Title: Bones to Ashes
Author: Kathy Reichs
First published August 28, 2007
310 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780743294379 (ISBN10: 0743294378)
Rating: 3.95
Overview
Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, has always been haunted by the memory of a missing girl from her childhood. When a skeleton is discovered in Acadia, Canada, she can’t help but wonder if it could be her long-lost friend Évangéline Landry.
Tempe vividly remembers the carefree girl who disappeared without a trace when they were just twelve years old. As she examines the bones, she discovers inexplicable lesions that only deepen the mystery surrounding the girl’s demise.
Meanwhile, Tempe’s lover, detective Andrew Ryan, desperately needs her help to solve a spate of teenage abductions and murders. With her personal life in turmoil and her past coming back to haunt her, Tempe must race against time to solve these cases before it’s too late.
About the Author
Meet Kathy Reichs: a highly accomplished forensic anthropologist who works for both the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in North Carolina and the Laboratoire des Sciences Judiciaires et de Médecine Légale in Quebec. She is one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
In addition to her impressive career, Dr. Reichs is also a professor of anthropology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Originally from Chicago, she earned her Ph.D. at Northwestern University.
Nowadays, she splits her time between Charlotte and Montreal, and is often called upon to be an expert witness in criminal trials.
Dr. Reichs is also an accomplished author, having won the Best First Novel award in 1998 for her book, Deja Dead.
Editoral Review
“Bones to Ashes” by Kathy Reichs is a gripping and suspenseful mystery novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Reichs is a renowned forensic anthropologist and author who is best known for her series of novels featuring the character of Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who works for both the Montreal and North Carolina medical examiner’s offices.
The novel was first published on August 28, 2007, and has since become a bestseller.
The novel is set in Montreal and follows the story of Temperance Brennan as she investigates the case of a young girl who went missing over fifteen years ago. The girl’s bones were recently discovered in a remote area, and Temperance is called upon to identify them and solve the mystery of her disappearance.
As she delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of deceit and corruption that threatens to destroy her career and her life.
Reichs’ writing style is concise and to the point, with a focus on the science of forensic anthropology that she knows so well. Her attention to detail is impressive, and she is able to convey complex scientific concepts in a way that is easy for the reader to understand.
The novel is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, with a satisfying conclusion that will leave readers wanting more.
One of the strengths of the novel is its well-developed characters, particularly Temperance Brennan. Reichs does an excellent job of portraying Brennan as a determined and intelligent woman who is not afraid to take risks in order to solve a case.
She is a flawed character, with a troubled past and a complicated personal life, but this only serves to make her more relatable and interesting.
The pacing of the novel is also well-done, with the tension building steadily throughout the story. The plot is complex and multi-layered, with several subplots and twists that keep the reader guessing until the very end.
The setting of Montreal is also well-described, with Reichs providing vivid descriptions of the city and its people.
However, one weakness of the novel is that some of the scientific concepts may be difficult for readers to understand, particularly if they are not familiar with the field of forensic anthropology. Additionally, some of the subplots may be confusing or unnecessary, detracting from the main storyline.
Overall, “Bones to Ashes” is a well-written and engaging mystery novel that is sure to delight fans of the genre. Reichs’ attention to detail and well-developed characters make for a compelling read, and the fast-paced plot will keep readers hooked until the very end.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery novel or is interested in forensic anthropology. I would give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
