Skull Duggery (Gideon Oliver Mystery)

Another fine "Skeleton Detective" novel from Aaron Elkins! Keep 'em coming, Aaron! Thanks!

Aaron Elkins' SKULL DUGGERY tells of Gordon, who accompanies his wife to a charming little Mexican village to visit a relative's dude ranch resort - only to find no relief from his job in forensics when a mummified corpse is found nearby. Gordon's investigation involves an old friend, a child's murder thirty years ago, and a mystery that holds dangerous ramifications for new generations. Any mystery library will relish this.

AAron Elkins books are always worth buying. This one is no exception. Although his story lines are serious, this one even has a dash of humor, which was not overdone and added to the enjoyment of this book. Mr. Oliver, his main character is very likeable and knows his stuff about bones. The 'bones' really tell a story all by themselves and can be considered a character in the story as well. I hightly recommend all of his books, and this one is no exception.

Julie and Gideon Oliver visit Oaxaca, Mexico for a little working vacation--for Julie, that is. She agreed to help run her cousin's resort/ranch, Hacienda Encantada, for a few days while members of the cousin's family are otherwise occupied. Gideon is at loose ends until some mummified remains turn up and the local chief of police asks for his help. So Gideon investigates the mummy, and by pulling on that one forensic string he starts unraveling an entire fabric of lies, deceptions and murder. When I read a mystery novel, I love to feel like I'm really visiting the world of the story, and I love to learn new things. This story did both for me. The setting was delightful, full of great little details that (for me) brought back fond memories of my years in Mexico. For example, the colorful bustle in the marketplaces, the crumbling grandeur of certain official government buildings, and the scent and flavor of wonderful Mexican food--perfect. And I enjoyed sharing Gideon's investigations. I always learn something new and fascinating about the human body--just enough detail to allow me to understand the logic involved, not so much that I get confused. It's a tricky balance, I'll bet, but the end result allows me to feel the same sense of discovery that Gideon feels. The solution to the mystery felt very satisfying, too. For me it was unexpected, but very logical. Altogether a terrific book.

Julie Oliver's cousin Anne invites her and her "Bone Detective" husband Gideon to spend some time at the family's owned Hacienda Encantada dude ranch in Teotitlan del Valle, Mexico. The pair looks forward to escaping wintry Washington State. Upon arrival in Mexico, Julie is put to work to filling in for relatives missing in action. Soon afterward, temporary and definitely reluctant police chief Flaviano Sandoval invites Gideon to look at the mummified remains of a drifter Manuel Garcia, and then the bones of a long-dead little girl who's never been identified. Meanwhile another theory debunked by the visitors is what happened to Anne's mom who allegedly ran off with a thief as Gideon ties past and present by reading the bones. This is a terrific forensic anthropologic whodunit as Gideon widens his inquiry into the past and present happenings at Hacienda Encantada where he and his wife suddenly find themselves amidst UNEASY RELATIONS. The story line is fast-paced from the onset and never decelerates until the climax; yet there is plenty of forensic insight provided by the Bone Detective. SKULL DUGGERY is a fabulous investigative mystery. Harriet Klausner