I've been following this series since the first book, Deja Dead was published in 1997. It's been two years since her last book because of health issues. Glad you are doing well Kathy and happy to have you and Tempe back!
Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is still mourning the loss of her boss, the Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Larabee.
Recovering from neurosurgery for an aneurysm, struggling with severe headaches and having vivid nightmares. She also may be hallucinating, she's not always sure what's real and what's not.
When Tempe receives strange texts, pictures of a corpse with no face or hands, she's disturbed. Unable to find out who sent them, she begins researching the identity of the victim.
The new ME Margo Heavner freezes Tempe out of the case, still holding a grudge after the two clashed previously.
So Tempe enlists the help of retired detective "Skinny'" Slidell in her rogue investigation.
Soon they are plunged into the world of conspiracy theories, spies and child pornographers.
The more they learn, the more complicated and wild it gets.
The ingenious plotting and fascinating characters kept me enthralled.
A great addition to this exceptional series.
Thank you Scribner for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

I absolutely love the Brennan novels and was very excited to get a chance to read the ARC copy of Mrs. Reichs' latest book. It's been a few years since the last book came out, so I can't remember exactly what happened in the last one aside from Temperance getting kidnapped. I was shocked to learn of Larabee’s death, which took place in a short story (I think). I really liked how the fallout from Breannan's aneurism was handled. The character is still in a delicate start and struggling to deal with it, and it's clear that she is still having issues from it. You really get the sense of self-doubt, especially when Breannan is sure she can trust her judgement. Overall, this was a great story and I highly recomend it.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. Temperance Brennan is a great character and this book has so many details and elements woven together. It was fascinating, irresistible and hard to put down. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the next book by this author.

First, let me say I love Kathy Reichs and Temperance Brennan! It's been a while
since I've read any in this series but I never forgot about it. When I got the
chance to read and review this book I immediately jumped on it. This book focuses
more on Temperance's personal life than her professional. So if this is your first
book in the series you need to go back and read an earlier book. While I loved it
because I love finding out more about all of the characters, if you came in hoping
for a forensic thriller then you're probably disappointed. That's not to say you
won't enjoy the book but it's not a typical Reichs/Brennan story. I enjoyed learning
more about Temperance's health issues and relationship issues. The forensic story was
good too just not up to her usual mystery. All in all, a really good read. Thanks Ms.
Reichs! and I hope you are feeling better.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily
chose to review it.

I've read most of the books in this long-running series and greatly prefer the literary version of Dr. Temperance Brennan to the way she is portrayed in the television show "Bones." Both versions are smart independent women, but in the books Tempe is funny, emotional, and personable and easier to relate to. However, when "A Conspiracy of Bones" begins, Tempe is not doing well. She has a new boss who is extremely hard to work with and she is being treated for a recently discovered aneurysm, suffering from migraines, and not sleeping well. She even starts questioning what is real.

When she receives an anonymous text with photos of a mutilated body, she begins investigating the crime, even when her boss orders her to back off. With the help of private investigator "Skinny" Slidell, they look into this murder and its possible connection to several cold cases involving missing children. Tempe is restless and impatient and keeps putting herself in extremely dangerous situations trying to get the answers she is looking for. I don't remember Tempe being this impulsive, but it seems to be in part because of the aftereffects of being ill. Because of this and the fact that while back together as a couple, Tempe and Andrew Ryan spend most of the book apart, this isn't my favorite book in the series. However, it's still well-researched, written well, and full of suspense. I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next in this excellent series.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Scribner. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Love this series and absolutely love Temperance. Each book is just as good as the last and I eagerly wait for the next one knowing how exciting and suspenful the story will be. Not to be missed. If you haven't read this series you should check it out. Happy reading!

While the edge that Temperance Brennan is sitting on is always shrouded with violence you can tell that her health and personality has finally taken its toll on her. Her professional career has taken hits, and it seems like all her cards are folded. After Larabee, her old boss at the Charlotte ME office was murdered, he was replaced by an old nemesis of Tempe’s.... Margot Heavner. Tempe and Heavner had a fallen out after a case of a murdered child was compromised and Heavner tried to cash in on it. This new story is about some gruesome photos sent to Tempe on her personal cell phone. This is one violent book....and involves a conspiracy.

What did I like? I could feel in the beginning like Tempe has been aged since her aneurysm surgery, and health issues. Not to mention her personal life and professional life has taken quite a few hits. For the first time in one of her books I felt the isolation. The faceless man had quite the story, and the sorrow for the missing and murdered children. This author always draws up the most violent tales.

Would I buy or recommend? Yes, this is a gritty tale but not every story is hearts and flowers. I’ve always admired these books but this has me thinking that maybe this series is coming to an end. I have read every book in this series, and this was a great one.

Thoughts for the author? Congratulations on your new release! Loved it! Thanks so much to the publisher for a copy to read and give my honest opinion!

This well written thriller features Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, who is drawn into a puzzling case by external forces, despite being effectively shut out by the woman in charge of the Charlotte ME's office. Although coping with some major health issues, her sense of determination remains strong and she works the case on the sly, with help from her friends. The fast-paced plot is complex and integrated a fair number of twists and surprises before the mystery is resolved.
In this book, the author shows us a more vulnerable side of Temperance, while highlighting just enough of her past experiences to help us understand how her character was shaped. I think it's amazing how Reichs has managed to create a character that continues to develop and evolve, even 19 books into the series.

Tempe isn't sure what is real. She sees someone skulking around her place. Is it an hallucination or were they really there? Someone sends her pictures of a dead body but no one seems to know who sent them or who the man is. Her new boss has no intention of giving Tempe any job. So, she will find out herself who the man is. As she and Skinny look for clues, Tempe isn't sure if she is losing her mind or not. Good story.

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs is a highly recommended 19th novel in the series featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance (Tempe) Brennan.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Tempe is recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm when she receives a series of texts, each containing a picture of a faceless, hand-less corpse. Her interest is immediately piqued. She doesn't know who the sender is, but she wants to discovery the identity of the man and why the pictures were sent to her. A corpse turns up, but Tempe's new boss, Medical Examiner Margot Heavner, doesn't like her and has not called her in to assist.

Tempe manages to collect clues from the corpse and moves forward with her clandestine investigation, with help from ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell. As Tempe uses all her skills to try and uncover the twisted trails leading to the truth, she uncovers the name of the dead man. That leads to even more follows trails that include crimes against children, a spiritual retreat, and into a site on the dark web. She is also questioning herself because she experiences migraines, nightmares, and thinks she might be hallucinating.

Fans of the long running series will be pleased to see Tempe's return, but especially to see Reichs back writing the series. The focus of this installment is more about Tempe's ability to still puzzle through clues and solve a case, while recovering and overcoming health concerns. While I haven't read all the novels in the series, this was a well-written investigative novel and Tempe is a fascinating character. Her health is a concern, but she still is compelled to investigate.

The development of Tempe's character moves forward and evolves, as she is the main focus of the novel. She does interact with other known characters from the series. While you could read this as a stand-alone novel, it might be more beneficial to read some of the earlier novels in order to establish more background information about the characters and the series.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Simon & Schuster.
After publication the review will be posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

My first Bones book. I feel like I was distracted by the TV series and not having read any of the series. My mind wandered and I felt lost at times. Still it was a good story. I would need to read much more of the series for this to have really been a smooth read, for me.

I admit to being a fan of both this series and the television one. Tempe Brennan is very much a no-nonsense character who is determined to find justice for the bones she examines. This latest installment is largely set in South Carolina where she finds herself struggling with a number of issues. Chief among them should be her own recovery from surgery but she's also grieving the loss of her boss Dr Larabee and coping with her new one- the odious Dr Morgue (well that's a nickname but it fits). The discovery of a faceless corpse (partially eaten by feral hogs) is just the thing she needs to get going again but Dr Morgue inexplicably keeps trying to block her. Luckily, she's got Skinny Slidell with her as she tries to find the truth while coping with, among other things, a conspiracy theorist. This is a nicely told taut mystery that reminded me how much I enjoy Reichs. While I prefer the books set in Quebec, this was a good addition to the series. Here's hoping there's more Nick in the next one! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

"#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with a new riveting novel featuring her vastly popular character forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who must use all her tradecraft to discover the identity of a faceless corpse, its connection to a decade-old missing child case, and why the dead man had her cell phone number.

It’s sweltering in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Temperance Brennan, still recovering from neurosurgery following an aneurysm, is battling nightmares, migraines, and what she thinks might be hallucinations when she receives a series of mysterious text messages, each containing a new picture of a corpse that is missing its face and hands. Immediately, she’s anxious to know who the dead man is, and why the images were sent to her.

An identified corpse soon turns up, only partly answering her questions.

To win answers to the others, including the man’s identity, she must go rogue, working mostly outside the system. That’s because Tempe’s new boss holds a fierce grudge against her and is determined to keep her out of the case. Tempe bulls forward anyway, even as she begins questioning her instincts. But the clues she discovers are disturbing and confusing. Was the faceless man a spy? A trafficker? A target for assassination by the government? And why was he carrying the name of a child missing for almost a decade?

With help from a number of law enforcement associates including her Montreal beau Andrew Ryan and the always-ready-with-a-smart-quip, ex-homicide investigator Skinny Slidell, and utilizing new cutting-edge forensic methods, Tempe draws closer to the astonishing truth.

But the more she uncovers, the darker and more twisted the picture becomes..."

If you've been missing Temperance Brennan then I have good news for you!

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

Temperance Brennan is back and I for one am thrilled! This book was great. Normally I'm pretty good at figuring out the mysteries fairly early in the book, but I will admit, I had to be lead to some of the solutions - which I truly love when that happens. I stayed up way too late a couple of nights because I just had to know what was going to happen next.

I truly enjoyed A Conspiracy of Bones, not only was it an amazing whodunit but it was incredibly nice to revisit characters I have come to love and enjoying spending time with.

Conspiracy of Bones
Temperance Brennan #19

Temperance Brennan takes us on a robust and non-stop ride.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
Recovering at home from surgery for an aneurysm, Temperance Brennan is suffering from migraines and nightmares and just can’t sleep. At midnight, she glances out the window and catches a flicker of movement in the trees. It’s a silhouette of a man in a trench coat. Why was there a man on her property? A week later, Tempe receives four images of of a faceless mangled corpse. But who sent the pictures and why? To discovered the corpse’s identity she must work outside the system. Tempe new boss is determine to keep her out of the case and has banned her from the medical examiner’s office. Regardless, Tempe pushes forward with her own investigation of the faceless man in the pictures. Was he a spy? A trafficker? Who killed him and why? The more she uncovers the darker the picture becomes.

REVIEW
A CONSPIRACY OF BONES intricately combines a perilous medical condition, a midnight stalker, a grotesquely unidentifiable dead body, an untenable work situation and a plethora of missing children with fake news, the dark web and arson. This is my first book by Kathy Reichs...are they all this involved? I enjoyed the story but felt a little left out.. It’s like I just met a new group of friends and know nothing about their backstory, their relationships or their personalities. Perhaps this book, while very good is not the best one to start the series with. I’m sure readers of Kathy Reich will love #19 (I had loved the Bone television series back in the day, but recognize few similarities)

I did love the strength of Tempe’s character. I knew what she was made of when, without hesitation she was willing to go out in the middle of the night to chase down a man wearing a trench coat. Or was it really a hallucination? I found it delightfully humorous and ironic that Tempe’s mother knows so much more about technology and the dark web than Tempe did! Go mom!

KATHY REICHS is an accomplished forensic anthropologist. In Charlotte NC. She writes what she knows and her writing is well planned and robust. You best be ready when you pick this one up, because it’s a nonstop ride. Thanks to Netgalley and Scribner for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Publisher Scribner
Published March 17, 2020
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs is the nineteenth novel in the Temperance Brennan mystery series. A stubborn, media hungry medical examiner, an unusual death and Temperance’s insatiable curiosity.

I loved the television show Bones and have read a few of Kathy Reichs novels. While some details are different, Brennan’s personality and the cases are similar. I have not read the books in order and easily enjoyed the case and characters. Reich did an excellent job of connecting characters and bringing me up to speed without making it feel like information dumps.

Full review will post on March 19, 2020 @ Caffeinated Reviewer

When we readers love a series -- whether in books, TV or a movie franchise -- we tend to think of the recurring characters as a circle of friends or extended family. But we can be much more tolerant of changes in our real-life acquaintances. We seem to want those on the page or screen to stay the same, decade after decade.

I thought of this while scanning other readers' comments about Kathy Reichs's latest (number 19!) in her Bones series. This time out, Life has happened to Temperance Brennan, in the form of a brain aneurysm, and she is a changed character. On top of this, her boss has died and been replaced by a new chief medical examiner, who is openly hostile.

Many of the stylistic differences between this book and the previous 18 highlight Tempe's anxiety about her brain function and her inability to trust her perceptions. She's still whip-smart, still a wise-ass, and still displays her keen scientific bent -- this time more on computer forensics than on physical analysis.

I liked the emphasis on America's current obsession with conspiracy theories (thus the title). This book has particularly strong character development, and a solid sense of place (the city of Charlotte and the rural backwaters the surround it.)

The plot was neatly tied up, with few lingering questions (the one that bugged me the most: was Tempe dosed with LSD?

Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for an advance readers copy.

In the latest installment of the Temperance Brennan series, Brennan finds herself adrift in a sea of life changes. Her new boss hates Brennan and refuses to call her in on any cases, and health issues are causing additional worry and frustration. Then out of the blue she receives anonymous texts that pull her into an investigation involving missing children, conspiracy theorists, and inflammatory podcasts.

While not the most compelling book in the series, A Conspiracy of Bones is still a page-turner with a return of some beloved characters. It's great to have Brennan and Kathy Reichs back!

Another reliably good read from Kathy Reichs. At this stage of her career, her character are imbued with some depth and interest; seeing why they operate the way they do is as interesting as what they do.

The beginning is grabs you right away, how could this man end up this way and why. As usual, pursuing the threads to answer that question lead to both surprising and shocking things. Horrible, hypocritical characters seem to get away with things, until the unravel in big bad ways.

There is a lot of tension in and among many of the relationships, professional and personal, its interesting to see how Terrance navigates these. She does always tend to put herself in jeopardy though.

Reichs writing and clear explanations of important scientific principles and processes are one of the best parts of her writing.
It is a pleasure to read.

3 1\2 stars. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book sadly disappointed me even after giving Kathy some leeway since she's been sick. There was too much going on it this book to keep everything straight; extraneous verbiage; flash backs; etc.Tempe is still recovering from her aneurysm and I'm not sure if this book places her in her best light.

I think this could have been a fabulous book but it seemed like there was a struggle to fill the pages.