Rating: 
Summary: Lost in technicalities
Review: Patricia Cornwell can sleep well-- Tempe Brennan will not be breaking down Kay Scarpetta's door any time soon. Ms. Reichs has the technical background, but lacks in the characterization department. Her main character comes off so flat that the truly good sections of dialogue (mainly police chatter) sound like comic book outtakes. Technicalities are numbing-- nineteen paragraphs on manipulating a graphics enhancement program to compare toothmarks, six full pages on the specifics of saw marks in bone. No surprise that eight of the ten "extraordinary advance praise" blurbs on the back are from forensic professionals, not writers (can't imagine what prompted Margaret Maron to emote). And plot? We all knew from her first appearance that Gabby was involved. The predictability was okay, but Tempe was so dull witted not to know, and no surprises were left for the end. I felt obliged to finish it, since I invested $20.00+, and there were a few interesting sections, but mostly it was a slow haul through flat country.
Rating:
Summary: I Gave Up on the Gore
Review: I hate to say this, but I gave up on DEJA DEAD, and found that one of my library staff members did, too. A feast of gratuitous gore, with women being carved up in the most gruesome ways possible added to extremely graphic autopsy scenes were enough to turn me off. I'm not squeamish, but I was neither intrigued nor titilated by all the chopped up body parts. I didn't find the writing particularly outstanding, and the descriptions of Quebec were merely tiresome. Maybe I missed something by not sticking with it, but I was disappointed in this debut outing.
Rating: 
Summary: send in the clones
Review: If you've read more than two Patricia Cornwell books you're probably pretty bored of her by now. You're not going to find much new here other than a slight change of trade for the heroine. Find another sub-genre. This one's played out.
Rating: 
Summary: Move over, P. Cornwell
Review: While my long-time favorite Patricia Cornwell has been running thin lately, it seems Kathy Reichs has been storing up a treasure trove of experience rich enough to steal all Cornewell fans away with easy. I love the medical detail in this book. Reichs is a working forensic anthropologist and she describes her work with an accuracy and honesty no fiction writer could possibly match. And--if you love a gruesome and gory tale as I do--Reichs knows how to tell one. I have mixed feelings about waiting for Reichs's next book: one the one hand, I want her to write them as quickly as Cornwell does because I can't wait to keep reading her work; on the other hand, I want her to take her time and produce quality reads like DEJA DEAD each and every time.
Rating: 
Summary: An intriguing look at forensic anthropology
Review: Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs deals with the work and life of Temperance "Tempe" Brennan, a transplanted southerner who works as a forensic anthropologist for the Laboratorie de Medicine Legale in Montreal. Her job entails the identification of remains and partial remains of bodies found by the authorities. It provides an intriguing look into this profession and is described in excellent detail. This book initially focuses on a number of seemingly unrelated murders where mutilated bodies are found in various locations around the city. Tempe works continually to find some connection between these and a number of unsolved murders which results in the investigation of a serial murderer who eventually focuses on Tempe. In her pursuit of this investigation, she is confronted by a male dominated organization and at times makes progress through sheer perseverance. I found the location a fresh departure from some of the more " standard locations" used in many mysteries. Some have compared Tempe Brennan to Kay Scarpetta and while there are similarities there are also enough differences to make this an unfair comparison. While there are many positives about this book, I found her continual battle with her inner demon of alcohol overdone and at time tedious which tended to interrupt the flow of the plot line. I also found some of the secondary plot lines such as her relationship with Gabby confusing since she seemed to drop in and out of the plot. Finally additional details about Temperance Brennan would have been welcome since they would have provided another dimension to this character. Overall I found the book to be well work reading and I look for more of Temperance Brennan
Rating: 
Summary: Been there, read that
Review: Not that someone shouldn't try to do something that has already been done...just make sure you do it better. The text reads more like a medical book than a novel, although after the first 150 pages it seems to read better (or maybe I just got used to it). The only thing that kept me reading was the rave reviews it was getting. I'd like to see more of her work in the future as she does show promise, but let's hope she can develop her character more and add a bigger twist. You already knew who the guy was shortly into the book and the rest was trying to find him.
Rating:
Summary: A new mystery writer to love!
Review: This was one of those books that you can't put down! I had to find out what was going to happen to these characters before I could sleep! Reichs may have written her first novel, but her style definitely is masterful. She has me wanting to make a trip to Montreal just from the setting of the book. I plan to stay away from any abandoned monasteries, however!
Rating:
Summary: It was a great ride
Review: I can't stand the sight of my own blood, but I throughly enjoyed this book. Wouldn't it be great if Dr. Scarpetta and Dr. Brennan would
have to collaberate on a case? At least know
each other professionaly. I think for a first time at fiction Kathy Reichs did great. Can she only
get better? I hope we all get the chance to find
out.
Rating:
Summary: Riveting suspense thriller
Review: Of course, Kathy Reichs will be compared to Patricia Cornwell. Both feature single female forensics who solve serial killer murders with their knowledge and expertise. And both are slighted by their male counterparts. However, Reichs is a very talented writer who seems to have the strength to stand on her own feet. Cornwell, whose books keep getting worse, may want to take note of her competition. "Deja Dead" is an excellently written thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Her characters are intelligent, yet she does not hammer this into your head like Cornwell does. Tempe Brennan (our sleuth) is a likable character who remains memorable after the book is over. The only bad quality about her is she eats veal. The supporting characters are also well developed. I hope that Reichs writes more fiction!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely the best!
Review: Kathy Reichs takes the reader through a stunning range of emotions on a thriller of a roller-coaster ride of crime detecting. As a forensic anthropologist her subject is well researched, and the analytical scientific information is imparted in an attention-grabbing style. Her characters are well developed and evoke a strong response in the reader. I could hardly put this novel down, I wanted the sadistic serial-killer to be stopped before he got to MY door. And yet, I did not want the book to end-Professor Reichs style is so engaging. I look forward to more of Tempe and Ryan and Claudel. Definitely tops Cornwell, and is as readable as Aaron Elkins.
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