Cold, Cold Bones is the twenty-first book in the Temperance Brennan series. Tempe is a forensic anthropologist who consults with law enforcement on a variety of cases. In this book, someone seems to be targeting Tempe. The cases she is working on are similar to previous cases in her career.

In addition to the crime solving, Tempe’s adult daughter, Katy, has returned home. Tempe is excited to have her daughter back in town, but then Katy disappears.

Cold, Cold Bones is an enjoyable addition to the series. A compelling mystery about gruesome crimes. Recommended to fans of this series and medical thrillers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been hit or miss with this series-there are certainly some books I missed, but it didn't really impact my enjoyment of this book. Kind of the like Stephanie Plum series, there are certain things about the Temperance Brennan series that have gotten stale. It was nice to see more of Katy back at home and helping mom. These books provide good mystery each time for sure!

The latest in the long-running Temperance Brennan series is well done, as always. There’s more of a focus on family as Tempe helps her daughter Katy move back and settle in to civilian life—though apparently not all is smooth sailing there. A grisly discovery on her doorstep launches Tempe into a new investigation, and, as they say, this time it’s personal. There’s a lot going on here, with present crimes, family dynamics, and past cases all coming into play. At times it’s like watching one of those episodes late into a TV season with flashbacks to scenes from previous episodes (fun to watch, but it always vaguely felt like cheating and had something to do with having used up the budget for new shoot dates). Maybe this is reading too much into things, but it the references to old cases give the novel a sort of valedictory air, as if to make Tempe look back and reflect on past investigations before the series ends. Reichs handles it all expertly and keeps the pace strong.

Thanks to Netgalley and Scriber for a digital advance review copy.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm very familiar with Temperance Brennan as a character from Bones but this is my first time reading one of Reichs's books. Setting aside the differences between novel character and TV character, I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I thought I might.

The writing style is a sparse. Sentences are almost fragmented and are striped down to the essence. It made it hard for me to really fall into the story and be there alongside Tempe. I enjoyed her self-interruptions and I liked how she would constantly search her id and subconscious. But the progression of the story felt jerky, like stop and go traffic.

The mystery of it all was okay. It was a little hard to follow because it involved current cases and older cases so it quickly became confusing. Figuring out the culprit wasn't tricky but the motivation came out from nowhere for me (maybe it'd make more sense if I'd read other books in the series - I don't know).

Andrew Ryan felt superfluous to this story. He hardly had anything to do with the main plot and every time he was brought up or called, it felt like it broke the momentum unnecessarily.

I'm not really interested in reading others in the series.

Solid addition to the series, though I missed Montreal and Ryan as most of the story surrounding Tempe's personal life revolved around Katie. I guessed the culprit before the reveal, which is unusual for me.

I live kathy reichs and I live temperance. I have read these books since the beginning of the series and this one has the same momentum of all of the others. I’m sorry we won’t be seeing it in the screen. I’ll just wait for the next book!

Always ready for a new Tempe book! Particularly like this one which definitely strikes close to home for her. Largely featuring not only her daughter Katy but her broad history in the field. Definitely a crafty criminal at work here...as of course, kept me guessing until the end! Always recommend!

As always, Reichs pulls off yet another wonderful book. I've been reading her Temperance Brennan series since middle school and each one always tops the one that came before.

Let me preface by saying I love Kathy Reichs. I love Temperance Brennan in all of her incarnations having read all of the books and seen the entire tv series through multiple times. That being said, I think it may be time for her to retire. This novel, while (in my opinion) far better than the last, feels like a spark is missing. The fieriness of Brennan seems to have been blown out. Her sharp mind and her wit have been missing for a few books now, and I miss them. I realize characters in a series like this have to age, but she's aged in a way that feels off. I'll always love a trip through the Carolinas or Canada with Tempe, but it may be time for her to hang up her rubber gloves.

I am a huge Kathy Reichs fan and love her Tempe Brennan stories. Cold, Cold Bones is another in a long line of great books. Tempe Brennan's schedule is slowing down with the winter weather and she is content to spend time with her daughter Katy, who has finally returned to civilian life from the army. But is until mother and daughter find a box on the back porch with a very fresh human eyeball inside. GPS coordinates etched into the eyeball lead to a Benedictine monastery where a macabre discovery awaits. Soon after, Tempe examines a mummified corpse in a state park and her anxiety continues to peak. Each of these crimes mimics in some way a homicide that a younger Tempe had been called in to analyze. She realizes she is being targeted. Tempe is still trying to figure out what is going on when her daughter disappears. All of the wonderful characters are here and continue to help Tempe recover her daughter and find the person targeting her.

This is the 21st book in the Temperance Brennan forensic anthropologist series which has been so popular, a television series was made several years ago. As a true crime junkie working in the medical field, I have always loved this series and the spunky main character. Other interesting characters include Temperance's love interest, her daughter, and a brash but effective retired detective named Skinny. The plot was very interesting and I will not spoil it here. I continue to enjoy this series very much and I look forward to the next installment. Highly recommend this one to any mystery lover.

Tempe Brennan is back and better than ever. What can I say that hasn't already been said? It feels like home when I sit down with a new Tempe story. I always love the back and forth with her and Slidell and weaving Ryan and Katy into a very current narrative around PTS and family was so well done. I can't wait for more!

I haven't read the others in this series (I've only read book 1 and I wasn't a huge fan). But this one started great. I haven't felt left behind because it's #21 and I don't know the inbetween. Each charater has been quickly and seamlessly introduced and the plot starts right off with a bang - a box with an eyeball on her doorstep!

From there, the story was off! I was completely pulled in as Brennan mulled over what was going on. As her daughter put distance between them, the clues kept turning up and I couldn't get through this quick enough. I think the autopsy and other details were easier to slide over as an audiobook so I think I liked this one more as an audio vs the 1st book I read. There were some great chuckle points to break up the mood and I appreciated them every time. I never had any idea who was behind what was going on and just enjoyed the turns of the story as they arrived. I really liked this one and I think the audio option has sold me on reading more of this series!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I always enjoy Temperance Brennan mysteries and as usual this book does not disappoint. The story is engaging and the clues are interesting and of course she figured out who did it with a satisfying conclusion.

I love all books by Kathy Reichs and loved the show Bones! I feel this book is her best yet. I would definitely recommend this! Another great book!

Review published on Goodreads, 28 May 2022:

The Temperance Brennan books make up one of my all-time favorite crime series. Tempe is a smart, compassionate, fearless heroine who also manages to be completely relatable. Her colleagues, family members, and friends make up a colorful supporting cast of fun, likable characters that you just can't help loving (Skinny Slidell comes quickly to mind). As a forensic anthropologist herself, Reichs knows her stuff. Bonus: she makes forensic science both interesting and approachable to laypeople. In addition, the mysteries are always fast-paced, suspenseful, exciting page-turners. What's not to love?

COLD, COLD BONES, the newest installment in the series, is no exception. It features everything I've loved about the previous books, while introducing interesting new characters and conflicts. The story engrossed me so much that I read it in almost one sitting (not uncommon with me and this series). In short, I loved this book as I've loved its predecessors. This is a great series that I'll continue to read until the (unfortunate) day that it ends.

I love Temperance Brennan books but this one was a little out there even for me. Still... a solid plot and good characters. My one objection to this one is that Temperance was rescued and didn't rescue herself. OTher than that, a solid addition to an enduring series with great writing and characterization.

It's been a few years since I read anything in the Temperance Brennan series but I enjoyed coming back to it with this one. Overall, I enjoyed this one. I felt like the mystery was interesting with recreating Dr. Brennan’s old cases. While I enjoy this series I don’t love how Reichs ends every chapter on a cliffhanger even if its small. I feel like if it wasn’t every chapter this wouldn’t bother me as much but it gets repetitive.

I had suspicions about who did it about ⅔ of the way through which proved to be correct in the end and near the end I was shocked when Dr. Brennan had no suspicions on who did it when I felt like the facts were right in front of her. The last book I read in the series was 15 and I am looking forward to going back and reading the ones I have missed while I have been focused on reading other things.

Overall, this was a 4.5 for me.


Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for a copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

"Cold Cold Bones" by Kathy Reichs is, the 21 novels in the temperance Brennan series following Brennan during a new mystery.

"Cold Cold Bones" by Kathy Reichs a one-star review because, I didn't enjoy any of this novel.

I am a fan of Kathy Reichs' Bones series. This is the 21st novel in the series and I have read them all. This one was an entertaining and enjoyable read as are most of hers. Reichs' characters are smart and witty - Dr. Temperance Brennan, the main character, is a forensic scientist, her love interest, Andrew Ryan, a former Canadian detective turned private detective, and a retired Charlotte PD detective, Erskin “Skiny” Slidell are all brilliant characters - I love their banter and humor. The added mystery, forensic, and suspense make for an engrossing read!