Having read previous outings involving Temperance Brennan, although not for some time, I was keen to dip back in to find out what was going on with her but, and I am really sorry to say this, this one just didn't grab me like they usually do and I found myself jumping in and out rather than being captivated and enthralled. If I'm honest, I think this is my fault ... I should have kept up with the series as I believe I have missed out on an awful lot.

I found the story really hard to get into with quite a bit of inner dialogue which was a little tedious. It did pick up the more I read but just not enough to keep my interest from start to finish. The characters however are excellent and the bones of the story is there, I just felt the execution wasn't as good as previous books from this author.

I do think that people who have read the entire series will enjoy it more than I did and I would therefore suggest that if you are thinking of starting with this one, don't as it will put you off reading more of this author's work and you will certainly be missing out.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster UK and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest. This is not my usual genre therefore am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Reichs is back at doing what she does so amazingly well. Crafting a novel that flows along at a breakneck speed. Satisfying and tense you wont want to put it down

I really struggled to get into this book, so it was a DNF. I have never read a book by this author before. I had no idea this was a series and could not be read as a stand alone, this is possibly why it didn’t flow for me. I would try this author again – but perhaps start at the beginning of a series!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Despite my usual plea for people to start from book one and read in order, this is a series where I have gaps. I'm not proud of that but I do have to go to work and have other commitments so even I can't always practice what I preach all the time... That said, I don't think this impeded my enjoyment of this, the 19th book in the Temperance Brennan series.
Brennan is still in the middle of ongoing health issues and also feeling the fallout from the loss of her old boss when she receives a bunch of anonymous text messages containing photos of a corpse which is missing hands and face. Her interest is immediately piqued and she is determined to find out more. In true Marplesque fashion, she inveigles herself onto the investigation, risking the wrath of her new boss who already holds a big grudge, to try and get to the bottom of who the victim is and how and why they died, utilising everything and everybody at her disposal to beat her nemesis to the truth.
Well, this hit the ground running in all its convoluted and interconnected glory! I was literally glued to my kindle throughout, desperate to get to the bottom of what on earth was going on. With not much to go on initially, this wasn't a book that I could try to second guess but the case both interested and intrigued me enough that I was more than happy to just sit back and enjoy the ride that Brennan and the author took me on.
Brennan is a slightly different character in this book as she is cut adrift from work and has to rely on her own wiles more in this book. Not the easiest thing to do given her current personal health worries, so we do see a whole different side of her in this book. She comes across as much more vulnerable but, in her own inimitable fashion, she still has the grit and tenacity that those of us more familiar with her can easily recognise. As she is still well respected outwith her department we do see some great technology used to assist, as well as others helping her along the way.
Plotting is good and well executed, pacing follows the narrative well and there is an underlying feeling of uncertainty that is woven in and around everything that is going on due to Brennan's health. All of which kept me on my toes throughout, but when the whole truth was finally revealed, left me wholly satisfied.
All in all, a good addition to an already well established series. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan returns in Kathy Reichs latest novel.

Her professional life is heading south and her health is causing her serious worries.
So when a new case presents to her department and she is sidelined, she takes it on herself to nosey around anyway. She quickly realises she is onto something much bigger than what it appears and her boss is not digging nearly enough.

The story is well paced and the characters are rounded and real.

Unfortunately I struggled to feel involved in the story. I'm not sure why. Maybe it was the voice or the writing style. I just felt detached most of the way through.

First book by this author and it didnt grip me. The introduction grabbed me immediately but then lost me by talking about other cases which I thought might get related to the main story but with the different characters, use of Latvian and technology were too constant for me to keep track. Sorry! Thank you netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster UK, Kathy Reichs and NetGalley for my digital review copy - my thoughts are my own.

I first started reading the Temperance Brennan books over 20 years ago. Every summer holiday I would buy a paperback copy, read it and pass it onto my husband to read. However I haven't read the last few novels, so it was good to catch up with the characters.

The majority of the story is set in the USA rather than Montreal. Temperance's daughter is mentioned but doesn't feature in the story. Ryan has a small part to play compared to previous novels.

In this book, Temperance starts to investigate the death of a person found with no ID and a damaged body. She deals a tangled web of fake identities, conspiracy theories, child disappearances during her investigations.

I enjoyed the book. There are lots of twists and turns, red herrings and intrigue. As usual, Temperance is determined to solve the case without waiting around for help which often leads her into danger.

I enjoyed reading the "From the Forensic Files of Dr Kathy Reichs" at the end of the book - which explained where the ideas for the book came from but also about her own health scares.

I am a big fan of Kathy Reichs and everything forensics-related but ashamed to admit I’ve not read any of her books for quite a while. I found this one a bit difficult to get in to and found it a bit hard-going at times. I was a bit disappointed that she took on the role of police investigator rather than her usual day job.
At times I got a bit confused with, what at times, seemed a bit of a complicated storyline involving a mysterious unidentified body, child abductions and possible links to child sexual abuse , while some of the technology parts went straight over my head.
Aside from this I did enjoy the book and am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy to review.
I look forward to the next instalment in the life of Temperance Brennan, hopefully involving more forensic anthropology.

The story was quite convoluted and certainly made me feel like it was part novel, part fever dream. An enjoyable enough novel, but a disappointment for a Kathy Reichs fan. I think the Tempe character has maybe had her day - a forensic anthropologist not doing any forensics or anthropology seems to be stretching the series beyond its best.

A welcome return by Kathy Reichs. I felt the book had a slow start and it took a little to get going but once I got into the book, I had to keep reading until I’d finished. A great addition to the Temperance Brennan series and I look forward to the next one!

An enjoyable read that isn’t as fast paced as some previous books. I found parts of the storyline tricky to follow (Tempe’s missing time) and would have liked to see that addressed. Nevertheless it was a good read.

I have to say this is the first Kathy Reich's book that I have not finished. I have read and enjoyed all the Temp books but I just couldn't get into this at all and started to just skim through it. She seems to be following in the footsteps of Patricia Cornwell with Kay Scarpetta. I loved her books until she just seemed to change the Character into someone else. Please bring back the Temp we all know and love and doing what she does best.

It's been a while since I have read a book by this author. A good story but unfortunately bogged down with technology which really spoiled it for me. Temperance spent more time playing detective. A very busy read which had me rereading as I was getting confused. I am sure we all have our favourite books from this author for me I am afraid this is not one of them. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster UK and Netgalley for the ARC.

As always with this long-running series, an enjoyable read. Well-written and well-researched, the only drawback is that this particular story gets bogged down in technology. Tempe Brennan is involved in a less official capacity than normal and she is more central to developments than is necessary.

A continuation of the temperance Brennan series.
The story is a mixture of Tempe’s personal and work lives and the struggles with her boss, her health and a case to solve, except it isn’t her case. Teaming up with skinny and taking plenty of risk they work to solve the case of the mysterious body found.
The ID of the body leads to a bigger crime and conspiracy, which I didn’t feel as though it had been told in the most exciting ways, pace was seriously lacking as well as any truly interesting characters that weren’t already known to us and even then I’m not sure I was all that keen on them.
By the end everything is all wrapped up in a neat little bow thanks to Brennan and skinny....or is it!?

If this is the 19th Temperance Brennan book then that's how many I've read. I've enjoyed every one of them - though, of course, some more than others. This is definitely a goody. Tempe is struggling - as our author has been. Many times questions of mortality are raised - it made me think of my own.

Loved it

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinions.

A welcome return by Kathy Reichs. I felt the book had a slow start and it took a little to get going but once I got into the book, I had to keep reading until I’d finished. A great addition to the Temperance Brennan series and I look forward to the next one!

I have read almost all of Kathy Reichs titles and this is very much in line with her other titles. She is the queen of her genre I think and while this case has the added complexity of her being out of favour with her new boss, she continues to the successful outcome she usually enjoys!

I have been reading Kathy Reichs books since the beginning and although I have missed the last few it was really easy to get back into Tempe’s adventures.
The story is gripping although I did find the references to all the different characters and their stories a bit confusing. It would also have been nice to see what Tempe’s does best, which is working with bodies and forensics rather than just play detective with Slidell.
Tempe is her usual stubborn self that does her best to resolve the mystery while getting herself into trouble. It would also have been nice to see a bit more of Ryan, since they’re meant to be making a go of it, but judging by the ending that might come in future books.
All in all this is another great books by Kathy Reichs although not one of her best hence the four stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK.