The Inquisitor's Key: A Body Farm Novel (Body Farm Novel, 7)
The Inquisitor's Key: A Body Farm Novel (Body Farm Novel, 7) book cover

The Inquisitor's Key: A Body Farm Novel (Body Farm Novel, 7)

Mass Market Paperback – January 29, 2013

Price
$9.99
Publisher
Harper
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0061807060
Dimensions
4.19 x 1.12 x 7.5 inches
Weight
9.6 ounces

Description

“This series . . . just keeps getting better. [Bones of Betrayal] features both the most compelling story and the best portrayal yet of Brockton, who has completed the transition from fictional representation of coauthor Bass to fully realized protagonist.” — Booklist “Carved in Bone has a unique corpse, solid science, quirky humor and a loveable protagonist. That a novel like this can be described as charming is a tribute to the team that created some very human, down-to-earth characters.” — USA Today “A superb mystery novel―well-plotted, filled with memorable characters, based on accurate forensic science and written with more flair and literary sensibility than anything by John Grisham. The novel, in fact, is in Cornwell’s league, high praise indeed.” — Charlotte Observer on The Devil's Bones “The Sherlock Holmes for bones has arrived. . . . A privileged glimpse into the world of a ground-breaking pioneer.” — Katherine Ramsland, Author of The Forensic Science of C.S.I. While helping to excavate a newly unearthed chamber beneath the spectacular Palace of the Popes in Avignon, France, Miranda Lovelady—protégée of Dr. Bill Brockton—makes a startling discovery: a stone chest bearing an inscription declaring it holds the bones of Jesus of Nazareth. The find could rock the Church to its very foundations, and it draws Brockton from the Body Farm to determine the truth, using modern forensic science. But when Brockton and Miranda link the bones to the haunting image on the famous Shroud of Turin, their investigation sparks a deadly tug of war between scientists, the Vatican, and Apocalypse-obsessed fanatics—and a newly slain corpse soon appears on hallowed ground. Suddenly the search for answers to a mystery born in an ancient era has taken on a frightening urgency . . . as a crazed zealot waits in the shadows, determined to trigger the end of time. Jefferson Bass is the writing team of Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass. Dr. Bass, a world-renowned forensic anthropologist, is the creator of the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility, widely known as the Body Farm. He is the author or coauthor of more than two hundred scientific publications, as well as a critically acclaimed memoir about his career at the Body Farm, Death's Acre . Dr. Bass is also a dedicated teacher, honored as U.S. Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. Jon Jefferson is a veteran journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker. His writings have been published in the New York Times , Newsweek , USA Today , and Popular Science and broadcast on National Public Radio. The coauthor of Death's Acre , he is also the writer and producer of two highly rated National Geographic documentaries about the Body Farm. Read more

Features & Highlights

  • The most riveting and ambitious novel to date in Jefferson Bass’
  • New York Times
  • bestselling Body Farm mystery series,
  • The Inquisitor’s Key
  • takes forensic investigator Dr. Bill Brockton to Avignon, France, and embroils him in a deadly religious mystery that could shake the Vatican itself to its very foundations.  Another sterling crime novel in the vein of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, and Karin Slaughter, as well as TV’s
  • C.S.I
  • .,
  • The Inquisitor’s Key
  • adds a touch of James Rollins and
  • The Da Vinci Code
  • to the typically acclaimed Jefferson Bass mix of suspense, surprise, and finely detailed forensic investigation.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(281)
★★★★
25%
(235)
★★★
15%
(141)
★★
7%
(66)
23%
(215)

Most Helpful Reviews

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No. Just...no

Long story short: No. Just...no.

Long version: I adore the Body Farm novels, and usually rip through them in a few hours (I know, I should slow down to get all the nuances. That's like asking an alcoholic to quit chugging). This one...no. Why? Because:
1. Boring, derivative plot. We don't need yet another medieval / religious mystery, which everyone who is anyone is attempting these days. Never was interested in the first of the lot (the badly written, sensationalist DaVinci Code), can't deal with oh no not another tiresome iteration of the Same Old Thing.
2. Jumping from the 1300's to the present, and back, and forth ad nauseum...definitely not. Adds nothing except some page-filler gruesomeness and unnecessary padding that slows the plot down considerably.
3. The growing romantic interest between the increasingly annoying Miranda and the OMG 30 years older Brockton? Puh-lease! This is gross on so many levels. Why do men think they are such hot stuff for women young enough to be their daughters? No way would this end well in real life. Can't see how this could work in fiction either, without collapsing under its own cliched silliness. And how irritating will it be to have a decent thriller series suddenly turning into a Harlequin Romance! Hasn't yet, but I see the signs. Please! Don't go there! Ever!
4. Miranda. Going from outspoken to annoying, know-it-all loudmouth. Can't understand what anyone, male or female, sees in her the way she is being portrayed these days. She needs to be less strident and more likable, because she, too, has become a cliche.
5. France. Okay it was a nice change of scene, but ultimately I saw nothing in this book that made it worth reading, France or not. I think the readers would have been better served if this had been a "real" murder mystery in the USA, where Brockton had some jurisdiction, instead of fluttering around waving his hands at various French authorities.
6. The end. Didn't like it; too muddled and left too many things hanging. Won't say more to avoid spoiling it for others.
2 people found this helpful
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I don't think so...

Up front, I have to say that I've been a great fan of all the previous books by these authors. As for this one, I'm sorry, but I simply could not even finish it. I agree with other reviewers that felt the detail and historical background was tedious. And yes, the little jealousies and teen angst Dr. Brockton feels for his protege are demeaning to his character, ridiculous and have gone on way too long. I have this simple guideline when it comes to books. "There are too many good books out there to waste time on those you don't like."I only hope the next title coming out soon will bring us back to the Bones stories we know and love!
1 people found this helpful
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Disappointing

I love the "Body Farm" series but I was very disappointed in this one, particularly because there was no "body farm" activity! I hope the Jefferson Bass duo leave these sort of books to Dan Brown, et al and get back to the University of Tennessee!
1 people found this helpful
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thisis a good novel

I like to forensic science described in the book
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Five Stars

great!
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Five Stars

Great, as usual.
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Disappointing

Was not impressed with this book. I am an avid reader and I read to be intrigued and entertained but felt like I was in a bible study group instead. Way way to much history and really no story behind it all. I have read all the books in this series and this one was such a let down, hoping the next book gets back on track.
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OK...

Very slow reading - not as good as previous books by this team.
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Four Stars

Very good book for Templars or religious geared readers. Excellent for theology students
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Templar Fiction

This is a pretty good Templar novel. I would recommend it.