Bones Never Lie (with bonus novella Swamp Bones): A Novel (Temperance Brennan Book 17)

Excellent book great continuation of the Bones saga.look forward to many more installments to keep us all entertained. Thank you.

It's been a few years since I read MONDAY MOURNING, and BONES NEVER LIE is a sequel. I remembered bits and pieces of the first book, and was fine with the way this one flowed: enough "reminders" to not interfere with the story line yet refresh my memory.In most of her Temperance Brennan books, the author has taken it upon herself to educate the reader on an obscure branch of medicine or science. This time, it was CAIS, a genetic abnormality, but she didn't go overboard with the explanation like she has in prior novels.I was glad to see Ryan back in the story.

In anticipation of this book coming out, I re-read "Monday Mourning," where we first encounter the infamous Anique Pomerleau. I was struck by how well the story gelled, how the characters act like real people, how the motivations are spot on, and the formula she uses for narrative - dialogue - investigation - action are pitch perfect. Even her "damsal in distress" ending made particular sense to the story. (When Tempe has been the damsal, it has been tiring, but the last few books have giving Tempe some gumption and skills to face off any who might go after her. I much prefer that, as well as the times she helps others in danger.) Since that book, the formula has been more uneven, the characters sometimes less interesting, their actions less logical, etc. But she has her mojo back, IMHO, and it shows in her last book and especially in this one. I also like how the ending of "Monday Mourning" had an impact on the action of this story. If I have any criticism it is that we did not hear about the status of many in Tempe's extended friends and family and pets. (Although we did finally meet the famous Daisy.) If there is one thing I especially admire in Kathy Reichs, it is how she describes the little details of a life, including those who impact that life in a way to make the character seem more real and more human. Some of those details were missing here, but one could chalk it up to Tempe's immersion in this particular case. Let's hope she brings us up to date next time on characters we missed this time. And speaking of next time, based on the ending here, I will be anticipating #18 more than usual, as it appears a favorite regular is on deck to be important to the next story. But you won't get any more than that out of me, no spoilers here.

I enjoy Kathy Reichs. Her books were on the verge of becoming repetitive - to the point that if you had read every book of hers, you knew what was coming next and it was starting to become boring. However, she gets back in the game with this book and it surpasses many of her others in the series.Kathy is a good writer but the biggest lure of her novels are the crime and the suspense/thrill of figuring out who did it. Now, I figured it out before the characters and I kept reading like 'Duh, it was right there in front of you!' However, sometimes, that might be real life - you are so focused on who you want to believe did the crime, that you don't pick up on the other clues. As the reader, we tend to be more open to those clues.Like most fiction, things do turn out positive for the main character. Sometimes portrayed a bit unrealistically like how this main character gets her partner back in the game - probably wouldn't happen that way in real life. But sometimes you gotta do that to make the actual story happen.Overall, great crime novel and one that I would be happy to read again. Added bonus for me was the inclusion of 'Swamp Bones' for another short story to read - kind of made the bittersweet ending of any book less bitter!

Temperance Brennan is joined by her fellow lawmen in following up on a cold case that has become hot once more. Three young women in Canada had been killed by a murderer that got away. The last time almost cost Tempe her life.This time, Tempe, Ryan, Slidell, Larabee and more join together when it becomes, fearfully, obvious that the killer has moved to North Carolina where Tempe also lives and works. Is it because of Tempe that this killing spree has come?This book is older and I have obviously been behind in following it. Yet, the characters returned fully formed in my mind and I was able to enjoy it as though it was in current days. I still don't care for Slidell, and I hoped for Tempe and Ryan to truly find each other.The murder was complex and the ending was well developed. It surprised me. A joy to a mystery reader. Then, as a bonus gift, there was a novella called 'Swamps' at the ending.The Swamps story was about an aborted vacation of Tempe's in Florida. It gave facts and details of the famous Florida Everglades National Park that was chilling and fascinating. All tied up with the...nope, I won't disclose. Read these tales and be amazed.

Well written as always great plot could not put it down then sorry it was finished can't wait for next book

I really like Kathy Reichs's books and I did enjoy this one but I found it very predictable. I had no problem guessing the twists involving firstly Pomerleau, then Tawny and of course the final kidnap. This was a bit of a disappointment to me. I still enjoyed the book but marked it down as I managed to predict (early on) all three of these plot twists which detracted from my enjoyment. Possibly not one of her best?

Haven't read a book of hers for almost 14 years! I know, I've missed out. Love the way she builds her storyline till the very last chapter when all is revealed, nail-biting stuff. Hurrah, at last Temp and Ryan are on the right track! Can't wait to read the next novel

... - reading Death - and the poor poor souls he/she claimed. And here Tempe has a lot to work on, believe me!An "old" serial killer has finally resurfaced. Yes, an old acquaintance our good Doctor Tempe Brennan, famous antropo-pathologist dividing her time between Charlotte/South Carolina and Quebec/Canada, has chased before. Who tried to kill her years ago - for more see Monday Mourning: A Tempe Brennan Novel (deutsch: Totenmontag ) - the 7th book of the series. Now an horrendous Catch-Me-if-You-Can game is going on right in Tempe's backyard - and she is more than motivated to stop this killer this time for good - with all her might. Because it is the most aberrant of all the crimes - preying on female young girls not even old enough to be called "teenagers" aka adolescents. Posed in a most peaceful way, it seems that the killer is joking with those who want to stop this ongoing crime spree - programmed by an highly ill-motivated mind.Tempe has to contact Ryan - her former lover - because he was deeply involved in the Monday-Mourning-case. Ryan -who himself is deeply mourning over his daughter killed by drugs and has a refuge he does not want to leave. Not even for Tempe who is flying a lot of miles to take him out of his hermitage. But things are rapidly changing. And Ryan rethinks his position - for 24 hours!In the meanwhile we learn that Tempe has other private problems. Her mother who has become a real virtual expert, is badly afflicted of a health problem - so to say. The Big C is asking for chemo, but the very beautiful elderly woman doesn't even want to hear what maybe the most helpful advices her doctors and daughters are giving to her ...Finally, with all those finely created facts and a lot lot more, the author Kathy Reichs has been able to create an atmosphere of tension - also because one little girl is still missing right at the beginning. And missing are a lot of facts, too. About the most recent past of the obviously returned killer. And the steps which and where the culprit has taken and why coming to Tempe's doorsteps - before all?All those questions - and a lot more - will be answered in the most thrilling way. Twists and turns are included. Logically Tempe has a bunch of able and well-known investigators to help her. But the showdown will be between her and the killer - and some new and very very refreshing "element" - from which I really want to read more in the future books ...Welcome back - Tempe Brennan!

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is urgently summoned to a meeting in the Homicide Cold Case Unit in Charlotte, North Carolina. The purpose was the uncovering of similarities between two unsolved child murders in Vermont, 2007, and Charlotte in 2009. The features and a DNA match linked them to Anique Pomerlau. She was responsible for the kidnapping, torture and murders of young girls in Canada with an accomplice. Tempe Brennan and Detective Andrew Ryan were the investigating team. Pomerlau managed to evade capture in 2004, at the same time putting Tempe Brennan's life at risk.Why should Pomerlau move to North Carolina and where had she been meanwhile? The recent disappearance of a local 13 year old girl leads Tempe to consider that Pomerlau had found where she lived and was taunting her, setting a challenge that she could not be found or detained despite a continuing killing spree. Tempe is tasked to find Pomerau. She is asked if she knew Andrew Ryan personally. (Her thoughts were that, 'they had shared murders, memories and once a bed'). He is needed on the investigation but has gone off the radar since his daughter, Lily, died. Tempe's delightful elderly mother may be in care but is something of a computer whizz, helping locate Ryan and later inputting vital information.Thus, the hunt begins both for the missing child and the monster, Pomerlau. Are the killings her's alone or has she a partner in crime? 'Skinny' Sidell is in the thick of the detective work with his usual opinionated, often humorous dialogue; a cop who is a legend in his own mind. The narrative is full of tension and action, weaving at pace through a web of characters and situations. As patterns of killings emerge, the urgency to solve the crimes hots up with other unexplained frightening deaths from the past emerging. The side-tracking, twists and turns enhance the tense atmosphere. Tempe demonstrates her superb, uncanny ability to rapidly assess the significance of events aided by a subdued but alert Ryan. The characters in the story and the tragic predicaments of victims' families are sympathetically and realistically drawn. As usual in Kathy Reich's books, there is a fair smattering of scientific and forensic details that are explanatory, with less emphasis on bone pathology. More is placed on the main characters' individualities and interactions, especially between Tempe and Ryan. The build up to the finale is pulsating and full of suspense with twists, shocks and surprises that I could not forsee. This is a captivating, well-written and skilfully constructed thriller with a fascinating plot. An excellent read and addition to the Temperance Brennan series.