Bare Bones: A Novel

Written by Kathy Reichs

Narrated by Michele Pawk

“Fans of TV’s CSI: Crime Scene Investigation should be in heaven” (People) stepping into the world of forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan—she works with the dead, but she works for the living.

“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. Even more disturbing is the fact that bones turns up on a family picnic in North Carolina—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 family. And how far they will go to keep her from uncovering the truth?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jul 1, 2003
• ISBN: 9780743550222

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 Bare Bones

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a particularly good entry in the Temperance Brennan series. With a first sentence like that I was hooked and read the first half of the book in one setting. This one will not disappoint fans. More of what you expect from Reichs and there are some interesting developments in Brennan's personal life, too. I was annoyed with the political proselytizing of the last two pages which were totally unnecessary and the reason for my rating of 4.

[catalogthis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Temperance Brennan is at it again, this time solving murders in her native North Carolina rather than Montreal. Drug dealing and wildlife trafficking round out the buffet of criminal activity. Boyd, the 70-pound chow, makes a welcome guest appearance.And one would hope that Reichs would give Dr. Brennan a break from toilet humor for a while, after spending much of the last book, [book: Grave Secrets], knee-deep in a Guatemalan septic tank. But no, this time Tempe finds herself looking for bones in an outhouse.My favorite thing was the marginalia in the library copy that I checked out -- a previous reader shared a lot of my pet peeves about Reichs' style.

[randall6hansen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First book in the series that I read -- though there are earlier ones. A very involved story with many moving parts (which keeps it interesting, though a bit too many)... great detail and science and interesting characters... and love that the author, like the main character, is a forensic anthropologist. Definitely plan to read more of her novels.

[elenaj-147457 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I'm not sure "read" is entirely accurate -- I gave up on this book after about 30 pages. It's not that it was terrible. It just didn't grab me, and I didn't particularly like the narrator's voice. Could be that I'm attached to the TV version of Temperance Brennan, and so the book's Brennan didn't appeal. (Also, I got kind of annoyed when the narrator referred to the workings of her various brain cells multiple times in the first few pages in a contrived and annoying way. "Visual cells"? "Memory cells"? Why not actually give us the technical term -- that would at least be interesting.)

[smithfieldjones · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The bones of a newborn baby found in a woodstove opens this Temperance Brennan forensic mystery. This horrible discovery is quickly followed by partial human bones mixed in a pile of Brown Bear bones and a beautiful bird feather which Boyd, Tempe's self-taught cadaver dog, has found in a field near the site of the McCranies annual "come one come all" community picnic. The story roars off from there for none-stop action, discovery, crime, murder, and to make it all more interesting Slidelli, Tempe''s least favorite copy, is in charge of it all. Last but not least, not all is lost, Ryan's in town.

[readingover50 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an entertaining read. I liked that Tempe and Detective Ryan are together throughout the book. He comes to visit, and the two of them are planning a beach vacation. Unfortunately, work gets in the way, and poor Ryan spends most of the book hanging out with Boyd the dog while Tempe works the murder cases. The first case is a dead infant found in a wood burning stove. The second case involves human remains found in a pile of bear bones. Towards the end of the book, when we start to learn about animal smuggling, it becomes more interesting. The two cases turn out to be related, but it is a stretch. Still I enjoyed reading this, and am moving on to the next in the series.

[thebacklistbook · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I must admit being an avid watcher of the TV series Bones, which is based on this book series, I was shocked to find that book Tempe and TV Dr. Brennan are nothing alike. Perhaps I could get into it more if I read them from the beginning.

[starknits_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really like how Ryan is around a bunch in this book!

[nx74defiant · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book.when Tempe talked about her daughter I thought she doesn't have a daughter she has a niece - I realized I was miking up the Temperance Brennan series with another female corner series - I'm trying to remember the name. The Scarpetta Series.I think Tempe is very different from TV's Bones.The Bones on TV is suppose to have worked all over the world in dangerous war torn countries. Someone as tactless as Bones would be dead or start an international incident

[bookconcierge · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Audio book performed by Barbara Rosenblat

Reichs writes a good suspense/thriller. Book six in the series starring forensic anthropologist Dr Temperance (Tempe) Brennan begins with the remains of an infant found in a wood stove. Before we know it Tempe’s planned beach getaway with Montreal detective Andrew Ryan is on hold while she investigates a plane crash and a bag of remains found in a park.

I enjoy these books for the forensic anthropology and quick pace. I’m irritated by Tempe’s continued “helplessness” – the woman never gets herself out of a jam, but is always rescued by the convenient arrival of a strong man. This particular book also got a little preachy on environmental / endangered species issues. I read mysteries / thrillers for entertainment; I don’t need to be preached to when reading them.

Barbara Rosenblat does a decent job of performing the audio book. She has a good pace and enough voice over talent to differentiate the many characters.

[patiencefortitude · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I do love that forensic anthropology!

[barbara31542 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thrilling, exciting, a page turner book. If you like Patricia Cornwell, you will love Kathy Reichs. I loved it and I am a fan!

[askum_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. Gonna start another one soon.

[clicksclan · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Book 25 is another in the Kathy Reichs series of Temperance Brennan books, Bare Bones, number six to be exact. This one begins with the bones of a baby being discovered in a stove and then progesses through plane crash and unearthed poached animal remains to the usual climatic conclusion. One problem I do have with these books is, while they're good gripping reading at the time, once I've put them down for too long they all kind of blur into one another. In typing this (and I only read it about two weeks ago) I'm struggling to remember exactly what the plot of the novel was.I think I've only read this one once (perhaps twice) before, which was really a good thing. I just could not remember the outcome of the book. It had the bonus of making me read it much quicker (finishing it in just three days) because I was totally hooked. All the cliffhangers worked for me, rather than just acting to remind me of what was going to come next.There's a moment towards the end of the book (the traditional Chapter 30 moment which you get in pretty much every Temperance Brennan book) which involves snakes. I've been expecting it for the last three books but it finally caught me off-guard at the end of this one.Another good thing about this book is that it doesn't end with the start of the next book. I mentioned this earlier with my Inkheart review; it's all very well if you're going on to the next book straight away and so you can just skip them (either at the end of one or the beginning of the next). But I like to read the whole book which means I end up reading the same chapter twice. I realise that I could just skip the last bit of the book with the bonus chapter, but I don't like doing that. I'm stubborn.What it did have in its place was far more interesting to me. A little note about the real-life case which inspired this book. I'd much rather read about that than the first chapter of the next book. It was light-hearted and interesting. I don't remember how the next books end (in fact, I don't think I've read many more of this series) so I'm curious to see how those ones end.All the various murders/deaths/dead animals are all linked in this one. A little bit unrealistic perhaps, but it worked well. Plus, Tempe's suspicions were unfounded at one point, which is nice. She's a better character for not being right all the time.

[bunnycates · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story. Surprised I enjoyed it so much, and looking forward to picking up another Reichs book!

[redheadish · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As with all Kathy Reichs books I love this one as well unfortunately I can't find a cheap hardback copy for my library! Read this 2011 after finding 3 of reichs books at a thrift and buying I relized I had to read them all!

[jepeters333 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Brennan finally gets to go on vacation - with a potential love interest no less - only to have her plans derailed when a collection of bones is found in the woods near a posh Carolina resort. Shortly thereafter, and miles apart, a fire takes the life of an infant and a plane crash claims at least one victim. Tempe heads straight to the lab to examine these seemingly unrelated cases. And as she gets closer to a connection, a mysterious figure attempts to end her investigation - permanently.

[xlsg_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Two things are good in a mystery novel: some sense of the vraisemblable, and some mystery. While I appreciate that the descriptions of the forensic lab work involved are more realistic than your average TV drama (or ought to be, since the author is a bona fide forensic anthropologist like her hero), and that the places described are real, that wasn't enough for me to like the book. At one point I was getting a bit confused about who all the characters were and how they were related, making it hard to really care who had "done it". Remembering names is not my strong suit. So I wrote out all the names and places, making different lines connecting them and categories such as cops and bad guys. Shortly after that, the heroine did the exact same thing and it was written out in the book! I thought that was kind of funny. I might try her earlier books, but I can't really recommend this one.

[emscape · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

After a couple better-than-average books, Reichs returns to her formula of coincidence + bones + coincidence + science=mystery. While still fairly entertaining to read, at many times I was asking the book "Really? How convenient." At least Tempe's relationship with Ryan is progressing nicely and gave me a break from the copious eye-rolling. Also enjoyed the characters of Boyd the chow and Detective Rinaldi. Less enjoyable characters include flighty daughter Katy (whose mom worries about her a lot, and should probably take death threats more seriously considering how many times said mom has almost died because of a case) and Detective Homophobic Redneck (Slidell). I think I'll take a break from this series for a while.

[alera_6 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Every book in this series is a page-turner. This one is no exception. Unlike with the other novels so far, the plot was so involved, that you're almost uncertain what is happening and why until the very end. You experience each twist, and turn, and bit of confusion with Temperance. Good read.

[riverwillow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not quite as good as some of the other books in the series - the plot was a little busy - but still an interesting page turner. One bonus is that Tempe seems to develop as a character from book to book.

[bonestcjmom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the Temperance Brennan novels! Reichs does a wonderful job of making technical details easy to understand and interesting to read. I just pre-ordered her latest book!!

[nwadel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have to read all of her books! Love the story lines and the adventure. She's a great writer, excerpt from Amazon:Feisty forensic anthropologist Temperance (Tempe) Brennan is supposed to be on vacation, but body parts keep turning up. At the start of her sixth adventure, she's awaiting the arrival of her current flame, Quebecois sleuth Andrew Ryan, so she can head for the beach near her hometown of Charlotte, N.C. Before he shows up, she's called in to use her world-class forensics skills when a local janitor's infant granddaughter is found dead and charred in an oven. Then some strange, decomposing remains (" `Human?' `I'm not sure' ") are discovered by Brennan's dog during a barbecue at a local lakeside resort. Ryan finally arrives, but Brennan's vacation is indefinitely put on hold when a small plane crashes nearby. Two people are dead, and her expertise is required yet again ("The skull had suffered massive communitive fracturing on impact. The fire had done the rest"). Brennan eventually realizes that all three cases are linked to a drug-smuggling ring that also dabbles in poaching exotic animals. As she pursues her investigations, she is forced to work with "Skinny" Slidell, a redneck cop who rubs her the wrong way, but tension is defused by the presence of Ryan, who gamely gives up his vacation to pitch in. He matches Brennan quip for quip, and Tempe's dog, Boyd, provides extra comic relief. Reichs has built a reputation on cut-to-the-chase writing and swift plotting, and this latest effort delivers everything her fans have come to expect.

[heptonj · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This one has got to be her best yet - I read it in two sittings. A puzzling mystery of mixed bones. drugs and wildlife smuggling brings danger to Temperance Brennan and keeps the reader guessing. The relationship with Ryan is getting more interesting and I love the dog and cat. Very easy and enthralling reading. Hope Ms. Reichs writes more.

[jrepman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan-set in NC

[ct4bergeron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Downtime is not a phrase in Tempe Brennan's vocabulary. Asking 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 pigpickin' - in the north Carolina countryside, where a cache of bones turns up. But are they animal or human X-Ray and DNA may link the cirmes, but they can't reveal who is closing in on Tempe and her laughter - and how far they will go to keep her from uncovering the truth.

[bookmarque · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I’m glad that the author gave up creating crimes that touch both Montreal and South Carolina. She didn’t do this in her last Tempe Brennan book, but she did it in a couple before that. I guess now she realized it’s pretty weak. In this one, Ryan is planning to come down for some vacation and nookie, but things get weird. I think this one worked better than some of the others. It was shorter and more focused. There is still an element of sexual tension between Ryan and Tempe. Even though they are sleeping together, it isn’t regularly and Tempe isn’t sure she wants an actual relationship, especially with someone who lives 1000 miles away. I liked the bits about the dog and his spaz attacks. And her cat Birdie’s reaction to them. Spot on.

[londonlady_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In Bare Bones forensic anthopologist Tempe Brennan investigates several seemingly unrelated bone-finds in South Carolina. Expecting to take a holiday with her mystery detective friend (from Grave Secrets) she is disrupted by mysteries arising from a mysterious find in the woods, a stinky outhouse, a crashed plane and a baby found burned in an oven. As per usual Tempe finds herself at the centre of whatever action is happening around her, and ends up in peril! A good read, even if the occasional interludes to give the reader facts about species preservation in the USA seem a little odd.

[readingraven · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Okay. I first read this book several years ago. Then I found the TV series Bones and I love it. So, I picked the book up again and re-read it. Great book. However, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with the TV series other than the lead characters gender, occupation, and name. Bizarre. Both characters are awesome but they couldn't be more different.That said, this was a good book and I'd like to get the whole series and read them all. I enjoy the way she writes.

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bones: some human, some animal and many of them from different bodies.