Kathy Reichs
Devil Bones (2008)
Author: Kathy Reichs
Genre: Mystery/Detective (Police Detective)
Plot Summary:
A plumber in Charlotte, North Carolina uncovers an old cellar and discovers what appears to be the remains of a gruesome Satanic ritual and the skull of a young girl. As forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan and police detective Erskine Slidell begin investigating the case, another seemingly unrelated headless, but remarkably well preserved body of a teenage boy is found near the original crime scene. SPOILER: Dr. Brennan correctly identifies the skull from the cellar and discovers the identity of the headless body, but her evidence does not help Detective Slidell determine who the murderer is until after a total of six murders have been committed.
Geographical Setting: Charlotte, North Carolina
Time Period: Present Day (2008)
Series: Devil Bones is not part of a numbered series but it is important to note that the main character, Dr. Temperance Brennan, appears in all of Kathy Reich's novels.
Appeal Characteristics:
Readers will find that while Devil Bones has several plot lines, it is a fast paced book containing short sentences, chapters and heavy dialog, making the book a very quick read. Other than the character and narration of the book by Dr. Brennan, the development of other characters is nearly non-existent and emphasis is placed on solving the case. Detective Slidell, Dr. Brennan’s daughter and a former love interest appear to be the only reoccurring characters from previous Kathy Reichs’ novels. Having said that, Dr. Brennan appears to have a very close relationship with her daughter and while the relationship is not a major part of the book, it is good to acknowledge its presence. Forensic science jargon is intertwined throughout the book and there are some graphic descriptions of the bodies Dr. Brennan examines, which may or may not appeal to some readers of the mystery genre.
Read-alikes: Fans of Devil Bones, should read Kathy Reichs’ other Temperance Brennan novels, most notably her first, Deja Dead, which also features a serial killer as the main suspect and touches on her relationship with her daughter. Another suitable read-alike is Trace by Patricia Cornwell, one of the Kay Scarpetta mysteries, which feature a smart, strong female scientist as the lead character and are written in narrative form similar to the Temperance Brennan novels. Like Reichs, Cornwell’s main character has a well developed relationship with a police detective and a niece and those relationships should appeal to readers who found Brennan’s similar relationships in Devil Bones appealing. The Keepsake by Tess Territsen features two strong female lead characters – a doctor and a police detective who work together to solve cases. Readers may even find the plot line of The Keepsake eerily familiar, as the main story line involves a shrunken head and a well preserved corpse that turns up in one of the main character’s car. Beverly Conner, a newer author whose books feature similar plots and a female forensic scientists as lead characters, has two book series that might appeal to readers who enjoy the Kathy Reichs’ novels. The Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation series most closely resembles the Temperance Brennan forensic novels, although readers will find that Conner’s forensic descriptions are not quite as gruesome as Reichs’. Conner’s second series of mysteries featuring her character Lindsay Chamberlain, a forensic archeologist, solves complex cases and uses a narration style much like in the Temperance Brennan books. One final read alike suggestion for readers who enjoyed Devil Bones is the CSI book, Headhunter, which also features a mix of forensics and anthropology. The plot is similar to that of Devil Bones – a well preserved head is mailed to the anthropology department at the University of Nebraska and CSI investigators use the evidence to solve a murder. Readers who like Dr. Temperance Brennan’s character should also like CSI investigator Catherine Willows. Headhunter is written by Greg Cox.
Red Flags: Gore, violence, sexual inuendos, Satanic ritualism and language.
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