Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs

Delivering forensic revelations guaranteed to "chill to the bone"(Entertainment Weekly ), Kathy Reichs plunges Dr. Temperance Brennan into a shattering case from the past: her own past. As a child, she was told to forget about the missing girl. But some memories don't die....
The discovery of a skeleton in Acadia, Canada, reawakens a traumatic episode for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan: Could the young girl's remains be those of Évangéline Landry, Tempe's friend who disappeared when Tempe was twelve? Exotic, free-spirited, and slightly older, Évangéline enlivened Tempe''s summer beach visits...then vanished amid whispers that she was "dangerous." Now, faced with bones scarred with inexplicable lesions, Tempe is consumed with solving a decades-old mystery -- while her lover, detective Andrew Ryan, urgently needs her attention on a wave of teenage abductions and murders. With both Ryan and her ex-husband making surprising future plans, Tempe may soon find that her world has painfully and irrevocably changed once again.

                                                                                                                      -Chapters Canada


Let me start out by saying that it was hard to give a rating to this book. Pretty much all of the other Kathy Reichs books that I have reviewed fall under the 4 rating category. This book was different though. I was really really good, and contained siginificantly interesting character development for Tempe, which leans me towards a 4½, but then, as dynamic as the development was, it also was something that I wasn't too happy with, warranting a 3½, ergo, the rating remains at at solid 4.

So having said that, you already get an idea about the book, obviously there was an amazing case to be solved, and, as always, Tempe gets personally involved in one way or another, always putting her safety (and the safety of someone she cares about) in jeopardy. Which quite frankly I never get sick of! The books obviously share similarities and always take on the same themes, but Reichs does so in a way that is refreshing, and has kept me hooked into book 10!

I mentioned that there is a lot of new character development, which really intensified emotions for me. I mean, these books never cease to tickle one's emotions, with such heavy themes of violent murders and often depressing content. But in this case, we really saw Tempe show immense sadness and loss, and I really felt it with her and for her. And, as always, I am ripping and ready to get into the next book.


Too bad I'm taking a hiatus from Tempe-for now--Cheers and Enjoy♥

Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs

To some, the dead are a commodity. For Tempe Brennan, they hold the key to cracking a horrific crime ring.

Among the ancient remains in a Native American burial ground, Tempe discovers a fresh skeleton -- and what began as an ordinary teaching stint at an archeology field school in Charleston, South Carolina, fast becomes a heated investigation into an alarming pattern of homicides. The clues hidden in the bones lead to a street clinic where a monstrous discovery awaits, and Tempe -- whose personal life is in upheaval, with two men competing for her -- can''t afford any distractions as she pieces together a shattering and terrifying puzzle.

                                                                                                                    -Chapters Canada

Keeping with my Kathy Reichs-a-thon, I read Break No Bones, the 9th installment in the Temperance Brennan series, and, once again, thoroughly enjoyed it. Kathy Reichs' attention to detail and wonderful imagery never let me down!

We seem to be going back and forth in the novel between Montreal and Charlotte, which I do love, and this time it was Charlotte's turn to shine. As always, the case was immensely suspenseful and equally dangerous for Tempe. We also get to see some more intense personal development for our favourite forensic anthropologist, which let's be honest, I will never shy away from. I think that the circumstances Reichs set up are ideal for an interesting theme that can carry through the next few installments, and, as always, I am looking forward to reading the next book...

Which I may or may not have already started...Cheers & Enjoy♥

Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs

The key to a modern murder lies in the sands of history.


Examining a badly decomposed corpse is de rigueur for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. But puzzling damage on the body of a shooting victim, an Orthodox Jewish man, suggests this is no ordinary Montreal murder. When a stranger slips Tempe a photograph of a skeleton unearthed at an archaeological site, Tempe uncovers chilling ties between the dead man and secrets long buried in the dust of Israel. Traveling there with Detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe plunges into an international mystery as old as Jesus, and centered on the controversial discovery of Christ''s tomb. Has a mastermind lured her into an elaborate hoax? If not, Tempe may be on the brink of rewriting two thousand years of history -- if she can survive the foes dead set on burying her.

                                                                                                                         -Chapters Canada


Another hit delivered by real life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs. This time we see Tempe jet-setting to Israel, which was great, but as you'll notice, this book got just a smidgen less of a rating due to its dense content. The writing style was spot-on Reichs: epic.

There was a very heavy religious theme that sometimes weighed down the book for me. I enjoyed it, when I was able to wrap my head around it and understand what everything meant. I think that this book was definitely targeted to a specific audience, but I still found it thoroughly entertaining with the usual Temperance Brennan mystery, intrigue, and amalgamation of her personal life and issues.

The ending, as well, I found to be slightly different than the other books in the series, and took on maybe a little bit more of a realistic quality, since not everything was tied up and solved so perfectly as it usually is. Another reason that it wasn't as exciting as its predecessors was the slight lack of romantic development. But still quite satisfactory. And I am told that the next book will get more into that, so... I'm going to go read that now!


Yay for skeletons!--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs

The secrets of the dead are in her hands.

The bones of three young women are unearthed in the basement of a Montreal pizza parlor, and forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan has unsolved murder on her mind as she examines the shallowly buried remains. Coming up against a homicide cop who is convinced the dead have been entombed on the site for centuries, Tempe perseveres, even with her own relationship with Detective Andrew Ryan at a delicate turning point. In the lab, the clean, well-perserved bones offer few clues. But when Carbon 14 confirms her hunch that these were recent deaths despite the antique buttons found near the bodies, Tempe's probing must produce answers quickly to stop a killer whose grisly handiwork has seen the light of day.
                                                                                      -Chapters Canada

The seventh book in the Temperance Brennan series was suspenseful, mysterious, emotional, and all-encompassing. Just like all the ones before it!

This time, we see Tempe just in Montreal (yay for Canada!) and she is investigating a case that once again she has to fight for. Tempe never gives up, and what she finds is devastating and so interesting at the same time. The subject of this particular installment in the series was particularly bone-chilling. Just so darn good.

As usual as well, we see great personal struggle for Tempe, in all things involving her friends, family, pets, and love life. And as per usual, I am never disappointed in the end :)

Kathy Reichs truly knows how to keep her audience on the edge of their seats intellectually, emotionally, and suspensefully.

Need I say more?--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs

She works with the dead, but she works for the living.

"Down time" is not a phrase in Tempe Brennan''s vocabulary. A string of disturbing cases has put her vacation plans on hold; instead, she heads to the lab to analyze charred remains from a suspicious fire, and a mysterious black residue from a small plane crash. But most troubling of all are the bones. . . . Tempe''s daughter''s new boyfriend invites them to a picnic -- a pig pickin'' -- in the North Carolina countryside, where a cache of bones turns up. But are they animal or human? X-rays and DNA may link the crimes, but they can''t reveal who is closing in on Tempe and her daughter -- and how far they will go to keep her from uncovering the truth.

                                                                                                                      -Chapters Canada




The sixth installment in the Temperance Brennan series, Bare Bones, was just as much of a smash hit as its predecessors. It embodied mystery and plausibility at every chapter, and of course incorporated wonderfully written themes of romance and family.

Well, Kathy Reichs does it again! I must admit, its getting tough to find different ways of saying the same things; I just love these books. The content is always fresh, and the ideas never boring. Forensic anthropology has never been exposed in such a captivating fashion, and the ever-present wit and spunk of Temperance Brennan is so compelling. I love everything about them.

This time we see Temperance Brennan only in North Carolina (boo-I ♥ Canada), with the addition of her hunky suitor. We see much more character development (which I have been patiently waiting for) that seems to be timed perfectly throughout the series, a characteristic shared with the show, Bones as well.

Well there really isn't much more that I can say other than to try them out for yourself! ( and the show :)


You won't be disappointed!--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs

A harrowing excavation unearths a chilling tragedy never laid to rest.

They are "the disappeared," twenty-three massacre victims buried in a well in the Guatemalan village of Chupan Ya two decades ago. Leading a team of experts on a meticulous, heartbreaking dig, Tempe Brennan pieces together the violence of the past. But a fresh wave of terror begins when the horrific sounds of a fatal attack on two colleagues come in on a blood-chilling satellite call. Teaming up with Special Crimes Investigator Bartolomé Galiano and Montreal detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe quickly becomes enmeshed in the cases of four privileged young women who have vanished from Guatemala City -- and finds herself caught in deadly territory where power, money, greed, and science converge.
                                                                                                                          -Chapters Canada

Another amazing installment in what is now one of my favourite series! Kathy Reichs knows exactly what I want in a novel: some suspense, riveting romance, fascinating facts, and of course, murder!

Grave Secrets was no different from the rest of the novels in the series (you can read all the reviews here!) so it totally delivered. Giving it a teensy bit of an edge though, over all the others so far, was the change of scenery, and way more romantic development, which has been way over do and much needed to sate me!

This time we see the globe-trotting forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan in Guatemala, where she is once again engaging in the ever interesting activity of digging up bones. This time there are some unique circumstances, but before long, we see the plot take a familiar turn for the mysterious and tantalizingly interesting.

Of course, there is always danger lurking for Tempe, and this time she has two nights in shining armour to offer her protection (which was uber-lovely!) and provided just the jump-start Tempe needed to take things to the next level. I won't give it away, but it isn't terribly predictable, which is great, and the book ends with a whopper of a cliffhanger!

So it goes without saying that I think this is a great series for anyone to pick up, especially if you are fans of the also fantastic hit TV show Bones. Also if you like murder mysteries of any kind. The Temperance Brennan chronicles stand in a league of their own and bring so many great themes into a unique subject.


I just love 'em!--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs

She has a passion for the truth . . . and this time, it's taking her down.


A commercial airliner disaster has brought Tempe Brennan to the North Carolina mountains as a member of the investigative agency DMORT. As bomb theories abound, Tempe soon discovers a jarring piece of evidence that raises dangerous questions -- and gets her thrown from the DMORT team. Relentless in her pursuit of its significance, Tempe uncovers a shocking, multilayered tale of deceit and depravity as she probes her way into frightening territory -- where someone wants her stopped in her tracks.                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                         -Chapters Canada




As per the usual, Kathy Reichs totally won me over (which is not that hard, having fallen in love with her other amazingly great novels; find the reviews here!) with her amazing prose, stunning mystery, and realistic romance. I love Kathy Reichs' novels, and Fatal Voyage was no different.

This time Tempe is dealing with a mass death toll from a plane crash, which was interesting to learn about by itself. Of course, there was a second aspect to make me more interested: a murder. The personal, professional, factual, and mysterious aspects were remarkably linked throughout the novel, and there really was never a dull moment. Once again we see Andrew Ryan (swoon) and he is incorporated to perfection. He always keeps me yearning for the next novel :)

The way that the book unfolds is of course enlightening, entertaining, and just plain amazing. Without giving too much away, the answers Tempe finds and the overall denouement were fascinating and so good. I cannot wait for the next book!


Already half-way through it--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Deadly Décisions by Kathy Reichs

When innocent blood is spilled, she deciphers the shattering truth it holds.


Nine-year-old Emily Anne Toussaint is fatally shot on a Montreal street. A North Carolina teenager disappears from her home, and parts of her skeleton are found hundreds of miles away. The shocking deaths propel Tempe Brennan from north to south, and deep into a shattering investigation inside the bizarre culture of outlaw motorcycle gangs -- where one misstep could bring disaster for herself or someone she loves.

                                                                                                           -Chapters Canada

Like the two others before it, Deadly Décisions is filled with suspense, and of course a personal link to Temperance Brennan. I'm not sure if I find this incredibly endearing though, or kind of getting on my nerves the third time around. We will have to wait and see if the next installments use the same theme or not, one would think that there are only so many scenarios and family members that could be put into jeopardy.

Nevertheless, I truly did enjoy Deadly Décisions almost as much as its predecessors, maybe a teensie bit less due to the lack of one certain character: Andrew Ryan. He has been steaming steadily throughout the first two books, and I definitely was looking forward to seeing more of him after the promising closure of Death Du Jour, but I found myself psychotically rationally searching for him throughout the pages, and came up empty-handed. Fortunately, our Reichs would not leave us completely famished: she left me with much hope for the following books, and also managed to bring forth circumstances worthy of keeping me sated yet yearning at the same time. Touché, Milady.

Onto the plot, which was of course as riveting and knowledgeable as always (which is hugely bonus inducing for me, being the self proclaimed Knowledge Monger that I am-tehe). I always find the setting highly entertaining, as I love Montréal, and am quasi-familiar with the city already. I also found the insight into the Biker Gangs super fantastico.


Overall, the book was well-written and of course uber-suspenseful: all in all, I suspect that these books will keep me coming back for more everytime!


Don't miss out!--Cheers & Enjoy♥

Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs

In the bitter cold of a Montreal winter, Tempe Brennan is digging for a corpse buried more than a century ago. Although Tempe thrives on such enigmas from the past, it''s a chain of contemporary deaths and disappearances that has seized her attention -- and she alone is ideally placed to make a chilling connection among the seemingly unrelated events. At the crime scene, at the morgue, and in the lab, Tempe probes a mystery that sweeps from a deadly Quebec fire to startling discoveries in the Carolinas, and culminates in Montreal with a terrifying showdown -- a nerve-shattering test of both her forensic expertise and her skills for survival.
                                                                                                                                  -Chapters Canada




The second novel in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs, Death Du Jour, was definitely just as captivating, but also gaining it an extra half star more than its predecessor due to its sexy incorporation of Dr. Brennan's love life.

Having said that, there was not a whole lot of romantic development, which I actually admire (I know, who knew that I would be praising something lacking a lot of hubba hubba?) but just enough to keep me salivating for more! I won't go into too much detail so as to spoil it for everyone, but what was there was golden. And I am so dying to dive into the next book, if only to read about Tempe's mature but very steamy rendezvous (which I am completely speculating will take place). Seriously, I actually have the next book, Deadly Décisions, beside me, and I am going to commence its awesomeness right after I wrap up this blog sesh...

Anywho, so yes the awesomeness from Reichs' first book, Déjà Dead, keeps going in this follow-up that is just as suspenseful and well written. The characters and cases are always uncannily woven into the mysterious plot lines in such a way that always promises to keep the reader guessing until the last second, when everything wraps up perfectly, never too quickly, and always completely plausibly. Which is so very mucho-importanto to me :)


I love, love, loved this book, and if you'll please excuse me...


(Already cracking open Deadly Décisions)--Cheers & Enjoy♥