(2003)Another very good forensic tale as Temperance Brennan tries to find out how bodies found in a privy and those in a crashed small plane tie together with an animal poaching ring in South Carolina.

Not the best of her books. The mystery is stretched very thin and she has her usual event of being beat up. Unlike her other books that I've read, this one took several days and that, perhaps, has affected my view. But I'll keep reading her. ( )

This was ok. I did not enjoy it as much as Grave Secrets. The plot devices seemed somewhat contrived and the dialogue was much more trite. ( )

Ok, three simple words for this series that I’m too lazy to explain in great details right now – “fascination with death”. As the series progresses it becomes less and less about death and more and more about life. This feeling is very subtle but it is there. Death turns out to be like a part of life itself. I usually see that while people are used to life and its parts, motions, quirks and everyone most of the time try to perceive death as different type of something (e.g., existence?). And as I read Temperance series I wonder “why is that?” more and more.

On the other hand I feel like this series finally formed and started following some predictable story patterns. This can be disappointing sometimes. Especially in the would-be-tension parts where tension is suddenly not there at all. ( )

I've been in a reading slump for months. As usual, when I feel restless and unsatisfied with my reading material, I turn to a series I love. Stepping back into Tempe's world of forensic anthropology was just what I needed. I loved getting to see Tempe and Ryan deepen their relationship. Sure, the mystery itself was a little convoluted and perhaps not as engaging as I would have liked, but overall I found myself quickly turning pages and happily anticipating my next reading session. However, I cringed a little at Reich's handling of a trans character (right down to choosing to use the wrong pronoun at the end). Still, given that the book was written almost 20 years ago, I'm willing to overlook it -- and hope she'd do better today. ( )