This is just the sort of book I would have picked for myself when I was in elementary school. What kid doesn't like to explore the creepy and eerie things found in bogs? Kids will learn about science and the scientific method in an interesting format. The author did a great job setting up the reader for success with a glossary of terms, a lengthy index, a recommended reading list and a timeline of events related to the discovery of bog bodies all located in the back of the book.
Using plain language, the author does an outstanding job of explaining how bogs work to preserve human bodies. She then draws the reader in with a murder mystery and the discovery of some body parts!
From there it is one scientific team after another attempting to discover the 'Lindow' Man's secrets. For example, there are phytoarchaeologists who study the stomach and intestine contents of the dead to help determine the time of year the person died. If there is fruit present, they can say with fair certainty what time of year that person died based on when that fruit ripens.
The author helps explain the scientific method by introducing the exhaustive detective work that must be done in order to solve the mystery.
Part history, part science, this is a good mentor text for elementary kids learning to think critically about the world around them. The book also shows that things are not always what they seem, so question everything! ( )

Since this book was written in 1997, it does not have the current information available on bog bodies. The author uses sources that are relatively old as well, ranging from 1972-1991, although the book is very informative about bog bodies. Maps of these bog areas would have added to the quality of the book, although the author did not provide them. At one point, the author discusses a particular bog area where they have found bog bodies during the course of human development in Florida. The author states that this location is “…where Disney World now stands…” Thus, the author is assuming that the reader knows exactly where Disney World is and that they have even heard of it in the first place. Many actual photographs of the bog bodies and the old objects that humans wore at that time were displayed with adequate explanations of what was known about each one though.
There were obvious instances where the author assumes that the reader views death, or dead bodies as “gruesome.” This is evident by the title of the first chapter, “Gruesome Discoveries,” and many other statements such as, “…making a gruesome find like that…” and “Not everyone feared bog bodies…” seems to suggest that the reader thinks that finding human remains in a bog as gross, or otherwise creepy. Perhaps the author is trying to glorify the horror that she seemingly assumes that everyone associates human remains as “gruesome.”
One thing that is good about this book is that it provides basic information about what bog bodies have been found that we humans were aware of back in the 1990’s. I would vote that this book is too old to be introduced in any classroom, but it would be useful to use as a source of information if one is doing research on bogs and bog bodies.
The author cites her sources numerically, which adds to the quality. A useful glossary is also provided, as well as an index, table of contents, suggested further readings, a timeline of bog bodies, and information about the author. The timeline for the discovery of these bog bodies provides information that I view as off topic at times, such as when Julius Caesar first invaded Celtic Britain. If Julius Caesar had anything to does with these bog bodies, the author does not make it clear as to how.