Product Description

The skeleton is that of a young girl, no more than fourteen years old - and forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is struggling to keep her emotions in check. Coroner Yves Bradette is being evasive, insisting the bones are ancient and of no interest. But it doesn't quite add up, and a frustrated Tempe is convinced that Bradette is hiding something...It's not Tempe's case; she's overwhelmed with more urgent work in the lab...But the nagging in her subconscious won't let up. A memory triggered, deep in her hindbrain - the disappearance of a childhood friend; no warning, no explanation...Working on instinct, Tempe takes matters into her own hands. But she couldn't have predicted where this case would lead, or the horrors it would eventually uncover...Can Tempe maintain a professional distance as the past catches up with her in this, her most deeply personal case yet?

Product Details

• Published on: 2007-08-28
• Formats: Abridged, Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 5
• Binding: Audio CD

From the Back Cover
Under the microscope, the outer bone surface is a moonscape of craters…

The skeleton is that of a young girl, no more than fourteen years old – and forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance Brennan is struggling to keep her emotions in check.

A nagging in her subconscious won’t let up. A memory triggered, deep in her hindbrain – the disappearance of a childhood friend; no warning, no explanation…

Detective Andrew Ryan is working a series of parallel cases, and requires Tempe’s forensic expertise. Three missing persons, three unidentified bodies – all female, all early-to-mid teens... Could Tempe’s skeleton be yet another in this tragic line of young victims? Or is she over-reacting, making connections where none exist?

Working on instinct, Tempe takes matters into her own hands. But she couldn’t have predicted where this investigation would lead, or the horrors it would eventually uncover… Can Tempe maintain a professional distance as the past catches up with her in this, her most deeply personal case yet?

About the Author
Kathy Reichs is forensic anthropologist for the Offices of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina, and for the Laboratorie de Sciences Judiciaires et de Medecine Legale for the province of Quebec. She divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness in criminal trials.

Customer Reviews

Poetic Analysis and Forensic Anthropology Track Down the Fate of a Canadian Friend
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.

A journey in memory
I've read many Reich's novels during the past years, and enjoyed them thoroughly, yet Bones to Ashes disappointed me. The fact is, I find it quite difficult to believe that, after many years, Tempe Brennan discovers not only what happened to her long-lost childhood friend Evangeline,but also is catapulted into a world of child abuse, pornography, depravity. It's just that the coincidences appear too many and the chain of events seems forced. All the pieces of the puzzle at the end fit, but the impression you receive is of something artificial and quite not right.
Also, Tempe's memories of her childhood and pure friendship seem irreal, not at all concrete. They look more like a reverie: it's true childhood is often evoked as an idyllic, magic time, yet this kind of interpretation seems out of place in a crime novel, and clashes with the corruption of the real world Dr.Brennan faces everyday.
There is something I found interesting though: the description of the Acadian culture, which is something I did know nothing about. It's very fascinating to think of these people so proud of their past and their heritage, and it's a good move on Reich's part to draw our attention to l'Acadie.

It passes the time
I think I've read all of Kathy Reichs Temp Brennan novels and I always look forward to the latest one. However, in this case I'm inclined to agree with the first two reviewers - the plot is a bit far fetched, even if it does all come together in the end.

Another point I find difficult to believe is that there is a description of some lesions on a skeleton, even as a complete layman one possible diagnosis is glaringly obvious, so Temp should have been able to make it in her sleep. But no, she lists several other diseases, missing the obvious one for several chapters.