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Crime Scene Unit (C.S.U.) #1
Body Trace
When the bodies of two women are discovered at a University of Pennsylvania sorority house, C.S.U. rookie Madison Cross, determined to make her mark, does not believe the ruling that these deaths were accidental and uses her instincts to find the truth. Original.
- GenresMysteryMystery Thriller
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 5, 2006
122 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 14, 2007
A C.S.U. Investigation
In the City of Brotherly Love, it's known as the C.S.U.
Crime Scene Unit (C.S.U.): A group of forensic investigators who use cutting-edge technology to carry out crime scene investigations, helping to bring killers to justice.
Fresh out of med school and new to Philadelphia, Madison Cross is as green as they come. But she gets a chance to make her mark when everyone-including the police-is quick to write off the deaths of two college girls as drug overdoses. For Madison, the evidence at the crime scene just doesn't add up.
Relying on her instincts, Madison embarks on an investigation that takes her from a pristine Ivy League campus to the seediest parts of town. And she must listen to what the bodies tell her-because unlike the living, the dead never lie.
In the City of Brotherly Love, it's known as the C.S.U.
Crime Scene Unit (C.S.U.): A group of forensic investigators who use cutting-edge technology to carry out crime scene investigations, helping to bring killers to justice.
Fresh out of med school and new to Philadelphia, Madison Cross is as green as they come. But she gets a chance to make her mark when everyone-including the police-is quick to write off the deaths of two college girls as drug overdoses. For Madison, the evidence at the crime scene just doesn't add up.
Relying on her instincts, Madison embarks on an investigation that takes her from a pristine Ivy League campus to the seediest parts of town. And she must listen to what the bodies tell her-because unlike the living, the dead never lie.
August 27, 2009
This started off very grusome and I wasn't sure I was going to like it. It moved past the graffic crime scene description quickly and dove right into a fast, lively story. There were several characters I am looking forward to reading more about in the other 2 books in this series. The details about Philly were great! I felt like I was there. The foresics were presented well, just enough detail so you had a working understanding of the process but not enough to make you feel like you were back in sophmore science class, bored out of your mind.
March 27, 2008
D.H. Dublin wrote a great book. I compare his getting down into the tissues lab work with Patricia Cornwell. While my mysteries don't go that deep, I am intrigued with those writers who don't mind going there. I always learn a tremendous amount in a fun and entertaining way. If you haven't read Body Trace, put it on your list.
March 30, 2009
Knowing Philly and the University of Pennsylvania as well as I do, I was intrigued to see another side to it all. A side that was creepy and devious and above all, mysterious. D.H. Dublin grabs the reader by the throat from the very first page and doesn't let go until the very last word. You'll get wrapped up in this fantastic mystery. Check it out!
March 5, 2012
While I did enjoy this book I didn't really care for the main character. I found her very annoying. The story itself was interesting and I liked the forensic information.
I would recommend this book to people who like action type murder books.
I would recommend this book to people who like action type murder books.
September 5, 2025
Rock solid. Well written, with a well constructed plot and story and moves along at a nice pace.
Basically the story revolves around a new employee is Philadelphia's version of CSI. So the heroine and the reader are both introduced to a bunch of characters. Given the limited opportunities, the characters are real and fleshed out nicely.
Heavy on Philadelphia landmarks, this will be a neat book for people to read in 40 years to get a feeling of what Philly was like in 2006 (or whenever this book came out).
I was reading a recent interview with the author Jon McGoran; he was very influenced by sci-fi writer Michael Crieghton growing up. You can see that in this book. One big difference though, McGoran aka Dublin is a much better writer.
Basically the story revolves around a new employee is Philadelphia's version of CSI. So the heroine and the reader are both introduced to a bunch of characters. Given the limited opportunities, the characters are real and fleshed out nicely.
Heavy on Philadelphia landmarks, this will be a neat book for people to read in 40 years to get a feeling of what Philly was like in 2006 (or whenever this book came out).
I was reading a recent interview with the author Jon McGoran; he was very influenced by sci-fi writer Michael Crieghton growing up. You can see that in this book. One big difference though, McGoran aka Dublin is a much better writer.
April 29, 2022
UNDERRATED BOOK IN MY OPINION. The ending has some obvious outcomes in it reading but a book with proper forensic evidence was so much fun! It was great to read a level of professionalism when it came to the investigation as it felt like the characters knew exactly what they were doing and not just poking around aimlessly. On the topic of the characters, I found them all to be lovable and super entertaining. The number of jokes I laughed at out loud was embarrassing. Even characters who were meant to be hated I felt had some redeeming qualities which made me like them as a reader. Overall a great read which I enjoyed.
February 14, 2020
The reason I didn’t rate the book 5 stars is some of the language I didn’t really care for but the story was interesting and you don’t find out until close to the end of the book what really happened.
August 27, 2023
Good plot and characters. All in all very enjoyable for a quick read.
December 23, 2024
Great story!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it!!
August 19, 2014
Rock solid. Well written, with a well constructed plot and story and moves along at a nice pace.
Basically the story revolves around a new employee is Philadelphia's version of CSI. So the heroine and the reader are both introduced to a bunch of characters. Given the limited opportunities, the characters are real and fleshed out nicely.
Heavy on Philadelphia landmarks, this will be a neat book for people to read in 40 years to get a feeling of what Philly was like in 2006 (or whenever this book came out).
I was reading a recent interview with the author Jon McGoran; he was very influenced by sci-fi writer Michael Crieghton growing up. You can see that in this book. One big difference though, McGoran aka Dublin is a much better writer.
Basically the story revolves around a new employee is Philadelphia's version of CSI. So the heroine and the reader are both introduced to a bunch of characters. Given the limited opportunities, the characters are real and fleshed out nicely.
Heavy on Philadelphia landmarks, this will be a neat book for people to read in 40 years to get a feeling of what Philly was like in 2006 (or whenever this book came out).
I was reading a recent interview with the author Jon McGoran; he was very influenced by sci-fi writer Michael Crieghton growing up. You can see that in this book. One big difference though, McGoran aka Dublin is a much better writer.
May 15, 2008
Procedurally, a decent plot. The characters were likable. The plausibility of a new tech coming in and doing what the main character does, and getting cooperation from several others just isn't there for me. Maybe if the character had been established? Dunno.
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April 14, 2008Mystery
March 2, 2009
This was a good book, solid in the genre (light mystery), with a good mystery and satisfying ending (didn't introduce any last minute characters or information we didn't have already).
July 17, 2010
Well done mystery with a great female lead and supporting cast. Ready to start the second in the series and have wish listed the third entry. Recommended.
May 30, 2014
A good story that reads like a tv show. The editing bloopers are minor and don't detract from the story.
February 26, 2016
Easy read and fun mystery. I liked all the Philly references that remind me of home.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews