A Room Full of Bones

Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2016 CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY. Halloween night, and the dead are closer than ever for Dr Ruth Galloway. She is used to long-dead bodies, but a fresh corpse in the middle of a museum is a new challenge. The fourth beguiling Dr Ruth Galloway mystery.

'A wonderfully rich mix of ancient and contemporary' Guardian

It is Halloween in King's Lynn, and forensic archaeologist Dr Ruth Galloway is attending a strange event at the local history museum - the opening of a coffin containing the bones of a medieval bishop. But then Ruth finds the body of the museum's curator lying beside the coffin.

Soon the museum's wealthy owner lies dead in his stables too. These two deaths could be from natural causes but DCI Harry Nelson isn't convinced, and it is only a matter of time before Ruth and Nelson cross paths once more.

When threatening letters come to light, events take an even more sinister turn. But as Ruth's friends become involved, where will her loyalties lie? As her convictions are tested, she and Nelson must discover how Aboriginal skulls, drug smuggling and the Aboriginal ritual of The Dreaming may hold the answer to these deaths - and be the key to their own survival.

Summary

Chapter 1: The First Cut

* Introduces Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist known for her expertise in identifying human remains.
* Brennan is called to a crime scene where a skull has been found in a construction site.
* She examines the skull and determines that it belongs to a young female victim.

Example: In a high-profile murder case, Brennan examines a skull found in a shallow grave. She uses her knowledge of anatomy and bone structure to identify the victim as a 20-year-old college student who had been missing for several weeks.

Chapter 2: The Whispering Bones

* Brennan analyzes the victim's skeletal remains further, searching for clues to her identity and the cause of her death.
* She discovers that the victim's bones exhibit signs of malnutrition and abuse.
* This leads her to suspect that the victim may have been a victim of human trafficking.

Example: In an investigation of a child's murder, Brennan examines the skeletal remains and finds evidence of repeated blunt force trauma. This suggests that the child had been subjected to long-term physical abuse before being killed.

Chapter 3: The Broken Bones

* Brennan uncovers additional evidence that supports her theory of human trafficking.
* She discovers that the victim's bones show signs of repeated fractures and dislocations.
* This leads her to believe that the victim was forced into labor or other forms of exploitation.

Example: In a case involving the remains of a migrant worker, Brennan finds evidence of multiple rib fractures. She determines that these fractures occurred while the victim was alive, suggesting that they may have been caused by beatings or other forms of torture.

Chapter 4: The Buried Bones

* Brennan continues her investigation, searching for the identity of the victim and her traffickers.
* She analyzes DNA evidence and uses facial reconstruction to create a likeness of the victim.
* This leads her to identify the victim as a young woman who had been reported missing from a nearby city.

Example: In an excavation of a mass grave, Brennan examines the skeletal remains of several dozen victims. She uses DNA analysis and anthropological techniques to identify the victims and determine the manner of their deaths, providing crucial evidence for a war crimes trial.

Chapter 5: The Justice Bones

* Brennan testifies in court against the victim's traffickers, providing expert testimony that helps convict them of murder.
* She also advocates for the victims of human trafficking, raising awareness about the horrors of this crime.

Example: In a high-profile human trafficking case, Brennan's testimony helps to dismantle a large-scale trafficking ring. She provides jurors with a detailed understanding of the victims' physical and emotional trauma, which contributes to the conviction and sentencing of the perpetrators.