206 Bones (Temperance Brennan, #12)

Dec 04, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very good book. Well written. The author wrote a very well conceived mystery novel that also allowed you to get involved with several characters on an intimate level without losing sight of the story line. It is unusual to find this in suspense/mystery novels as most of the characters other than the protagonist and their "buddy" are one dimensional and are just used to move the plot along without having any other purpose. Read this book and have a truly exciting and fulfilling experience.

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Jan 04, 2013 Elisabeth Pound rated it 2 of 5 stars

I am the type of reader who hooks into a series that is already established and reads each book in order, one after the other - I started the Temperance Brennan novels a few months back, and have read each book in succession.

Maybe I have read too many in too short a period of time, but the formula is wearing thin, and Tempe is becoming annoyingly arrogant. This book especially focuses on board certification, and while I'm sure Ms. Reichs can attest to its importance, I found the repeated messag...more

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Nov 19, 2012 Matt Schiariti rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've found the past few Tempe Brennan books to be a little lack luster. Things like interchangeable male love interests and some quirky dialogue have marred what were actually very interesting plots. 206 bones seems to have remedied some of that and as a result winds up being pretty consistent and a solid, entertaining read.

Perhaps what kick starts the whole book is the very opening sequence. The book opens up not at a crime scene, not with Tempe in the lab working till all hours or lamenting ab...more I've found the past few Tempe Brennan books to be a little lack luster. Things like interchangeable male love interests and some quirky dialogue have marred what were actually very interesting plots. 206 bones seems to have remedied some of that and as a result winds up being pretty consistent and a solid, entertaining read.

Perhaps what kick starts the whole book is the very opening sequence. The book opens up not at a crime scene, not with Tempe in the lab working till all hours or lamenting about her confusing and frustrating love life, but in a TOMB. That's right. Tempe's latest adventure starts with her being buried alive in a seemingly pitch black tomb. The meat of the book is told as if Tempe's piecing the events that lead up to her involuntary internment together. Every several chapters we flash back to Tempe 'in the now' as she's trying to escape her cold imprisonment. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book because it lends a sense of urgency to her situation and I felt that I was right there with her as she puts the pieces of the puzzle together.

As the book progresses we find that someone has a complaint against Tempe's professional conduct on a case that was closed quite a while before she wakes up underground in near total darkness. A person is claiming that Dr. Brennan botched a case she worked on with Ryan and seems determined to smear her good name.

This being a Temperance Brennan book there's no shortage of cases she's currently working on as well. However, in addition to the anonymous tip that she botched the previously mentioned case she worked on with Ryan, she's seemingly screwing up at work too. Lost bones from scenes, missed tell tale evidence in the bones she has recovered, etc, etc. Coupled with the accusation of professional misconduct, Tempe starts to do something she's not prone to do: Doubt HERSELF.

The back and forth with Ryan, both when he's in the scene and 'off screen' is still there and 12 books into it, her inherent stubbornness and the on again off again thing with Ryan is still getting a little old, but it's not as in the forefront of the book as the previous several novels.(less)

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Sep 28, 2012 K Baker rated it 4 of 5 stars

It is very timely for me to get through this book now. I am going this next week to encourage city/county managers/administrators to back the fire department accreditation process of Center for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) with Max. Be so glad to use this excellent professional to add to my introduction process to chat with people as they walk by the booth in the exhibit hall.

Another thing that stood out was how convenient fiction writing is to allow shy/reserved/carefully speaking people to...more

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May 15, 2012 Carl Brush added it

A while back my wife became entranced with the TV series Bones. I was less entranced, but found it bearable so sat through it for the sake of togetherness. I never put much stock in what I judged to be the pseudo-science of forensic anthropology because there were so many slam-bang-gee-whiz episodes based on what seemed to be no more scientific divination of the inner self than went into casting the I Ching. My first hint that there might be something to all this was Michael Ondaa
tje’s Skin of t...more A while back my wife became entranced with the TV series Bones. I was less entranced, but found it bearable so sat through it for the sake of togetherness. I never put much stock in what I judged to be the pseudo-science of forensic anthropology because there were so many slam-bang-gee-whiz episodes based on what seemed to be no more scientific divination of the inner self than went into casting the I Ching. My first hint that there might be something to all this was Michael Ondaa
tje’s Skin of the Lion, which I reviewed last year.

. The protagonist’s task in that novel is to ID bodies of mass-grave victims (Sri Lankan) mostly from examining their skeletons. Hmmm. If Ondaatje says so, then maybe...

This summer, we visited DC and came across a lecture at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History on forensic anthropology. The scientists had taken a couple of skeletons exhumed at a construction site near Chesapeake Bay, and by analyzing various bone characteristics--diet, size, weight, sex, etc.--along with other surrounding evidence of land ownership, etc., had determined the exact identity of the seventeenth-century husband and wife who had once owned the bones. The scientists hadn’t done it in an hour the way the TV people do it. Took them four years, but they’d done it. Now I’ve new respect for the whole idea, even if some would call it a waste of tax money. But those same would call anything beyond guarding the borders and delivering the mail a waste of tax money.

Kathy Reichs is the inventor of Temperance Brennan, the lead character in her novels. She is a forensic anthropologist herself (splits her time between Montreal and Charlotte, NC), as well as producer of the TV show. Beaucoup bucks for sure, but I don’t begrudger her at all. The nearest kin I know of to her work is that of Patricia Cornwell, whose writing I also admire. But I have to give the nod to Cornwell for depth, even though her character, Kay Scarpetta, is an ME, not a forensic anthropologist.

206 Bones was a perfect antidote for me after all those hours of slogging through Foote’s Civil War Opus (See commentary Oct. 11, 2010). A captivating detective novel with enough plot turns to keep you interested, but not so many as to confuse and overwork the old thinker. Temperance keeps a couple of beaux chasing her, gives them enough encouragement to keep trying but not enough to invite commitment. She’s got a cold and brusque side to her character that gets her in a lot of trouble, but her brains and determination win out in the end. All pretty standard crime novel fare, but well-packaged, diverting, and undemanding. And you’ll probably learn a thing or two about teeth.(less)

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Apr 14, 2012 Fiona rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gentleman-detectives, read-in-2012, library-books

The first time I read a Kathy Reichs novel, I was about sixteen, and really into my forensic-pathologist-does-crime-fighting-lit. I read it in about two days, decided it was brilliant, swore off Patricia Cornwell and all other substitutes ever again... and promptly forgot about it. Every so often now, I see one, and think yeah, that was great, I must do that again.

So anyway, I've done it again. This time around, I was a bit worried that, now I'm a bit older, they'd have lost their brilliance, bu...more The first time I read a Kathy Reichs novel, I was about sixteen, and really into my forensic-pathologist-does-crime-fighting-lit. I read it in about two days, decided it was brilliant, swore off Patricia Cornwell and all other substitutes ever again... and promptly forgot about it. Every so often now, I see one, and think yeah, that was great, I must do that again.

So anyway, I've done it again. This time around, I was a bit worried that, now I'm a bit older, they'd have lost their brilliance, but you know, I really enjoyed it. There are a great couple of main characters, enough jargon to make it sound technical and - best of all! - if there's one thing Reichs can do well, it's make you complicit in the info-dumping. You want to read it. You want to hear about a hundred-odd years of history of the Chicago subway system. You definitely want to hear about the evolution of teeth between the ages of six and adult. If ever such a situation where this information is necessary comes up, you will be the MAN, seriously. Tempe Brennan is an expert; you are also an expert, well done you. And that, for me, is something that in this genre gets a definite thumbs up. Also, this is the sort of book that makes you feel totally bilingual for knowing five words of French. Thank you, Kathy Reichs, I am appropriately flattered.

The mystery was interesting and clever, although I did have Bad Guy #1 pegged pretty quickly. I think I must be in a minority among mystery readers, though, because that doesn't bother me: I like having suspicions early on, and then watching the story confirm or contradict that, and the characters try and work it out for themselves. It was engaging. The drip-feed of new information made me feel like I was still guessing most of the way through. Also - and I feel this must be noted - the banter was excellent. I would recommend this for the banter alone.

I'd have to agree with some other reviewers, though, that I could have done without the morality tale in the last few pages. (We get it! We got it even before you ended up in hospital! Trust me, it spoke for itself!) But, last five pages aside, this was a bloody good read. Too short, obviously - it wasn't a book in a week by any means. But a bloody good read. Gold star, would puzzle again.(less)

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Aug 26, 2011 David Campton rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: detective-fiction

It's been a while since I've read one of Dr. Reich's Tempe Brennan thrillers, and while her books are better by far than the TV version 'Bones', and Patricia Cornwell's increasingly grim Scarpetta novels, I quickly remembered why I stopped reading them. I had identified the key villain one third of the way in (3 pages after their introduction), was tired of the 'romantic' backstory way before that, and finished up frustrated with her moralising about board-certified forensics in the final chapte...more

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Sep 17, 2010 Jlaurenmc rated it 4 of 5 stars

206 Bones is the latest book in the Tempe Brennan mystery series by Kathy Reichs. In the novel, Tempe revisits her old stomping grounds of Chicago, with Canadian detective Andrew Ryan in tow. Ostensibly in town to deliver a local body found in Montreal and to discuss the case with the Chicago coroner's office, the two also end up making a holiday visit to Tempe's ex-husband's family. Tempe is actually invited, as she is every year, but Ryan somehow makes his way into the fold and into the family...more 206 Bones is the latest book in the Tempe Brennan mystery series by Kathy Reichs. In the novel, Tempe revisits her old stomping grounds of Chicago, with Canadian detective Andrew Ryan in tow. Ostensibly in town to deliver a local body found in Montreal and to discuss the case with the Chicago coroner's office, the two also end up making a holiday visit to Tempe's ex-husband's family. Tempe is actually invited, as she is every year, but Ryan somehow makes his way into the fold and into the family's hearts -- much to Tempe's chagrin. Then the two are pulled back to Montreal with a new twist in the case.

I have to admit when I read that they were returning to Montreal rather than continuing their sojourn in Chicago, I was disappointed. Reichs had done well with setting the scene in Chicago, from explanations of the El to the multi-layered streets lining the Chicago River. I felt that the movement back to the oft-visited setting of Montreal was a way of returning to the safety of the known, rather than forging through a new experience. But I soon forgot about my disappointment, as the plot pulled me forward.

For the first time in many books, Reichs didn't focus on one specific topic (biker wars, DMORT's body recovery process, etc.), but rather just told a story involving Tempe. And Tempe was truly the star of this novel -- not her relationships (although, of course, there is continuance of the ongoing Ryan romance), not her family members (even though in-laws are present for some) -- just Tempe. Interspersed with the forward action was also a new element to the series: scenes of a missing Tempe. As she struggles to free herself from wrist and ankle constraints, and then to figure out where she is, Reichs throws readers bits and pieces of a captive Tempe. These are mixed into the regular action of the novel, so that in reading the background occurrences, suspense builds for the reader.

In 206 Bones, Tempe works on the Chicago case, examines other elderly missing women, seeks answers for a family missing since the 1960s, and deals with divisiveness within the pathology department. Meanwhile, readers attempt to figure out beforehand who has captured Tempe and is holding her within a black, unidentified space.

My only gripe with the book is in its final pages. Reichs attempts at that point to bring in a lesson, alluded to in very small ways throughout the book. Tempe and Ryan are discussing recent events, and Tempe goes into a stilted speech about credentials and licensing for forensic anthropologists. A valid point, but one perhaps better left to government hearings or professional conferences. Rather than talking like Tempe, the protagonist's words seemed lifted from a speech script Reichs might have written for herself in a professional setting. Still, two pages of awkward conversation a good book do not ruin. 206 Bones is yet another excellent entry in the Tempe Brennan series. Now I have no books to go until the new novel is released in August!(less)

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Apr 18, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love me some David Boreanaz. Way before there was Team Edward, there was Angel, the tortured vampire with a soul from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What does David Boreanaz have to do with a Kathy Reichs novel, you ask? Nothing-except that he now plays a characters on Bones, a television show VERY loosely based on Kathy Reichs character Temperance Brennan. I give you this background on DB as an explanation for my love of said show, despite the fact that the only things that the show and Kathy Reic...more I love me some David Boreanaz. Way before there was Team Edward, there was Angel, the tortured vampire with a soul from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What does David Boreanaz have to do with a Kathy Reichs novel, you ask? Nothing-except that he now plays a characters on Bones, a television show VERY loosely based on Kathy Reichs character Temperance Brennan. I give you this background on DB as an explanation for my love of said show, despite the fact that the only things that the show and Kathy Reich's actual books have in common is the name of the main character and her profession. If you want the REAL Temperance Brennan, you have to read the books.

Like her latest book, 206 Bones. There's a lot going on in this one, even though it is one of her shorter books. There is a sabotage plot, a serial murderer, and a 40 year old missing person's case. The best part-Andrew Ryan, the hot Quebecois police officer, is back. He's done with the mother of the child he just found about about, and he is ready to get back to business with Tempe. Question is, is she ready for him? (I for one am rooting for them to get back together-hot guys that speak French are quite a catch!)

As usual, the story is fast paced, and there is lots of really interesting forensic anthropological goodness. The title of the book, of course, refers to the number of bones in the human body. One thing of interest for Chicago-dwellers is that the setting for the first part of the book is Elmhurst. Tempe, who's originally from Illinois, comes back to visit her former in-laws, and while here she gets sucked into a missing persons case. I so enjoyed reading that part of the book-the body is found at the Thornton Quarry, just below the bridge that take Interstates 294 and 80 over the large hole in the ground where my daughter thought the Flintstones lived when she was little. This is, oh, about five minutes from my house. I drive over that bridge so often it doesn't even trigger my bridge phobia. Every step of their time in Chicago was recognizable to me...I love it when an author takes the time to get the details right.

I have to admit, I've felt let down by the last couple Reichs books. It seemed like she was phoning it in, and I thought that maybe concentrating on the show was taking away from her writing. But this book gives me hope that we are going to get out of the doldrums and get back to the fascinating exploration of forensic anthropology that is a Temperance Brennan novel.(less)

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Dec 28, 2009 Lain rated it 3 of 5 stars

I love Kathy Reichs, but despite the dramatic beginning (forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan finds herself trapped, bound hand and foot, in what seems to be a crypt), this book was lacking in warmth and emotion.

Reichs hits all the points -- setting up a potentially career-ending threat of mishandling an autopsy -- and there are enemies galore. Ryan and her new beau make appearances, as does daughter Katy and ex Peter (and his extended Latvian clan). But while she might get a "6" from the judge...more

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Dec 08, 2009 Mazola1 rated it 4 of 5 stars

206 Bones is a dandy murder mystery thriller. The latest in a series which features forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, it's fast paced and suspenseful. The plot is well crafted, with twists and turns, but not so complicated as to be confusing. Reich skillfully blends forensics and science into the plot. The scientific facts and jargon never seem to be thrown in for effect, thus avoiding a common pitfall of novels with scientists as protagonists. What did seem out of place was the plea a...more

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Oct 05, 2009 Christy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is called to North Carolina, where she is accused of mishandling an autopsy. Brennan is determined to find out who is behind the accusation through an incriminating phone call, but the man who received the call dies shortly after he relays this. Brennan returns to Montreal and, with her former lover Lt. Andrew Ryan, begins investigating the deaths of several older women that may be connected, although she and Ryan are having a hard time finding the one...more

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Oct 03, 2009 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've been reading Kathy Reich's books for about seven years now, ever since I discovered the first three or four in our library. Every year since then I've kept an eye out for the next book in her Temperance Brennan series, because I enjoy reading them so much. Although I'm a serial reader - once I begin a series I generally want to read every one in order, without reading anything else in between - I like that these books can each stand on their own. Although they incorporate many of the same c...more I've been reading Kathy Reich's books for about seven years now, ever since I discovered the first three or four in our library. Every year since then I've kept an eye out for the next book in her Temperance Brennan series, because I enjoy reading them so much. Although I'm a serial reader - once I begin a series I generally want to read every one in order, without reading anything else in between - I like that these books can each stand on their own. Although they incorporate many of the same characters and she makes references to previous cases in her subsequent books, one does not need knowledge of the previous books to get invested in each new one. I love when an author can do that for his/her readers.

This book seemed much more straightforward to me than most of her previous books. There was much more science and investigating, and far fewer personal details. A new reader to Reich's books might not understand that her working relationship with the lead male is far deeper and much more convoluted than she lets on in this book. A new reader might not understand her work situation, which is a combination of living and working between her homes in Charlotte, NC and Quebec. I'm not sure if her choice to pull back from these aspects of Tempe's life are in response to reader feedback (more science, less personal drama?) or because she had a specific agenda in writing this novel.

In the epilogue, Reichs quotes her characters' final statements in response to the situation detailed within this novel. Mainly, that being trained within one aspect of forensics does not make one an expert in all areas. Or (in my own words) that watching every episode of CSI, NCIS, and the other acronymed TV shows does not make one any more of a crime scene expert than the actors playing them. I very much felt that with the writing of this book, Reichs was trying to make a point to that end... and I think she succeeded.

But for me, this novel fell short of her other others. Though it took Tempe almost the entirety of the book to "realize" the situation at hand, I picked up on it and predicted its outcome very early on. I missed the deeper interaction between the characters I've gotten to know, and I missed feeling her inner turmoil along with her. Although I very much enjoyed reading this book, I hope that in future ones she'll return to the more deeply layered and multifaceted aspects of Tempe. (less)

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Sep 28, 2009 Nicola rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reason for Reading: I read every new Kathy Reichs book.

Comments: Tempe wakes up to realize that she is tied up and trapped within a small brick structure within complete darkness. Chapters alternate between her present situation and some relative distant past and a case she's been working where the skeletal remains of an elderly woman are recovered and linked to 2 other violent deaths of elderly women and 1 current missing persons case that fits the same descriptors. Tempe is also experiencing...more Reason for Reading: I read every new Kathy Reichs book.

Comments: Tempe wakes up to realize that she is tied up and trapped within a small brick structure within complete darkness. Chapters alternate between her present situation and some relative distant past and a case she's been working where the skeletal remains of an elderly woman are recovered and linked to 2 other violent deaths of elderly women and 1 current missing persons case that fits the same descriptors. Tempe is also experiencing difficulties at work in the Quebec office with a new staff member added to the crew and each other person in a gloomy mood; then she receives a nasty note and confirms someone has tried to discredit her recently. Tempe works this second personal case to get the guy who's after her reputation behind the scenes while working on the 'grannies' case.

This was a great entry in the series. I spent my holiday Monday basically doing nothing but reading the book and read it in a day. (Well I read a bit the night before in bed, too) A very exciting, compelling read. The elderly woman case was a good one and different but I did find that the book lacked Reichs' usual flare for the gruesome details. I absolutely loved the switching back to a trapped Tempe, her memory is all hazy and she can't remember the immediate past, so the reader also has no idea how she ended up this way. These bits where she mentally tries to survive and talk herself into physically surviving and trying to escape were really my favourite parts of the book.

While the mystery centres around the main case of the elderly women there are also a few side stories and mysteries going on as well. And while the main case proves to be a solid mystery, one of the other mysteries that ran the whole book was rather transparent and very easy to figure out from the beginning. I was quite surprised with that. Reichs usually holds up very solid mysteries. I wish she had advanced Brennan's personal life a little further in this book but instead she kept the Tempe/Ryan relationship pretty much business only and briefly let us see into where her thoughts were with anything further, we are fully aware of where Ryan stands on the issue. The book does end on a note that lets the reader know which direction the relationship will certainly go in the next book, though.

On a final note, fans will devour this one and not be disappointed. It's a solid, all-nighter read and will keep us waiting for the next book. (less)

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Sep 26, 2009 Nadine added it

Shelves: mystery

Kathy Reichs used to be my favorite author, and I don't know if she's gotten into a rut, or if I'm just no longer enamored with her style, but either way, this book didn't do it for me. It was too self-aware, too precious, too bogged down in details. I used to enjoy the technical/medical details that Reichs includes, but this time I found myself skimming entire paragraphs. I was also annoyed w/ the excessively complicated plot line - as in past books, many seemingly unrelated deaths turn out to...more

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Aug 21, 2009 Tammy rated it 3 of 5 stars

In 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs, Temperance Brennan, is handcuffed and buried in some place underground. She does not remember how she got there, she is injured, and terrified, but attempts to save herself. Then Ms. Reichs shows us the series of events that led up to the abduction.

This is a first for me author and so I was not 100% sure of what to expect, because I like the TV series Bones, which I frankly love, but I know that some things don't translate well from book to screen. I think what sur...more In 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs, Temperance Brennan, is handcuffed and buried in some place underground. She does not remember how she got there, she is injured, and terrified, but attempts to save herself. Then Ms. Reichs shows us the series of events that led up to the abduction.

This is a first for me author and so I was not 100% sure of what to expect, because I like the TV series Bones, which I frankly love, but I know that some things don't translate well from book to screen. I think what surprised me the most about this was the one thing that irritated me the most -- the French (language that is). I do not speak the language, do not understand the language, and don't read it. Without the translations I would have been at sea in a heavy fog without knowing where in the heck I was going. I understand that most of the book takes place in Quebec Canada, and that French and English are both spoken there, but I could have really done without so much of the language.

For those that may not know whom I'm talking about - Temperance Brennan is a renowned forensic anthropologist who seems to divide her time between labs in Quebec Canada and helping others -- and being with family in North Carolina. Her friend and romantic interest appears to be the good looking Lieutenant/detective Andrew Ryan, who works for the Surete du Quebec, but there is also mention of another gentleman in North Carolina that she seems to care for. The two (Ryan and Tempe) seem to have an on again off again romance that is currently off, although they have remained good friends, and Ryan seems to want to restart the romance. There are several very unusual things going on in this book -- again not being familiar with Ms. Reich's work I'm not sure if this is usual or just the tone of this book. The mysteries, include the deaths of three or four elderly females. As a favor to a friend, Temperance also tries to learn what happened to a young man who disappeared years ago. Temp also has to tolerate a newcomer or two in her lab in Canada, and things there aren't what they seem either.

When Temperance talks bones, I listened, due in a large part I'm sure to Ms. Reich herself being such a well known and respected anthropologist. Ms. Reich's talents however do not all lie in just that one field as she also shows the harshness of a Montreal winter, with heavy snows, bad roads and lousy temps, and the fluidity of a well written mystery or would that be mysteries? Another thing that surprised me was that the weather seemed to mirror Temperance's mood/attitude for the most part, again I'm not sure if this is a common occurrence or just the way things went for this book. She is ticked that an ambitious newcomer named Marie-Andréa Briel is challenging her knowledge and apparently succeeding in making her look bad.

Otherwise, I kind of enjoyed the book almost as much as I like the TV series. When Temperance spoke I listened, the book has a faint romance going on between Temperance and the detective Ryan, but the book is mainly a mystery, and it was written well enough that someone that doesn't usually read mysteries enjoyed herself.

Would I buy the book in hardback, I'm afraid not, in paperback if I didn't have something else to read, maybe? That is the main reason I'm only giving this a 3 star, simply because while I enjoyed the book, it just didn't make me want to run out and find more by this author right away.
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Nov 12, 2011 Connie rated it 5 of 5 stars

206 BONES by Kathy Reichs is 384 pages in paperback form. This is #12 in A Temperance Brennan Novel.

Brief Description:

There are 206 bones in the human body. And one shattering secret hidden among them....

Cold and alone, bound hands to feet, Tempe Brennan regains consciousness locked in a dark cell--or is she buried alive in a tomb?--and begins to reconstruct the twisted chain of events that led her to this terrifying place. Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had recently accompanied the remains of a miss...more 206 BONES by Kathy Reichs is 384 pages in paperback form. This is #12 in A Temperance Brennan Novel.

Brief Description:

There are 206 bones in the human body. And one shattering secret hidden among them....

Cold and alone, bound hands to feet, Tempe Brennan regains consciousness locked in a dark cell--or is she buried alive in a tomb?--and begins to reconstruct the twisted chain of events that led her to this terrifying place. Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had recently accompanied the remains of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue, and suddenly Tempe is accused of mishandling the autopsy. After an incriminating phone call and another shocking death, Tempe's unseen enemy closes in -- even as the corpse of a second, and then a third, elderly woman turns up in the woods of Montreal. Who wants Tempe dead, or at least out of the way, and why? Who would resort to sabotage to destroy the secrets hidden in the bones? Only Tempe can uncover the truth--if she can escape the deadly fate someone has destined for her.

I loved this book from the first chapter. It was very fast paced and was very interesting. Forensics has always been something that I am interested in. When Temperance is in the black box and it is dark, I suffered her claustrophobia right along with her. I don't like small places and if it is dark, that makes it even worse. This was very difficult to read, but that is because it is so real for me.

I normally listen to these books because I don't speak French and I hate not being able to pronounce a word when I am reading, but that is just me. It is part of the book, because she is bilingual and does work in Quebec for most of this book. Ms. Reichs did something else in the book that I have not seen too many times, when something was said she would tell you what voice it was said in, like surly, puzzled and so forth. At first I found this distracting and then I thought it was very good to know.

I was also glad to see that Dr. Brennan and Ryan are talking again and the kidding back and forth was present in this book. Claudell even made an appearance. I like Claudell and wish he were in more of the books. Claudell was normal with his surliness.

I had figured out some of what was happening, but the ending was a little different than I had expected. Still, that made for a very good book in my opinion.

I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait to read the next one to see where Dr. Brennan and Ryan go next.

BUY NOW: Conniesbookshelf.com Paperback $2.75

BUY NOW: Conniesbookshelf.com Hardcover $1.95
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Aug 02, 2011 Michael rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime

The only commonality between these books and the TV Series is the name of the main character and the author. If you think you are going to read stories based on characters from the TV Show, think again. You won't be disappointed in the novel, though, just do not get into it wondering when Zac or Sweets or Hodgins is going to show up. They won't. Neither will Booth.

That being said, though, Reich's novels, of which I have read a few, are interesting reads. Reich's delves into the forensic anthropo...more

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Oct 21, 2009 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like Quebec

Recommended to Richard by: I have read all her other books.

We should all be sure our Medical Examiners are Board Certified. This is made clear in the dedication; throughout the story where Ms. Reichs makes clear that non-certified people are screw ups; in the closing pages where she has her Hero, Tempe make an impassioned plea for certified help; and, finally, in case you didn't get it in an afterword explaining how untrained people are not good for the profession.

All that may be, but I have run into lots of people in other professions who are certified...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This will be a short review:
First off, I do not usually read crime/pulp mystery novels, let alone the twelfth book in a series that I have not read the first 11 of. That being said, my uncle handed me this book and told me that I would find a way to get into it if I gave it about 50 pages. Well, he was right. Although bored at first and confused about character dynamics, I was able to engage with the story due to the fact that the first 75 Pages take place in chicago, and then the next 20 or so...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Sonja rated it 3 of 5 stars

Forensisch antropoloog Temperance Brennan is in dit verhaal het beoogde slachtoffer. Ze wordt wakker in een afgesloten ruimte. In flashbacks wordt duidelijk dat iemand het op haar voorzien heeft, sinds ze een stoffelijk overschot begeleidde van Montreal naar Chicago. Ze wordt beschuldigd van fouten bij het onderzoek van het lijk van een oude weduwe. Maar degene die haar duidelijk zou kunnen maken wie de beschuldiging heeft gedaan, wordt vermoord. Terug in Montreal blijken er meer oude vrouwen ve...more

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Sep 20, 2009 J.R. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mysteries

While a fast and mostly pleasant read, this is not one of Reich’s better books.

The opening where forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan finds herself bound and trapped in an underground crypt immediately caught my attention with creepy reminders of Poe’s Premature Burial. The story then flashes forward to reveal how her predicament came about.

Tempe and Detective Andrew Ryan of the Surete de Quebec have accompanied the remains of a missing heiress to Chicago where she is accused of mishandling the...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Vanessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have always enjoyed these books by Reichs. This book, however, was not quite as exciting and enjoyable. First off, Dr. Temperance Brennan in the books is not really like the Dr. Brennan on Bones. She is more serious and more of an introvert in the books. In this particular book, she was even more distant and cool than usual though. This sometimes made it harder to get through the story.

The story is somewhat interesting as you are going back and forth through time in parts - relating what situa...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Aoife rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime

*sighs* this book barely made the third star.
I was already really annoyed by the beginning: Tempe wakes up, is imprisoned in a dark place but has no idea how she got there. Slowly she begins to remember...
a) massive clichee
b) Tempe is Alone With The Psycho at the end of every single novel but survived it the past eleven times...I never doubted that she'd make it also the 12th time.
And as if that wasn't enough the next chapters don't really get better at first. I really really hate end-of-chapter...more

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Mar 02, 2012 M.B. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As with nearly all Temperance Brennan books, it starts with her in some sort of mortal peril, which is fine, but after a while (this is book 12 I believe)it gets a bit repetitive.

What I did enjoy about this book was the annoyance and mystery surrounding Briel and why she wanted to be involved in so many of the cases in Quebec. I guessed that it was her who had altered things to make it look like Tempe was failing at her job. (wouldn't have happened if La Manche was there).

As much as I love the c...more

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Sep 10, 2010 Kristina rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: hated-em, fiction, brain-candy, library-book, suck, mystery-thriller

I've been reading Kathy R. since the very first Temperence Brennan book and either her plots and writing have gotten shittier over the years or I've gotten more critical. Probably a combination of both. This is absolutely the last Kathy Reichs book I will ever read. She's just horrible. I'm immediately irritated because Tempe is being held in an underground tomb and she is described as being hogtied. Now, I know what that means, but I googled it just in case because Tempe is then described as mo...more

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Jul 08, 2010 Betty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: abuse, anthropology, arson, canadian, crime, fiction, forensic, murder-mystery, series, suspense-thriller

Is Tempe Brennan losing her mind? Or is there something more sinister going on? Is she really responsible for things disappearing and the anthropological mistakes she is making? In this novel, someone is trying to discredit and possibly oust Tempe, and is doing a moderately good job of it in the beginning but that soon escalates. Kathy Reichs has a writing style that builds the tension throughout, and drives you on to discover what you will find at the end. No disappointment there!

She is accused...more Is Tempe Brennan losing her mind? Or is there something more sinister going on? Is she really responsible for things disappearing and the anthropological mistakes she is making? In this novel, someone is trying to discredit and possibly oust Tempe, and is doing a moderately good job of it in the beginning but that soon escalates. Kathy Reichs has a writing style that builds the tension throughout, and drives you on to discover what you will find at the end. No disappointment there!

She is accused of mishandling an autopsy by an unknown tipster. With the body exhumation she just attended she counted and bagged 206 bones, in other words all bones accounted for. But strangely when she comes to complete reconstruction of the body, and looks for the most accurate marker she knew could give a positive ID, she finds she is now down to 203 bones. Tempe is then accused of mishandling evidence; she requests that she be allowed back to the site to see if they really had been left behind, but is turned down. When the newest member of the team is allowed to recheck the exhumation site, she remarkably 'discovers' the bones. Missed diagnoses are brought to light by the oh-so-helpful young Dr. Briel, who has insinuated herself into almost everyone's work. Tempe must find out how she could have made an error worthy of a warning that "someone's out to get you". She is also beginning to doubt herself.

Cases are suddenly piling up of suspected murders of elderly women, but each died in a different manner, in a different location, and over a period of years. Is there a link or not? Throw in a few old bones dredged from a lake just to bring a little more excitement into the mix and you have a number of mysteries to gnaw on. ID'ing most will be an almost fruitless job, but Tempe is sure she is up to the task. Teaming up with her detective partner Ryan, they both link up with colleagues and associates in Chicago and other areas over the elderly deaths trying to find a common denominator other than that they are all elderly, but when they arrive in Chicago, Tempe finds herself already in hot water. With all the red herrings, sidetracks, and downright dirty tricks in this book, you just know you are going to enjoy going along for the ride. Who of the many possibilities is out to get Tempe, and just how far will he or she go?

In the version of "206 Bones" I'm reviewing, there is an essay with facts and explanations of some of the things Temperance talks about which I found to be very interesting as well. I appreciated learning (in an aside), a bit more about the 1990 "Oka Crisis" that we in the west didn't hear about on the news at the time. The interaction with Tempe's family and Ryan were pure entertainment. Another great forensic mystery by a person who knows what she's talking about, Kathy Reichs.(less)

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Oct 15, 2009 Brooke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, mystery

With her 12th Bones book, Kathy Reichs decided to mix it up a little bit. Instead of saving Tempe's inevitable abduction for the very end, she opens the book with it and then takes us back to the beginning of the case so we could see how Tempe ended up in peril.

Nice try, Reichs, but the real way to mix it up would be to stop having your heroine get kidnapped at all. Its ridiculousness is right up there with how many times Chloe and Lois have each been knocked out on Smallville. I'd make a drinki...more

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Jul 17, 2010 Joan rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is not actually the version that I'm listening to, but it seems that the Recorded Books edition isn't a choice.

I've watched Bones on TV and thought it might be interesting to see if the books sited by the TV show were similar. At least this one (#12) is not. But, that is OK. The plot kept my interest, but wasn't so complicated that I couldn't pick it up and put it down - as audio books in the car must tolerate. The characters (with the exception of Temperance) are completely different than...more

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May 08, 2012 Nissanmama rated it 3 of 5 stars

206 Bones is the 12th book in the Temperance Brennan series. It is a little self-indulgent, going to lengths to explain the accreditation process for forensic board certification, but I guess by book twelve, Reichs has earned the right. I found the office intrigue to be more interesting than the actual crime Brennan was working which had too many names and too many suspects, but unlike many of her other novels where I didn't know "who done it" until Brennan did, this one was yawningly predictabl...more

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title link	preview: 206 Bones
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206 Bones (Temperance Brennan #12)

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