Forensic anthropologist/RiverTrail Museum of Natural History
director/Rosewood Crime Lab director Diane Fallon is
summoned to an unlikely crime scene—the house of fellow
museum employee, archaeologist Marcella Payden. Marcella
seems to have been the target of a random home break-in.
Then shots are fired at the responders and someone is
spotted inside the house. Diane is determined to solve this
very intriguing mystery. Around the same time, ex-FBI
profiler Ross Kingsley asks Diane to work pro bono on a case
for the PI firm he works for. The sister of an incarcerated
man dies after she begins to look into her brother's case.
Local authorities call it an accidental death, but Stacy
Dance's father is convinced someone murdered his daughter.
Diane manages to juggle both cases even as she delegates
duties at the museum and crime lab. The deeper Diane digs
into the history of Marcella's house, the more she's
convinced that deadly events happened there decades ago. But
how could Marcella's attack be related to a decades-old
crime? Diane also determines that Stacy Dance was in fact
murdered. As she and Ross retrace Stacy's actions in the
days before her death, they face opposition from those who
want her brother imprisoned forever. Could one of them have
killed Stacy in revenge?
As the two cases become more complicated, the danger to
Diane and all involved increases. Diane has faced bad guys
before but will this time be her last? Will her team unravel
the secrets held by Marcella's home? Will the perpetrators
who attacked her ever be discovered? Will Stacy's death ever
be taken seriously by the local authorities? Is Stacy's
brother truly a guilty man or is he innocent of the crimes
for which he was convicted?
DUST TO DUST is a nonstop thrill ride from start to finish.
Since this is the seventh in the Diane Fallon Forensic
Investigation series, readers probably should read the books
in order for best understanding and enjoyment. However, I
was able to follow along despite not having read previous
books. There are some small spoilers regarding previous
events but nothing too blatant. Ms. Connors has penned a
winner in this spellbinding tale. I highly recommend this
book to lovers of forensic mysteries and thrillers as well
as those who love realistic kick-ass heroines.
FBI agent-turned-private investigator Ross Kingsley comes to
Diane Fallon for help after his client’s family suffers a
double tragedy. Nine years ago, the client’s son went to
prison for rape and murder. Now his daughter is dead under
suspicious circumstances, and her father believes she was
killed uncovering evidence of her brother’s innocence.
Against her better judgment, Diane agrees to help her old
FBI friend. Now, she is about to discover that crime can
have deep roots and some bones, like secrets, are deadly to
uncover--especially when they’re skeletons in the closet...