(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

When forensic anthropologist Dr Tempe Brennan is approached by amateur detective Hazel ‘Lucky’ Strike, at first she is inclined to dismiss the woman’s claims that she’s matched a previously unidentified set of remains with a name.
But as the words of a terrified young woman echo round her office from an audio recorder found near where the bones were discovered, something about the story won’t let Tempe go.
As Tempe investigates further she finds herself involved in a case more complicated and horrifying than she could ever have imagined.

*3.5 stars*

By way of giving a little background, I used to read Patricia Cornwell a lot...and then I discovered the Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. And I loved them. Those early books were really, really good. And then she signed up for the TV series, Bones. And since then, the books don't seem to reach the same heights as those earlier books.

Not to say that this is a bad book. The usual attention to detail in the forensics is always worth the price of admission; the crimes are usually unique and have a "Bones" stamp on them; the pacing is very good and keeps the pages turning.

However, the two things that have made me veer away from these stories in recent times are still evident:

1) When the police/FBI/DEA etc don't move fast enough, Tempe decides to go and do it all herself - confronting the suspects and gets into all kinds of hot water and has to wait for the aforementioned groups to come and save her. Happens every time...

2) Enough already of the will they/won't they between Tempe and Ryan. Apparently, in the previous book, Ryan asked her to marry him. In this book, she is still dragging her heels and making excuses. It isn't interesting anymore. It wasn't that interesting 10 books ago...

If you do enjoy a good forensic thriller, then I think you will probably enjoy this. But the repetitive nature of those 2 plot points will probably be frustrating to her regular readers.


Paul
ARH