I've watched and enjoyed some episodes of the tv series Bones but never read the books. Judging from reviews of her other books, I knew going in that the Tempe in the books wasn't like the tv show. Starting with book 21 in the series was challenging, especially when each new victim (or body part) brought back past cases I didn't know about. But the book was still really good. I loved the forensics part of it and the puzzle of solving the case. I would recommend reading the series in order though and I plan to read them from the beginning. I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was suspenseful, fascinating, held my interest and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this book and this author continues to be a must-read for me.

Engaging book that kept me wanting to read more until I finished. This novel started out of the gate fast and didn’t stop. It starts with Tempe helping her daughter move into her new home. When Tempe returns home, she find a package delivered. In that package is an eye with a serial number on it. I enjoyed reading about Tempes quick witted humor and intelligence. This was my first book I’ve read by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more!

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. Tempe has a lot going on in this book; a neighbor is ready to throw down over garden decor, Ryan is on a case in the Caribbean, her daughter is back from two tours of duty, and someone is using her past cases as a template for their copycat killings. There is a lot of plot, but it does all manage to come together at the end. (No spoilers, but I am still angry about the fate of one character, simply because I liked him, so do with that what you will.) This book is fairly action packed, and it did keep me guessing for a while. If you've read the series, you will see little throwbacks to previous books in the cold cases, which might be fun. Overall, despite the anger and anxiety, I did enjoy this latest entry to the series.

Cold, Cold Bones is book #21 in the Temperance Brennan Novel series by Kathy Reichs.

Temperance Brennan has a lot going on with her daughter moving nearby, a disgruntled neighbor, and an eyeball showing up on her doorstep.

I enjoyed reading about a setting I’m familiar with. I thought the story started a little slow, but it picked up speed quickly and I couldn’t put it down. As Tempe and Skinny started putting the pieces together, I was drawn in. I did guess the guilty party before they put it together, but I still didn’t expect the ending.

Thank you to the author, Scribner, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Being that this is the 21st book in the series, the reader pretty much knows what to expect from Kathy Reichs. I was not expecting the book to start with a frozen eyeball and take the reader on a wild path through cases Brennan experienced throughout her career. Many of the characters were familiar, but Reichs introduced several new characters that started to blend together. I thought bringing her daughter into the mix was an interesting addition, although I do not think Brennan’s reaction to her daughter’s disappearance was believable.

Author Kathy Reichs is back with another in her Temperance Brennan series, COLD, COLD BONES, this time located in North Carolina. While these are almost formulaic, they are predictably enjoyable, whether you’ve joined the series recently or started at the beginning. Even if you are ‘only’ a fan of the TV series, the books offer enough of an added benefit that they are a joy to read. And right now, that is saying a lot! I received my copy from the publisher.

Cold, Cold Bones
By: Kathy Reichs
Rating: 5/5
I received this eARC from Netgalley for my honest review

Kathy Reichs returns with her twenty-first novel of suspense featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan who, after receiving a box containing a human eyeball, uncovers a series of gruesome killings eerily reenacting the most shocking of her prior cases.

I love Kathy Reichs books so much and when I received the email that I was approved to read this book, I was overjoyed. In the twenty-first book we get to see a lot of suspense, action and of just enough science and forensics to hold your interest without over-explaining. I was very happy to see that we still got our same old characters that we have grown to love in the Temperance Brennan series. Tempe is an amazingly strong female lead, who sometimes doesn’t think things all the way through until something bad happens, but you love her for determination in seeing a case solved. I know if I was ever murdered, I would want Tempe to be forensic anthropologist to help bust my case open and take down the perp who killed me.
I loved seeing all the old characters again in this book, it really helps with connecting to them, for me it feels like family that I have known for years since I have always loved Reichs writing style. I did enjoy that you got to see other characters from Tempe past, her other colleagues that she would call for help when she was stuck or needed to work through a case. The new characters that you see in this book where okay for me but that could have been they just rubbed me the wrong way.
I really didn’t find anything that I disliked about the novel, I love Tempe and everything about her personality. I loved that every chapter ended with a small cliffhanger that would keep you on your toes and turning the pages to see what else would be discovered. The chapters where short, and the way Reichs writes you will be turning the pages nonstop. If you have not read any other of Temperance Brennan series and you want to start to see if you like them, you can pick up this book and read it as a standalone, however I would highly recommend that you start at the beginning and work your way through this series. You will not be disappointed.
I was able to finish this book in 2 days it was that good and the only reason it took me two days to finish was because I had to finally put it down to sleep.
If you’re a lover of mystery, suspenseful crime novel, with action and a little bit of sweet romance then this book is something you should try.

I want to thank Netgalley and Scribner for allowing me the opportunity to read and review Cold, Cold Bones.

Happy pub day to Cold Cold Bones!! This is the 21st (!!!!) installment in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs and let me tell you, she’s still got it. I look forward to catching up with Tempe every summer and Cold Cold Bones doesn’t disappoint. Here’s what I loved:
❤️The storyline - It’s engaging from the first page and I truly didn’t know how it was going to end until about 90% in.
❤️ The frequent references back to Tempe’s old cases and revisiting them with her (I see some re-reads in my future!).
❤️ The spotlight on veterans, PTSD, and the lack of support and understanding they experience when transitioning back to civilian life.

If you’re a fan of the Bones series, I highly recommend diving into this latest adventure. Thanks to Scribner for the gifted copy!!

Seemingly random incidents and crimes -- forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan finds herself deep in it from eyeballs to mummified corpse to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Winter brings snow to North Carolina when Tempe's daughter, Katy, finally leaves the Army and returns home. Ryan is out of the country and Slidell is still working with the CMPD cold case unit. After a chilling discovery on her front porch, Tempe notices that clues lead to another very odd find in the privy at a private school. It's not until a few other weird occurrences that Tempe starts to see that each of the cases is similar to ones she has been involved with in the past. It seems that someone is going through a lot of effort to get her attention.

This, the 21st installment in a very popular and entertaining series, wasn't the most fascinating of all, but I like the characters, their interactions, and the snarky humor in the story. The plot can best be described as a revenge story, and there are a lot of suspects to track and details to follow. I'm a fan of both crime and medical thrillers, so these books always hit the sweet spot. Pretty sure most readers also have followed the hit show, "Bones" which is based and adapted from the novels. I feel that it is best to read from the beginning as this doesn't seem like it would work very well as a start point or standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This was great! The book grabbed my attention right away and as each new body (or body part) was discovered my interest only grew. There were plenty of things happening at any given time in the story that kept me glued to the pages. I tend to like mysteries that get into the science of solving a case and while these books don’t dig too deep I do like the part that forensic anthropology plays in the story. This book was definitely worth picking up.

When a human eyeball is delivered to Tempe’s home at the start of the book, I knew that this was going to be an interesting case. As new cases pop up, Tempe senses a connection and it turns out that there have been several recent cases resembling ones she has worked on in the past. As the cases pile up, they are getting closer to Tempe and it appears to be personal. The fact that Tempe can’t get a hold of her daughter, Katy, who seems to be going through a rough patch only adds more stress to the situation.

I must admit that I figured out who the culprit was long before Tempe or Detective Slidell did but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the story. I was rather worried about Katy and thought that it was quite possible that Tempe would get herself in a dangerous situation before everything was solved. I was glad to see that Ryan played a role in the story even though I would have liked to see him make an appearance a bit sooner.

I thought that this was a very entertaining read. The Tempe in these books is very different than the character in the television show. This is the 21st book in the Temperance Brennan series but I think that it could work as a stand-alone for readers new to the series. I definitely plan to read more of Kathy Reich's work in the future.

I received a digital review copy of this book from Scribner via NetGalley.

Kathy Reichs doesn't hold back in Cold, Cold Bones. She's written quit an intriguing mystery for Dr. Brennan to solve.

I have read all of this series and that says something about how big a fan I am of the author and her Temperance Brennan series since this in number twenty one. All of the books can be read as standalones, but I must admit that I think they are better in sequence so that you follow the growth of the characters. In this latest book, Tempe is in North Carolina during a brutal cold spell and is facing the challenge of bodies piling up that seem to mimic past cases. In addition, her daughter Katie has returned from serving in the army in Afghanistan and seems to possibly be suffering from PTSD. There are sub-plots involving homelessness and an irate and bitter park ranger that are interesting and add to keeping the plot moving. The familiar characters all have a role in this latest book, although Ryan, Tempe’s lover, is distant for most of the book. “Skinny” Slidell is no longer a homicide detective but is instead retired and working cold cases as well as assisting Tempe in pursuing the identification and whodunits for her recently discovered bodies. The genre is mystery suspense. The plot was intriguing and creative, with some creepy good details included, although some were gory. There were red herrings and twists, but following the clues made it possible to figure out the perpetrator before the captivating climax. The book was entertaining and engaging and a welcome addition to the series. I will definitely look forward to the next book and Tempe’s next adventures with delving into unusual deaths.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Scribner via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I have read almost all of the Temperance Brennan books, enjoying the plots and characters equally. In this 21st entry in the series, I found the plot premise interesting and promising. However, Cold, Cold Bones is my least favorite so far. The attempts to give Tempe a sense of humor, at times oddly placed and others falling flat, were quite distracting. It almost felt like Reich was trying to create a cozy mystery, which, with the highly descriptive medical details and violence, this certainly is not.

The timeline jumped in confusing ways as well. Where some days were labeled, others were not; some labeled ones showed one or two days difference, but the text implied it was longer. Since I read an ARC, I’m hoping these got corrected before the final proof. Also, certain wording and details related to the actual perpetrator were so obvious that the red herrings were merely distractions. Finally, there were some gaps in details that, while not necessary for the crime, raised questions that took my attention away from more important elements of the story.

Will I read another Tempe book? Yes. Will I re-read or recommend this one to someone who has not read much of the series? Very unlikely.

Thank you to Scribner, Netgalley, and author Kathy Reichs for early access to a digital copy of this book.

I was so very pleased with the latest installment of the series. We end up with a very personal case for Tempe, Slidell and even Katy is part of the book. I always wish there was more Ryan when he isn’t a major player, but alas he is off solving one of his PI cases. And for those of you more of a fan of the books set in Montreal instead of NC, this has a compromise. NC is having a winter storm. And there is no shortage of the snark we come to expect from Tempe.

I really did like how personal this case is for her and how it came together. And that there were forensics involved again. I always appreciate learning something as I read. The secondary story in this book deals with Katy leaving the Army and getting reacclimated with life and reconnecting with her Mom.

I really think fans of the series will love this one and if you haven’t started this series, this is a great one to jump in and try.

Cold, Cold Bones is the 21st book in the Temperance Brennan series by Kathy Reichs. Temperance is a forensic anthropologist working in North Carolina and suddenly discovers a special box delivered to her front door. Inside the box is a human eyeball. Copycat murders of her previous cases then precede the mysterious eyeball. A deranged killer is trying to get her attention. Is this person out for revenge?
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

Tempe Brennan is located in Charlotte in this book. She has someone copying her cases both in the United States and Canada.
I think this is one of her better books. It kept me going and keeping me awake to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and Scribner for publishing this great book.

An exciting new addition to the Brennan files!
Katy, Tempe’s daughter, is finally home. But an eyeball shows up on Tempe’s doorstep, which can’t be good.
As the investigation heats up, she can’t possibly guess the real enemy is so close by.
Lots of technical speak and graphic descriptions of body parts, but for crime fiction fans, it’s another day at the office.

Temperance Brennan returns for her 21st novel from Kathy Reichs. The story is told from Tempe’s POV and includes her internal thoughts, wit and sarcasm. The major story revolves around the finding of bodies, some dead for a few years. While seemingly very separate and unrelated Tempe begins to see similarities to previous cases that she has worked. It all begins with an eye ball delivered to her house with GPS coordinates leading to more of the body.

Tempe is of course helpful with autopsies and medical details. Why a presumed suicide is actually staged etc. Tempe does work with the new detective assigned to her case but of course she investigates on her own as well.

A side story that I enjoyed is Tempe helping her daughter Katy settle into a new place. She is out of a double enlistment in the Marines and is now trying to decide what she wants to do with her life. Katy also seems to suffer from PTSD.

I really enjoyed this book. It starts a little slowly but once it gets moving I couldn’t put it down. Tempe’s live-in Ryan does appear but is away on his own investigation during much of the book. I really appreciate Reich’s humor. Tempe and Katy’s banter is very fun and feels like the communication a mother and daughter share. Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Tempe is back in book 21. In this book, Tempe has a load of problems. Her daughter has returned from the Army but when she starts volunteering at a homeless shelter goes missing. Her neighbor is upset about a statue in her garden. Ryan is off on business. The worst problem is the cases coming in. They seem unrelated but something is telling Tempe that there is something there.
Opinion
I am a huge fan of Bones and Reichs. She spins a mystery so detailed and multifaceted that I am always amazed. When reading her books, you cannot overlook the small details and have to pay close attention because something that seems insignificant will make a resurgence again later in the book.
While this is a series, you could read the books out of order. Though I would suggest if you plan on reading them all to start from the beginning. The details about her life that may not seem significant to the current story will flow better.
This book, for me, was definitely a favorite. Perhaps the best part was reading about places that are literally five minutes up the road from me. I imagined Reichs driving around getting an idea for the surrounding parts of Charlotte and it put a smile of my face to imagine her just up the road.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Scribner for providing me with an ARC of this book.