This is the 22nd book on the Temperance Brennan forensic anthropologist series. However I don’t believe that you need to have read all the other books in order to pick up and enjoy this book. This thriller was a really well written page turner. The main character was well written and empathetic and I appreciated that while there were many supporting characters there weren’t so many that it was hard to track. I appreciated the pacing of the book and that I feel I learned interesting facts. Well written, well paced, and interesting!

Author Kathy Reichs provides another great Temperance Brennan mystery with THE BONE HACKER. Tempe is still living in Quebec and, faced with a challenging new case, quickly finds herself relocated to Turks and Caicos in a seemingly connected case. The book is filled with the details and science-y forensic anthropology details that makes this series so fascinating to read. Of course, the mystery is also compelling and there are enough red herrings to keep readers engaged. This is a tale that does not disappoint. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

The Bone Hacker, by Kathy Reichs, is Book #22 in her Temperance Brennan series, and a very readable, high suspense, forensic mystery.
In this novel, Tempe is happily living with Andrew Ryan in Montreal, finally enjoying comfortable domesticity while they are at the peak of their respective careers.
A body is found in pieces, tangled in the motor of a boat plying the St. Lawrence River. Identifying the victim reveals connections to the Cay Boys, a Caribbean gang, and Tempe is asked to join a larger investigation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The story is fascinating, as more bodies are found in the islands as well as a mysteriously adrift charter fishing boat with five dead men aboard. Tempe teams up with Musgrove, another strong female in the local PD, and Monck, a detective with the local PD, to identify the victims, the killers, and the motive for the killings.
I really like the atmospheric narrative, first illuminating local customs in Montreal/Quebec, and then paradoxically, the customs of the stunning Caribbean location. The story is certainly contemporary, involving the activities of real gangs in both locales, “scoring”--kids shooting kids--and hackers who can remotely commandeer computer systems and cause havoc with ships and airplanes.
This is another taut thriller featuring the always brilliant Temperance Brennan, with her dry wit and pithy observations of the human condition.
I highly recommend this new “Bones” entry!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Exactly Not A Fun In The Sun Trip to an Island Paradise

The novel opens with a man falling from a bridge in Montreal, but he already is dead. While in the water, he has an unfortunate interaction with a ship’s propeller. On Monday, there was a report of a man struck by lighting and falling off the bridge. The body is found on Monday, and Tempe is to fish out a dead body from the water as it seemed to match her skill set. Once there, she must fight the seagulls to bring up seaweed mixed with body parts that was fouling a boat’s propeller. As Tempe performs an autopsy of what remained of the remains, she discovers a tattoo that belongs to a gang based in the Turks and Caicos Islands. She calls the island police, and the detective says she will fly to Montreal tomorrow and talk with her. From this strange start, Tempe is sucked into a trip to the Turks and Caicos Islands unfortunately not for fun in the sun.

Once the main storyline shifts the island paradise, the main storyline becomes quite complex quite quickly. Tempe was there to properly recover and identify the two victims. As all that was a missing hand that is the MO of a serial killer. Before she can start with that task, the detective receives a text as soon as she turns on her cell phone upon exiting the airplane. Fishermen found a drifting boat with five badly decomposed bodies. Tempe assists in their recovery. Then, a visiting FBI agent goes missing on the island. When the FBI headquarters is contacted, they will not confirm that he is on official business. Then, someone close to Tempe is killed. The main storyline only becomes worse from there. I wanted to know how all these moving parts are resolved. I was not disappointed. My attention was captured and held right to the end.

This novel provides a new stage in Tempe’s and Ryan’s relationship. Tempe had lived for decades in a small, ground-level apartment in Montreal. Now, she and Ryan have left their previous residences and moved into a modern condominium on 15th floor of a high rise. If you have read her 22 novels in this series, this obviously is the last step in their cohabitation relationship. This is explained in this novel so, I believe, that the previous reading would not be necessary to realize this. In this novel, the reader will observe Tempe working under pressure and work with a detective that sees her as a fifth wheel. Lastly, the reader will see how Tempe reacts when Ryan becomes a death threat. As with all the previous novels, Tempe’s character enhanced my reading enjoyment.

For the aspect of a novel that stops some readers, first there are not any intimate scenes. The level of vulgar and rude language is present but not at a level that even came close to being a problem for me. The novel did provide the trifecta in swearing, French, British and American! Violence is portrayed after the fact but as with most of Tempe novels are provided in autopsy detail. I believe most readers will not have any problems with these aspects of this novel.

I did not find any aspects that I did not like about this novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It was an easy and fast read for me. I just could not put it down. The little things that make Tempe novels so enjoyable for me were present again. Her eye rolls and her snarky asides are great. While I was sad at one part of the novel, I was happy with the ending. This novel only cemented her position as one of my top Must-Read authors. I am definitely looking forward to reading any future books by Kathy Reichs. I rate this novel an easy five stars and strongly recommend reading it.

I received a free prepublication e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Scribner. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Scribner for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs is the latest book in the Temperance Brennan series (#22). It can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, even if you haven’t read any other stories in this series. Temperance must head to Turks and Caicos in this installment, presumably to help identify someone who washed up in Montreal but is from the islands. Still, when she arrives, she discovers more significant mysteries afoot - in the form of a serial killer, and her expertise is needed to solve the cases before someone else dies - maybe even Andrew Ryan.

I loved how fast pace this crime thriller read. The action kept me glued to the page as someone important is murdered, and clue after clue proves nothing more than a red herring. The conclusion didn’t take me by complete surprise, but then I suspected everybody at some point in the story, and that’s the only reason why. I loved the convincing red herrings that I eagerly followed. THey were well-placed and convincing.

Temperance continues to be an excellent main character. Independent and not one to take a lot of misogynistic bs, she always delights me with her knowledge and know-how. I met a lot of fascinating new characters - none of them stereotypes and all deliciously layered and flawed - from Temperance down to the most minor character.

Lastly, I also loved the setting. When isn’t an island setting simply ideal? Never, for me, and this was no exception. It also limited the suspects, almost like a locked room mystery, and I found this particularly appealing. As a matter of fact, this is my favorite installment of the series, and read the fastest for me.

Rounding up from 4.5 Stars for this review.

In The Bone Hacker, Dr. Tempe Brennan is asked to consult on a case in the Turks & Caicos' Islands, but the bodies start adding up and no one but Brennan can pull all the threads to solve this one. I found the plot very interesting, with some aspects of "whodunit" keeping me guessing right up to the end. I really liked the new characters that were introduced, though I missed our old standbys like Katy and Ryan. Some cons: While the start felt a little slow, the ending felt a little rushed and I wished we'd had a little more interaction between all of the law enforcement that came together to catch the killer and less of the Quebec-centric descriptions in the beginning. Also, I felt like Brennan made some really dumb mistakes for someone SO SMART, but she's always redeeming herself by making these connections that others might miss. If you like forensics, mysteries, island paradise beach vacations (ha!), and great characters, pick up The Bone Hacker. Fans of Dr. Brennan will love it, but you don't have to be 22 books in to appreciate this one! Big thanks to Scribner, NetGalley, and Kathy Reichs for the chance to read and review The Bone Hacker.

Another winner from Kathy Reichs! Temperance is at it again, only in a new locale in the tropics. The storyline was great and kept you guessing as to who the murderer was. I wish Musgrove could be a character in future books but Ryan is around as her steadfast beau. Lots of clues along the way as to what might be going on as to motive and an interesting cast of characters. Highly recommended! Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

It may have been a mistake for me to choose this one. It was the 22nd in a series and did not work for me as a stand alone. There were a lot of characters in the story, but not a lot.of information about them. The setting could have been much more a part of the story. It was one of the reasons I chose the book. The mystery didn't really come together well for me. The book may be better for those who are fans of the series, but he warned if you are looking for a stand alone

I'll be honest- I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this series, both for the mysteries and for the characters. This latest is a terrific addition (although I'll bet it's also pretty darn good as a standalone). Tempe Brennan doesn't understand why Detective Tia Musgrove is so insistent on coming to Montreal from the Turks and Caicos to talk to her about the body of a young msn she's been working on- and then she does. Turns out young men- tourists- have been going missing on T&C- each one missing a hand. Four of them. So Tempe agrees to go help recover two skeletonized sets of remains but she finds a much bigger problem there- starting with the discovery of a yacht filled with dead men which was discovered adrift. And there's a missing FBI agent. This twists in and back on itself, with topical issues (most of which will only be apparent near the end). A quibble - the physical descriptions of everyone Tempe meets might make you feel a little uncomfortable. That said, you'll find yourself rooting for Det. Monck, among others. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC, Good storytelling and a clear voice for Tempe combined with a puzzle makes this a very good read.

This was my first Temperance Brennan book; coming in at 22 didn’t detract from the story. I’m not sure why I have never read the series as I love mysteries, thrillers, police procedurals, and forensics. The story was engaging, and I didn’t figure out who did it halfway through, so that was nice. I will also be going back to the beginning to start the series as I am intrigued to find out the backstory of Tempe’s current employment and relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner, and Kathy Reichs for the eARC.

Dr. Temperance Brennan finds an unusual tattoo on a body found in the water in Montreal. A detective from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Tiersa Musgrove travels to Canada to see the deceased. TCI Musgrove wants Brennan’s help with a serial killer on the islands—one that is taking the left hands off young, male victims. As soon as Brennan touches down in TCI, she becomes involved in a mysterious fishing boat case. One where all the passengers have died of hunger and exposure despite having cell phones and a fully functioning boat. What is going on in the Turks and Caicos Islands? Are all these cases somehow connected? Brennan is determined to find out and get back home as soon as possible.

Kathy Reichs delivers another great addition to the Temperance Brennan series. There isn’t much character development of Brennan in this one, but the mystery is a good one. I enjoyed reading about the setting of the Turks and Caicos and finding out about the different cases. This one has some detailed descriptions of bodies, which I found interesting. The twists are interesting and kept me wanting to read more. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys mysteries and thrillers. Even though this is the 22nd in a series, it could be read as a standalone. I give it 4/5 stars.

Title: The Bone Hacker
Author: Kathy Reichs
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 out of 5

Called in to examine what is left of a body struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in a much larger case. Young men – tourists – have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos for years. Seven years ago, the first victim was found in a strange location with both hands cut off; the other visitors vanished without a trace. But, recently, tantalizing leads have emerged and only Tempe can unravel them.

Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common – other than the strange locations where their bodies are eventually found, and the fact that the young men all seem to be the least likely to be involved in foul play. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. And then she turns up disturbing clues that what’s at stake may actually have global significance.

It isn’t long before the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud, and then Temper herself becomes a target.

This was a solid thriller read, as the Temperance Brennan books usually are. The opening scene was quite dramatic and hooked me in, although it had very little to do with the rest of the story. I enjoyed the setting of Turks and Caicos, although I felt the setting was left pretty hazy, and I didn’t get a feel for it or the culture there, which would have been fascinating. All in all, a solid read, and I finished the book in one sitting.

Kathy Reichs is a bestselling author. The Bone Hacker is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Scribner in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 8/4.)

The latest Tempe Brennan is out! This one sends Tempe to Turks and Caicos to help investigate what appears to be a serial killer, as the bodies of three men have been found, each missing their left hand.
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This was really everything I could have wanted out of this series, it's fast (I read this in a day), has some fun twists, and I really liked the new characters that came with this new location. I could have done with more Andrew Ryan though :)
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If you've been following this series, you will not be disappointed by this next installment!
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Thanks to @netgalley and @scribnerbooks for the early copy!

The Bone Hacker is book 22 in the Temperance Brennan series. Tempe is a forensic anthropologist who splits her time between Montreal and North Carolina. This book starts with Tempe looking into a few different cases in Montreal, but then being asked to consult on a case involving a possible serial killer on the islands of Turks and Caicos. While Tempe is involved in this difficult case on the islands, her significant other, Andrew Ryan, stays in Quebec consulting on a gang-related case.

I enjoy the book series so much more than the television series, Bones, that was based on these books. Both versions of Tempe are independant, intelligent women, but Tempe is a much more interesting and likable character in the books. In this installment, it's interesting seeing her take her skills to a new location, but I didn't like that Tempe and Andrew were apart for much of the book.

There is a lot going on in this story, but it is a fast read in part because of the mini-cliffhangers at the end of each chapter. Most of the different subplots come together by the end, but some remain unconnected making the story more complicated than it needs to be. I liked both the Canadian and the Turks and Caicos settings in this book. The main plot is interesting and Although this isn't my favorite of the series, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to reading more by Reichs. Fans of the book series will enjoy catching up with Tempe and if you're only familiar with the tv series, you will like getting to know the "original" Dr. Temperance Brennan.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and Scribner Books, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs is a police procedural with a focus on forensic anthropology. Temperance Brennan is the forensic anthropologist, which means she deals primarily in bones: ancient or more recent. She also takes calls for her to attend to bodies at crime scenes or accidents. This was one such morning. It was only pieces of a body, caught in the rotor of a boat motor. Enough to make a start. Fortunately, most of the rest of the body showed up later. An ID was made: a young man from Turks and Caicos. After the local police were called, a detective answered that she had better come up. It turns outs out Musgrove was not coming about this boy. She had some murders she needed Tempe’s help on. She had two newly discovered skeletons that she though were part of a serial killer’s work. She wanted Tempe to come to Turks and Caicos. Upon arrival, they were whisked to a scene on a boat that appeared to be upscale and in perfect shape, except for the corpses that were there with no obvious explanation.

Tempe is a professional and didn’t let the plethora of odd circumstances throw her off, much. She is not a detective, but an anthropologist and as such had no business in the field except to retrieve bones. That was not the case here. She visited an odd assortment of people that, at first glance, could have no relation to one another. She was creative and responsive and had, over the years, become very diplomatic, especially with the odd assortment of folks that were police officers. Turks and Caicos was a different sort of place, one she relished in many ways. This is only the second of this series that I have read, so I don’t have much to compare it to, but I really liked it. The character development was excellent, especially one time characters, and the plot was a good one. The mystery was interesting. The forensics were interesting. Turks and Caicos was interesting. The way the FBI acted when they arrived was off-putting, but not different than a lot of authors portray them. All-in-all, an intriguing and interesting mystery.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Bone Hacker by Scribner, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Scribner #KathyReichs #TheBoneHacker

Tempe is on a new adventure in Turks and Caicos. When a young man's mangled body is found floating, Tempe is called in to take a look. The young man was identified as someone from Turks and Caicos. A detective from there comes to Montreal to see Tempe about the body and about getting her help to identify some bones that were found on the island. While there, the detective ends up murdered and Tempe wants to help find the killer. As she works with another detective to solve several mysteries at once, she also uncovers some international intrigue. All she wants to do is go home to Ryan, but another part of the mystery shows up and keeps her in Turks and Caicos. Will she ever get back home? Will she live long enough to get there?

I have been a fan of Temperance Brennan and Kathy Reichs since Deja Dead! This 22nd installment of the series, The Bone Hacker, takes Tempe to Turks and Caicos to assist the local police with some recently discovered bones. As soon as she arrives, Tempe finds herself caught up in several mysterious deaths on the island. Could they be related? With an engaging plot, Tempe’s quick wit, and interesting new characters, I enjoyed this book from start to finish! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Book 22 of this brilliant series which is pretty much nothing like the TV series which I gave up on after the 4th or 5th series! I guess there's a lot to play catch-up with if you haven't read any, but I will always recommend starting from book one... If you are familiar, you can probably skip the rest of this review and just take away the fact that it's just as good as what has gone before so, if you liked that, just buy the book and read it already!
So... Tempe is called in to help examine a body. She is drawn to an unusual tattoo which, in turn, draws her to the Turks and Caicos Islands, whose authorities she seeks assistance of. This then spirals as she is told that the Islands has its own weird and open case. The disappearance of young, male, tourists, some still missing, some whose bodies have been found in strange places. But as she arrives to look into this, she discovers that a boat has just been found with 5 dead aboard, no survivors, and no way of working out what happened. They ask her to help...
And so begins a rather interesting, interconnected and convoluted case that really tests Tempe, and that's no mean feat. But which also puts her in peril...
Ok so I have never heard of the Turks and Caicos so I had to do a bit of googling... But that actually didn't matter a jot as it is the story that is important, the setting for me was window dressing. And it gave Tempe a chance to escape from Canada where she is now setting up shop with long term squeeze Andrew Ryan, who has his own part to play herein.
Tempe was at her very best in this book, not that she isn't usually I hasten to add. Just this case was a bit of a humdinger! One which twisted and turned, between the tourists and the boat people, delivering shock after surprise, keeping me guessing all the way to the very scary end.
All in all, a worthy addition to one of my favourite long-going series. Long may it continue... My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Kathy Reichs is one of my favorite authors: her characters feel "real", the technical aspects of her books are always spot on (as you'd expect), and she is a master at pacing and providing such tantalizing chapter endings that it is almost impossible to not keep reading.
Forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan divides her time between Charlotte, NC, and Montreal, Quebec. At the start of The Bone Hacker, she is in Montreal and summer has finally arrived. After a night of the city's international fireworks competition and a freak severe storm, Tempe has to fish a body out of the river, a young man believed to have been struck by lightning. The ID includes the information that he is from the Turks and Caicos Islands and soon after Tempe contacts law enforcement there for more information, she finds herself on a plane to the islands to consult on the recovery and analysis of skeletal remains recently found there that may be the work of a serial killer. The story involves several interweaving plots, lots of action, red herrings, fresh ideas, and intriguing characters. And the descriptions of the Islands and the food literally had me looking at airfares!

a forensic pathologist who works both in Quebec and North Carolina. When a citizen of the Turks and Caicos is shot in Quebec, a detective from that country enlists Tempe’s help in solving a case in that tropical land. Tempe is on her own, as boyfriend Ryan is involved in his own case in Canada.

The island mystery involves the disappearance of some young male tourists over the years; the bodies of two of them have recently been discovered. When Tempe arrives in Provo T&C, she is immediately caught up in yet another case. A boat is found with 5 dead people aboard, far off course and out of gas. Could they possible be related investigation puts both Tempe and island detectives in danger.

While I enjoy trying to solve the puzzles right along with Tempe, I felt this one was pretty obvious. I didn't necessarily guess the why or how, but the who wasn't really surprising. Even so, I enjoyed the book and look forward to reading another.