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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
3.0
In this book Reichs' central character, Temperance Brennan (the character that the Fox tv character "Bones" is based on, without the forensic sidekicks and more explanation of bones), is on an archaeological dig when a recently decomposed corpse is found. Because of her skills in that area, she's asked to investigate the corpse.
Just when she's finished with the first, two more bodies (in a similar state of disrepair) turn up, so Brennan makes a holiday out of it and stays round to examine the bones (bit of luck she was there wasn't it).
At the same time, Brennan's sort of ex- turns up to investigate nefarious goings on in a church and her "current beau" turns up to help ask the potential murder suspects all the sort of police style questions you'd expect from this sort of thriller (he's a policeman -I'm told they're good at that sort of thing).
The book wasn't bad, but I have 3 sort of grumbles with it. Firstly, she's written 10 books now (this is the 9th). The general "dead body found, only she can deal with it, she goes off half cocked and boyfriend reigns her in before they find the killer" premise is getting a little old and probably needs spicing up.
Secondly, I'm a science junkie, but even I find all the explanation of bones a little dull on occasions.
Finally, she tends to drop a 2 or 3 sort of synopses of "the story so far" into the story (usually in the form of a conversation between Brennan and someone she's working with). They act as a sort of reminder of what's going on to the reader. I know nothing about writing, and a writer might tell me that this sort of thing happens a lot, but with Reichs, it's really obvious and clunky. It's almost as if she expects the reader to put the book down for a week or two and then come back to it. This last point is a minor irritation I know, but now I've spotted it in her books, I see it everywhere there.
All this having been said, it's fair to say that this is the sort of book that people who liked Patricia Cornwall (before she got all messy and confused with Kay Scarpetta) might like.
Just when she's finished with the first, two more bodies (in a similar state of disrepair) turn up, so Brennan makes a holiday out of it and stays round to examine the bones (bit of luck she was there wasn't it).
At the same time, Brennan's sort of ex- turns up to investigate nefarious goings on in a church and her "current beau" turns up to help ask the potential murder suspects all the sort of police style questions you'd expect from this sort of thriller (he's a policeman -I'm told they're good at that sort of thing).
The book wasn't bad, but I have 3 sort of grumbles with it. Firstly, she's written 10 books now (this is the 9th). The general "dead body found, only she can deal with it, she goes off half cocked and boyfriend reigns her in before they find the killer" premise is getting a little old and probably needs spicing up.
Secondly, I'm a science junkie, but even I find all the explanation of bones a little dull on occasions.
Finally, she tends to drop a 2 or 3 sort of synopses of "the story so far" into the story (usually in the form of a conversation between Brennan and someone she's working with). They act as a sort of reminder of what's going on to the reader. I know nothing about writing, and a writer might tell me that this sort of thing happens a lot, but with Reichs, it's really obvious and clunky. It's almost as if she expects the reader to put the book down for a week or two and then come back to it. This last point is a minor irritation I know, but now I've spotted it in her books, I see it everywhere there.
All this having been said, it's fair to say that this is the sort of book that people who liked Patricia Cornwall (before she got all messy and confused with Kay Scarpetta) might like.
hirvimaki's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great read. After the completely disappointing Cross Bones (#8), I was a little tremulous about reading another Temperance Brennan book, but this one was awesome. The right amount of mystery, the right amount of forensics, the right amount of drama. There was just the right amount of tension to keep things interesting and to keep my guessing.
aross320's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
sasshq's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
greggbaconroll's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
rmesquirrel's review
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
meh.
This was definitely not my favorite out of the series. WHY? Well, it definitely didn't hold my attention, like at all. Also, I just didn't care one bit about what was happening. Whether it was Ryan or Pete related. It was just meh all around. I hated that little "love triangle" because it was just so freaking boring to deal with. Then on top of all that nonsense, everything was very predictable.
Temperance is always in trouble. She's also always annoying or upset with Ryan. It's just frustrating to read or to listen to right now. I feel like I need a little break from this series again because I don't want to end up being annoyed as fuck with everyone. I want my ship back together but like a lot less annoying. I want Temperance to stop getting into sticky situations because that's annoying as well.
I just want to be happy after a book and this book was just not that.
This was definitely not my favorite out of the series. WHY? Well, it definitely didn't hold my attention, like at all. Also, I just didn't care one bit about what was happening. Whether it was Ryan or Pete related. It was just meh all around. I hated that little "love triangle" because it was just so freaking boring to deal with. Then on top of all that nonsense, everything was very predictable.
Temperance is always in trouble. She's also always annoying or upset with Ryan. It's just frustrating to read or to listen to right now. I feel like I need a little break from this series again because I don't want to end up being annoyed as fuck with everyone. I want my ship back together but like a lot less annoying. I want Temperance to stop getting into sticky situations because that's annoying as well.
I just want to be happy after a book and this book was just not that.