The Body Farm

4 primary works • 12 total works

The Inquisitor's Key

by Jefferson Bass

Published 2 April 2012

Cut to the Bone

by Jefferson Bass

Published 24 September 2013

Jefferson Bass's Cut to the Bone, the long-awaited prequel to his New York Times bestselling mystery series, turns the clock back to reveal the Body Farm's creation--and Dr. Bill Brockton's deadly duel with a serial killer.

In the summer of 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and Tennessee Senator Albert Gore...

Read more

Jefferson Bass's Cut to the Bone, the long-awaited prequel to his New York Times bestselling mystery series, turns the clock back to reveal the Body Farm's creation--and Dr. Bill Brockton's deadly duel with a serial killer.

In the summer of 1992, Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and Tennessee Senator Albert Gore begin their long-shot campaign to win the White House. In the sweltering hills of Knoxville at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Bill Brockton, the bright, ambitious young head of the Anthropology Department, launches an unusual--some would call it macabre--research facility, unlike any other in existence.

Brockton is determined to revolutionize the study of forensics to help law enforcement better solve crime. But his plans are derailed by a chilling murder that leaves the scientist reeling from a sense of deja vu. Followed by another. And then another: bodies that bear eerie resemblances to cases from Brockton's past.

But as the body count rises, the victims' fatal injuries grow more and more distinctive--a spiral of death that holds dark implications for Brockton...and everyone he holds dear.

The Breaking Point

by Jefferson Bass

Published 1 June 2015

Past, present, and future collide to throw respected forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton's successful, secure life into devastating turmoil in this poignant novel in the New York Times bestselling Body Farm mystery series.

It's been ten years since Dr. Bill Brockton created the Body Farm--the world's first postmortem research facility dedicated...

Read more

Past, present, and future collide to throw respected forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton's successful, secure life into devastating turmoil in this poignant novel in the New York Times bestselling Body Farm mystery series.

It's been ten years since Dr. Bill Brockton created the Body Farm--the world's first postmortem research facility dedicated to advancing the frontiers of forensic science--and the researcher is at the pinnacle of his career. Under his leadership, the University of Tennessee's forensic anthropology program has become the most prominent in the world, and Brockton's skills and knowledge are in high demand among top law enforcement. Calling him in for a number of high profile cases, the FBI now wants him to identify the charred remains of a maverick millionaire, killed in a fiery plane crash.

But a storm is about to hit Brockton with cataclysmic force. First, his identification of the crash victim is called into question. Then he receives a threatening message from the serial killer who attempted to murder the scientist and his family a decade ago. And from Brockton's beloved wife Kathleen--his lodestone and his source of security--he gets the most shocking news of all. Will Brockton be able to weather this deluge . . . or has he finally reached the breaking point?

Without Mercy [Large Print]

by Jefferson Bass

Published 4 October 2016

In the most suspenseful installment of the New York Times nestselling Body Farm series to date, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton investigates a bizarre murder—and confronts a deadly enemy he thought he’d put behind bars for good.

Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton has spent twenty-five years solving brutal murders—but...

Read more

In the most suspenseful installment of the New York Times nestselling Body Farm series to date, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton investigates a bizarre murder—and confronts a deadly enemy he thought he’d put behind bars for good.

Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton has spent twenty-five years solving brutal murders—but none so bizarre and merciless as his latest case: A ravaged set of skeletal remains is found chained to a tree on a remote mountainside. As Brockton and his assistant Miranda dig deeper, they uncover warning signs of a deadly eruption of hatred and violence.

But the shocking case is only the beginning of Brockton’s trials. Mid-case, the unthinkable happens: The deadliest criminal Brockton has ever foiled—the sadistic serial killer Nick Satterfield—escapes from prison, bent on vengeance.

But simply killing Brockton isn’t enough. Satterfield wants to make him suffer first, by destroying everything he holds dear: Brockton’s son, daughter-in-law, grandsons; even Miranda, his longtime graduate assistant, now on the verge of completing her Ph.D. and launching a forensic career of her own.

The dangers from all directions force Brockton to question two things on which he’s based his entire career—the justice system, and the quality of mercy—and to wonder: can the two co-exist

If not, which will Brockton choose in his ultimate moment of truth

Carved in Bone

by Jefferson Bass

Published 24 January 2006

A woman's corpse lies hidden in a cave in the mountains of East Tennessee. Undiscovered for thirty years, her body has been transformed into a near-perfect mummy. Clueless, the local police enlist the help of Dr Bill Brockton, renowned anthropologist and founder of the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research...Read more

A woman's corpse lies hidden in a cave in the mountains of East Tennessee. Undiscovered for thirty years, her body has been transformed into a near-perfect mummy. Clueless, the local police enlist the help of Dr Bill Brockton, renowned anthropologist and founder of the University of Tennessee's Anthropology Research Facility - the Body Farm - where human corpses are left to the elements, and every manner of decay is fully explored for the sake of science and the cause of justice. The body has been found in Cooke County, a remote community that's clannish, insular and distrustful of outsiders. When Brockton's autopsy discloses an explosive secret, old wounds are reopened and feuds rekindled. As the powerful and uncooperative sheriff and his inept deputy threaten to derail Brockton's investigations, even Brockton, after years surrounded by death and decay, is baffled by this case unfolding in a unique environment, where nothing is quite what it seems.

Bones of Betrayal

by Jefferson Bass

Published 3 February 2009

Things have taken a dangerous turn at the Body Farm. Dr Bill Brockton and his graduate assistant, Miranda, have been called to a death scene. A body has been found in a frozen swimming pool. The dead man is found to have been a renowned engineer, responsible for the...Read more

Things have taken a dangerous turn at the Body Farm. Dr Bill Brockton and his graduate assistant, Miranda, have been called to a death scene. A body has been found in a frozen swimming pool. The dead man is found to have been a renowned engineer, responsible for the Manhattan Project, which produced the atomic bombs of 1945. And he's been poisoned by a radiation source. Now Brockton, Miranda and the ME who carried out the autopsy are in grave danger ...Suffering radiation sickness and worrying for his friends, Brockton delves into the town's gruesome past to discover the dark secrets and lies that have lead to this engineer's murder and to find out who else the killer has in their sights.

Flesh and Bone

by Jefferson Bass

Published 23 January 2007

Dr Bill Brockton is hard at work on a troubling new case. A young man's battered body has been found in nearby Chattanooga, and it's up to the talented Dr Brockton to assemble pieces of the forensic puzzle. Brockton is brought into the case by the rising star of...Read more

Dr Bill Brockton is hard at work on a troubling new case. A young man's battered body has been found in nearby Chattanooga, and it's up to the talented Dr Brockton to assemble pieces of the forensic puzzle. Brockton is brought into the case by the rising star of the state's medical examiners, Jess Carter. Just as they are on the verge of breaking the case open, events take a terrifying turn. Brockton has recreated the Chattanooga death scene at the Body Farm, but a killer tampers with it in a shocking way: placing another corpse at the setting, putting Brockton's career and life in jeopardy. Soon Brockton himself is accused of the horrific new crime and the once beloved professor becomes an outcast. As the net around him tightens, Brockton must use all his forensic skills to prove his own innocence...before he ends up behind bars with some of the very killers he's helped to convict.

The Devil's Bones

by Jefferson Bass

Published 5 February 2008

A woman's charred body has been found inside a burned car atop a hill in Knoxville. Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton is on the case, torching bodies to research how fire consumes flesh and bone. Days later, he receives a mysterious package - a set of cremated remains that seems...Read more

A woman's charred body has been found inside a burned car atop a hill in Knoxville. Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton is on the case, torching bodies to research how fire consumes flesh and bone. Days later, he receives a mysterious package - a set of cremated remains that seems entirely unreal. As Brockton investigates, he uncovers a truth too horrifying to believe Meanwhile, disgraced medical examiner, and Brockton's nemesis, Garland Hamilton, has escaped from custody. A deadly game of cat and mouse begins, with Brockton's life at stake. Finally running Hamilton to ground, Brockton finds only the incinerated remains of his enemy, or does he? Before he finds the truth, Brockton will face his ultimate test.

The Bone Thief

by Jefferson Bass

Published 23 March 2010

Bill Brockton is exhuming a body to obtain a bone sample for a paternity test. A simple enough job until he discovers that the body's limbs have all been removed. Digging deeper, he soon finds himself embroiled in the massive and very illegal market for human body parts. He...Read more

Bill Brockton is exhuming a body to obtain a bone sample for a paternity test. A simple enough job until he discovers that the body's limbs have all been removed. Digging deeper, he soon finds himself embroiled in the massive and very illegal market for human body parts. He becomes drawn into the enterprise, selling donated corpses to the postmortem chop shop - in league with the FBI, hoping to bring the organization down. All the while, his friend and Medical Examiner, Eddie Garcia, is struggling with the aftermath of their last case. A massive dose of radiation has left him missing one hand and most of the fingers from the other. He's on the waiting list for a transplant, but with so many parts around, Brockton is sorely tempted to jeopardize the investigation - and his own principles - to help his friend. Will he be able to live with himself if he does? Will he be able to live with himself if he doesn't?

Without Mercy

by Jefferson Bass

Published 4 October 2016

In the most suspenseful installment of the New York Times nestselling Body Farm series to date, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton investigates a bizarre murder-and confronts a deadly enemy he thought he'd put behind bars for good. Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton has spent twenty-five years solving brutal murders-but none...Read more

In the most suspenseful installment of the New York Times nestselling Body Farm series to date, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton investigates a bizarre murder-and confronts a deadly enemy he thought he'd put behind bars for good. Forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton has spent twenty-five years solving brutal murders-but none so bizarre and merciless as his latest case: A ravaged set of skeletal remains is found chained to a tree on a remote mountainside. As Brockton and his assistant Miranda dig deeper, they uncover warning signs of a deadly eruption of hatred and violence. But the shocking case is only the beginning of Brockton's trials. Mid-case, the unthinkable happens: The deadliest criminal Brockton has ever foiled-the sadistic serial killer Nick Satterfield-escapes from prison, bent on vengeance. But simply killing Brockton isn't enough. Satterfield wants to make him suffer first, by destroying everything he holds dear: Brockton's son, daughter-in-law, grandsons; even Miranda, his longtime graduate assistant, now on the verge of completing her Ph.D. and launching a forensic career of her own.
The dangers from all directions force Brockton to question two things on which he's based his entire career-the justice system, and the quality of mercy-and to wonder: can the two co-exist? If not, which will Brockton choose in his ultimate moment of truth?

The Bone Yard

by Jefferson Bass

Published 1 March 2011

Dr. Bill Brockton discovers the dark side of the Sunshine State when he is called in to investigate human remains found on the grounds of a boys' reform school in Florida.

The Bones Of Avignon

by Jefferson Bass

Published 6 December 2012

A burial chamber beneath the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. A 2,000-year-old skeleton. A conspiracy that will shake the foundations of the world. Here lie the bones of Jesus of Nazareth.