Didn’t find it very creative or surprising. The story was adequate but the outcome was so obvious that it didn’t really hold my interest.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC to read and review.

Thanks for letting me read this one I love her books so much and really enjoyed reading it can't wait for another

I usually enjoy Kathy Reichs' books and this one was no exception. It was interesting revisiting Brennan's cold cases. This book is full of twists and turns and is fast-paced. The only real flaw, and maybe it was just me, but I had the killer picked out fairly early in the book. It didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book though.

*I received a free ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.**

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I used to be an avid Kathy Reichs reader but fell off for about 10 years. I am glad to be back, this one was much better than her last, full of the usual twists and turns her cases often take. Plus good character development.

Another winner for Kathy Reichs. She leaves you wanting more at the end of every chapter. It's not until very, very close to the end that the protagonist becomes obvious but one doesn't know until the end.

Kathy Reichs has done it again, sucked me into Temperence Brennan's world and made me learn more about forensics. Each book gets better and better and I never want the series to end.

This book held my attention throughout. The mysteries and macabre scenes continued and made for a very interesting read. I wanted to continue just to see how Tempe would handle the next problem. The author gave us a lot of suspense and crime analogy without the gore. From the daughter discovering the eyeball, to the ending fight-action for life, this does not disappoint. I have read many of Kathy Reichs’ books and as they center around Tempe Brennan, it’s nice to know you can read this as a stand alone and still very much enjoy the plot and story-line. Those that have followed Brennan’s story-line through the other books can relate to the twists and turns that keep coming. I enjoyed discovering how her past catches up with the dark and mysterious cold cases. Thanks Netgalley for sharing the book.

Baby, it’s cold outside! Tempe, you’re not in Toronto any more! I mean, Montreal. Nope, it’s snowing in North Carolina – not just snowing, it’s a blizzard! The weather just adds to the creepy atmosphere is Kathy Reichs’ 21st version of Temperance Brennan’s adventures in forensic anthropology in Cold, Cold Bones.

It all starts as Tempe is helping daughter Katie unpack as she’s moving nearby after her stint in the military has come to an end. Safe at home at last, her mother thinks. Hmm, we’ll see. As they take a break from unpacking moving boxes, Tempe discovers a box outside her own home. This “special delivery” contains a human eyeball, and this is the beginning of a bizarre case that has Dr. Brennan and her cold case detective buddy “Skinny” Slidell mystified. It leads them to an outhouse, a homeless shelter, and a remote survivalist post. Dead bodies pile up, and each bears a resemblance to a case that Temperance Brennan, often assisted by Slidell, worked on in the past. Is this a case of revenge? In addition, Katie is not responding to phone calls and is not at her apartment. Tempe is worried. Is her daughter in trouble, or is she just “taking space?”

Readers of this series will recognize Brennan’s familiar sarcastic, often snarky commentary, which runs throughout the book. As the cases become more numerous and begin to feel more personal, however, the snide comments do tone down, thankfully, as I find that this grows old quickly. The same with Skinny Slidell – what an ornery guy! Underneath that crotchety exterior, however, he does have a heart, and he does know how to conduct an investigation. Speaking of investigations, Tempe does too, but why, oh why, does she always insist on inserting herself in police work? Will she ever, ever learn? For those who wonder, yes, her beau, le détective Andrew Ryan, assists when Slidell deputizes him late in the case.

The crimes are over-the-top, as usual. Creative, yes. And the plot did hold my interest. I figured out the culprit before our heroes did, despite numerous suspects. Despite some of the annoying factors, the book held my interest, and I found it to be quite entertaining.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Scribner, and also the author for this ARC of Cold, Cold Bones in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

This is the 21st installment of the Temperance Brennan series and it just keeps getting better, By now we know all the main players in the story and love them all. I do miss Tempe's back and forth from Montreal and North Carolina like she used to more in the earlier books. Another thing that knocked off a start for me is that I wish Ryan had a bigger presence in this one. I really like the interactions between him and Tempe and missed that in the majority of this book.
Overall it is still an very enjoyable book and any fan of the series is going to like it.

I am a huge fan of Kathy Reichs and her Temperance Brennan series. The stories are smart and creative, the characters have depth, and the writing drives you from chapter to chapter, eager to find out what happens next. In my opinion, "Cold, Cold Bones" ranks with the best of this series. It finds Tempe in North Carolina, helping her daughter move into a new home and adjust from Army to civilian life. When they head back to Tempe's for dinner, they find a box on the back porch: a box containing a human eyeball with GPS coordinates etched onto it. The coordinates take Brennan and retired (but working cold cases) NC detective “Skinny” Sliddel to an outhouse, where they find the head the eyeball came from. But they soon learn that the owner died a natural death 2 years ago. If that weren't weird enough, Brennan finds herself presented with case after case that mirror her past (resolved) cases. Things start to strike closer to home, and Tempe has to figure out who is targeting her, what they want, and if she is in danger. Most will probably figure out whodunnit before Tempe does, but you won't know why until she puts it all together.

Kathy Reich's latest Tempe Brennan novel is a delightfully creepy read. Cold, Cold Bones has all the hallmarks of the other books in the series - decaying remains of horrifically killed victims, cold inhospitable weather, Birdie Brennan's judgmental cat, the handsome Canadian Jack Ryan and prickly, yet very skilled ex-detective Erskine "Skinny" Slidell. In Cold, Cold Bones, Tempe's daughter Katy has retired from the military, bought a house and is working with homeless veterans. One night after unpacking at Katy's new house, Tempe and her daughter return to Tempe's to find a package on the back porch. Investigation turns up a lone human eye with geographic coordinates carved into the orb. Thus begins a series of grisly deaths that seem to be related to murders Tempe investigated in the past. In between worrying that Katy may be suffering from PTSD, fighting with an extremely annoying neighbor and missing Jack, Tempe must delve into her past cases to solve murders that are escalating in the present. It was a pleasure to dive back into Tempe's world. Fans will be thrilled with this installment and new readers will be caught up in an excellent story and fascinating science. If you like mysteries revolving around forensics, you will love this book. Many thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.

Number 21 in the Temperance Brennan series. Tempe is a forensic archeologist, and this series is full of interesting technical bits of the trade (sometimes a little too gross for me but so easy to skim if necessary!). This one opens with an unexpected eyeball delivery to her doorstep one find winter morning. From there things escalate rapidly as a madman appears to be copycatting many of Tempe’s cases, but they go off the charts when Tempe’s newly returned Afghanistan vet daughter goes missing. Plenty of action but not a lot of needless stress for the reader (this is a good thing). Some fascinating tidbits about knotology, preppers, and crematorium offerings pepper the mix. Additionally, Reich’s writing style cracks me up — I add a few of her one liners for illustration. This series is the basis for the TV crime drama “Bones.” I’ve only read a few of the books — absolutely not necessary to read in order. Fun read.

Quotes:
“Fine,” I said with the enthusiasm I typically reserve for plunging a toilet.

“The grapes were at least half a decade past their prime. And warm from the hours spent cuddling the sandwich.”

“After waiting out customers with requirements more complex than Patton’s at El Alamein, my turn finally came.”

“Inadequacy vied with melancholy for control of my emotions.”

I loved it! This is one of my favorite authors. I pre-ordered this book many months ago because this series is unquestionably first-rate. Excellent mystery with some very tense moments. I admire how she treats her acquaintances with esteem and a dose of whip-smart wit. Including her cat! Such a good book!

This latest installment in the Temperance Brennan series begins with a human eyeball left on the doorstep of Tempe’s home.

“Cold” refers to several things: the February setting, as well as the cold cases, which “Skinny” Slidell works as a volunteer for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Tempe’s daughter, Katy, features in the story. She is once again a civilian after 8 years in the army. Katy struggles with PTSD while figuring out what to do with the next phase of her life. In the short term, she volunteers at a homeless shelter. When she fails to respond to calls and texts, Tempe doesn’t know if she’s seeking solitude or if misadventure befell her.

Meanwhile, an odd assortment of cases appears in Brennan’s work assignments, which triggers niggling memories. Her gut tells her there must be a connection and eventually Tempe recognizes that each is a copycat to one of her previous cases. The killer’s pace accelerates and strikes closer to home. A stunning new mystery that revisits some of Brennan/Reich’s earlier work.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Tempe is excited about her daughter living closer to her. When she receives a package it opens a can of worms. With more questions Tempe will need the help of a detective to piece everything together. This book kept me guessing.

I received a copy of this title to review through Netgalley. Unfortunately I had trouble being able to access it because of a bad certificate link. I wished I could have read it because Kathy Reichs is one of my favorite authors.

Temperance Brennan is back at work, and work is tacking her back! Between her neighbor who unreasonably complains about her garden turtle statue and the surge in crimes requiring her investigation, she has her work cut out for her. And when it becomes clear that these crimes follow a pattern, but not one easily recognized, the stakes go up for Tempe, as well as her family and friends.

The formidable Temperance Brennan (portrayed capably but with a less than true faithfulness to the novel series heroine on the television show Bones) returns with another twisty ride through the world of criminal forensics. Continued appearances by my favorite crochety detective Skinny Slidell, the dashing French-Canadian Andrew Ryan and a perpetually rotating cast of potential bad actors both above and below, the novel delivers Reich's typical but always well executed crime of the week [month/year(s)] with a hair-raising and only slightly predictable conclusion. A strong addition to the canon is an increased presence by Katy, Brennan's only child, allowing Reich's to dig into the always relatable minefield of mother-daughter relationships (pun intended!) and the ever present fear and concern for our children's well-being, whether they be grown or still within our homes. A solid title, recommended.

My thanks to both NetGalley and Scribners for an advanced copy of this forensic science thriller.

The latest entry into any long running mystery series, is usually welcomed by readers not as a novel to be read, but as an invitation to a reunion that might happen once a year, sometimes a little bit longer sometimes shorter depending on the author. Readers catch up, are amazed that children are growing, sometimes in series they don't, wonder about friends and co-workers, ask about relationships and all that fun stuff. And solve a murder or two. Kathy Reichs in the twenty-first entry to the Temperance Brennan series, Cold, Cold Bones, offers quite a few bodies, and a little bit of nostalgia as past crimes and actions might be catching up to our heroine.

Brennan is joined in North Carolina by her daughter, fresh out of the army and living nearby, and while moving a box is found on Brennan's front porch, with a human eyeball inside. On the eyeball are GPS coordinates for a monastery with a macabre collection of bodies. Soon more bodies are beginning to appear, bodies that mimic cases that Brennan had dealt with in the past. Someone is targeting Brennan, and might not stop until our good forensic anthropologist is imitating a corpse on her own operating table.

The book is familiar as most series are, but with a heaviness, both of crime and violence, and of the past. This entry is also much better than the previous ones, both in the plotting and in the writing. Brennan is still sarcastic, and funny, but at about the halfway point the story hits a point where everything seems real. Even the cast, who seem rather blasé that an eyeball was in a box on her front porch, seems to catch up and go, oh wait this is real. The plot is good, and the villain makes sense, though careful readers might be ahead of the characters in figuring out who it is.

A very good story, with enough background for new readers to keep up and keep old readers flipping along. Readers learn quite abit about human anatomy, more than they might, and the characters are fun and different in ways that make them stand our. Recommended for fans of the series and the show, and also readers of Aaron Elkins' Gideon Oliver stories, Jefferson Bass' Body Farm books and Elly Griffiths' Ruth Galloway mysteries.

Tempe Brennan is back again in Cold, Cold Bones. Her daughter is moving back to town and Tempe is concerned that Katie is showing signs of PTSD. Before she can get a handle on Katie though, a copycat killer leaves evidence at Brendan’s front door. A twisted case unfolds with haunting earmarks of the past but for Brennan, Slidel, and Ryan the killer might be closer than they expect. Fast paced in a typical Brennan story way, the story could standalone but the characters backgrounds together would be lost. Suspense, danger, and whodunnit that is not really a surprise, mashup for an enjoyable page turner that will keep you reading late into the night. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.