Victims of a fire are never easy to read about or to process as a forensic anthropologist as Tempe attests to in this latest addition to the series. However, Reichs quickly draws the reader in with good characters and interesting scientific details that doesn't weigh down the flow of the story. Tempe reluctantly drops her romantic weekend away with long time love Ryan to help out in a fire in the Foggy Bottom district of Washington D.C. The area has a colorful past and this particular building was the home to the Foggy Bottom gang, bootleggers and racketeers from the 20s and 30s. What could be considered only an interesting historical fact looks to become all too relevant in the present when a son of one of the members is killed. And Tempe will have to be very careful that she doesn't become one more victim...

Keichs ties in the past and the present with a believable and good storyline. She also always delivers with fascinating scientific details about criminal investigations being a forensic anthropologist herself. It seems a bit unfair that she can also write good characters and thrilling suspense scenes. But it serves the readers well in a great story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Kathy Reichs is bringing back Temperance Brennan for book number 23!
This entire series has been one of my favourites and I have a hard time not giving it 5 stars out of habit.

Tempe is in DC by request of an old acquaintance to assist on some fire related deaths. But she is also there instead of on vacation with Ryan. She blows him off to work when, arguably she doesn't have to for a couple of reasons. But this very small part of the story stuck with me in a way that was aggravating and distracting.

The rest of the story, the mystery and murder were great as always and I enjoyed the moments when I was able to forget that she really should have been on an island with her man.

The search for truth is both a right and a duty.

Temperance Brennan is an in-demand forensic anthropologist who is looking forward to some time away during the upcoming Memorial Day weekend with her significant other, former Quebec police officer turned private investigator Andrew Ryan. Those plans are put on hold when a request from her daughter Katie to do a quick phone interview with DC area journalist Ivy Doyle (to whom Katie owes a major favor), who is covering a major fire and looking for information to expand her knowledge. That interview leads to Tempe being dragged into the investigation of the fire at an old building in Foggy Bottom that was being used as an illegal Airbnb and in which four people are presumed to have perished. Ryan does not take the news well that their long-planned getaway is at best postponed if not outright cancelled, and the situation for Tempe does not improve when (due to the holiday and another major event in DC) neither plane tickets nor hotel accommodations are available. When a fifth body turns up at the scene, what appears to be a petite woman wrapped in a burlap bag in a hitherto unknown sub cellar, things get even more complicated. It is this fifth victim who disturbs Tempe the most, especially since no one else in the ME’s office or in the MPD is interested in identifying her. Staying at the wealthy Ivy’s sumptuous home due to the lack of available housing, Tempe works with the reporter to probe the burned building’s past. A second fire at a nearby property owned by the same management company seems to point to a motive stemming from its origins with a crime family dating back almost a century. But who, after so much time, would bother? How, if at all, does the mysterious fifth victim factor in to the situation? With her romantic life in disarray, Tempe is juggling hostile and uncooperative law enforcement personnel and an ME who wants more of Tempe’s time and expertise than she had agreed to give, all while looking into the unreported death of the unknown woman. But looking into the past will put Tempe into danger in the present day.
Fire and Bones is the 23rd outing of Temperance Brennan, the character upon whom the very successful series, “Bones” was based. For any of those who have either watched the tv series and/or read some or all of the preceding books, it is another well-crafted mystery featuring the feisty woman with stellar forensic skills. For those few who have done neither, this book can certainly be read as a standalone….but with 22 books worth of character development preceding it you might miss out on some details or references. Tempe’s dedication to her job and desire to bring justice or at least closure to the dead puts a strain on personal relationships, even with someone whose involvement with law enforcement lends him to be more understanding than most. Ryan is not much of a presence in this book, given their blow-up at the beginning of the story. Bits of DC lore (and a couple of restaurant recommendations to boot) are a bonus; this is a solid addition to the series, with some quirky suspects to keep things lively. Fans of author Kathy Reichs will no doubt pick this up, as should readers of Patricia Cornwell, Jeffrey Deaver and Lisa Scottoline. Those who enjoyed the “Bones” series or (throw back time!) “Quincy M.E.” will enjoy this series too. Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Books for allowing me early access to Fire and Bones to revisit a character I’ve always enjoyed.

Thank you to Scribner for the gifted copy of this book. I loved it!

Fire and Bones is the best Temperance Brennan book I’ve read in some time. I adore this series, read it faithfully every summer, and enjoy every minute of it, but sometimes I want to yell at Tempe to be more careful or stop being so darn stubborn. Tempe is well behaved in this installment, for the most part. The mystery is compelling, the setting (Washington, DC) is fresh, and as usual, it’s got Kathy’s unique, first person/self talk writing style. And I loved the cheeky reference to watching Bones on TV — the show is actually based on this book series! As in my review of last year’s book, I am BEGGING Kathy to give readers more Ryan time in the next book (and please keep the seemingly immortal Birdie in the picture).

If you’ve never read this series, I recommend it — there’s really nothing like it on the market. If you’ve read some but haven’t kept up, this is a great one to jump back into!

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs is another excellent Temperance Brennan novel She is a forensic anthropologist who works with multiple law enforcement agencies, primarily those in North Carolina and Quebec. She is also involved in a long term relationship with retired police detective, Andrew Ryan, who is now a private investigator. Anticipating a long weekend away with Ryan she is disconcerted when she receives a call from a pathologist in Washington DC who has a fire with at least four bodies. Ryan is not that happy either. That situation causes some angst. The fire turns out to be arson. The theory is one of the dead was the target and so the investigation begins. Then Tempe discovers a body in a sub-basement, which is intriguing. It is not fire-damaged but is ensconced in a burlap bag and has been there for a while. Tempe, being curious, chases that lead. Meanwhile the investigation heats up (no pun intended) and Tempe is right in the middle of it. As she and one of the detectives close in on the seemingly unlikely suspect, her partner gets shot and she comes close to dying. Then, there is a third fire about which Tempe puts together snippets she knows and accidentally confronts the murderer/arsonist.

Kathy Reichs always writes an intriguing novel She tells just enough of the forensic details to keep the reader engaged, but not endanger tender stomachs. Tempe is a well-written character who has grown over time. She is intelligent, excellent at her job, empathetic, and curious. She has a grown daughter and Ryan and is happy with her choices. The plot is excellent with the investigative discoveries laid out for the reader as they are discovered by the investigators. The mysteries are good ones, holding the attention of both the authorities and the reader. The characters are believable as are the grudges they held. Interesting all the way around! Thanks Kathy Reichs for this terrific character.

I was invited to read Fire and Bones by Scribner. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Scribner #KathyReichs #FireAndBones

Wow! Book 23 and still as fresh as a daisy! I do love this series... This time we follow Tempe as she is forced to cancel another time away with Ryan as she is called to the wonderfully named Foggy Bottom, a DC neighbourhood, to help with the analysis and identification of several victims of a building fire. When she gets there, she is not only stuck for somewhere to stay after the first night, but she is also denied access to the building as it is still burning. But she does have another thing to do, a favour for her daughter, to give an interview to Ivy Doyle, a telejournalist. The two strike up a mutual understanding which is a good thing when Tempe becomes hotel-less!
It would appear that Tempe's job should be pretty simple but, after another, older body, is discovered, she starts to delve back into the building's history, and ownership, in order to identify it. And what she discovers there makes it impossible for her to leave until she has found the whole truth...
I do love this series. The TV show notsomuch after it all went a bit weird. But the two are not at all the same so there's that! In this book, as well as what is going on in the fire, we also have Tempe's relationship with Ryan to contend with, as well as new friend Ivy - who I hope we will see more of in future books.
If you've read previous books in this series, you will know what you are letting yourself in for. If you haven't I know it's a chore to play catch-up with 22 previous books, but if you do have the time... The plot is well crafted and executed and there's always something to learn, and in this case, well, outwith the case, there's a Chinchilla to meet and get to know!
All in all, a worthy addition to a well loved series, roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A solid entry into the Bones universe. Temperance Brennan is asked to provide insight into fire victims even though Washington D.C. is not her normal turf. As with most of the Bones books there is some investigation that needs to be done and Tempe manages to get her self included in the police work. Enjoyable read—if you’ve read any of the books in the series this keeps to the usual formula. Good pacing. Some suspense. Overall, there is not much character development of Tempe but it’s more focused on the bodies and new characters.

Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs is another amazing Temperance Brennan novel.
Reichs delivers a masterclass in suspense with her 23rd novel in this series.
The fantastic plotting, the relatable characters, and the wonderful writing make this series unputdownable.
The mystery took some twist and turns that I was not expecting and like always I was not able to guess what was going on until the end.

Thank You NetGalley and Scribner for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I really enjoyed the latest installment in the Temperance Brennan series. Fire And Bones has Tempe traveling to the nation’s capital, Washington DC. She is investigating victims who were found in the remains of a burned down building. This one has all the elements that I love about this series, yet is another unique and fascinating investigation.

Thank you @simonandschuster for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

(This same review was shared on the Barnes & Noble website)

I always look forward to a new Temperance Brennan novel, and FIRE AND BONES is another fun story for the series. I still really enjoy the way that Reichs brings in fascinating forensic anthropology and makes it easily understandable to the layperson, and the mystery in this one was engaging and made the reading fast. I love seeing where Tempe goes, and I really love seeing how Reichs keeps things interesting, while also being easy to jump into without having to have a lot of background should someone just want to pick this up as their first experience with the series. Can't wait for the next one!

3.75/5 ⭐️ (so rounding to 4)

The next Tempe Brennan book finds her in DC helping out on an arson scene to recover bodies. She was hoping to spend time with her partner, Andrew Ryan, but unfortunately she gets stuck in DC as the case becomes more complicated.

I enjoyed this one more than some of the other recent Tempe books. The whodunit was surprising (until you are very close to the reveal) and there was some decent investigating, My biggest problems with the later books including this one are (1) that I miss the Brennan Ryan buddy cop investigating of the early books (I feel like they almost are never together!!) and (2) as technology advances, Tempe doesn't seem to advance with it? The way her thoughts are written are of someone who cannot figure out modern day things well, but she is so smart so that this seems strange. Despite that, it was still an enjoyable read!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kathy Reichs’ 23rd installment in the Temperance Brennan series returned to the earlier books with a solid mystery and several distracting clues. Brennan is called to DC to help identify multiple victims in a series of arsons. The new characters gave comedic qualities that have been lacking in the books. I also enjoyed the break from boyfriend Ryan. I hope Reichs continues this new approach to the series and gets back to her roots.

Kathy Reichs' Temperance (Tempe) Brennan series continues to be a "must read" for me!
In this 23rd book in an engaging and smart series, Tempe finds herself in DC, working recovery and identification of human remains after a deadly residential fire with ties to a prohibition-era gang. As always, Tempe finds herself drawn into the case -and possibly into danger- stepping beyond her role as forensic anthropologist to uncover and follow leads the investigators on the case miss or dismiss. Whether you already know and love Tempe or are new to the series, anyone who enjoys a taut mystery propelled by a solid and intriguing plot, interesting characters, and good writing will enjoy Fire and Bones.

This one kinda felt like a scooby doo episode. Maybe it’s because I love the show so much, that the books just don’t hit the same for me. The writing is kinda cringe & I get weird vibes from Brennan.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Fire and Bones by Kathy Reichs from Scribner via NetGalley.

Fire and Bones is the 23rd novel in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. If you watched the TV show, Bones, it was inspired by this series. You could pick up this book and start reading the series here without having read the previous books. This could also be read as a standalone if you are not sure you want to invest in a series of 20+ books.

I think what most intrigued me about this one is that it is set in Foggy Bottom in Washington, DC. Having just started my retirement journey from the US Department of State, Foggy Bottom holds a special place in my heart. I don't know if the Foggy Bottom gang was a real historical thing or not. Doesn't really matter to me. It was a good excuse to get into the history of the area. There are a couple of different "mysteries" happening in here. I won't spoil any of them, but you won't be lacking for puzzles to solve if you like that kind of thing. The only thing I couldn't stop wanting throughout this book was a crossover cameo from Kay Scarpetta. Maybe in the future??? I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Bonus points for Chuck. That chinchilla is going places! However, I am not ready for Birdie to take a backseat just yet.

Fir & BOnes is the twenty-third book in the Temperance Brennan series from Kathy Reichs.

"Tempe is asked to analyze the victims of a deadly fire in Washington DC. In the burned ruins, she stumbles across another body that's been hidden for a long time. The building used to belong to a group of bootleggers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. When another property connected to the Foggy Bottom Gang is burned and the son of a former gang member is shot, it becomes obvious that it's more than a coincidence. Tempe and her new friend, Ivy, work together to find the killer."

This story is more of a procedural than the typical Brennan story. There is less emphasis on the bones and more on the facts and clues of the case. Brennan makes a new friend that I hope will show up in future books. This book has great pace and the ending is a little wild. Just how long should someone carry a grudge?

Great addition to the series.

Always apprehensive about working fire scenes, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to analyze the victims of a deadly blaze and sees her misgivings justified. The devastated building is in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood with a colorful past and present, and Tempe becomes suspicious about the property’s ownership when she delves into its history.

The pieces start falling into place strangely and quickly, and, sensing a good story, Tempe teams with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Soon the duo learns that back in the thirties and forties the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant—until the son of a Foggy Bottom gang member is shot dead at his home in an affluent part of the district. Coincidence? Targeted attacks? So many questions.

As Tempe and Ivy dig deeper, an arrest is finally made. Then another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim. Slowly, Tempe’s instincts begin pointing to the obvious: somehow, her moves since coming to Washington have been anticipated, and every path forward seems to bring with it a lethal threat.

Kathy Reichs and Temperance Brennan has always been one of my favourite series. The series is always strong in regard to forensic anthropology and police procedure. I enjoy the fact that Kathy Reichs is also a forensic anthropologist, as it gives the series a feeling of authenticity.

There are only 3 downsides to the series. Why, oh why, can’t Tempe get her personal life together after so money years? Ryan loves her, she loves him, and both want to do good and bring justice to victims. So why, oh why, do they seem to have more arguments about work than anything else?

Finally, why are all of the officers that Tempe works with jerks? I get that they have hard personalities, but the males all seem to be crude and/or borderline nasty. Andrew Ryan was a decent cop who flirted with Tempe, but at least he had manners. Claudel is rude, Skinny is crude, and many inbetween are just “get out of my way, lady.” That rudeness seems to make Tempe investigate on her own, and then she gets in trouble. You would think after “years” of doing this that Tempe would have GROWN.

Overall, I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.

A long-time fan of this series, I really enjoyed this latest installment to the series. In Fire and Bones, Tempe is back to old herself (less introspective than in the two previous books) and more animated. There is a mystery with the current day fire mystery - who is the recently discovered, yet long dead victim. The author does a great job creating vivid descriptions of locations in D.C. (I used to live there) and in highlighting little-known, fascinating aspects of local history. The plot is complex and moves along at a nice pace, with unexpected plot twists and tension building as the culprits and their motives are revealed.

This wasn't my favorite of the series, but it was a solid next book for the series, and kept me engaged and looking forward to the next one (which at 23 books in is pretty impressive on its own!)
*
There's not too much to say about the plot, as it follows the main structure of most of the books--Tempe is called to consult (and of course is timed so she has to cancel plans), nothing is what it seems, and somehow she ends up in the crosshairs. There are some fun twists toward the end. 
*
I think my favorite part about this book was that it was set in DC! I do also wish Tempe would learn to set some boundaries, I think Ryan was totally right to get pissed she bailed on their holiday plans. 
*
If you've been following this series, you'll enjoy this!

Brennan’s Skills And Perseverance Needed For This Case

Skylar Hill, a Canadian visiting Washington, D.C., is sleeping in an Airbnb in Foggy Bottom. Black smoke enters the room from the gap under the door, awakening her. She can see the flame through that gap. Her room does not have a window. She feels the door, and it is hot. The horror of what is about to happen seizes her. She calls 911 and pleads for help.

The main storyline is composed of three threads. The first is a local case in which she must determine whether the bone fragments belong to Norbet Mirek, who had been missing for a year. The second is the recovery and autopsy of the four arson victims, but the victims do not stop at four. The last thread starts with discovering a much older body in the subcellar. As it always is with Brennan, difficulties is her middle name. They start with the Mirek case. The lead detective is the retired Slidell, who is back on the job to help some cases. The D.C. medical examiner promises a hotel and plane tickets. It is Memorial Day weekend. She must drive through Virginia freeways approaching D.C., which are more like a parking lot. When she arrives at the hotel, there is no reservation, and no room is available. The fire investigator and lead police detective do not want to deal with her. The last axe to fall was that the ice maker in her residence failed and flooded her kitchen and more. Her daughter, Kathy, is arranging for the cleanup and repairs, but Brennan will not be able to return for at least a week. On the positive side, Brennan makes a surprising new friend with a reporter. Generally, she avoids the press like the plague. She actually finds this friendship very beneficial personally and professionally. All these elements lead to some interesting plot twists. My interest was locked in this novel to the end.

Reading this novel provided me with more background about Brennan. Most of it occurs during a B-storyline thread between Brennan and Doyle, a TV reporter. This thread showed how Brennan can adapt personally and professionally. This relationship does place Brennan in mortal danger. The second thread is the continuing saga of the Brennan-Ryan relationship. There have been many changes in their relationship. In this novel, the relationship takes a trip to the South Pole. As these elements have done before, they enhanced my reading enjoyment of this novel.

Most readers should not have a problem reading this novel due to common distractors. There are no intimate scenes. There is a noticeable amount of objectionable language, more rude than vulgar. There is some impious language. There is only one violent scene, but it is over quickly. Otherwise, the descriptions of the victims on her autopsy table earn the usual caveat for this series: let the reader be forewarned. I did not see any references to events from the previous novel that were not adequately backfilled. If this would be your first Temperance Brennan novel, this novel would be a good start.

The aspect of this novel that I liked best was her quick and solid friendship with the reporter. As a profession, they tend to be a thorn in her side. What I did not like was something I had not seen before. One of the last chapters seemed to be solely devoted to cleaning up all the red herrings left throughout the novel, plus one thread. Right behind that was Tempe calling a county government director twice on Sundays and receiving private personal information. I found these to be more of a distractor than significant faults. Kathy Reichs is one of my highest Must-Read authors. I strongly recommend reading it. Having read 23 previous novels in this series, I am still looking forward to reading the next novel. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version through NetGalley from Simon & Schuster. My review is based solely on my own reading experience of this book. Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.