“The Bone Yard,” Dr. Bill Bass’s latest Body Farm novel, is not an easy book to read.  In addition to political corruption, the story chronicles detailed descriptions of torture and abuse of children, children who were supposed to be protected and sheltered by the very people who abuse them.  
Through the diligent work of the fictional Dr. Bill Brockton and his colleague, this forensic anthropology team exposes the criminals and brings them to justice.
Dr. Bill Bass, who teams with Jon Jefferson to write The Body Farm novels as Jefferson Bass, will speak at the Blount County Public Library April 25 at 7:00 p.m.  This world-renowned forensic anthropologist founded the body farm at the University of Tennessee in order to scientifically study the process of decomposition of bodies under multiple environments and conditions.  
At the library, he will discuss the forensic anthropology involved in solving the crimes revealed in this latest book.  He will also be available to answer questions and sign all eight of his books that will be for sale at the program.  
Part of the proceeds from sales of books goes toward the   William M. Bass Forensic anthropology Center, a new building being constructed on the UTK campus as the new forensic anthropology processing center.  No credit cards are accepted; only cash or check.
While Dr. Bill Brockton is the fictional hero of The Body Farm novels, he bears some resemblance to the real Dr. Bill Bass.
The life work of the real Dr. Bass started years ago in Kentucky when he was invited by his professor to drive to the scene of a crime.  A few years later, when Bass was teaching and conducting research at the University of Kansas, his forensics work assisted in the solving of the murders of the Clutter family by two killers, later recorded by Truman Capote’s book, “In Cold Blood.”
In many cases, determining the time and cause of death is critical to solving a crime.  Dr. Bass has written that, when he was at the University of Kansas, he found the state of a body often to be a collection of dry bones with perhaps a bit of flesh still attached.  In Tennessee, however, a wetter, warmer climate creates an ecosystem in which bodies are often much messier and more insect-infested.  Therefore, it’s important to study the decomposition process in all different types of environments.
As Professor Emeritus, Dr. Bass continues public service as Consultant to Tennessee State Medical Examiners Systems as State Forensic Anthropologist, Visiting Faculty to The Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Consultant to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Forensic Anthropology, Consultant to United States Air Force Mortuary Services and Consultant to United States Armed Services Graves Registration Office (ASGRO).
Free and open to the public, the program is at the Blount County Public Library, located at 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville.

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