Caving novels, so rare, and usually so wrong, so this is a delight in that it depicts caving somewhat accurately. Very different from the UK scene, and a with a few discrepancies (no littering no chemicals but suddenly climbing chalk is acceptable? It's never used in the uk's (much wetter) caves), but the spirit is right. The case is, as per the previous two books, far too complex with many possible angles that only come together in a final revelation.

Diane and her mixed bag of museum staff and criminal investigators finally manage to have a recreational caving trip - still trying to map the unexplored cave on a neighbouring land. Something that in the UK wouldn't happen, anything that open would have been well explored by now, but the US is more sparsely populated. Diane is in the lead of course when the floor falls away under her. A very very rare occurrence (that caused a major rescue only a few months ago, so it does happen). Fortunately she barely fell any distance, but discovered a new chamber - that contained a mummified body. It hadn't come in the way she did! But the first priority is to get him out and formally recorded. After that perhaps they can finish exploring. Meanwhile having bring donated an Egyptian mummy, the next offering to come their way is skeleton from a british cave, thought to be a witch - and the local witch's coven want the remains to go back to them instead. And life goes on - with funerals of relatives and museum donors. Mike and Diane and attend, but both are stabbed. Suddenly a few bizarre instances are turning much nastier. Diane is summoned away to deal with family emergency, there's a break-in and some more threats.

Given all their injuries there's no more caving, but eventually the strands are woven together, evidence from the bodies along with some very imaginative 'database searching' provides some identifications and then everything wraps up quickly. It's not a guessable mystery, as the story is hugely contrived but it's well worked through with attention to detail, and believable mistakes and motivations. ( )

Dead Secret
4.5 Stars

In this installment, Forensic Anthropologist, Diane Fallon, and her team discover a mummified corpse while caving, which sets in motion a series of chilling events culminating in the revelations of a decades old murder that has deadly consequences in the present.

An action packed and intricate plot with characters that come to life on the pages. The forensic details are fascinating and contribute significantly to the engrossing storyline without being excessive or redundant.

Diane and her team are engaging and we also get some interesting insight into her background - glad I don't have her family.

All in all, a thoroughly entertaining read. ( )

Diane Fallon mystery. Quick paced, easy to read and enjoy. ( )

a ok book to read ( )

Beverly Connor manages to include just enough forensic detail to create interest, but she doesn't bog the plot down with an overload of scientific data. She also throws in a bit of archaeology, anthropology, and earth science and weaves them into her tale of adventure and mystery. And what a shocking end to this story. ( )