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Bones Are Forever (Temperance Brennan #15)

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 4,519 ratings · 714 reviews

Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author and producer of the Fox hit series Bones, is at her brilliant best in a riveting novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan—a story of infanticide, murder, and corruption set in the high-stakes, high-danger world of diamond mining.Temperance Brennan has been asked to examine the corpses of three dead babies in M...more

ebook, 304 pages

Published August 28th 2012 by Scribner (first published January 1st 2012)

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Jan 23, 2013 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After about three consecutive disappointing books in the Temperance Brennan novels, which gave birth to the hit TV show “Bones,” I was moving toward giving up my avid readership of author Kathy Reichs. Well, I’m thrilled to say Reichs has hit a home run with “Bones are Forever.” This one was a thrill ride from beginning to end.

In “Bones are Forever,” Tempe Brennan is back in Montreal, where she serves as a forensic anthropologist when not doing the same in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is pulle...more After about three consecutive disappointing books in the Temperance Brennan novels, which gave birth to the hit TV show “Bones,” I was moving toward giving up my avid readership of author Kathy Reichs. Well, I’m thrilled to say Reichs has hit a home run with “Bones are Forever.” This one was a thrill ride from beginning to end.

In “Bones are Forever,” Tempe Brennan is back in Montreal, where she serves as a forensic anthropologist when not doing the same in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is pulled into a case and discovers three dead and hidden newborn babies in the grungy apartment of a woman believed to be a prostitute, and whose life and string of assumed names offers a lot of intrigue.

Brennan and her police detective friend Andrew Ryan, her sometimes lover, enter into an investigation that leads them into a seemingly complex web of prostitution and drug wars. The trail leads them into western Canada to Edmonton, and then deep into the First Peoples country of the Northwest Territories, where a coming diamond-mining operation is in the works (even in real life).

This is a fast read, a roller-coaster with ups and downs and twists and turns in every chapter, with each chapter ending with an event that sets up the next — and making it very difficult to put the book down. A big twist emerges when Tempe’s own investigation leads to a native woman’s request to reopen her brother’s grave. Tempe’s discovery from the bones buried after a fire had supposedly killed the man sends the case in a startling, unexpected direction far removed from prostitution and the drug trade.

It would much too easy to describe some specifics, but that might spoil the ride, uh, the read. If you are a Kathy Reichs fan, you will love this one. My wife and I sure did.

And we are glad, because we both had felt that the arrival of the TV series “Bones” had led to a simplification and degradation in Reichs’ storytelling. It had seemed as if her books were becoming nothing but movie scripts devoid of depths and nuances that a good book delivers. Thanks, Kathy, we now look forward to your next Temperance Brennan novel.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another exciting Temperance Brennan novel
Reichs again strikes gold, or diamonds, with her latest Temerance Brennan novel. Back again in Montreal, the discovery of three dead babies hidden in secret alcoves of an apartment send Brennan and her partner, Lieutenant-dètective Andrew Ryan on the search for their missing mother. Seeking a prostitute is not as easy as one might think, and their search leads them from Montreal to Edmonton where they pair up with Brennan’s one time ex-lover, Sergeant Oli...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Chris Lin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kathy-reichs

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Jul 01, 2012 TuRtLeFaEiRe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: book-library, a-wish-list-book, giveaway-miss

I am a fan of the series 'Bones'. I can't wait to see what is going to happen this next season. I was so frustrated that she didn't let Booth run away with her and their daughter, but then you realize that she wants him to not lose his FBI status, and plus he, of all those who love her, will be the most determined to help clear her name.
I love archeology. The fact that when you discover bones, and then the mystery of why are they here, who were they, what species of animal is it. It is the myste...more

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May 11, 2013 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

Have you ever read a book and found yourself thinking ‘did I just learn about _____ without even realizing it?’ and then get struck by the fact that you enjoyed learning what you learned because it was so flawlessly woven into the story you read?

If you haven’t, I highly suggest you pick up a copy of one of Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan books – though I’m sure you’d do just fine picking up any book in the series, I would suggest starting with the first - “Déjà Dead.”

“Bones Are Forever” finds...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Harvey Burgess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kathy Reichs has pretty much eclipsed Patricia Cornwell in the forensic pathology department. I'm not 'dissing' Cornwell or Kay Scarpetta here, I'm just saying Reichs has evolved into one damn fine writer and it shows - and glows - in every Temperance Brennan book that comes along. Her books aren't just well-written, they're almost textbook in what they teach you, not just from a forensic perspective but in atmospheric history as well. "Bones are Forever" takes Tempe to the northern territories...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Doris E rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It's absolutely amazing that Kathy Reichs can describe the most obscure details and still make it sound interesting. And I don't mean a meander explanation of a dull surroundings but a detailes description of how a scull is comprised and the bones in the hand for example - very short, very interesting and you can really picture just what Tempe sees and works with. Amazing!
According to Kathy Reichs' notes at the end of the book where she explains how the story came about ... while she does base T...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Gordon rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The plot is original, entertaining and fast moving (a 4). It is also unrealistic and contrived (a 2).

How many books are set in Yellowknife and involve multiple murders, prostitution, drugs and diamond mining?

The idea of a forensic anthropologist traipsing all over the country acting like a detective is unreal. The consulting ondontologist refused to get involved beyond doing his own job in his own lab - that is real. The coincidence of the protagonist traveling about with the only two men she h...more

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Jan 05, 2013 Jodi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: female-detectives, mystery

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 30, 2012 Linda Munro rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have been a Kathy Reichs fan for sometime, long before the books inspired a TV series which I simply cannot get into. So let's get to the matter at hand; what did I think?

As usual Temperance Brennan manages to get herself caught up in something far beyond her job title of forensic anthroplogist. Working part of the year in the states and the other part in Canada, this book takes place in Canada, in fact the far reaches of the Canadian Northwest. One of the things I like best about Reichs wri...more

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Nov 09, 2012 Kathy Davie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense

Fifteenth in the Temperance Brennan forensics suspense series revolving around a forensic anthropologist who switches between Montreal and North Carolina. This story takes place in Canada between Montreal and Edmonton.

My Take
This was an okay read with a bit too much of the non-fictional thrown in from how a CT scan operates to kimberlite pipes to DNAWitness to Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, plus, plus, plus, and a bit of history on Edmonton's growth. Lots of snark between Ollie and Ryan when Ollie...more

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Nov 01, 2012 Walt rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Walt by: POWELL'S DAILY DOSE

Three dead infants and the search for their mother (and prime murder suspect) sends forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan to the remote Canadian north in Reichs's solid 15th series installment . A woman arrives at a Montreal hospital showing signs of postnatal bleeding, but her disappearance before doctors can examine her arouses suspicion; as a result, Brennan is called to investigate. At the woman's home, she discovers the hidden corpses of three infants, but the suspect — who gave her na...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another interesting installment in the Temperence Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. This one has Tempe back in Canada with Detective Ryan and also an old lover who she's not as thrilled to see. However her and Ryan have cooled it because of his relationship with his daughter so there's not much romance in this one. But that's okay there's enough suspense to keep this one moving. I like the Brennan/Ryan romance, but also was getting a little tired of the indecision which is still there, but I felt...more Another interesting installment in the Temperence Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. This one has Tempe back in Canada with Detective Ryan and also an old lover who she's not as thrilled to see. However her and Ryan have cooled it because of his relationship with his daughter so there's not much romance in this one. But that's okay there's enough suspense to keep this one moving. I like the Brennan/Ryan romance, but also was getting a little tired of the indecision which is still there, but I felt like the case is at the forefront of this book, with a little angst between the two of them still there. But the case is front and center so if that is what you come for in these books, then read it.

The plot was interesting. Dead babies are found and send Tempe, Ryan and Ollie Hasty (the old flame) across Canada looking for a missing woman who goes by different names. When they finally end up in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, the story really takes off. Lots of great twists and turns that Reichs is known for. Lots of trouble for Tempe to get into, she really never learns, but I still love to read about her and how her mind works as she solves the crimes and really gets to the heart of things. Tempe cares and that's what I really like about her. That part of her character shines through in this book and made it enjoyable for me even when I was a little lost in the details. The fact that she felt something would reel me back in and make me feel something and really care about the characters involved.

The setting was a little bland, but the mining history made things a little more interesting. Also some of the characters were a little so-so which is what brought my rating down a little, but again Tempe is the main character and she shines in this and that was what mattered in the end.

I listened to the audio and it's another winner. I love the reader, she does a wonderful job with the voices so I can tell the difference between the characters even when my mind is wandering a bit on some days (not the fault of the book, the fault of my busy life). I actually found this book held my attention pretty well most days. It had to, I would get a little confused by the different names and places if I didn't pay close attention. So if your mind wanders a lot when you listen to audios, the book version might be better.

I think the book worked overall. Was it one of the best in the series, probably not, but it's the 15th book, there are bound to be some that aren't as great as the others, but then again that is my opinion, you could read it and it might be your favorite. Yellowknife and it's residents may appeal to you more than they did to me. Is is still worth reading? Yes, it's a good book and if you enjoy the series then it's another good book in the series. Will I continue the series? Of course, I wouldn't miss it for the world. I love Tempe Brennan and will continue to read the books about her as long as Kathy Reichs writes them. So she still has a follower in me and Bones Are Forever is a good book. It has Tempe at her best, solving a crime, getting in trouble and caring about people, what more can you ask for?(less)

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Oct 26, 2012 Andreasoldier rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A woman checks into a hospital showing signs of delivering a baby but there's no baby.
When police check out her apartment, then find three babies, dead varying degrees of time. The trail leads to a bunch of aliases, another apartment and another dead baby, and finally to Yellowknife in the Northwest territories of Canada.
The trail of the missing mom and a drug war collide, and both trails meet when diamonds become involved.

Tempe , the forensic anthropologist, is joined by homicide detective and...more

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Oct 26, 2012 Mysterious Ed rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: forensic-anthropology, scientist, amateur-detective

#15 in the Tempe Brennan series.Tempe is back in Montreal and heading for the Northwest Territories in this serviceable, but slightly below average series entry. Two objection to this novel are: 1. The high rate of coincidence - I realize that keeping a novel within a reasonable length requires some narrative shortcuts - BUT! Without providing spoilers, I ask the reader to reflect after finishing the novel how the characters are interrelated. A minor example: on her first morning in Yellowknife,...more

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Sep 30, 2012 Bryan Higgs rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, mystery, mystery-thriller

Every time Kathy Reichs comes out with a new book (well, and adult book anyway), my wife and I have to grab it quickly and read it. We developed a taste for her Temperance Brennan forensic anthropologist crime series when we borrowed an audio CD set from the local library for a long trip to Prince Edward Island some years ago; that was Déjà Dead, which, despite its terrible title was a real spellbinder that held our attention for more than 15 hours of driving.

Unfortunately, the author has become...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Great book! Love the series. Not much history of the character's development.

A novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan—a story of infanticide, murder, and corruption, set in the high-stakes, high-danger world of diamond mining. A woman calling herself Amy Roberts checks into a Montreal hospital complaining of uncontrolled bleeding. Doctors see evidence of a recent birth, but before they can act, Roberts disappears. Dispatched to the address she gave at the hospital, police discover...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Marleen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I actually rated this book 4.5 stars but prefer to be generous.

It all starts when the body of a new born baby is found, wrapped in a blanket and wedged in a vanity cabinet. A further search of the apartment uncovers the remains of two more babies. Of the mother there is no sign and details about the young woman are hard to uncover.
When autopsies on the babies reveal that all three of them died of unnatural causes the hunt for their mother – a young woman with a dubious past and at least three a...more I actually rated this book 4.5 stars but prefer to be generous.

It all starts when the body of a new born baby is found, wrapped in a blanket and wedged in a vanity cabinet. A further search of the apartment uncovers the remains of two more babies. Of the mother there is no sign and details about the young woman are hard to uncover.
When autopsies on the babies reveal that all three of them died of unnatural causes the hunt for their mother – a young woman with a dubious past and at least three aliases – is on. The search takes Tempe Brennan and Detective Andrew Ryan from Quebec to Edmonton, where the remains of a fourth baby are found and then even further north to Yellowknife. There the convoluted, aboriginal, family of the young woman seems very reluctant to help them find her. Instead of answers all Brennan and Ryan find are more questions, more secrets and more dead bodies. And by the time Tempe has figured out exactly what is going on she is up to her neck in danger and all alone.

As I’ve come to expect from Kathy Reich’s books, this is a solid and fascinating mystery. What appears to be an investigation into one thing turns into something else completely as things progress. As always there is the tension between Brennan and Ryan. In this book it is Andrew’s distant and cold behaviour towards his former lover which leaves her wondering what, if anything, she has done wrong. And, to spice things up a bit more, there is an uncomfortable triangle when the duo from Quebec is joined by a Mounty from Edmonton, a man Tempe had a week long fling with many years ago. As in most books, our forensic anthropologist manages to separate herself from the other investigators at the pivotal point in the story, leaving her in an impossible situation and danger of being killed. You’d think that after 14 adventures she would have learned to be more careful.

I really love this series, the characters in it and the way Mrs. Reichs writes. However, I do feel that at times the author gets too bogged down in technical detail. While I do want to know how things work, or what the background of a certain place or fact is, I don’t need to know all the specific details. Often those details go right over my head anyway because I don’t have the basic knowledge necessary to put them into context. And because I don’t understand what I’m reading I tend to skim over those sections of the story. With a bit less detail or with the explanations put in less scientific language I would probably read every word and end up with a better understanding of what is happening.
Having said that, the overall writing in these books is smooth and flowing while the cliff-hangers at the end of most chapters keep me turning the pages, eager to find out what exactly was discovered, or what is about to happen. Overall I would call this another solid instalment in a fascinating series of mysteries.
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Sep 26, 2012 Marianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bones Are Forever is the 15th book in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. The action starts in Quebec with the corpse of a newborn baby in the bathroom of a run-down apartment. Tempe discovers the mummified remains of another two babies, and investigation results indicate an Edmonton prostitute with at least three aliases. Liaison with Edmonton PD has Ryan and Tempe travelling there in search of the mother and possible further corpses. Events there send Tempe, the arrogant RCMP office...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Lorraine rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was excited about reading this book after I heard the author interviewed on NPR. I am a fan of the TV series "Bones" and she is the inspiration for the character Brennan. I was sure I was going to love it. WRONG! The book was a big disappointment to me as was her writing style. Since she is a best selling author, I am assuming that some of her other books are better than this one. The thing that bothered me most was her explanation of technical or scientific information. Her explanation of dia...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Annette rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While I enjoyed Bones are Forever, it wasn't my favorite Tempe Brennan novel for one simple reason. The lack of forensic scenes.

My favorite thing about the Bones series is Tempe's character, and it shines in Bones are Forever. The banter between Tempe and Ryan was as entertaining as ever. Tempe's intelligence, diligence, and bravery (or is it stupidity?) is once again apparent.

This personality is why I like the books so much better than the Bones TV series. Tempe has a totally different personal...more

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Jul 05, 2012 J Edward Tremlett rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Temperance Brennan -- Tempe to her friends -- is a forensic anthropologist: the sort of person you call in when you find a body in bad shape, and need to know how it got there, what happened to it, how it died, and, quite possibly, who killed it.

But she's also a mother, which makes the case she's working on in Quebec all the more horrible. What kind of monster would take a newborn baby, stuff it behind a sink, and leave it to die?

Tempe's not sure. But while investigating the home of one Amy Robe...more Temperance Brennan -- Tempe to her friends -- is a forensic anthropologist: the sort of person you call in when you find a body in bad shape, and need to know how it got there, what happened to it, how it died, and, quite possibly, who killed it.

But she's also a mother, which makes the case she's working on in Quebec all the more horrible. What kind of monster would take a newborn baby, stuff it behind a sink, and leave it to die?

Tempe's not sure. But while investigating the home of one Amy Roberts, who checked herself into a hospital with uncontrollable vaginal bleeding, but ran off just after the doctors realized she may have given birth, Brennan finds two more dead infants hidden in the apartment. And they've clearly been there awhile...

The subsequent search for Amy Roberts (also Alma Rogers, as well as Alva Rodriguez) reunites Tempe with not one but two old flames. The bad news is that both Detective Andrew Ryan and RCMP Sgt. Oliver Hasty take an instant disliking to each other. Worse news is that they both feel they have unfinished business with Tempe, and display it in ways that are less than helpful to the case.

Following what slim leads Tempe's work and their inquiries produce, the ill-fitting team tracks the missing mother to the prostitutes of Edmonton, and then the far-flung mining town of Yellowknife. Up there, they encounter a small community where everyone knows everyone else, and may easily be related to them, somehow. Almost appropriately, they also know more than they're willing to say, and the case takes several more twists in directions the trio weren't quite expecting.

Especially when the people they're either tailing or talking to start turning up dead...

Throughout it all, Tempe goes about her investigations her own, unique way -- namely, not doing what she's told, especially by her overbearing exes. But can she live long enough to find out the truth of what happened back in that Montreal apartment? Or will the many sides of this puzzle fatally close in on her?

As always, Reichs gives us an intriguing mystery, filled with just enough pathological details to make the investigations ring true, but not so many as to bore or lose the reader in pages of overly-technical gibberish. Tempe remains a strong and memorable character with her own imperfections, and the interplay between her and the other characters is swift and sharp. A pity the same can't be said for Sgt. Ollie, who seems a man of too many faces to keep track of (would be lover? jilted cad? concerned alpha male? misogynistic boor?) but hopefully we'll not be seeing him again too soon.

Featuring both a twisting train of clues that lead us somewhere we weren't quite expecting, and the mix of humor and horror that have exemplified her other works in this series, Bones are Forever is a worthy, new entry into the casefiles of Temperance Brennan.(less)

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Jul 03, 2012 Raven rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

From the distressing opening scene of a small maggot-infested corpse, you know straightaway that this latest from Kathy Reichs is seemingly more edgy in it’s subject matter and choice of victim than her usual fare, as Temperance Brennan once again finds herself embroiled in murders most foul. With typical attention to detail, we follow Brennan’s crucial forensic discoveries as she pieces together- sometimes literally, as later she solves a macabre jigsaw involving exhumed remains- the secrets th...more From the distressing opening scene of a small maggot-infested corpse, you know straightaway that this latest from Kathy Reichs is seemingly more edgy in it’s subject matter and choice of victim than her usual fare, as Temperance Brennan once again finds herself embroiled in murders most foul. With typical attention to detail, we follow Brennan’s crucial forensic discoveries as she pieces together- sometimes literally, as later she solves a macabre jigsaw involving exhumed remains- the secrets that dead bodies can yield up under her close scrutiny . No matter how many times the song ‘Dem Dry Bones’ crosses my mind in Reichs’ detailing of which bone connects to which, I always find the specificity of this information strangely compelling andit always adds to the perennial authenticity of Brennan’s logical and focused investigations of the human body.

Another weapon in Reichs’ armour is her ability to perfectly capture place and atmosphere, whether in the ‘nuts and bolts’ description of location, or is as particularly evident in the setting of Yellowknife, the own peculiar history of that location. Reichs’ takes us on a historical trip back through Yellowknife’s former fortunes as an area rich in gold, to it’s now new lucrative position as a diamond -mining town. Personally, I rather enjoy this sojourn down a rags to riches memory lane (at least for some of the prospectors) to flesh out what is at times a slightly leaky story with some twists in the plot signposted a little too clearly for the seasoned crime reader. Also, in the course of the book, Reichs’ tries a little homespun social analysis on the subject of race and dips her toe into a somewhat stereotypical depiction of environmental campaigners and, although I can understand her needing to employ these facets of the story to drive the plot forward in a particular direction, it does feel a tad forced and, dare I say it, slightly clunky at times.

On an altogether lighter note, Brennan finds herself torn between two lovers as a couple of former suitors flex their muscles and vie for her attention, with the inevitable butting of heads that always ensues in these situations, and with rather a surprise announcement by Brennan’s daughter Katy to add to her personal chagrin, there is a nice balance as usual between Brennan the professional forensic anthropologist, a concerned mother and quite possibly a lover...no spoilers here!

I must confess after not having read a Kathy Reichs for a while it was quite nice to revisit a familiar character- like pulling on a comfy pair of slippers- and despite its flaws it was great to spend some time in the company of Temperance Brennan. I’d rather missed her!

(And it goes without saying, extra points for the adaptation of a Bond movie for the title...!)

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Jan 19, 2012 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-releases

Title: Bones Are Forever
Author(s): Kathy Reichs
ISBN: 1-4391-0243-0 / 978-1-4391-0243-5
Publisher: Scribner

Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author and producer of the Fox hit series Bones, is at her brilliant best in a riveting novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan - a story of infanticide, murder, and corruption set in the high-stakes, high-danger world of diamond mining.

Temperance Brennan has been asked to examine the corpses of three dead babies in Montreal. It's a di...more

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May 17, 2013 Carolyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Kathy Reichs always delivers tense mysteries in exotic locales (this one involves our heroine, Temperance Brennan, following the trail of a prostitute suspected of killing her babies from Montreal to Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, the center of Canadian diamond mining). This is the fifteenth installment of the series, and while I enjoyed the story and factual information that backs up the mystery, I didn't think this one was as compelling as others I've read in the series. Often Reich...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: police-procedurals

*sigh*

Well, at least I can stop torturing myself with this series--I am all caught up. We have the usual completely dysfunctional,and uninteresting "romance" with stud muffin Ryan sputtering weakly in one corner, the added frisson of an old fling showing up to cause much testosterone-laced, childish posturing between the two "men" (over Tempe, who, I'm sorry, but I cannot separate her in my mind from the unfortunately femme-mulleted and awkward-looking Ms Reichs herself, so I have a lot of diffi...more *sigh*

Well, at least I can stop torturing myself with this series--I am all caught up. We have the usual completely dysfunctional,and uninteresting "romance" with stud muffin Ryan sputtering weakly in one corner, the added frisson of an old fling showing up to cause much testosterone-laced, childish posturing between the two "men" (over Tempe, who, I'm sorry, but I cannot separate her in my mind from the unfortunately femme-mulleted and awkward-looking Ms Reichs herself, so I have a lot of difficulty picturing her as a sizzling sex kitten driving all the boys crazy, KWIM?), the ho-hum head injury, and the overly complicated plot that was pretty uninteresting, actually. Diamond mines and drug wars----pfffft.. Except for the forensics, of course, that is what has kept me plugging doggedly along. I am kinda hoping Brennan will finally not survive her close brush with death in the next installment but I know a cash cow when I see one and I am afraid it's not over yet, and I am horribly afraid I'm gonna keep reading

And can I just go on a little rant here about Ryan's long-lost daughter, the heroin addict? Not cool. Ms. Reichs. I do not think much of that particular plot device at all. I don't happen to believe that there are too many happy endings for heroin addicts and I am disappointed to see this devastating condition tossed around so casually because you need a reason for Ryan to act like an asshat or disappear for a few weeks or whatever. I cringe every time Ryan brings her up. Don't even get me started on that whole trip to Hawaii thing that happened in Spider Bones. I don't know what kind of father would take his junkie daughter to an island paradise and then leave her virtually unsupervised the entire time but it is not the kind of father Ryan fancies himself to be. The hypocrisy is staggering.

OK, I'll shut up now. Fans of this series may be asking themselves why I continue to read along when I am clearly so "Meh" about it. That is an excellent question and I wish I had the answer.(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Monnie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Being a fan of Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan book series as well as a fan of the "Bones" TV series that features the same character (and is said to be "inspired" by the Reichs books, although rather loosely, in my opinion), it's always a treat to start a new book. Bones are Forever is the 16th in the series, I believe, and as far as I know I've read every single one.

I got the book only a few days before my husband and I were to be leaving on a four-day vacation, and I put off starting to read...more Being a fan of Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan book series as well as a fan of the "Bones" TV series that features the same character (and is said to be "inspired" by the Reichs books, although rather loosely, in my opinion), it's always a treat to start a new book. Bones are Forever is the 16th in the series, I believe, and as far as I know I've read every single one.

I got the book only a few days before my husband and I were to be leaving on a four-day vacation, and I put off starting to read it because I knew I wouldn't be able to walk away with it unfinished and I certainly didn't want to squander precious vacation time doing something I can do readily at home. But then I had second thoughts, figuring what the heck - I'll get as far as I can in the three days remaining before we took off, and if necessary, well, my Kindle Fire doesn't take up all that much room.

I needn't have worried; I had no trouble finishing the whole thing within a day and a half after I started - it's exceptionally readable and not overly long (just 304 pages in print). In fact, if I have a complaint, it's that it's too easy to read - I got the feeling of a slapshot churn-it-out-just to-get-it-done approach a la James Patterson (prompting me to consider giving it just three stars).

As such, it's not the best "Bones" book Reichs has written, but neither is it the worst. In this one, the forensic anthropologist's adventures start in Montreal when she's called in to help after the discovery of three newborns dead of suspicious causes - then moves to more remote areas of Canada and a complex diamond mine caper involving several more murders. Throughout, Brennan must deal with dueling ex-lovers - homicide detective Andrew Ryan (with whom she had a long-term fling) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Ollie Hasty (with whom her fling was of a much shorter duration but nearly as intense).

Of course, there's the usual sorting out of the whodunits, most of which seem to come through Brennan's "Aha!" moments rather than through serious research and legwork. And of course, Brennan will find herself on the hit list (I won't reveal the plot or how she ends up in the danger zone, but I'm sure we all know she'll somehow survive to be the heroine of another book). If you want a quick and decent read that won't put a strain on your brain, this one should fill the bill nicely. (less)

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Aug 23, 2012 Charla rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

I received this book as part of First Reads. Thank you, Scribner!

I used to read all the Temperance Brennan books but stopped awhile back for reasons I could not remember. So, I was excited to pick this book up and see how Dr. Brennan was doing. The story starts out with 3 infant corpses found in an apartment. Temperance is brought in to assist with the identification of the remains and joins in the hunt for the mother. The story picks up quickly, which is a detail I remember liking about Reichs'...more

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Dec 14, 2012 Sue Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

This was a fresh change for this series and their characters and it was a welcome one to me. Sometimes you can follow a series and it just all seems the same as the last installment. Of course, in some respects, it has to be or it wouldn't be a series ..... and strictly speaking, this isn't really a 'series' as per se, but since it follows one main character throughout you do like a story that veers off it's normal course from time to time.

This particular story takes you to northern Alberta to t...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Joanna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've always loved the Bones books by Kathy Reichs, and as a fan of the show it always causes a bit of a disconnect for me. Tempe is a far different person in the books than on tv. And I like them both. So, I need to separate them in my mind. Such was the case with this book - where Emily Deschanel is clearly not old enough to have a daughter in the army. But I digress.

Something I like about these books is that Kathy Reichs doesn't shy away from the normal societal taboos. This book centers arou...more

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About Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec. She is one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and is on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A...more

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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13544670-bones-are-forever?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344661869l/13544670.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13544670-bones-are-forever?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Bones Are Forever by Kathy Reichs[/url]

Bones Are Forever (Temperance Brennan #15)

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