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alesia_charles's review against another edition
2.0
This book and I got off to a really bad start, when clever and knowledgeable anthropologist Gideon Oliver somehow did not think of something that any Anthropology 101 student should be able to figure out. Heck, it was obvious to *me* and I've never actually taken an anthropology class (just hung out a lot with people who have).
Anyway, no amount of Gideon kicking himself for missing the obvious on pages 78-79 could make up for that, especially when it was blindingly obvious that Elkins only did it to provide a little suspense and some amusing difficulties for him ... and possibly to provide an opportunity to rank on the stupidity of the Sasquatch legends a bit. These are not bad goals, of course, and the tactic would probably work a lot better on readers who weren't grinding their teeth over Gideon's denseness on this one point for most of six chapters.
Like they say, your mileage may vary.
So as the investigation trudged on and some really interesting and moderately credible things happened, I was still mentally grumbling over the beginning, and then when I became convinced that the ending would be really depressing, I put it down until the book was due back at the library the next day.
I was wrong, though - Elkins pulled a fast one that, again, would've worked better for me if I wasn't already irritated.
I still like the characters, Elkins is a great character writer, and the various technical details about skeletons and a variety of other topics (though my husband swears some of those details are wrong). I won't give up on this series just because this particular book ticked me off. Call it a 2.5 rather than a 2 rating, really.
Anyway, no amount of Gideon kicking himself for missing the obvious on pages 78-79 could make up for that, especially when it was blindingly obvious that Elkins only did it to provide a little suspense and some amusing difficulties for him ... and possibly to provide an opportunity to rank on the stupidity of the Sasquatch legends a bit. These are not bad goals, of course, and the tactic would probably work a lot better on readers who weren't grinding their teeth over Gideon's denseness on this one point for most of six chapters.
Like they say, your mileage may vary.
So as the investigation trudged on and some really interesting and moderately credible things happened, I was still mentally grumbling over the beginning, and then when I became convinced that the ending would be really depressing, I put it down until the book was due back at the library the next day.
I was wrong, though - Elkins pulled a fast one that, again, would've worked better for me if I wasn't already irritated.
I still like the characters, Elkins is a great character writer, and the various technical details about skeletons and a variety of other topics (though my husband swears some of those details are wrong). I won't give up on this series just because this particular book ticked me off. Call it a 2.5 rather than a 2 rating, really.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Elkins returns with his second novel in the Gideon Oliver series, adding just as much panache as his debut novel, but switching the focus to the United States. While working in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Oliver is called to assist with a case in a Washington rainforest, where two hikers went missing six years earlier and a young woman recently disappeared. When the body of the hikers surface, odd injuries leave Oliver wondering who could have done such a thing. Ancient tool marks appear to be the only explanation, but when Dr. Oliver comments on the possibility of a Bigfoot, the press goes to town. Working with a park ranger, Oliver tries to deduce what and who might have caused such brutal injuries, while using his expertise in anthropology to offer as many teachable moments as possible, the murderer soon becomes apparent, but can it be? Elkins takes the reader down many paths and into numerous possibilities before all is resolved by the end.
Elkins forged the way for future books of this nature to flourish; be they Jefferson Bass or Kathy Reichs, to name but two. The idea of using bones and anthropology to decipher what happened to bodies is more interesting than it seems on the surface. While Elkins adds cultural anthropology into the mix, the reader is treated to another level of intrigue and added moments of ‘ah ha’ and wonder. Elkins uses his abilities to portray Oliver as both a bumbling academic, but also a man with primal needs and urges. This mix makes for a more relatable character, while still giving the air that something can be learned by listening to what the fine doctor has to say.
Kudos, Dr. Elkins for your continued work to entertain, teach, and leave the reader thoroughly addicted to what else you have on offer.
Elkins forged the way for future books of this nature to flourish; be they Jefferson Bass or Kathy Reichs, to name but two. The idea of using bones and anthropology to decipher what happened to bodies is more interesting than it seems on the surface. While Elkins adds cultural anthropology into the mix, the reader is treated to another level of intrigue and added moments of ‘ah ha’ and wonder. Elkins uses his abilities to portray Oliver as both a bumbling academic, but also a man with primal needs and urges. This mix makes for a more relatable character, while still giving the air that something can be learned by listening to what the fine doctor has to say.
Kudos, Dr. Elkins for your continued work to entertain, teach, and leave the reader thoroughly addicted to what else you have on offer.
hoosierreader's review
3.0
Nice little mystery, small romance, set in Washington State's Olympic National Park. Gideon Oliver, the "skeleton detective" with his gentle ruggedness good looks, tries to solve the mystery of the missing hikers but keeps getting distracted, and rescued by Julie Tendler, the pretty head ranger.
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