Fish, Blood & Bone by Leslie Forbes

Fish, blood and bone are the additives to garden fertilizer which is what Claire's family began producing in early 1900's London; which is what Sally uses on the tenants yards around Claire's strange victorian mansion, inherited from an aunt that she never knew she had. All clear so far?

If you like mystery stories, this 'un is a ripper. Claire decides to avoid possible detection by Sally's brutal killers while she traces the roots of her own newly discovered family via a scientific expedition to the Himalayas. Claire is qualified to join this expedition on account of her profession of forensic photographer (blood and bone) and anyway her friends worry she is developing an unhealthy relationship to the grisly contents of her great-uncle's specimen collection in the basement (more blood and bone). She finally decides to get away when she discovers the gruesome remains buried in her aunt's backyard (you guessed it, tons of bones).

In general, and especially in the first half of this book, there is a density to the detail that actually makes this all quite believable. Forbes clearly also has an artistic enjoyment of science that gives some depth to the story. Claire turns to chemistry for a poetic and philosophical meaning of life; these bits make for very nice reading. What's also nice in the first part of the book, is the tenous connections that are established; between Claire and her tenants, her family and ancestors; England, India and America. Something's clearly been bubbling for many generations and nobody escapes history.

"Of the approximately 4000 works of art listed in the catalogue, only half were to be found within the boxes meant to contain them. The rest were scattered in haphazard configurations that might have told someone a lot about the general interests of the library's visitors. After an hour I said to the clerk that it would be a good idea for him to replace the pictures in catalogue order. 'Why, Miss?'
  "It would make it easier to find the pictures you want, for a start.'
  He pondered this novel suggestion. 'But then, if one goes directly to the picture one is seeking, think of all the others one doesn't see!'
  'Whereas in your current system you waste time looking through lots of pictures that don't interest you,' I said impatiently.
  'How can this be a waste of time if you are finding something new!'"

Fish, Blood & Bone is definitely interesting reading - the kind you read every extra snatched moment just to find out what happened as soon as possible. But I guess I was hoping for it to be something bigger than it was. I guess someone mentions India and I'm automatically thinking Salman Rushdie, Vikram Seth and (especially) Gita Mehta - a mystic immersion in a rich world just beyond explanation. Oh picky picky me.

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