Bones of the Lost

A Temperance Brennan Novel

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Linda Emond

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her sixteenth riveting novel featuring forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan, whose examination of a young girl killed in a hit and run in North Carolina triggers an investigation into international human trafficking.

When Charlotte police discover the body of a teenage girl along a desolate stretch of two-lane highway, Temperance Brennan fears the worst. The girl’s body shows signs of foul play. Inside her purse police find the ID card of a prominent local businessman, John-Henry Story, who died in a horrific flea market fire months earlier. Was the girl an illegal immigrant turning tricks? Was she murdered?

The medical examiner has also asked Tempe to examine a bundle of Peruvian dog mummies confiscated by U.S. Customs. A Desert Storm veteran named Dominick Rockett stands accused of smuggling the objects into the country. Could there be some connection between the trafficking of antiquitiesand the trafficking of humans?

As the case deepens, Tempe must also grapple with personal turmoil. Her daughter Katy, grieving the death of her boyfriend in Afghanistan, impulsively enlists in the Army. As pressure mounts from all corners, Tempe soon finds herself at the center of a conspiracy that extends all the way from South America, to Afghanistan, and right to the center of Charlotte. “A genius at building suspense” (Daily News, New York), Kathy Reichs is at her brilliant best in this thrilling novel.

Entertaining and Fun

It starts a little lame, but once things get going, the plot moves fast. It held my attention and made a long drive much more enjoyable.

Good read/listen :)

I enjoyed the story, the visual pictures and all the pieces that came together in the end.

Worthy Addition to the Series

Two notes on the audiobook, then a review of the book as a whole.

For me, Linda Emond is the voice of Temperance Brennan; she handles voices of other characters well; the pacing is great and her voice is pleasant.

I enjoy the essay that appears at the end of the more recent books in this series. This was added to just one of the audiobooks--and is missing from this one. I think it should be added to the recorded material. (Switching back and forth between the audiobook and Kindle book, I read the essay at the end of the latter.)

As an aside, Whispersync is great--love the ability to switch back and forth between audio and e-book.

A fan of Kathy Reich’s books (though not the related television series), I enjoyed Bones of the Lost. The book’s plot, complexity and cast of characters kept me engaged, and I enjoyed its diverse settings for the action. I appreciate the way the author grounds her stories in interesting factual material—the product of research and of her own experiences as forensic anthropologist, and as someone who traveled to Afghanistan at the behest of the USO “to thank our troops for their courage and dedication.”

As ever, I found the narrator, Tempe Brennan, relatable, apart from her inclination to rush into dangerous situations—particularly her intelligence, and an inclination to introspection that tempers her the effect of her impatience on readers, if not on the fictional recipients of brusque interactions. The relatable aspects of her life—connections with relatives and pets, with her ex; the way her fridge ends up bare as mine does when we are busy—ground the drama, make it easier to relate and care when her actions seem rude or reckless; more readily accepting of improbable coincidence.

As one who read this book as part of a series, I enjoyed the continuing evolution of the characters in this book, particularly the evolving relationship with Skinny Slidell. Slidell is sometimes comical in his pretensions, often repellant due to poor grooming and other rough edges, but this seems secondary when he demonstrates effectiveness in his work as a detective, willingness to work with Tempe when she goes beyond the boundaries of her official role, and tolerance when she is rude. I can also relate to daughter Katy’s transformation after joining the U.S. Army; I’ve seen and experienced the effect that military service can have on previously-aimless young people. Katy still clearly loves her mother and enjoys her company, but is increasingly independent, appropriate as she is in her mid-twenties. And Pete, reliable, caring ex-husband (possibly officially divorced, possibly not), apparently over his mid-life fling with a much-younger woman, though there have been others. Andrew Ryan's brief appearance was enough for me--I'm not much of a fan of his so far.

From my perspective, this book succeeds as entertainment. I also appreciate the opportunity to further consider issues related to human trafficking, as well as the experiences of deployed members of our armed forces.

Solid Reichs effort

There are several things you can count on when reading a Kathy Reichs novel: extremely detailed forensic information passed on to the reader throughout, Tempe going rogue and risking her life because Slidell has the audacity to have other things going on in his life, lots of conversations with Birdie, the cat, and so many rhetorical questions! I enjoy the forensic stuff - I'm learning stuff while enjoying a good book. Tempe is annoying at times. She's not a cop, but she goes way beyond her position every time. I'm frankly surprised that Slidell, who is annoying in his own special way, hasn't murdered her. At any rate, this book takes Tempe all over the world, and ends up being a sad tale of human trafficking with a rather surprise ending. I overlook the things about Tempe that aggravate me, because, at the core, these are very good stories. Linda Emond narrates perfectly.

Human trafficking

Another great story. This one centered around the seedy world of human trafficking. Another great reading done by the actor