Monday, October 19, 2009 10:21 PM CDT
Book Review: '206 Bones,' by Kathy Reichs
Review by Juanita Sherwood
Kathy Reichs’s books feature Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist. Maybe the name sounds familiar because you have watched the television show named “Bones,” which is based on the book.
Differences between the television version and the printed one are many, but if you like mysteries, try one of the books if you have not already done so.
Reichs herself is a forensic anthropologist. She has worked in both North Carolina and in Quebec, as does “the print” Temperance. Reichs’ books are loosely based on cases she has either worked herself or on cases she is familiar with.
In the books, Temperance is older than on television, has a daughter who is a young adult, and an ex-husband whom she tolerates occasionally. She has an on-again/off-again romantic relationship with Ryan, a local police detective, and a professional relationship with him as well.
This book begins with Temperance being muddled mentally and held in a place she is unfamiliar with. Her “fuzzy thought sections” are italicized and interspersed with chapters that describe what has happened in the immediate past.
She finally remembers that she and Ryan had been in Chicago on a case, but soon returned home to Canada; they then became involved in solving crimes that involved victims who were elderly women.
This situation bothers Temperance even more than some others have because the victims are very vulnerable members of society who seem targeted for some unexplained reason. The way the victims are discovered to have spent their last moments on earth are very troubling indeed.
For Temperance, trouble is also afoot at the office of the coroner/medical examiner. The chief is off on medical leave and not yet ready to return. Staff members have agreed to split the chief’s responsibilities in his absence, but nevertheless, issues arise where his presence is sorely missed.
Temperance’s assistant has left and a new hire is being broken in. Also in the office is a new pathologist with a hidden agenda; she is making life miserable for other staff and has gained the confidence of the coroner, who feels she is doing a fine job.
Adding to the conflict is a neighbor of Temperance’s who constantly gives her “grief” over her ownership of a cat. Animals are not allowed in her condo complex, but she has obtained special permission to have it. Even though the contrary neighbor’s condo does not border hers, he still causes trouble over it.
Eventually, Temperance is harassed; it is difficult to know whether it is the pesky neighbor, the suspected killer, or someone from her office with a grudge. Any of those are distinct possibilities.
During the imprisonment that the book opens with, when Temperance’s faculties are finally coherent enough to make sense of her captivity, her professional training assists her in her escape. Others in the same situation might have panicked and succumbed to terror, but her level head prevails, and with Ryan’s assistance, she is rescued.
Reichs’ books contain interesting information about forensic anthropology work, about procedures used to study bones for the clues they can serve up to help solve what happened, sometimes many years ago.
For instance, bones of four victims found in a lake are identified even though they might be nearly 40 years old — or are they? Temperance isn’t so sure, but another in her office is sure….
If you enjoy any of the television shows that delve into forensic science, give these books a try. If you have read and enjoyed Reichs before, you will not be disappointed in this one.
Sherwood of Charleston is a retired reading teacher.
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