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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Look at the puzzle.",
By
This review is from: Written in Bone (Hardcover)
Simon Beckett's second thriller, "Written in Bone," brings back forensic anthropologist David Hunter, an intelligent, dedicated, and compassionate scientist who takes his job so seriously that his girlfriend is rapidly becoming exasperated with him. Since the deaths of his wife and child, Hunter has become obsessed with giving each victim entrusted to his care an identity and a measure of justice. This time, Hunter is sent to a secluded island named Runa, in the Outer Hebrides. His task is to examine an unidentified body that was left partially burned in an undamaged cottage. Was the death an accident, suicide, or murder? If it was murder, why was the body exposed for anyone to find? Assisting Hunter are a drunken and incompetent police sergeant, a rookie constable, and a retired detective inspector. Hunter is chagrined when a horrific storm blows through Runa, cutting the island off from the mainland; no reinforcements will be arriving anytime soon."Written in Bone" follows the conventions of a "closed island" mystery. The hero is left to his own devices, trying to maintain control of a rapidly deteriorating situation. Not only is it impossible for Hunter to get outside help, but the weather is so wretched that it is difficult to preserve the remains for examination. There is no well-equipped morgue or laboratory on Runa, and Hunter is reduced to using freezer bags for storage of body parts. In spite of the primitive conditions that prevail, Hunter is resourceful enough to draw logical conclusions from the available evidence. The strongest aspects of the book are its beautifully depicted setting and vivid characters. Beckett captures the wild ferocity of the storm that buffets this remote and lonely place; the towering waves and gale force winds crash against the shore, threatening to capsize the boats moored in the harbor. Against this forbidding backdrop, Beckett tells a gothic tale of jealousy, rage, and perverted sexuality. Among the large cast are Maggie Cassidy, an aggressive reporter with a nose for a juicy story; Andrew Brody, a retired police officer who still retains some of his old skills; Ellen McLeod, a hotel owner and devoted single mother; Andrew and Grace Strachan, a wealthy couple with a proprietary interest in keeping the island economically solvent; and the alcoholic Sergeant Fraser, who finds himself way out of his league when it comes to investigating violent crimes. For the most part, "Written in Bone" is engrossing and suspenseful. The forensic details are grisly but compelling, and Beckett is willing to kill off likeable characters, which many authors avoid at all costs. The novel's most egregious flaw is its tangled and wildly implausible ending. There is quite enough going on without adding extraneous plot elements that are a bit too self-consciously clever. Still, "Written in Bone" has enough entertainment value to keep readers turning pages furiously, eager to see how the mystery will ultimately play out.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
`Our lives, and sometimes deaths, are stories written in bone.',
By J. Cameron-Smith "Expect the Unexpected" (ACT, Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Written in Bone (Hardcover)
Forensic anthropologist Dr David Hunter is called on to look into a `fire death' on Runa, a remote Outer Hebridean island. It isn't immediately clear whether the death is suspicious or accidental, but something tells Dr Hunter that there is more to this death than seems immediately apparent.Hampered by foul weather, a lack of equipment and remoteness from specialist assistance, Dr Hunter attempts to find the answers. The remote community itself has some deep, dark secrets and the more information Dr Hunter uncovers, the more complex the investigation becomes. It soon becomes clear that there is a murderer on the island and, as Runa becomes completely cut off from the outside world, suspense builds as the body count increases. This is the second of Simon Beckett's mysteries to feature Dr David Hunter. I've not yet read the first, but I certainly will be. Highly recommended. Jennifer Cameron-Smith
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forensic heaven...with a scenic setting,
By
This review is from: Written in Bone (Hardcover)
"Given the right temperature, everything burns. Wood. Clothing. People.At 250º Celsius, flesh will ignite. Skin blackens and splits. The subcutaneous fat starts to liquefy, like grease in a hot pan. Fuelled by it, the body starts to burn. Arms and legs catch first, acting as kindling to the greater mass of the torso. Tendons and muscle fibres contract, causing the burning limbs to move in an obscene parody of life. Last to go are the organs. Cocooned in moistness, they often remain even after the rest of the soft tissue has been consumed. But bone is, quite literally, a different matter." Beckett certainly knows how to draw the reader in from the first page. He never reduces himself to writing gore, instead he fascinates us with fact. I enjoyed the story, the characters and the setting. Beckett's descriptions of the remote island and the weather conditions conjur up a wonderfully realistic image and an ideal setting for a thriller. Throw in some red herrings and a couple of twists and he's cracked it again. Not only that but we get an excellent cliff hanger too!! Recommended!!
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