09/02/2024

Reichs’s rewarding 23rd mystery featuring Temperance Brennan (after The Bone Hacker) finds the forensic anthropologist unraveling a complicated conspiracy in Washington, D.C. Brennan’s hopes for a getaway with her PI boyfriend are dashed by an urgent request from Jada Thacker, D.C.’s interim medical examiner, who’s probing a fire at an illegal Airbnb that killed four unidentified people. The case’s key questions—who was killed and whether the blaze was arson—are complicated by evidence that the building was used as a meth lab, and by Temperance’s discovery of a fifth corpse in the sub-basement. While investigating the building’s history, Temperance learns of its involvement in a 20th-century bootlegging operation, and decides to team up with a local journalist to learn more. Soon, more bodies pile up and other fires break out across the city, indicating the resurgence of a long-dormant gang. Reichs nimbly balances developments in Temperance’s romantic life with a propulsive investigation whose copious twists never feel cheap. Not only does this work as an entry point for series newcomers, it’s sure to satisfy longtime fans. (Aug.)

In this excellent new Temperance Brennan novel unsolved mysteries of the past converge with an arson investigation in the present. I absolutely devoured Fire and Bones, just as I have every one of Reichs’s books to date—but this one may just be my favorite yet! With her trademark blend of intrigue, forensics, and the pursuit of justice, Reichs always delivers an incredible thriller.”
—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Last to Vanish

“There’s a reason Kathy Reichs is the doyenne of forensic fiction—because her m.o. is to keep the reader guessing till the last paragraph. With Fire and Bones she once again comes out blazing.”
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Small Great Things and coauthor of Mad Honey

“In Fire and Bones Kathy Reichs is at the top of her game, seamlessly blending science, history, and procedure into a rocket-paced thrill ride. The iconic Temperance Brennan is whip-smart, wise, and wickedly funny as she digs through the ashes of a deadly act of arson into old grudges and buried motives. This is classic Reichs—sure to delight her longtime fans and earn her legions of new ones. I tore through it in a single, breathless sitting.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The New Couple in 5B

“Kathy Reichs, always an amazing storyteller, has once again crafted an incredible novel—a keep-me-up-all-night-story that shows off her expert ability to create characters who come alive on the page. For anyone who loves mystery, this is a must read!”
—Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author of Whispers at Dusk and The Reaper Follows

“I loved Kathy Reichs’s Fire and Bones in which the iconic Temperance Brennan brings her forensic expertise, dogged detection skills, and wry sense of humor to Washington, DC to investigate a harrowing fire scene. The twists and turns in the case come fast and furious, but Tempe handles each with her trademark aplomb, and every entry in this landmark series is a must-read for me! If you haven’t read Reichs, start now!”
—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of Look Again, Save Me, and The Truth About the Devlins

“This one is packed with plenty of menace, a pitch perfect plot, and a brilliant and complicated heroine. Kathy Reichs is sharper, deeper, and better than ever. Another terrific novel from a consummate storyteller—who knows all the right chords to touch.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Templar Legacy and The Atlas Maneuver

Narrator Linda Emond returns to deliver a masterful performance in the 23rd installment of the Temperance Brennan series. Emond has found the perfect voice for the forensic anthropologist who relentlessly works to put together the puzzles provided by body remains. This adventure takes Brennan to a tragic fire in an illegal Airbnb in Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC. Listeners will learn about criminals from the Prohibition era and their continued legacy. Through tone, accent, and pace, Emond confidently portrays the male and female characters, good and evil. She skillfully ratchets up the tension as Brennan finds herself in life-threatening situations. Author Kathy Reichs's engaging plot partnered with Emond's exceptional narration will keep listeners glued to their earbuds. E.Q. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine

2024-05-31
Forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan gets talked into spending an endless week in the nation’s capital—though it’s not nearly as hellish for her as for the victims on whose behalf she toils.

On the point of joining her lover, Det.-Lt. Andrew Ryan of the Sûreté du Quebec, for a rare holiday weekend trip to Savannah, Tempe gets a call from Dr. Jada Thacker, Washington’s interim medical examiner, begging her to come up to help identify victims from a fire in an illegal Airbnb even though it’s Memorial Day and there are no flights to D.C. and no hotel rooms to be had. Naturally Tempe agrees, driving up to the city and staying the night with Ivy Doyle, a television news reporter who was embedded with Tempe’s daughter, Katy, in Afghanistan. That one-night stay gets extended further and further as new details of the case pop up. The most pivotal of these is Tempe’s own discovery of a fifth corpse in the building’s subcellar, a space that doesn’t even appear on the building’s plans. Unlike the other four victims, this woman wasn’t killed in the fire; she’s been dead for at least five years—in fact, as it turns out, for a lot longer. Determined to get justice for a woman she can’t even identify, Tempe agrees to stay on and do whatever it takes. The roots of the case go so deep into the past that there’s room for a surprising number of guilty parties—and a remarkable number of red herrings that are blithely dismissed in the final chapter.

If you think this installment isn’t up to this long-running series’ high average, just wait till next year.