Customer Reviews

One Drop of Blood

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Dr. Tom had me from the first few pages. It was thrilling, comical, intense and moving. With me not wanting to put it down, and when it was over, I was sad that there was not another chapter. Dr. Holland is a wonderful story teller, you can feel his thoughts and see the story just by reading the book. I read it in record time, 2 days. He gave each character a true twist. The title of the book was hit on the head, one drop of blood. Lets hope that is where Dr. Tom picks up. I for one have become a true fan of Thomas Holland.
As he knows , I wait and can only hope that his next book will soon be out.
Keep writing Dr. Tom. But don't stop doing your day job either, we still need our MIA's to come home.

I should preface this review by noting that, as a forensic scientist myself, I tend to be fairly picky about how we are portrayed in books and other media. That being said, this is a superb debut novel. The author, Dr. Thomas Holland, is an internationally known scientist, yet he is able to convey the reality - and complexity - of his work in an excellent piece of fiction that is readily readable but makes no attempt to dumb down the science for its audience. Holland deftly spans the disparate worlds of the 1960s and today, and readily moves between the war-torn fields of Vietnam and the farm fields of rural Arkansas. Regarding Vietnam - the open pages of the book are so gripping and so realistic, it's hard to recall anything in recently memory that so quickly grabs the reader's attention. The lead character, Dr. Kel McKelvey, is an endearing, overworked forensic anthropologist who is a fascinating combination of cutting-edge scientist and homespun Southern charm - with the most excellent addition of a biting wit that never fails to surface at just the right time. The criticism has been made that Dr. McKelvey needs more "rounding." Well, I eagerly await Holland's next novel so we can get to know this character even better! In the rapidly expanding realm of forensic-scientist-turned-author, Holland has already placed himself in the upper echelon with his opening work. One can only hope that another McKelvey novel is coming soon.

Clearly, this is one of the best written forensic novels I have read in some time (and I have read a lot of them). Very entertaining story. I would recommend this book to all but especially those interested in forensics. A bonus is that the reader will learn about DNA, forensic anthropology and the complexities of identifying the dead without even realizing it. Hope there is another book real soon!

Not usually interested in forensic storylines, but this book captivated me. I was on a beautiful tropical vacation, but couldn't put it down. Even the acknowledgements was worth reading. The author's knowledge in the field and sense of humor added to the enjoyment of the book. I'm looking forward to a sequel.

Tom Holland says he began writing this book while stranded in an airport. If that's what it takes, let's hope he misses some more planes. ONE DROP OF BLOOD is a wonderful first novel. It is peopled by memorable characters, the pace is brisk, and as a bonus it is a clear-eyed primer on the exacting foresnsic work for which Holland is known throughout the scientific community. He brings the bones to life.

Thomas Holland did a masterful job of weaving forensic science into a gripping story that moves seamlessly across 40 years of time--from the battlefields of Viet Nam to present-day rural Arkansas. Holland's descriptions evoke such visual reality that he made me feel like I was there! The twists in the story line and the wise-cracking characters kept me absorbed and amused. A great debut novel--a book I just couldn't put down! I highly recommend "One Drop of Blood" and I look forward to the next one.

This is an excellent fiction that sparks reality. Tom Holland, a master in the field of forensic science, webbed together a story that captures your attention from cover to cover. The reader, both amateur and expert in the criminal science field, will love this book. If you read Kathy Reich, this is a step up in both reality and enjoyment. I rate this book as a must for the adventurous, the professionals and the everyday fiction lover.

Holland did a great job of intertwining a captivating fictitious story with real life elements and hard science. The saucy personalities of the characters kept the book fun and entertaining. I found myself looking for spare minutes during the day to get back to the book. All in all, great debut!

Dr. Robt. "Kel" McKelvey is the fiftyish forensic anthropologist/ scientific director of the lab responsible for identifying the remains of US service members. He is suffering from burnout after a six week effort in North Korea. He is also trying to cope with unreasonable demands of a terrible boss. FBI Agent Michael Levine, a Vietnam infantry vet, is a skilled fraud invetigtor banished from DC for investigating a VIP too vigorously. He is assigned to the Memphis Field Office in what his superiors hope will be a career ending assignment- the investigation of a forty year old Civil Rights era homicide in Split Tree Arkansas. A connection appears between the Arkansas homicide and Kel's identification of a 1966 Vietnam casualty. Levine requests a forensic anthropoligist, Kel volunteers (Split Tree is his home town),the two men meet and do not mesh as Kel tries to guide Levine through the mores of rural Arkansas. Add a county sheriff with something to hide, the still grieving mother of a Vietnam hero, a small town funeral director/coroner and some really neat misdirection and foreshadowing and you end up with an outstanding mystery full of twists and turns with a satisfying conclusion. The author is a forensic anthropologist at the Central Identification Laboratory, obviously knows the details of a forensic investigation,the exhumaton and examination of a forty year old body, and explains them clearly. There are no super heros, just two middle aged government employees trying very hard to discover the truth and honor those who sacrificed all. I found the characters engaging and the book very enjoyable. See also "KIA" also featuring Kel McKelvey, another very good read.

This is a great Army CID story. If you like military, forensics, look in the past to find the answer for tomorrow, this is a nice easy read. I work in the forensics field for a living and the author did not stray to far from reality to make this non-sense. I enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone that likes this genre.