Rating: 
Summary: NOT SO GOOD
Review: Although I am a big fan of Kathy Reichs, I feel that Monday Mourning is not up to par with her previous books. The plot is excellent and has the potential to become a gripping story. But Ms. Reichs pads the book with what seems like endless descriptions of the weather, places, buildings, medical procedures, all of which make portions of this book incredibly boring. We already get it, Ms. Reichs, Canada is cold in the winter! I must have skipped over a third of the book and don't feel like I missed that much. Moreover, Temp Brennan is supposed to be an intelligent, mature woman. So, why does she do stupid things like charging forward on a rescue mission without getting police backup? These silly actions really do compromise her professionalism. Moreover, Temp's relationship with Ryan reminds me of my teenage days when relationships were fraught with temper tantrums, silent treatments and false accusations. Time to grow up Temp and have a relationship appropriate for a woman in her 40's. So, my recommendation is to borrow this book from the library, skip the boring parts, and hope that the next one is better.
Rating: 
Summary: Wondefully complex story!
Review: Another gripping story from Ms. Reichs, plenty of twists in the tale! and the paceing is perfect, leading the reader steadily onwards, but never at the cost of those all-important passages or chapters which show the struggle to get to grips with the problems faced by Tempe Brennan, the Forensic Anthropologist for the province of Quebec. Explanations of the more complex scientific examinations are neatly woven into the on-going story, and Ms Reichs pays the reader the compliment of not feeling duty bound to lead them by the hand. Tempe Brennan is a character one actually cares about, so read on, and discover, not only how she and the detectives of the Province solve this case, but also how her relationship with the gorgeous Ryan is developing.
Rating: 
Summary: Murder In A Thin Crust
Review: Bare Bones, Kathy Reichs previous novel shows some signs of becoming too personally involved with Temperance Brennan's personal life to the exclusion of the real story. And the start of Monday Mourning did little to dispel this. Tempe is back in Montreal for a stint as their forensic anthropologist seemingly completely wired. Her relationship with Detective Andrew Ryan is going through a rough spot (which is mostly in her head), and the discovery of three skeletons in the cellar of a pizza parlor forces her to work with one of her least favorite detectives, Luc Claudel. And her best friend shows up on the verge of divorce. Nothing is going right.
Claudel and Tempe square off over the age of the remains. He wants to believe that they are ancient history, but Tempe has a hunch that they are more recent. When an unknown caller reveals that something had been going on in the building Tempe becomes fixated on finding the truth. Be prepared for a wave of archeological science as Tempe not only proves the age of the bones, but manages to pinpoint where they had lived. And close inspection of the remains reveals other horrific possibilities.
As Tempe's personal crises build so does the tention of the case. Something horrible lies behind the slim evidence, and it has never gone to sleep. Now threatened, a noose begins to tighten about Tempe's own neck. What awaits is subtle and merciless, and Tempe will find herself faced with true darkness even as she tries to resolve a 20 year old wrong. A whirl of tense action spins its way to a gripping ending.
For my tastes, there is a bit too much Tempe in this story. For a mature woman with a great deal of responsibility, she manages to turn herself into a nervous wreck over Andrew Ryan. There are early moments in the book that made me thing that Reichs was determined to become just another Pat Cornwell clone, and I despaired that the forensic detective genre had gone to romances every one.
But Reichs somehow pulls back from the precipice and gets down to the business of writing a strong and compelling thriller. I found the core mystery one that offered a sufficient number of subtle clues and red herrings to keep the reader guessing, while the plot marches on at great tempo. Reichs will remain on my 'buy in hardcover' list.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, but a bit too autobiographical for me....
Review: Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the characters, plot, and the forensic knowledge in this book. This is my first Tempe Brennan book, but I will probably read more.
There's only one thing that's unsettling for me. Kathy Reichs has pretty much the same job in the same locale. Her fiction is a little too close to her day-to-day life for me.
Otherwise, very well written and a very good read. I would definitely recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Best Reichs ever
Review: Fabulous. Nail-biting at the end, excellent, spooky, creepy. I guessed the twist at the end, but still absolutely incredible.
Rating:
Summary: Tempe's Back and She's in Danger Again!
Review: For those of you who don't know, Temperance (Tempe) Brennan is a forensic expert who works in Quebec and North Carolina. In this story she has been called as an expert witness at a Montreal murder trial. While in Montreal, there is a discovery of three skeletons in a pizza parlor basement. Next to the skeletons are buttons that are clearly from the nineteenth century, so Montreal homicide detective Luc Claudel surmises that this case is ancient history and not of any concern to him. Tempe feels differently and uses her forensic know-how to set out to prove Luc wrong.
What she discovers is that the skeletons are much more recent than Luc would like to believe and that they are the remains of three young women.
Who are these women? How did they die? How did they end up in the basement? These are just a few of the questions that Tempe wants answers to and she isn't going to rest until she gets to the bottom of it all. In her search for truth, it becomes apparent that she is in danger and may become the next victim.
This is a great mystery full of suspense and intriguing twists. The forensic science aspects were well written and full of detail (enough detail so that a layperson such as myself could grasp what was going on without feeling like it was being dumbed down). If you are a fan of CSI, forensics, or mysteries in general, then this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: No forgiveness...
Review: I am from Montréal. I've read all Ms. Reichs' books in English and enjoyed most of them for plots, characters, etc... except for one thing that I now find VERY anoying:By placing the action of her books in Montréal, which is a French-speaking city with specific French characteristics, one would expect the author to be careful to the the use of numerous French expressions and the spelling of existing places you find in Montréal... and that you also find in her books. Unfortunately, that part of her work is so neglected I could not enjoy that latest book. So many spelling mistakes, French idioms that don't exist, unrealistic phrasing of dialogues in French. I am somewhat deceived by Ms Reichs' attitude, especially since reviews of her previous books by local newspapers specifically mentionned that. There's also the fact that the author spends time in Montréal for her work as an anthropologist. She should know the city, the language, or at least have the decency of having her work double-checked by local editors or writers... who are also her readers.
Rating:
Summary: Stunningly Reichs
Review: I have been a fan of Kathy Reichs since I read her first book, Deja Dead in 1997. Her stories have gotten better in the intervening years....more depth to her characters, including Tempe, more depth to her stories, great plot lines, and a steady pace that keeps the reader hanging on. I agree with other reviewers that Monday Mourning is her strongest work yet....but all of her books are worth reading. Tempe is in Montreal to testify in a murder case (what else). While she is there, she is called to investigate three skeletons discovered in the basement of a small pizza parlor. Upon first impressions there is some thought that the bodies are "historical", and this is supported when 19th century evidence is discovered near the remains. However, Tempe isn't convinced. She carbon dates the remains and discovers that they day to the 1980's confirming her fears. As background we discover that Tempe's love life isn't going well. Her significant other isn't giving her the attention she needs. Further, her male co-workers continue to take her and her contributions to police work lightly. Suffice it to say that the reader is in store for another wonderful ride through fictional police work. A tight story with great characters, Monday Mourning is sure to make you a Reichs fan if you're not already there.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: I love a mystery, especially when they feature characters capable of intelligent sleuthing, not coincidents, luck, or witnesses to solve the crime for the good guys. Reichs reminds me of Sue Grafton, with a little of Hannibal Lector thrown in. She writes in vivid detail and offers a precise insight into the forensic crime solving method.
Rating:
Summary: She just can't stop being fabulous!
Review: I've read all her books and Kathy Reichs is the kind of writer that makes me look for her in the book stores when with others I am more apt to remember the title of the book but not the author.
I love Tempe, both her flaws and her good qualities. I love the way things happen to her and her life is not perfect. Reichs books are not formula books with heaving bussoms, testy heroines and impossible conflict. Tempe is a woman who uses her brain to navigate life but is also very much in tune with her heart. Bravo!
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