Book Review: Devil Bones by Kathy Reichs

 

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Following her most successful book to date, Kathy Reichs -- international number one bestselling author, forensic anthropologist, and producer of the Fox television hit "Bones" -- returns to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Temperance Brennan encounters a deadly mix of voodoo, Santeria, and devil worship in her quest to identify two young victims.In a house under renovation, a plumber uncovers a cellar no one knew about, and makes a rather grisly discovery -- a decapitated chicken, animal bones, and cauldrons containing beads, feathers, and other relics of religious ceremonies. In the center of the shrine, there is the skull of a teenage girl. Meanwhile, on a nearby lakeshore, the headless body of a teenage boy is found by a man walking his dog.

Nothing is clear -- neither when the deaths occurred, nor where. Was the skull brought to the cellar or was the girl murdered there? Why is the boy's body remarkably well preserved? Led by a preacher turned politician, citizen vigilantes blame devil worshippers and Wiccans. They begin a witch hunt, intent on seeking revenge.

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan -- "five-five, feisty, and forty-plus" -- is called in to investigate, and a complex and gripping tale unfolds in this, Kathy Reichs's eleventh taut, always surprising, scientifically fascinating mystery.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit that I am very interested in Voodoo and witchcraft.  I don't believe in it but I find it fascinating.  So I was very excited to start this book.  I was so involved in this one (which was not the case with the last "Bones" book, even though it was good) and finished it within two days because I could not put it down.

Tempe gets called to investigate the findings an underground chamber of an old home.  She finds a cauldron, chicken bones and a human skull.  While Tempe is investigating the findings, a body is found with an inverted pentagram carved into the chest.  From there, Tempe and two other detectives are thrown in to learning about Voodoo, Wicca and Santeria.  They are also faced with an Evangelical preacher/politician that is creating fear in the people with talks of satanism.  Top that with Tempe's always confusing relationship with Ryan and now another man and Tempe has herself some problems that spiral out of control.  

There is a lot of forensic science talk and some of that always goes over my head.  I honestly don't think that the author needs to describe every little procedure in complete detail, mostly because those of us who have not studied forensic science will not understand it all.  So that part is a little slow and dry for me but I love the mystery, Tempe's snarky attitude and meeting the new characters.  I found this book to be much more fast paced than Ms. Reich's last book and for the most part, I enjoyed every bit of it.