Death Mask (Dr. Anya Crichton) Paperback – November 29, 2011

This fifth book in the Anya Chrichton series tackles the difficult issue of gang rape and sport. In her job as a forensic pathologist, Anya becomes involved in a case involving a local football star and his new wife and following on from that she becomes involved in a study of the code of conduct in sport.Anya is then invited to New York to a pre-season education and training session for American footballers, where she gives some talks on sexual health and conduct and is shocked to discover that many of the players don't understand what constitutes consent in sex. While she is there an alleged gang rape takes place involving a group of top players and a young woman sent by the fashion company she works for to sign up a football star. As always, proving rape is difficult, even though some of the players have criminal records or past allegations of similar crimes. It doesn't help that the media is on the side of the sportsmen, with one particularly nasty journalist writing vitriolic comments about the victim.Weaving through the story, the author takes a good look at professional team sport and doesn't like what she sees. As well as the issues with players behaviour off-field, often being covered up by their managers and minders, she examines the pressures the players are under to stay at the top of the game. The ethos of the game is such that many players continue to play with injuries that may cause life long problems, encouraged to do so by their coaches and managers. Apart from physical problems, multiple minor concussions can result in permanent scarring in susceptible players, leading to problems with aggression and depression in later life.This was a thoughtful novel, addressing the problems of professional or elite sport while at the same time delivering a murder mystery with a surprising ending.

Originally published in 2011, the issues this book raises have still not been adequately addressed by any professional body. Although fictional, Death Mask exposes the very real safety, ethical and moral standards that are routinely sacrificed in order for professional male footballers, team coaches and managers to sustain the illusion that football is family entertainment.Slower paced than her previous books, primarily due to the wealth of vested interests wanting to maintain the status quo, there are more than enough twists and turns to keep the reader fully engaged. Although it is set in the context of American football, the problems identified are endemic to all codes anywhere the tribe mentality is fostered.

Fox is writing about a subject she knows only too well - the trauma of rape. A death mask traditionally was a cast taken of a criminal after execution, but that is not what is meant here. It is about the industry of denial and protection of famous wrongdoers - criminal behavior in any other context. Well plotted, well written, fans of the whodunnit will enjoy this book.

I cant get enough of this author. Each story starts in one direction then whirlpools back in the most unusal ways.

ok

I love her books and this one was not a disappointment at all. Shopping was fast as always and packaging was terrific. Buy this book or any of her others for a great read. Thank you. H

This was really confusing in two respects, around book 2 it was said that Anya was in NYC working with SVU but this book ( #5 in the series) was supposed to be her first visit to NYC. But there was no note that this was at a previous time. Also, poor editing. I can understand that it's Australian English but she has American characters using Australian language (we don't say basketballers) and mannerisms and she kept changing the spelling of proper names, i.e. Rockefeller Centre. I don't think I'd have minded that as much if she'd done so consistently though. See also, football. I literally had no idea which brand of football she was referring to as she used it for american football, soccer and AFL.The story took a while to catch on but then I zoomed through the last two thirds today. I felt there was a lot going on though without proper connection of the narrative, especially between Hannah and Kirsten

In Australia in the past six years, 17 NRL players have been accused of sexual assault, and at least 11 AFL players have faced allegations of sexual assault since 1998. But despite this deluge of complaints, not one professional footballer has been convicted of sexual assault in Australia in almost 30 years. Of all the cases known to have been referred to police, only a handful has led to charges.And since 85 per cent of victims never report sexual assault, it's likely more instances go under the radar.In her latest thriller, Sydney-based medico Kathryn Fox has taken the action off-shore when she confronts sex, sport and stardom head-on. Teaming up with PI Ethan `Catcher' Rye, forensic physician Dr Anya Crichton has agreed to investigate complaints of sexual assaults by a fictional American footy team, the Jersey Bombers. She has also agreed to conduct a series of seminars that involve educating players about appropriate and inappropriate treatment of women, anger management, safe sex and possible rape scenarios. Fox captures perfectly the contempt with which these young men, regarded as gods, hunting in packs, treat the young women unlucky enough to cross their paths - or to seek them out.As a vulnerable young woman claims to have been gang raped by five Jersey Bombers, and as powerful figures move to protect their `assets', there is a Miranda Devine figure using her newspaper column to disparage women who cry rape as a fast track to fame, money and notoriety.The players themselves have a code of silence which extends from `what happens on the field stays on the field', to `what happens in the hotel room stays in the hotel room'.This novel mostly successfully walks the line between being educative and being a thriller. You know they did it. You want them caught and, unlike in real life, you cheer when some of these celebrity footballers do get nailed.Harrowing, explicit and highly recommended.

I only give out a one star review if I really feel I have to. This book bored me to death, I understand that it was a sports mystery but oh, my God, it didn't half go on about sport in depth. I got to 38% the way through and couldn't pick up my kindle again until I had deleted it.

Struggled at first but once into it couldn't put it down, great read. Love all of Kathryns books. Now for the next one.

Plenty of plausible twists. Correct medical info too. Compelling reading right through. First among my favourite authors of medical intrigue.

Brilliant book

fabulous series. highly recommended