3.0 out of 5 stars
Scripted more like an episodes of Bones..., Oct 7 2010
The latest installment in the Dr. Brennan series looks more like a script for an episodes of Bones than the high intensity and more twisted books in this series. It remains a fairly easy and enjoyable read but Kathy Reichs went light on the "fear factor" this time around. in most case previous books would put her in danger on several occasions and the "fear factor" would start much earlier in the book. This one is really more procedural and only has one main story line (side stories again takes much less center stage than in previous boooks).
Not bad, just different
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Tempe Doesn't Enjoy Paradise, Sep 17 2010
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." -- Revelation 2:7 (NKJV)
In the middle of a war, mistakes happen. Sometimes those mistakes cost lives. At other times, the mistakes launch improved lives. Spider Bones takes a long look at the difficulties of identifying remains from the Vietnam War and weaves a lot of good science into an intriguing story about a dead man who keeps dying, John Lowery. Along the way, some other little mysteries intrude . . . and Tempe tries to build a little love in Paradise (better known to those who live on Earth as Hawaii). The best-laid plans of all are quickly tossed into Fate's dumpster, and Tempe has all she can do to track down what's really been happening while unlimbering herself from some very awkward personal situations.
One of the high points of this book involves an explanation for a scientific phenomenon that occurs rarely that has always intrigued me. I was glad to find the explanation in the story to satisfy my curiosity about this quirky characteristic, but also to make the story a lot more compelling from a factual and plot perspective.
I just wish Tempe didn't have to suffer so much in her personal life. I suppose this is a plot device so we won't hate her for being so good, beautiful, talented, successful, etc. But it does get a little old.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Compare apples to apples..., Aug 30 2010
I'm a firm believer, when reviewing a book, in comparing a book to its predecessors. In this case, it's possible, because Kathy Reichs has written 12 previous Tempe Brennan novels.
The story she writes here, which takes place in locations from Montreal to North Carolina to Hawaii, involves a whole lot of different issues. Auto-erotic deaths, MIA/KIA's from Vietnam, shark-bitten bodies, Samoan gangs, daughters-with-problems, and an inactive love life are only a few of the diverse things Reichs touches on in "Spider Bones". The thing is, that as disconcerting as all this in-coming might be to a casual Reichs' reader, her fans come to expect it from her novels. I can't exactly compare Reichs' work with, say, Leo Tolstoy's, because she doesn't write as well. No one expects her to produce "War and Peace". She writes with workman-like prose and very odd plot lines. And does so fairly well.
It would be difficult to easily describe the plot of "Spider Bones". As I wrote above, there's a whole lot of "in-coming" and the reader never knows what's coming next. Reichs has the interesting/irritating habit of ending her chapters in cliff-hanging language. It's Reichs trademark and is present in every one of her books I've read.
"Spider Bones" is a good read for the Kathy Reichs fan. It might not appeal to more casual readers, but it is a good addition to her book list.
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