Tag Archives: Crime

Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs

May 27, 2016Book ReviewAnthropology, Crime, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Science, Kathy Reichs, science, Strong Women, Temperance Brennanskyebjenner

Title: Fatal Voyage
Author: Kathy Reichs
Series: Temperance Brennan #4
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, Science, Crime, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Arrow Books
Year: 2001
5th sentence, 74th page: The construction was as solid as London’s Newgate prison.

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A plane crashes high in the mountains of North Carolina. But then a severed foot is discovered a good distance from the crash site…

Forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is first on the scene. The task that confronts her is a sad and sickening one, and her investigation seems to be throwing up more questions than answers.

But when Tempe makes a discovery that raises dangerous questions, her professional standing is threatened. Convinced that another corpse lies in the woods, Tempe pits herself against a conspiracy of silence, and uncovers a shocking tale of deceit and depravity…

Fatal Voyage helped to ease some of the frustrations of Deadly Decisions; it bought Andy Ryan back to the forefront of the story. I was really enjoying the courting dance of the two main characters throughout the series, and this addition to the series extended on it. Aside from the character connections, I also really enjoyed discovering what happens when there is a plane crash. Logically I knew that there are a lot of people who have to be involved in the retrieval process, but actually learning the intricacies of this, at least for America was really cool.

To keep the plot line interesting (because a massive plane crash and the return of a potential flame isn’t all on its own…) Reichs added in a nice, healthy dose of conspiracies and people in power. Which, of course Brennan finds herself in the middle of. Yes, it was a little predictable, but it was interesting nevertheless. Sometimes predictability in books can still be harnessed to create a fascinating storyline that you can’t help but be enthralled by. And since Reichs is such a phenomenal writer, she managed to maintain the feeling of anticipation right throughout.

For me, Fatal Voyage was special because of Temperance Brennan’s insecurities. Yes, she is interested in Andy Ryan (you’d have to be blind to not get that), but the aspects of her personality that prevented her from taking advantage of her feelings were all too real. We all have hangups, and reading about someone else’s inability to deal with them at times made me feel all the better about my own. It made Brennan ten times more relatable and loveable. At least in my mind.

<- Deadly Decisions

Grave Secrets ->

Image source: Amazon

Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs

May 24, 2016Book ReviewAnthropology, Crime, Forensic Anthropology, Kathy Reichs, science, Strong Women, Temperance Brennanskyebjenner

Title: Deadly Decisions
Author: Kathy Reichs
Series: Temperance Brennan #3
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, Science, Crime, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Arrow Books
Year: 2000
5th sentence, 74th page: What they’d discovered made no sense at all.

A nine-year-old girl is killed in crossfire on her way to ballet class. The body of a teenager killed in North Carolina is found hundreds of miles away.

Forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan knows she shouldn’t let emotion get in the way, but when nine-year-old Emily’s body is wheeled into the morgue she cannot help but react.

An exhumation uncovers the bones of yet another innocent in a clandestine grave close to a biker gang headquarters. With her boss in hospital and sparring partner Detective Andrew Ryan mysteriously unavailable, Tempe alone begins a perilous investigation into the lawless underworld of organised crime…

The third instalment of the Temperance Brennan series was another masterful description of crime, forensic anthropology and the intricacies of the underworld. This time, Reichs takes us on a journey through the world of Bikie gangs. I’ve always heard many stories about the hierarchy and the ways in which these groups operate and run, and reading a book about it was incredibly fascinating. It also provided me with more information on their formation, alliances with other groups and the way that law enforcers deal with such a large crime syndicate.

Reichs was able to take the knowledge of Bikie gangs to build a vibrant, and slightly terrifying world. Luckily, the seriousness of this was offset by Tempe’s wit and humanity. I really enjoy reading about the different ways in which she copes with the constant onslaught of death. Especially since the death that she deals with is almost never peaceful. This added an extra layer of reality to the storyline for me. Forensic anthropology isn’t necessarily an easy field to work in (especially when working as part of a crime team, as opposed to a research group), using this knowledge to show the different coping mechanisms that one can use was really interesting, and reminded me of the fact that Reichs herself is a forensic anthropologist.

I liked that this book showed us more of Brennan’s maternal side. Even though we saw glimpses of this throughout the first two books, Tempe’s constant interactions with her nephew Kit helped to cement this. Even though you just knew that something bad was going to happen to him, after all, he needed to be instrumental to the story to be included, it was still really fun to watch the story unfold. I also found it hard to predict what was going to go wrong.

My main issue with this book was the way in which Andy Ryan seemed to suddenly disappear. I had been enjoying the growing tensions between Detective Ryan and Temperance Brennan in the first two books. But this suddenly disappeared. Even though it was well explained towards the end of the book, it was still really difficult to get my head around. I don’t like characters (or for that matter, people) who are hot and cold and I found him to be a bit like this, especially in the beginning.

<- Death du Jour

Fatal Voyage ->

Image source: Amazon

Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs

May 22, 2016Book ReviewAnthropology, Crime, Forensic Anthropology, Forensic Science, Kathy Reichs, science, Temperance Brennanskyebjenner

Title: Death du Jour
Author: Kathy Reichs
Series: Temperance Brennan #2
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, Science, Crime, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Arrow Books
Year: 1999
5th sentence, 74th page: McGill University lies in the heart of Centre-Ville, so even if one is able to comprehend where parking is permitted, it is almost impossible to find a space.

On a bitterly cold March night in Montreal, forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is exhuming the remains of a nun in the grounds of an old church.

Hours later, Tempe is called to the scene of a horrifying arson. A young family has perished, but there is no explanation, no motive, and no witnesses.

From the charred remains of the inferno to a trail of sinister cult activity, Tempe faces a nerve-shattering case which will test her forensic expertise – and her instinct for survival.

Reichs did it again – she created a spine tingling story that had me enthralled from the first sentence. It was a journey through a series of interconnected cases that had me guessing until the very end. As with Deja Dead, I wasn’t able to read this unless the room was very well lit, and I knew that I wasn’t sleeping alone that night. Reichs is just WAY too good at building a realistic storyline that you can imagine happening in real life.

The introduction of Harry (Tempe’s sister) into the storyline was brilliant. She acted like the anti-Temperance and in doing so, created more layers, not only in the storyline, but also in the characterisation of our favourite crime-fighting heroine. She also helped to offset the seriousness of the storyline and gave us some light-hearted, if not a little awkward, moments that made me smile and think of my sister.

I’ve always been fascinated by cults and the psychology behind them. What makes people join a cult? How do cults brainwash their followers? The anthropological investigation of this was exactly what I was looking for, and very much appreciated. Having been fascinated by this, I have done some random research myself, but Reichs was able to break it down to its bare-bones. Not only that, but it also gives the information in a non-judgemental way. The people who follow these cults aren’t portrayed as anything negative, rather just people who have fallen for the wrong thing. I loved this take, since it bought home the reality that anyone can fall for such groups.

Death du Jour was such a great second instalment to the Temperance Brennan series, I loved the intricacy of the storyline and the humour and honesty of Tempe’s voice throughout.

<- Deja Dead

Deadly Decisions ->

Image source: Goodreads

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

March 29, 2016Book ReviewAnthropology, Crime, Forensic Science, Kathy Reichs, science, Strong Women, Temperance Brennanskyebjenner

Title: Deja Dead
Author: Kathy Reichs
Series: Temperance Brennan #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, Science, Crime, Strong women
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Arrow Books
Year: 1997
5th sentence, 74th page: A bicycle leaned against the rusted iron fence that surrounded the tiny front yard.

Bagged and discarded, the dismembered body of a woman is discovered in the grounds of an abandoned monastery.

Dr Temperance Brennan, Director of Forensic Anthropology for the province of Quebec, has been researching recent disappearances in the city.

Soon she is convinced that a serial killer is at work. When no one else seems to care, her anger drives her to take matters into her own hands. But her determined probing has placed those closest to her in mortal danger.

Can Tempe make her crucial breakthrough before the killer strikes again?

Do not read this book if you are female and home alone. I repeat. Do not read this book if you are easily scared.

This was the first crime book I’ve ever read. I picked it up because of the TV series Bones. But I didn’t expect just how good and realistic this book would be! Not only does Kathy Reichs take you deep into the world and mind of Temperance Brennan, she also lets you travel into the world of forensic science.

The details in this are so realistic that you can just tell that Reichs has a background in science. But fear not! If you are not a scientist or science enthusiast, everything is so beautifully (and correctly) explained so everyone can follow. Mix in the twists and turns of the case and the Brennan’s personal relationships with her co-workers, and this book is such a hit.

It’s little wonder that this series has been so insanely popular!

But again, if you want a good night’s sleep… maybe don’t read this right before bed…

<- First Bones

Death du Jour ->

Image source: Amazon

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

Tag Archives: Crime

Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs

Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs

Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs