Devil Bones

by: Kathy Reich

Published by: Scribner

Reviewed by Bob Pike CSP, CPAE-Speakers Hall of Fame

Temperance Brennan, Forensic Anthropologist, is in the middle of her own personal “perfect storm.” Human bones were found in a cauldron under a house that was being restored. This lead to harangues to the media by Mecklenburg County Commissioner Boyce Lingo that Satan and his followers are invading the area and god-fearing citizens aren’t safe – and people like Dr. Brennan aren’t doing their jobs. This is compounded when a headless corpse has been found at a nearby lake close by a Wiccan worship site, and in the process of investigation, Charlotte police detective Rinaldi is murdered.

All of this leads to Temperance being driven by her sense of right and justice to speak out when she’s been ordered by her boss not to – ultimately leading to her suspension. And finally, there’s the dilemma caused her relationship with Montreal Detective Ryan. Is it over or just on hiatus while he works things out with an ex. This is compounded when an old friend, lawyer Charlie Hunt, moved to town and wants to start a relationship.

Reichs does a wonderful job of using her own background as a forensic anthropologist to add color and depth to the storyline. At times I found perhaps too much information for my taste, but the story becomes more compelling with each chapter.

Throughout the book there are plausible culprits, innocent civilians who complicate things unwittingly, and a variety of more sinister characters with a variety of axes to grind. Only near the end can you tell which person belongs in which category.

Well done.

Armchair Interviews agrees.