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Devil’s Bones, by Jefferson Bass, is the third novel in a series, which began with the Carved in Bone and its sequel Flesh and Bone.  Dr Bill Brockton, a forensic anthropologist and researcher is haunted by the death of his colleague and lover, Jess Carter. Brockton is sufficiently distracted from thoughts of Jess and what may have been, with two cases. The first involves a woman burned inside of a car and the second involves cremains of questionable origin.  

Brockton stages a reenactment of the burning car to discover the affect on flesh and bone, using a cadaver from the university.  He discovers that wet bone, like green striplings, won’t disintegrate into ash like dry or aged bone.  The results of the experiment, and the evidence of maggots, lead them to conclude Mary Latham was dead for several days before the car was burned.  Her husband is the prime suspect, but he seems to have an airtight alibi for the time the fire was started.  

Another mystery for Brockton is the contents of a package sent by Burt DeVriess, aka Grease, Brockton’s defense attorney. The contents are supposedly the remains of dear Aunt Jean; however, closer examination reveals they are mostly Quick Dry concrete and animal bones.  In the midst of these two mysteries, Garland Hamilton escapes incarceration and resumes his quest for vengeance.  

The three plots don’t produce much heat, despite a sizzling set up.  Imagine the scene in which Brockton and his protégées burned a car - once the fire was out all that remained was a smoldering heap and shallow puddles.  That sums up my reaction to this book.  The plots are there only to provide forensic information but without story or character development the results are muddy puddles.   The characters are flat, the motives superficial and the resolution rushed.  If your intested in forensics, read a textbook. I’m sure it’ll be more entertaining.