Dead Guilty: A Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation

Rating:
Summary: on a par with Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs
Review: After suffering some trauma in South America, Diane Fallon accepts the job of director of the River Trial museum in Georgia. She was also forced to house a forensic lab in the museum and be in charge of it otherwise the powers that be would tax her museum out of existence. To her surprise, Diane likes both jobs.

One night she assists the sheriff with three mummified bodies' dressed alike hanging from ropes tied to trees. The fingers are cut off so there is no immediate way of identifying them. A fourth rope was found tied to a tree but no body was attached to it. Forestry students Chris Edwards and Steve Mayberry found the bodies and shortly thereafter Chris was murdered and Steve was nowhere to be found. Someone is calling Diane, and sending her e-mails and the police think it might be the killer. Diane can't get him to talk to her but he does break into her apartment and smashes her car with her inside of it. The killer is looking for something that Diane has and he is willing to kill her to get it.

Readers will find Beverly Connor a dynamic and dramatic writer on par with Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs so it easy to predict that Ms. Connor is a sure shot superstar because she appeals to a wide range of mystery and thriller fans. The protagonist is vulnerable after losing her daughter in South America but she has the strength and resiliency to make a new life for herself that readers will admire her for. The mystery is complex, multi-layered and impossible to solve which makes it a great reading experience.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Better then Reichs, McCrumb, and Cornwell---IMHO!
Review: Diane Fallon can change hats so fast it would make your head spin. She conducts a careful balancing act between serving as director of a small local museum in Rosewood, Georgia and forensic anthropologist in charge of that region's crime lab.

The story begins with three hanged bodies found in the GA forest. There's enough action in the story to leave your head spinning.

Connor's characters are well-realized, likeable, and her plot keeps you reading through a series of twists that would do her knots proud. This is the first of Connor's work I've read, but I guarantee it will not be my last!


Rating:
Summary: Needlessly complicated
Review: Diane Fallon is a forensic anthropologist heading up a forensic lab in Georgia. Diane is called on to investigate discovery of three hanging corpses in the woods. There are many more deaths in the course of this novel including the two land surveyors who initially found the corpses. One of the main problems I had with this book was not only the abundance of victims, but the sheer volume of characters. It made the story line feel very cluttered. It all sort of tied together at the end, but overall this book felt like a lot of work to read.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous forensic series
Review: Diane Fallon is a Museum Director and has a crime lab attached to the museum. She is also a forensic anthropologist.

Her crime lab team is called to investigate three bodies found hanging in the woods. Two land surveryors found them. Not only does Diane's team examine the bodies and clothing, Diane is a knot expert and finds out some interesting information from the various knots.

Then one of the surveyors is found murdered. Are these cases related? There are too many coincidences for everyone to think they aren't related. But they have a tough time finding any evidence to link them.

Diane begins getting calls and e-mails that she believes are from the killer. She finds herself in danger more than once.

There are two more murders. She is concerned about everyone involved with this case. Are they being picked off one by one? Why? What is the connection?

Diane is also an expert caver. She and some co-workers are planning to go caving.

Diane spends some time with Frank and his daughter. She is concerned whether she is putting them in danger.

Can she connect all the dots in time?

This is a terrific book. I found it difficult to put down. Move over Patricia Cornwell. This is a fabulous forensic investigation series. I can't wait for the next book!

Ms. Connor presents her intricate knowledge of forensics in a way that is understandable by lay people. It makes it much more enjoyable to understand how and why they can figure out the crime.

The characters in this series work well together. She has come up with a way to intertwine the museum and crime lab. This is a winning series.

I highly recommend this book! If you missed the first one, One Grave Too Many, I recommend you read it as well.


Rating:
Summary: Murder any one
Review: Her name is Diane Fallon and she is wanted not by the law but to work for the law. She finds herself ahead of the River Trial museum along with a added forensic lab. You say, how do these two fit together, its either both or none at all and she does like running the museum. She is also a specialess in forensic science and likes that type work also. One night the sheriff comes calling on her for her help after he finds some bodies hanging in trees. The bodies are mummified and fingers cut off to conceal who they are. Things begin to happen around Dianas home like e-mails and break in's along with her car being hammered on with her sitting inside of it. Does this have something to do with the bodies found hanging in the trees? Is the killer also after Diana? If you like a good read that will keep you on the edge of your chair this book is for you. Larry Hobson-Author-The Day Of The Rose




Rating:
Summary: Connors does not disappoint
Review: This author has become my favorite. Her characters are strong, realistic, the kind of people you would like if you knew them.

Her books combine forensics, archeology, and mystery. Interesting plots, a fast pace and good science make for a great read. Why her novels aren't at the top of the bestseller list, I don't know. She's head and shoulders above Cornwell, and as good or better than Reichs.

Rating:
Summary: Dead On
Review: This book opens with a delightful non-sequiter of a line, alerting the return reader that our friendly snake from ONE GRAVE TOO MANY is still at large but the tone soon turns serious as Dr. Fallon helps oversee the removal of three hanging victims in Cobber's Wood. This book introduces some new characters, including the assistant director of the museum and Diane's crime lab team. As the murders keep piling up we learn more about each of these characters and see the return of favorites from the previous book. Like ONE GRAVE TOO MANY Connor keeps the suspense up from beginning to end. I'm delighted by the fact that both books have thrown me curve balls when it comes to the identity of the murderers.

Diane Fallon is a woman after my own heart. She has experienced heartbreaking tragedy and brought herself back from the edge of the abyss of depression. In this, the second book in the series, she's juggling two full time jobs (three if you consider she is not only the director of the museum but curator of one of its exhibts as well) and doing it with aplomb. On top of her rather full professional life she's edging back into a personal life as well. Brava Diane!

The writing of Beverly Connor is reminicent of the very best of Patricia Cornwell. After reading about this relatively recent addition to the mystery and thriller genre I decided to search out some of her work. I can not recall being as glad to find an author in recent memory. Connor's characters are believeable and enjoyable; they are human with quirks and biases like so many we know. She uses the latest techniques to solve the crime, from the search engine Google to new DNA tests still being studied. And even when writing about murder and violence, Connor shows the humor of life, with quick witted one-liners and eccentric characters that make us smile.

I have already got my eye on the third book in this series. August 2005, hurry up! I can't wait to see where Beverly Connor, Dr. Fallon and her friends are headed next.

Rating:
Summary: No mystery to Connor's success
Review: This lady can write! And she knows her forensics, too. In a time when we are bombarded by CSI-unlimited resources-dozens of technicians-solve the murder in 46 minutes plus commercials-type entertainment, it's great to see a writer who can keep us enthralled, solve the mystery, and still teach us a thing or two about modern forensics, people and life...not to mention writing...all at the same time.