Death Du Jour: A Novel

Written by Kathy Reichs

Narrated by Katherine Borowitz

When a recent skeleton among ancient bones raises questions—and danger—forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is the only one who can solve the case in this “triumphant second appearance” (Publishers Weekly) from #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs.

Tempe Brennan is stuck teaching an archaeology field school for students at UNCC in Charleston, South Carolina.

When she stumbles upon a recent skeleton among the ancient bones, she starts asking questions. She’s the expert they might have called in, but lucky for the police she’s already there. The skeleton leads her to a free street clinic where patients have begun to go missing, and some have wound up dead. What is going on and who is to blame? The charismatic televangelist who oversees the clinic? The shady doctor who practices there? Or is it the clinic staff?

Ryan is in Montreal, though he may come down for a visit. If he does, Tempe will have to juggle him and Detective Galiano, an old flame, who is in town investigating the disappearance of a wealthy young woman. This is a phenomenally high stakes business where one dead body can save a couple of lives, maybe more. Along with the corpses, Tempe investigates the sick moral logic of the mastermind behind the operation.

Kathy Reichs has returned Tempe to America and put her in the middle of a sinister trafficking ring that’s local and global. The suspense is intense, and the world is riveting. Kathy Reichs’s books are expert and smart with a taut energy, and this is her best plot and writing yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jun 1, 1999
• ISBN: 9780743546102

Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs’s first novel Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. Fire and Bones is Reichs’s twenty-third novel featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Reichs was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest running scripted drama, Bones, which was based on her work and her novels. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Reichs divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. Visit her at KathyReichs.com or follow her on Twitter @KathyReichs, Instagram @KathyReichs, or Facebook @KathyReichsBooks. 

Reviews for Death Du Jour

[onyx95_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

During recovery efforts after a terrible plane crash in the North Carolina mountains, Tempe Brennan rescues a foot from a pack of coyotes. She is always a stickler for the rules, but when she is accused, by some, of improperly handling remains, she has more than one mystery to solve. The foot doesn't seem to match any of the passangers on the plane and who could possible making waves about her professionalism. If not for the plane crash would the foot ever have been found, or anything else? Tempe is always digging till she knows the answer, even if it costs her. This is an intersting twist on 'the right place, the right time' theory. This story seemed to flow really well, it was fast paced and Tempes humor is great with her sarcasim and way of stating the obvious that makes you want to laugh out loud or at least hoot a bit.

[catalogthis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the follow-up to the author's debut novel, Deja Dead. We meet Tempe Brennan again, although this time she's chasing a cult leader rather than a serial killer. The pacing is better than the previous novel, and a character death really hits home. Reichs doesn't hold back on the scientific details, and this time we're also treated to lots of dialogue between academics, since she spends more time on university campuses than at police headquarters. Brennan's conversation with an entomologist gets rather... specific. I won't go into detail here, but if you're curious, then either read this book or Google the term "cheese skipper."

[joannsmithainsworth · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The strength of the plot carried me through the whole book, despite major technological info dumps and rehashes.

[bookmarque · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Although this kept me interested, I don’t think the various plot segments went together very well. The crash and all of the suspected reasons. Her weird relationship with her ex-husband Pete. Her weird relationship with Ryan. The remote cabin. Tempe’s sudden and savage dismissal with prejudice. And the lone foot. Each of these by themselves was interesting, but trying to tie them all together in one story was distracting and it didn’t let me to care much about any of them.It threw me off that Reichs dismissed the plane crash so cavalierly after she had made it the central plot device to the main plot she wanted to get to. Obviously that was the whole cabin, killings and Hellfire club. Why couldn’t she have just concentrated on that bit and left out the plane crash? It’s as if she was going with the crash and then had this great idea about the cult and just had to work it in. The subplot must have gained a life of it’s own and took over the story. I hope in future she leaves Montreal and NC unconnected. When she connects them out of the blue it kills some of the plausibility of the story.

[writestuff_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kathy Reichs has written a tight, scientifically based, edge of your seat novel which kept me up late into the night reading. This was my fourth Reich's book (others were: Grave Secrets; Monday Mourning; and Deja Dead - also gripping thrillers) and it didn't disappoint me.Tempe Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who is called out as part of the emergency response team when an airplane crashes. As she combs through the wreckage and begins cataloging the remains of the passengers, she discovers a severed leg that doesn't seem to belong to any passenger on board. Her desire to uncover the mystery gets the wrong kind of attention from the state's lieutenant governor and Brennan finds herself on the other side of the investigation and fighting for her professional life.For those readers who have read Reich's previous novels, you won't be surprised to see some characters return to this one - most notably the handsome Andrew Ryan and Brennan's ex-husband, Pete, along with a new, endearing addition - Pete's chow-mix, Boyd.Reichs has amazing attention to detail - explaining the science and technology behind airplane investigations, soil analysis and body identification. The plot in Fatal Voyage is fast paced and spellbinding. Reichs' ability to create tension is wonderful. As one of only fifty forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Reichs knows her stuff and it shows.For those readers who love thrillers and suspense, I can highly recommend Fatal Voyage. I will be adding the rest of Reich's novels to my reading list soon. I rated this 4.5 stars, but looks like the site only takes whole number now!

[mpolino_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Better than some of the other Kathy Reichs books I've read. I like the NC woods settings and reading the plane crash description was genuinely scary at 25,000 feet. The ending felt a little contrived but I'm starting to feel that Kathy Reichs has trouble with endings much like John Grisham did for a long time. All in all, good book.

[Nadja Kirillova · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Why there is no disclaimer about this file being only a portion of the whole book? This totally ruined what could have otherwise been a lovely crime story

[cathepsut · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The hero, Tempe Brennan, is a forensic anthropologist. Hence lots of bones and murders that involve all sorts of decomposed, decapitated and otherwise incomplete bodies. Well written, I liked Tempe a lot and there is just the right amount of humour in it.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Temperence is on her way to somewhere else when a plane crash casues her to detour. She's first on the scene and she's worried when she finds out that some of the victims are from her daughter's school. Add to that the fact that she can't contact her daughter and you have some of the stress of this story.Another stress is the lack of backing from her bosses as things get sticky and the partner of a friend being on the flight. Then she finds an extra foot and things start to get even more complicated.Interesting but somehow lacking.

[blinkingsam · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes you read a book by mistake. It might be that you are stuck somewhere and there is absolutely nothing else to read. There in a bottom drawer under a plie of old rags is a copy of Fatal Voyage: so you read it. It is absolute tripe but you go on reading it because you have nothing else. You can never get that time back.

[michaelacameron · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the fourth novel I read by Kathy Reichs. I don't believe that this is her best one. The thing I liked was the character development and I love the tension between Tempe and Ryan (and Pete on occasion). The reason why I didn't like it too much is because the story progressed rather slow in my opinion. Still, I've enjoyed it. So far, Reichs has never disappointed me.

[camethyste_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book I've read by Kathy Reichs. I really enjoy the tv series "Bones" and even though the characters are a bit different, I enjoyed this book very much. Excellent author, fantastic writing. I'm really looking forward to reading more by this author.

[cajela_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tempe investigates a plane crash in the American South, and discovers murders along the way. Good fun, as this series usually is - some techie forensic detail, some soapie stuff about Tempe's personal life. (This character is very unlike the TV series version, be warned!)

[khoov00 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really like that this book was surrounding a plane crash (not a spoiler that is on the first page) because it would be somewhat boring reading these books in order if Reichs left her in the lab and didn't change it up now and then. One of the things I like about Reichs writing is that TB isn't being stalked by a crazed killer over and over in the books. While she does seem to put herself in danger it's not the same scenario over and over. Without giving too much away about the story it is interesting how TB is involved and not involved at the same time. This one deepens the character by showing her tenacity in her work and also a little bit softer, more personal side to her in her personal life. This series is one of my favorites and I can't wait to start the next one. For Audible customers: I only wish they would do more of the Bones books in the unabridged audio format. This one doesn't seem to be missing anything but I didn't read it in the other format to know for sure. Usually I don't even purchase unabridged books but the other reviews suggested this one was done well.

[Amber Witherow · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Ah man. Listened to the abridged one first. I think I’d have liked the longer one better but now it’s spoiled ? this one came up on the “next in the series” push notification and I forgot to check if it was full length or not. The story felt choppy and I had a lot of questions about gaps in the story and things that happened between characters that I felt like I missed. Bummer.

[fiberbabble_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Love the forensic element of these books.

I actually skipped through a few sections of this book. The political machinations left me well past caring and detracted from rather than added to the plot.

This is one of the earlier books in the series, when Brennan is still married to Pete. There's a bit of navel-gazing on that front, but it moves the story.

Not the strongest book in this series, but nevertheless an entertaining read.

[newsieq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The heroine of Fatal Voyage (fourth by Kathy Reichs) is Dr. Temperance “Tempe” Brennan, a forensic anthropologist with DMORT, the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. In Fatal Voyage, her work brings her to the site of an airline crash in North Carolina. But it’s a disembodied foot – one Tempe suspects did not come from a crash victim -- on which this tale hangs. Her investigation of whom the foot belongs to leads Tempe to a series of suspicious events that go back years. Before she can complete her examination of the foot, Tempe is suspended from the DMORT team… she’s apparently not making friends among the powerful and connected of North Carolina. I can say nothing else without giving away too much of the story … some readers may believe I’ve said too much already. In Fatal Voyage, the airliner crash that brings Tempe to the crash site is a secondary plot. Where the story winds itself is much more disturbing – and evil. Fatal Voyage reminded me of early Patricia Cornwell mysteries featuring Dr. Kay Scarpetta – stories I really liked. I enjoyed Fatal Voyage even more. (Let squeamish readers be warned … the descriptions of bodies and body parts are quite graphic.) The author’s background (she’s holds a Ph.D., is a certified forensic anthropologist and university professor) is very similar to her heroine’s, so the reader has confidence the details about a forensic investigation are realistic. Kathy Reichs goes to great lengths to educate her readers about the intricacies of the various investigative agencies and their procedures – but doesn’t make it dry and lecture-like. The plot was engaging … but then I tend to enjoy mysteries that revolve around “old” crimes that require delving into the past to solve. If the investigator is rattling some cages along the way, the more the better.I don’t think most readers will even guess where this story is headed … but will enjoy every page getting there.Review based on publisher- or author-provided review copy.

[eadieb-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Temperance Brennan uses her forensic skills to investigate a series of unrelated events - horrifying deaths in a Quebec fire & discoveries in North Carolina with a showdown in Montreal. I enjoyed the 1st book in the series more but in this book there seems to be too many plot lines. A relationship with Det. Andy Ryan seems to be starting. I look forward to the next book in order to see how this interest progresses. Recommended.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Tempe Brennan's second mystery. This is a very good series.

[ruby_barnes_3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cannibals conspire to pervert the course of justice? Unlikely.A plane crash, a cabal of cannibals and a conspiracy are a little awkwardly and improbably woven together. Temperance Brennan is the main character and she appears in a number of Reichs thrillers. The personal life of the heroine is not very satisfyingly covered in this book but continuously referred to by the author. That exemplifies the risk of using the same character in a series of novels, relying upon backstory that readers have to bring along themselves. At times the technical depth is excessive and will have some people skipping pages.

[lyndainoregon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A disappointment. Reichs' Tempe Brennan series is generally a winner, but this one, with its mysterious international cult background as villains, stretches coincidence far past the breaking point and ultimately depends on the most unlikely bits of blind luck to reach its resolution.

[deaconbernie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After reading the more recently written Cold, Cold Bones by this author, and being disappointed by the huge amount of profanity, I purposefully sought out one of her earlier works to compare her style. Sadly, I report that the quality of this book and the latter book is quite different. This book is very educational even though the mystery is more in the realm of science fiction. I liked it and will seek out more of her earlier works. One has to wonder why the author has found it necessary to become so profane.

[gbelik_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Lots of death here for Temperance to deal with. I wasn't a fan of the tv show, Bones, but I did enjoy this novel, which featured a series of problems and lots of information about investigation process.

[ameise1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second volume of the Temperance Brennan series. Brennan is called to a monastery to find the remains of a 19th-century nun who is about to be canonized. It turns out that this woman had interesting ancestors.In the laboratory, she can't take care of the bones straight away because seven bodies were found on a farm. These corpses worry her because their deaths were very violent. When doing research, she finds that students behave 'weird'. Back in Carolina, she meets a sect. She soon realizes that these have something to do with the dead in Montreal. It is a race against time and she herself is also in danger.

[ibkennedy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Too .mechanical

[t_k_elliott · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second in the Temperance Brennan series, and the second Kathy Reichs book I've read. This is definitely going to be a series I carry on with.

As before, Tempe is a realistic professional woman: her love-life isn't great, but it's not some kind of disaster-zone either; she has decent relationships with co-workers without unrealistic drama; her relationship with her daughter is pretty normal. It's such a relief to read about a woman who isn't, despite being some kind of gun-toting, wisecracking superhero, strangely needy and incompetent in the daily tasks of life.

I like Tempe: she's so normal.

This time, Tempe is dealing with the aftermath of an arson attack, with a side-plot examining the bones of a nineteenth-century nun. Naturally, neither of these cases is entirely straightforward.

As before, we get useful forensic information as various corpses are examined - I always like the technical detail. :-) As before, there's a personal element, which the reader can see coming a mile off.

All in all, a fast-paced murder-mystery, which I read pretty much in one sitting. On to the next... :-)

[cebellol · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

At the risk of losing my entire review again from power outage. I'll keep this short.

The book was good. Yes, just generically good. I got annoyed with some of the repetitiveness of Dr. Brennan's actions (or lack there of) particularly in reference to what she needed to get done in her down time. I also was not a fan of unnecessarily keeping the reader in the dark on a rather trivial matter. It didn't add or detract from the story in any way, it just left us wondering what Brennan saw in the bones. It didn't even relate to her cases, really.

Most importantly, I didn't read the first book in the series, so if looking here for whether that's going to put you behind or not, I'd say you'll be fine. You miss a little bit of background information, but it's easy to fill in the blanks.

[polywogg · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

BOTTOM-LINE:Let down from the first one.PLOT OR PREMISE:Twisting sub-plots make it hard to describe as one common theme, but in essence, Dr. Temperance Brennan is back with a problem -- dead people, including babies, are popping up all over the place as a result of a religious cult. Even her sister gets involved, not to mention a young female relative (can we say Kay Scarpetta's niece?). In fact, the majority of this book comes even closer to a rip-off of that other series, but closer to the lousy writing near the end of the Scarpetta series than the tight stories that launched the female coroner genre. The story starts in Montreal, and then moves to Carolina, and then eventually back again to the Montreal area. Unlike the first book, you never get the same sense of place..WHAT I LIKED:A difficult question...the story is interesting, just with a lot of holes and loose threads. One really good thing that is missing from this story that was in the previous one is the removal of the francophone / anglophone dynamics, that is not only annoying, but also inaccurate for the timeframe..WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:The list is growing...First, and most important, I hate the way it mirrors the Kay Scarpetta stories, essentially ripping-off the work that has gone before. Second, Reichs has a really bad habit -- trying to build suspense and mystery by an old trick of hiding certain things. At least two major "clues" in the sub-stories are not revealed, instead having Temperance kind of taunt the reader in a I-know-but-the-reader-won't-until-I-feel-like-revealing-it-to-them. None of the "clues" are that big, nor are they worth waiting for, and the reader is just left feeling irritated and cheated by the story. Either the waiting has to be worth it, by making the news so unbelievable that you say "WOW!", or you have to play fair with the reader and share the news as it comes along. Finally, I have to say that not only is this book not particularly great, it is a real let-down from the first one. It reads like Reichs threw it together from two separate stories, and with a lot of extra characters thrown in, none of which are any more than wooden extras..DISCLOSURE:I received no compensation, not even a free copy, in exchange for this review. I am not personal friends with the author, nor do I follow her on social media.

[kristymk18-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another great book by Reichs. In the second book of the Temperance Brennan series, Brennan gets pulled into multiple murders spanning across countries (Canada and US). As a series of seemingly unrelated events take place, Brennan, Detective Ryan, and a myriad of other professionals look into them and make some grisly discoveries.

I love the continual development of characters in Reichs' books. She explores and evolves Brennan's relationships, not just the professional ones but also her personal ones. This, along with the great dialogue makes me excited to visit the characters in the next books.

This book has suspense, mystery, comedic relief, and a plethora of information about the forensic world. A great series that I am thrilled to be reading.

[bearlyr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Follow the double life of Temperance Brennan as she investigates crimes in both Canada and the United States. She teams up with her U.S. partner to investigate the cold case of a nun about to be granted sainthood. Forensic science at its most interesting, with much intrigue to make for a captivating story.