This was my first Temperance Brennen book, I had watched the TV show in the early seasons, but didn't bother to pick up the books. But then this one came into my inbox and I've been stuck ever since. The book is well written, Kathy Reich's obviously knows what she is doing. I now have to go back and read all the books in this series, so that is gonna take some time.

This was my first Kathy Reichs' book however it won't be my last. I loved the television show based on her books so it was confusing at first as Brennan's history was different. Once I got acclimatized, A Conspiracy of Bones gripped me. I could feel Tempe's frustration and will I didn't agree with all of her view points, she brought credibility. Make this your first if you haven't read a Reich's book.

This is not a series that I read regularly and it has been awhile since I have read a Temperance Brennan story. However, my lack of knowledge of recent events in the series in no way impacted my ability to understand what was going on.

And there is a lot going on in this one. Brennan finds herself with a new boss who would definitely like her out of the lab. Her mother has been diagnosed with cancer and Brennan herself, may have a fatal aneurysm. She becomes embroiled in solving the murder of a faceless body, a murder her new boss tells her to stay away from. Bio weapons and the Dark Web are only two aspects of the busy plot. Through all the twist and turns, Brennan must question whether she is imagining events due to her aneurysm or if it is reality.

Despite the fact that I was particularly interested in the Dark Web part of the plot, I often found myself reading paragraphs and pages diagonally. The writing is not as tight as it could be and left time and space for my mind to wander off the page. Overall an okay read, but it could have been better.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars

This is a series I’ve dipped in & out of over the years & it’s been a while. But one thing obviously hasn’t changed. Tempe still has a gift for getting in over her head.

This instalment finds her on shaky ground, personally & professionally. She recently had brain surgery & is ready to return to work as a consultant for the medical examiner’s office. Unfortunately there’s a new ME in town & they have some history. Tempe’s made it known she views Dr. Margot Heavner as a glory seeking publicity hound. So it’s no surprise when Heavner lets Tempe know her services are no longer required.

But when a faceless corpse ends up in the morgue, it’s clear someone wants her involved. Tempe receives anonymous photos of the body. And that’s just the beginning. Cryptic texts, weird messages on the dark web, missing kids, night time prowlers…..hmmm. Only one thing to do really. ID the body & figure out how he got so dead. And if she shows up Heavner in the process, well that’s just a bonus.

Tempe begins her own investigation & ropes in a couple of accomplices including Skinny Slidell, a grouchy PI with an interest in the case. They may bicker like siblings but a grduging mutual respect means he has her back.

Initially there are a lot of separate threads to the story. Strange things are happening & it feels like Tempe is being lured down a dark rabbit hole. But because of her fragile state, we’re not even sure how much of it is real. Turns out neither is she. Personal issues, stress & too much time on her hands result in erratic behaviour & questionable decisions. And long hours spent with conspiracy theorists on the dark web certainly don’t help.

I think I would have enjoyed this more if I’d kept up with the series. My bad. At times I felt like I was missing some crucial background info that would have helped me understand her character better. We spend a lot of time in Tempe’s head as she grapples with doubt & paranoia. She veers from endless speculation about the case to acting on rash decisions that put her in danger.

When an author gets to book #19 in a series, you know they’re doing something right & I really believe this will appeal to faithful fans. The mystery behind the body in the morgue is clever & intricate but I think you’ll get more out of the story as a whole if you’ve been following along.

I am unable to download to my KOBO in epub format.. I have tried using the instructions but nothing seems to work.
I don't understand why it is so complicated. I don't have these issues downloading other ebooks in epub format.

Thank you

First of all, I loved seeing Brennan with migraines! As someone with Daily Chronic Migraines, it was awesome to see that as a major part of the book. I loved how it did not stop her from working hard and living life when she could. This book was interesting in the plot, characters and result. I was interested but I found my mind wondering and the mystery was too convoluted for my liking. I would recommend picking up this book if you are interested in the synopsis. It was just a bit too much for me in regards to the end result.

I received a copy via Netgalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is Kathy Reich's come back thriller after a year off due to serious health issues. She gives those same issues to Tempe Brennan, which must've been therapeutic as Reichs recovered. Still, I found this book lacked the smooth storytelling Reich's is known for, along with her detailed plotting. As I hadn't read the preceding book, which she refers to throughout this story, I felt at a disadvantage and I wished she hadn't relied so much on the reader knowing about Larabee's death and why Ryan had taken off for Europe. The entire story rests on Tempe teaming up with Detective Slidell, a side character who she's mainly stayed away of secretly loathed in other books. This partnership struck me as off-putting and when no other main characters (other than Tempe's mother here and there) appeared in the story, it started to feel quite "one note". Ryan makes an overnight appearance from Paris but almost immediately returns to do his PI works after he checks in on Tempe to make sure she's going to live, but they do nothing to repair or move their relationship forward. As she's turned down his marriage proposal, and that was supposedly a big deal in the last book, this felt stilted and just an "add on" to the main story.

Also, Reichs led us down one path thinking that the criminal elements are going in one direction, but the ending is tied up too quickly and that "path" turns out to be a non sequitur. It's unsatisfying for the reader and I was disappointed that she took the easy way out. I can't say more without spoilers, but I really wanted Tempe's nemesis and the "bad guys" she was unmasking to have a more concrete comeuppance and go away for a long time. But she pulled back on the trigger and the ending falls flat.

I'm looking forward to her next book, when she's hopefully fully regained her health and brings Tempe and Ryan into a more legitimate relationship and hasn't killed off any more of her readers favourite characters. Tempe has lots of possibilities ahead of her going into middle age and regaining her reputation - please, Ms. Reichs, don't disappoint your many fans!

In attempting to determine a faceless man's identity and cause of death, forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan comes across several cold cases of missing and abducted children and is drawn into the world of the Dark Web, conspiracy theories and underground bunkers. Aside from her accustomed allies, Andrew Ryan and Skinny Slidell, she joins forces with an unlikely sidekick: her mother.

When Kathy Reichs' debut novel "Déjà Dead" was released in 1997, it felt like a breath of fresh air. By telling a crime story from a point of view that had been little exploited at that time, seamlessly inserting complex scientific contents into a dramatic setting, and by transcribing her main character's disconnected, meandering inner dialogue onto the page in a relatable way, Reichs had found her own unique voice.

Alas, after the first few novels, it became all too obvious that this voice had morphed into a rigid template, turning each publication into a parody of itself...

So, in "A Conspiracy of Bones," Tempe does it again: stumbling into a mystery, poking her nose in other people's business, facing challenges in her personal and professional lives, disregarding common-sense precautions, getting attacked, etc. Whether this constitutes a positive or a negative depends on your degree of tolerance for formulaic writing. Unfortunately, my own patience ran out around book number 6 in this series. These ingredients made our early adventures alongside Tempe unexpected delights — but this dish has been warmed over a few too many times.

This has been one of my fave series for the last decade or so. But I've been Meh about the last few books and unfortunately I'm meh about this one too. I'm just not a fan or the cliff-hanging that she tends to do for each chapter. The whole "And when she looked so was shocked to find out that she had been right all along." And then the next chapter may not start with what the heck she had been right about all along.

I tried reading this one quite a few times, but I could never get into it. The writing style really isn't for me and I just found myself constantly confused about what was going on.

A Conspiracy of Bones is the nineteenth in Kathy Reichs' deservedly popular series starring forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan.

This mystery begins when gory photos of a dead man, his face 'a horror show of macerated flesh and bone', are sent to Tempe on her mobile.

A Conspiracy of Bones is one of the best in an edgy, engrossing series.

It's been quite a while since I've read Kathy Reichs work, so I thought I'd give this one a try. I think I really should go back and read my way through the series to be able to truly appreciate this one. That being said, there is no denying that Reichs characters are well drawn and her stories are fascinating.
Thanks to #Netgalley for providing this ARC in return for an honest review.

Pictures of a faceless corpse have been sent to Temperance Brennan's phone. Why and who is he? But with a new boss at work, one that she is in conflict with, Brennan's search for the truth results in an unofficial investigation with the help of retired detective, Slidell.
I finished the book but I just could not get my interest involved in the story and at times I felt that there was too much indepth pointless information.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me this title.
I really wanted to like this book, but I'm afraid I found it lacking. I love Temperence Brennan's character, so maybe it was the way the story played out. This one just couldn't capture my attention the way it should have. Inhave to give this a 2.75 out of 5.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Reichs, and Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

After a long wait, Kathy Reichs is back from her hiatus with a new and exciting novel in the Temperance Brennan series. Fans will be happy to have the forensic anthropologist back, whose grit and gumption are even more heightened. After suffering a brain aneurysm that required surgical intervention, Temperance is on the mend and trying to find her feet. She is still contracted to work both in Montreal and Charlotte, but has not been working much. At home in Charlotte, Temperance has horrible dreams and witnesses a mysterious man along her property, but there is no one there when she makes her way outside. A week later, an odd text message arrives, with photos of a body, without head or limbs. Trying to get herself on the case, her new boss shuns her and demands that she stay away. They have a history, one in which Temperance has no doubt has led her her being ostracized. Deciding to do a little rogue work, Temperance works alongside an old colleague and discovers some odd pieces of evidence, including cryptic writing on some paper that includes her phone number. The case takes an odd twist as Temperance seeks to find out who the body was in those text photos, and where the body might have been found. Working as best she can, Temperance finds herself delving down into the dark web to find answers that may help. Her explorations lead to many conspiracy theories, as well as a few twists that could tie into a few missing children from years ago. Armed with her determination and pieces of the puzzle slowing coming together, Temperance uses her deductive reasoning to determine that there are some bad people on the loose, seeking to silence her before the aneurysm can do the same. A great new thriller in this captivating series, sure to impress readers as they find themselves in the middle of this intense novel. Recommended to those who love Reichs’ forensic anthropology stories, as well as the reader who wants something a little more mentally challenging in their mysteries.

I have been following Kathy Reichs through the Temperance Brennan series since the debut novel. While the books differ greatly from their television show spin-off, Reichs is able to present forensic anthropology in such a way that it is both entertaining and informative. As Reichs as readily admitted, she sometimes mirrors Brennan in her own experiences, which left me to wonder if the recent aneurysm development for the protagonist might explain why the delayed release of this book by two years might also be related to a similar medical issue. Brennan works through this medical hurdle effectively, showing off her rebellious side with increased intensity. Still sharp when it comes to solving mysteries, Brennan uses what tools she can to make sense of the situation before her. With little mention of others, save some minor updates for other familial characters, the focus is on Brennan and some of her stumbling blocks. Others help to complement her desire to overcome limitations, while also show that no brain aneurysm can stop her. In a story that sees Brennan working from the outside of the goldfish bowl, the reader is able to see how her field work and reliance on others help uncover one of the more disturbing cases of her career. I hope that there are other stories in the Temperance Brennan series before tying things off, as I have come to really enjoy all she has done and overcome in the years, especially when she makes her way to Canada!

Kudos, Madam Reichs, for a great return. I can only hope that you have some ideas to keep your fans from going stir-crazy.

One of the reasons I love Kathy Reichs and Terperance Brennan is because they are so 'human'. There is a level of frustration and agitation that is palpable in this story, and it is done in such a way that the reader inherently recognizes their own triggers and connects with their own emotions. More so than anything, I love how there is no happy ending in this book. Not all story arcs have an ending that can be wrapped up in a bow, and to do so in this case would be an injustice to the entire series.

I am a fan of Reichs and will continue to devour anything she writes, and was left anxiously awaiting the next installment in this series.

Conspiracy bones


Her writing is nuanced she’s had a lot of practice noticing small, significant details

“A sign on the brick announced Barrington’s in hushed script.”

I also enjoyed her step-by-step Photoshop descriptions, if you’re a user you know she’s telling the truth of using the program, which then lends credibility to other decriptions as well

I don’t know if it’s North Carolina language, but some of her expressions are quite amusing: The seat felt like a griddle burning my jeans.

“Slidell shifted his weight and fist-jammed his hips. A dark green crescent circled each underarm. The rest of his shirt resembled wilted lettuce.”

Was starting to drift with all the “Russian Spy” business; transporting technology to Western world yada yada ; holds no interest for me; submarines and covert diving expeditions? Not really my thing so I skimmed a bit here. The impressive part was Tempe’s detective work and perseverance

Throughout the investigation, the author provides a lot of detail through Tempe’s eyes, making sure the reader realizes she’s got skills and doesn’t let anything get past her. The only thing I have to say here is that Tempe’s introspection takes up a lot of words in the book; some useful to moving the story forward, some not.

A long-hidden government secret? A real estate scam? A media fraud? A child molester? A killer? Holy, this story is really stretching it and taking on way too much. Yada yada yada, sorry to say I skimmed at least 50%. Thanks to Netgalley for the Arc

I received a copy from Net Galley for an honest review. I have always liked Ms Reichs books but this one didn't seem up to her normal standards. It seemed more technical than normal and I found myself skipping over a lot. It wasn't a bad book but slow and the ending  left me wanting.

I received an ARC of this one too and it basically meant that Christmas came early! I have read all 19 (!) Temperance Brennan novels and this is is the first new novel in the series in almost 5 years. She is still one of the most fun characters to read. Not giving anything away about this one except that crazy conspiracy theories and the Dark Net play into Tempe’s latest adventure.

Another gripping mystery from this series that I could not put down. Kathy Reichs truly is the queen of mysteries.