Good news -- the latest novel of the Body Farm series, "Without Mercy," lives up to the high standards of its predecessors. The series, co-authored by Dr. Bill Bass and writer Jon Jefferson, recount the exploits of the (mostly) fictional head of the University of Tennessee anthropology department, forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Brockton. Neither novel serialization nor co-authorship guarantees a good read. Co-authorship sometimes attenuates the best qualities of each writer; novels with recurring characters can tend toward repetition and short-cuts for expediency and profit. The Body Farm novels do not greatly suffer these qualitative drawbacks, but some repetition is inevitable. As the tenth book in the series, the familiarity of context does arise, but the narrative soon rises above this. Favorite aphorisms are repeated: Occam’s Razor; “shoot your way in and back out” (crime photos); the fascination with “don’t care to”; and boogie man Nick Satterfield is back. There is more overly-fanciful prose than usual: “the truck was like a four-wheel version of Charon’s boat, ferrying the dead across the river Styx…” describes Br. Brockton’s pick-up truck. We again hear about the archived boxes of Arikara Indian skeletons, as the prosaic Brockton asserts, “I could almost believe I heard the whispering spirits of the vast tribe of Arikara dead.” Fortunately, this seemingly pointless observation later develops into a deeper immersion into the complexity of ethnicity and history in a geographical region steeped in conflict, blood and hatred that has yet to find resolution. Beyond minor shortcomings, the book, like the others, is masterfully plotted and constructed, easing the reader into the vehicle of Brockton’s world and strapping you in before accelerating to gravity-escaping velocity. For an entertaining read, there is some thoughtful material here. As usual, Bass’s science and Jefferson’s literary skill combine for satisfying results. You can read up on Dr. Bass and the Anthropology Research Center (UT Body Farm in Knoxville), but suffice it to say he is the real life precursor to the Cornwell and Reichs books. The science and procedural aspects of the story are meticulously researched (who knew what a “lead smear” was?). "Without Mercy” takes us through the interplay of academic anthropology; collaboration and friction between the FBI, TBI, local law enforcement and collegial relationships; the odd configuration of Brockton's offices underneath Neyland Stadium on the Tennessee River; the delight of growing older and incipient obsolescence; loneliness; Knoxville's favorite suicide spot; and a disturbing explication of the moral insanity of organized racial hatred. Though recommended, you have to wonder if this is the final book of the series. As the good doctor remarks, “I had so many ghosts floating around in my head by now; every new case seemed to remind me of an old case, or two or three or five old cases…”