, November 14, 2000

By 

Rosemary Brunschwyler (Homewood, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Make No Bones (Paperback)

Gideon Oliver's wife Julie takes a more active role in this story set mostly in rural Oregon. The story has elements of a good Elkins book with another lesson in forensic anthropology. At times it is very funny and in spots is quite morbid. Although the proposed motive for the killings is unconvincing, Julie's enhanced role makes the reading worthwhile.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining., April 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Make No Bones (Paperback)

This novel is one of the most entertaining novels I have ever read. It keeps you guessing until the last page. Some knowledge in forensic anthropology is helpful but not necessary. Well-written, characters are very well-done. The setting adds to the excitement. Great book