Series: Bones Season: 8 Creator: Hart Hanson Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama Year: 2012 Favourite Episode: 18 – The Survivor in the Soap
The changes that begun in the seventh season of Bones smoothly morph into a new dynamic and new relationships throughout the eighth season of Bones. Although there are many ups and downs, and honestly, who doesn’t like a roller coaster ride of emotions in a series? Booth and Brennan finally seem to settle into their relationship and parenthood.
Although Pelant seriously disturbed me within season seven, he managed to reach whole new levels of terrifying within this season. His obsession with Brennan and fearlessness of death make him a formidable (and kind of terrifying) opposition within the storyline. It is so difficult to predict when he will rear his creepy head, and somehow that unpredictability throughout the season makes you all the more worried when watching an episode.
This season beautifully examined relationships and the drivers that can separate them. From child soldiers to wedding proposals, it had it all.
Series: Bones Season: 6 Creator: Hart Hanson Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama Year: 2010 Favourite Episode: 22 – The Hole in the Heart
This is the season of chasing. Brennan chases Booth as Booth pursues his relationship with Hannah. It is also about Booth chasing the anti-Booth, the main villain within this story. And, as with all good stories, the chase is the journey, but there are some great and fascinating conclusions to these races of the heart. I spent most of season six on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what would come next, and obstinately holding my breath.
This season’s villain is the anti-Booth, a sniper who trained our favourite FBI agent and raised him to the level of competence that makes him so formidable throughout the series. Broadsky reminds us of the importance of morality and empathy in a human being. Even Brennan, who struggles with her low EQ has a level of morality and empathy that Broadsky lacks. Although, Broadsky does act upon his own moral compass, it is his lack of empathy and acceptance of ‘collateral damage’ that makes him so formidable.
I love the idea of constantly chasing that is toted throughout this series – we are all chasing something in life, and it is this journey that truly matters.
Series: Bones Season: 4 Creator: Hart Hanson Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama Year: 2008 Favourite Episode: 17 – The Doctor in the Den, 20 – Mayhem on a Cross
After the chilling season finale of season three, it was hard to see how the Bones cast would return for season four. But, the expansion of the ‘family’ was brilliantly done and actually made me love the series even more. Zack was gorgeous and easy to love, but having the flexibility of multiple interns gave the stories in each episode entirely different and unique flavours. The variety drew me in beautifully.
With the removal of Zack from the storyline and the introduction of the squinterns, this season was able to delve further into the complicated relationship between Booth and Brennan. Their cat and mouse game of love picks up pace and their ability to support and nurture one another is highlighted beautifully throughout the crimes that they investigate.
My least favourite episode of this season is the finale – I struggled to understand its importance and relevance to the rest of the story. It seemed a little contrived and as though the writers were just trying to shake things up.
Title: Grave Secrets Author: Kathy Reichs Series: Temperance Brennan #5 Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!) My Bookshelves:Anthropology, Science, Crime, Strong women Pace: Fast Format: Novel Publisher: Arrow Books Year: 2002 5th sentence, 74th page: He pushed a blue pin into the map.
In the searing heat of Guatemala, Dr Temperance Brennan must harden herself against the horrors she excavates.
And then four young girls go missing from Guatemala City.
When a skeleton is found at the back of a rundown hotel, only someone with Tempe’s expertise can deduce the identity and cause of death.
But as she searches for answers, her path is blocked at every turn. It is clear that some people will stop at nothing to keep Guatemala’s secrets buried.
Every time I think that I have a handle on the legal system outlined in the Temperance Brennan books, Reichs seems to throw a spanner in the works. I finally get my head around the system de Montreal, then we move to America, then we investigate a plane crash, and finally we move onto the jurisdictional system of Guatemala. It’s always great when you learn while reading!
Discovering more about a third-world, corrupt government and its jurisdictional system was incredibly fascinating (and also made me grateful to live in Australia). Reichs’ adeptness at describing the criminal workings of different countries is a great way to further the storyline – but it is also an awesome reminder of this woman’s intelligence and work in the field of forensics. Actually, it was Kathy Reichs’ work that first interested me in Anthropology and Forensics…using Guatemala as a backdrop in the fifth book is an amazing contrast with the preceding four books. So, not only did I learn something new, I was also transported into a world that is totally foreign to me.
Most good stories have a romantic subplot, even though I like to scoff at them, sexual and emotional tension between characters really helps to progress the storyline. It also helps to pull you in. The Temperance Brennan series is no different, there is constant tension between Tempe and Detective Andy Ryan throughout the stories and every time you think that something is about to happen, something prevents it (can you say frustrating?). This makes the introduction of Sergeant-detective Bartolome “Bat” Galiano a welcome one. More steaming sexual tension and I lapped it all up. Reintroducing Andy Ryan into the storyline helps to build this tension, and at the end, finally, finally, Tempe makes her decision. But, as a masterful writer, Kathy Reichs doesn’t let you know who it is. You have to read the next book in the series first. And even then, it takes a while to discover just who Brennan chose.
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.
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.
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.
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.
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5 stars
Earth and Skye 