Bones Never Lie - Kathy Reichs

Bones Never Lie is the latest release in Kathy Reichs's Temperance Brennan series. It's hard to believe that this is number 17!

Tempe is a forensic anthropologist and now she's also part of the Charlotte NC cold case squad. When two child murders reveal similarities that can't be ignored, the team searches to see if there are others that match their cold cases. There are - but they're in Canada and seem to be the work of serial killer Anique Pomerleau - a woman who almost killed Tempe as well. Could she have crossed the border to continue her spree? And when a child who matches Pomerleau's type is snatched in Charlotte, the question arises - could it be her?

There are other forensic series out there, but in my opinion, Reichs is absolutely the best. She herself is a forensic anthropologist in NC and Quebec - she knows what she's writing. And it shows. Her plots, the crimes and the road to answers are intriguing and believable. It's very easy to step into Reichs's books.

But what really grabs me is the character of Tempe. I like her - she's engaging, smart and comes across as a real person. I may not always agree with her decisions (she tends to go in guns blazing in some situations), but it makes for action filled reading. I also quite like her surly partner Skinny Slidell - his gruff, grumpy nature and sloppy exterior belies a dedicated, quick mind. I enjoy his one liners and haranguing of the brass and other agencies.

Reichs has created a personal storyline for Tempe that started with the first book and continues on. It's just as interesting - and sometimes just as frustrating. I was glad to see Andrew Ryan back and Pete not in the story at all this time. Tempe's mother plays a significant role in the solving of this crime. I'm not quite sure what I thought of her involvement - it was perhaps a wee bit far fetched and seemed like an awkward plot device to have some information discovered.

I laughed when I read the scene where Tempe is watching the television show Bones. For those of you unaware, Reichs's character is the basis for this program. (celebrating it's 200th episode!)

Over the course of seventeen books, there are bound to be some titles that are stronger than others. The last book, Bones of the Lost, was just an okay read for me. But Bones Never Lie is a return to Reichs's earlier strengths and had me engaged from first page to last. Happily finished in a day and a half. And the stage is set for further adventures. I'll be looking forward the eighteenth book! Read an excerpt of Bones Never Lie. You can keep up with Kathy Reichs on Twitter and on Facebook.