Cross Bones

I've got to hand it to Kathy Reichs, she really knows her stuff. While reading this book, I was struck by the intricate blend of forensic anthropology and religious history.

This instalment of the Temperance Brennan series is not just a murder mystery; it's a journey into how religious beliefs can stir up our everyday lives. It's like a Sunday school lesson with a side of CSI - and I'm here for all of it.

Reichs' attention to detail is impeccable. She doesn't just tell the reader about the bones... she made me feel like I was right there in the lab with Tempe, microscope in hand. And it's not just the forensics. She paints a vivid picture of every setting, every character. I felt like I could walk around in Tempe's world, bump into her show more colleagues, and know exactly who they were.

The plot twists in this book were a breath of fresh air. Reichs weaves in historical facts and mysteries that had me turning pages faster than I'd like to admit. It was a fantastic departure from the usual whodunit, and I really enjoyed the ride. show less

This is Reichs at her best: a murder, ancient bones and legends galore, she leads us into a labyrinth created by anthropologists, mysterious finds, and creative theories. After wandering through the streets of Montréal, the reader is whisked to Jerusalem where religions clash and a rich tapestry of sophisticated civilisations intermingle. The uncovering of the murderer was less impressive than the stories that led to it, but I thoroughly enjoyed walking down the halls of academic institutions and learning more about Judaism.
A great read!

Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Tempe" Brennan gets caught in mysteries past and present when she's called in to determine if illegal antiquities dealer Avram Ferris's gunshot death is murder or suicide. An acquaintance of Avram suggests the former: he hands Tempe a photograph of a skeleton, taken in Israel in 1963, and insists it's the reason Avram is dead. Tempe's longtime boyfriend, Quebecois detective Andrew Ryan, is also involved with the case, so the duo head to Israel where they attempt to solve the murder and a mystery revolving around a first-century tomb that may contain the remains of the family of Jesus Christ. This find threatens the worldwide Christian community, the Israeli and Jewish hierarchy and numerous show more illegal antiquity dealers, any of whom might be out to kill Tempe and Ryan. Not that Tempe notices. She has the habit of being oblivious to danger, which quickly becomes annoying, as does Reichs's tendency to end chapters with a heavy-handed cliffhanger ("His next words sent ice up my spine"). The plot is based on a number of real-life anthropological mysteries, and fans of such will have a good time, though thriller readers looking for chills and kills may not find the novel quite as satisfying. show less

I was looking for more pages. I still don't know who Masada Max was. I might have to take my frustrations out by writing something about him.

I am always thrilled by Kathy Reichs work. I have been a fan since I discovered Bones was based on her books. her writing style is scientifically accurate and manages not to make me feel talked down to.

I really hope that some day the truth of Masada Max may be known. I also understand it if it never is. Some things are too sacred.

Audio book narrated by Michele Pawk
2.5***

Dr Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist, returns in her 8th outing. This time she stumbles upon a potentially explosive find with international implications when she’s called to consult on a putrefied corpse found in a warehouse closet. As she follows the many conflicting clues, she ultimately goes to Israel, where she travels with a bag of seemingly ancient bones, possibly stolen decades earlier from an archeological dig.

What I like about Brennan is that she is smart and feisty. What I like about Reichs’s mysteries is that she includes a fair amount of forensic detail based on her own work as a forensic anthropologist. What drives me crazy is that Tempe almost always winds up behaving in show more a borderline stupid / careless manner. This outing is no different. She runs into situations without being fully prepared (Who goes into a cave without a powerful flashlight with new batteries?), and without considering the potential consequences. (Would YOU enter a place that had obviously been ransacked … and in the dark, to boot?) While Brennan definitely seems to have every intention of getting herself out of the messes she gets herself into, Reichs also frequently happens to write in a convenient male to save her. Still, Reichs crafts a good story that is compelling, moves quickly, and holds my attention. And Pawk does a fine job narrating.

So why only 2.5 stars? This one seems to be blatantly riding the coattails of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code; it was published two years after Brown’s blockbuster. Without giving too much away, think of Mary Magdalene. show less

One of my fave things about Reich’s writing is the time she takes for small details. The banter between Tempe and Ryan. Small throwaway lines about wedging a car in to a parking space intended for a scooter. It all builds to create a rich, detailed story without slowing down the plot. And what a plot it is. As I was reading I was itching to google to find out more about elements of the story. A forensic, archaeological mystery with a dash of historical/theological controversy. Who could ask for anything more?

I mostly love the way Kathy Reichs writes -- because she always comes at it from a scientific background, though mixed with personality, drama, humor. This novel was a bit crazier than usual because it is not set in N.C. or Montreal (the two places where the main character does her work), but in Israel... and it makes the story a bit hard to follow at times. The books can also get a bit soapy with the main character's love life, but overall, an enjoyable (and always educational) read.