Death's Acre

Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab The Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales

By: Dr. Bill Bass, Jon Jefferson

Narrated by: George Grizzard

Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Nowhere is there another lab like Dr. Bill Bass's: on a hillside in Tennessee, human bodies decompose in the open air, aided by insects, bacteria and birds, unhindered by coffins or mausoleums. At the "Body Farm," nature takes its course, with corpses buried in shallow graves, submerged in water, concealed beneath slabs of concrete, locked in trunks of cars. As stand-ins for murder victims, they serve the needs of science, and the cause of justice.

For thirty years, Dr. Bass's research has revolutionized the field of forensic science, particularly by pinpointing "time since death" in murder cases. In this riveting audiobook, he investigates real cases and leads listeners on an unprecedented journey behind the locked gates of the Body Farm. A master scientist and an engaging storyteller, Bass shares his most intriguing work: his revisit of the Lindbergh kidnapping and murder, fifty years after the fact; the mystery of a headless corpse whose identity astonished the police; the telltale bugs that finally sent a murderous grandfather to death row; and many more.

Forensic science and murder investigations are among the most fascinating topics of our time. Dominating television and print media, the subjects could not be hotter. As one of the world's leading forensic anthropologists, Dr. Bill Bass is the premier guide to this unusual realm.

Includes a forward written by Patricia Cornwell.

©2003 Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson (P)2003 Simon & Schuster Inc. All Rights Reserved. Audioworks Is An Imprint Of Simon & Schuster, Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"Bass, writing with journalist Jefferson, proves to be a witty storyteller with a welcome sense of humor." (Publishers Weekly)

great stories

I live in Knoxville and can actually see the Body Farm from where I work. The book started a bit slow, but became truly fascinating and educational. A must read for anyone who is intrigued by forensics. This is also a great history of the field.

5 stars!

Really enjoyed this book (except when listening over a meal time ;))! The stories were great and added some depth to the terrific review of science and statistics. Very well read by Dr. Bass, too!

amazing

I didn't want to stop listening I was so captured by the information and learned so much!!

great forforensic science majors

Had to read this in highschool for a forensics class that was really interesting. My teacher just ened up reading it to us, but still a great book. I honestly had no idea that the body farm at the university of tennessee existed until I read this. It was creepy but kept me wanting to read more. It also helped me remember things I needed for tests in the class. Gave four stars since I was reading it for school and not fun (which I would have read by now if it was recommended after learning about the casual criminalist on youtube). Do give it a read if you are ever curious about how people have been able to actually research and study the death and decomposition of the human body.

Loving the dead

My only regret about this listen is that it was an abridged version. I loved this account about the "birth" of forensic anthropology. Well told tale of an interesting life and the origins of the Body Farm.

Death's Acre

I really enjoyed this book. I am from the Knoxville area originally and most of the crimes he discussed were familiar to me. It was very interesting to hear how he helped to solve them. I think Dr. Bass is a terrific storyteller and the book kept my interest. It takes you a step further than CSI and gives you a lot of background on how time of death is determined, etc. Highly recommended if you are at all interested in the topic of forensics.

Great But Repetitive At Beginning

No reason to have explained how age and gender are determined so many times. Loved the stories.

Buy it now!

This is so well written and absolutely fascinating. Bill Bass is a treasure among us mere mortals.

Worth a listen

I read this in college and loved listening to it again. Absolutely amazing and very educational with a lot of humor

110% recommend!

this book was intensely fun to listen to. Of course I think you need to be in to Anthropologie. Or forensic science. this book is obviously based on real life events current research and the development of forensic science it maintained and exciting and upbeat movement to the whole read or listen. it was honestly hard for me to shut off to even pay attention to what my husband might have been saying to me.