Review: Speaking in Bones by Kathy Reichs (audio)

Title: Speaking in Bones    

Author: Kathy Reichs     

Series: Temperance Brennan, #18     

Narrator: Katherine Borowitz

Published: July 2015, Random House Audio   

Length: 10 hours

Source: Library

The latest
blockbuster suspense novel in the pulse-pounding Temperance Brennan
series, from #1 New York Times bestselling author and forensic
anthropologist Kathy Reichs.

For every case Temperence
Brennance has solved, there remain innumerable unidentified bodies in
her lab. Information on some of these is available online, where amateur
sleuths sometimes take a stab at solving cases. One day, Tempe gets a
call from Hazel “Lucky” Strike, a web sleuth who believes she’s
successfully connected a body in Tempe’s lab to a missing persons report
on an eighteen-year-old named Cora Teague. Since the bones in her lab
do seem to match Cora’s medical records, Tempe looks into the case,
returning to the spot where the bones were originally found. What seems
at first to be an isolated tragedy takes on a more sinister cast as
Tempe uncovers two more sets of bones nearby. When she then learns that
the area is known as a viewing point for a famous unexplained light
phenomenon with significance for a local cult, Tempe’s suspicious turn
to murder by ritual sacrifice—a theory thrown into question when Hazel
herself turns up dead. Still reeling from her mother’s diagnosis and the
shock of Andrew Ryan’s potentially life-change proposal, Tempe races to
solve the murders before the body count climbs further.

My thoughts: This is the latest book in the Temperance Brennan series and while I am still working my way through the series, I couldn’t wait to dig into this latest one. Part of that was because of the ending of last year’s book – I just had to know what Tempe’s decision would be but of course that decision was drawn out throughout the whole book, as I figured it might be.

I loved how Tempe got involved in the case of this book. She is approached by web sleuth, Hazel “Lucky” Strike and basically drawn into the case by the compelling story Lucky tells her. But, what’s even more interesting is that this missing person that Lucky wants Tempe to help her find hasn’t exactly been reported as missing. As Tempe starts investigating into what she thinks is going to be a clear cut case, she finds it is anything but and things start getting interesting, with plenty of twists and turns.

I love the characters in this book. Tempe is always a favorite. She just can’t resist a mystery and that’s what this case is to her. Little did she know what she was getting into when Lucky came to her with the voice recording. Lucky and her Internet web sleuthing were a unique addition to this series. I’ve never heard about that before and found it to be utterly fascinating. Tempe’s mom, Daisy, is back and is always another interesting character. She adds some lighter moments to the heaviness of the book. And then there’s Andrew Ryan. I love the relationship that he and Tempe have, all the ups and downs that they go through with him based in Canada and her in the US. Time will tell if they can make things work for the long haul.

This book delves into cults and exorcisms and had me on the edge of my seat. When Tempe started reading off actual exorcism cases, I got goosebumps when one of the cases was from my hometown – I remember and actually knew of the family that was involved in the exorcism. It was an awful situation –  but how cool that Kathy Reichs used that case in her book!!! I actually had to rewind the audio to make sure I had heard it correctly.

I don’t know how long this series will go on for, but each book seems to get more and more interesting and the added personal drama for Tempe is a nice pairing. I am definitely a fan and while I still have a few of the earlier books to get to, I think by the time next year’s book comes out, I should be all caught up – at least that’s the plan!

Audio thoughts: I enjoyed this book on audio, as I have this entire series. My only complaint is that the narrator has not been consistent. I don’t know why that is, especially considering this narrator, Katherine Borowitz, did narrate one of the earlier books. As for this particular book, I thought Katherine did a good job with the voices and was consistent through out. Perhaps she will continue narrating this series?

Books in this series:

1. Deja Dead                                12.  206 Bones
2. Death du Jour                       13.  Spider Bones
3. Deadly Decisions                 14.  Flash & Bones
4. Fatal Voyage                         15.  Bones are Forever
5. Grave Secrets                        15.5  Bones in Her Pocket
6. Bare Bones                              16.  Bones of the Lost
7. Monday Mourning              16.5  Swamp Bones
8. Cross Bones                            17.  Bones Never Lie
9. Break No Bones                     17.5  Bones on Ice
10. Bones to Ashes                      18.  Speaking in Bones
11. Devil Bones