Skeleton Justice

Jake Rosen & Manny Manfreda #2

by Michael Baden, Linda Kenney Baden

Book Description
Forensic expert Dr. Michael Baden of the HBO series Autopsy and trial attorney and legal commentator Linda Kenney Baden bring us a chilling new thriller featuring their crack crime-fighting Dr. Jake Rosen, world-famous pathologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and devoted scientist; and top litigator Manny Manfreda, who is as lovely (and accessorized) as she is gutsy.

The case begins with New York City on high alert for a most bizarre serial killer—a strange kind of thief who stalks his victims for the purpose of extracting a vial of blood, earning him the tabloid nickname the Vampire. As the attacks become more and more vicious and escalate to torture and then to murder, Jake and Manny begin to suspect there is a connection between the killer’s seemingly random victims. But what is the link between the Vampire and a case that Manny’s been working for a kid whose high school prank-gone-wrong has earned him the moniker the Preppy Terrorist and an FBI electronic ankle bracelet? Jake’s careful forensic examinations, Manny’s courtroom tenaciousness, and an unusual clue suggesting that a high-ranking politician has risen from the grave take the pair from the bowels of the morgue to the world of international intrigue. At the heart of this story is a tragic tale of corruption interlaced with cover-ups, conspiracies, death squads, and dictators who committed crimes that to this day go unpunished.

A fast-paced, boldly imagined work from an exuberant new team in suspense.

A Q&A with Michael Baden and Linda Kenney Baden

[image] Where did the idea for the Vampire come from?

Many times in today’s world the hysteria surrounding a crime creates fear, headlines, and sleepless nights. What better nightmare could there be than strangers having their blood sucked from them as they engage in everyday, normal activities? Since we are big fans of 1930s horror movies, including Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, we thought it fitting that there be a tug-o-war between fact and fiction.

What sparked your interest in the Dirty War?

Between 1976 and 1983, the Argentine government attempted to eradicate all dissident voices from the country. They did this through a campaign that included savaging families and kidnapping children. These children were called “los Desaparecidos” (the disappeared). Investigations into what happened to these children were triggered by grandmothers crying out for forensic science to solve both the whereabouts and the identity of the missing children. Michael was consulted in the “los Desaparecidos” cases. Subsequent international outrage and releases of secret government documents revealed that the parents of these children had been killed and the babies placed with generals and other high ex-Peron officials and raised as their own. DNA was very helpful in matching grandparents with the kidnapped grandchildren who assumed incorrectly that their parents were their biological parents.

Are any aspects of the Vampire’s crimes inspired by your real-life work?

Yes. Michael has had cases where the perpetrator drank the blood of the victim. In fact, several memorable cases involved the killing of a loved one by another loved one, as well as dismemberment of the body and the killer collecting and drinking the blood of the victim. It has been opined by some who study the criminal mind that this ritual may even have a religious significance—drinking the blood of God.

In Skeleton Justice, the authorities are distracted from seeing what is actually happening by a fixation on terrorism and Islamic fundamentalists. Have you seen this happen as you’ve investigated and tried cases?

This type of fixation is “racial profiling.” Linda has been involved in the lead case in the United States concerning racial profiling and has tried numerous cases involving discrimination. We both find that once the police fix upon a suspect, it can affect an impartial investigation. Obviously, there are over 230 wrongfully convicted people in this country, as demonstrated by the Innocence Project. The people convicted in those cases are victims as much as the actual victims of the crimes. Many times this mindset has resulted in the real criminals going free. Unfortunately, this narrow focus in investigating cases has been around for a long time. In Great Expectations, Charles Dickens pointed out that “The Constables, and the Bow Street men from London—for, this happened in the days of the extinct red-waistcoated police—were about the house for a week or two, and did pretty much what I have heard and read of like authorities...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller

445 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Michael M. Baden is a physician and board-certified forensic pathologist known for his work investigating high-profile deaths and as a host of HBO's Autopsy. He is also the Forensic Science Contributor for Fox News Channel. ~ Wikipedia

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The authors seek to present a new twist on the vampire genre in is book, though it is not what one might think on the surface. Layering some interesting medical facts and legal jargon helps propel the book away from blood-letting at towards the heart of a mysterious set of crimes that are leading to numerous dead bodies in New York. Using two main characters from vastly different backgrounds, the story is able to inch forward, adding both medical and legal angles to the plot, while also infusing a little relationship building and the ever-important shallowness of those involved in the investigation. The story does appear plausible, with good character introduction and development, though its cheesiness does detract from the momentum, at times as well.

The Badens concoct this tale with two parallel storylines that appear completely different at the outset. It does make for some interesting storytelling, as I was left trying to remember where each story left off when its threads were picked up, chapters later. That said, the story does keep moving and its plot does develop fairly nicely. Add some political intrigue and you have the foundation of a decent novel. While nowhere near as thrilling or riveting as some of the greats, the book is well worth its length.

Kudos Dr. and Mrs. Baden, or however you wish to be known!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read everything I can written by Michael Baden since I was a Criminal Justice major in college. I loved his books on the forensic process and his different cases. I have always enjoyed his clinical take on the tough aspects of the job of being a medical examiner. I liked his writing so much that I wanted to be a medical examiner until I bought the MCAT study guide and those dreams were set aside.

When he wrote his first novel, I was shocked to see a more human side of him. Writing with his wife they created a very compelling story. In Skeleton Justice a serial stalker the media has dubbed the Vampire, is knocking victims out and drawing their blood very clinically. The victims are fine at first but after a few the killings begin.

I enjoyed this book and I am always happy to have a new book by Michael Baden to fill the gap between my favorite authors. His and his wife’s writing style is not as strong as some of the bigger authors but it is a fun read that kept my attention throughout.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting start ruined by the crazy ending.

[Paul Pessolano · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Skeleton Justice” by Dr. Michael Baden and Linda Kenney Baden, published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Category – Mystery/Thriller Publication Date – 2009.

Dr. Jake Rosen, a pathologist, and Manny Manfreda, a litigator, team up to become formidable crime fighters. Although they do not see eye to eye most of the time and one wonders how they can work together, they make it work. They do provide some light moments in some gruesome experiences.

A person is soon labeled “The Vampire” as he chloroforms people and takes samples of their blood. The first few people come to no harm but his latest victims have been murdered after taking a vial of blood.

Jake and Manny try to draw some kind of connection between the victims. Meanwhile Manny gets involved in the “Preppy Terrorist” when a young man is accused of a crime but seems to be innocent but the government is bent on prosecuting him.

Manny in working the “Preppy Terrorist” case seems to have found a link between this case and the case of “The Vampire”.

Although this is a good read and an enjoyable one the ending does seem a little contrived and highly unlikely.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I only selected this because I recognized the author from his many appearances on a FOX news show, the story, writing and humor in this book really surprised me! From the way the book started, I expected a completely different sort of story, and since this was an audio book, it took me a bit to appreciate the ultra NY accent given to Manny, but once I did I saw this accent was just the right touch to make it work. Manny is quite funny, and of course, clever, and the story itself was good. Manny and Jake team up to solve the case of the vampire murders which turns out to have everything to do with Manny's preppy terrorist case she is mysteriously hired to sort out, and the pair quickly become tangled in South American political causes in order to figure out what is really happening. This is a good main character and I hope she keeps her two sidekicks - Jake and Sam; I will look for more in this series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot of this story was actually pretty interesting -- the two different stories that ended up weaving together into one story had compelling characters and the plot device was not one used often.

That said, its disappointing that the two main characters are just so not interesting at all. They are shallow, not well developed - Manny is a lawyer who apparently, has a shopping and food addiction - in that order, and is frankly, a bit of a well, erm, fag hag. I can even say less about her boyfriend. And in order to give them substance - and apparently, to avoid the bother of having to attempt to develop more characters - the crime solving is left up almost entirely to these two. A lawyer and forensic ME. Because apparently, they can just uh, run around do all the crime work and the police are incompetent? At least have them working in the a system.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

MASSIVE Adoption Trigger Warning (see below for details) Read as an audiobook.

Good news: Manny and Jake become more well-rounded characters and the relationship subplot isn't as heavy-handed as it was in their first book. The forensics is still spot-on and Jake learns a lesson about reading a woman's closet from Manny's drag queen friend and assistant. Everything ends relatively happy with possibilities of a third book.

Bad news: Adoption is key to solving the mystery. Not only do you get to hear the standard adoption nonsense, like all adoptions these days are open, but you get treated to cruelties too, like a character describing what happens when she tells adoptees that their birth parents do not want to share their information. (I know she's fictional, but that woman has a stone-cold heart.) And of course, on top of all that, adoption provides part of the motive for the murders. Can it get any worse?

In conclusion, I like the writing, but please don't write about adoption ever again.

[hugo van der wildt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twee verhaallijnen. De vampier, de bijnaam van de dader, die bloed aftapt van zijn slachtoffers. De twee laatste worden vermoord en gemarteld. Waarom? Deze vraag zal Jake trachten te beantwoorden. Manny heeft werk met de Kakkerterroristen. Zij blazen brievenbussen op. Deze twee lijnen samen komen op het moment dat Manny een jongen vrij krijgt op borg en daarna verdwijnt. Alles gaat terug naar de Vuile Oorlog in Argetinie.
Vrij ver gezocht thema maar leuk om lezen.

[Eric Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the author's pretentious inability to drop Dr. from the cover , I enjoyed this book . I have not previously read about the disappeared of Argentina in a fiction novel and had largely forgotten the similarities between the junta and the Nazi regime .The plot was well crafted and the finale involving a fighting pit bull seeking to purge its hunger on 2 of the main characters was quite original . Worth a read .

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawyer Manny defends a young man accused of a terrorist act that kills a federal judge. She suspects he is being framed.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very intriguing. I did not have an inkling of of who the perpetrators were.

[Lois Baron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook--I didn't love the narrator, so that dims the book's appeal. I also didn't read the first book in this mystery series, but that's not a problem.

Good.

[Diane Shreve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly written. Predictable. Very disappointing that these authors felt the need to demonize pit bulls, feeding the frenzy of misinformation.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

America may have a recent vampire obsession, bringing novel after novel on the topic to bookshop shelves, but with Skeleton Justice readers are given a fresh take on an overdone genre. Authors Dr Michael Biden and Linda Kenney Biden weave together a complicated story of a serial killer proud to be coined “The Vampire” by numerous New York City newspapers. At a time when over played media stories cloud our reality the idea of a serial killer using news agencies to his advantage is something we realize to be all too true.

The main characters of the story are a work obsessed scientist and medical examiner and his love interest and partner for late night investigation, a sexy litigator fighting to prove her ability in the court room. The partnership proves to be a great one, filled with intelligence and a strong sexual chemistry. The characters are so well written that at times you feel you know these people, you feel for them and turn the page frantically to discover what happens to them next. I found myself fighting for them, cheering them on and almost wanting to help them through the battle.

The suspense in this thriller is very real, I never saw what was coming and I was truly surprised at every twist and turn. At certain points I felt the story became a little too complicated, even Manny, one of the main characters tells her investigative partner, “I don’t get it Jake…” and “your making me more confused,” (Rosen 211). I felt her pain, I too was confused but honestly I didn’t care. The many strands in this web come together and even without understanding the exact point that connects it all, you still enjoy the tale. The characters are vivid, the story is intriguing and it all comes together for a thrilling surprise.

www.suspensemagazine.com

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good. The main characters were likeable and not too foolhardy. The reason for and scope of the crimes was a bit far-fetched and dramatic, but the story was exciting and very readable. I enjoyed Manny's attitude and fashion sense.

The case begins with New York City on high alert for a most bizarre serial killer—a strange kind of thief who stalks his victims for the purpose of extracting a vial of blood, earning him the tabloid nickname the Vampire. As the attacks become more and more vicious and escalate to torture and then to murder, Dr. Jake Rosen, world-famous pathologist, deputy chief medical examiner, and devoted scientist; and top litigator Manny Manfreda, who is as lovely (and accessorized) as she is gutsy,
begin to suspect there is a connection between the killer’s seemingly random victims. But what is the link between the Vampire and a case that Manny’s been working for a kid whose high school prank-gone-wrong has earned him the moniker the Preppy Terrorist and an FBI electronic ankle bracelet?

[Nancy]

I was not disappointed. I read their debute novel "Remains SIlent" in which Jake Rosen and Manny Manfreda meet when there are bones discover on a development site. This time Jake is working on a case of a someone that accosts people in their homes and takes blood. The whole case is just a little weird until people die and there seems to be no connection between the cases. In the mean time Manny has been hired to defend a teenager charged with a bombing that nearly takes out a judge. Her teenage client becomes dubed the "Preppy Terrorist" and is sentenced to house arrest which he manages to escape. As Manny and Jake work their individual cases they discover a connection that you just will not believe. Manny and Jake are really interesting characters with a good supporting cast including Jakes brother Sam and Mycroft the poodle. You will love this one.

[Kaitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strong mystery with a solid conclusion. The story is really well thought out but the characters are blah (all we know about them are superficial things - shopping addiction, flamboyant clothing, etc). Maybe folks who have read the first book in the series will feel more of a draw to the characters.

It's clear that someone with a strong understanding of forensics wrote this, and those details and well-used. However the story is not compelling; it wasn't something that I was excited to keep reading. The writing itself (though technically sound) is clinical, lacking imagination and real flow. I agree with other reviewers, though, who say this is a step above a Patterson-esque mystery.

[Kellylynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess this is the second I this series, but it didn't really matter. Overall it was a decent story. The character development was decent. I can't say I became fully connected with the characters but the were enjoyable. There are areas that I struggled with understanding why they would do what they did.

The story is sort of a vampire type; someone is knocking people out and stealing their blood. Plus there is this side of a high school prank supposedly gone wrong. The link between the cases eventually comes to light. The 'bad guys' in this story are really rough. I felt no sympathy for them.

[Jeanne Grunert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I'm not as fussy as the other reviewers, but I liked this fast paced mystery novel. The characters were fine, and I thought the plot had enough twists and turns to keep my occupied. I wasn't happy with the final revelation of the murderer; it seemed very forced and contrived, as did the "batman" like ending. Other than that, I thought this was a fine book and look forward to reading more by these authors.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery book. A husband and wife team are writing about a man and woman team(?) whoc just happen to have their backgrounds (forensics and legal).

This is the second novel they have written. It is a good novel and is interesting and a good read.

Mystery readers will enjoy this book.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the 'Isms'"

[Kaley Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was terrible. I'm usually very forgiving of a book's foibles, but skeletal justice was full of inconsistencies, one dimensional characters, and stereotypes. The plot should have been captivating, but instead was heavy handed and both too predictable and completely out of the blue. Don't read it.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first book in this series but maybe I just wasn't in the mood to read this one. I finished it but it just seemed really simplistic--almost like a James Patterson but maybe still a step above.

I had hopes for this one but I was disappointed.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

if you've ever thought about writing a mystery book and have not done much preparation or planning, this is what your book will turn out like. predictable, plodding, and a poor attempt to be what it clearly is not and will never be, a page turner.

[Lorie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book has shallow and undeveloped characters, and I figured out the perp the instant his name was introduced.
The ending was straight out of an Adam West Batman episode. This book was a big disappointment, Dr Baden should stick to nonfiction.

[Carolyn Wallis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started with an interesting concept. Ending with a television quality disappointment. A good story builds and gets better. This one did just the opposite. Yep, can tell these authors write for television. Entertaining leading to absurd.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

not sure that I will read much more
too cute probably for my tastes

[Regan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read but I liked the first book better.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mildly entertaining as far as the story line goes. I enjoyed the main characters and that is why I kept reading it.

[Carol]

Trite, trite trite, and not well written either.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do a high school student, a terrorist attack, and a predator who steals blood from unsuspecting people blood have in common?