Book No. 4 of 2013 is the latest Body Farm Novel from Jefferson Bass (aka Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass) The Inquisitor’s Key. This book is number seven in this fine series and it’s a little different from its predecessors. While the main storyline does involve bones, specifically, whether or not the bones that Bill Brockton’s assistant Miranda and her former archeology professor Stefan Beauvoir have found under the Palace of the Popes in Avignon France are the bones of Jesus of Nazareth, the setting is not the typical range of Bill and Miranda. Avignon France is a long way from the Body Farm in Knoxville and their offices beneath Neilan Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Finally, there’s a lot more history included in this novel, as the story twists and turns involves The Pope and the Palace of Popes in Avignon, and The Shroud of Turin.
Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge
Alongside of the present day action in Avignon, Jefferson Bass weaves a story of Avignon in the 14th century (the time period when the Shroud has been dated to be from) that includes: Pope John XXII, the White Cardinal and Inquisitor Jacques Fournier, Johannes Eckhart – a prominent theologian and mystic charged with heresy, painter Simone Martini and the object of the poet Petrarch’s sonnets Laura de Noves!
Bill and Miranda link the bones to the image on Shroud of Turin but when the bones turn out to be 2,000 years old all heck breaks out and soon Bill and Miranda are in a fight for their lives!
As always the characters Bill, Miranda and everyone else are well-developed and Bill and Miranda’s relationship is a strong part of the story. But this book with the addition of its historical aspects takes the series to a new level. I love books that teach me something about history and this one certainly did! Even though this is the seventh book in the series and there are references to what has happened in the past I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this book. So good find it and enjoy!!