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Showing posts with label Crime Scene Investigation/Forensics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Crime Scene Investigation/Forensics. Show all posts
Friday, July 23, 2021
MG Murder Mystery A Delightful, Entertaining Romp
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Young Ladies of Quality do not snoop. Nor do they spy on their neighbors. Or study masculine subjects like science, law, and forensics. And they certainly do not express a morbid interest in something as vulgar as murder. In fact—in the opinion of 12-year-old Myrtle Hardcastle—Young Ladies of Quality do not do anything of interest. Why would she want to be one of them? Although "Morbid Myrtle" is shunned by the other girls, she's not about to give up reading her father's law books and peering through her late mother's microscope. Everyone else might despair of her antics, but Myrtle knows she will be far happier pursuing her unique studies than sipping tea in a frilly dress in someone's stifling parlor.
When Myrtle's 79-year-old neighbor, a cross old woman who grew prize-winning flowers, is found dead in her sprawling home, no one thinks much about it. Only Myrtle thinks there's something fishy about Minerva Wodehouse's death. Then, relatives the dead woman never once mentioned start coming out of the woodwork with greed glinting in their eyes. All of them are acting shifty, which just confirms Myrtle's suspicions—Mrs. Wodehouse was murdered! Since no one takes her accusations and observations seriously, the young sleuth knows it's up to her to bring Minerva's killer to justice. Can Myrtle solve the mystery? Is there even a case to investigate, or is Myrtle letting her imagination run amok once again?
I listened to Premeditated Myrtle, the first book in Elizabeth C. Bunce's Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery series, on audio and was totally charmed by the experience! Myrtle is a delightful heroine. Not only is she whip smart, but she's also perpetually curious and dangerously impulsive, two traits that get her into scrape after scrape. Her warm relationship with her faithful governess, Ada Judson, is one of the loveliest parts of the novel. The plot is also exciting, with plenty of twists to keep the reader/listener engaged. Bethan Rose Young does an excellent job with the audiobook narration, which makes the story come alive even more. Needless to say, I very much enjoyed this funny, entertaining, classic-feeling mystery novel. I will absolutely be reading (or listening to) the sequels.
(Readalikes: Hm, I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for violence and scary scenes
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Thursday, July 01, 2021
Newest Tempe Brennan Mystery Another Enjoyable Installment In An Always Entertaining Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for The Bone Code, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Tempe Brennan mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
In the wake of a fierce hurricane in the Carolinas, the streets are littered with downed trees, broken branches, and other debris. When a shipping container washes ashore in Charleston, kayakers pry it open and are shocked to discover two corpses inside. The bodies are wrapped in plastic sheeting and secured with electrical wire. Who are they? What were they doing in the water? Forensic anthropologist Temperance "Tempe" Brennan—who recognizes certain aspects of the killings as similar to a murder she worked fifteen years ago in Quebec—is summoned to South Carolina to find out.
Consulting with Andrew Ryan, her cop boyfriend who also worked the long-ago case, Tempe is determined to identify the two young women from the container. While busy with that, she's also trying to solve a mystery involving a puzzling death mask and help a hysterical friend clean up after the storm. The appearance of a troubling human flesh-eating contagion almost doesn't register, until Tempe starts to realize there might be a connection between it and the cases she's working. The more she digs, the more she discovers, and the more dangerous her job becomes. Increasingly obvious is the fact that someone is keeping explosive secrets, secrets they would kill to keep under wraps.
You all know I'm a big Kathy Reichs fan. I've long loved the Tempe Brennan series with its appealing heroine, approachable scientific explanations, twisty mysteries, and lively prose. The newest installment, The Bone Code (available July 6, 2021), offers all of these elements and more, which makes it a compelling, enjoyable addition to the series. Although one of my favorite characters—the always colorful "Skinny" Slidell—is unfortunately missing from this story, other series favorites appear, along with some fun new story people (can Tonia V. be a series regular, pretty please?). As always, Tempe's devotion and wit shine through it all, whether she's piecing together evidence to solve a case, flirting with the always sexy Andrew Ryan, or fighting for her life against another nasty villain. Not surprisingly, I loved this newest mystery and will wait with bated breath for the next.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Tempe Brennan series, including First Bones [novella], Deja Dead, Death Du Jour, Deadly Decisions, Fatal Voyage, Grave Secrets, Bare Bones, Monday Mourning, Cross Bones, Break No Bones, Bones to Ashes, Devil Bones, 206 Bones, Spider Bones, Flash and Bones, Bones Are Forever, Bones in Her Pocket [novella], Bones of the Lost, Swamp Bones [novella], Bones Never Lie, Bones On Ice [novella], Speaking in Bones, and A Conspiracy of Bones)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a dozen or so F-bombs, plus milder expletives), violence, blood/gore, mild sexual content, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of The Bone Code from the generous folks at Simon & Schuster via those at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Saturday, February 04, 2017
Untraceable Exciting, Entertaining
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
When abused wives and other innocent people need to disappear, they contact Alexandra "Alex" Lovell. The 29-year-old P.I. uses her considerable computer skills to build her clients new lives in distant places. As long as they follow the rules Alex sets out for them, they remain safe. Melanie Coghan, the abused wife of an Austin police officer, has broken those rules and Alex fears the worst. Without a body, she can't be sure Melanie is dead, but it certainly appears to be true.
Desperate to find her missing client, Alex enlists the help of Nathan Devereaux, a sexy homicide detective. He's skeptical of Alex's claims, but intrigued nonetheless. With the aid of an elite group of scientists known as the Tracers, the pair make some startling discoveries. Can they use the clues they've found to figure out what really happened to Melanie? With Melanie's angry, possibly murderous, husband on her trail, Alex is not exactly safe herself ...
Untraceable, the first book in Laura Griffin's popular Tracers series, is a taut, exciting mystery filled with plenty of action. It's not terribly original or surprising (it only offered one twist I didn't see coming), but the main characters are empathetic and likable. There's definite chemistry between Alex and Nathan, which adds a fun subplot to the novel. While I didn't absolutely love Untraceable, I found it entertaining and enjoyable. I've already checked the next book in the series out from the library.
(Readalikes: I'm sure there are lots of similar books/series, but nothing is coming immediately to mind. Help!)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, sexual content, and violence
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Monday, January 30, 2017
YA Jack the Ripper Novel Just Okay
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Audrey Rose hides a secret desire behind her high-born Victorian facade. The 17-year-old is fascinated by science, specifically forensics, the science of crime and death. As often as she can, Audrey Rose sneaks away from the home she shares with her paranoid father and protective older brother to her uncle's laboratory. An unofficial apprentice, she watches and learns all she can from her Uncle Jonathon's study of recently-deceased bodies. Disguised as a young man, she even attends his lectures on forensics at a local boy's school.
When Jonathon starts receiving the corpses of women brutalized in similar ways, it becomes apparent that a serial killer is on the loose in London. With the help of a handsome schoolmate, Audrey Rose is determined to find the killer. To her shock, the clues lead her in the one direction she doesn't want to go ...
I find books about forensics, especially in the earliest days of the discipline, intriguing, so naturally I wanted to give Stalking Jack the Ripper, a debut novel by Kerri Maniscalco, a go. What did I think? Well, it tells a compelling story. Familiar, yes. Predictable, yes. But I still found myself engrossed. Even though I could tell where the plot was going, I wanted to know how it all wrapped up. My biggest problem with the novel was with our heroine, Audrey Rose. A wealthy Victorian young woman flitting off to a bloody lab and gory crime scenes frequently without raising many eyebrows seems extremely far-fetched. The fact that she cares nothing about her reputation or family name means she risks little by dabbling in the "dark arts," making her story less tense and urgent than it could have been. Audrey Rose also seems more interested in science than humanity, which makes her difficult to empathize with at times. Considering all this, I didn't end up enjoying Stalking Jack the Ripper nearly as much as I thought I would. It kept me reading, but in the end, it was just okay for me.
(Readalikes: Reminds me a little of A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Stalking Jack the Ripper from Changing Hands Bookstore with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Tuesday, September 06, 2016
Grim, Gritty Murder Mystery a Compelling Debut
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
"'I think there's too many of us people and we're too close together and we're turning on each other like rats in the gutter. We're in the biggest city in the world, Day, and I think it's trying to get rid of us'" (176).
The grimy streets of Victorian London teem with criminal activity, from the petty thefts of starving urchins to the enslavement of desperate women to the vicious unsolved killings of Jack the Ripper. Considering the always-rising tide of violence that plagues the city, the number of men assigned to combat it is laughable. Only twelve detectives—The Murder Squad—investigate London's most serious crimes. Severely overworked and chronically underpaid, their shameful solve rate guarantees they are met with derision everywhere they turn. Wading through the city's hellish underbelly to flush out murderers and monsters is a job rife with danger, devoid of glamour. It's not a career to which most people would aspire.
Detective Inspector Walter Day is not most people. Having worked as a constable in Devon for the last four years, he has no actual detecting experience. And yet, the idealistic newbie is working the murder of the Squad's own Inspector Christian Little. The detective's odd and gruesome murder raises a million questions, few answers. Is Day up to the task of finding Little's sadistic killer? As more policemen end up dead, the case grows more complex—and deadly. Day must solve it before his own dead body ends up stuffed into a steamer trunk. He has little time to prove himself against a masterful murderer ... can he do it in time to save his colleagues and himself?
The Yard, Alex Grecian's debut novel and the first installment in a gritty crime series, brings 19th Century London to life in all its stinking, sleazy, squalid glory. The story, naturally, echoes the tone of its setting. Although Day is a likable and admirable man, the sewage in which he slops every day makes his tale a grim one. Compelling, yes, but also depressing. Nevertheless, The Yard is an engrossing, atmospheric mystery from which I had a hard time looking away. I especially liked the interludes that provided needed backstory without interrupting the forward push of the plot. Intriguing characters and sharp prose added even more to this surprising, satisfying novel. I enjoyed it overall and will definitely be grabbing its sequels off the library shelves sometime soon.
(Readalikes: I can't think of anything. Can you?)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore, and disturbing subject matter
To the FTC, with love: Another library fine find
Friday, October 30, 2015
Haunting Everest Murder Mystery One of Reichs' Best Tempe Books Yet
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Finding dead bodies on Mount Everest is hardly unusual. Around 250 people have lost their lives while attempting to reach the top of its treacherous peak, some from exposure, some from falls, some due to deadly avalanches, others from heart attacks, mountain sickness, and a host of other causes. Most of their corpses remain on the mountain, their removal impossible in such an unforgiving terrain and climate. They serve as a grim reminder of nature's awesome power, its dominance over man with his foolhardy notions and (often) fatal conceit.
When the body of a climber is discovered on Everest after an earthquake jostles it loose, it's assumed to be that of Brighton Hollis, a 24-year-old woman who disappeared on the mountain three years ago. Her family—wealthy and very well-connected—wants to be sure it's her. Enter Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who examines bones discovered in both Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal. Her job is "simple": identify the remains. But what she finds is much, much more complicated. According to evidence on the battered corpse, Brighton Hollis didn't die from exposure or frostbite or an accidental fall. She was murdered.
As Tempe helps the police investigate Brighton's death, she learns that plenty of people had it in for the young climber. In fact, every member of her climbing team had reason to want her dead. Did one of them kill her, using Everest's extreme nature to cover up their crime? Or is someone else responsible for her brutal murder? Tempe needs to figure out what really happened to Brighton—and fast—or hers could be the next body lying on a gurney at the swanky new Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner facility.
Everyone knows I'm a huge Temperance Brennan fan (book version, not Bones version). I've read every book in Kathy Reichs' popular series starring the dedicated forensic anthropologist. While I've raved about many of them, ho-hummed over others, I always learn something from them. Reichs knows how to explain the complexities of forensic science in a way that is clear and engaging without insulting the reader's intelligence. Then, there's our heroine. Tempe, who is smart, funny, devoted, and self-deprecating is the kind of character that always speaks to me. I adore her, as well as all her quirky colleagues. Of course, Reichs' novels also offer tons of action, suspense, and mystery to keep the reader engaged.
So, yeah, it's a given that I'm going to enjoy—at least to some degree—every book Reichs writes about Tempe. Still, I found Bones on Ice (a novella that fits between Bones Never Lie and Speaking in Bones) to be especially intriguing. Knowing nothing at all about mountain climbing or Mt. Everest, I was riveted by every detail Reichs included, from the descriptions of climbing culture to the heartbreaking idea of a mountain littered with the bodies of dead dreamers. Learning about the methods use to examine a frozen corpse was likewise fascinating. Naturally, the novella also has lots of action, intriguing characters, and sparks flying between Tempe and her cohorts. Reichs blends all of these elements into a tight, engrossing story that kept me thoroughly entertained. Although Bones On Ice is not a full-length novel, it's still one of the best installments in the series. My mind and heart are still haunted by the sobering images of Everest Reichs planted in my head ...
(Readalikes: Other books in the Temperance Brennan series [Deja Dead; Death Du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break No Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever; Bones in Her Pocket; Bones of the Lost; Swamp Bones; Bones Never Lie; and Speaking in Bones])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder expletives) and violence
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Bones On Ice from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Newest Tempe Brennan Mystery Gives Me Everything I Want—and Expect—From This Always Appealing Series
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Tempe Brennan thrillers. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Keeping cool under pressure comes with the territory for forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan. No matter what kind of crazy she's dealing with in her personal life (with a daughter fighting in Afghanistan; a bi-polar mother ridden with cancer; and a marriage proposal from her on-again/off-again boyfriend Andrew Ryan, crazy might be an understatement), her professional focus never wavers. So, when Hazel "Lucky" Strike, an eccentric websleuth, comes to Tempe with a chilling recording that may be a clue in the disappearance of a teenage girl, she listens. While Tempe doesn't approve of amateur investigators nosing into police business, she also can't quite dismiss what Lucky's saying. Especially when the other woman's instincts appear to be right on track. Is Lucky correct in her theory that the bones of 18-year-old Cora Teague are sitting, unidentified, in Tempe's lab?
With the help of Zeb Ramsey, a local deputy, Tempe heads into the Blue Ridge Mountains to investigate Cora's disappearance three years ago. Her inquiries turn up more questions than answers. Especially from the teenager's parents, religious zealots who never bothered to report their daughter as missing. When Tempe makes more macabre finds in the mountains, she becomes even more determined to find out what happened to Cora. The closer she comes to the truth, the more dangerous her quest becomes. Even with her own life on the line, Tempe persists in her dogged pursuit, but can she keep herself alive long enough to determine Cora's fate? If she does, she's still got a confusing proposal to deal with. How will she answer Andrew Ryan, when he's got both her heart and her head in a very complicated tangle?
If you read this blog with any frequency, you're well aware of my obsession with the Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. The author, who is herself a forensic anthropologist, writes with authority about bone analysis, doing so in a way that is both intriguing and accessible to the average person. While the science is undeniably fascinating, it's not what makes these books stand out. They shine because of Tempe herself. Not only is our heroine smart and devoted, but she's also warm, funny, and self-deprecating. Which isn't to say she's perfect. She's realistically flawed, which only makes her more appealing. While I would read this series just to hang with Tempe, I also love that it's full of pulse-pounding action, can't-look-away suspense, entertaining characters, and plenty of interpersonal drama.
As with any series, some of the Tempe mysteries are better than others. Speaking in Bones, the newest, hovers right up there with my other favorites. The novel presents an intriguing mystery, some compelling new story people, and surprising plot twists, not to mention developments between Tempe and Ryan. What more can a Tempe fan ask for? Not much, really. Speaking in Bones satisfies in every way. My only disappointment comes from having to wait a whole year to see what Tempe does next. Boo hoo!
(Readalikes: Other books in the Tempe Brennan series [Deja Dead; Death du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break no Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever; Bones in Her Pocket (novella); Bones of the Lost; Swamp Bones (novella); Bones On Ice (novella); Bones Never Lie)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (a few F-bombs, plus milder invectives), sexual innuendo and violence/gore
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Speaking in Bones from the generous folks at Bantam (an imprint of Random House) via those at NetGalley. Thank you!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Creepy-Crawly Swamp Murder Mystery Entertaining and Compelling
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Swamp Bones, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Tempe Brennan books. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.
When forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan visits a friend in Florida, she expects to spend her vacation relaxing in the sun. No such luck. Almost as soon as she steps foot into The Sunshine State, she's drawn into a puzzling mystery. Finding human remains inside a dead, 18-foot long Burmese python is a new one for Tempe, but "reading" bones is certainly not. It's what she does, what she knows, where she excels. Her diagnosis? These bones come from a murdered human.
The search for the victim's identity leads Tempe into the strange world of python hunting. Each year, hundreds of wildlife wranglers flock to the Everglades for a 30-day, Fish and Wildlife-sanctioned snake hunt. They track Burmese pythons, competing for prize money and bragging rights, while helping the state control the insidious, overpopulated species. The question is: Who was hunting more than snakes? And why? Tempe is determined to find out who killed the poor woman whose remains she keeps finding inside the bellies of wild animals. So much for a vacation.
I love Kathy Reichs' Tempe Brennan series, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed this one (in spite of the fact that it made my skin crawl). As always with her books, I learned plenty of new things—not that I really wanted to know anything about giant snakes and other Everglades critters (yuck!), but still ... she took me inside a vivid, intriguing world that I never knew about before. Tempe is, of course, an entertaining narrator. Her brushes with the local yokels are comical, her adventures always suspenseful and exciting. If you're a Tempe fan, you definitely don't want to miss out on her capers in the Everglades. The e-novella is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Tempe Brennan series, including Deja Dead; Death Du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break No Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever; Bones in Her Pocket (e-novella); Bones of the Lost; and Bones Never Lie)
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (no F-bombs), violence, blood/gore
To the FTC, with love: I bought a copy of Swamp Bones from Amazon with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, August 28, 2014
No Lie, Tempe's Latest Adventure Gives Me All the Feels
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for Bones Never Lie, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Tempe Brennan adventures. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
With a vicious cold wreaking havoc on her nose and throat, the last thing Tempe Brennan wants to do is head to work. But, unidentified corpses in need of her particular skill set to wrangle out their mysteries wait for no man—or woman. Souped up on Sudafed, the forensic anthropologist reports to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, perplexed by the summons to powwow over a case long grown cold. What she discovers chills her blood. A sadistic female serial killer, whom Tempe has helped investigate in the past (Monday Mourning, 2003) is at it again. Anique Pomerleau is Tempe's one-that-got-away. This time, Tempe's not about to let her go. She'll do anything she can to find the sick woman and see that she pays—once and for all—for her crimes.
Unfortunately, "anything" involves not just finding her longtime colleague (and on again/off again boyfriend), who flew off the grid after his daughter's death two months ago, but also convincing him to help her track down Pomerleau. Tempe has personal reasons for wanting to see Andrew Ryan, the man who still makes her girl parts sing, but they're trumped by her professional need to catch the killer. She knows the Brennan/Ryan team can nail this one. But bringing a changed Ryan on the case leads to its own complications.
As Tempe and Ryan chase dead end after dead end, Pomerleau's victim count increases. More young girls will die if they don't stop her soon. Can they nab Anique before it's too late? Or will she remain the one who got away—again?
Anyone who reads this blog knows I'm a huge Kathy Reichs fan. More specifically, a huge Tempe Brennan fan. I love the sassy, indefatigable scientist—her down-to-earth personality, her sense of humor, her passion for her work, everything. She's the kind of vivid, complex character that I would follow anywhere. Although Bones Never Lie (available September 23, 2014) disturbed me more than other of her adventures (something about a woman preying on young girls ... just ick), I still devoured the novel. As with other Tempe books, this one offers a compelling mystery peppered with fascinating forensic detail explained in terms the average person can (pretty much) understand; exciting, didn't-see-that-one-coming plot twists; and, of course, the friction and sizzle that always accompanies Tempe's interactions with people like "Skinny" Slidell and Andrew Ryan. Oh, and let's talk about the ending of Bones Never Lie for a minute—gave me all the feels, people, all the feels! Love, love, love. So, yeah, enjoyed the book, still adore the series. Amen.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs [Deja Dead; Death Du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break No Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever; Bones in Her Pocket; Bones of the Lost; Swamp Bones])
Grade:
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Bones Never Lie from the generous folks at Random House via those at NetGalley.
With a vicious cold wreaking havoc on her nose and throat, the last thing Tempe Brennan wants to do is head to work. But, unidentified corpses in need of her particular skill set to wrangle out their mysteries wait for no man—or woman. Souped up on Sudafed, the forensic anthropologist reports to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, perplexed by the summons to powwow over a case long grown cold. What she discovers chills her blood. A sadistic female serial killer, whom Tempe has helped investigate in the past (Monday Mourning, 2003) is at it again. Anique Pomerleau is Tempe's one-that-got-away. This time, Tempe's not about to let her go. She'll do anything she can to find the sick woman and see that she pays—once and for all—for her crimes.
Unfortunately, "anything" involves not just finding her longtime colleague (and on again/off again boyfriend), who flew off the grid after his daughter's death two months ago, but also convincing him to help her track down Pomerleau. Tempe has personal reasons for wanting to see Andrew Ryan, the man who still makes her girl parts sing, but they're trumped by her professional need to catch the killer. She knows the Brennan/Ryan team can nail this one. But bringing a changed Ryan on the case leads to its own complications.
As Tempe and Ryan chase dead end after dead end, Pomerleau's victim count increases. More young girls will die if they don't stop her soon. Can they nab Anique before it's too late? Or will she remain the one who got away—again?
Anyone who reads this blog knows I'm a huge Kathy Reichs fan. More specifically, a huge Tempe Brennan fan. I love the sassy, indefatigable scientist—her down-to-earth personality, her sense of humor, her passion for her work, everything. She's the kind of vivid, complex character that I would follow anywhere. Although Bones Never Lie (available September 23, 2014) disturbed me more than other of her adventures (something about a woman preying on young girls ... just ick), I still devoured the novel. As with other Tempe books, this one offers a compelling mystery peppered with fascinating forensic detail explained in terms the average person can (pretty much) understand; exciting, didn't-see-that-one-coming plot twists; and, of course, the friction and sizzle that always accompanies Tempe's interactions with people like "Skinny" Slidell and Andrew Ryan. Oh, and let's talk about the ending of Bones Never Lie for a minute—gave me all the feels, people, all the feels! Love, love, love. So, yeah, enjoyed the book, still adore the series. Amen.
(Readalikes: Reminds me of other books in the Tempe Brennan series by Kathy Reichs [Deja Dead; Death Du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break No Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever; Bones in Her Pocket; Bones of the Lost; Swamp Bones])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, blood/gore, sexual innuendo, violence, and disturbing images/content
Thursday, December 12, 2013
New E-Short Not Terribly Original, But Who Cares? It's Tempe!
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Bones in Her Pocket, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from earlier Temperance Brennan mysteries. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
If you read this blog with any frequency (and I sure hope you do!), my undying love for anything Temperance Brennan ("anything" actually doesn't include the tv show Bones) does not surprise you in the least. So, naturally, when I heard that Kathy Reichs, the creator of my favorite forensic anthropologist, would be publishing an e-novella starring Tempe, I knew I had to read it.
Except for the length, Bones in Her Pocket acts just like any other book in the Tempe Brennan series, pitting the intrepid scientist against an unknown killer in a tense, action-packed forensic mystery. And, while this newest story doesn't advance any of the subplots relating to our heroine's personal life (darn it!), it does relate another exciting adventure in her professional one.
In this episode, Tempe is called out to a remote artists' colony near a mountain lake in North Carolina. Bones have been discovered inside a water-logged, fly-infested canvas tote bag. Animal bones, she figures. Except they're not. The remains belong to a young woman fitting the description of Edith Blankenship, a missing graduate student. Did Edith's passion for saving the lake's birds get her killed? Did she step on the toes of the wrong eco-radical? How did the ebullient student end up in a watery grave? Using the bones as her guide, Tempe's determined to find out. Before she ends up sharing Edith's fate.
While Bones in Her Pocket is pretty much the same ole, same ole as far as Tempe Brennan books are concerned, I still enjoyed it. Reichs just knows how to pull me in with colorful characters, intriguing mysteries and, of course, with the further development of the already empathetic and likable Tempe (book Tempe is VERY different from t.v. Tempe, by the way). Her adventures—even the brief ones—will always interest me.
FYI: Bones in Her Pocket is only available as an e-book. For just $1.99, it can be purchased at either Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes.
(Readalikes: other books in the Tempe Brennan series [Deja Dead; Death Du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break No Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever; Bones of the Lost]
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for language (1 F-bomb, plus milder invectives), violence and gore
To the FTC, with love: I bought Bones in Her Pocket with a portion of the millions I make from my lucrative career as a book blogger. Ha ha.
Thursday, August 01, 2013
In Reichs' Newest, It's Tempe vs. Smugglers of Every Sort
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: While this review will not contain spoilers for Bones of the Lost, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from previous Temperance Brennan novels. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Bad days are par for the course when your career revolves around the commission of violent crimes. And Tempe Brennan, North Carolina's most renowned forensic anthropologist, is having a doozy. It begins with an embarrassing incident at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse and ends with a young woman's battered body lying in the morgue. Tempe's assignment: find out who murdered girl. The only real clue is an ID card in the victim's purse, which belongs to a local businessman. The man would naturally be considered a suspect—if he hadn't perished a few months earlier in a deadly fire. Coincidence? Or, are the two incidents linked somehow?
In the middle of trying to ascertain the dead girl's identity, another mystery lands in Tempe's lab. This time, it's a pack of mummified dogs confiscated by U.S. Customs. The accused smuggler is Dominick Rockett, a veteran of Desert Storm. Is the soldier guilty? Does his alleged crime have anything to do with the other deaths Tempe's investigating? Curiouser and curiouser.
To add to the work stress, Tempe's got mounting personal problems: her ex-husband's tired of waiting for divorce papers; her grieving daughter's on active duty in Afghanistan; and she hasn't heard from Ryan in way, way too long.
With such a massive load on her shoulders, how will the intrepid anthropologist deal? Especially since, once again, her investigations are angering some dangerous people. People who will stop at nothing until it's Tempe Brennan's cold, lifeless body that's lying in the morgue.
Bones of the Lost (available August 27, 2013), the 16th installment in Kathy Reichs' popular Temperance Brennan series, offers another exciting adventure starring everyone's favorite forensic anthropologist. Tempe's always relatable, always a compelling narrator. I seriously love her more with each book. As disturbing as the subject matter (human trafficking) of Bones of the Lost is, I enjoyed it for the same reasons I like all of the novels in this series—they're fast-paced puzzles populated with colorful characters, fascinating science (an oxymoron, I've always thought), and enough plot twists and turns to keep me guessing. While this one isn't the absolute best Tempe Brennan book, it's another solid addition to this series, which continues to be one of my very favorites.
(Readalikes: Other books in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs [Deja Dead; Death du Jour; Deadly Decisions; Fatal Voyage; Grave Secrets; Bare Bones; Monday Mourning; Cross Bones; Break No Bones; Bones to Ashes; Devil Bones; 206 Bones; Spider Bones; Flash and Bones; Bones Are Forever and the new novella, Bones in Her Pocket])
Grade:
If this were a movie, it would be rated:
for strong language, violence/gore, and sexual innuendo/content
To the FTC, with love: I received an e-ARC of Bones of the Lost from the generous folks at Simon & Schuster via those at Edelweiss. Thank you!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Just Your Average, Ordinary, Everyday Police Procedural
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
(Note: Although this review will not contain spoilers for The Line Between Here and Gone, it may inadvertently reveal plot surprises from the first book in the Forensic Instincts series. As always, I recommend reading books in a series in order.)
Photojournalist Amanda Gleason never dreamed she'd be raising a child by herself, let alone watching one die. As the 34-year-old sits by her newborn son's hospital bed, she longs for the baby's father—not just because she's still grieving for Paul Everett, but because he might have been the only one able to donate the stem cells his son so badly needs in order to survive. When a friend gives Amanda photographic evidence that Paul—who was presumed dead even though his body was never found—is actually alive, she's stunned. The betrayal stings. Her own hurt doesn't matter now, though, not when her baby is fighting for his life. Amanda must find Paul before it's too late.
Since Amanda doesn't have the time or the resources to hunt down her missing boyfriend, she turns the case over to the professionals. Forensic Instincts is New York City's premiere private investigation firm. Headed by profiler Casey Woods, the company also consists of a retired FBI agent, a former Navy SEAL, a psychic, a "techno-genius," and an evidence-sniffing dog. Together, they agree to find Paul Everett using whatever means necessary.
It doesn't take the FI team long to discover there's more to their missing persons case than meets the eye. Soon, they're looking into crooked politicians, screwy real estate deals, drug dealing, even mob involvement. It's not too tough to see why Paul wanted to disappear. Still, with an infant's life hanging in the balance, the investigators know they have to close the case. And fast. As the stakes get higher and higher, the FI team works harder and harder, and a worried mother gets more and more desperate. Can Paul Everett be found in time to save his dying son? That's the question haunting everyone's thoughts, the question driving FI team members to put everything on the line, risking it all to help a helpless infant win the battle for his life.
The Line Between Here and Gone, the second book in Andrea Kane's Forensic Instincts series, revolves around an intriguing premise. Unfortunately, the rest of the story doesn't do it justice, wandering down paths both unoriginal and predictable. The flat, stereotypical characters don't help matters. The race-against-time plot makes for a fast, exciting read, just not one that's in any way unique or surprising. I want a whole lot more from a police procedural and this one didn't deliver for me.
Oh, and as part of the book's blog tour, I'm supposed to give you this excerpt from the book: “Lyssa,” she said when she heard her friend’s voice. “I need you to come over and relieve me. It’s not Justin. He’s okay. But can you come now?” She sagged with relief at the reply.
“Thanks. It’s an emergency.”
(Readalikes: No specific titles come to mind. Suggestions?)
Grade: C-
If this were a movie, it would be rated: R for strong language, sexual content and violence
To the FTC, with love: I received a finished print copy of The Line Between Here and Gone from the generous folks at Harlequin MIRA (via those at Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc.) as well as an e-ARC via Netgalley. Thank you!
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Jodi's Back and Man, How I've Missed Her!
(Image from Barnes & Noble)
Cold.
Withdrawn.
Emotionless.
Anti-social.
Psychopathic.
That's how 18-year-old Jacob Hunt appears to most people. His mother knows better. She knows Jacob's unwillingness to look someone in the eye doesn't equal disrespect, his "tantrums" aren't thrown out of selfishness, and his inability to connect with others doesn't mean he has no desire to. She knows the very traits that make her son look like a remorseless killer can be explained: Jacob Hunt has Asperger's. All she has to do is convince a jury. Considering Jacob's obsession with crime scenes, his admission of "cleaning up" after his friend's death, and his refusal to apologize for his actions, that might be a little difficult.
Life has never been easy for Emma Hunt, one of the stars of Jodi Picoult's newest book, House Rules. Ever since she noticed Jacob disconnecting as a toddler, she's been searching for answers. Her singleminded devotion has meant sacrifice - her husband left years ago, she has no friends, she spends every penny she makes on Jacob's care, and she's unable to give her younger son, Theo, any kind of normal life. When Jacob is accused of murdering Jess, his social skills tutor, things quickly go from bad to worse.
Jail is not friendly to a person who craves quiet, order and routine. Although Jacob is "high-functioning" and has some control over his obsessions, his discomfort with these new accomodations have him "stimming." Emma watches his decline with horror - she's spent her whole life helping Jacob control the obsessions, the fidgeting, the nervous tics that are hallmarks of his disease. In a panic, she hires the first lawyer she can find. Oliver Bond is a former farrier with no experience trying a criminal case. Still, he finds Jacob fascinating, Emma even more so. Together, they work to build a case.
At the same time, Rich Matson, a detective who's been around the block more than once, collects the evidence that could put Jacob away forever. Not every clue adds up, though - Jacob's rarely violent, why would he turn on the one person his age who really seemed to care for him? He's also a brilliant amateur crime scene investigator - why would he leave a sloppy crime scene? Jess' boyfriend's no prince - did he have anything to do with the crime? And what about Theo, whose desire for normalcy led him to break into people's houses? What part did he play in Jess' death?
As Oliver, Rich, Emma and Theo all try to piece together what really happened to Jess Ogilvy, they will have to reevaluate everything they think they know and ask themselves the truly tough questions: Should a person with special needs be treated any differently than a neurotypical defendant? How can a mother, who's spent her whole life insisting her son's not crazy, suddenly embrace an insanity plea? Isn't it wrong to push a boy, who is already on the edge, to the very brink, just to prove the limitations of his condition? Can a person who's incapable of empathizing even understand remorse? Does the legal system truly serve everyone equally or only those who look and act "normal?"
I've been a Jodi Picoult fan for a long time. Her trademark - taking a compelling, "ripped from the headlines" issue and examining it from all sides - works well for me. I love the way she digs into her characters, making me care about their plights even if I don't agree with their points of view. Even though she's used this method consistenly, I've been disappointed with her last few novels. From predictability to poor editing to just somehow lacking that Picoult pizzazz, they haven't captured me like her earlier novels did. Well, I'm glad to say that Jodi's back. House Rules proves it. I'm not saying the story's perfect - it's a bit predictable and there's at least one of those nitpicky, but annoying editing mistakes that just bug (On Page 134, Emma says her mother made Jacob's ROYGBIV quilt, on Page 475, Emma claims it as her own work). Still and all, it's a riveting, thought-provoking story that will leave Picoult fans cheering.
Jodi Picoult is back, folks. And man, how I've missed her!
(Readalikes: Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult; Al Capone Does My Shirts and Al Capone Shines My Shoes by Gennifer Choldenko; Saving Sammy by Beth Maloney)
Grade: B+
If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for language and some sexual content
To the FTC, with love: I bought this glossy hardcover from Amazon.com because I love books in general and Jodi Picoult in particular. So there.
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