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Temperance Brennan #11
Devil Bones
The eleventh gripping Temperance Brennan thriller from world-class forensic anthropologist, Kathy Reichs, number 1 bestselling author of Break No Bones and Bones to Ashes.
An underground chamber is exposed in a seedy, dilapidated house with sagging trim and peeling paint ... In the dark cellar, a ritualistic display is revealed. A human skull rests on a cauldron, surrounded by slain chickens and bizarre figurines. Beads and antlers dangle overhead.
Called to the scene is forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan. Bony architecture suggests that the skull is that of a young, black female. But how did she die? And when? Then, just as Tempe is working to determine post-mortem interval, another body is discovered: a headless corpse carved with Satanic symbols.
As citizen vigilantes, blaming Devil-worshippers, begin a witch-hunt, intent on revenge, Tempe struggles to keep her emotions in check. But the truth she eventually uncovers proves more shocking than even she could have imagined ...
An underground chamber is exposed in a seedy, dilapidated house with sagging trim and peeling paint ... In the dark cellar, a ritualistic display is revealed. A human skull rests on a cauldron, surrounded by slain chickens and bizarre figurines. Beads and antlers dangle overhead.
Called to the scene is forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan. Bony architecture suggests that the skull is that of a young, black female. But how did she die? And when? Then, just as Tempe is working to determine post-mortem interval, another body is discovered: a headless corpse carved with Satanic symbols.
As citizen vigilantes, blaming Devil-worshippers, begin a witch-hunt, intent on revenge, Tempe struggles to keep her emotions in check. But the truth she eventually uncovers proves more shocking than even she could have imagined ...
366 pages, Paperback
First published August 26, 2008
846 people are currently reading
14010 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Reichs
146 books17.3k followersKathy 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
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1998): Deja Dead
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,412 reviews
August 2, 2022
It’s not me! It’s her!
That’s it! I’m outta here! I’m through. I’m breaking up with Kathy Reichs and Temperance Brennan. No more pain for me!
DEVIL BONES started out well, in fact, REALLY well and I was definitely excited. A clever soft-pedalled introduction around Brennan in the context of her alter ego as a forensic anthropology instructor in the local university gave Reichs a chance to offer some interesting information on the various specialties in anthropology. The discovery of some human remains in a basement under renovation set up a story with tremendous promise. Lots of seriously interesting side-bar essays on syncretic religions – two or more cultural and spiritual ideologies combined into a single religion, such as Santería or Voodoo. Then Reichs introduced her right-wing nasty, the guy who you just knew was ultimately going to wind up on the suspect list:
“Preacher turned county commissioner, [he] was a case study of extremist ideology, pseudo-Christianity, pseudo-patriotism, and thinly veiled white-male supremacy. His was a constituency that wanted the economy unregulated, the welfare state small, the military strong, and the citizenry white, native born, and strictly New Testament.”
Given my less than ambivalent feelings about right-wing fundamental Christian evangelicalism and the state of current US politics, I was well and truly hooked. But THEN came the introduction of an untold number of bit players (most of whom ended up as dead-end and irrelevant); possible investigations pointed in about a thousand different directions; and the continuing woes of Brennan’s truly messed-up life as a less than totally reformed alcoholic, a very confused mother, and a psychologically encumbered divorcée who isn’t really sure who she wants to bed down with. Top it all off by adding another man and some seriously unprofessional sexual exploits with an attorney who just happens to be defending someone under investigation.
Temperance Brennan’s life is a train wreck that’s still happening. The locomotive has stopped but the cars are still de-railing and piling up behind it! I’m going to jump off before the car I’m riding in joins the wreckage.
Paul Weiss
That’s it! I’m outta here! I’m through. I’m breaking up with Kathy Reichs and Temperance Brennan. No more pain for me!
DEVIL BONES started out well, in fact, REALLY well and I was definitely excited. A clever soft-pedalled introduction around Brennan in the context of her alter ego as a forensic anthropology instructor in the local university gave Reichs a chance to offer some interesting information on the various specialties in anthropology. The discovery of some human remains in a basement under renovation set up a story with tremendous promise. Lots of seriously interesting side-bar essays on syncretic religions – two or more cultural and spiritual ideologies combined into a single religion, such as Santería or Voodoo. Then Reichs introduced her right-wing nasty, the guy who you just knew was ultimately going to wind up on the suspect list:
“Preacher turned county commissioner, [he] was a case study of extremist ideology, pseudo-Christianity, pseudo-patriotism, and thinly veiled white-male supremacy. His was a constituency that wanted the economy unregulated, the welfare state small, the military strong, and the citizenry white, native born, and strictly New Testament.”
Given my less than ambivalent feelings about right-wing fundamental Christian evangelicalism and the state of current US politics, I was well and truly hooked. But THEN came the introduction of an untold number of bit players (most of whom ended up as dead-end and irrelevant); possible investigations pointed in about a thousand different directions; and the continuing woes of Brennan’s truly messed-up life as a less than totally reformed alcoholic, a very confused mother, and a psychologically encumbered divorcée who isn’t really sure who she wants to bed down with. Top it all off by adding another man and some seriously unprofessional sexual exploits with an attorney who just happens to be defending someone under investigation.
Temperance Brennan’s life is a train wreck that’s still happening. The locomotive has stopped but the cars are still de-railing and piling up behind it! I’m going to jump off before the car I’m riding in joins the wreckage.
Paul Weiss
September 18, 2008
i feel an obligation to read all of her books because i started with the first one when it came out a million years ago. i recall the first ones to be pretty good. this is the 11th brennan novel, and it annoyed me to no end. primarily the foreshadowing she uses at the end of each short chapter, usually reading "And things were going to get worse. Much worse." EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER. ugh. mostly her writing just got worse. i can't even recall the plot, something to do with bones in a cauldron.
September 1, 2008
The books in Kathy Reichs' Bones series are either really, really good or merely decent, and this newest installment fell into the latter category. I think my level of enjoyment depends on how interested I am in the murder mystery.
I was annoyed with the level of "catch up" Reichs did - I can understand wanting a new reader to be able to pick up any Bones book and understand the players, but by the 11th book in the series, I really don't need to spend pages on what Tempe's job is, who her co-workers are, a detailed chronology of her dating life, etc. I've spent a lot of time with you, Kathy and Tempe. Just hit me with the story.
I was also disappointed that a pivotal conversation between Tempe and Andrew Ryan was reduced to Tempe relating it after the fact in a few sentences. After spending 10 books being invested in the on-again, off-again relationship, it was so odd that Reichs didn't flesh it out and let us in on it.
The introduction of a new potential date for Tempe also confirmed what I thought all along - Reichs can't (won't?) write more than one type of love interest. I'd always thought Pete and Ryan were identical, characterized mainly by their witty, combative personalities. Now Charlie, a man Tempe knows from their high school days, tries to date her, and lo and behold, he's exactly the same as the other two!
I've resigned myself to the fact that these books are rather formulaic, and that they'll always end with Tempe in mortal danger, which leads to her missing out on how the police put the final pieces together - the final chapter is always an after-the-fact recounting of the final clues, which always makes the ending feel rushed. I've also stopped gritting my teeth at the melodramatic, foreshadowy chapter endings and Tempe's habit of getting preachy when discussing a topic that clearly matters to the author. Because really, despite all these flaws, Tempe Brennan is a good protagonist to spend time with, and Reichs always has an entertaining mystery thanks to her day job as a forensic anthropologist.
I'm exasperated I already finished the new book in one sitting, but at least the new season of Bones starts in three days.
I was annoyed with the level of "catch up" Reichs did - I can understand wanting a new reader to be able to pick up any Bones book and understand the players, but by the 11th book in the series, I really don't need to spend pages on what Tempe's job is, who her co-workers are, a detailed chronology of her dating life, etc. I've spent a lot of time with you, Kathy and Tempe. Just hit me with the story.
I was also disappointed that a pivotal conversation between Tempe and Andrew Ryan was reduced to Tempe relating it after the fact in a few sentences. After spending 10 books being invested in the on-again, off-again relationship, it was so odd that Reichs didn't flesh it out and let us in on it.
The introduction of a new potential date for Tempe also confirmed what I thought all along - Reichs can't (won't?) write more than one type of love interest. I'd always thought Pete and Ryan were identical, characterized mainly by their witty, combative personalities. Now Charlie, a man Tempe knows from their high school days, tries to date her, and lo and behold, he's exactly the same as the other two!
I've resigned myself to the fact that these books are rather formulaic, and that they'll always end with Tempe in mortal danger, which leads to her missing out on how the police put the final pieces together - the final chapter is always an after-the-fact recounting of the final clues, which always makes the ending feel rushed. I've also stopped gritting my teeth at the melodramatic, foreshadowy chapter endings and Tempe's habit of getting preachy when discussing a topic that clearly matters to the author. Because really, despite all these flaws, Tempe Brennan is a good protagonist to spend time with, and Reichs always has an entertaining mystery thanks to her day job as a forensic anthropologist.
I'm exasperated I already finished the new book in one sitting, but at least the new season of Bones starts in three days.
May 20, 2024
3 Stars for Devil Bones: Temperance Brennan, Book 11 (audiobook) by Kathy Reichs read by Lorelei King.
I decided to give this one a try because Lorelei King did the narration. For some reason the story just didn’t pull me in. I think I’ll pass on the rest of the series.
I decided to give this one a try because Lorelei King did the narration. For some reason the story just didn’t pull me in. I think I’ll pass on the rest of the series.
February 28, 2013
This was my first Kathy Reichs novel and I have just one thing to say: I'm hooked. The plot was engaging; it kept me turning pages and made it very hard for me to put the book down. Temperance Brennan is a very fascinating character; I look forward to reading more about her. A highly recommended read!
April 16, 2023
Another enjoyable read. This plot revolves around fringe religions of voodoo and Wiccan. A skull and two cauldrons are found in a cellar. Then a decapitated body by a lake with Satanic symbols carved in the chest. Tempe assists Slidell or Skinny and Rinaldi in the investigation and whether they are linked.
Tempe also is once again trying to figure out her relationship with Ryan and a new contender is on the scene an old high school friend called Charlie with her daughter Katy trying to matchmaker. I liked the details of the fringe religions and of course Birdy. It seems odd Tempe losing her temper with the grandstanding politician Lingo but it is fiction.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The voodoo link is a red herring and Tempe identifies the skull from a prank played by two people years ago. Asa one of the thieves a Wiccan is wrongly gunned down by the father of the decapitated victim. Rinaldi is also murdered with Slidell his partner seeking the murderer. It turns out to be Gunther his informer who realizes Rinaldi has worked out he is the killer. The decapitated victim us a rival and the Satanic symbols a misdirection. He also tries to set up Evans who is gay and works for a politician. Gunther plants the head in Evans freezer and kills Evans then captures Slidell and Tempe with Ryan saving the day. All in all an entertaining story.
Tempe also is once again trying to figure out her relationship with Ryan and a new contender is on the scene an old high school friend called Charlie with her daughter Katy trying to matchmaker. I liked the details of the fringe religions and of course Birdy. It seems odd Tempe losing her temper with the grandstanding politician Lingo but it is fiction.
SPOILERS AHEAD
The voodoo link is a red herring and Tempe identifies the skull from a prank played by two people years ago. Asa one of the thieves a Wiccan is wrongly gunned down by the father of the decapitated victim. Rinaldi is also murdered with Slidell his partner seeking the murderer. It turns out to be Gunther his informer who realizes Rinaldi has worked out he is the killer. The decapitated victim us a rival and the Satanic symbols a misdirection. He also tries to set up Evans who is gay and works for a politician. Gunther plants the head in Evans freezer and kills Evans then captures Slidell and Tempe with Ryan saving the day. All in all an entertaining story.
October 24, 2020
Surely by now Tempe's gotta have permanent brain damage from getting knocked unconscious by every book's bad guy?
March 14, 2024
I really liked this instalment of Temperance Brennan, this is number 11 in the series and it was really good fun. It had elements of Satanism and ritual killings which were really interesting. It also had a message that not everything is as it seems. As always we follow Brennan on a few different cases as she tries to piece together a puzzle.
The murders/cases being worked in this book were really entertaining to read. I thought the personal life aspect of this book was a little boring, it also recapped an awful lot that I didn't enjoy because I have read these in quite quick succession. A solid read for me, on to the next.
The murders/cases being worked in this book were really entertaining to read. I thought the personal life aspect of this book was a little boring, it also recapped an awful lot that I didn't enjoy because I have read these in quite quick succession. A solid read for me, on to the next.
November 2, 2008
Kathy Reichs joins the ranks of so many writers who feel compelled to produce a book every year and end up producing crap. I used to so enjoy her books -- but she has gone downhill fast and this might be the last one that I read.
Devil Bones' only saving grace was that it was quick to read .. but only because of the # of pages, not because of the content. There were too many peripheral characters that added nothing to the plot except to make it confusing. I also prefer the books that are set in Quebec -- this one was all in Charlotte -- not very interesting.
Devil Bones' only saving grace was that it was quick to read .. but only because of the # of pages, not because of the content. There were too many peripheral characters that added nothing to the plot except to make it confusing. I also prefer the books that are set in Quebec -- this one was all in Charlotte -- not very interesting.
August 10, 2024
Re-Read 2024
The 11th book of the series lays claim to being the only book in the series that I have read three times. I have no idea why it happened this way BUT a lot of people I know have a copy for me to borrow.
For this particular case, Tempe is back in Charlotte North Carolina working for the corner when a human skull becomes linked to a suspected satanic practice. With daughter Katy finally out in the workforce, ex-husband Pete talking about marrying his 29-year-old girlfriend, and Andrew Ryan back in Montreal, Tempe can certainly use work to distract her from overthinking her personal life.
I have to say that my 4-star rating isn't necessarily because of the case as it is for a particular event happening in the story that does have an impact on Tempe and those around her.
Goodreads review published 10/08/24
The 11th book of the series lays claim to being the only book in the series that I have read three times. I have no idea why it happened this way BUT a lot of people I know have a copy for me to borrow.
For this particular case, Tempe is back in Charlotte North Carolina working for the corner when a human skull becomes linked to a suspected satanic practice. With daughter Katy finally out in the workforce, ex-husband Pete talking about marrying his 29-year-old girlfriend, and Andrew Ryan back in Montreal, Tempe can certainly use work to distract her from overthinking her personal life.
I have to say that my 4-star rating isn't necessarily because of the case as it is for a particular event happening in the story that does have an impact on Tempe and those around her.
Goodreads review published 10/08/24
August 20, 2009
So, I haven't had much time for reading this summer, and that makes this book that much more of a disappointment. I picked this book up in the airport after finishing my last book, which was fantastic. I wish I hadn't wasted my precious reading minutes on this book. Harsh, I know. But (and I realize this is a book in a series of books) there is very, very little character development. I would expect a little bit more character and storyline development, even in a book that is part of a series of books. The story line is more than boring (if there is such a thing) and the resolution is less than satisfying. People die, and all I could think is "so what". The author tries to build suspense around a whole "satanic killing" theme, but it does little to build the story at all, or make any sense of why the killings occur. Little explanation at the end, and all in all, a boring, less than interesting book that I wouldn't recommend to anyone, unless you have time to waste and aren't looking for anything that will captivate your attention or interest.
February 20, 2016
This is my first book by this author and my first book in the Temperance Brennan series. So why I started with book 11, I don't know. The MC is a forensic scientist and I'm not sure how I feel about all the little details that go along with the science part of that job. It was a little too much for me. I will read a few more in this series to get a better feel for the MC and her job.
The author described her characters in good detail. I liked the MC and some of the other characters. But they felt caught in a 'still life'. The author seemed dedicated to painting a pretty picture with her characters front and center. I would like to see some growth and more tension.
I will say that I loved the narrator. She's one of my favorites. This narrator narrated the first books in the Stephanie Plum series before a different narrator took over. So I kept hearing Stephanie Plum in this. Sh
The author described her characters in good detail. I liked the MC and some of the other characters. But they felt caught in a 'still life'. The author seemed dedicated to painting a pretty picture with her characters front and center. I would like to see some growth and more tension.
I will say that I loved the narrator. She's one of my favorites. This narrator narrated the first books in the Stephanie Plum series before a different narrator took over. So I kept hearing Stephanie Plum in this. Sh
July 7, 2018
There has been some ups and downs with this series for me but overall, I look forward to every book I pick up. Not all long-standing book series are able to hold my interest but this one certainly does. Also, I convinced my mum to try out the series because I believe she would love it.
Reichs as an author might not be for everyone but I enjoy her businesslike writing when it comes to the forensic part of the story. Always a great contrast to Tempe's personal life.
The case this time isn't that special but frequents a topic I am interested on. The central case is linked early to a religious ceremony and while I share not all views of the author on the topic of religion, Reichs did a good job of introducing them to the uninformed readership.
Reichs as an author might not be for everyone but I enjoy her businesslike writing when it comes to the forensic part of the story. Always a great contrast to Tempe's personal life.
The case this time isn't that special but frequents a topic I am interested on. The central case is linked early to a religious ceremony and while I share not all views of the author on the topic of religion, Reichs did a good job of introducing them to the uninformed readership.
June 13, 2013
Okay, so I'm officially moving on from free books picked up at book exchanges and sticking with books in genres I know I like. But the thing is, I thought I would like this one. I like mysteries, I like medical thrillers. This book seemed like it would be an awesome combination of both. It's not that it's not enough like the show Bones, it may not be, but I don't watch that show so the disappointment couldn't stem from that.
I just didn't like the writing style. Entire conversations passed like this.
He asked me how it went. I told him. He said that's too bad. I said I know.
Not "how did it go?"
"Meh, not so great," I said bringing it up to speed.
"Too bad." He shook his head and gave me a sympathetic look.
Nope, entire conversations told in summary that included what the characters said verbatim. Why? That doesn't shorten anything. And it wasn't just when she was catching up people on events. This happened to.
I picked up the phone and said hello. He sounded upset when he said hello. I asked what was wrong. He told me xyz had happened on the station. Oh, I responded. That is upsetting. We talked for a few more minutes before he said goodbye. I hung up the phone.
Arg! She has an eleven book contract (at least) in PRINT and a TV show. What?!
Every single chapter ended with a "If I'd only paid attention to xyz, I could have prevented so much pain."
Seriously! That kind of "foreshadowing" is just lazy.
There was tons of "intro to xyz" info dumps. Whether it be aspects of forensics or the tenants of religions. Then the protagonist would have a conversation where she reiterated every single fact from the pages of info dumping. I would have rather just had the conversations. I'm glad she researched stuff, but I really didn't feel the need for a wikipedia type entry on every single thing she looked up down to random bands. I also felt like it was hitting me over the head with morals. You know, I never considered Wiccan's to be satanists before this book, but thanks for repeatedly assuming I'm a bigot. I would say that she trying to teach another character or make some self-discovery, but the protagonist never really seemed to think there was a link between Satan and wicca either and it was exposition not dialogue so who else could the writer be trying to convince. To see THAT type of mini-moral packed into a story well, I recommend reading Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong.
Apparently this was book 11 in the series, so I guess one good thing is that I was able to pick up the book and make sense of it without the rest of the series. But I won't be reading anymore by this author.
I just didn't like the writing style. Entire conversations passed like this.
He asked me how it went. I told him. He said that's too bad. I said I know.
Not "how did it go?"
"Meh, not so great," I said bringing it up to speed.
"Too bad." He shook his head and gave me a sympathetic look.
Nope, entire conversations told in summary that included what the characters said verbatim. Why? That doesn't shorten anything. And it wasn't just when she was catching up people on events. This happened to.
I picked up the phone and said hello. He sounded upset when he said hello. I asked what was wrong. He told me xyz had happened on the station. Oh, I responded. That is upsetting. We talked for a few more minutes before he said goodbye. I hung up the phone.
Arg! She has an eleven book contract (at least) in PRINT and a TV show. What?!
Every single chapter ended with a "If I'd only paid attention to xyz, I could have prevented so much pain."
Seriously! That kind of "foreshadowing" is just lazy.
There was tons of "intro to xyz" info dumps. Whether it be aspects of forensics or the tenants of religions. Then the protagonist would have a conversation where she reiterated every single fact from the pages of info dumping. I would have rather just had the conversations. I'm glad she researched stuff, but I really didn't feel the need for a wikipedia type entry on every single thing she looked up down to random bands. I also felt like it was hitting me over the head with morals. You know, I never considered Wiccan's to be satanists before this book, but thanks for repeatedly assuming I'm a bigot. I would say that she trying to teach another character or make some self-discovery, but the protagonist never really seemed to think there was a link between Satan and wicca either and it was exposition not dialogue so who else could the writer be trying to convince. To see THAT type of mini-moral packed into a story well, I recommend reading Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong.
Apparently this was book 11 in the series, so I guess one good thing is that I was able to pick up the book and make sense of it without the rest of the series. But I won't be reading anymore by this author.
December 22, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed re-reading this 11th book in Kathy Reichs "Temperance Brennan" series!
February 20, 2025
Temperance " Bones " Brennan spends this book in her U.S. home base of Charlotte NC, looking for whoever left bones in a cauldron. Yes, we have the usual twists and turns. Nothing seemed to make sense. The end I never saw coming.
Along with the well-flushed-out personal relationships, Tempe has her usual rough and sometimes "not so perfect" personality on full display in this one. Her biggest weakness is her little patience for the media and pompous, righteous people, which this book is full of. It's quite entertaining.
She's also dealing with her and Andrew Ryan's relationship being in off mode throughout this book. It's not a major part of the plotline, but I always love that Reichs is able to give Tempe all of the human emotions that someone goes through, that don't just have to do with her job. It makes her a likeable and relatable character.
We also experience loss in this book (sorry, a tiny bit of spoiler, but don't worry, I'm not telling you who). It's a character that we have followed in a few of her books up to this point, so it was a tough read, and the impact on everyone shifts through the book. It happens at about the 50% mark, so throughout the second half, this person's death plays out in the investigation.
And as usual, Tempe's mind and how she figures things out is on full display. Although I have to say there was one little riddle that she was trying to make sense of and I kept thinking, "Dang girl, I know what that is." I've read too many murder thrillers!!!
The one thing that was a touch different with this book was that it had many social statements. Devil Bones was published in 2008, well before the current U.S. political situation, which I found interesting because it felt so relative to today's social climate. The last lines of the book:
QUOTE:
Was I to embark on a new beginning? With Charlie? with Ryan? With someone new?
Could Ryan and I go back, start over again?
Could America find a new beginning? Could we return to a time when we all felt safe? Protected? Confident in our values and our purpose? Tolerant of customs and belief systems we didn't understand?
How would my sister, Harry, put it?
No way of knowing which hound will hunt.
END QUOTE
I left out a bit there so as not to give away some of the book's details, but I felt that statement very relevant to how things are today. And I'll leave it at that. It's a great book and I'd highly recommend it. I'll be heading into the next in the series, "206 Bones."
Along with the well-flushed-out personal relationships, Tempe has her usual rough and sometimes "not so perfect" personality on full display in this one. Her biggest weakness is her little patience for the media and pompous, righteous people, which this book is full of. It's quite entertaining.
She's also dealing with her and Andrew Ryan's relationship being in off mode throughout this book. It's not a major part of the plotline, but I always love that Reichs is able to give Tempe all of the human emotions that someone goes through, that don't just have to do with her job. It makes her a likeable and relatable character.
We also experience loss in this book (sorry, a tiny bit of spoiler, but don't worry, I'm not telling you who). It's a character that we have followed in a few of her books up to this point, so it was a tough read, and the impact on everyone shifts through the book. It happens at about the 50% mark, so throughout the second half, this person's death plays out in the investigation.
And as usual, Tempe's mind and how she figures things out is on full display. Although I have to say there was one little riddle that she was trying to make sense of and I kept thinking, "Dang girl, I know what that is." I've read too many murder thrillers!!!
The one thing that was a touch different with this book was that it had many social statements. Devil Bones was published in 2008, well before the current U.S. political situation, which I found interesting because it felt so relative to today's social climate. The last lines of the book:
QUOTE:
Was I to embark on a new beginning? With Charlie? with Ryan? With someone new?
Could Ryan and I go back, start over again?
Could America find a new beginning? Could we return to a time when we all felt safe? Protected? Confident in our values and our purpose? Tolerant of customs and belief systems we didn't understand?
How would my sister, Harry, put it?
No way of knowing which hound will hunt.
END QUOTE
I left out a bit there so as not to give away some of the book's details, but I felt that statement very relevant to how things are today. And I'll leave it at that. It's a great book and I'd highly recommend it. I'll be heading into the next in the series, "206 Bones."
January 27, 2018
This is the weakest book of this series so far. I was not at all interested in the case itself, and a lot of the personal details of Tempe's life that usually keep me interested when I'm not hooked by the mystery were lacking in the first part of the book. I also felt that Tempe behaved out of character quite a bit. Though she frequently deals with difficult and sad situations, her reactions are usually not as extreme as what she does in this book.
Things got a bit more exciting in the last quarter of the story, but already, looking back on it all, I'm not sure I could accurately summarize all the evidence or how it all fit together. This series does tend to be fairly inconsistent in terms of capturing my interest or not so I'm going to assume this book will be followed by a much better story, and hopefully Tempe will be back to some semblance of her old self. Also, I completely agree with the reviewers who mention that there is way too much foreshadowing in this book. Reichs always includes a little bit at the end of some chapters to keep the pages turning, but it did happen in practically every chapter this time, and sometimes even more than once per chapter. Maybe this was supposed to make up for the story not having too many natural hooks to keep readers interested as it went on, but it just made the book feel even stranger, and made the events of the story feel contrived.
I'll be taking a break from this series for a while to recover from the disappointment of this one, but I plan to pick up the next book, 206 Bones, in a month or two.
Things got a bit more exciting in the last quarter of the story, but already, looking back on it all, I'm not sure I could accurately summarize all the evidence or how it all fit together. This series does tend to be fairly inconsistent in terms of capturing my interest or not so I'm going to assume this book will be followed by a much better story, and hopefully Tempe will be back to some semblance of her old self. Also, I completely agree with the reviewers who mention that there is way too much foreshadowing in this book. Reichs always includes a little bit at the end of some chapters to keep the pages turning, but it did happen in practically every chapter this time, and sometimes even more than once per chapter. Maybe this was supposed to make up for the story not having too many natural hooks to keep readers interested as it went on, but it just made the book feel even stranger, and made the events of the story feel contrived.
I'll be taking a break from this series for a while to recover from the disappointment of this one, but I plan to pick up the next book, 206 Bones, in a month or two.
March 12, 2013
Why am I compelled to continue reading this series? There was absolutely nothing interesting or different about this book--yes, Ms. Brennan's panties had their own scene, she rolled her eyes a lot, and her relationship (so-called) continues to go nowhere. The whole heroin-addicted long-lost daughter plot thread just turns my stomach, by the way, but that's a whole 'nother story. The lecture topics in this novel (you ever get the feeling that it's all filler for an otherwise pretty skimpy tale? me too) included Santaria, voodoo, Satan worship, and Wicca, which were kind of interesting, but didn't really go anywhere since it turns out the murderer was just some crazy person who was barely mentioned until he---surprise!--abducted Tempe, and who had nothing at all to do with any of it. I hate myself for wasting time and money on these stupid books yet I cannot stop myself. Thank God there are only a few more left.
I should mention that I have all ready plowed through 206 Bones, as well, and if you'll just substitute "board certification" for "Santaria, voodoo, etc" and delete "kind of interesting" , you"ll have my review of that heart-stopper.
I should mention that I have all ready plowed through 206 Bones, as well, and if you'll just substitute "board certification" for "Santaria, voodoo, etc" and delete "kind of interesting" , you"ll have my review of that heart-stopper.
January 13, 2017
Always enjoy Kathy's novels. Lots of twists and mystery in this one. Well written as always. My only criticism on this one is that so many people died during the investigation it became a bit cliché.
January 24, 2019
I’m a big fan of the TV show Bones. The books differ some but I love the character of Temperance Brennan. I’m certain we would be good friends. I’ll add more to my TBR of this series. Fascinating.
March 7, 2022
It was ok. Last Reichs novel I’ll be reading for some time as I’m a little bit sick of the exact same formula in every book.
December 15, 2021
This was an audiobook selection for me. Unfortunately, with multiple stops and starts, it was a tad difficult to keep the names of the victims straight. That said, you can learn things reading books about police procedure and forensic anthropology. In this story, a plumber stumbles on some bones when remodeling a home. Then a headless corpse is found and autopsy shows some unusual bony striations. Dr. Brennan is called in to consult on the deaths to lend her expertise. Meanwhile, her daughter dabbles at matchmaking, trying to fix her mother up with a new man. After a detective working the case is killed, things really heat up.
August 20, 2025
Non ho mai letto un libro di questo genere (di solito guardo in TV sitcom simili) e avevo paura di addentrarmi in trame complesse o terribilmente noiose. Devo ammettere in realtà che ho trovato una bella storia ricca di intrighi e colpi di scena.
Sicuramente le parti più ''scientifiche'' erano anche quelle più complesse, ma anche per i profani come me non è complesso seguire gli indizi vari.
Sicuramente le parti più ''scientifiche'' erano anche quelle più complesse, ma anche per i profani come me non è complesso seguire gli indizi vari.
June 7, 2010
I'm a huge fan of the tv-show, Bones, and when I found out the show was (very loosely) based on novels, I had to give them a go. And I can't say I'm disappointed.
What's important to understand is that the books and the show are two different things - they're different medias. Of course that's not an excuse for making somewhat shallow characters (of which Reichs is guilty) - the characters of the novels pale a little compared to the charming, witty and - if I must say it - sexy characters of the show.
That said, I enjoyed the book very much. It was slow in the beginning but settled in to a nice, steady pace supported by Reichs non-poetic language. That's meant as a compliment - descriptions of flowers and singing birds don't really belong in a crime story so I find her very direct language quite delightful.
The last few pages were a bit cheesy - the whole "an end, a beginning"-thing made me roll my eyes and perhaps the ending scene was a tad too predictable and rushed. But all in all a good read. I'll continue reading Reichs books to see if the characters may improve.
I was tempted to give this book four stars - but I'll save that for later if the books improve on me.
What's important to understand is that the books and the show are two different things - they're different medias. Of course that's not an excuse for making somewhat shallow characters (of which Reichs is guilty) - the characters of the novels pale a little compared to the charming, witty and - if I must say it - sexy characters of the show.
That said, I enjoyed the book very much. It was slow in the beginning but settled in to a nice, steady pace supported by Reichs non-poetic language. That's meant as a compliment - descriptions of flowers and singing birds don't really belong in a crime story so I find her very direct language quite delightful.
The last few pages were a bit cheesy - the whole "an end, a beginning"-thing made me roll my eyes and perhaps the ending scene was a tad too predictable and rushed. But all in all a good read. I'll continue reading Reichs books to see if the characters may improve.
I was tempted to give this book four stars - but I'll save that for later if the books improve on me.
February 6, 2009
The 11th novel by Kathy Reichs shines even greater than previous Temperance Brennan adventures. This time we find mysterious Santaria, Wicca, teen pregnancy, and folks who aren't the people they pretend to be. This book was dedicated to all the fallen officers of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg area of North Carolina. Although Ryan is still in the "love" picture, he spends most of the book on hiatus trying to help his drug-addicted daughter and investigating the possibility of reuniting with her mother. Meanwhile, Temperance works with Slidell again and is reunited with an old high school chum that has become a lawyer. Both men figure in her latest adventures, digging up body parts and trying to solve multiple crimes with Slidell and LaManche. An old police pal, Rinaldi, bites the dust. When the last crime of the book is solved, Temperance ponders which love interest she will choose -- or if a new one will materialize.
After the ending, there is a question and answer section that reveals her sourcing ideas and that she is one of three producers of the TV show, "Bones".
After the ending, there is a question and answer section that reveals her sourcing ideas and that she is one of three producers of the TV show, "Bones".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2009
If this was the first Reichs book I read, I don't know that I'd read any more. Nothing about it was memorable or unique enough to set it apart from other mystery books. There was a bit less of the smart/stupid Brennan than the last book, less of textbook explanation of various sciences, fewer rhetorical questions, but still too many for me. The other annoying bit about the writing was the "telling" not "showing" of action and emotion. The only example that comes to mind at the moment is "radiated like heat" -- why include the last two words when radiated already implies the heat? And all the telling regarding Tempe's emotions with Andrew Ryan. Made for boring scenes between them. Stop with the recollection of what happened and keep the action in the present! Even the "climactic ending" when, shocker, Tempe is kidnapped and 'almost' dies but Ryan bursts in at the exact right moment -- gee, didn't see that coming.
If the library had more good books on CD, I wouldn't be compelled to read this formulaic stuff.
If the library had more good books on CD, I wouldn't be compelled to read this formulaic stuff.
July 21, 2009
This was actually a pretty good book. The premise has been done to death, but Reichs manages to put a nice twist on the story and give us an ending that, while somewhat cliche, more than satisfies.
I managed to read this in less than 48 hours, unlike Reichs' last outing, which took me over a week to read.
Devil Bones is well-paced with a gripping storyline. And just when she had me thinking that the villian was one person, she pulled a switcheroo that I didn't see coming.
A note of caution. If you're looking for a lot of Tempe/Ryan action, you'll be disappointed. Ryan only comes into play in the last 1/4 of the book. He doesn't have a major role to play in this story, since the action takes place entirely in North Carolina. I feel like the only reason he was even in this novel was so to not disappoint the Tempe/Ryan fans out there. His role was irrelevant and could have been saved for another novel. However, his appearance did move things forward a bit between he and Tempe, so I guess it served its purpose.
I managed to read this in less than 48 hours, unlike Reichs' last outing, which took me over a week to read.
Devil Bones is well-paced with a gripping storyline. And just when she had me thinking that the villian was one person, she pulled a switcheroo that I didn't see coming.
A note of caution. If you're looking for a lot of Tempe/Ryan action, you'll be disappointed. Ryan only comes into play in the last 1/4 of the book. He doesn't have a major role to play in this story, since the action takes place entirely in North Carolina. I feel like the only reason he was even in this novel was so to not disappoint the Tempe/Ryan fans out there. His role was irrelevant and could have been saved for another novel. However, his appearance did move things forward a bit between he and Tempe, so I guess it served its purpose.
April 12, 2010
Breathlessly paced and trickily plotted, DEVIL BONES features Dr Temperance Brennan in her North Carolina setting, solving a case that begins with a grisly discovery in a basement. An altar suggesting the practice of Santeria is uncovered during a home renovation, and soon a body with ritualistic markings is found at a nearby lake. As Tempe tries to connect the two cases, a local conservative media pundit latches on to the crimes as evidence of Satanic practices in the area, which does not meld well with Tempe's notorious temper.
Reichs' research on Santeria, Wicca and neopaganism is evident here, and she avoids stereotyping. The plot unravels relentlessly, though sometimes at a pace that is slightly too fast.
Tempe's personal life remains curiously unresolved, with the appearance of an old flame that seems to go nowhere, and was a bit distracting to this reader.
Overall, this Temperance Brennan thriller is more adrenaline-driven than character-rich -- a worthy read for followers of the series, but those new to Tempe's work should start with the series debut DEJA DEAD.
Reichs' research on Santeria, Wicca and neopaganism is evident here, and she avoids stereotyping. The plot unravels relentlessly, though sometimes at a pace that is slightly too fast.
Tempe's personal life remains curiously unresolved, with the appearance of an old flame that seems to go nowhere, and was a bit distracting to this reader.
Overall, this Temperance Brennan thriller is more adrenaline-driven than character-rich -- a worthy read for followers of the series, but those new to Tempe's work should start with the series debut DEJA DEAD.
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