Tag Archives: science

Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs

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Overview

Deadly Decisions

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.

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Synopsis

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…

Thoughts

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 JourFatal Voyage ->

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Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs

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Overview

Death Du Jour

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.

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Synopsis

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.

Thoughts

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 DeadDeadly Decisions ->

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Fortress Conservation by Dan Brockington

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Overview

Fortress Conservation

Title: Fortress Conservation: The Preservation of the Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania
Author: Dan Brockington
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Anthropology, True stories, Science, Non-fiction
Pace: Slow
Format: Ethnographic text
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Year: 2002
5th sentence, 74th page: Number of species.

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Synopsis

Dan Brockington challenges the broad vision of Africa’s environment, history and society which drives conservation policies across the continent. He argues that his vision has been harmful, unjust and unnecessary in its effects on people at the Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania.

Do cattle destroy a wilderness?
Many ecologists question whether herds degrade the environment. They ask whether a wilderness has to be devoid of people. They voice the concern for the rights of the people excluded from the Reserve by politicians and judges.

Are the interests of people to give way to wildlife?
Exclusion policies are the norm of conservation. African governments gain easily collectable revenues from tourism. Western governments and donors form alliances with the African governments to sustain this vision.

Were the Maasai in Mkomazi long ago?
Conservation policy is based on a fallacious interpretation of the Reserve’s history and environment. The evictions have been economically damaging.

Do the foreign Trusts provide valid rehabilitation projects?
The Hollywood film about the work at Mkomazi “To Walk with Lions’ is used for fund-raising. Hello! reports on London parties. Books, films, television and magazines feed the search for a long-held dream of Africa. They gloss over what has happened to the people and their herds who have been moved out.

Thoughts

I found Fortress Conservation to be a good read. It gave a fascinating insight into conservation practices throughout Africa and the idea of ‘fortress conservation’. It was amazingly useful for my BA Hons thesis – focusing on conservation in Australia. The idea that fortress conservation is a ‘white man’s practice’ was fascinating to me. Although I did find some of his writing a little too academic and dry in places (hence the lower rating). I would recommend this book to others interested in conservation though.

This book raised a lot of complex issues – it wasn’t just about conserving the natural world, Brockington also investigated the cultural and social significance of this. Add in aspects of the conservation on colonialism, and I walked away from this book with a LOT of thoughts running through my head.

Not the book for everyone, but definitely worth a read if you have any interest in Africa, conservation or just the issues of the modern political and social climate.

<- More non-fiction reviews More anthropology book reviews ->
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Blue Urbanism by Timothy Beatley

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Overview

Blue UrbanismTitle: Blue Urbanism: Exploring Connections Between Cities and Oceans
Author: Timothy Beatley
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Science, Conservation, Non-fiction
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Island Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: Looking down from above gives the sense that it is just another farm field or market garden.

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Synopsis

Blue Urbanism offers a comprehensive look at the challenges, solutions, and great potential for urban areas to integrate ocean health into their policy and planning goals. Equal parts inspiration and practical advice, it explores the question: What would it mean to live in cities designed to foster feelings of connectedness to the ocean?

Thoughts

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book and was inspired by it. I love reading conservation and science based books, but I wasn’t really certain about the premise of ‘Blue Urbanism’. However, from the first paragraph, I was completely hooked. I read it from cover to cover in two hours (at the detriment to the things I should have been doing, like study and housework…)

Beatley broke down the chapters wonderfully. They were distinctly different, but wove into one another so that you could follow his argument and point. The preface also helped to place his point in context and let you know what you were getting yourself into. It’s always nice when you can read a preface (or blurb) and say “yes, this is the book for me”.

Each chapter not only outlines Beatley’s argument, it also provides some great examples of areas across the world that are using his ideas. In chapter seven, when he is discussing the idea of citizen science in marine conservation, he discusses the Dolphin Watch program in Perth. I found this incredibly helpful. Not only are you being inspired by new ways to protect our gorgeous oceans, you also get examples of ways that this is already happening. It’s a healthy dose of optimism in an otherwise complex and very serious issue.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book and the ways in which it inspired me. I find with some science or conservation based books, they are a little dry and inaccessible to people who don’t have a writhing passion for its topic. Luckily, I generally have that desire, so it doesn’t bother me. But I would rarely recommend these books to my friends and family – they get bored a little too easily. I would easily recommend Blue Urbanism. Beatley covers the issues well, without harping on. He also shows the reader how serious the consequences can be if we don’t start employing Blue Urbanism in our coastal cities; but it’s not all doom and gloom. He has a healthy dose of hopefulness for the future and in being so sanguine about our potential, he inspires you to get off your butt and do something.

This is definitely one of the better science based books I’ve read in a long time and is definitely worth sinking your teeth into. Especially if you live near the coast.

<- More science book reviews More conservation book reviews ->
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Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

Book Review, , , , , ,

Overview

Deja Dead

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.

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Synopsis

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?

Thoughts

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 BonesDeath du Jour ->

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