Break No Bones

A Novel

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Dorothee Berryman

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs comes a book set in Charleston, South Carolina, the center of a lucrative, clandestine, sophisticated trade in body parts—the kind that leaves the donor dead.

Summoned to South Carolina to fill in for a negligent colleague, Tempe is stuck teaching a lackluster archaeology field school in the ruins of a Native American burial ground on the Charleston shore. But when Tempe stumbles upon a fresh skeleton among the ancient bones, her old friend Emma Rousseau, the local coroner, persuades her to stay on and help with the investigation. When Emma reveals a disturbing secret, it becomes more important than ever for Tempe to help her friend close the case.

The body count begins to climb. An unidentified man is found hanging from a tree deep in the woods. Another corpse shows up in a barrel. There are mysterious nicks on bones in several bodies, and signs of strangulation. Tempe follows the trail to a free street clinic with a belligerent staff, a suspicious doctor, and a donor who is a charismatic televangelist. Clues abound in the most unlikely places as Tempe uses her unique knowledge and skills to build her case, even as the local sheriff remains dubious and her own life is threatened.

Tempe’s love life is also complicated. Ryan, her current flame, has come down to visit her from Montreal, and Pete, her former husband, is investigating the disappearance of a local woman—and he and Tempe are staying in the same borrowed beach house. Ryan and Pete compete for her attentions, and Tempe finds herself more distracted by her feelings for both men than she expected.

Break No Bones is a smart, taut thriller featuring the kind of high-stakes crime that makes the headlines every week. Reichs, the inspiration for the hit TV show Bones, is writing at the top of her form, and Tempe has never been more compelling.©2006 Temperance Brennan, L.P. All rights reserved; (P)2006 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"A brilliant novel in the tradition of the best Southern gothic writing! What a pleasure it is to watch Tempe Brennan on the job once again, this time in the perfectly realized world of South Carolina. Reichs's seamless blending of fascinating science and dead-on psychological portrayals, not to mention a whirlwind of a plot, make Break No Bones a must read."

-- Jeffery Deaver, author of The Cold Moon and The Twelfth Card

"A rare treat indeed for the discerning mystery reader! Kathy Reichs is a working forensic anthropologist who can also write! She combines her brilliance in both arts in her mesmerizing novels, and Break No Bones is the best yet! I am awed by its power and her ability to demonstrate what I call 'the silent secrets in the bones.' Once again, I am so impressed with the wealth of knowledge Reichs draws on, her suspenseful plotting, and her marvelous ear for dialogue and sense of place. Temperance Brennan rides again in this compelling tale of a suspenseful murder probe. Reichs' fans will be delighted; I predict an overnight bestseller! Reading Break No Bones kept pulling me away from my own deadlines, but I loved it!"

-- Ann Rule, author of Green River, Running Red; Worth More Dead and the forthcoming Too Late to Say Goodbye

Narrarator not suited for this genre

She came across as whiny and petty. Her voice was more suited to a romance novel. Her fake Southern accent was awful.
Loved the closing thought.

Break No Bones

This may be the inspiration for the TV Series "Bones" but other than names, sex & occupation, it bears no resemblance to the bland fare on the Tube. Kathy Reichs writes with knowledge & details which make the listener part of the investigation. The characters are real & the dialog believable. The Reader is able to bring the characters to life with credible accents & even hostility! I love this series & recommend it to anyone who loves Cornwall's Kay Scarpetta. Tempe Brennan is not as angry as Scarpetta but every bit as committed to her 'clients'. A good listen.

Quite dark but captivating

I have watched and liked the TV-series Bones but this was my first book behind that production. The book is quite different than the TV-show and at first it confused me a little. I must say the dark tones in this book made it little heavy to listen, but story was good. The love life of Dr. Brennan was quite prominent, perhaps too much for me. This book made me a little sad and it was depressing. Some medical terms were little difficult to follow in an audio book for me.

I think I need to find an other book of Kathy Reichs, perhaps a book where sun is shining.

Wouldn't listen to it again!

I thought this was slow and I don't think I would recommend it.

No Bones About It...

...is this author wordy! Interesting characters, decent plot, but this book is evidence that manuscripts simply aren't edited any more. Advantage? You can lose your concentration on your ride home, take a phone call, and pick up with the narrative not having missed anything essential. Good, but v-e-r-y frustrating at times.