Speaking in Bones

A Novel

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Katherine Borowitz

No one speaks the language of suspense more brilliantly than Kathy Reichs, number-one New York Times best-selling author of the acclaimed Temperance Brennan series. In Speaking in Bones, the forensic anthropologist finds herself drawn into a world of dark secrets and dangerous beliefs, where good and evil blur.

Professionally, Temperance Brennan knows exactly what to do - test, analyze, identify. Her personal life is another story. She's at a loss, wondering how to answer police detective Andrew Ryan's marriage proposal. But the matter of matrimony takes a backseat when murder rears its head.

Hazel "Lucky" Strike - a strident amateur detective who mines the Internet for cold cases - comes to Brennan with a tape recording of an unknown girl being held prisoner and terrorized. Strike is convinced the voice is that of 18-year-old Cora Teague, who went missing more than three years earlier. Strike is also certain that the teenager's remains are gathering dust in Temperance Brennan's lab.

Brennan has doubts about working with a self-styled websleuth. But when the evidence seems to add up, Brennan's next stop is the treacherous backwoods where the chilling recording (and maybe Cora Teague's bones) were discovered. Her forensic field trip turns up only more disturbing questions - along with gruesome proof of more untimely deaths.

While local legends of eerie nocturnal phenomena and sinister satanic cults abound, it's a zealous and secretive religious sect that has Brennan spooked and struggling to separate the saints from the sinners. But there's nothing, including fire and brimstone, that can distract her from digging up the truth and taking down a killer - even as Brennan finds herself in a place where angels fear to tread, devils demand their due, and she may be damned no matter what.

©2015 Kathy Reichs (P)2015 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Fans who follow the series will be delighted with this strong entry, with its gripping first chapter. Listener newcomers will be easily drawn in by Borowitz's involving style." ( AudioFile)

Held my attention

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is good at bones. But as a sleuth, she sure can get herself in hot water. And she does in this novel. There was at least one time when I thought we were at the end of the series. Tempe is trying to get to the bottom of a head found in a bucket, and she wanders into a church of religious zealots. Author Kathy Reichs is a master of suspense, and this book just flew by.

And lo and behold, her longtime boyfriend Andrew Ryan proposed to her! She's having some trouble deciding whether to accept — because her ex-husband did her so wrong.

I didn't really like the story, but it was a page-turner, and that made the book for me.

Keeps your interest & is well performed

When storytellers are blatant about educating their audience, I find it a bit offensive and trite. I had to overlook a bit of that while listening to this book. Please, authors, assume that your audience is somewhat intelligent... Apart from that, I enjoyed the story, the strong female lead humanized with a cat & eccentric mother and especially enjoyed the setting as I currently live in North Carolina.

another great book

living in Rock Hill, outside of Charlotte, it is fascinating to know the locations. but way beyond that, the stories are always great fun too read.

Great story with great narration

Kathy Reichs delivers again, aided by a top-notch performance by Katherine Borowitz. Reichs gives us a story loaded with believable twists and turns, plus scientific facts that make every chapter interesting. Her characters continue to develop from book to book, yet any of them work well by themselves. The Temperance Brennan series has always provided hours of enjoyment for me. If you're looking for a strong, but slightly flawed, female character, Tempe is an excellent choice.

Kept me listening

What did you love best about Speaking in Bones?

I love the way that Tempe speaks.I love her phrases. I have no French "bones" and I love the way the narrator can pronounce those parts of the story!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Speaking in Bones?

The ending... sorry no spoilers here!

Have you listened to any of Katherine Borowitz’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

n/a

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I couldn't stop listening to it!! But I'm always dying for the next Tempe book!!!

Any additional comments?

I really love the changes in "Skinny"!

wonderful book!

Awesome

Great book, Kathy is a great author. Will read anything she writes. Do not like the Bones show however.

Kathy Reich's does it again

this is yet another awesome book by Kathy riechs good story well performed well written as usual

Good story, Tempe at her most annoying

I enjoyed the story. There were new and interesting characters like Lucky Strike and the deputy from the neighboring county. Tempe, with her indecision and inability to use common sense, annoyed me this time. When faced with danger Tempe just has a need to wade in by herself and put herself at mortal risk. This behavior is getting old. Having her wait for back up would be refreshing. Her indecision with Ryan made her seem juvenile, petulant and made me want to scream at Ryan, "Run!" The performance was good and I will read/listen to the next one but I hope Tempe has dealt with her midlife crisis.

I didn't see that coming!

I just want to say that the ending twist was a surprise to me. Can't wait to see what is in store for Brennan and Ryan next.

Very Disappointing

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The ending comes out of nowhere and seems contrived.

What was most disappointing about Kathy Reichs’s story?

The pace of the story (drags) and the strange ending.