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Aaron Elkins

    July 24, 1935

    Aaron J. Elkins is an American mystery writer, best known for his novels featuring forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver, the 'skeleton detective.' As a world-renowned authority, Oliver travels globally, with each installment set in a different, often exotic, locale. Elkins also penned series centered on museum curator Chris Norgren, an expert in Northern Renaissance art, and standalone thrillers. Alongside his wife, Charlotte Elkins, he has co-written golf mysteries and short stories, showcasing a diverse range of crime fiction.

    Aaron Elkins
    Skeleton Dance
    Skull Duggery
    Where There's a Will
    A Long Time Coming
    The Worst Thing
    The Trouble with Mirrors
    • 2018

      A Long Time Coming

      • 255 pages
      • 9 hours of reading
      3.9(32)Add rating

      Art curator Val Caruso is not a happy camper. His promotion has just been nixed, his divorce has become final, and he's dug himself into a nice little rut for his fortieth birthday. The uplift? A trip to Milan to help Holocaust survivor Sol Bezzecca recover a pair of cherished sketches by Renoir. They'd once been given to Sol's family by the then-unknown artist, looted by the Italian Fascist militia, and now after decades in hiding have turned up for auction. It's Val's job to get them back. The trip takes a dangerous turn thanks to an intricate web that reaches back to World War II-- and someone among the art thieves and forgers wants Val out of the picture-- permanently.

      A Long Time Coming
    • 2016

      The Trouble with Mirrors

      • 246 pages
      • 9 hours of reading

      When a gift from her uncle is stolen and her uncle disappears, Alix London and her friends in the FBI must get to the bottom of another strange case.

      The Trouble with Mirrors
    • 2016

      Switcheroo

      • 284 pages
      • 10 hours of reading
      3.7(387)Add rating

      The Skeleton Detective is back. A cold case dating from the 1960s draws forensic anthropologist Gideon Oliver to the Channel Islands decades later to shine a light on the mysterious connection between two men who died there on the same night. Swapped as young boys by their fathers during the Nazi occupation, wealthy Roddy Carlisle and middle-class George Skinner had some readjusting to do after the war ended--but their lives remained linked through work, trouble with the law, and finally, it would seem, through murder. Nobody expects that Gideon's modern-day investigation will turn up fresh bodies. But old bones tell many tales, and the Skeleton Detective has to be at his sharpest to piece together the truth before the body count mounts still higher. Declared "a series that never disappoints" by the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Gideon Oliver mystery series is highly recommended for fans of Agatha Christie and Kathy Reichs.

      Switcheroo
    • 2014

      The Art Whisperer

      • 260 pages
      • 10 hours of reading
      3.7(354)Add rating

      Art restorer Alix London discovers that a Pollock painting at her museum may be a forgery, earning her the anger of the senior curator and the attentions of FBI Special Agent Ted Ellesworth, with whom she ruined a budding relationship.

      The Art Whisperer
    • 2012

      The Worst Thing

      • 292 pages
      • 11 hours of reading
      3.8(12)Add rating

      For Bryan Bennett, designing hostage negotiation programs is the perfect job—as long as he doesn’t deal directly with kidnappers or their victims. Intense nightmares of his own abduction and imprisonment as a small boy still plague him thirty-some years later, and claustrophobia prevents him from attempting to travel. So when Bryan’s boss asks him to fly to Reykjavik to teach his corporate-level kidnapping and extortion seminar, he initially refuses. But a CEO has specifically requested Bryan—or no one else. Finally Bryan relents… For decades he’s treaded gingerly around his deepest terrors. Now, on this trip, Bryan’s taken hostage again and must face his fears full-on. Will he realize that in this battle of will and nerve, he is his own greatest enemy? Or has this fight already been lost years ago?

      The Worst Thing
    • 2010

      Skull Duggery

      • 272 pages
      • 10 hours of reading
      3.6(18)Add rating

      Set against the backdrop of Mexico, Gideon initially enjoys his vacation with his wife until he becomes embroiled in a series of unsettling investigations. His examination of a mummified corpse reveals an unexpected cause of death, leading him to another case involving a previously misidentified skeleton. As he uncovers disturbing connections between the two bodies, Gideon realizes that probing too deeply could put his own life at risk, turning him into a potential victim in a dangerous game of deception.

      Skull Duggery
    • 2009

      Uneasy Relations

      • 272 pages
      • 10 hours of reading
      3.6(32)Add rating

      Set against the backdrop of Gibraltar, a professor discovers a buried skeleton of a woman and a part-human, part-Neanderthal child, igniting his curiosity. However, his investigation is complicated by two suspicious deaths that may be murders. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself ensnared in dangerous schemes, highlighting the precarious line between human intellect and primal instincts. The story intertwines archaeology with suspense, challenging the boundaries of humanity.

      Uneasy Relations
    • 2008

      Little Tiny Teeth

      • 272 pages
      • 10 hours of reading
      3.6(40)Add rating

      Featuring Professor Gideon Oliver, a relatable and intellectual detective, this mystery unfolds with engaging twists and turns. The narrative showcases Oliver's unique investigative methods as he navigates complex scenarios, blending his academic insights with real-world challenges. The story promises a compelling mix of intrigue and character development, making it a captivating read for fans of cerebral sleuths.

      Little Tiny Teeth
    • 2007

      Unnatural Selection

      • 272 pages
      • 10 hours of reading
      3.6(43)Add rating

      When Gideon Oliver's wife Julie attends a conservation forum on the emerald Isles of Scilly, Gideon tags along, expecting a holiday. To amuse himself, he explores the Neolithic sites there. But instead of ancient ruins, he finds evidence of a very recent murder.

      Unnatural Selection
    • 2006

      Where There's a Will

      • 288 pages
      • 11 hours of reading
      3.9(674)Add rating

      Gideon Oliver, a creation-forensics professor and acclaimed Skeleton Detective, delves into the hidden secrets of a wealthy family. As he navigates through a web of intrigue, his keen analytical skills and approachable demeanor make him a compelling sleuth. The narrative promises a blend of mystery and character depth, showcasing Oliver's unique expertise in uncovering truths that others might overlook.

      Where There's a Will