Jefferson Bass Books In Order

Jefferson Bass is the joint pen name of forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass and journalist-filmmaker Jon Jefferson, a New York Times bestselling writing team best known for the Body Farm forensic thrillers.

This page lists all Jefferson Bass books in order, including the Body Farm series, related short stories, and their non-fiction books about forensic science and the Body Farm. The lists are organized primarily by publication order, with brief reading notes where chronology differs.

The Body Farm Series (Books in Order)

The Body Farm series follows Dr. Bill Brockton, a forensic anthropologist in Tennessee whose work at a human-decomposition research facility helps solve complex crimes through cutting-edge forensic science. The novels blend procedural investigation with real-world forensic detail inspired by the actual Anthropology Research Facility at University of Tennessee.

Co-authored by Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson under the pen name Jefferson Bass.

Publication Order

  1. Carved In Bone, 2006
  2. Flesh and Bone, 2007
  3. The Devil’s Bones, 2008
  4. Bones of Betrayal, 2009
  5. The Bone Thief, 2010
  6. The Bone Yard, 2011
  7. Madonna and Corpse (#6.5), 2012
  8. The Inquisitor’s Key, 2012
  9. Jordan’s Stormy Banks (#0.5), 2013
  10. Cut to the Bone, 2014
  11. The Breaking Point, 2015
  12. Without Mercy, 2016

Reading notes:

  • Madonna and Corpse is a short e-book story linked to The Inquisitor’s Key and can be read between The Bone Yard and The Inquisitor’s Key.
  • Jordan’s Stormy Banks is a prequel novella set in the early 1990s, before the main events of Cut to the Bone and Carved in Bone. Chronologically, it comes first, followed by Cut to the Bone and then Carved in Bone, but publication order remains the primary reference list above.

Non-Fiction Books

Written by Jon Jefferson

Jefferson Bass Biography

Jefferson Bass books in order

Jefferson Bass is the joint pen name of American forensic anthropologist Dr. Bill Bass and American journalist and documentary filmmaker Jon Jefferson. Together they are best known for the Body Farm crime novels featuring Dr. Bill Brockton, as well as several non-fiction books about forensic science and the real Body Farm.
Official website: jeffersonbass.com

Dr. Bill Bass was trained as an archaeologist and anthropologist and became a leading forensic specialist who worked as a consultant to law-enforcement agencies and taught at the University of Tennessee. In the early 1980s he founded the university’s Anthropology Research Facility, which was nicknamed “the Body Farm,” a pioneering outdoor laboratory where human remains are left to decompose and then are studied to better estimate the time of death and solve other key forensic questions.

Jon Jefferson worked for many years as a reporter, writer, and TV producer before he started his collaboration with Bill Bass on documentaries about the Body Farm. Next, they co-authored Death’s Acre and other non-fiction books. Their success with the non-fiction books led to the creation of the Jefferson Bass pen name, which launched the Body Farm series, that combines detailed forensic science with crime-related plots. They continue to be associated with the Body Farm books and related forensic writing. The series is inspired by the real-life memoirs Death’s Acre and Beyond the Body Farm.

Jefferson Bass Awards and Honors

Awards

  • The Bone Yard – Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, Bronze (Mystery – 2012)
  • Dr. Bill Bass – National Professor of the Year, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (career honor related to his academic work in forensic anthropology)

Nominations and Shortlists

Cut to the Bone – Silver Falchion Award for Crime Thriller (2014)

Edited by

Marika

Founder of Mystery Sequels, a reference site focused on listing mystery and thriller books in the correct reading order. I maintain and update the site’s bibliographies as new titles are released, ensuring accuracy and consistency across author and series pages.

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7 Comments

  1. I have loved this series from the first book and looked with anticipation for the next one. Sorry no more on the schedule.
    Thanks for a great history.

  3. Just started reading your books, what a great reading experience.

  4. History and science aspects of the books are very interesting. Education slides right in to the great stories. I am enjoying the books . These stories can be read twice and still be entertaining.

    1. Just wondering if you were going to write another Jefferson bass book I would love to read it at the library I love ur book thanks your the only series books I can read all the way through

  6. I have been married to my husband for 22 years. In that time I have never seen him pick up a book to read, until now. He loves your books. We have bought three so far and when I save up enough money I will buy him more. My mother was a 911 operator for 32 years in Jefferson County, TN. These books go beyond all the stories that see told me while see was alive. Thank you for your dedication.

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