A body is being scanned in Pilgrim Hospital, not an unusual occurrence, except that Maura Isles, forensic pathologist, is present along with a room full of reporters and TV cameras. The reason for this media circus is that the body is a female mummy and she has been dead for centuries - or so they think that is until the scan shows up a bullet.
The possibility that the body is a murder victim brings in Detective Jane Rizzoli, changing the focus of the investigation from one of how the mummy lived to how she died and why. A second and third body both also preserved in unusual historic ways, indicate that there is a killer on the loose who is either goading the police or has another agenda with the victims.
As each layer of this book is revealed the plot deepens with references to archaeology adding more spice to the already gripping central murders. As usual the central characters, Maura and Jane, are well painted as are the dynamics between them and the other personalities in play. Dr Josephine Pulcillo, a curator from the museum which owned the mummy, is also well characterised in enough depth to be interesting.
I am a keen reader of Tess Gerritsen’s books and this one did not disappoint. Gripping to the end, with only a few hints for the reader to follow, Keeping the Dead is another great crime thriller in the Maura Isles, Jane Rizzoli series. Highly recommended along with the rest.
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Amanda Brown