Questionable Remains

Rating:
Summary: Booklist's Review of Questionable Remains
Review: After archaeologist Lindsay Chamberlain identifies the killer of a grocery-store owner, she finds herself the object of harassing phone calls and escalating threats . . . Connor's second entry in the series features an intriguing mix of mystery and history, as the narrative jumps from the main plot to descriptions of Chamberlain and her fellow archaeologists at work. Alongside the action in the present is a subplot weaving together Indian warriors, Spanish conquistadors, and intrigue from hundreds of years earlier. The effective use of atmosphere--the spooky caves and wilderness areas of Tennessee and Georgia--is reminiscent of Henry Middleton's On the Spine of Time (1991), about the Great Smoky Mountains, and the juxtaposing of historical and contemporary mysteries will appeal to fans of James Lee Burke's In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead (1993). A good choice not only for mystery readers but also for those interested in nature, caving, and native American history. --John Rowen, Booklist

Rating:
Summary: A great story
Review: Athens, Georgia author Connor serves up another gripping tale in the second installment of the Lindsay Chamberlain mystery series. Still nursing an emotional scar or two following the events in A Rumor of Bone, Lindsay, a top forensic archaeologist, is asked to investigate the mysterious deaths of three adventurous cavers whose skeletal remains are found deep in the bowels of a Tennessee cave called, appropriately enough, Hell's Slide. How Lindsay is offered the mystery is in itself a fascinating story that presents a story within the story, that of a centuries-dead conquistador who aids the area Native Americans in a vendetta against their pillaging, gold-greedy enemies.

Lindsay's keen eye for finding the truth among the bones correctly identifies the late Spaniard, though her investigation into the deaths of the cavers proves to be more dangerous.

I became acquainted with Beverly Connor when I lived in Athens and can vouch for the quality of suspense and writing. A great lady, and a great writer.

Rating:
Summary: A very well done mystery that challenges the intellect
Review: Dr. Lindsay Chamberlain is a renowned expert on forensic anthropology, a subject that she teaches at a Georgia university. Because of her connections and well deserved fame, Sheriff Dean Howard from nearby Cordwain asks Lindsay to look at a skeleton recently uncovered on the Miles and Grace Lambert farm. Lindsay arrives and quickly concludes that the bones are not of this century, but mysterious anyway.

She stays overnight at the farm. Grace asks her to look into the two year old death of her brother, Ken, who she believes was murdered by his spouse for insurance money. Ken and two other men died in a cave-in that sealed them inside the cave. Lindsay reluctantly agrees to investigate. She quickly realizes that the official inquiry was either poorly handled or was a cover-up. However, someone wants the case to remain closed even if it means killing Lindsay and anyone else assisting her on the investigation.

The second Dr. Chamberlain investigates novel is a very appealing story due to the clever application of anthropology to move the story forward, and Lindsay, who is one of the most fascinating characters to appear in a who-done-it in several years. The absorbing story line also brilliantly includes a sixteenth century sub-plot that adds much of the anthropological elements. Though the secondary characters are a bit weak, QUESTIONABLE REMAINS remains unquestionably a superb reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Questionable Remains is the first Beverly Connor book I have read and I am hooked! You instantly feel like you know Lindsey Chamberlain and are by her side during the whole book. I particularly enjoyed the events of the present with the past and how they parallel each other. The "marriage" of archaeology and mystery was excellent!

Rating:
Summary: Mystery fans, look here!
Review: There must be a reason why Beverly Connor's mysteries starring Lindsey Chamberlain are not as well known as Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta mysteries, but I'll be darned if I can figure it out. They are fantastic reads! I've read all five in the series -- bought two and borrowed three from the library -- and know I must buy the ones I don't have, so I can have the pleasure of re-reading them.

Questionable Remains is my favorite of the series, since it seamlessly blends a modern mystery with one hundreds of years old. The details are fascinating, and Lindsey Chamberlain is a protagonist to celebrate -- she's smart, resourceful, doesn't take any guff from anyone, yet she's not SuperWoman or perpetually angry, like the aforementioned Kay Scarpetta, whom I have grown to dislike intensely.

My only complaint would be that Ms. Connor cannot possibly write as fast as I can read. Next book, please!!

Rating:
Summary: Multi-level murder
Review: This is the best of the three Connor/Chamberlain books I've read. It is a pleasurable tour-de-force of multiple story lines always clearly related to the main mystery (ah, but which one is that?). There's harassment against expert witness Chamberlain in one murder case, archaeological digs finding inappropriate bodies, Chamberlain's lightly treated forensic investigations of discovered bones and teeth, a terrifying spelunking adventure after uncovery of more suspicious skeletons, and what seem incidental accusations of financial hanky-panky. Finally, an anthropological story of ancient Spanish perfidy among Georgia and Tennessee Indians is a wonderfully oblique commentary on the other mysteries and worth reading alone. Connor keeps all these threads intertwining to press the story(s) forward and drop clues along the way. The forensics, archaeology, and history are convincingly authentic. Her writing is marred only by wooden romantic interest, some bland subsidiary characters (including the villains), and a final outrageous coincidence to wrap up the hunt.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery fans, look here!
Review: This second installment of Beverly Connor's Lindsay Chamberlain series is better than the first. The author used a lot of very intricate plotting, but with a very smooth flow within the story. I loved the way Ms. Connor weaves all the "small" details into the big picture. She shows us that if you just look at one or two details, you will miss the whole story. In this story, the author uses all these seemingly unrelated events to put together a wonderful story. Of what life was like when the Spanish was discovering this country. And what greed will do to people both past and present. This is a wonderful series, it has good character development and plots. I have still to get the murderer right! Even the past plot line fools me. I thought I had at least that one figured out. Once again, Ms. Connor tricks the reader into thinking things are as they seem. Again, I recommend this book to you. If you like a bit of history mixed into your mysteries, all the better. You don't have to be a history buff though to enjoy this excellent series.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT READ!
Review: This second installment of Beverly Connor's Lindsay Chamberlain series is better than the first. The author used a lot of very intricate plotting, but with a very smooth flow within the story. I loved the way Ms. Connor weaves all the "small" details into the big picture. She shows us that if you just look at one or two details, you will miss the whole story. In this story, the author uses all these seemingly unrelated events to put together a wonderful story. Of what life was like when the Spanish was discovering this country. And what greed will do to people both past and present. This is a wonderful series, it has good character development and plots. I have still to get the murderer right! Even the past plot line fools me. I thought I had at least that one figured out. Once again, Ms. Connor tricks the reader into thinking things are as they seem. Again, I recommend this book to you. If you like a bit of history mixed into your mysteries, all the better. You don't have to be a history buff though to enjoy this excellent series.