The Bone Hacker

Temperance Brennan #22

by Kathy Reichs

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her twenty-second high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan who, following a series of bizarre disappearances on the islands of Turks and Caicos, enters a sinister labyrinth in which a new technology may wreak worldwide havoc.

Called in to examine what is left of a body struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in a much larger case. Young men—tourists—have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos for years. Seven years ago, the first victim was found in a strange location with both hands cut off; the other visitors vanished without a trace. But, recently, tantalizing leads have emerged and only Tempe can unravel them.

Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common—other than the strange locations where their bodies are eventually found, and the fact that the young men all seem to be the least likely to be involved in foul play. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. And then she turns up disturbing clues that what’s at stake may actually have global significance.

It isn’t long before the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud, and then Temper herself becomes a target.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Suspense

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 2, 2023

About the author

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 professor of anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D. at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness in criminal trials.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1998): Deja Dead

Reviews

[Kaceey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay! Tempe is back! And better than ever!🤩

I always enjoy this series, especially when Tempe (a forensic anthropologist) is based in Canada. For the first portion of the book she’s firmly planted on Canadian soil with her love interest, Andrew Ryan. But after an invitation to assist in a case down in Turks and Caicos…well how can she say no!?😎🏝️

It doesn't take long before Tempe is clearly in over her head as the body-count and danger rapidly rise!

For someone who works in a morgue dealing with bones all day Tempe is the most delightful character! Quick as a whip with her clever comebacks, she had me chuckling throughout!

Probably my favorite in this long standing series! The characters as well as the storyline were superbly developed!

Can this be read as a stand-alone? Absolutely! Kathy Reichs gives you enough of Tempe’s fun character that I think you could jump in right here! Hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Detective Musgrove arrived in Montreal to talk to forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan about a case which seemed to link with hers on the islands of Turks and Caicos, Tempe had no idea what lay ahead. Reluctantly leaving Ryan and Birdie, she flew back to the islands with Detective Musgrove, to be confronted by a weird scenario - the boat which had drifted ashore had 4 emaciated and dead passengers, but other than no fuel, the boat was in perfect working order. How would those people have died? And why?

Finding bodies wasn't unusual for Tempe, but the bodies on the island all had their left hands removed. Tempe did her thing with the bones, while Musgrove interviewed and investigated. When Tempe found an anomaly, her excitement level rose, but working with Detective Monck as well, meant she reigned in her thoughts. Tossing theories and ideas around together didn't seem to bring anything more to light. Would they find what was happening? And why all of a sudden were the FBI involved?

The Bone Hacker is the 22nd in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs and I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I have every one previously! I love Tempe's character, her knowledge and wit - the humour is faint and sly, but it's there! I can't wait for the next in the series and recommend it, and The Bone Hacker highly.

With thanks to Simon & Schuster AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

The forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan has long been a favourite character of mine, under the astute guidance of author Kathy Reichs. In this, the 22nd novel of the series, Reichs takes her protagonist on an adventure like no other. The story spans from Montreal to the Caribbean, in a fast-paced thriller that has a bit of everything. The perfect addition to the series, Kathy Reichs dazzles and impresses with ease.

Temperance “Tempe” Brennan has a long-time love of both countries she calls home. While an American by birth and with a great job in Charlotte, she also spends half the time in Montreal as a forensic anthropologist, where she is learning more than just the wonders of French. When she is called to examine what seems to be a routine body, she is left baffled. While the preliminary notes hint at a lighting strike, a tattoo opens new and scary doors to a gang in Turks and Caicos.

Tempe never leaves others the sole chance to question and is soon scouring databases for information that leads to reports of many other bodies. Missing tourists have turned up on Turks and Caicos, presumably from some tough gang activity, but Tempe is sure there is more to it. None of the apparent victims has any connection to one another, but there has to be something that pulls them all together, or the island is dealing with a number of random killings. When she discovers a link through the severed hands each body is left sporting, the signs of some ritualistic serial killer are there and Tempe works with a local police detective, first in Montreal and eventually down in the Caribbean, to get answers.

When Tempe arrives to put all the pieces together, she’s met with a number of strings that need tying off. Working alongside her counterpart, they try to work through all the bits of these cases, only to have the violence visit them first hand. A killer is on the loose and makes their presence known in a bloody attack that leaves Tempe scrambling for safety. All this to show that things are not as cut and dry as they seem. In a land far from Canada, Tempe Brennan shows how she can adapt and yet still be just as worried as ever! Kathy Reichs does a masterful job and keeps the reader hooked until the final page turn.

I remember discovering the work of Kathy Reichs years ago and becoming instantly addicted to it. The forensics, the dry wit, the dual settings, all of which work well and keep me wanting to know how things will play out. The story’s narrative flow is as good as many of the novels from the series, keeping the story paced well and without getting too bogged down in minutiae. There is a lot to explain, mainly medical jargon, but it all flows with ease and the reader is better for it. Great character development, even nuances of new Tempe Brennan moments, help shape the book and give it a unique perspective not seen in any of the past novels. The plot develops and thickens naturally, providing the reader with something exciting to enjoy without being too predictable. I love how Reichs mixes humour with her tense moments to ensure the reader is able to feel a decent balance. I can only hope there is more to come with this series and I plan on being front and centre.

Kudos, Madam Reichs, for not disappointing in this latest instalment.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

Be sure to check for my review, first posted on Mystery and Suspense, as well as a number of other insightful comments by other reviewers.
https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/th...

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Tempe (Dr. Temperance Brennan) is on a case when she is asked by a police superintendent, Detective Musgrove from the Turks and Caicos to come see her. As it turns out she has a case she would like her to consult on in her country, which Tempe agrees to do. No sooner is she there, than this same woman cop is killed. And while there, Tempe is being attacked and uncertain what this all means to the case, and wondering if any of this relates to her own unfinished case back home.

Now normally I would stop here with this review and say that there are many red herrings. It is a twisty, immersive thriller.

But…

I am not sure I can do that this time.

I am deeply conflicted.

The plot just felt so convoluted. While the investigations of the cases were interesting, and there is always danger that Tempe is placed in, it ALWAYS seems to come uncomfortably close to her. And, in this case, it just seemed to be unwarranted. Too much. Not necessary to the overall plot.

As with others books in the series, this can be read as a stand-alone. But you will get much more out of the books, if you start from the beginning to get a better view of who Dr. Temperance Brennan is.

Author Kathy Reichs, much like her fictional character, is a forensic anthropologist for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaries et de Medecine Legale for the province of Quebec. She brings her expertise and insights to each of her stories.

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bone Hacker is the 22nd book in the Temperance Brennan series. Temperance (Tempe) is a forensic anthropologist now living in Montreal, Canada with her boyfriend Andrew Ryan, a retired homicide detective who is now a PI. Pierre LaManche is Tempe's boss and director of the Medico-legal section of LSJML (like our CSI). Four babies were found in a farmhouse basement in boxes. LaManche told Tempe that a man was struck by lightening during the storm who went over the bridge and a body had been found. He wanted Tempe to go and check out the body. She went to the scene and confirmed the body is human the coroner was notified. the body had been mangled by a boat's motor. While still there 3 more human bodies were found.

Ryan tells Tempe that he is coming out of retirement. He is going back to work for a division called crimes against persons, assaults and murder. He will be working with two others.

Tempe found out she was assigned to work with Detective Luc Claudel. She had worked with him before but did not like him. When going over the body they found a tatoo of a octopus/spider circling the number 5. The tatoo indicated the Turks and Calicos Islands. She was told to contact the police she speaks to a Detective Musgrove the detective tells her that she is coming to Canada.

LaManche calls Tempe and tells her that another body is found by the ferry not far from where the other body was found. This body was the remaining parts of the first body. He had been shot in the chest. Claudel calls her and tells her that the body is Deniz Been, 19 years old who is from Turks and Calicos Islands.

Musgrove was waiting for Tempe when she comes to work the next day. She tells Tempe that she recognized who the body was from the picture sent. She admitted that Deniz was not the reason she came to see Tempe. She told her that she had been working on the death of an American Robert Galloway from 7 years ago who disappeared. His body had been found miles from where he was staying and his left hand had been chopped off and has never been found. Ryder Palke disappeared 4 years also with his left hand missing. Quentin Bonner was also found close to Palke with his left hand missing. They were shot in the chest. Musgrove wants Tempe to come to the islands to help her solve the problem. She accepts and goes to the island with her.

Upon arriving Musgrove is met by two policeman who tell her that a boat with 5 bodies was found floating in the water. Musgrove tells Tempe that she has to go and see the bodies. This is where the story takes off and the reader is taken on an adventure that has too much happening that it is impossible to put all down on paper. I will let the reader enjoy following the trail to find out everything. The story climaxes into a surprising ending.

The story kept me in suspense to the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC.

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book #22 in the Temperance Brennan Series (can be read as a standalone).  I have been devouring these books since 1997!!  I’ve secretly always wanted to be Tempe Brennan ever since watching the TV show Bones.  I’ve always been fascinated by the use of forensic anthropology in solving murder cases.  This series satisfies my Tempe wannabe dream and allows me to solve the case alongside her.  

~Kathy Reichs does an amazing job of creating unique and interesting cases for Tempe Brennan to solve.

~Brennan is asked to fly to the Turks and Caicos to help the police solve the mysterious death of a man who was thought to have been struck by lightning. However, as she investigates, she uncovers a much larger case with more bodies and more questions.

~The police force on the island doesn't have the same skills as Brennan, so she explains her techniques in great detail. This can be quite gruesome for those who are sensitive, but I find the details of forensic science fascinating.

~The plot is well-developed, the characters are believable, and there are plenty of clues to keep you guessing. I didn't see the twists and turns coming!

~If you enjoy crime thrillers, forensic science, or fast-paced reads with twists and turns, I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series.

~Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist, which adds to the realism of her writing. She has worked on cases like the World Trade Center attacks and the Casey Anthony trial.

🎧Linda Emond does a phenomenal job of narrating this audiobook. She brings Tempe Brennan to life with her voice inflections and pacing. I was able to visualize the beautiful setting of the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as the gruesome details of the murders.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced readers copy of The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs.

I’ve been a fan of Reichs since her Déjà Dead, the 1st book in her Temperance Brennan series. This book was not for me. It took nearly 25% of it to get into the story. For me, the converging cases didn’t work. It was too long, too wordy and a bit inconceivable.

Pros: Tempe, a strong, smart and determined MC. Montreal and Turks & Caicos

Cons: the plots being forced to merge. Missing all our favorite characters normally included in the series.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5★s
The Bone Hacker is the twenty-second book in the Temperance Brennan series by American forensic anthropologist and author, Kathy Reichs. Dr Temperence Brennan is now living in a very fancy Centreville condo with her partner, ex SQ cop Andrew Ryan. As a forensic anthropologist, she is well used to dealing with smelly corpses, but the latest, possibly the victim of a lightning strike during a hurricane, has been in the river for a few days before getting caught in boat propellors.

She only has a few bits to work with, but there’s no evidence of a lightning strike; in fact, when they recover more parts, a certain hole in the chest points to cause of death; fingerprints are a challenge; but there is an unusual tattoo which points her in the direction of teenaged gangs on the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos. A phone call to their police department brings a visit, unnecessary in Tempe’s eyes, from Detective Superintendent Tiersa Musgrove of the RTCIPF.

But Ti Musgrove has an agenda: beyond Tempe’s stinky corpse. And she’s convincing enough that, while Ryan stays behind to help out his old SQ colleagues with Montreal outlaw crime gangs, Tempe flies to Turks and Caicos. It’s far from her longed-for vacation, though: a recently-discovered luxury fishing boat with five dead bodies aboard takes precedence over digging up the remains of two years-missing tourists.

Before these intriguing matters are satisfactorily resolved, there’s a missing FBI agent, a murdered cop, a freelance pathologist, a kosher butcher, a late-night prowler, and a consultant engineer in the mix. Tempe is accommodated in a luxury condo and enjoys some delicious local food, but her time on the beach doesn’t much feature towels or swimsuits.

As always, Reichs gives the reader a wealth of interesting information of the skeletal and post-mortem variety. While she persists with her cliff-hanger statements at the end of many chapters, at least she doesn’t have her heroine intentionally venturing into potentially dangerous situations all alone in this installment. Another interesting, informative and engrossing read.

[Carole (Carole's Random Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review can also be found at https://carolesrandomlife.com/

I enjoyed this book. I have been a fan of this series for many years. I haven’t read all of the installments just yet but I have picked up most of them. This book takes Temperance out of town to the Turks and Caicos islands. It seems that there is a killer target young attractive men, cutting off one of their hands before disposing of the bodies. Once Tempe gets to the islands, she is drawn into another case that is equally perplexing. I found this novel to be quite the page-turner.

Tempe spent the bulk of this installment working the case of the local detectives. She does spend some time doing forensic anthropology, of course, but I felt like the bulk of the story was set away from the lab. The mysteries kept me guessing and I loved getting to know the characters on the islands. I found the pacing of the book to be well done, although I did feel that the ending seemed a bit rushed. All in all, this was an entertaining mystery.

I would recommend this book to others. This is the twenty-second novel in the long-running Temperance Brennan series but it would work well as a stand-alone since the mystery is completely contained in this book. I cannot wait to read more of this well-written series!

I received a review copy of this book from Scribner.

[Sarah-Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off: if you're going to read this book and haven't yet looked at the promo material—don't. (I'm also realizing that I had similar regrets when reading Reichs' The Bone Code. Surely readers can be drawn to these books without being put in a place where too much of the mystery becomes clear before one opens the covers.)

That said, I enjoyed this title as I've enjoyed all of Kathy Reichs' Temperance Brennan novels, but I am disappointed because the plotting while complex, also felt somewhat preordained. I'm not usually good at guessing whodunnit before the denouement, but I had this one figured out by time I'd reached the 2/3 point. I very much enjoyed reading The Bone Hacker, but while the mix of mysteries within this mystery is complex, it's somehow not as perplexing as it might be.

If you've been following Temperance Brennan from the start, you'll get real enjoyment out of this title. If the series is new for you, you may want to read some of the earlier volumes first in order to understand the relationships among the characters.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting police procedural! I need to remember these aren't really my favorite...

For the Tempe Brennan lovers, sorry! I do enjoy the French occasionally dispersed throughout the story - not sure it needs to be translated every single time, though.

Overall this was a steady, tame, easy to read mystery. No adrenaline rush, but a satisfying conclusion.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. I finished this book and couldn’t give you a summary of what happened.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

For this, the twenty second in the Temperance Brennan series, Reichs changes location for most of the book. Tempe is a forensic pathologist who works both in Quebec and North Carolina. When a citizen of the Turks and Caicos is shot in Quebec, a detective from that country enlists Tempe’s help in solving a case in that tropical land. Tempe is on her own, as boyfriend Ryan is involved in his own case in Canada.

The island mystery involves the disappearance of some young male tourists over the years; the bodies of two of them have recently been discovered. When Tempe arrives in Provo T&C, she is immediately caught up in yet another case. A boat is found with 5 dead people aboard, far off course and out of gas. Could they possible be related? Tne investigation puts both Tempe and island detectives in danger.

Although this would work as a standalone, I have read all of the books in this series. I enjoy Reichs’ writing. She has a clever way with words and a good sense of humor comes through in Tempe’s biting wit. While the narrative does get a bit technical at times, I always learn something new from Tempe’s cases. Reichs is a master at building up suspense at the end of each chapter with a tease that makes the reader want jump into the next one.

This is a nice addition to the series and I liked the change of venue.

Thanks to #netgalley and #scribner for the ARC

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d like to start by begging the author to stop describing her brown/Black characters using food references. I mean…that’s so last century and, while I think we’re wonderful, I don’t think we’re necessarily…delicious? It really gets to be too much.

As I review this book, with my caramel skin and decadent double chocolate brownie eyes (lol), I can say that despite the veritable grocery list of character descriptions, the book itself was a good one.

The mystery of it really intrigued me. I was so confused by the how and why of everything. While the *who* of everything wasn’t very surprising, I still enjoyed that aspect of it. It was quite timely.

I do think I missed a bit of Tempe’s relationships. They were definitely not much in attendance here and I’ve found them to be one of the more fun aspects of the series.

Still a good book and I did enjoy it…every caramel inch of me!

• ARV via Publisher

[Leslie McKee · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I haven't read all the books in the series, I've read many of them. They can be read as standalones. Sadly, this wasn't my favorite. In general, I've found that I prefer the TV character Bones to the book character Bones. The book version comes across as a bit lackluster, even though I try to envision the TV actress while reading. Many parts were predictable, so the twists weren't much of a surprise. It seems like the author was trying to bring together two different storylines, and it just didn't work, as it just felt jumbled and confusing. Parts, including the ending, felt a bit rushed.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one. Complex, well-paced, well-written, it is book 22 in Temperance Brennan series and it still had the ability to surprise me and keep me engaged throughout.
The continuous character development, exciting and surprising cases, Kathy Reichs manages to keep Brennan series fresh and as addictive as ever.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the latest Temperance Brennan novel is sort of like catching up with an old friend - which, in many respects, she is; I've lost count of how many I've read over the years, but it's close to all 21 of the others (and that doesn't count watching all the "Bones" TV shows). This one, I admit, didn't grab me as much - mostly, I think, because Tempe's main squeeze, former cop Andrew Ryan, doesn't appear as often as I'd have liked.

While doing her forensic anthropologist thing on some infant bones, Tempe gets called to the islands of Turks and Caicos to bring some illumination to a dead man believed to have been struck by lightning while standing on a bridge. Tempe is eager to get back home to Ryan and her cat, but other victims keep turning up under strange circumstances - like on a high-tech boat that inexplicably lost its way - that require her particular expertise so she grudgingly hangs around.

Clues turn up, including a potential weapon that may be connected to a local Jewish community, but when disaster strikes a couple of folks with ties to law enforcement, the investigations take on a whole new dimension. All in all, it's an intriguing, though complex, plot that kept me entertained throughout. Once again, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to learn what my old friend's been up to by way of a pre-release copy.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bone Hacker is book 22 in the Temperance Brennan series. Tempe is a forensic anthropologist who splits her time between Montreal and North Carolina. This book starts with Tempe looking into a few different cases in Montreal, but then being asked to consult on a case involving a possible serial killer on the islands of Turks and Caicos. While Tempe is involved in this difficult case on the islands, her significant other, Andrew Ryan, stays in Quebec consulting on a gang-related case.

I enjoy the book series so much more than the television series, Bones, that was based on these books. Both versions of Tempe are independant, intelligent women, but Tempe is a much more interesting and likable character in the books. In this installment, it's interesting seeing her take her skills to a new location, but I didn't like that Tempe and Andrew were apart for much of the book.

There is a lot going on in this story, but it is a fast read in part because of the mini-cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Most of the different subplots come together by the end, but some remain unconnected making the story more complicated than it needs to be. I liked both the Canadian and the Turks and Caicos settings in this book. The main plot is interesting and Although this isn't my favorite of the series, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by Reichs. Fans of the book series will enjoy catching up with Tempe and if you're only familiar with the tv series, you will like getting to know the "original" Dr. Temperance Brennan.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Scribner Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

[bookswithpaulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read from Kathy Reichs, I know we are up to #22 in the series, but I liked the plot of this one – Set in Turks and Caicos how could I refuse.

The dry sense of humor and wit from Tempe had me in tears, it kept the book a little light hearted I mean working in a morgue all day with bones you gotta have an outlet.

Great story line, bodies are piling up loved the setting first in Canada then Tempe makes her way down to Turks and Caicos. The character development is on point and Im keen to read more in this series.

Thanks to the team at Simon and Schuster Australia for my copy of this book.

[Mai H.]

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner

[LindaPf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Bone Hacker” is the 22nd installment of the forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan series and the excellent quality and storytelling has remained steady since 1999. As long time readers know, Tempe divides her time between Montreal and Charlotte, but instead of Canadian snow or Old South charm, we get to see Dr. Brennan in a tropical setting in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

A bizarre case in Montreal has connections in TCI and the savvy police superintendent there, Tiersa Musgrove, sees an opportunity to coax the forensic anthropologist to the islands. There’s been a number of handsome vacationing missing young men (bad for tourism) and two sets of bones still are in situ waiting for an off-island expert. Tempe volunteers and a boat of dead men is also discovered ashore. Suddenly, Tempe has been caught up in serial killer territory and possibly bureaucratic coverups (gotta keep the tourists ignorant of bad things).
Kathy Reichs is as witty and clever as ever, producing an original and thrilling story with her star main character, who is strong, intelligent, decisive and worthy of this continuing series. 5 stars!

Oh! And thank you for telling me what a potcake is!

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES One of the victims, Robert Galloway, has green eyes. (In previous books, it’s established that Tempe’s daughter has green eyes). Also, Lisa, Tempe’s Montreal assistant has aquamarine eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO For once our forensic anthropologist is not in Quebec or the mid-Atlantic and she gets a tropical setting of bougainvillea, oleander and lantana.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS I'm rather new to the Tempe Brennan series and have only read the first and the twenty-first books - Deja Dead and Cold, Cold Bones. Yeah, I skipped a whole lot but thankfully this is a series you can jump in and out of.

What I love about this series: Tempe as the smart and sassy main character, the humour that is woven into the dialogue, the beautiful Montreal setting and the secondary cast. There's a change in venue this time as our favourite forensic anthropologist finds herself in the Turks and Caicos Islands at the request of local law enforcement who need her help to solve a few suspicious deaths.

As usual, I enjoyed learning about the science behind investigations, but in this book, Tempe is on her own and I've determined that Tempe is a more interesting protagonist when she has her secondary characters (boyfriend Ryan, daughter Katy, and American Detective Skinny Slidell) around her. But Reichs maintains good tension with awesome mini plot twists at the end of chapters and I always love seeing (even just for a bit in this book) bits of Quebecois culture and locations in Montreal (one of my favourite cities). But after twenty-one books, I appreciate that Reichs was trying to shake things up with a new tropical locale.

This was a good addition to the series, but it wasn't my favourite book. The story soon became overly complicated and convoluted as more and more victims and minor plots were added. There's just too much going on and not enough of what I've come to love about the series - the secondary characters. That said, I look forward to reading more books - new and backlist - of this series and may eventually watch the popular TV show (Bones) that was based off this series.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the advanced copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

[Rainbow Goth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my first delve into this particular series, and although I realized I was diving in out of the intended order, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it functioned well as a stand-alone novel.

One of the aspects I truly appreciated was the character development. The author crafted complex characters that felt authentic and relatable, making their journeys engaging to follow. Additionally, the occasional inclusion of French phrases added a charming layer to the narrative, enriching the setting and providing a nice cultural touch. I also found myself drawn to the protagonist's inner monologue; it was introspective and relatable, though I must admit that the repetitive phrase “I didn’t say it” became a bit grating at times.

However, my primary critique of the story revolves around its resolution. It felt overly convenient to have such separate investigations and an unrelated death in Canada, all of which Brennan has a connection with, all seamlessly intertwined. The neatness of the connections stretched believability for me, making the story feel contrived rather than organically unfolding.

Overall, I found the writing style engaging and skilful, and I'm still interested in exploring more books in this series. Despite my slight disappointment with certain plot elements, I look forward to seeing how the author develops future stories and characters.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve read all the other Tempe Brennan books and this one was the most poorly written one. It felt rushed. Characters were one dimensional. And it seems like most of the black characters were just racist stereotypes. Rather than provide deep characterization, she provides superficial descriptions based around various skin colors and other physical features. She has some of them always grinning and the way she describes them reminds me of the “yes massah” trope. Tempe spends a good deal of the book with Monck and yet we know nearly nothing about him. Then she explains that away at the end by saying what she needed was a cop not a friend, as if she recognized how shallow her characterization of Monck was. In spots the writing is flippant. I was very put off reading any future books by how poorly this one was written.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following a terrible storm in Montreal, Tempe Brennan is called to examine a dead body floating in the river, mutilated by boat propellers. While the cause of death is a bullet hole in his chest, with no finger left, the only clue to the victim's identity is a tattoo, used by teenage gangs in the Caribbean island of Turks and Caicos. T&C's Detective Superintendent Tiersa Musgrove begs her to come help with a series of seemingly unrelated murders: a missing FBI agent, a murdered cop, a freelance pathologist, a kosher butcher, a late-night prowler, and a consultant engineer in the mix, all attractive men. Then, five dead bodies aboard a luxury fishing boat are discovered, with a tenuous connection to the string of murders. As usual, Tempe becomes a target as she gets close to solving the crimes. Nice setting -- Turks & Caicos Grace Bay is ranked as a top beach in the world.

[Desiree Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only made it to Page 20 before bailing.
Way too many descriptions of things that aren’t important to the plot.
Overuse of French word and phrase inserts and their meanings.
Chapter 1 seems irrelevant to the plot.
Starts out in Montreal, not Turks and Caicos.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sojourn in the Turks and Calico Islands where a serial killer with an interesting penchant for taking an unusual souvenir. This story has Tempe asked by a detective to come to the islands to examine the discovery of two recently discovered skeletons that appear to be two missing men.

On arrival she helps with the examination of five bodies on an adrift expensive launch. Another murder occurs and Detective Monck with one arm appears and him and Tempe team up. Jewish traditions, spyware, lovely scenery and a few red herring before the obvious murderer is revealed. This story is in my view edited well with its 333 pages.

SPOILERS AHEAD

The motive of a past handsome brother losing a hand in Israel making a bomb is bizarre. His brother Benjamin the incel murderer assisted by a rogue FBI agent. Ben is a computer genius that can hack airplane or boat systems and take over control is plausible but farfetched. I think A1 incorporated into the story would be more plausible. Tempe doesn’t have a lot of Ryan interactions and no Skinny with no action in Charlotte.

Overall an entertaining read.

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs
Publish Date August 1, 2023
3.5⭐'s rounded up

I am a big fan of Kathy Reich's Temperance Brennan books. So when I saw book #22 on NetGalley of course I requested it, and was very excited to be approved to read an advanced copy.

Anthropologist Temperance Brennan is called upon to examine a body that was struck by lightening on the islands of Turks of Caicos, When Tempe notices an unusual tattoo she becomes entangled in a bigger case linking a number of missing persons on the island over the past seven years. While piecing the mystery together, the stakes are raised when someone she knows is killed and Tempe becomes the next target.

While I enjoy trying to solve the puzzles right along with Tempe, I felt this one was pretty obvious. I didn't necessarily guess the why or how, but the who wasn't really surprising. Even so, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading another.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Wouter van Noort · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woop. This is the best one in years! I truly adore this series, it's so exciting! And see? You don't always have to be in a life-threatening situation Tempe ;). When's book #23 coming out?

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this 22nd book in Kathy Reichs "Temperance Brennan" series!