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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
I enjoyed getting back into the world of Temp Brennan.
This story was very different in that Temp was dealing with her own health issues, her Mum's health issues, a new colleague who hates her and is being a bit loose with her tongue. Then there is the continued romance with her Canadian detective. Add to that a body with no hands and a mangled face and you have a great story and riveting read.
I am looking forward to the next Temp Brennan.
This story was very different in that Temp was dealing with her own health issues, her Mum's health issues, a new colleague who hates her and is being a bit loose with her tongue. Then there is the continued romance with her Canadian detective. Add to that a body with no hands and a mangled face and you have a great story and riveting read.
I am looking forward to the next Temp Brennan.
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Again with the children victims. I have a LOT of issues with this book. First, I being the kids as victims. Again. Second, and this came first in the reading, apparently there was a novella that came before this book in the reading order but neither hoopla nor libby had it so when this book started I was shocked. Jaw open. Catching flies. Could not cope. And we just moved on from that and while it was mentioned, we didn't return to it. It wasn't until the authors note that I found out about that plot point having been addressed in the aforementioned novella (that I immediately searched for and couldn't find in hoopla or libby). Mama, aka Daisy, is quickly becoming my favorite character and I realize this is a terrible decision on my part since she is older. But, right now she gets the best lines. Tempe is again running off without telling people. Like the last time we had a new character at the lab, I know that this one was no good and that they wouldn't be around very long. However, I did not expect them to have been complicit in their own downfall because of hubris; she texted the autopsy photos to Tempe thinking she was texting a reporter! When that came out, she was done for. As for the case, for a while I was convinced that the conspiracy was going to be that they were actually rescuing or trying to rescue kidnapped kids. I wish that was the case. This conspiracy theorist was so much worse than originally thought. I'm glad that Skinny was able to finally get enough evidence, with the help of the computer tech character, to stop his enterprise. That was horrible. And we have Mama and her computer skills to thank for figuring out the key clue. I am so far along in this series that I want to finish it, but I really am over the her continual choice of children as victims.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did like this one, but I was super confused about what happened to Larabee and about Tempe having an aneurysm. Apparently you have to read First Bones, which is a prequel, but as I'm on book 19, I have no desire to do that. So that was dumb. You should be able to follow a series without reading the novellas in between or going all the way back 19 books into a series without feeling like you're missing a big chunk of something.
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm really glad Kathy Reichs is back at writing the Temperance Brennan novels, and overall I enjoyed this latest installment. I do think it's one of my least favorites, for a couple reasons. One is that the set up was a bit odd, and didn't set the tone for the rest of the book - so if your not hooked by the end of chapter 2, keep at it because it gets better. This is out of character for the series; I'm usually hooked right away. Second is that the main character really gets pretty childish, bullheaded, and petulant. She always had some of these traits, but they get extreme in this novel and it's hard to tolerate. Finally, the ending feels thrown together. Major questions get answered in a few text messages, which is pretty unsatisfying.
All in all though the story is engaging and most of it moves at the fast pace typical of Reichs' novels.
All in all though the story is engaging and most of it moves at the fast pace typical of Reichs' novels.
3.5 stars
This is a series I’ve dipped in & out of over the years & it’s been a while. But one thing obviously hasn’t changed. Tempe still has a gift for getting in over her head.
This instalment finds her on shaky ground, personally & professionally. She recently had brain surgery & is ready to return to work as a consultant for the medical examiner’s office. Unfortunately there’s a new ME in town & they have some history. Tempe’s made it known she views Dr. Margot Heavner as a glory seeking publicity hound. So it’s no surprise when Heavner lets Tempe know her services are no longer required.
But when a faceless corpse ends up in the morgue, it’s clear someone wants her involved. Tempe receives anonymous photos of the body. And that’s just the beginning. Cryptic texts, weird messages on the dark web, missing kids, night time prowlers…..hmmm. Only one thing to do really. ID the body & figure out how he got so dead. And if she shows up Heavner in the process, well that’s just a bonus.
Tempe begins her own investigation & ropes in a couple of accomplices including Skinny Slidell, a grouchy PI with an interest in the case. They may bicker like siblings but a grudging mutual respect means he has her back.
Initially there are a lot of separate threads to the story. Strange things are happening & it feels like Tempe is being lured down a dark rabbit hole. But because of her fragile state, we’re not even sure how much of it is real. Turns out neither is she. Personal issues, stress & too much time on her hands result in erratic behaviour & questionable decisions. And long hours spent with conspiracy theorists on the dark web certainly doesn’t help.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I’d kept up with the series. My bad. At times I felt like I was missing some crucial background info that would have helped me understand her character better. We spend a lot of time in Tempe’s head as she grapples with doubt & paranoia. She veers from endless speculation about the case to actions based on rash decisions that put her in danger. The result is a slower pace read that is almost more of a character study until the case eventually takes centre stage in the second half.
When an author gets to book #19 in a series, you know they’re doing something right & I really believe this will appeal to faithful fans. The mystery behind the body in the morgue is clever & intricate but I think you’ll get more out of the story as a whole if you’ve been following along.
This is a series I’ve dipped in & out of over the years & it’s been a while. But one thing obviously hasn’t changed. Tempe still has a gift for getting in over her head.
This instalment finds her on shaky ground, personally & professionally. She recently had brain surgery & is ready to return to work as a consultant for the medical examiner’s office. Unfortunately there’s a new ME in town & they have some history. Tempe’s made it known she views Dr. Margot Heavner as a glory seeking publicity hound. So it’s no surprise when Heavner lets Tempe know her services are no longer required.
But when a faceless corpse ends up in the morgue, it’s clear someone wants her involved. Tempe receives anonymous photos of the body. And that’s just the beginning. Cryptic texts, weird messages on the dark web, missing kids, night time prowlers…..hmmm. Only one thing to do really. ID the body & figure out how he got so dead. And if she shows up Heavner in the process, well that’s just a bonus.
Tempe begins her own investigation & ropes in a couple of accomplices including Skinny Slidell, a grouchy PI with an interest in the case. They may bicker like siblings but a grudging mutual respect means he has her back.
Initially there are a lot of separate threads to the story. Strange things are happening & it feels like Tempe is being lured down a dark rabbit hole. But because of her fragile state, we’re not even sure how much of it is real. Turns out neither is she. Personal issues, stress & too much time on her hands result in erratic behaviour & questionable decisions. And long hours spent with conspiracy theorists on the dark web certainly doesn’t help.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I’d kept up with the series. My bad. At times I felt like I was missing some crucial background info that would have helped me understand her character better. We spend a lot of time in Tempe’s head as she grapples with doubt & paranoia. She veers from endless speculation about the case to actions based on rash decisions that put her in danger. The result is a slower pace read that is almost more of a character study until the case eventually takes centre stage in the second half.
When an author gets to book #19 in a series, you know they’re doing something right & I really believe this will appeal to faithful fans. The mystery behind the body in the morgue is clever & intricate but I think you’ll get more out of the story as a whole if you’ve been following along.
A long time between books but worth the wait! Brennan is back and she's not only getting into trouble, this time she's causing it. She's a bit more proactive than usual and it moves the story along at a faster pace. I enjoyed it.
This was a complex read involving a unidentifiable corpse and the protagonist Temperance Brennan a forensic anthropologist. The many twists and turns made it a compelling read.