Suspense and Mystery
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Forensic anthropology offers elements of suspense and mystery, making it the perfect backdrop for a novel. When a skeleton is discovered and a forensic anthropologist such as Kathy is brought in, it may be as simple as verifying that the bones are not human, to as complex as identifying a victim and investigating the crime. The latter is filled with a natural mystery and process of discovery as clues are found and put together.Scientists use all the tools that modern technology has to offer, including carbon dating and DNA testing, to get to the bottom of the case. While not all cases start with a question and end with a satisfactory answer, it is amazing what forensics is able to uncover and how cases that once would have gone unsolved can now be closed. This ability to get to the bottom of a mystery is an obvious point of curiosity and interest, making it ideal for sharing with a larger audience. Much of the work Kathy does in real life becomes the jumping off point for storylines found in both Bones and in her novels.
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