The Chemistry of Death

I have been a avid reader of Kathy Reichs, and until her last couple of books, Patricia Cornwell. I discovered Simon Beckett quite by accident through a multi-path search looking at the 'Customers who Bought This Also Bought...' and read the reviews. Okay, my thoughts were, new author for me - I'll take a chance. Let's just say, I'm hooked. With the backdrop of Great Britain, (can't get enough of it) the male forensic perspective is, as much as I respect Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell and their respective female forensic protagonists, refreshing. I enjoyed the Chemistry of Death so much that I bought Written in Bone. I'm about half way through that and I'm totally transported to the remote Hebrides of Scotland. His characters (even the dead ones) and the scenes he portrays literally come alive. Knowing this is an author whose books will take a place of prominence on my bookshelf, I also just bought Whispers of the Dead. It's easy to become completely absorbed in his books and I don't want to put them down at night even though I know at some point I have to turn the light off and go to sleep. I tell myself, 'just one more page' until it's the wee hours of the morning by the time I force myself to put it down. Looking forward to the next one!

As an avid and long-time mystery reader, I like to be fooled. More often than not, I correctly figure out the perp by the halfway mark. In "Chemistry of Death," I changed my mind about "who done it" three times in the course of reading this excellent yarn. Highly recommended for those who like twisty mysteries and can handle a fair amount of gruesome details.

Simon Beckett has led an interesting and varied life. After gaining an MA in English he spent a number of years as a property repairer, before having a stint teaching in Spain. He has played percussion in a number of bands and since 1992 has been a freelance journalist writing for some of the top British newspapers. I found this book quite enthralling, it really does grip you. It is both frightening and yet compulsive reading. You do not want to know what happens next and yet, on the other hand you can't wait to find out. It is certainly a cut above the average thriller. David Hunter, a forensic expert has left his old way of life behind him. A tragedy forced him to re-think his life and he now working as a GP in a small out of the way Norfolk village. He is content and believes he has left all his former heartaches behind him. Then a body is found, the victim, or what is left of her is called Sally Palmer. She has been savagely mutilated and the police need Hunter to help find the killer, but he is unwilling to return to his former profession and desperately wishes to remain uninvolved. Then a second woman disappears and the quiet, close-knit community that has been Hunter's bolt hole becomes a place full of frightened people. Neither the villagers or David Hunter can hide any longer . . .

I REALLY enjoyed this book! One of those where I took every opportunity to pick it up...yet didn't want it to finish. I love the forensic aspect to it, I find it fascinating and not at all squeamish. This story kept me rapt until the end. I thought I'd sussed who'd 'done it' but was unsuprisingly wrong...my guess wasn't even one of the red herrings!!! I'll definitely be looking for more from Simon Beckett!!

A drunk driver killed his wife and daughter, but walked away from the vehicular homicide scene without a scratch. A despondent Dr. David Hunter left everything behind including his forensic anthropology vocation to move to the small English village Manham as an assistant to general practitioner Dr. Henry Mallard. A corpse found in the woods turns out to be Sally Palmer, a woman that David was once involved with. He also finds her dog dead from a knife wound to the throat. At the request of Chief Inspector Mackenzie, David examines the crime scene and the body; he concludes that the killer held the woman captive for three days before killing her. When Lyn Metcalf vanishes while running, the fear is the culprit has abducted his second victim, which proves true when her body is found. As David helps Mackenzie connect the dots, Jenny the woman he is dating vanishes making the investigation personal. Fans of Patricia Cornwell and Christine McGuire will love this enticing investigative thriller. The protagonist lost everything when his family died, but has returned to life when he met Jenny. He is unable to remain a spectator leaving her life in the hands of the police though he respects the Chief's competency. Thus he begins his own investigation with readers encouraging him. Simon Beckett provides a delightful village whodunit starring a scarred soul trying to prevent another tragedy. Harriet Klausner