When a skeleton is all that's left to tell the story of a crime, Mary H. Manhein, otherwise known as "the bone lady," is called in. For almost two decades, Manhein has used her expertise in forensic pathology to help law enforcement agents--locally, nationally, and internationally--solve their most perplexing mysteries. She shares the extraordinary details of the often high-profile cases on which she works, and the science underlying her analyses. Here are Civil War skeletons, cases of alleged voodoo and witchcraft, crimes of political intrigue, and the before-and-after of facial reconstruction.

Written with the compassion and humor of a born storyteller, The Bone Lady is an unforgettable glimpse into the lab where one scientist works to reveal the human stories behind the remains.

"Whether reporting the stench, suffocating heat, or brutal sorties by biting insects in steamy bayous . . . Manheim is at once straightforward and appropriately droll. . . . She teaches us a great deal, often puncturing popular misconceptions." -- Book Page

"A subtly creepy collection of stories . . . A rare, effective blend of entertainment and education." -- Kirkus Reviews