title: Carved in Bone (Body Farm, Bk. 1)
author:  Jefferson Bass 
description: &#8220;CARVED IN BONE brims with terrific forensic detail...the real deal.&#8221; (Kathy Reichs, New York Times bestselling author)<br /><br />&#8220;A superb mystery&#8212;well-plotted, filled with memorable characters, based on accurate forensic science.&#8221; (Houston Chronicle)<br /><br />&#8220;Southern-fried forensics. Nothing too fancy, but it does taste good going down.&#8221; (Kirkus Reviews)<br /><br />&#8220;[A] knockout...full of rich and sometimes stomach-turning forensic detail.&#8221; (Lansing State Journal)<br /><br />&#8220;Fantastic forensic detail and an engaging hero &#8230; an authoritative, compelling new voice to the forensic mystery.&#8221; (Jeff Abbott, USA Today bestselling author of PANIC)<br /><br />&#8220;Offers terrific forensic details and the science of solving cold cases. It is electrifying, provocative and full of surprises.&#8221; (Dr. Henry Lee, forensic criminologist and author of CRACKING CASES and HENRY LEE'S CRIME SCENE HANDBOOK)<br /><br />&#8220;Percolates with wit, gentility, and scientific savoir-faire ... alive with verve and charm...engrossingly entertaining.&#8221; (James Starrs, Attorney and Author, A VOICE FOR THE DEAD)<br /><br />&#8220;Move over, Kathy Reichs. The Sherlock Holmes for bones has arrived.&#8221; (Katherine Ramsland, Author of The Forensic Science of C.S.I.)<br /><br />&#8220;A gripping murder mystery.&#8221; (Emily A. Craig, Ph.D., Kentucky State Forensic Anthropologist and author of TEASING SECRETS FROM THE DEAD)<br /><br />&#8220;CARVED IN BONE introduces a captivating protagonist and is full of obscure, fascinating forensics. [A] fine new talent.&#8221; (Stephen White, New York Times bestselling author of MISSING PERSONS)
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  CARVED IN BONE  
  
  
  
  
  
  Jefferson Bass
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](../Images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [DEDICATION](../Text/Carved_in_Bone_split_002.html#filepos1109)
  
  
  
  
  
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  To the faculty, staff, and graduate students of  
  
  
  the University of Tennessee’s Anthropology  
  
  
  Department, who made the Body Farm possible…  
  
  
  and to Patricia Cornwell, who made it famous
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [PROLOGUE](../Text/Carved_in_Bone_split_002.html#filepos1200)
  
  
  
  
  
  I PICKED UP THE  hunting knife with my left hand and tested its heft, then
  shifted it to my right hand to compare. Golfing and batting, I’m a lefty, but
  I grade papers and dial phone numbers with my right. The knife felt more at
  home there, too. Okay, I thought, add “stabbing” to the list of right-handed
  activities.
  
  
  
  
  
  The nude man lay facedown in the woods, the Tennessee sun filtering through
  the trees and dappling his back. Kneeling beside him, I slid my left thumb
  along his spine, feeling for