Bare Bones

I’m glad that the author gave up creating crimes that touch both Montreal and South Carolina. She didn’t do this in her last Tempe Brennan book, but she did it in a couple before that. I guess now she realized it’s pretty weak. In this one, Ryan is planning to come down for some vacation and nookie, but things get weird.

I think this one worked better than some of the others. It was shorter and more focused. There is still an element of sexual tension between Ryan and Tempe. Even though they are sleeping together, it isn’t regularly and Tempe isn’t sure she wants an actual relationship, especially with someone who lives 1000 miles away. I liked the bits about the dog and his spaz attacks. And her cat Birdie’s reaction to show more them. Spot on. show less

I've been in a reading slump for months. As usual, when I feel restless and unsatisfied with my reading material, I turn to a series I love. Stepping back into Tempe's world of forensic anthropology was just what I needed. I loved getting to see Tempe and Ryan deepen their relationship. Sure, the mystery itself was a little convoluted and perhaps not as engaging as I would have liked, but overall I found myself quickly turning pages and happily anticipating my next reading session. However, I cringed a little at Reich's handling of a trans character (right down to choosing to use the wrong pronoun at the end). Still, given that the book was written almost 20 years ago, I'm willing to overlook it -- and hope she'd do better today.

Book 25 is another in the Kathy Reichs series of Temperance Brennan books, Bare Bones, number six to be exact. This one begins with the bones of a baby being discovered in a stove and then progesses through plane crash and unearthed poached animal remains to the usual climatic conclusion. One problem I do have with these books is, while they're good gripping reading at the time, once I've put them down for too long they all kind of blur into one another. In typing this (and I only read it about two weeks ago) I'm struggling to remember exactly what the plot of the novel was.

I think I've only read this one once (perhaps twice) before, which was really a good thing. I just could not remember the outcome of the book. It had the bonus of show more making me read it much quicker (finishing it in just three days) because I was totally hooked. All the cliffhangers worked for me, rather than just acting to remind me of what was going to come next.

There's a moment towards the end of the book (the traditional Chapter 30 moment which you get in pretty much every Temperance Brennan book) which involves snakes. I've been expecting it for the last three books but it finally caught me off-guard at the end of this one.

Another good thing about this book is that it doesn't end with the start of the next book. I mentioned this earlier with my Inkheart review; it's all very well if you're going on to the next book straight away and so you can just skip them (either at the end of one or the beginning of the next). But I like to read the whole book which means I end up reading the same chapter twice. I realise that I could just skip the last bit of the book with the bonus chapter, but I don't like doing that. I'm stubborn.

What it did have in its place was far more interesting to me. A little note about the real-life case which inspired this book. I'd much rather read about that than the first chapter of the next book. It was light-hearted and interesting. I don't remember how the next books end (in fact, I don't think I've read many more of this series) so I'm curious to see how those ones end.

All the various murders/deaths/dead animals are all linked in this one. A little bit unrealistic perhaps, but it worked well. Plus, Tempe's suspicions were unfounded at one point, which is nice. She's a better character for not being right all the time. show less

Another Kathy Reichs book full of surprising turns, shocking deaths and sexy Andrew Ryan! What more could a Temperance Brennan fan want?

This novel was definitely one of the greater novels made by Kathy Reichs. Inside this amazing tale is a case revolving around a plane crash and whether or not bones are from animals or humans.

Like normal, Temperance Brennan is to the rescue! And like normal Temperance Brennan is knocked out and becomes unconscious. If anything, that is the only down fall to this novel. Every book Tempe seems to be knocked out, to the point where I wonder if she has a concussion or brain damage yet. While the story itself had me hooked at every word, this "surprise" twist of her being knocked out left me feeling show more cheated. Is this the only way to bring a book to a resolution in Kathy Reichs's mind?

Overall, I really like this novel. The story itself has twists and turns that lead Temperance Brennan to find a killer! The killer is not obvious, and the reader can figure out who it is if they use their brain enough.

Five out of five stars! Great plot, character develop! show less

As someone who is often disappointed in movies based on books I have read, I have to say that television adaptations also rarely resemble their book counterparts. What is exciting on the page must not be as engaging on the small screen because there are often major plot and character changes.

The Temperance Brennan books and the television show Bones is an example of this. "Based on the books by Kathy Reichs'' is a very loose statement. The plots and characters are nothing alike if you compare the two. The only thing in common is both main characters are named Temperance Brennan and work in the field of forensic anthropology. There, the similarities pretty much stop.

Author Kathy Reichs is a forensic anthropologist based in Charlotte, NC show more and Quebec, Canada. Her main character, Temperance Brennan, holds the same job in the book series. I've been reading the Temperance Brennan series off and on for 10 years now. There are 18 books and 3 shorter novellas in the series. I read a couple...then move on to other books....and come back. That's just my reading style. So many books to read....I have a vast collection to read through. And I'm flighty....I have to have variety. This means, it takes me a long time to finish a series. I visit favorite characters like long lost friends. I pulled book #6, Bare Bones, off my shelf earlier this month because I wanted a Temperance fix. I had read the book before, but didn't remember much about it.

In the books, Temperance Brennan has an ex-husband, a daughter, and on-again off-again boyfriend and is a completely different character than the television version. She is clinical, but very human. The TV persona reminds me of Sheldon Cooper as a forensic scientist.....very socially awkward in a egotistical manner, but still very likable for some reason. I like the books. I like the show. I just have to forget that the two are supposedly related in any way...because in reality, they aren't. In the books, Temperance Brennan works in Charlotte NC and Canada, just like the author. She investigates bones found in all sorts of situations from mass burials following genocide to investigating old graves found in construction sites....situations that might actually happen. Brennan on the television show works for the Jeffersonian Institute...something akin to the Smithsonian. She consults with the FBI on cases, and has access to all these cool (and non-existent) computerized forensic tools that help her assist FBI Agent Seely Booth catch the bad guys. The plots are more melodramatic -- serial killers burying the main characters alive, a staff member being a murderer,etc. The usual Television fare. Grab you fast.....hold you firm for 45 minutes or so....then let you go with a joke at the end. Great hour episodes of dramatic television that have absolutely no tie to the book series. Zippo in common.

My question has always been....why call the character Temperance Brennan if the show is not really based on the books? Her name could have been Dr. Susan Miller and the show would have been the same. Maybe that was the agreement between Reichs and the studio....she would assist with the show if they kept the character name? Who knows. I enjoy both, but have to keep them separated in my mind.

Bare Bones is a good read. A baby's skeleton is found in a wood stove and the child's teenage mother has disappeared. Add in a plane crash in a nearby NC cornfield and mysterious bones found on a farm, and you have the setup for a good bunch of forensic sleuthing by Brennan. It was a good read, but I did feel the plot lacked most of the excitement of earlier books in the series. It was....ok. Well written, the story flowed well, the characters were acting as they normally act. But for me, this one was a bit....well, boring. I will read the next book in the series, and I'm sure I will enjoy it just as I have the others. Not every book in a crime procedural series will knock you off your feet and leave an impression as a great piece of monumental fiction. Just like the last couple seasons of Bones have jumped the shark a bit for me. It happens. I still love both characters, and will continue to read and watch until their stories are completed and finished.

Rating: 7/10 (only because the plot line didn't wow me)
Adult themes, violence & mild sexual situations, although not graphic.
Ages 16 & up show less

Audio book performed by Barbara Rosenblat

Reichs writes a good suspense/thriller. Book six in the series starring forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance (Tempe) Brennan begins with the remains of an infant found in a wood stove. Before we know it Tempe’s planned beach getaway with Montreal detective Andrew Ryan is on hold while she investigates a plane crash and a bag of remains found in a park.

I enjoy these books for the forensic anthropology and quick pace. I’m irritated by Tempe’s continued “helplessness” – the woman never gets herself out of a jam, but is always rescued by the convenient arrival of a strong man. This particular book also got a little preachy on environmental / endangered species issues. I read mysteries / show more thrillers for entertainment; I don’t need to be preached to when reading them.

Barbara Rosenblat does a decent job of performing the audio book. She has a good pace and enough voice over talent to differentiate the many characters. show less

I must admit being an avid watcher of the TV series Bones, which is based on this book series, I was shocked to find that book Tempe and TV Dr. Brennan are nothing alike. Perhaps I could get into it more if I read them from the beginning......fast forward several years, and a failed audio attempt; I was right!

This time around having read it in order made a humungous difference. I connected with the story so much better. Tempe gets thrown of the deep end into the world of exotic smuggling. With trusty Agent Andy by her side she saves the day, but, not before having her butt kicked.