When Gideon first examines the bones at the site, he concurs that they are human and that they have been mostly likely interred for 3-5 years. Based on that, plus other information he has, Joly concludes that these bones are those of Jean Bousquet, a drifter who had worked with the Institute and had vanished several years prior. Gideon notes some damage to one of the elbows and promises to make a closer inspection in the police lab.

Upon arriving there, Gideon is knocked unconscious and when he comes to he realizes he was set up and that the bones have disappeared. He immediately suspects a connection to the Institute because he had spent a good deal of time there, and the five scholars were the only people who knew where he would be.

As Gideon sorts through the puzzle with only the information Joly has provided, the memory of the bones and a handful of dog-gnawed bones, Gideon quickly learns the true identity of the skeleton and then realizes he may be in grave danger if he is correct and if the skeleton is connected to the hoax a few years back.

Even loyal fans of Gideon Oliver may be disappointed with his latest outing. He is a bit off kilter, and at times even his speech and manner are awkward. He has promised his wife Julie a working vacation, but spends most of the time helping Joly solve a five-year-old murder. Julie, however, is very accommodating, entertaining herself in the prehistoric town, offering her opinion from time to time.

While the fellows at the Institute are delightfully eccentric, they are hard to imagine as murder suspects. They do offer bits of comic relief, the head of the Institute even needing reminding that he has eaten his breakfast.

Readers will quickly figure out to whom the bones belong and the events surrounding the death. The connections between the hoax and the body are easily drawn and the mystery easily solved. Still, Gideon Oliver fans won't want to miss this installment and readers will enjoy the historic French setting.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry