Book Review Jackie K Cooper
BONES OF THE LOST by Kathy Reichs
Kathy Reichs is the author of the series of BONES books. They have been so successful that a TV series has been developed from them. Both the books and the TV shows feature a forensic anthropologist named Temperance Brennan, but other than that this central character the plots and characters move in different directions.
The Temperance of Reichs' books is a divorced woman with a daughter in the military and a current boyfriend who is also a member of a military unit. Her ex-husband Pete is still involved in her life even though he is planning a wedding with a new lady friend. All of these characters richly people Reichs' novels and make her stories of murder and mayhem even more enjoyable.
In Reichs' latest novel BONES OF THE LOST Temperance is called upon to examine the body of a fourteen or fifteen year old girl who was the victim of a hit and run. The girl's identity is unknown as are the circumstances surrounding her death. Temperance is able to make some observations from her examination of the body but she feels there are secrets that do not arise.
Temperance enlists the assistance of homicide detective "Skinny" Slidell in hopes he can track down the details surrounding the girl's death. There is something about this girl being unknown and unclaimed that gets to Temperance. She even begins to do some investigating of her own.
The beauty of Reichs books is the manner in which she lays out and plays out her plot. In this story Reichs sends Temperance from Charlotte, North Carolina to Afghanistan. The situation in one place appears to have no relation to a situation in the other place, but in Reichs' inventive mind they do. At times this relationship becomes a bit of a stretch but in the end it works, and that is what is important.
Reichs, who actually is a forensic anthropologist, incorporates her own special skills set into the story and is able to give details by the bucketsful as to how this science works and what it can reveal. Sometimes the information is too much for the reader to absorb but overall it is what makes Reichs' books stand out above the rest.
This is Reichs sixteenth "Bones" book and by now she knows her characters backwards and forwards. This makes the actions of her characters completely acceptable because she knows how they will and do act in a variety of circumstances.
If you are a mystery lover who wants to know the details involved in a case then you will quickly become a Reichs fan. She puts it all on the table and makes it all rational and explainable. So pick up BONES OF THE LOST, a solid Kathy Reichs story for all the right reasons.
BONES OF THE LOST is published by Scribner. It contains 336 pages and sells for $26.99.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.com