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Poetic Analysis and Forensic Anthropology Track Down the Fate of an Acadian Friend Bones to Ashes reaches back to roots in Longfellow's poem, Evangeline, and Dr. Temperance Brennan's childhood to solve an old mystery, whatever happened to Tempe's missing Acadian friends, Evangeline and Obeline. To do so, literary analysis, forensic anthropology, breaking encryptions, and diatomic sampling will be required. As the book opens, you are carried back to Tempe's youth and her friendship with Evangeline and Obeline. Quickly, the book returns to the present as Tempe returns to work in Montreal to find a backlog of bones to examine. At that, Hippolyte Gallant who works on cold cases persuades her to look at one more set: some bones sitting in a police station that don't interest the local coroner. That set fascinates Tempe because it seems to be from a girl about Evangeline's age when she disappeared. Could this be Evangeline? That concern leads Tempe to investigate with her sister Harry's help into what happened to Evangeline. Meanwhile, Andrew Ryan, Tempe's estranged lover, is working on a floater who may be linked to three missing persons and two unidentified bodies. Could there be a serial killer involved? Bit by bit, Tempe and Ryan connect the dots in unexpected ways. Will they reconnect personally? Ryan is pretty busy taking care of his junkie daughter and is put off by having seen Tempe's husband put his arms around Tempe. But at least they still share a cockatiel, Charlie, who provides some of the humor in the story. As usual, the science is wonderful and five star in this book. As occurred with Break No Bones, the story and the rest of the writing creak in several ways that are hard to discuss without giving away the plot. The main weaknesses show up in these areas: 1. The Tempe-Ryan relationship seemed artificial and didn't ring true to me. 2. Harry's behavior and language were way over the top for me. Once again, it didn't ring true in several places. 3. The solution to Evangeline's disappearance is tied in part to a way of thinking that seems more than a little unlikely. I didn't buy it. 4. Basic facts about the suspects are poorly investigated. It seemed uncharacteristically sloppy for these characters. The ties to Acadia are poetic and appropriate. That part of the story worked well. If you are a big fan of the series, you'll probably think this is not one of the strongest stories. But you'll be glad you read it. Learning more about Tempe's childhood makes the story memorable for fans of Dr. Reichs' writing. Save the Acknowledgements for Last Acknowledgements are sometimes put at the end of novels for a good reason in case they spoil a plot point. The acknowledgements in this book were at the start. Lucky for the author, I didnt know what a *L-word* was. Just in case your vocabulary is bigger than mine, I suggest you save reading the acknowledgements for last because, indeed, that *L-word* stuff was the most fascinating aspect of this novel. (Its a medical something, by the way.) In non-spoiler news, the novel brings attention to the Acadian people, whom Id never heard of before. Yay, I learned something! Also featuring are Tempe Brennans summer childhood friend, her somewhat trashy sister Harry, and a cockatiel who quotes the Black Eyed Peas and Korn. Good times! Dem Bones One of the things I like best about mystery series is how the character develops. To me that is even more important than the mystery. Of course, what I really like is when the character==because of her characteristics---solves the mystery. Tempe is a great, complex character. Her character, along with her methods is what solves the mystery, but it is her relationships and family ties, and the moving back and forth between different locales, that sets this series apart. After the last book, we saw her relationship with Ryan in trouble. This was in part due to a misunderstanding of Tempe's involvement with her ex husband and Ryan's involvement with his daughter. At the beginning of this book the two must work together but remain distant. Ryan is moving back in with his ex so he can be a father to his daughter. But Ryan and Tempe still work well together. The story begins with a flashback to Tempe's youth in North Carolina where all of a sudden her friends leave. Of course, we know that these people will become important to the mystery confronting Tempe today. The mystery is complex and involves not just bones of recently murdered young girls but a very old skeleton as well. And, of course, we know that old and new must be connected. To say any more will away too much of the plot. But things do happen between Tempe and Ryan. But we must wait for the next installment to find out just what they will be. Another satisfying read from Kathy Reichs. A Peek Into Brennan's Childhood This is the newest book in the Temperance Brennan series and it is right on track. The story starts with missing girls and unidentified bodies and ends in a web of pornography and pedophilia. This is a top-notch entry in the series. We are given a look at Brennan's childhood in this book and her sister Harry is back after an absence of several books. I find Harry incredibly annoying so wasn't too pleased to see her again. Brennan's personal life also takes a nose dive and I really don't like the path her relationship has taken. But now I find myself at the end of this series and in the position of having to wait for the next book to be published. I'll be looking forward to it. See also:
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