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I've decided to bundle all of the Temperance Brennan novels in one like I have with other series I've enjoyed. The books in order are: It took me a while to read Déjà Dead in part because I found myself having to do something I very rarely have to do. I had to put the book down periodically to think about all of the details the author provided. Kathy Reichs' knowledge of anthropology and forensics shines throughout this book, adding a touch of realism to the characters and plot that is welcome and thought provoking. I admit until Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series I tended to stay away from books told in the first person narrative. But like Stephanie Plum and Anita Blake, Temperance's voice is a good one and held my attention. Temperance Brennan is a likeable heroine. She, like the author, is a forensic anthropologist. She's a very real character with faults and insecurities like those of us reading the book. She's recently separated from her husband, a good distance from her college aged daughter and a recovering alcoholic. All of these "weaknesses" add to the layers that make her a three-dimensional character. The bureaucratic counterparts she comes into contact with, mostly in the form of policemen, are well written as well. I'm very curious about Detective Claudel. I can't help but think there's more to the man than the stand-offish, prickish attitude we saw during this book. Or at least that there's a reason for his attitude. The mystery that unraveled during Déjà Dead was believable and carried through to the end without disappointing. The certainty with which she believes the killer is connected to more than the most recent murder is coherent and understandable given the evidence presented to the reader. Temperance is a thinker and sticks to her guns despite a police department's unwillingness to hear her out or place much stock in her theory. I enjoyed the other installments in this series equally as well. As a long time fan of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series, I think Reichs and Tempe will give Cornwell and Scarpetta a run for their money in popularity. The plots are interesting and different and the movement between Montreal and Charlotte brings a different flavor to the books just by a change of scenery. ©Susan Falk and phantomroses.com |