“Down time” is not a phrase in Tempe Brennan’s vocabulary. A string of disturbing cases has put her vacation plans on hold; instead, she heads to the lab to analyze charred remains from a suspicious fire, and a mysterious black residue from a small plane crash. But most troubling of all are the bones. . . . Tempe’s daughter’s new boyfriend invites them to a picnic — a pig pickin’ — in the North Carolina countryside, where a cache of bones turns up. But are they animal or human? X-rays and DNA may link the crimes, but they can’t reveal who is closing in on Tempe and her daughter — and how far they will go to keep her from uncovering the truth.
Temperance Brennan is back from Guatemala (Grave Secrets Novel) and planning her vacation which has to be put on hold because of a ‘bunch’ of bones turning up at different locations. First the remains of a new-born baby are discovered. Then bones are found in a wood and at a nearby farmhouse. Then when small plane crashes and bursts into flames, mysterious black substance is found on the bodies of the pilot and passenger and the burnt-out interior. Temperance Brennan finds herself working overtime to reach a conclusion before the perpetrator/s can catch up to her and her daughter for good!
Though I have been following the Bones TV Series for quite some time now, this is only the second novel that I have had a chance to read. I am still surprised at how naturally I picturise Emily Deschanel as Temperance Brennan while reading the novel. I have to admit that, while ‘reading’ I do find Temperence’s quirks a bit irritating. However her knowledge and deductive skills, as always, left me speechless. On the other hand, I am still trying to work out whether I like Andrew Ryan or not. There’s a myriad of characters in this novel. While some were important, some were merely there to fill the pages. The plot was complex. With so many things happening at so many places at the same time, it was a bit difficult to keep track of which character belonged to which storyline. However it also made the novel more interesting for me and made me slow down and take good notice when each character was introduced.
There’s no need for me to elaborate on the author’s style of writing. She is very detail oriented - some would say too much, but I like it. Every novel has something to offer. Be it a look into human nature or something about some obscure disease or just about bones. However, I felt that the climax was a bit rushed and clichéd for a Temperance Brennan story.
Overall, it certainly made for an interesting read.
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