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Bones to Ashes

Author: Kathy Reichs
Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd
Category: Book

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Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

12 reviews
Sales Rank: 18883

Media: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 5.7 x 1.4

ISBN: 0434014621
EAN: 9780434014620
ASIN: 0434014621

Publication Date: August 30, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: Unwanted gift.

Customer Reviews:

Showing reviews 11-12 of 12

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Not strongest but cracking backstory September 18, 2007
6 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is perhaps not the strongest of the Temperence Brennan tales however with its back history this will make this book a must for fans of Kathy's writing. We also get to explore the character back before she became the woman she is and as such allowed the author a certain amount of freedom to emotionally explore the protagonist. Whilst in this tale we discover that her love life has gone further south than Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (try saying that after a few beers) it is perhaps more pertinent to the investigation into her missing childhood friend. Perhaps not the best book for the uninitiated it does allow the reader to grow with the character as Kathy's trademarked fast-paced, action packed psychological forensic thriller reaches its conclusion.

3 out of 5 stars

Poetic Analysis and Forensic Anthropology Track Down the Fate of a Canadian Friend September 14, 2007
15 out of 21 found this review helpful

Bones to Ashes reaches back to roots in Longfellow's poem, Evangeline, and Dr. Temperance Brennan's childhood to solve an old mystery, whatever happened to Tempe's missing Acadian friends, Evangeline and Obeline. To do so, literary analysis, forensic anthropology, breaking encryptions, and diatomic sampling will be required.

As the book opens, you are carried back to Tempe's youth and her friendship with Evangeline and Obeline. Quickly, the book returns to the present as Tempe returns to work in Montreal to find a backlog of bones to examine. At that, Hippolyte Gallant who works on cold cases persuades her to look at one more set: some bones sitting in a police station that don't interest the local coroner. That set fascinates Tempe because it seems to be from a girl about Evangeline's age when she disappeared. Could this be Evangeline? That concern leads Tempe to investigate with her sister Harry's help into what happened to Evangeline.

Meanwhile, Andrew Ryan, Tempe's estranged lover, is working on a floater who may be linked to three missing persons and two unidentified bodies. Could there be a serial killer involved? Bit by bit, Tempe and Ryan connect the dots in unexpected ways. Will they reconnect personally? Ryan is pretty busy taking care of his junkie daughter and is put off by having seen Tempe's husband put his arms around Tempe. But at least they still share a cockatiel, Charlie, who provides some of the humor in the story.

As usual, the science is wonderful and five star in this book. As occurred with Break No Bones, the story and the rest of the writing creak in several ways that are hard to discuss without giving away the plot. The main weaknesses show up in these areas:

1. The Tempe-Ryan relationship seemed artificial and didn't ring true to me.

2. Harry's behavior and language were way over the top for me. Once again, it didn't ring true in several places.

3. The solution to Evangeline's disappearance is tied in part to a way of thinking that seems more than a little unlikely. I didn't buy it.

4. Basic facts about the suspects are poorly investigated. It seemed uncharacteristically sloppy for these characters.

The ties to Acadia are poetic and appropriate. That part of the story worked well.

If you are a big fan of the series, you'll probably think this is not one of the strongest stories. But you'll be glad you read it. Learning more about Tempe's childhood makes the story memorable for fans of Dr. Reichs' writing.