A Conspiracy of Bones

Temperance Brennan #19

by Kathy Reichs

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with a new riveting novel featuring her vastly popular character forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who must use all her tradecraft to discover the identity of a faceless corpse, its connection to a decade-old missing child case, and why the dead man had her cell phone number.

It’s sweltering in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Temperance Brennan, still recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm, is battling nightmares, migraines, and what she thinks might be hallucinations when she receives a series of mysterious text messages, each containing a new picture of a corpse that is missing its face and hands. Immediately, she’s anxious to know who the dead man is, and why the images were sent to her.

An identified corpse soon turns up, only partly answering her questions.

To win answers to the others, including the man’s identity, she must go rogue, working mostly outside the system. That’s because Tempe’s new boss holds a fierce grudge against her and is determined to keep her out of the case. Tempe bulls forward anyway, even as she begins questioning her instincts. But the clues she discovers are disturbing and confusing. Was the faceless man a spy? A trafficker? A target for assassination by the government? And why was he carrying the name of a child missing for almost a decade?

With help from a number of law enforcement associates including her Montreal beau Andrew Ryan and the always-ready-with-a-smart-quip, ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell, and utilizing new cutting-edge forensic methods, Tempe draws closer to the astonishing truth.

But the more she uncovers, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2020

About the author

Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec. She is one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A professor of anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness in criminal trials.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1998): Deja Dead

Reviews

[Paromjit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kathy Reich writes a great addition to her forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan series, set in Charlotte, North Carolina, that has her facing a challenging set of circumstances whilst grieving the loss of her boss, Dr Larabee, the Chief Medical Examiner. The appointment of the self aggrandising Margo 'Dr Morgue' Heavner is a disaster for Tempe, they have clashed before and Heavner's hatred ensures that Tempe is no longer wanted in the department. Tempe has good reasons to be unhappy, Heavner seeks fame and the media spotlight, is unethical and lacking integrity, with no qualms about endangering justice in the interviews she gives. Additionally, Tempe is all over the place, thanks to the consequences of her aneurysm, which has her questioning her abilities and experiencing migraine induced hallucinations, unable to know what is real, leaving her struggling to sleep, frustrated and paranoid.

Tempe receives mystery texts that show photographs of a faceless corpse that rouses her curiosity but she has to go rogue to investigate, relying on leaks, illicitly taken photographs and smuggling out evidence. The victim has been eaten by feral hogs, leaving him faceless and difficult to identify, missing hands, clothes with no labels, making it difficult to discern whether he was murdered or had committed suicide. Tempe is aided by retired detective, Erskine 'Skinny' Slidell, now working cold cases at the Charlotte-Mecklenberg PD that has the two of them identifying the man eventually but faced with little information on him. Who is he? Is he a spy, a child abductor, or a paedophile or worse? Tempe finds herself coming across and delving into the rabbit hole that is the elusive Nick Body, a provocateur spewing countless conspiracy theories with millions of followers, having to reconstruct case notes after the loss of her laptop and mobile phone, as she pulls at numerous threads where so little makes sense.

One of the reasons that this is such a good series is that Kathy Reich herself is an accomplished forensic anthropologist herself, so invests Tempe with an authenticity and professional knowledge that draws on cutting edge developments in the field and real life cases. Here, Reich strips Tempe of all that she normally relies on, her professional abilities, her memories, shut out of her job and normal resources, along with the loss of all her records, photographs and evidence. Tempe is in a place where she is unable to discern reality from illusion, mirroring the territory of the conspiracy theorists peddling their fake news and bombarding their suspect views on a people unable to separate fact from fiction. This is a fabulous addition to a wonderful series. Many thanks to Simon and Schuster UK for an ARC.

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temperance Brennan is a Forensic Anthropologist. A very busy one at that! Splitting her time between Charlotte South Carolina and Quebec. This latest read takes her to S. Carolina where her current position with the medical examiner is in peril. There’s a new head of the department Dr. Heavner- someone Tempe is quite familiar with. She and her new boss previously had a very public falling out. Now Dr. Heavner is holding a grudge, excluding Tempe from any cases that come across her desk (or should I say stainless-steel table.)

But Tempe can’t stay away! When the latest body comes across the coroners’ cold slab for identification, Tempe leaps in to solve the mystery. Who is this man...as well as all the circumstances behind this horrific death? She can’t possibly know it will lead her into some of the deepest- darkest corners of the Web.

Tempes’ long time interest Ryan makes only a small appearance in this book. Hopefully, if her next book returns over the border, Ryan can take a larger role once again. I do enjoy the installments that take place in Quebec a bit more. Just an added dose of flavor!

I have been reading this series for years, and Kathy Reichs hasn't lost a step. This latest installment is as good as ever! While this is book nineteen of the series and could stand on its own, I suggest starting at the beginning! You will really grow to love Tempe!

Thank you to Scribner via both NetGalley and Edelweiss for an ARC to read and review.

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been waiting a long time for this book, and I'm pleased to say I wasn't disappointed. In this book Tempe is on the outer with her new boss, and not being asked to consult on cases. So when she gets sent pictures of a corpse from an anonymous source she immediately is on the case, much to her bosses ire.

The body has been found in the woods, partially eaten by feral hogs, making ID difficult. As Tempe and Slidell start to investigate they are drawn into a world of conspiracies, missing children and underground bunkers. Who is the dead man? Is he a spy? Or something else? And who was the man loitering outside Tempe's house? Tempe is her usual dog with a bone self, and will not give up until she has answers, no matter where she ends up to get them. And end up in peril she does, again, in true Tempe fashion.

I really enjoyed this book, I love the ongoing characters, the banter, and the plot's continue to excite the reader. Kathy Reichs is the master of the cliffhanger chapter endings, making you read "just one chapter more" long into the night. The plot in this one did get slightly convoluted at points, but it was a mild irritation. All in all another great read, and I can't wait to see what Tempe gets herself into next.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs is a 2020 Scribner publication.

Following surgery for an aneurysm, Tempe is experiencing migraines and strange dreams, and is possibly seeing things that aren’t really there.

After receiving a text message with the image of a dead man, with no face or hands, she is intent on discovering the who the man is…

But- her new boss despises Tempe and has frozen her out of the investigation, which leaves her no other choice but to go rogue… with the help of Skinny Slidell.

While Tempe is not actually working in the lab- the forensics she in an expert is still featured prominently. I think I liked having her out ‘in the field’ working the case like a detective would. She and Slidell made a really good team.

The mystery is very engrossing, but the subject matter is quite very dark and quite disturbing, as is the use of the Dark web- unfortunately, though, it was all too realistic.

Slidell provides a bit of much needed comic relief on occasion- but one does, like Tempe, need to know how to take him. His having referred to the internet cloud storage as the 'fog' or 'the mist' made me laugh out loud.

Overall, an interesting addition to the series. Looking forward to the reading Reich’s newest release!

4 stars

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, must work diligently and utilize all of her skills to identify a "faceless" corpse and its connection to a missing child's case from a decade ago. Brennan had been recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm, and is still coping with headaches and nightmares, when she receives a text messages - each with pictures of a corpse missing its hands and face.

Intrigued, she is ready to solve the case and must do so rogue. Soon, an identified case shows up and she becomes even more intrigued....

This one was a struggle for me. I found it hard to get into and very slow in the beginning. I don't know if it was me or the book. I have been reading a few books which grabbed me from page one and this one, failed to do so, it had a slower build for me, and I found myself putting this book down, looking for other books to read. Plus, I have not read too many books in this series to perhaps long-time readers of this series will enjoy the book more than I did. The book did pick up, but for me it also dragged in spots and failed to wow me. Maybe I was expecting too much of an aha moment, or more explanations for sections which didn't seem to get them, plus the inner dialogue wasn't working for me.

Slow to start; however, it did become more enjoyable as the book progressed, but not one I will remember in months to come. My guess is, this is not the book to pick up if you have not read any previous books in the series - she is recovering from surgery and not at her best - plus, I think more background on the characters is needed prior to reading this one.


Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs is nineteenth in the Temperance Brennan series but it is a definite departure from the usual. Having been a fan of this series, I was disappointed in this book. Tempe Brennan is a forensic anthropologist in Charlotte, North Carolina and also the subject of the popular tv series “Bones”. Tempe has received photos of a faceless and printless corpse from an anonymous source. Who could this victim be and who sent her the photos? Someone had previously been spotted close to Tempe’s home and she believes this body may be him. At this point, this mystery becomes unrealistic, when the forensic anthropologist starts doing the work of a police detective instead of being a scientist. The investigation is confusing and all over the place and our hero is getting into too much trouble. As sometimes happens, an author writes a series past the point of having fresh material. Kathy Reichs is a talented writer and hopefully this is an exception. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is only my opinion.

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

A CONSPIRACY OF BONES by Kathy Reichs is the nineteenth book in the series featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Temperance is facing a lot of personal and professional challenges in this book. She has a new boss that she has had professional conflicts with in the past and on top of that she has been recovering from neurosurgery and is still experiencing severe headaches. The novel is largely set in and around Charlotte, North Carolina. One day she receives text messages containing pictures of a corpse missing its face and hands. Due to her relationship with her new boss, Temperance works the case on the sly.

This novel was much more introspective than most in the series and almost like a private detective working the case alongside the police. While it seemed a little slower paced in the beginning, it had enough action, red herrings and twists to keep my interest and it picked up speed as the book progressed.

The characters are compelling and you can definitely root for Temperance as she works to find answers. Her goals are clear and believable. The supporting characters are well-rounded and enhance the story. The stakes were high and the tension built up to the conclusion.

Overall, the plot was intriguing and contemporary. The prose was well-written and engrossing. The story is gripping and well worth reading. I recommend it and the entire series. However, I believe readers will have the best reading experience if they start at the beginning of the series.

Thanks to Scribner and Kathy Reichs for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs, and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After a long wait, Kathy Reichs is back from her hiatus with a new and exciting novel in the Temperance Brennan series. Fans will be happy to have the forensic anthropologist back, whose grit and gumption are even more heightened. After suffering a brain aneurysm that required surgical intervention, Temperance is on the mend and trying to find her feet. She is still contracted to work both in Montreal and Charlotte, but has not been working much. At home in Charlotte, Temperance has horrible dreams and witnesses a mysterious man along her property, but there is no one there when she makes her way outside. A week later, an odd text message arrives, with photos of a body, without head or limbs. Trying to get herself on the case, her new boss shuns her and demands that she stay away. They have a history, one in which Temperance has no doubt has led her her being ostracized. Deciding to do a little rogue work, Temperance works alongside an old colleague and discovers some odd pieces of evidence, including cryptic writing on some paper that includes her phone number. The case takes an odd twist as Temperance seeks to find out who the body was in those text photos, and where the body might have been found. Working as best she can, Temperance finds herself delving down into the dark web to find answers that may help. Her explorations lead to many conspiracy theories, as well as a few twists that could tie into a few missing children from years ago. Armed with her determination and pieces of the puzzle slowing coming together, Temperance uses her deductive reasoning to determine that there are some bad people on the loose, seeking to silence her before the aneurysm can do the same. A great new thriller in this captivating series, sure to impress readers as they find themselves in the middle of this intense novel. Recommended to those who love Reichs’ forensic anthropology stories, as well as the reader who wants something a little more mentally challenging in their mysteries.

I have been following Kathy Reichs through the Temperance Brennan series since the debut novel. While the books differ greatly from their television show spin-off, Reichs is able to present forensic anthropology in such a way that it is both entertaining and informative. As Reichs as readily admitted, she sometimes mirrors Brennan in her own experiences, which left me to wonder if the recent aneurysm development for the protagonist might explain why the delayed release of this book by two years might also be related to a similar medical issue. Brennan works through this medical hurdle effectively, showing off her rebellious side with increased intensity. Still sharp when it comes to solving mysteries, Brennan uses what tools she can to make sense of the situation before her. With little mention of others, save some minor updates for other familial characters, the focus is on Brennan and some of her stumbling blocks. Others help to complement her desire to overcome limitations, while also show that no brain aneurysm can stop her. In a story that sees Brennan working from the outside of the goldfish bowl, the reader is able to see how her field work and reliance on others help uncover one of the more disturbing cases of her career. I hope that there are other stories in the Temperance Brennan series before tying things off, as I have come to really enjoy all she has done and overcome in the years, especially when she makes her way to Canada!

Kudos, Madam Reichs, for a great return. I can only hope that you have some ideas to keep your fans from going stir-crazy.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Lisa Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bones is back! I’m a huge fan and loved this almost Hitchcockian addition to the series.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A better end than story throughout. The subject matter may have something to do about that. 4 of 10 stars

[Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a Temperance Brennan fan since the first book was published. In fact, if I'm working in forensics nowadays is in part because of her books, so it pains me to say that "A conspiracy of bones" didn't grabbed me as her previous stories. I still think it's a good book, but the main plotline didn't catch my attention as I would have like. Besides, I've always prefered Brennan's cases in Quebec.

It's been a while since I read the last installment in the series, so I didn't remember much about Tempe's actual situation. After the death of her boss and a health scare, now she's at odds with her new boss. When a faceless corpse is found she's not ask to consult on, but that doesn't stop her. One of the things I liked the least was that she doesn't do much forensic work at all, but police one. Also, Ryan is a pretty secondary character this time, so that was a bit disappointing.

The plot was a pretty convoluted one, mixing conspiracy theories, child kidnappings...and, in my opinion, was a bit far fetched at points, although at the end most of it ties altogether.

Good follow up to the series but not the best one by far, so I hope to see Tempe truly back to form pretty soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temperance Brennan takes us on a robust and non-stop ride.

SUMMARY
Recovering at home from surgery for an aneurysm, Temperance Brennan is suffering from migraines and nightmares and just can’t sleep. At midnight, she glances out the window and catches a flicker of movement in the trees. It’s a silhouette of a man in a trench coat. Why was there a man on her property? A week later, Tempe receives four images of of a faceless mangled corpse. But who sent the pictures and why? To discovered the corpse’s identity she must work outside the system. Tempe new boss is determine to keep her out of the case and has banned her from the medical examiner’s office. Regardless, Tempe pushes forward with her own investigation of the faceless man in the pictures. Was he a spy? A trafficker? Who killed him and why? The more she uncovers the darker the picture becomes.

REVIEW
A CONSPIRACY OF BONES intricately combines a perilous medical condition, a midnight stalker, a grotesquely unidentifiable dead body, an untenable work situation and a plethora of missing children with fake news, the dark web and arson. This is my first book by Kathy Reichs...are they all this involved? I enjoyed the story but felt a little left out.. It’s like I just met a new group of friends and know nothing about their backstory, their relationships or their personalities. Perhaps this book, while very good is not the best one to start the series with. I’m sure readers of Kathy Reich will love #19 (I had loved the Bone television series back in the day, but recognize few similarities)

I did love the strength of Tempe’s character. I knew what she was made of when, without hesitation she was willing to go out in the middle of the night to chase down a man wearing a trench coat. Or was it really a hallucination? I found it delightfully humorous and ironic that Tempe’s mother knows so much more about technology and the dark web than Tempe did! Go mom!

KATHY REICHS is an accomplished forensic anthropologist. In Charlotte NC. She writes what she knows and her writing is well planned and robust. You best be ready when you pick this one up, because it’s a nonstop ride. Thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Scribner
Published March 17, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan was suffering from the heat and cloying humidity in Charlotte, North Carolina after the unexpected diagnosis of an aneurysm and surgery. She suffered severe migraines and nightmares, but insisted she was “fine” to anyone who asked. Tempe also didn’t get along with her new boss, Dr Heavner, and was blocked out of anything that came into the morgue. But when a body was brought in, badly mutilated, then Tempe received anonymous pictures on her phone, she connected with Detective Slidell in the search to find an identity.

But there was much more to the death of this unknown male. Missing children, child trafficking, murder, drugs – it was all there. And as Tempe went off on her own (silly girl!) she found snippets of information while endangering her life. Ryan was working a PI job, so he and Tempe were only connected by phone. And Slidell was burning candles both ends.. Would they get the answers they were desperate for?

A Conspiracy of Bones is the 19th in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs and the first published since 2015. So I was a little rusty with a 5 year break between #18 and this one. I remember Tempe as being courageous (foolish?) and tenacious – she hasn’t changed. I found A Conspiracy of Bones a little slow to get into and Tempe’s continual paranoia and self-doubt was wearing, but the tension and action ramped up in the second half. Not Ms Reichs’ best but still an enjoyable read. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 19th Temperance Brennan book in the series, and while I haven't read every single one, I've read a great many. This one is really good.

Tempe Brennan is recovering from Neurosurgery and fighting headaches and possible hallucinations. The new Chief Medical Examiner is very self-promoting and doesn't like Temperance, so she isn't consulting with her as the old Chief did before he died. In fact, she doesn't want her help or advice at all. A faceless man shows up at the morgue and Tempe received some photos by a mysterious text. The identity of the corpse is unknown and Tempe's curiosity is piqued, but she has to find roundabout ways to get information about the body and what the autopsy shows. Tempe enlists help from Erskine 'Skinny' Slidell as well as from her boyfriend in Montreal, Andrew Ryan. Then there's a link to a 10-year-old cold case involving a child. Lots of investigating to do and Tempe's in the thick of it.

I enjoy reading this series and I also enjoyed the television series 'Bones' that was based on Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan books. The characters are memorable and the investigations are always interesting. I hope to see even more books in this series in the future.

Thanks to Kathy Reichs and Scribner through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book!

[Sharon Bolton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Temperance Brennan, forensic anthropologist with the states of North Carolina, US and Montreal, Canada, isn’t in the best place. She has ongoing health problems and has had a major - and public - disagreement with her new boss: a woman for whom Tempe has zero professional respect. Her consultancy work has dried up and when the book opens, she’s pretty much out in the cold. So, when a faceless, handless corpse, mutilated by wild hogs turns up, any investigative work she does is entirely unofficial. She pretty much becomes a private investigator, helped at times by a police officer mate.
From there on, the plot gets a bit complicated. The dead man, who has several identities, might or might not have links to long missing children. Conspiracy theories abound, the dark web features frequently, Tempe might have a stalker, who might be the faceless corpse, and there was a government sponsored sinking of a Russian ship on which thousands of people died. I might have got that wrong. A few days after I finished the book, much of the detail has slipped away. All in all, this was a fairly unmemorable book.
Years ago, I was a massive Kathy Reichs fan. I loved her first novel, Deja Dead, and the following three or four in the series. Her books were stylish, original and thrilling. She was a new and addictive voice in crime fiction, with stunningly inventive plots and fascinating forensic detail. Nineteen novels on, I’m not so sure. The plot of this one felt stretched, over-complex, loose. I got tired of the number of chapter-ending Eureka moments Tempe had, and frustratingly kept from the reader; there are other plot devices, other ways of keeping the reader hooked. The writing style, too, was annoying. Reichs writes in short, staccato sentences, littered with technical jargon, acronyms and slang, often missing verbs entirely. A few carefully placed semi-colons might have made for easier-to-read prose. The ending, frankly, fizzled out; instead of seeing Tempe catch the villain, she (and we) were left to hear about it second hand.
Reichs is hugely successful, with thousands of loyal fans, so I’m sure this book will do well. For me, though, it simply proves what I’ve thought for some time: even the best of crime series can get tired.

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tempe Brennan is back with complete surety, like meeting up with an old friend after a couple of years I sank into this new story and was fully immersed throughout.

The forensic detail is ever fascinating and entirely accessible, the case is darkly addictive and Tempe herself is going through a sea change in both a physical and mental sense which adds huge emotional levels to the narrative.

Kathy Reichs is of course a brilliant plotter and a beautiful writer, twisting and turning events in unpredictable and intelligent ways. Keeping the reader turning the pages, the themes explored here are highly emotive and done in a hard hitting, utterly authentic yet always sensitive way.

I loved it. The afterword allows that there is a fair bit of author in character, given that the fact that A Conspiracy of Bones felt somehow more vivid than what has gone before is hardly surprising- for such a long running series the quality has never faltered and I for one hope to read many more Tempe Brennan novels in the years to come.

Recommended. If you’ve not tried these yet simply pick any one up. You’ll be hooked before you know it.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have enjoyed Kathy Reichs’ Temperence Brennan “Bones” series for quite a while. After taking a hiatus to deal with a medical issue, Ms Reichs published her 19th book of the series, A Conspiracy of Bones I listened to the audio version, which is skillfully narrated by Linda Emond.

I learned in the afterword that much of the inspiration for the plot came from real events, including the aneurysm experienced by our heroine. Yes, the author had experienced the same; hence, the migraines, confusion, and hallucinations – exaggerated for dramatic effect. Other events such as the sinking of a ship back in the 1990s, a real-life unsolved death investigation from 1948, and another case of a corpse that had been damaged by scavengers. These tidbits all provide fodder for Tempe’s involvement in the investigation of the death of an unidentified man whose face, hands, and midsection have been demolished by wild hogs. When she receives photos of the body via text from a mysterious source, her curiosity is roused. Then, when she learns that her boss, Dr Heavener, is in charge of the case, she knows she needs to dig further. Heavener is a media hound, and there is no love lost between the two women.

Never mind that Tempe is a forensic anthropologist, not a detective. Fans of the series know that she often – make that always – gets involved in sticky situations and cannot leave well enough alone. She simply cannot resist poking around where she really should not go. Is it simply ego, righteous indignation, or is it truly the desire to see justice done? She enlists the assistance of a reluctant retired cop Skinny Slidell. He may be uncouth and obnoxious, but he gets the job done. Linda Emond does a fantastic job bringing Slidell to life. She does male and female voices equally well, although I was not fond of her French Canadian version of Ryan’s voice, but it turns out he is a minor character in this book, since most of the action takes place in Charlotte, not Quebec, where Tempe splits her time.

My main issue with this story was that the plot was quite complex and confusing. What was really going on here? Was the victim murdered? Did he commit suicide? Conspiracy theories abounded. Did it have anything to do with a covert CIA brainwashing project? Child abductions? Tempe visits the dark web with little awareness of what she could be getting herself into. Who are these people? What are they up to?

I found it all pretty hard to follow, but eventually it got sorted out, at least most of it. Realistically, in real life, sometimes there are unknowns even when the bad guys are caught and convicted.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Bones is the nineteenth instalment in the forensic anthropologist Doctor Temperance Brennan series, set in Charlotte, North Carolina, yet despite so many books, it doesn't show any signs of losing steam or petering out as of now. It also isn't necessary to have read any of the previous instalments in order to enjoy this one as plenty of background is provided. When Tempe is sent a number of anonymous text messages with photographs of a badly mutilated corpse attached to them she becomes hellbent on discovering the identity of both the victim and the killer and save what remains of her work life in the process. What piqued her interest the most was that all the usual identifying features have been removed to hamper identification; the face and hands are gone. Of course, the new boss wouldn't be on board with her investigating this as she has been sidelined so she must work off the books in secret. Luckily, she can rely on her supportive colleagues to help her out.

This is a captivating read that has you hooked from the very beginning and keeps you flipping the pages furiously. There are many interesting reveals throughout, plenty of exciting action and developments, and as someone who often subscribes to conspiracy theories, I found this aspect of the story fascinating. Tempe is a great character and protagonist and I really feel for her as she is struggling with both her health and work life. Kathy Reichs is actually a forensic anthropologist herself and uses her extensive knowledge to inform the plot and make it as authentic and true to life as possible; it sets this series apart from the rest of the genre and makes for riveting reading. The cast of characters is so beautifully developed and you really care about them but especially the intriguing Tempe and the mounting friction between her and new boss Margo ’Dr Morgue’ Heavner which adds an extra level of tension to the narrative. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for an ARC.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been following Kathy Reichs’ gripping forensic anthropologist novels featuring Temperance (Tempe) Brennan for many years now and always found her stories to be intelligent, clever and highly entertaining. “A Conspiracy of Bones” is the nineteenth in the series and sees Tempe returning with some physical and mental changes in her life, that have left her with some emotional and paranoia issues. This doesn’t stop her still being at the top of her game and is determined to find out who the faceless corpse is, that has been brought into the morgue and photos of him forwarded to her anonymously.
Although the subject matter of missing and murdered children is at times distressing, I did find the story very addictive and as is normal with Kathy’s books the attention to detail is second to none. I do have to admit to a lot of the technological detail going over my head but that’s just me, the author always ensures readers have the full details to her plots and premises and thus makes for very informative and interesting thrillers. I was particularly interested in all the conspiracy theories mentioned on the dark web, a lot of which I can say for myself, that I’ve considered to be questionable.
Personally, I would say you do need to have followed Tempe in some of the earlier novels to connect properly with this wonderful character, though you probably could easily read this book as a stand-alone too. Tempe Brennan is an outstanding character, sharp, witty, intelligent and a pleasure to read about and hope she’s still helping to catch criminals for many more years to come.

Thank you to Love Reading for my copy of the book in return for my honest opinion.

4 stars

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reichs’ favorite forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan, is suffering personal traumas in this 19th offering in the series. She is recovering from neurosurgery for an aneurysm that has resulted in disturbing nightmares and migraines. [Of note, this story-line was borrowed from Reichs’ own experience over the past year or so.] Tempe’s health has made her reticent to bulldoze her way through a case like she normally would. The discovery of a dead man missing a face due to feral pigs is just the start of a convoluted plot. Tempe partners up with ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell to pursue the many leads in sweltering North Carolina. Reichs’ descriptions and metaphors are delivered in a rapid, staccato style that matches Tempe’s cranky personality. Enjoy!

[Julie Griffith Buckley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kathy Reichs, A Conspiricy of Bones, Simon & Schuster, May 17, 2020.

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan returns in this rollercoaster ride of a. novel. Coming back from neurosurgery to stabilize an aneurysm, Tempe is faced with a new boss who can't stand her (the fee!ing is mutual) and won't work with her. A colleague anonymously texts her pictures of a man's body, ravaged by wild pigs and missing it's head and hands. She is also supplied with a copy of the Medical Examiner's report. Forced to work in secrecy, she puts together a team, including now retired detective Skinny Slidell, who continues to work on the Charlotte cold case squad, and her Canadian boyfriend, retired detective and now PI, Andrew Ryan.

Coping with blinding migraines, nightmares, and what she fears might be halluicinations, as well as with an increasing agitation, Tempe and her team continue to investigate. Together, they identify the body before the ME's office. They also find additional clues. Is the man a spy? What does he have to do with a child kidnapped years ago? Did he kill himself? Or was he mmurdered? If so, by whom? To answer these questions, Tempe must face all of her demons, which she does with style.

Reich's is a first class storyteller, and her writing is both assured and gripping. This most recent entry in the Bones series keeps the pages turning every bit as fast as the first one, if not faster. If you've not read the series before, no worries, now's the time to start. A Conspiracy of Bones will keep you riveted; it stands up just fine on its own. Highly recommended. Thank you to Kathy Reichs, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the ARC provided for this honest review.

[Jultri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. It was good, but Brennan's recklessness in placing herself in danger repeatedly made me want to slap her hard enough to dislodge the coil in her cerebral aneurysm. Just because she has cheated death once, does not make her invincible and she is no spring chicken. Slidell's character on the other hand is just superb.

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs is book nineteen in her Temperance Brennan series. I haven’t previously read an of this author’s novels, so why not start with number nineteen in a series. Though I haven’t read any of the novels in this series, I am familiar with the main character, Temperance Brennan, as this series was adapted into the television show, Bones, which I watched religiously.

Temperance “Tempe” Brennan is a forensic anthropologist dividing her time between Montreal, Canada and Charlotte, NC. She’s been diagnosed with an aneurysm that has left her with persistent migraines and periodic hallucinations. Tempe has received a series of pictures of a faceless, handless corpse from an unknown sender. Her interest is piqued and she begins to investigate against the directions of her new boss. She’s determined to solve the mystery that takes her many directions, some leading back to her.

A Conspiracy of Bones delivers as expected. Temperance is as advertised. The plot is engaging and provides enough twists to hold the reader’s attention. The first person perspective is entirely appropriate for the story. The interpersonal relationships were of particular interest. I enjoyed this novel and rate it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy any type of fiction, but especially mysteries.

My thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

[Ashley G · Rating 1 out of 5]

A Conspiracy of Bones was a mess.. I couldn’t get past all of the hyperbole. Every single sentence was a distraction to the storyline with excessive metaphors. It’s almost as if the writer took a dictionary and said I’m going to put the most exaggerated and overstated word in place of of a world that would make the book smooth and readable. I wanted to love this book. Calm down with the college professor, I’m better than you writing and just write like people speak. Write how normal detectives would engage in conversation. I don’t understand why the book was written this way. So daunting to read. The plot was also boring, and I am a crime junkie with degrees is Criminal Justice, Sociology and Psychology. This book should have been a big hit for me. Very unfortunate.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always look forward to a new release in this series but this one just didn’t engage me. The plot moved slowly and was complex and confusing at times. I usually find the details of Tempe’s work as an anthropologist really interesting but that aspect was lacking in this story as she acted more as a sidekick for the police. Ryan made only one brief appearance so the usual banter between him and Tempe was sadly missing as well. Disappointed!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

A Conspiracy of Bones is the nineteenth book in the Temperance Brennan series by best-selling American anthropologist and author, Kathy Reichs. Life has turned upside down on anthropologist Tempe Brennan: apart from distracting family dramas and her own medical diagnosis, Ryan and Slidell have abandoned their police force jobs to start up a PI business. But most disturbing of all is that the new boss at MCME has a sizeable grudge against Tempe and is freezing her out of her usual consultancy there.

Margot Heavner, appointed after Larabee’s murder, seems to be oriented to maximum publicity at the expense of ethics. She and Tempe locked horns over the case of a murdered child, and now she is being excluded from a strange new case: a faceless, fingerless, gutless body that Heavner has already implied to the press is a murder victim.

But apparently someone wants Tempe involved: she has been sent, anonymously, pictures of the body. Tempe has another ally at the MCME, and she manages to get her own photos, a sample and information about the autopsy. And what she sees raises one puzzling question: why is Heavner lying about the body?

Can Tempe resist getting involved? If she can discreetly investigate and identify the victim, is she doing it for the right reasons? Because publicly proving Heavner wrong and ending her exile from the lab is an attractive proposition. Slidell, if initially hesitant to get involved, becomes quite interested when links to a certain missing-child cold case become apparent.

Tempe does exasperate: her tendency to jump, alone, into a potentially dangerous situation against all reasonable advice is starting to wear a little thin. However, the snappy dialogues between Tempe and Slidell, Tempe and Ryan are a joy, and there is lots of clever detective work done by both Tempe and Slidell.

This instalment features a radio shock-jock, child porn and paedophiles, conspiracy theories and the dark web, and Reichs also includes plenty of fascinating tidbits like: Zombie ants, military bunker real estate, composite imaging from DNA phenotypes and taphophobia. The notes at the end are also interesting. Virtually boneless, but still plenty to intrigue.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tempe Brennan gets a text showing a faceless corpse that at the morgue, where she worked for many years. It is now run by a self-promotional coroner, Margo Heavner (a/k/a Dr. Morgue.) Tempe is convinced that Margo is wrong, and starts her own investigation, assisted by retired detective, “Skinny” Slidell, who works cold cases for CMPD. The victim has been ravaged by feral hogs, leaving him with a face or fingers for identification: even his clothes have no labels, making it difficult to discern whether he was murdered or had committed suicide. Tempe calls in a favor and begins to build a profile and sketch, eventually figuring out he is linked to a reclusive radio shock jock, Nick Body. Readers are teased with various roles for the decedent, before answers are revealed: spy, serial killer, pedophile, survivalist, patsy. Like author Kathy Reichs, Tempe is recovering from an aneurysm in this novel, causing her to question what is real and what is her imagination. I liked the afterword in which Reichs describes how the book’s subplots were gathered.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read the majority of the series, I was a little disappointed in this book. Brennan’s erratic behavior continued to bother me throughout the book and I found myself becoming annoyed with her. The same type thing happened with Patricia Cornwall’s Kay Scarpetta & I stopped reading her series. I realize that a lot was happening in Brennan’s world but ignoring suspicious things at her home? The plot wasn’t bad but I expected a little more. When I read the afterword & saw that Kathy Reichs had also been diagnosed with an aneurysm, I felt bad. Still, I need to love my characters!

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Kathy Reichs comes out with a new novel featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, I feel a little sort of electric happiness that I carry with me as I await the novel's release and then as I read it. As with any long-running series, the characters continue to grow, becoming more themselves and building their relationships with one another. Temperance, Ryan, Slidel—with each new novel, I enjoy my time with them more.

In this novel Brennan faces a pair of overlapping challenges. First, a new boss with questionable ethics and limited forensic skills, who has it in for Brennan. Second, an unidentified corpse badly mutilated by feral pigs. Determined to identify the corpse and to best this new nemesis, Brennan finds herself following an increasingly complex trail—one that branches out in multiple directions.

Whether or not you're familiar with Brennan, I can pretty much guarantee that you will love this book and will leave it feeling hungry to spend more time with her.

One quick caveat: if you're a reader like me who is uncomfortable with depictions of violence against animals, you'll want to skip a few paragraphs in chapter 32. The first time you see the word "kitten" jump ahead three paragraphs. You'll still be able to follow the action without trouble.