#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs “roars back with a Temperance Brennan mystery unlike any that have come before” (Booklist, starred review) in which the forensic anthropologist must use all her skills to discover the identity of a faceless corpse and its connection to a decade-old missing child case. It’s sweltering in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Temperance Brennan, still … and Temperance Brennan, still recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm, is battling nightmares, migraines, and what she thinks might be hallucinations when she receives a series of mysterious text messages, each containing a new picture of a corpse that is missing its face and hands. Immediately, she’s anxious to know who the dead man is, and why the images were sent to her.
An identified corpse soon turns up, only partly answering her questions.
To win answers to the others, including the man’s identity, she must go rogue, working mostly outside the system. That’s because Tempe’s new boss holds a fierce grudge against her and is determined to keep her out of the case. Tempe pushes forward anyway, even as she begins questioning her instincts. But the clues she discovers are disturbing and confusing. Was the faceless man a spy? A trafficker? A target for assassination by the government? And why was he carrying the name of a child missing for almost a decade?
With help from a number of law enforcement associates including her Montreal beau Andrew Ryan and the always-ready-with-a-quip, ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell, and utilizing new cutting-edge forensic methods, Tempe draws closer to the astonishing truth.
But the more she uncovers, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes…
“Edgy…eerie…irresistible” (Sandra Brown), A Conspiracy of Bones “was created by a master of the genre who knocks it out of the park” (David Baldacci).
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hard to get started. enjoyed the tv version much more
Disappointing. Not up to the usual standards of the author. First book of the series I wouldn’t recommend.
To much angst! Very disappointing.
Haven’t finished it yet, but really enjoying it. Plausible & a bit scary, but thought provoking.
I always read negative reviews first. So, when I read that some gave one stars because they didn’t like how politics had infected the story line. So, of course, that meant this book was a must read and I wasn’t disappointed. I felt this was the best Reich book that I’ve read so far.
Great book!
This book noted me.Temberen
I like the way it continues to build Brennan’s character.
The author’s endless use of clever metaphors and similes in conversations is awesome. She’s also a great story teller.
I missed being able to read a Temperance Brennan book last year and was glad to finally get my hands on this book. I have read all of the books in this series and love how Tempe and Slidell work together. This one was a little different from previous books as Tempe is temporarily exiled from the forensic lab in Charlotte and is also having a health issue. There was some repetition in the story as Tempe kept going over the information to herself, Slidell, Ryan and others. She also put herself in many risky situations in this book. I did enjoy this book but not as much as previous books in the series.
I have read all the series that are available in paper. However, I don’t remember how Larabee was murdered and he deserved at least a 2 paragraph recap. I do remember Ryan proposing to Temperance and thought she should have said yes.
The author was diagnosed with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm, and so was Temperance, with the migraines and possible hallucinations that she is now an expert at. So aside from Temperance’s medical issues, her mother has cancer and a fiancee, her daughter is in Afghanistan, Ryan retired and he and his former partner are now partners in a PI business in Canada. Her boss has been replaced by a woman who sees Temperance as a rival and has frozen her out of the lab. But then someone sends to her cell, pics of a faceless and handless corpse that had been dinner for some feral hogs. Not trusting the new boss, she goes rogue with some help of some allies and retired Slidell. The John Doe had her cell phone number and might have a connection to and old-missing child case, that still haunt bonth Brennan and Slidell. Lots of red herrings, twists and turns and descriptions of new equipment in the lab arsonal. However, I found parts boring and annoyed that Temperance again acts like the lone ranger, when she does not have the skill set. And perhaps because of her medical condition, the author seems to have developed TDS, and very unscientifically labeling those who don’t trust cherry picked studies like “man made climate change” as ants. I also would liked to have seen more of Ryan. I don’t know that I will bother reading any future books in the series.
Not her best effort, too much attention to her own medical issues (although understandable.
This was a slow-paced read for me and at times, I will freely admit, that I was bored. There are so many unnecessary details and extra plot lines that it was like trying to find my way through a maze of characters and stories. I have always liked Temperence Brennan books, but this was definitely not my favorite. The basic plot is about children missing, a pod cast host who is slimy and real estate of former missle silos. Lots happening with Ryan making a cameo appearance to cheer Tempe on. Fans of the series may enjoy this one, but I’m just hoping the next one is better.
Disclaimer
I purchased a copy of this book from Barnes & Noble for my Nook. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
An engrossing tale. Characters could have been more thoroughly developed, but the plot was well-crafted and the action swift.
Love the author
Complicated, but intriguing. Not her best because protagonist is pretty depressed and unsure of herself. Still great characters and hard to put down
Expertly plotted, unputdownable!
Tempe Brennan is back, dealing with health issues, career setbacks, and the nagging — and driving — fear of inadequacy that is the flipside of her talent. Reichs’s fast-paced, tightly-constructed, and very contemporary story dives underground here, both literally and virtually, as she follows the thinnest of threads deeper and deeper into a shocking conspiracy. You will find it hard to put down.
Felt amazing immersing myself back into the life of Temperance Brennan. Kathy Reichs used to be or should I say still is one of my fav authors ever! I have missed a few books in the series but I didn’t feel lost at all. I forgot how much I missed the mystery and crime solving, these books give us readers.
This was an entertaining, well-written book. Temperance Brennan is a great character and this book has so many details and elements woven together. It was fascinating, irresistible and hard to put down. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next book by this author.