Not all that
A reviewer on the paperback (Booklist, in a starred review) compared this to the best of Patricia Cornwell. No comparison. Cornwell is graphic, and her habit of having criminals stalk her characters instead of the other way around can be wearing, but her scientific jargon (while keeping the jist available to the reader) is of a much higher quality than this. The obvious leads to a further plot development in this book (dropped in casual conversation, and ignored at the time by the characters involved) are unlikely. Dialogue is stilted. Good scientific skills and their basis are articulated, and interesting basic forensic skills, both criminal and anthropological, are introduced. It's a good start.