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Rating: 
Summary: Intriguing Premise; Not Enough Forensics or Suspense
Review: Having an interest in paleontology and geology, I was hoping for a mystery that would offer a plot set against a backdrop of scientists actually working in the field on a dinousaur/fossil dig puzzle of some sort. However, most of the emphasis in this book is placed on presenting painstaking details of characters' personal lives, backgrounds and thought processes in terms of how they approach their science scholastically. While the clashes among scientists, Mormons and Creationists were interesting, I kept longing for some real armchair-gripping suspense and action, which didn't make its appearance until the final two chapters of the book. The romance between Em and Ray was strained (not to mention strange) and, in the end, predictable. For me, this was a slow read; however, the story line does raise some provocative philosophical/religious questions and it was interesting to see them presented in a very creative way.
Rating: 
Summary: Sarah Andrews is a great story teller and effective teacher
Review: I plowed through Bone Hunter in just a few days--uncommon for me. I made time to get to the end because I was so entirely fascinated by the story line, the characters, and the tidbits I was picking up about geology and paleontology. Andrews just seems to get better and better and her Em Hansen more and more interesting as a character. The supporting cast is excellent in this book and they are people you like and want to know about. I highly recommend it for an interesting read that assumes you know a little about a lot of things. Andrews never talks down to her readers but imparts lots of information through her narrative. Looking forward to the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: Split personality
Review: If you like mysteries, pass this by because there's only a little suspense. Although the author tries hard to mislead you it's pretty clear early on who the villain is. Andrews waxes poetical about dinosaurs and rock strata, and personal approaches to religion and science, without bogging down the story-in fact that IS the story here. So if you like geological landscape, discussion of science and religion, spiritual quests, or Mormonism, this is an excellent book. It has some of the clearest direct writing on these topics I've ever seen. Sarah Andrews takes her geologist sleuth, Em Hansen, in a new direction here. For the first time Em is dealing with biology (dinosaur bones), and must face questions of evolution. Em self-consciously struggles to articulate and resolve religion and her science, while falling in love with the handsome Mormon policeman who suspects her of murdering a notorious paleontologist at a conference in Utah. You have to wade through Em's usual spunky "attitude" and a string of sharply drawn "characters" (suspects) for a few chapters before finding the new Em. In a candid Author's Note Andrews explains the fascinating gestation of this book. It is an exploration of how a life in science differs from an ordinary, particularly religious, life.
Rating:
Summary: I really loved Fault Line but this book wasn't as good
Review: What the book really needed was editing -- about 30-40 pages needed to be taken out to tighten up the plotting and remove the long irrelevant discussions that bogged down the book. Maybe others will enjoy these discussions of religion vs. science, creationism vs. evolution, Mormons vs. agnostics, and maybe others will like to learn more about the geology of Utah, but I personally did not find that they held my attention. I found myself wanting the author to get back to the story again. The plot of the mystery was pretty good, underneath the periodic lectures. Em Hansen, the geologist-detective, has been invited -- she thinks -- to speak at a conference of paleontologists being held in Salt Lake City. She will be staying with the paleontologist (George) who invited her (to save money), even though she's never actually met him. Not long after she arrives in town, however, George is found dead. Since the police have already found her trying to break into George's house (she locked herself out), she's their number one suspect at first. A good-looking Mormon policeman, Ray (who found her trying to break in), is given the task of babysitting her, and there's really chemistry between the two despite very different lifestyles and world views. Em realizes that she had better find the killer before he finds her and so that she can leave town and return to her job in Denver. Using her ability as a geologist, she is able to help the police... With fewer digressions into creationism and geology, I would have liked the book better and given it four stars. I will continue reading Sarah Andrews' books -- she's talented and her detective Em is quite likeable and engaging.
Rating:
Summary: I really loved Fault Line but this book wasn't as good
Review: What the book really needed was editing -- about 30-40 pages needed to be taken out to tighten up the plotting and remove the long irrelevant discussions that bogged down the book. Maybe others will enjoy these discussions of religion vs. science, creationism vs. evolution, Mormons vs. agnostics, and maybe others will like to learn more about the geology of Utah, but I personally did not find that they held my attention. I found myself wanting the author to get back to the story again. The plot of the mystery was pretty good, underneath the periodic lectures. Em Hansen, the geologist-detective, has been invited -- she thinks -- to speak at a conference of paleontologists being held in Salt Lake City. She will be staying with the paleontologist (George) who invited her (to save money), even though she's never actually met him. Not long after she arrives in town, however, George is found dead. Since the police have already found her trying to break into George's house (she locked herself out), she's their number one suspect at first. A good-looking Mormon policeman, Ray (who found her trying to break in), is given the task of babysitting her, and there's really chemistry between the two despite very different lifestyles and world views. Em realizes that she had better find the killer before he finds her and so that she can leave town and return to her job in Denver. Using her ability as a geologist, she is able to help the police... With fewer digressions into creationism and geology, I would have liked the book better and given it four stars. I will continue reading Sarah Andrews' books -- she's talented and her detective Em is quite likeable and engaging.
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