snugglekitty

This is the second book that I read based on a pamphlet I picked up at Medford Public Library, "Dead Men Do Tell Tales," which was a topical booklist on forensic science.

I liked this better than the fabulously named A World the Color of Salt, which was by a different author and more of a cop book than a forensic one, in my opinion. I liked the relationships between the characters and their uncertainties about how to proceed versus the confident front they show the public and even each other. I liked the detail-oriented setting and character descriptions, although some details seemed lacking. One of the main characters has a dog, which is mentioned many times in the book, but we never find out what kind of dog it is or even what it looks like, except that it's "little." Little like a terrier? Little like a chihuahua? Little like a miniature mop mutt? It makes me think the author has never owned a pet personally.

My other main issue with the book is that I don't like the way Donaldson writes female characters. I'd say he's a man and he doesn't get it, but sometimes you see the same thing with female authors, so I know better. He presented women as more shallow, self-serving, and needy than I believe we are. I would also like to think that we do not judge each other's appearances as much as the main character does other women, but that's more about how I wish we were than how we actually are.

I would give this three stars. I didn't see most of the plot twists, and didn't figure out the murderer until the very end. But I didn't love it. Both of the forensic science fiction books I've read recently have involved the main characters being personally threatened - I'd be interested in reading one that wasn't like that. I don't think that's all the genre has to offer.

Edit: I just found the motherload of forensic fiction. Check it out at http://www.lcl.lib.ne.us/depts/bookguide/lists/forensicfiction.htm