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Close to the Bone (A Theresa MacLean Mystery, 7) Hardcover – October 1, 2014

by Lisa Black (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 208 ratings
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"A must-read for fans of Cornwell and Grafton" Booklist

“Taut suspense, a brave and likable heroine, a clever plot, and a slam-bang ending add up to a high-water mark for this popular series” Booklist on Close to the Bone

Forensic scientist Theresa MacLean stumbles across a murder rather too close for comfort when she returns to the Medical Examiner’s office following a late-night call to find one deskman missing and the other beaten to death. Written in blood above the dead man’s head is a single word: ‘Confess’.

It’s the first time a homicide has taken place actually within the ME’s office. Medical Examiner Stone works on how to spin the news while Theresa works the scene.

When a second victim is discovered, Theresa uncovers a link to the death of another co-worker, records secretary Diane Allman, who was murdered in her own home ten years before. As she painstakingly pieces the clues together, Theresa realizes that she has become an integral part of a ruthless killer’s murderous agenda. And if she is to survive, she must find out what really happened to Diane all those years ago.
Previous page
  1. Book 7 of 7
    Theresa MacLean
  2. Print length
    224 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Severn House
  5. Publication date
    October 1, 2014
  6. Dimensions
    6 x 0.75 x 8.94 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0727884026
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0727884022
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“By releasing surprises little by little, Black manages to fit both a whodunit and a police-chase thriller into a single bagged-and-tagged package.” ― Kirkus Reviews

"Black’s intricately plotted seventh Theresa MacLean mystery". ― Publishers Weekly

“Taut suspense, a brave and likable heroine, a clever plot, and a slam-bang ending add up to a high-water mark for this popular series” ― Booklist Starred Review

About the Author

Lisa Black is a forensic scientist and crime scene investigator for a south Florida police department. Prior to that, she worked in the trace evidence lab for the coroner’s office in Cleveland, Ohio. She is the New York Times-bestselling author of six previous Theresa MacLean thrillers.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House; First World Publication edition (October 1, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0727884026
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0727884022
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 8.94 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 208 ratings

About the author

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Lisa Black

Lisa Black

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Lisa Black's books have reached the NYT bestsellers list, been translated into six languages and have been optioned for film. Perish was shortlisted for the inaugural Sue Grafton Memorial Award by Putnam and Mystery Writers of America. Lisa will be a Guest of Honor at 2021 Killer Nashville.

She is a certified crime scene analyst in Florida and a former forensic scientist for the Cleveland coroner's office. She is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the International Association for Identification, and the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, and has testified in more than fifty homicide trials.

She still aspires to drive Nancy Drew's convertible and marry Ellery Queen.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
208 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

booklover
5.0 out of 5 stars Well-Written Forensic Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2016
Verified Purchase
Returning to the Medical Examiner’s office following a late-night call out, Forensic Scientist Theresa MacLean finds a body .. the body of one of the deskmen has been beaten to death. The other deskman is missing. Above the body, written in blood, is the word CONFESS.
When a second victim is found … a man who also had ties to the ME’s office… Theresa finds a link to yet another employee death … that took place 10 years ago.

Who is targeting the employees of the ME’s office? And why is there a link to a crime 10 years in the past?

Theresa and her team are going to have to work fast before one of them becomes the next target.

I’ve been fortunate enough to read this series from the very first. Each one of the series has been well-written. If you like anything forensic-related, you will enjoy this book and all the others that come before. I would highly recommend reading them in order. Theresa MacLean is a great series character and it’s been exciting watching her grow with each book.
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lois
4.0 out of 5 stars Fast-paced forensic mystery.
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2015
Verified Purchase
Starts off with a bang. Teresa is a forensic scientist at the Cleveland crime lab who is in the lab after a late night call-out, when she discovers the body of the deskman. The words "confess" is written in blood on the cabinet. Two other lab employees are killed as a past case is identified as the reason for the spree. Teresa is an engaging protagonist-curious and dogged in the pursuit of the truth. Forensic details are interspersed in to the narrative and give insight in to the strengths and limits of forensics, but the strength of the story is the interplay between Teresa and the people she meets in the course of solving the puzzle. Lots of suspense, and the forensic details don't slow down the story.
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KC
3.0 out of 5 stars Book is conceptually good just slower read
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is the first I have read this author. She has potential but parts of the book just seemed to move slower. Book is conceptually good just slower read.
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M. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars what a crazy story
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
People are turning up murdered at the ME’s office. Theresa takes it on herself to find out why, and puts herself in the killer’s grasp.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Really great forensic read
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2014
Verified Purchase
If you like Cornwell and Reich's you are in for a real treat!!! Lisa Black writes one heck of a good book!! I can't wait to start a new one!!
One person found this helpful
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Bowman
4.0 out of 5 stars Good reading
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2014
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book very much. The characters, suspense and the who done it kept me intrigued to the very end. Very enjoyable and well worth reading, well written.
One person found this helpful
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Judith Henderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Forensics
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2020
Verified Purchase
I really like this type of book and she doesn't go into too much detail.
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S Utah explorer
3.0 out of 5 stars Not my favorite mystery
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
This was my first introduction too "MacLean"; not very impressive all told. I found the dialogue a bit forced, and the story development shaky. Having said that I will try another one...
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