Cross Bones (Temperance Brennan #8)
by
Kathy Reichs
A gripping and explosive new thriller from internationally acclaimed forensic anthropologist and New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs, featuring Temperance Brennan and Detective Andrew Ryan on the trail of a modern murder and an ancient biblical mystery... When an Orthodox Jewish man is found shot to death in Montreal, Temperance Brennan is called in to examine t...more
ebook, 368 pages
Published
June 28th 2005
by Scribner
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How disappointing! I enjoy mysteries because they make me think, they are usually well researched and can either teach me something or challenge me in some way, or make me laugh. Since this book was written by a former forensic scientist, I thought there would be something here. Instead, Reichs is one of the most condescending writers I've read. Instead of using a plot, she advances the action by having the main character ask herself redundant questions - sometimes eight of them in a row. She is...more
I read murder mysteries when my brain needs a rest and I want to escape. I tend to find an author and read all of her/his work beginning with the first book published. That's what I've done with Kathy Reich with the exception of this book. I didn't have the next two in her Temperance Brennan collection, so I skipped ahead to Cross Bones.
Reading this book felt timely as Tempe heads to Israel, so it was trippy to read a story that was taking place at sites I was hearing about on the news daily. It...more
Reading this book felt timely as Tempe heads to Israel, so it was trippy to read a story that was taking place at sites I was hearing about on the news daily. It...more
This is one I listened to. I have heard others by her and watch the tv show Bones based on this character. This book was strange because it was about finding bones that might have been Jesus'. It told a lot about christian history and the beliefs about Mary. I was very interested in how the author was going to get out of this story. It helped to have a fiery car crash with a sacred shroud and bones burning up and the other set of maybe Jesus' bones getting stolen by a group of Jews who believe n...more
Feb 13, 2008
Molly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Lovers of the crime novel
Recommended to Molly by:
Lucky find!
This is the first Reich's book I have read. Seeing the blurb about her being involved in the TV show BONES almost made me put it back and move on down the isle.
Luckily for me that other voice in my head prevailed.
I really enjoyed this book! It had some of the same conspiracy theory elements that made The DaVinci Code famous and Reich did have Tempe reading it as research-for me the similarities end there. This book presents itself as a forensic crime novel and woo doggie, does it deliver.
I wil...more
Luckily for me that other voice in my head prevailed.
I really enjoyed this book! It had some of the same conspiracy theory elements that made The DaVinci Code famous and Reich did have Tempe reading it as research-for me the similarities end there. This book presents itself as a forensic crime novel and woo doggie, does it deliver.
I wil...more
I would actually give this book 2.5 stars if that was a possibility. Since it's not, I rounded down.
I'm a huge fan of the TV show "Bones." So when I encountered this book by "Bones" creator Kathy Reichs at a second-hand bookstore, I grabbed it, thinking that of course I would like the book too.
I was kind of wrong. I didn't hate the book, but it took me some time to get through it. Reichs's writing style is somewhat staccato - her descriptive prose is written in half-thoughts, like she's checking...more
I'm a huge fan of the TV show "Bones." So when I encountered this book by "Bones" creator Kathy Reichs at a second-hand bookstore, I grabbed it, thinking that of course I would like the book too.
I was kind of wrong. I didn't hate the book, but it took me some time to get through it. Reichs's writing style is somewhat staccato - her descriptive prose is written in half-thoughts, like she's checking...more
I give this a 3.5: The story is not strong enough and the character development is not deep enough to make it a 4.0 while it is not as weak as a book that I typically rate as a 3.0.
I've been interested in reading a book by Kathy Reichs after I heard her speak at a literary event. I also have seen the show, Bones, that is based on her books. The main character, Temperance Brennan, is much more interesting in the book than on the TV show. I spent some time early in the book trying to reconcile if...more
I've been interested in reading a book by Kathy Reichs after I heard her speak at a literary event. I also have seen the show, Bones, that is based on her books. The main character, Temperance Brennan, is much more interesting in the book than on the TV show. I spent some time early in the book trying to reconcile if...more
I've been watching BONES the TV series for a couple of years now and really enjoy it (I do confess to shielding my eyes from the truly gross-out bodies--once they are bones, I'm alright). This was my first Kathy Reichs book featuring Temperance Brennan. This Temperance is not nicknamed Bones; she lives in Canada and has a 23 year old daughter, has a different boyfriend and does not exhibit the same emotional disconnect as the TV character. What helped me connect with her though was that the read...more
This is probably the most cohesive and entertaining Tempe Brennan novel since Fatal Voyage. It doesn't suffer from the odd dialogue or sometimes cumbersome or confusing plots. And gone are the quasi-teenaged approach in regards to how Tempe handles her relationship with Ryan.
A murdered orthodox Jew turns up in Montreal, shot execution style. How does this fall into Tempe's lap? A strange man gives her a photo that was supposedly given to him by the deceased. A photo showing an old skeleton that...more
A murdered orthodox Jew turns up in Montreal, shot execution style. How does this fall into Tempe's lap? A strange man gives her a photo that was supposedly given to him by the deceased. A photo showing an old skeleton that...more
Mar 26, 2012
Vivienne
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
conspiracy-thriller,
crime
The novel is based on an idea given to Reichs by Dr. James Tabor and she opens the novel with a foreword titled 'The Facts' and closes with an acknowledgement of Tabor's role in suggesting the story as well as details of his book. Knowing this much about the background at the outset did sort of blunt some of the sense of mystery and tension. It might have been wiser to place this information within an afterword allowing the 'facts' to reveal themselves in the story.
The book was an enjoyable read...more
My initial response to this book is that it's a DaVinci Code rip off. While certain themes are the same, I think Brown's book is more of a thriller. Reichs leaves the heavy forensics behind in this one and goes back to Tempe's archaeological roots. If you can keep an open mind about the alternate religious ideas presented in it, then you will find it an interesting read.
Book Tempe is Catholic, as is her partner, Andrew Ryan. She calls in an old buddy of hers to consult on a case. It's her frien...more
Book Tempe is Catholic, as is her partner, Andrew Ryan. She calls in an old buddy of hers to consult on a case. It's her frien...more
Audio book narrated by Michele Pawk
2.5***
Dr Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist, returns in her 8th outing. This time she stumbles upon a potentially explosive find with international implications when she’s called to consult on a putrefied corpse found in a warehouse closet. As she follows the many conflicting clues, she ultimately goes to Israel, where she travels with a bag of seemingly ancient bones, possibly stolen decades earlier from an archeological dig.
What I like about Brennan is t...more
2.5***
Dr Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist, returns in her 8th outing. This time she stumbles upon a potentially explosive find with international implications when she’s called to consult on a putrefied corpse found in a warehouse closet. As she follows the many conflicting clues, she ultimately goes to Israel, where she travels with a bag of seemingly ancient bones, possibly stolen decades earlier from an archeological dig.
What I like about Brennan is t...more
Lire les livres de cette auteure, c'est pour moi comme de retrouver une copine qui n'est pas toujours extraordinairement intéressante, mais qu'on accepte avec ses défauts. Kathy Reichs n'est pas d'abord écrivaine, mais bien anthropologue judiciaire. Elle travaille à la fois à Charlotte (Caroline du Nord) et à Montréal. Elle se promène parfois un peu partout dans le monde lorsque l'on fait appel à plein de gens de sa profession pour identifier un grand nombre de cadavres, par exemple lorsque l'on...more
An Orthodox Jewish man is found shot to death in Montreal. The condition of the body leaves more questions than answers for the investigators so Temperance Brennan is called in to examine the body. As she is leaving the ME office, a stranger gives her a photograph of a skeleton and tells her it is the reason for the victim's death. Its obvious that the skeleton is very old so she takes it back to her office to examine it. When she tracks down the actual skeleton, Tempe calls her friend Jake Dru...more
Eighth "bone doc" Tempe Brennan a confusing Da Vinci Code wannabe!
We're fans of the seven prior Tempe Brennan, forensic pathologist, novels. A mirror to Dr. Reichs in real life, Brennan spends most of her time alternating between jobs in Montreal and North Carolina, examining skeletons and bones to determine identity, and manner and cause of death when possible. While sometimes the science drags down the mysteries, most of these stories have been entertaining, suspenseful reads.
In this one, an...more
We're fans of the seven prior Tempe Brennan, forensic pathologist, novels. A mirror to Dr. Reichs in real life, Brennan spends most of her time alternating between jobs in Montreal and North Carolina, examining skeletons and bones to determine identity, and manner and cause of death when possible. While sometimes the science drags down the mysteries, most of these stories have been entertaining, suspenseful reads.
In this one, an...more
Jun 19, 2010
Dlora
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
adventure-action,
history
I enjoy the forensic anthropology in Kathy Reichs's books. There was some of that in Cross Bones but there was more archaeology, which is also quite interesting to me. Based on several actual archaeology sites in Jerusalem (which are listed at the beginning of the book), Reichs weaves a story about finds that might rewrite history. Are the bones found on Masada evidence that Christ did not die on the cross but lived and eventually died in the siege at Masada? (Now that would upset all Christians...more
I dont' like when they change book covers on me and re-release books. As I was reading this Reichs books, I was struck by how much the plot was reminiscent of another book I had read. Very simiar with the Masada ruins and archeology dig and the controversy about whether Jesus Christ was truly resurrected . . . the farther and farther I got, the more and more this book was like that other book!
Finally I accepted that I had read this book before. It was a good read the second time through too but...more
Finally I accepted that I had read this book before. It was a good read the second time through too but...more
This is the eighth Temperance Brennan book by Kathy Reichs. Most books center between one of two places, Montreal and the Southern US. This book starts in Montreal and the reconstruction of an Orthodox Jews face after he had been shot. A picture of a skeleton draws Tempe in and makes her question. Many things happen, but she ends up with the skeleton that is from the 1st century Israel. She ends up flying to Jerusalem with Ryan to take the skeleton back. Enter Jake Drum the scholar that she has...more
I didn't care for this book and didn't finish it. It started with a good premise. Some skeletons were found at Masada during the 1960's and one disappeared. It was never mentioned in publications about the dig. The book is about the skeleton because it shows up in Canada. Reich just couldn't seem to keep the tension up in the book. Instead of wondering who the skeleton was, why it was never catalogued, I found myself wondering why I was reading the book in the first place. Who really cares about...more
4 1/2 stars!
I found this book to be Ms. Reichs' best to date. It is true that the premise of the storyline is not new. There have been many books written on the possibility that Jesus did not resurrect. What is different is that this book tackles the premise from a forensic perspective. Also different is that the author does not delve into the actual premise so the faithful religious need not be put off. Feel free to read this great novel without fear of your beliefs being besmirched.
The story f...more
I found this book to be Ms. Reichs' best to date. It is true that the premise of the storyline is not new. There have been many books written on the possibility that Jesus did not resurrect. What is different is that this book tackles the premise from a forensic perspective. Also different is that the author does not delve into the actual premise so the faithful religious need not be put off. Feel free to read this great novel without fear of your beliefs being besmirched.
The story f...more
"c2005. This is the 8th book in the Temperance Brennan saga which sees her off to Israel. I thoroughly enjoy these books and I like the protagonist. I do find that some of the ""facts"" are a little off at times - not with the science - but with a few of the peripheral descriptions. Also, somethings I feel are glossed over so I am never quite sure of the significance of some events/details. However, I do keep reading!! Would defintely recommend - if only to keep up with Tempe's private life. Def...more
Mar 05, 2009
Carla
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
forensic-science,
kathy-reichs
I am a fan of Reichs, including the popular TV show based on her series. This may have influenced my review of this book.
I found this an excellent read. I had previously read The DaVinci Code, so this was an interesting twist on the story - and much better handled in my opinion. Reichs formerly worked for UNC, so she knows Dr. James Tabor, a leading expert on biblical anthropology and one of the people that discovered "The Jesus Family Tomb". I've seen him on several Discovery and History Chann...more
I found this an excellent read. I had previously read The DaVinci Code, so this was an interesting twist on the story - and much better handled in my opinion. Reichs formerly worked for UNC, so she knows Dr. James Tabor, a leading expert on biblical anthropology and one of the people that discovered "The Jesus Family Tomb". I've seen him on several Discovery and History Chann...more
Not a terribly deep book by general literature standards, and certainly intended to ride the Da Vinci Code hype (at one point in the story the main character even reads what can only be The Da Vinci Code on a flight), but I enjoyed it more than the other Bones series book I read, and also felt like I gained a lot of insight into daily life in modern Israel / Palestine and learned some things I wouldn't have known otherwise. And even though this wasn't your typical police / forensic procedural no...more
This is the worst Kathy Reichs I have read. Because it was about the alleged bones of Jesus and his family, the plot had to be contrived in such a way that there could be no solution, so that it would remain a mystery and not upset any of the three religions involved. Naturally, the accompanied murders were solved, along with Tempe being in deathly danger several times, but managing miraculously to escape.
The plot was also contrived to get both Tempe and Ryan together in Israel, which seemed to...more
The plot was also contrived to get both Tempe and Ryan together in Israel, which seemed to...more
Next in chronological order was Reichs' Cross Bones. This is a Da Vinci Code-esque novel that addresses the sale of religious antiquities in relation to the death of an Orthodox Jewish man who made his living selling such items. Another theme in the novel is the discovery of several different locations anthropologists and religious experts claim as Jesus's tomb. Although the novel didn't appeal to me with its topic, I love Tempe and so I tried it anyway. I abandoned it a third of the way into th...more
If you find Dr. Brennan brilliant within the confines of North America, you will find her fearless and determined as she visits Israel.
This was the third "Brennan" I read, and I've read two since and it still remains my favorite of the series so far. Ms. Reichs has this way of bringing her settings to life. I know the Carolinas by personal experience and have grown pretty certain I could navigate the neighborhoods of Montreal. In this book she transports readers to the burial caves of Israel. Ms...more
This was the third "Brennan" I read, and I've read two since and it still remains my favorite of the series so far. Ms. Reichs has this way of bringing her settings to life. I know the Carolinas by personal experience and have grown pretty certain I could navigate the neighborhoods of Montreal. In this book she transports readers to the burial caves of Israel. Ms...more
This is the first and last Kathy Reichs book I will be reading. It was recommended for me by a friend who, knowing my interest in early Christian history, thought I might enjoy it. If anything, it is my understanding early Christian history that made this book so painful. I know it's fiction, but it was building up something that would never cause a catastrophe. How many Christians/Jews/Muslims are such on the basis of evidence and archaeological research? The main character Tempe was making a m...more
Jan 24, 2010
Diane
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Those who like intricate mysteries
Recommended to Diane by:
I like the author
Cross Bones was a combination of science, not-so-well-known history and a well-written & intricate mystery - a triple score for me. AFter Temperance is called in to help determine cause of death of an apparent suicide, she's handed a mysterious photograph of a skeleton by an equally mysterious stranger who then disappears. The skeleton's location appears to be a desert archeological dig so Tempe calls an old colleague for an opinion. The trail leads to a Canadian monestary, a case of old bon...more
Jul 07, 2010
Raelene
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery_crime,
the-books-of-2010
Considering I'[m such a fan of the TV series Bones, based on Kathy Reichs novels, I decided I should at some point pick one up and decide if they're any good. This is that point.
First thought - this may be the wrong book to have started with. It's the eighth Temperance Brennan novel and so is subject to what seems to be a serious lack of character development. Also - Reichs seems to take huge liberties with the plot line, using a few mysterious Israeli archeological facts and creating a weakish...more
First thought - this may be the wrong book to have started with. It's the eighth Temperance Brennan novel and so is subject to what seems to be a serious lack of character development. Also - Reichs seems to take huge liberties with the plot line, using a few mysterious Israeli archeological facts and creating a weakish...more
Disappointing book. I have not read any of the other "Temperance Brennan" novels nor seen the TV series "Bones". But I've heard good things about the series. I was expecting some good forensic science, but there was very little here. There story is an interesting premise of proving the existence of Jesus Christ and possibly even turning Christianity upside down. But Ms. Reichs does a good job of connecting a seemingly routine murder in Canada with international intrigue, espionage, and black mar...more
I've always enjoyed reading Kathy Reichs books. However I found this one a little off. Too many questions going to be asked but never finished. Too much running around with no results. Jakes telling her not to contact anyone about the pictures and then the bones that are found, but keeps putting her when she asks questions. Instead he is flying here there and back and still no forthcoming answers to her partially formed questions.
It seems the bones might be those of Jesus and then theories revol...more
It seems the bones might be those of Jesus and then theories revol...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great! | 2 | 24 | Apr 06, 2011 03:00pm |
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
More about Kathy Reichs...
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