Rating: 
Summary: A tiresome bore
Review: I seem to be in the minority, but I tell you, I am still slogging through this novel. It has taken forever. The style is tedious and any good writing professor would tell her to stop the similes! If I read one more time, "he walked like..." "she sounded like.." I'll throw up. It's so distracting and so amateurish. I'll keep reading since there were so many raves, just to see if I can get into it, but I'm not hopeful. Sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Nancy Drew, grown up and a forensic anthropologist!
Review: I disagree with previous reviews. It is precisely the focus on forensic anthropology that makes this book unique and keeps Tempe Brennan from being a Scarpetta clone. Reichs brings in tools used by forensic anthropologists, such as distinguishing saw marks, aging and sexing skeletal remains, and the use of cadaver dogs. I give the review four stars rather than five because of the overreliance on some old formulae: the crusty cop who doesn't want to believe the female doc, the female doc who investigates on her own (shades of Nancy Drew!), and the wacky friend. A great book for forensic anthropology insiders--hope Reichs doesn't tone this down. It's what she does best.
Rating:
Summary: Good, not great
Review: This book had a lot of positives: intelligent, likeable heroine, interesting supporting characters, a good villian, and a interesting (although extremely graphic) murder spree. There were only two areas of this book that I didn't like--the fact that Tempe refused to share her theories and actions to the police (especially when it was obvious that she was in danger) and the incredible reluctance by the police to even consider that these murders were comitted by the same person. The good certainly outweighs the bad; I would recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: REASONABLE DEBUT SPOILED BY LECTURING
Review: As first novels go, this gory tale of nasty goings-on in downtown Montreal is nothing to be ashamed of. There's a good sense of location (if a bit overdone - do we need to know about every nook and cranny?); a good sense of atmosphere; good interplay between the lead cops and lots of good, if derivative, smart-ass dialogue. Where the book falls down is in Ms Reichs's insistence on delivering a forensics lecture every time a body is being examined. She should have realised that there is a difference between being a successful forensic anthropologist (her career hitherto) and a succesful author, and remembered the golden rule: less is more! If she wasn't aware of this, then her editor should have done the necessary for her and cut all the tedious, pace-slowing medical minutiae. The book could easily have been trimmed by 100 pages - and been all the better for it. If Ms Reichs can curb this tendency to overwrite, then any future book from her w.p. might be worth a look.I believe that comparisons are being made between this book and the works of Patricia Cornwell, but since Ms Cornwell is no great shakes, I don't see that there's much to worry about.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastique!
Review: There have been many comparisons between this book and the work of Patricia Cornwell. There are similarities, but Tempe Brennan has much more heart and most importantly humor than Kay Scarpetta has ever had. I say there's more than enough room for female authors writing strong, intelligent and emotionally complex female characters. The French touches were wonderful. I never realized how much French I remembered from high school and college. I pray that the world will hear more from Kathy Reichs!
Rating:
Summary: When is the next book published!!
Review: A gripping foresenic novel to the quality of Patrica Cornwell. A well structured and paced story that I just did not want to stop reading!
Rating:
Summary: Patricia Cornwell very light
Review: I was very surprised to see the average review of this book was very high. I thought this was a tedious book and, even on her worst day, Patricia Cornwell and Kay Scarpetta have nothing to worry about.
Rating:
Summary: Well written and extremely entertaining. Full of suspense
Review: I absolutely loved this book. She is and will continue to be an excellent author. I enjoy reading Patricia Cornwell and anyone who does will think Kathy Reichs is right up their alley. I was in suspense untill the very end.
Rating:
Summary: goodbye patricia cornwell!
Review: I picked this book up in Paris while on vacation. Not knowing anything about the book except that it is an "international bestseller", i decided to buy it. The book started off rather slow, but after the first 100 or so pages, I could not put the book down. The book is frightening and no details are spared. Excellent book for the Patricia Cornwell fans and those that enjoy murder/suspense stories.
Rating:
Summary: Novel setting and character, but read like a lecture
Review: As a Francophile, I really appreciated this book's Quebec setting and the snatches of French the author included. Tempe Brennan isn't really a Kay Scarpetta clone; she's an interesting character in her own right, with a really interesting job. And the plot was a compelling mystery. Unfortunately, author Kathy Reichs undid some of her good work with lectures about scientific and forensic procedure. This book read like a great thriller, interspersed with dry scientific lectures. Perhaps because I work in a scientific field, I found that Reichs tried too hard to explain what her character was doing. Hopefully, in her next work, she'll manage to better blend the scientific with the mystery. Still, this book is a million times better than the last couple of Kay Scarpetta outings.
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