Chapters 1-2, Every Day Is Halloween, Talkative Skulls Summary and Analysis

Author William Maples has seen death countless times in many manifestations but always sees it through a scientific lens. He teaches physical anthropology to graduate students at the University of Florida, though he is often asked to investigate wrongful death cases. With a scientist's perspective, then, Maples believes that the truths about such deaths wish to be discovered and can be through the science of forensic anthropology. The human skeleton, unnamed and "unfleshed," fills Maples with wonder and provides him a mystery to unravel with the tools of science alone. He also wants to see life as it really is, no matter how bad. When Maples sees his first autopsy photos—of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow—he is enthralled. However, Maples recognizes that what...