A Cry from the Dust - Carrie Stuart Parks

n nCarrie Stuart Parks utilizes her own background as a celebrated, FBI-trained forensic artist to blend fact and fiction into a stunning mystery.n nA 19th-century conspiracy is about to be shattered by a 21st-century forensic artist. n nIn 1857, a wagon train in Utah was assaulted by a group of militant Mormons calling themselves the Avenging Angels. One hundred and forty people were murdered, including unarmed men, women, and children.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre remains controversial to this day--but the truth may be written on the skulls of the victims.n nWhen renowned forensic artist Gwen Marcey is recruited to reconstruct the faces of recently unearthed victims at Mountain Meadows, she isn't expecting more than an interesting gig . . .

and a break from her own hectic life.n nBut when Gwen stumbles on the ritualized murder of a young college student, her work on the massacre takes on a terrifying new aspect, and research quickly becomes a race against modern-day fundamentalist terror.n nAs evidence of a cover-up mounts--a cover-up spanning the entire history of the Mormon church--Gwen finds herself in the crosshairs of a secret society bent on fulfilling prophecy and revenging old wrongs.n nCan a forensic artist reconstruct two centuries of suppressed history . . .

before it repeats itself?n nParks's real-life career as a forensic artist lends remarkable authenticity to her enthralling novel, A Cry from the Dust. Her work is a fresh new voice in suspense, and I became an instant fan. Highly recommended!

--Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling authorn nA unique novel on forensics and fanaticism. A good story on timely subjects well told. For me, these are the ingredients of a successful novel today and Carrie Stuart Parks has done just that.

--Carter Cornick, FBI Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research (Ret.)n