Good novel. I loved how history, art and criminology all interacted at once. I did not know it was a book series but you definitely don't have to read the previous books to read this one. However, the mystery wasn't really a mystery as the reader is able to solve the case by the middle of the book. Whereas the three stars from my part.I will definitely read the other books as they are far from boring and just by reading this one I learned a lot of history and art facts that I wasn't aware off until now. I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It was an exciting listen in the car and I like all of the elements of the book - anthropology, forensic science and mystery. But things got way out of hand - medieval popes, the Shroud of Turin, the Knights Templar, megachurches, the south of France, and on and on. This book had eveything but the kitchen sink. It was just too perfect.The reason I really wanted to like it more than I did is because I feel a personal connection to it. The author is really two people - a guy named Jefferson who is a writer and a reporter and Dr. William Bass, prof. emeritus at the University of Tennessee. Bass runs and founded the Body Farm - a place where bodies are left to rot so that forensic scientists can determine how people die and how long they've been dead. The Body Farm was first brought to national prominence, as far as I can tell, by the Patricia Cornwell book of the same name. My connection is that when I was a freshman at KU, I had Bill Bass for Anthropoloy I. He was a character and a great teacher and I have never forgotten him.It's possible that I will listen to a couple more of these. Although the narrator struggled mightily with all the French names. Perhaps he'll do better with another locale.
Do You like book The Bones Of Avignon (2012)?
Interesting, but not the favorite of the series.
—SovietCosmos
Very different storyline. Enjoyed the history.
—bunguinsluver