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Gideon Oliver #4
Old Bones
When the treacherous tides of Mont St. Michel claim the aged patriarch of the du Rocher family, the authorities accept the verdict of "accidental drowning." But the unfortunate event is followed too quickly by a strange discovery: the discovery of a human skeleton, wrapped in butcher paper, beneath the stone flooring of the ancient du Rocher chateau.
Dr. Gideon Oliver, the American "skeleton detective," is asked to examine the bones. His analysis correlates with the turning up of other clues, including the scorched remnants of an S.S. Obersturmbahnfuhrer's Uniform -- and the police conclude that the remains are those of a Nazi officer known to have been murdered in the area in 1942.
But Oliver has his doubts. Then, when one of the remaining du Rochers is poisoned, the doubts get into one certainty: someone wants old secrets to remain buried ... to conceal identities of murderers past and present.
Dr. Gideon Oliver, the American "skeleton detective," is asked to examine the bones. His analysis correlates with the turning up of other clues, including the scorched remnants of an S.S. Obersturmbahnfuhrer's Uniform -- and the police conclude that the remains are those of a Nazi officer known to have been murdered in the area in 1942.
But Oliver has his doubts. Then, when one of the remaining du Rochers is poisoned, the doubts get into one certainty: someone wants old secrets to remain buried ... to conceal identities of murderers past and present.
243 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1987
550 people are currently reading
980 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Elkins
54 books337 followersAaron J. Elkins, AKA Aaron Elkins (born Brooklyn July 24, 1935) is an American mystery writer. He is best known for his series of novels featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver—the 'skeleton detective'. The fourth Oliver book, Old Bones, received the 1988 Edgar Award for Best Novel. As Oliver is a world-renowned authority, he travels around the world and each book is set in a different and often exotic locale.
In another series, the protagonist is museum curator Chris Norgren, an expert in Northern Renaissance art.
One of his stand-alone thrillers, Loot deals with art stolen by the Nazis and introduces protagonist Dr. Benjamin Revere.
With his wife, Charlotte Elkins, he has also co-written a series of golf mysteries about LPGA member Lee Ofsted. They shared an Agatha Award for their short story "Nice Gorilla".
Aaron and Charlotte live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Japanese: アーロン エルキンズ
Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Charlotte Elkins)
Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic
In another series, the protagonist is museum curator Chris Norgren, an expert in Northern Renaissance art.
One of his stand-alone thrillers, Loot deals with art stolen by the Nazis and introduces protagonist Dr. Benjamin Revere.
With his wife, Charlotte Elkins, he has also co-written a series of golf mysteries about LPGA member Lee Ofsted. They shared an Agatha Award for their short story "Nice Gorilla".
Aaron and Charlotte live on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
Japanese: アーロン エルキンズ
Series:
* Lee Ofsted (with Charlotte Elkins)
Series contributed to:
* Malice Domestic
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
November 13, 2016
A top notch mystery which was certainly deserving of its Edgar as best mystery novel in 1998.
This is the first Dr. Gideon Oliver mystery I have read. This book was the 4th in the series. It will not be my last.
This is the first Dr. Gideon Oliver mystery I have read. This book was the 4th in the series. It will not be my last.
March 10, 2018
Forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver is attending a conference in France with his friend FBI agent John Lau. He's asked to examine some old bones that were unearthed in the stone cellar of the nearby du Rocher chateau. The bones seem to date from around World War II. The village had been occupied by the Nazis, and the villagers still remember who were collaborators and who were involved in the Resistance. The owner of the chateau cannot be questioned since he had drowned a few days ago--on the same day he had scheduled an important family meeting.
I enjoyed Gideon's explanations of the forensic findings, although the author overdid the use of long medical words describing the bones. The banter among Gideon, John, and the French Inspector Joly was entertaining. One would not want to be related to most of the unpleasant du Rocher family.
The setting of Mont St Michel in Normandy was a big draw. The island has an interesting military and religious history. Mont St Michel is famous for its extreme tides of around 15 meters (50 feet) between low and high tides. Quicksand adds to the dangerous conditions as the high tide thunders in. This is not a spoiler since the book opens with a scene of a stranded walker being surprised by the changing tide rushing into shore. The book was an Edgar Award winner.
I enjoyed Gideon's explanations of the forensic findings, although the author overdid the use of long medical words describing the bones. The banter among Gideon, John, and the French Inspector Joly was entertaining. One would not want to be related to most of the unpleasant du Rocher family.
The setting of Mont St Michel in Normandy was a big draw. The island has an interesting military and religious history. Mont St Michel is famous for its extreme tides of around 15 meters (50 feet) between low and high tides. Quicksand adds to the dangerous conditions as the high tide thunders in. This is not a spoiler since the book opens with a scene of a stranded walker being surprised by the changing tide rushing into shore. The book was an Edgar Award winner.
October 9, 2020
Not my favorite Gideon Oliver book to date, but it had its moments. Mont St-Michel is featured as are events of WWII as they haunt the survivors with buried secrets. Skeletons don't lie and Oliver helps to reveal family history truths at great risk.
April 15, 2018
What we have a here is a good old-fashioned mystery. No mundane facts about the main character's daily routine. No subplots about a child that's lashing out because the main character missed her latest piano recital. it sets the scene and doesn't stray. This is not a bad thing, and given that it's less than 250 pages, it's conducted masterfully.
The book starts with someone dying and ends with the mystery solved. Case closed. One reviewer mentioned it lacked humor and was too "by the book", but I wholeheartedly disagree. The author's sense of humor shines throughout the book, and it's not always subtle. I found the characters very well developed and I wouldn't mind revisiting Gideon Oliver in the future, as this was my first book in the series. Since Oliver is an American and the book takes place in Europe, I expected more of a "fish out of water" take, but the author avoids that slant for the most part.
If you're looking for something more in the vein of an Agatha Christie novel (though I have read little Christie), I think you'll find Elkins I mighty fine substitute.
The book starts with someone dying and ends with the mystery solved. Case closed. One reviewer mentioned it lacked humor and was too "by the book", but I wholeheartedly disagree. The author's sense of humor shines throughout the book, and it's not always subtle. I found the characters very well developed and I wouldn't mind revisiting Gideon Oliver in the future, as this was my first book in the series. Since Oliver is an American and the book takes place in Europe, I expected more of a "fish out of water" take, but the author avoids that slant for the most part.
If you're looking for something more in the vein of an Agatha Christie novel (though I have read little Christie), I think you'll find Elkins I mighty fine substitute.
February 10, 2024
Spoiler
The plot was a little convoluted for me and I don't think there was any way for someone reading the book to figure it out. There was also a bit of predictability about the shy, quiet girl everyone likes getting the inheritance. But I enjoyed the book anyway.
The plot was a little convoluted for me and I don't think there was any way for someone reading the book to figure it out. There was also a bit of predictability about the shy, quiet girl everyone likes getting the inheritance. But I enjoyed the book anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2009
This is not my kind of book. We all have styles we prefer. Me? Witty dialogue, clever storyline, something of substance to chew over afterward.
This book has none of these. Instead, the author uses every available moment to write in tidbits of French culture he likely researched from a book. There are conversations and whole scenes that do nothing to advance the storyline. My edition claims this book would have pleased Sherlock Holmes. While I believe we can all be intrigued with the method used to determine cause of death, no one is pleased with the unnecessary references to clothing or the budding romance of two minor characters.
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
This book has none of these. Instead, the author uses every available moment to write in tidbits of French culture he likely researched from a book. There are conversations and whole scenes that do nothing to advance the storyline. My edition claims this book would have pleased Sherlock Holmes. While I believe we can all be intrigued with the method used to determine cause of death, no one is pleased with the unnecessary references to clothing or the budding romance of two minor characters.
I would not recommend this book to anyone.
February 5, 2021
I picked this book for the Takes place in a non-English speaking country square in r/CozyMystery book bingo on Reddit and it was available at my library. When I read the blurb, it had all the things I like - history, World War II tales, forensic anthropology (I'm a sucker for old bones!) and after reading several good reviews and the "Look Inside" on Amazon (always my first stop when selecting a book) started off the book off with a bang. I was looking forward to diving into this and boy, am I glad I found it! This introduced me to a new series (well, they were written in the 80s, so new to me) to devour
"Skeleton Doctor of America" Gideon Oliver is in France to teach classes at a law enforcement seminar. After a class, Joly, a French police detective, requests his help on his new case after some bones were discovered buried the cellar of a manoir. Like a dog, Gideon salivates at the mention of old bones and with his friend, FBI Agent John Lau, head off to take a look. At the manoir are assembled the family of the manoir's owner, Guillaume du Rocher, who called them to a family meeting to discuss something important. Before the meeting could take place, Guillaume drowns, touching off an investigation that spans back to World War II.
This was a real mystery with so many questions: who was buried the basement? Who put it there? Was Guillaume murdered? If so, why? The buried bones touch off a mystery that begs to be solved, and Gideon and John find themselves in the middle of the investigation.
This reminds me of the old mysteries I've read - "old" meaning classic mysteries I've read that were written in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. In fact, it reminded me of books I've read by John Bude and Joann Cannan, always a plus in my book. The author did a great job so bringing the characters to life, fleshing out their personalities without bogging down the story with unnessesary detail, which helped the book maintain its quick pace. Main characters Gideon and John are a charming, likeable team, I liked them from the start. And the plot! So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, leading up to an explosive ending. I would love to go into detail about the details that fascinated me the most, but I don't want to spoil anything so let me just say...whooo boy, this was one of the most intricate and unexpected plots I've ever read and I'm hooked!
"Skeleton Doctor of America" Gideon Oliver is in France to teach classes at a law enforcement seminar. After a class, Joly, a French police detective, requests his help on his new case after some bones were discovered buried the cellar of a manoir. Like a dog, Gideon salivates at the mention of old bones and with his friend, FBI Agent John Lau, head off to take a look. At the manoir are assembled the family of the manoir's owner, Guillaume du Rocher, who called them to a family meeting to discuss something important. Before the meeting could take place, Guillaume drowns, touching off an investigation that spans back to World War II.
This was a real mystery with so many questions: who was buried the basement? Who put it there? Was Guillaume murdered? If so, why? The buried bones touch off a mystery that begs to be solved, and Gideon and John find themselves in the middle of the investigation.
This reminds me of the old mysteries I've read - "old" meaning classic mysteries I've read that were written in the 20s, 30s, and 40s. In fact, it reminded me of books I've read by John Bude and Joann Cannan, always a plus in my book. The author did a great job so bringing the characters to life, fleshing out their personalities without bogging down the story with unnessesary detail, which helped the book maintain its quick pace. Main characters Gideon and John are a charming, likeable team, I liked them from the start. And the plot! So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, leading up to an explosive ending. I would love to go into detail about the details that fascinated me the most, but I don't want to spoil anything so let me just say...whooo boy, this was one of the most intricate and unexpected plots I've ever read and I'm hooked!
December 31, 2019
Overall, a fun and inventive Edgar-Award Best-Mystery winner with a classic scenario: ten or so quirky relatives gather at the family manse and all become suspects (as does the butler :) when murder rears its ugly head.
Pluses of “”Old Bones”:
—inventive plot with new twists and turns every few chapters
—appealing setting (Normandy, France) with appetizing descriptions of local fare and two particularly dramatic and pulse-pounding scenes set at Mont St. Michel (now added to my “hope to visit someday” travel list)
—interesting forensics info provided by a likable detective, Gideon Oliver
—frequent fillips of humor
—a cute love story
Quibbles about “Old Bones”:
—Rob’s recently penned The Problem with Mysteries (which see in my review of Peter Dickinson’s “Hindsight”) apply ...the appearance of these in a mystery (and they seldom seem absent) make it hard for me to give one more than three stars these days
—personal interactions all seem to be made or broken upon glib dialogue and sarcasm (both good-natured and ill-) with occasional interruptions by “Captain Exposition” for background info or elaborate theories
If you’re in the mood for a good, old-fashioned mystery with some investigative science (ca. 1987) thrown in, this would be a great choice!
Pluses of “”Old Bones”:
—inventive plot with new twists and turns every few chapters
—appealing setting (Normandy, France) with appetizing descriptions of local fare and two particularly dramatic and pulse-pounding scenes set at Mont St. Michel (now added to my “hope to visit someday” travel list)
—interesting forensics info provided by a likable detective, Gideon Oliver
—frequent fillips of humor
—a cute love story
Quibbles about “Old Bones”:
—Rob’s recently penned The Problem with Mysteries (which see in my review of Peter Dickinson’s “Hindsight”) apply ...the appearance of these in a mystery (and they seldom seem absent) make it hard for me to give one more than three stars these days
—personal interactions all seem to be made or broken upon glib dialogue and sarcasm (both good-natured and ill-) with occasional interruptions by “Captain Exposition” for background info or elaborate theories
If you’re in the mood for a good, old-fashioned mystery with some investigative science (ca. 1987) thrown in, this would be a great choice!
July 6, 2018
Enjoyable mystery set in Mont St. Michel, an incredible abbey in France. I had a little trouble getting into the story, but once I did, I enjoyed the characters and mystery. Gideon Oliver is a great lead.
June 14, 2021
This is the fourth book in the series and I was a little disappointed in it. In Books 2 & 3 Gideon's wife was prominently featured but in this book she is tucked up in America while he is in France with John Lau
This book introduces a ton of 1 time characters and spends way too much time with them. So much that for a brief moment I wondered if I might have started the wrong story
The mystery itself is very good and surprising, but I feel it is the weakest of the 4 I have read
This book introduces a ton of 1 time characters and spends way too much time with them. So much that for a brief moment I wondered if I might have started the wrong story
The mystery itself is very good and surprising, but I feel it is the weakest of the 4 I have read
June 23, 2020
This is the first of this series I have read, a mystery series about a bone expert who gets caught up in mysteries, often around the world. In this story, an aristocratic French family finds a partial skeleton wrapped in butcher paper in a cellar, which leads to greater confusion and more discoveries over time.
I had the whole mystery pegged almost completely and exactly about half way through the book, which didn't speak well for the detectives (the French one in particular doesn't seem terribly capable). It wasn't bad, but about half the book was old-style family interactions and squabbles with endless character introductions and frankly nothing happening except rich people talking.
When the actual mystery part took over and the background of French resistance and history unfolded, it became a more interesting book, but not gripping enough to make me want to read any more of the series.
I had the whole mystery pegged almost completely and exactly about half way through the book, which didn't speak well for the detectives (the French one in particular doesn't seem terribly capable). It wasn't bad, but about half the book was old-style family interactions and squabbles with endless character introductions and frankly nothing happening except rich people talking.
When the actual mystery part took over and the background of French resistance and history unfolded, it became a more interesting book, but not gripping enough to make me want to read any more of the series.
December 7, 2020
Nice cozy - bit reminiscent of Agatha Christie, with a cast of quarrelsome relatives gathered at a secluded estate, an outside expert, and some puzzling murrrrrderrrs. I really like Gideon a lot, and I’ll definitely circle back and meander my way through his series from the beginning!
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February 28, 2021Members of the du Rocher family have been "summoned" to a meeting at which it's oldest member Guillame intends to make an important announcement. But before they can all get together he is dead, accidentally drowned on the flats of Mont St. Michel, caught by the galloping tide. Guillame's nephew claims to have been in his confidence, and to know what the meeting was about, but he is an unlovely character, and at least one other has a different idea about why they have been brought together.
Then the discovery of a skeleton in the cellar of the chateau, one that has apparently been there for over 40 years, calls for the involvement of the police and a bones expert, an American who is lecturing at a forensic science conference.
This is the first in this series that I have read, and it certainly won't be the last - there are plenty to choose from.
This is a many stranded plot, lots of red herrings, with engaging and interesting characters.
Then the discovery of a skeleton in the cellar of the chateau, one that has apparently been there for over 40 years, calls for the involvement of the police and a bones expert, an American who is lecturing at a forensic science conference.
This is the first in this series that I have read, and it certainly won't be the last - there are plenty to choose from.
This is a many stranded plot, lots of red herrings, with engaging and interesting characters.
November 9, 2022
Gideon Oliver is in France for a conference. A French inspector comes to him with a pile of old human bones found in a cellar. Gideon brings along his friend John the FBI agent and they investigate
Find that the head of the house was not who he said he was. And much of this is tied up in the past during World War II.
Murderer was the nephew who is in line to inherit the estate. A.k.a. Jules the creepy.
Find that the head of the house was not who he said he was. And much of this is tied up in the past during World War II.
Murderer was the nephew who is in line to inherit the estate. A.k.a. Jules the creepy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2018
A competent, well-written mystery that held my attention. Histrionics at the end are classical (denoument & drama in the grand salon of a country estate!) but perhaps a bit much. I'm only an occasional mystery-reader, but I'd consider another by this author.
April 19, 2021
At 25% It Took Off
It took until 25% for the story to really get going - there was a lot of groundwork that had to be done for the rest of it to make sense. Gideon doesn’t really show up until around then, too, in an active role. Very fun.
It took until 25% for the story to really get going - there was a lot of groundwork that had to be done for the rest of it to make sense. Gideon doesn’t really show up until around then, too, in an active role. Very fun.
January 9, 2020
Overall a good mystery with an interesting main character. There were, however, parts of the book where my interest in Normandy kept me reading and not the story. I did enjoy the unraveling in the last few chapters.
June 24, 2021
Good solid Agatha Christie type whodunit with forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver helping out the French police.
December 27, 2023
I like the sarcastic bone doctor series.
November 20, 2024
very clever and the inclusion of ideas to help Gideon coming from his friends and family brought a refreshing twist to we all need help from time to time.
November 21, 2024
Classic British country house mystery except set in France. Not awful. Nothing special either.
May 26, 2020
Excellent! For those who enjoy delightful excursions to Europe. Elkins does a fabulous job of bringing the sights, sounds and aromas of quaint medieval villages to life.
And what a terrific mystery! So many twists and turns kept me turning the pages.
I'm really enjoying this series.
And what a terrific mystery! So many twists and turns kept me turning the pages.
I'm really enjoying this series.
June 18, 2021
I found this book on a random list of books set in France (and did you know Gloria and I hoping to go to Mont Saint Michel!?!) so I asked the library to buy it and they did.
Solid mystery, all the right elements: interesting characters, twists and turns in the plot, fascinating setting, good ol' sleuth and friends and all wraps up in the end.
Makes me ready to go see that beautiful island and abbey and eat a pancake.
Solid mystery, all the right elements: interesting characters, twists and turns in the plot, fascinating setting, good ol' sleuth and friends and all wraps up in the end.
Makes me ready to go see that beautiful island and abbey and eat a pancake.
January 22, 2021
Written in 1988, this feels more like a Golden Age mystery than a more recent one - the detective is what you'd consider a professional dabbler, a "skeleton detective" who just happens to be around when a crime occurs. In this case, he's at a conference in France when some bones are found in the basement of a chateau. Of course there are questions about the Nazi occupation and collaborators and Resistance and all that long ago history in addition to Who Is It and Why Are They In The Basement?
Pleasant read for those who don't like hard core mysteries, and more updated that the actual Golden Age ones.
Pleasant read for those who don't like hard core mysteries, and more updated that the actual Golden Age ones.
April 12, 2024
The du Rocher family is present in force at their estate for a family council. The head of the family has brought everyone together to make some sort of announcement but no one's is quite certain what it is. When the head of the family dies in a tragic accident, the family is stunned but not devastated and upon the reading of the will, old grievances are loudly aired. As the new head of the family takes charge, he oversees some work on the plumbing as workers begin tearing up the basement under the chateau. Their work is quickly halted as they discover some bones.
Professor Gideon Oliver is in France, presenting sessions about forensic anthropology to an international audience of policemen. His friend, John Lau (FBI), is also there trying his best to stay awake during a series of relatively dull academic sessions of lectures. The last thing Gideon or John expected was to be asked to look at some old bones at a local chateau. Things become more intriguing as Gideon realizes these bones are at the home of someone he knows... the head of the du Rocher family (now dead) and one of his relatives who taught at the same university as Gideon.
So many questions and too many motives make this an exciting case. Who is the corpse (that dates back to the 1940s) in the basement? Is he an SS officer who ordered the death of one of the du Rocher family? Was the accidental death of the head of the family really an accident? When a third death occurs right in front of Gideon, it narrows the field but not by much. Can Gideon, with John's help, get to the bottom of this mystery?
Professor Gideon Oliver is in France, presenting sessions about forensic anthropology to an international audience of policemen. His friend, John Lau (FBI), is also there trying his best to stay awake during a series of relatively dull academic sessions of lectures. The last thing Gideon or John expected was to be asked to look at some old bones at a local chateau. Things become more intriguing as Gideon realizes these bones are at the home of someone he knows... the head of the du Rocher family (now dead) and one of his relatives who taught at the same university as Gideon.
So many questions and too many motives make this an exciting case. Who is the corpse (that dates back to the 1940s) in the basement? Is he an SS officer who ordered the death of one of the du Rocher family? Was the accidental death of the head of the family really an accident? When a third death occurs right in front of Gideon, it narrows the field but not by much. Can Gideon, with John's help, get to the bottom of this mystery?
April 11, 2019
"When the treacherous tides of Mont. St. Michel claim the aged patriarch of the du Rocher family, the authorities accept the verdict of 'accidental drowning.' But the unfortunate event is followed too quickly by a strange discovery: the discovery of a human skeleton, wrapped in butcher paper, beneath the stone flooring of the ancient du Rocher chateau.
"Dr. Gideon Oliver, the American 'skeleton detective,' is asked to examine the bones. His analysis correlates with the turning up of other clues, including the scorched remnants of an S.S. Obersturmbahnfuhrer's uniform -- and the police conclude that the remains are those of a Nazi officer known to have been murdered in the area in 1942.
"But Oliver has his doubts. Then, when one of the remaining du Rochers is poisoned, the doubts gel into one certainty: someone wants old secrets to remain buried .. to concel identities of murderers past and present."
~~back cover
This was an exciting one! And another visit with the"dynamic duo" Gideon and FBI agent John Lau. It's always a treat to watch the interplay between these two: John the easy going the Gideon the more serious scientist. A thoroughly enjoyable cast of characters and small tour of the Brittany countryside, especially Mont St. Michel.
"Dr. Gideon Oliver, the American 'skeleton detective,' is asked to examine the bones. His analysis correlates with the turning up of other clues, including the scorched remnants of an S.S. Obersturmbahnfuhrer's uniform -- and the police conclude that the remains are those of a Nazi officer known to have been murdered in the area in 1942.
"But Oliver has his doubts. Then, when one of the remaining du Rochers is poisoned, the doubts gel into one certainty: someone wants old secrets to remain buried .. to concel identities of murderers past and present."
~~back cover
This was an exciting one! And another visit with the"dynamic duo" Gideon and FBI agent John Lau. It's always a treat to watch the interplay between these two: John the easy going the Gideon the more serious scientist. A thoroughly enjoyable cast of characters and small tour of the Brittany countryside, especially Mont St. Michel.
December 31, 2023
Gideon is lecturing in France when a French inspector asks him to look over some old bones.
Professor Oliver is presenting several lectures at a conference in France. While meeting up with old acquaintances he is asked to look at some newly discovered old bones at an old established estate.
The French estate happens to have a variety of relatives awaiting an announcement from their so called patriarch. In a sort of Christie style situation, almost everyone involved are terrible entitled people. Then the bones are discovered and a will is read.
It is after Gideon starts finding information out and a subsequent murder happens that things begin to get hairy.
A little !ore predictable that Elkin's previous novels. But one cannot help grin when his protagonist once again gets in too deep.
Professor Oliver is presenting several lectures at a conference in France. While meeting up with old acquaintances he is asked to look at some newly discovered old bones at an old established estate.
The French estate happens to have a variety of relatives awaiting an announcement from their so called patriarch. In a sort of Christie style situation, almost everyone involved are terrible entitled people. Then the bones are discovered and a will is read.
It is after Gideon starts finding information out and a subsequent murder happens that things begin to get hairy.
A little !ore predictable that Elkin's previous novels. But one cannot help grin when his protagonist once again gets in too deep.
July 17, 2014
"Old Bones" by Aaron Elkins.
Another review for a book/story/mystery of this caliber is just not good enough. The first 3 1/2 pages of chapter one had me transfixed to the words...that were no longer just words. I was no longer just reading a story; no longer following the old man being slowly and deliberately engulfed by the sea. I was the old man. I was watching as the sea started to enter the tops of my boots along with the sand. It was my own feet that could barely move with the weight of the water and sand holding me down and then...being swallowed over by the oncoming tide.
This was my first Gideon Oliver mystery and it definitely won't be my last. Written skillfully by a master-Aaron Elkins.
GIDEON OLIVER-SKELETON DETECTIVE OF AMERICA.
Another review for a book/story/mystery of this caliber is just not good enough. The first 3 1/2 pages of chapter one had me transfixed to the words...that were no longer just words. I was no longer just reading a story; no longer following the old man being slowly and deliberately engulfed by the sea. I was the old man. I was watching as the sea started to enter the tops of my boots along with the sand. It was my own feet that could barely move with the weight of the water and sand holding me down and then...being swallowed over by the oncoming tide.
This was my first Gideon Oliver mystery and it definitely won't be my last. Written skillfully by a master-Aaron Elkins.
GIDEON OLIVER-SKELETON DETECTIVE OF AMERICA.
July 31, 2022
Another great Gideon Oliver Who-Dun-It
I so enjoy these fun page-turners. Gideon is in France this time, to speak at a seminar. An old friend is staying nearby at a manor house that has lots of built-in secrets, both in the house itself, and its residents. Murder ensues. (Three total, with Gideon almost becoming a fourth victim.) There are enough tangled subplots to make your head swim, but oh, such a fun entanglement! Gideon’s old friend John is there, although his (Gideon’s) new wife Julie, has stayed at home. A really enjoyable book!
I so enjoy these fun page-turners. Gideon is in France this time, to speak at a seminar. An old friend is staying nearby at a manor house that has lots of built-in secrets, both in the house itself, and its residents. Murder ensues. (Three total, with Gideon almost becoming a fourth victim.) There are enough tangled subplots to make your head swim, but oh, such a fun entanglement! Gideon’s old friend John is there, although his (Gideon’s) new wife Julie, has stayed at home. A really enjoyable book!
January 10, 2021
An interesting premise; an elderly French Resistance hero is accidentally drowned and in the cellar of his country estate a skeleton is discovered from the War. A forensic anthropologist investigates and finds himself in danger from those wishing old secrets to remain buried. Although the winner of the Edgar Award for Best Mystery in 1988, this was pedestrian and predictable and the French setting didn’t convince. A real let-down
Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews