Grave Secrets

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Katherine Borowitz

It was a summer morning in 1982 when soldiers ravaged the village of Chupan Ya, raping and killing women and children. Twenty-three victims are said to lie in the well where Dr. Temperance Brennan and a team from the Guatemalan Forensic Anthropology Foundation now dig. No records were kept. To their families, the dead are "the disappeared."

The team is packing up for the day when an urgent satellite call comes in. Two colleagues are under attack. Shots ring out, and Tempe listens in horror to a woman's screams. Then there is silence. Dead silence.

With this new violence, Tempe is asked by the Guatemalan police for her expertise on another case. Four privileged young women have vanished from Guatemala City in recent months. One is the Canadian ambassador's daughter. Some remains have turned up in a septic tank. Unfortunately, Tempe knows septic tanks.

Teaming with Special Crimes Investigator Bartolomé Galiano, and with Montreal detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe soon finds herself in a dangerous web that stretches far beyond Guatemala's borders. As power, money, greed, and science converge, Tempe must make life-altering choices.

From cutting-edge science in the lab, where Tempe studies fetal bones and cat hair DNA, to a chilling encounter in a lonely morgue, Grave Secrets is powerful entertainment from a crime fiction superstar who combines riveting authenticity with witty, elegant prose.

Don't miss any of Tempe Brennan's investigations.©2002 Temperance Brennan, L.P., All Rights Reserved (P)2002 Simon & Schuster Inc., All Rights Reserved, AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Critic reviews

"The author keeps the twists coming, and by the novel's climax, she has skillfully interwoven her many subplots and red herrings into a satisfying puddle of sex, sleaze, greed and gore." (Publishers Weekly)
"One of [crime fiction's] more complex and interesting protagonists." (Amazon.com)

Give it up, already

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I tend not to recommend books which use derision and ridicule against real politicians, no matter what the party affiliations.

What was most disappointing about Kathy Reichs’s story?

Warning: Spoilers!The suggestion that if human embryonic stem cell research WASN'T limited to specific lines, then a black market wouldn't exist, or that embryos wouldn't be created for the sake of harvesting them is lame. And for a character that supposedly has a difficult time with violence done to children, Tempe seems to be flippant when it comes to using aborted children for research. Has she ever seen an aborted baby? Probably. But she won't let that won't stand in the way of progress!

Near the end, how Tempe manages to get into the killer's location seems totally irrational for a sensible professional who works closely with law enforcement. To throw away characteristic common sense to move the story along is a cheat.

Any additional comments?

For the most part, I liked this book. The twists were often surprising and at points I wanted to slap characters upside the head (including Tempe-- quit thinking like a scorned high school sophomore), which means I found myself thoroughly engaged.

Great book, terrible chapter breakdown

The breakdown of the book out to only 9 "chapters" rather than the 31 of the actual book was pretty annoying. These are great books and details like that should be tended to.

great story. .<br />

my husband and I like to listen as we drive together. ...enjoyable way to pass the time

Kinda realistic

Loved the book, the ending unfortunately was so-so. It's a very quiet book. Tempe Brennans musings, moods and observations on interpersonal relations are recounted. It also tries to explain the forensic procedures. I liked that, because it seems to be far more realistic than the flashy CSI stuff.
Her character and the mood of the book is very different from "Bones" the tv series. I was okay with that, but be warned.

Always a good book

Narration was perfect with the Spanish and French language. Story got a little confusing but still very good listen

Another winner

I am always amazed by Ms Reich’s technical knowledge and find it fascinating. I got some of the names mixed up a bit The narrator spoke the French and Spanish flawlessly which doesn’t always happen. I’m going straight to the next in the series.

I enjoyed it

This was a good medical mystery. You learn a lot of information on Forensic anthropology.

Great Book!

I've listened to them all. Great series if you like forensics.

Best listened to in order.

Overall okay

I would prefer to have a one narrator instead of it getting switched each book. I did not like how this book was set up. The chapter were in larger parts, and was hard to get to a correct chapter without having to surf through hour(s) sections.

Much better than expected!

This was my first Kathy Reichs book, and given other reviewers' comments I was braced for a gross disappointment that never came. I should know by now that the longer reviews of books one normally finds are sour in nitpicky ways, regarding either an author's style or that of the narrator.

I enjoyed Reichs' writing. The lengthy descriptions of people and places painted vivid scenes. Her clever use of metaphors and turns of phrase often had me laughing out loud. Also, the sarcasm among the characters was delicious. There were some gaps in background story here and there, but I easily ascribed it to this being my first read of her series, of which this is the fifth. (I started here because it's the earliest of her books on audio that is unabridged.)

A narrator can make or break a book. One reviewer here was right in suggesting that an author should approve one before the project proceeds. This narrator was pretty good. She has some flat moments here and there, but on the whole she gave life to the characters and was pleasant to listen to.

I'm off to download the next unabridged Reichs book, Bare Bones. Reviewers trashed it, more the narrator than the book itself, but I'll just have to see.