Simon Beckett's Written in Bone is the second in his series about Dr. David
Hunter. Hunter is an MD in Britain who has lost his wife and daughter and is
working as a forensic specialist. I liked the first one Chemistry of Death.
Both books explore the themes of  loss and betrayal. Both feature a series
of brutal murders and plenty of surprises and twists. Written in Bone takes
place on an Outer Hebrides island the size of a postage stamp where a
mysteriously burned body was found in an abandoned croft. Because police
resources are strained Hunter is sent to do a preliminary investigation
along with a semi competent alcoholic police sergeant, an inexperienced
though keen PC, and helped by a retired Detective Inspector who lives on the
rocky isle Runa. Complicating the situation is the island is isolated by a
huge storm which severs communications with the mainland and the Dr. and
retired DI are left alone to solve the crime. The characters are well drawn
and the writing is smooth. I didn't see the big surprises coming at the end.
I can recommend both these books. They are vaguely along the lines of the
Scarpetta series in the forensic investigations and there is lots of
gruesome descriptions of dead bodies like Cornwell does.
There is lots of action with 5 murders, a couple of attempted, three arsons,
a suicide and the growing hostility of the local citizens.
I liked both these books and can recommend Simon Beckett.
SPOILER
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Two of the young secondary characters whom we have grown to like get
themselves murdered. There are at least two killers roaming the island,
neither is obvious which I liked about the writer. There is one glaring
disjunct: a CLIFFHANGER after the final wrap up. I know there have been some
complaints here recently about cliff hangers at the end of books rather than
the ends of chapters. What happens is that the first person narrator Dr.
Hunter gets stabbed to death (apparently) on the last page. Fade to black.
The only clue is after the acknowledgments and author bio where it says he's
writing the next book there is a page saying "Look for the next novel of
suspense featuring Dr. David Hunter coming in hardcover from Delacorte Press
in spring 2009". So evidently he lives.

Despite this I really enjoyed both books in the new series and am looking
forward to the next one. I can highly recommend Simon Beckett. Take care
--
Stanley L. Moore
"The belief in a supernatural
source of evil is not necessary;
men alone are quite capable
of every wickedness."
Joseph Conrad