A new bunch of books to giveaway!
The giveaways for this theme will be about a random series of books related only because they are about things that make me think of summer!
For this theme I have a bunch of summer things in my mind:
1. bugs
2. beach
3. travel
4. storms
5. horse-riding
6. gardening/farms
7. going home to visit my family
8. weddings
9. blue sky
10. dandelions
11. hiking
12. potlucks
13. crazy reality shows
14. books with the word "summer" in them
I had other words, but couldn't think of books to use to relate to them! :)
RULES FOR ENTERING:
a. Post a comment to the blog entries of the books you would like to win AND answer the question that goes with it. There will be one summer word giveaway at a time.
Today's Question: What bug bugs you the most? For me it is the mosquitoe! They are soooo bad here this year! I guess because of all the rain we had earlier.
b. Enter on or before the date specified. Today's book winner will be drawn on July 31.
c. Check back for the next summer theme word giveaway!
Today's summer word: "bugs"
The book being given away: The Bug Man Series by Tim Downs.
Book 1: Shoofly Pie
Description:
In a remote county of North Carolina, Kathryn Guilford receives the news that her long-time friend and one-time suitor is dead. She turns to Dr. Nick Polchak, the Bug Man, to help her learn the truth—and she is introduced to a mysterious world of blood-seeking flies and flesh-eating beetles. But there’s a problem… Kathryn Guilford has a pathological fear of insects. Now she must confront her darkest fears to unearth a decade-long conspiracy that threatens to turn her entire world upside down.
Q & A with Tim Downs:
Q: Where did you get the idea for Nick Polchak’s character?
A: Several years ago I read an article in a science magazine about forensic entomology. I found the article disgusting and fascinating at the same time—that’s when I knew I had the makings of a good story. It occurred to me that a forensic entomologist could make a very original character. After all, in crime fiction it’s all been done before: street-wise cops, tough-guy detectives, down-and-out private investigators… All these characters are a part of the law enforcement system, but an entomologist is an outsider. An entomologist is someone who chose to get a PhD in bugs. I asked myself, “What would happen if you dropped a Bug Man in the middle of all these law enforcement types?” That’s when Nick Polchak was born.
Q: Do you really talk to yourself?
A: I’m sorry, what was the question? I was talking to myself.
Q: Why did you give Nick those big, thick glasses?
A: I wanted to emphasize the idea of Nick as an outsider. His glasses are one of the things that separate him from everyone else—they’re the windows he looks through to study the world of human beings. Nick likes to think of himself as a part of the insect world. I thought his glasses would make him look more like a genuine Bug/Man.
Q: Why is Nick such a wise guy?
A: Because I’m such a wise guy. Ask my wife.
Q: Is CSI really accurate?
A: Whenever I’m around coroners or crime scene investigators I like to ask, “What do you think of CSI?” They all like the show, but they always offer four criticisms: 1) No one seems to be a specialist. Forensic entomology, for example, requires a PhD for starters—you don’t dabble in it as a sidelight. 2) They have no budget. They run every test imaginable, regardless of cost. Real investigations don’t work that way. 3) They get their test results back too fast—in hours instead of days (they always say this with a note of envy). 4) There are too many forensic babes (they say this with a special note of envy).
Q: How do you do all your research?
A: I begin on the Internet—it always astounds me what you can find on the Internet. For each of my novels I fill four three-ring binders just with information from Internet sources. Next, I collect books on my major topics of interest. Finally—and this is the really indispensable step—I talk to people. I’ve interviewed coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, crime scene investigators—anyone who can help provide background knowledge or color for my stories. I find that people are more than happy to talk, once they know you’re not writing an expose for the Washington Post.
Q: Are the details about forensic entomology accurate? Do you make any of it up?
A: It’s accurate down to the smallest detail—even the species of flies. As a part of my research for Shoofly Pie, I attended a forensic entomology workshop for coroners, deputy coroners, and crime scene investigators. It’s affectionately known as Maggot School, and that describes it pretty well. In the mornings we discussed colorful slides taken at murder scenes (“Who can tell me how long this guy’s been dead?”) and in the afternoons we learned how to collect insect evidence at a crime scene by gathering maggots from decomposing pigs. The traditional closing banquet for the conference is a pig roast.
Book 2: Chop Shop
Description:
Dr. Riley McKay begins a fellowship program in forensic pathology at the renowned Allegheny County Coroner’s Office in Pittsburgh. She soon discovers that her supervising pathologist, Dr. Nathan Lassiter, has an unexplained history of bungled autopsies, concealed evidence, and unreported wounds. Ignored by her senior pathologists and threatened by Dr. Lassiter, she turns to Dr. Nick Polchak, the Bug Man, to help her investigate.
Book 3: First the Dead
Description:
When Hurricane Katrina takes New Orleans by storm, forensic entomologist Nick Polchak is waiting for her. He’s part of DMORT, the FEMA team assigned to recover and identify human remains in large-scale disasters. The trouble is, Nick isn’t much of a team player. And he doesn’t take well to following orders he doesn’t agree with... such as the decision to divert all DMORT personnel into rescuing the living and leaving the dead for later. Nick begs to differ. He's there to collect bodies, and he's going to do just that—especially when he starts finding bodies that were clearly dead before the hurricane struck. Nick understands that all forensic evidence will soon disintegrate in the hot, contaminated water...and he knows that’s exactly what the killer wants to happen. The more Nick tries to uncover answers, the stronger—and deadlier—the resistance becomes. And it doesn’t help that a beautiful psychiatrist thinks he’s on the verge of a mental breakdown. In a world turned upside down, where people live on rooftops and streets are underwater, where everything and everyone is on the verge of collapse...can even the Bug Man uncover the truth? MY THOUGHTS: If you like CSI, you'll like these books! Nick is a quirky character who likes bugs and would prefer to think of himself as a bug instead of human. He even has "bug eyes" when he wears his think glasses. He is more comfortable with bugs than people and has an unusual approach to people where he is more interested in watching their reaction to things than in being the way others think he is "supposed" to behave. In that way, he ends up making himself endearing to me--I love that he is so quirky! When you read these books, expect to be surprised sometimes at the level of detail pertaining to the bugs. As the author states in his Q&A above, he did extensive research for these books and his knowledge comes through in some rather detailed accounts of the bugs and their behavior. The "supporting cast" of characters who are part of the books are enjoyable too. They have to get used to Nick's way of relating, but once they do, they are grateful for his experitise and the things his unconventional methods can prove. I enjoyed these books very much. I look forward to the fourth book, coming in September!
