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lizziepagereads's review against another edition
Brennan is back! Tempe (and Kathy) - we missed you! I’ve been eagerly awaiting the next installment in Kathy Reich’s brilliant Bones series, and it did not disappoint. Brennan and Slidell are prominently featured, and, per usual, the novel takes a strong stance on current events (this time, “fake news”). Also per usual, the book is part science, part mystery, and part thriller (perhaps leaning more heavily to the thriller aspect compared to other books in this series).
While I enjoyed every minute of this book, it did have a lot going on. Some of the themes/topics might have been better saved for Book 20. With the exception of the Fake News theme, it felt like we didn’t go deep enough on any of the highly relevant, supremely important topics (I’m abstaining from listing them here as to avoid spoilers). To be clear, I call this out to be fair to newer readers of the series. For most long-time fans, the joy of being back in Brennan’s world will surely outweigh the topic density.
Overall, a great 19th installment in a masterful series. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5. Can’t wait for the next one!!!!
While I enjoyed every minute of this book, it did have a lot going on. Some of the themes/topics might have been better saved for Book 20. With the exception of the Fake News theme, it felt like we didn’t go deep enough on any of the highly relevant, supremely important topics (I’m abstaining from listing them here as to avoid spoilers). To be clear, I call this out to be fair to newer readers of the series. For most long-time fans, the joy of being back in Brennan’s world will surely outweigh the topic density.
Overall, a great 19th installment in a masterful series. 4.5 stars, rounded to 5. Can’t wait for the next one!!!!
hanna7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
blogginboutbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, Tempe, how I've missed you! I'm always excited for a new Temperance Brennan book, but this one has been a long time coming because of the author's health problems. I'm glad Kathy Reichs is doing better and I'm especially happy to have been able to read this book. If you love Reichs' popular heroine, you're going to love her newest adventure.
Tempe continues to be a great character - she's funny, brave, determined, hard-working, and fiercely devoted to the people whose bones she studies. I adore her. I also love learning about the forensic science techniques Tempe uses - Reichs explains them simply without talking down to the reader. Mystery-wise, this one has some interesting twists. It kept me reading fast and furious to find out what would happen next. I was a little disappointed that Ryan didn't have more of a role in the book. Overall, though, I enjoyed this newest novel. Welcome back, Tempe!
Tempe continues to be a great character - she's funny, brave, determined, hard-working, and fiercely devoted to the people whose bones she studies. I adore her. I also love learning about the forensic science techniques Tempe uses - Reichs explains them simply without talking down to the reader. Mystery-wise, this one has some interesting twists. It kept me reading fast and furious to find out what would happen next. I was a little disappointed that Ryan didn't have more of a role in the book. Overall, though, I enjoyed this newest novel. Welcome back, Tempe!
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
3.0
I have absolutely adored the Temperance Brennan series, so different from the TV Show (which is how I discovered the series) and amazing all on it's own. Unfortunately, this was not my favorite. There was a major character death in the novella prior to this book. If you're like me you typically don't pick up the novellas. So to have something so altering to the overall plot line and to be completely lost on what happened was a little frustrating. And because the major conflict for this story, Temperance's new boss, started from that novella I spent a while being confused. Now that I've had a chance to read the novella, I'm excited to continue the series and enjoy the Temperance mysteries I love!
chlslnbd10's review against another edition
3.0
Tempe has been put on medical leave following surgery for an aneurism. Her migraines have been accompanied by hallucinations, so when Tempe thinks she sees someone in a trench coat in her yard in the middle of a sweltering North Carolina night, she isn't sure if it's real or not. Then, she receives mysterious texts of a torso. Her current beef with Larabee's replacement, "Dr. Morgue", means she's out cold on the case. Working with Skinny, who's been afforded limited access to the case as well, Tempe works to solve a case involving Estonian conspiracy theories, mysterious private clinics, and a podcaster spewing lies for a fee.
marielaine's review against another edition
5.0
Mon auteur préféré. Je ne me lasse jamais de lire ces romans et j'ai toujours hâte qu'elle en sorte un autre. J'ai bien aimé le sujet des Fakes News et des conspirationnistes car c'est présentement ce que nous voyons avec les élections américaines et la pandémie.
laurapk's review against another edition
1.0
The opening chapter made me hope this novel was a return to form for the Temperance Brennan series. There was more introspection and beautiful writing in the opening chapter (e.g. "The tiny pond was a dark void, woolly where the water met the bank."
Unfortunately, the rest of the novel went downhill fast. And the writing quality dropped ("Before this is done, the case will be wrapped tighter than a mummy's dick.") There were three major stories that didn't glue well together--and the second half of the novel started to exasperate me as a reader. Approaching conspiracy theories in writing is difficult. Two-dimensional portrayals of the people who fall for them doesn't serve much and frankly I'm tired of those diatribes. I abhor Alex Jones and others like him as well, but fiction involving them often feels unsatisfying and ...well as off-centered as those conspiracy theories we're mocking.
Except no, it didn't make sense. Tempe had NO LOGICAL REASON for linking Nick Body to child abductions, it was just a jump, the same ilogical jump that conspiracy theorists do themselves. Also, Tempe broke every rule under the sun. And then we're supposed to be mad at the judges for not signing on a warrant where evidence was obtained by illegal entry on private property? After evidence was stored on a private phone, never backed up? A rookie PI would do better.
There were other major gaps in logic in the story as well. Tempe's computer is infected with a malware after she visits a conspiracy theory site. So the result is that...the virus allows her to download exactly the code she needs to view the illicit child pornography? So were the bad guys trying to kick her out and damage her computer, or thought she was a potential customer? Nothing made sense. Let's not even mention the way HIIPA is seen as just an inconvenience, and a treating physician decides to reveal some, but not all, confidential information. Seriously, are we supposed to cheer as laws designed to protect citizen's privacy are being broken, because the investigators suspect someone did something wrong? Is Tempe actually a villain? Because that makes more sense.
There was an acute lack of likable characters in this novel, and the mystery was thin and one gigantic conspiracy theory itself. While I appreciated that Tempe wasn't knocked in the head unconscious (because of course someone did knock her in the head, again) and the ending wasn't a classical "Tempe is now a prisoner", the ending was very lackluster. Her relationship with Andrew Ryan is so toxic I want to reach out to the male character and tell him to RUN. She promises to herself she'll try better (again), but this story is getting old. Also, I'm sorry, Slidel is in my opinion a disgusting character. I don't care how good he's supposed to be at his job, the way he talks is so old and rotten that I feel like taking a shower every time I read his lines.
I don't know what to say. I bought the other two remaining novels in the series and now I'm worried I won't be able to even finish them.
PS: Oh, did I mention the question Tempe asks herself? There were so many of them I wondered if those were needed to pad the word count. I skipped over them at one point and missed nothing
Unfortunately, the rest of the novel went downhill fast. And the writing quality dropped ("Before this is done, the case will be wrapped tighter than a mummy's dick.") There were three major stories that didn't glue well together--and the second half of the novel started to exasperate me as a reader. Approaching conspiracy theories in writing is difficult. Two-dimensional portrayals of the people who fall for them doesn't serve much and frankly I'm tired of those diatribes. I abhor Alex Jones and others like him as well, but fiction involving them often feels unsatisfying and ...well as off-centered as those conspiracy theories we're mocking.
Spoiler
Conspiracy theorists are the ones actually kidnapping children and selling child-pornography? Sure, why not.Except no, it didn't make sense. Tempe had NO LOGICAL REASON for linking Nick Body to child abductions, it was just a jump, the same ilogical jump that conspiracy theorists do themselves. Also, Tempe broke every rule under the sun. And then we're supposed to be mad at the judges for not signing on a warrant where evidence was obtained by illegal entry on private property? After evidence was stored on a private phone, never backed up? A rookie PI would do better.
There were other major gaps in logic in the story as well. Tempe's computer is infected with a malware after she visits a conspiracy theory site. So the result is that...the virus allows her to download exactly the code she needs to view the illicit child pornography? So were the bad guys trying to kick her out and damage her computer, or thought she was a potential customer? Nothing made sense. Let's not even mention the way HIIPA is seen as just an inconvenience, and a treating physician decides to reveal some, but not all, confidential information. Seriously, are we supposed to cheer as laws designed to protect citizen's privacy are being broken, because the investigators suspect someone did something wrong? Is Tempe actually a villain? Because that makes more sense.
There was an acute lack of likable characters in this novel, and the mystery was thin and one gigantic conspiracy theory itself. While I appreciated that Tempe wasn't knocked in the head unconscious (because of course someone did knock her in the head, again) and the ending wasn't a classical "Tempe is now a prisoner", the ending was very lackluster. Her relationship with Andrew Ryan is so toxic I want to reach out to the male character and tell him to RUN. She promises to herself she'll try better (again), but this story is getting old. Also, I'm sorry, Slidel is in my opinion a disgusting character. I don't care how good he's supposed to be at his job, the way he talks is so old and rotten that I feel like taking a shower every time I read his lines.
I don't know what to say. I bought the other two remaining novels in the series and now I'm worried I won't be able to even finish them.
PS: Oh, did I mention the question Tempe asks herself? There were so many of them I wondered if those were needed to pad the word count. I skipped over them at one point and missed nothing
jules_writes's review against another edition
4.0
I must make more of an effort to catch up with some of the books I'm missing from this series!
It was a great read.
The full review can be found here - https://onemoreword.uk/2020/03/26/blogtour-a-conspiracy-of-bones-by-kathy-reichs-aconspiracyofbones-gifted-providedforreview-temperancebrennan-bones-kathyreichs-simonschusteruk-annecater/
It was a great read.
The full review can be found here - https://onemoreword.uk/2020/03/26/blogtour-a-conspiracy-of-bones-by-kathy-reichs-aconspiracyofbones-gifted-providedforreview-temperancebrennan-bones-kathyreichs-simonschusteruk-annecater/
mtromm38's review against another edition
5.0
Another wonderful hit from Kathy Reichs. I had no idea how the book was going to finally end. Can’t wait for Tempe’s next adventure.
micht15's review against another edition
3.0
Tempe Brennan doing her best to solve a mysterious death. 3.5 stars