Part of Body Farm, book 7.5
First published 2013
Summer 1990. Dr. Bill Brockton arrives at the University of Tennessee as the new head of the Anthropology Department. The forensic scientist wants to build the program's reputation and establish himself in his new role. Six months into the job, Brockton gets called to examine a body in the countryside. A woman lies dead, and he must identify her and determine what killed her. The case becomes Brockton's first major murder investigation in Tennessee. But the local county sheriff opposes him. An angry crowd gathers, demanding immediate vengeance rather than careful science. They want their own version of justice, swift and brutal. Brockton finds himself trapped between professional duty and personal survival. He must use his wits and words to escape the mounting danger while solving the case that could end his career before it truly begins.
Genres: fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, detective, academic
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, professional-duty-vs-personal-survival
Setting: Tennessee, University of Tennessee
Period: 1990
112 pages · ebook · William Morrow Impulse