DEJA DEAD: A NOVEL CASSETTE : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: GREAT DEBUT NOVEL!!
Review: Dr. Tempe Brennan is a forensic anthropologist who divides her professional time between her home state of North Carolina and Quebec City, Canada. When the body of a young woman is discovered dismembered and stashed in trash bags, it doesn't take Tempe long to discover a pattern that may indicate that a serial killer is on the loose. The murders are so brutal that Tempe finds herself becoming overly involved in the police investigation....leading to feelings of ill will from certain members of the police department, and also to her being personally targeted by the killer. When he strikes incredibly close to home in a devastating fashion, it soon becomes clear that Tempe's own life may most certainly be in danger.....

Great book that I could not put down, that got off to a rather slow start. I persevered...and was rewarded. Get the book!!


DYB

Rating:
Summary: Very predictable, but intriguing
Review: I found the book very predictable, but intriguing enough that I read it from cover to cover. The lead character, Tempe Brennan, seems too dim-witted to be an forensic anthropologist. Someone's trying to kill me...hmm..I think I'll drive into a bad part of town at two in the morning and park in an alley just for kicks. Give me a break!

I really enjoyed the realism of the forensic investigations. If it weren't for this I would have rated the book much lower.

Rating:
Summary: Frighteningly intriguing.................
Review: Tempe Brennan is a forensic anthropologist called in to help in Quebec when a dismembered corpse of a young woman is found. Tempe recalls a similar case and begins to believe that there are several connected murders and fears a serial killer is lurking in the shadows of Quebec. She runs into a brick wall when she attempts to go through the normal chain of command and decides to investigate independently........leaving both her and those she cares about in imminent danger.
Kathy Reichs creates very real pictures of Tempe's work based on her own work as a forensic anthropologist.
The novel is intriguing and frightening and carefully crafted to leave the reader on the edge of darkness until the finale.


Rating:
Summary: CSI: Montreal
Review: If you like the show "Crime Scene Investgators", I believe you'll like this book a lot. Kathy Reichs, author, and the main character, Dr. Temperance Brennen, have a lot in common and this adds weight to the advice 'write what you know'. The mirror image between author and protagonist leaves you with the tantalizing question of how much of the book is pure fiction and how much is based on Reichs' real-world experiences. No matter the mixture of fact and fiction, the writing is superb with a sarcastic humor and love of puns. Those who love to solve the mystery before reaching the end of the book will enjoy the tantalizing clues and false trails.

I love learning things while reading fiction, and in Deja Dead you get to learn about the effects of various saws and knives on bone. We are exposed to the gritty details of processing corpses and skeletons forensically. While I usually close my eyes during those graphic animations during the CSI show, you may have to figure out a different way to get past the vivid descriptions here. I loved the guided tour through the neighborhoods of Montreal. We hear theories about the social cuture of prostitutes. Reichs also mixes in French phrases and curse words, a nice touch. I enjoyed the pacing of the story and found it quite involving. However, at about page 490 of the 532, the story kicks into overdrive and wraps up suddenly, using a dry question&answer session format to tie up the loose ends.

Overall, a fine debut. I look forward to catching up on this series.

Rating:
Summary: Not good....
Review: Too many details on forensics, which makes reading the book sometimes unbearable. It's nice to learn a few things about forensics, but I don't really need to know STEP BY STEP how she's operating it. Is it even relevant to the story? Showing-off, that's what it is. Besides, please trim down all the flowery descriptions about Montreal. They are not very interesting and certainly slowing down the whole story. Where were the editors and how the heck did they approve this kind of writing in a thriller?

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: I discovered Ms. Reich quite by accident, and was blown away. As first novels go, this one was awesome! Most first novels are bogged down with the authors needs to introduce characters, as well as laying out the plot for the story. Ms. Reich mastered this, and wove an incredible tale. I recommend this to anyone who loves a great mystery with exciting action!

Thank you, Ms. Reich!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book!!
Review: My first (but certainly not my last) Kathy Reichs book!! I was hooked from the very first of Deja Dead. Procedures were believable, informative and the book as a whole was very entertaining! I'll be looking for Deja Jour very soon!

Rating:
Summary: exciting read, I stayed up too late
Review: Kathy Reichs is the new Patricia Cornwell. Her forensic investigator heroine Tempe Brennan is smart and sassy, and this book kept me turning pages later into the night than I should have. The heroine has a dry humor that I liked, and the suspense, action and characterization were first-rate. A good, suspenseful read!