TV Adaptation: (from the author that inspired) BONES
Cross Bones is the eighth book in the Temperance Brennan crime series by Kathy Reichs. Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist, has been called in to help with the mysterious death of an orthodox Jew, but the Holy Land calls when a stranger hands her a photo of an ancient skeleton, claiming it is connected to the man on her table. Another mystery added to another, wild theory after wild theory, and the questions keep growing as she, along with Detective Andrew Ryan, head to Israel. Does every question hold an answer, and who should be trusted with the little evidence Tempe holds?
I will always love Temperance Brennan. With every book in this series, I love her even more; her mind is fascinating. I love reading how she works stuff out, and all the facts and systems in which she works are even more enjoyable because the author is a forensic anthropologist. I always feel as though I am learning something, which may sound silly, but forensics will always hold my interest. Tempe is an intelligent, independent, stubborn, occasionally bullheaded, sarcastic female main character that always throws her entire self into everything she is doing to find the truth and to play her part in helping those that cannot speak for themselves, and I just adore her.
As with Tempe, I find Andrew Ryan gets better with every book. Every little glimpse of the two of them as a couple and as colleagues holds my interest because it allows you to see more of Tempe. They are so similar in some ways and opposite in others that it makes me smile. Tempe becomes a little softer, a little quirkier; she does not rely on him, which is nice, but you can see, especially in this book, that she is thinking more about including him than trying to go it alone. To think more rationally about her safety, and through this, the former bad boy becomes softer and more patient with her. I have to say there were a few small, surprised screeches emitted at the innuendos mentioned throughout the book, which just made me love them together even more!
In the first few chapters of every book that I have read so far, Kathy Reichs does a rundown of who the main players are, whose job is what, and what the current relationship stands at. It works out well, as I have been popping in and out of this series for years, and I can catch up easily and know where I left off without having to check the previous book. This also makes it easier for any part of the series to be read as a standalone. I will never not applaud Kathy Reichs for the way that she writes; the tension always seems to grow as Tempe’s brain starts piecing everything together, and I live for the pick-up in her thoughts. The author also includes a ‘From the Files of’ section at the end of Cross Bones that allows the reader to see what the author was inspired by, which I found very interesting.
In all honesty, my major dislike of this book was due to the plot’s focus on a matter that does not really interest me: religion. I should have read the blurb, but I just put my trust in Kathy Reichs. I cannot knock her writing or her characters because I love them, but I am not a big fan of religion, and this book held a lot of it, as its entire plot centred around the bones of a suspected Holy Family member. While I found the mystery of Cave 2001 and the missing information very fascinating—seriously, the facts at the beginning and the notes by Kathy Reichs at the end had me hooked— I can see where she got her inspiration for this novel because I am just as intrigued by Cave 2001. However, the drama that would have been caused if the identity of said bones came to light did not interest me. Therefore, I found the book slow in that sense.
This is the first book in the series that has not actively held my attention due to the aforementioned dislike. Therefore, I am rating Cross Bones Three out of Five Stars. I would not read it again as the main plot never held me in its grip like the previous books have; I was only finishing the book for more glimpses into the relationship between Tempe and Ryan, and I enjoy the forensic aspects.
As with every book in the Temperance Brennan series, I would recommend this to anyone whose interests are piqued by forensics, mystery, and crime. In particular, Cross Bones mostly takes place in Israel, and its key aspects include the history of Masada, Cave 2001, theories of the Holy Family, archaeology, and religion. Kathy Reichs has a wonderful way of writing, so that the facts and the information are so clear to understand that you feel as though you are learning as you read about the predicament Tempe has found herself in again. This was not my favourite read, but I look forward to the next installment when I feel the urge to dive back into crime.
Favourite Quotes
“My job is to restore the identity death has erased.”
page 11
““You can be a real pain in the ass, Brennan.” “I work at it.””
page 29
“Screw it. It was Saturday and I might have God in my Mazda.”
page 132
““Bad news, Jake. Some have come before.” I pointed at a used condom.”
page 230
“I read. I absorb. Bit by bit, I crack the mystery of me.”
page 376
““They’re all just trying to provide a formula for orderly, spiritual living, but somehow the message gets twisted, like cells in a body turning cancerous.””
page 476
Finer Details
Title: Cross Bones
Author: Kathy Reichs
Pages: 476
Publisher: Arrows Books
Publication: 2006
Language: English
Rating: 3/5