Review: A Conspiracy of Bones by Kathy Reichs

Temperance Brennan is recovering from neurosurgery and trying to cope with a difficult supervisor when she finds herself mixed up in a case involving mysterious text messages and a corpse that is void of any identifiable features. And while she is keen to discover the identity of the dead man, her investigations will uncover some surprising links to some unresolved cases that involve missing children.

I have a confession to make, this is actually the first Kathy Reichs novel I have ever read. I can recall seeing a few episodes of Bones (the television series that was based on the books,) but even that was some time ago. So unlike the many, many fans of the author and series, I came into this one with very little knowledge of the character and setting. Fortunately, Reichs is the kind of author who gives readers just enough explanation to let them know what is going on without it getting in the way of the story. 

The central mystery--the discovery of a corpse that cannot be identified--intrigued me greatly and I found myself relating it in places to a similar event that happened in Adelaide many years ago, known locally as the Somerton Man (read more here.) I was surprised and (is delighted the right word,) to discover a note at the end of the book from the author in which she disclosed that parts of the plot were indeed inspired by the Somerton Man. 

This is a fast and intelligent ripper of a crime novel and one that had me intrigued enough to want to go back and read the series from the beginning.

Recommended.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for my copy of A Conspiracy of Bones.

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