Rating: 
Summary: Grave Red Herrings
Review: The bulk of the story is set in Guatemala, where Temperance Brennan is helping sort out the 20-year-old remains of the massacre of a village of indigenous Aztecs. Because members of the ruling government were involved in the bloody killings of women and children, the forensic anthropologist's work is frowned upon, and gunmen attack two members of the excavation and identification team. While sorting out this ugly reminder of the past, Temperance is asked by the local police to help in the investigation of a body found in a septic tank. On thing leads to another, and soon Brennan cannot decide if she is dealing with a serial killer or someone more politically motivated.A red herring is a writing device intended to appear as if it were a clue, but which, in fact, is really just a distraction that keeps the reader from jumping to the right conclusion. When used in moderation, it is an adroit tactic that can add interest and suspense. When used to excess, it leaves the reader feeling tricked as the plot seems to dissolve away. 'Grave Secrets' is right at the limit, and perhaps somewhat beyond it. It would be giving away too much to list the herrings, but you will have to accept my assurances that there are many layers of literary subterfuge, few of which contribute materially to the story. The book isn't a failure, but it is certainly not a wholehearted success. When the story is over, and the last 'cute' trick is played, one wonders what will happen to the series from this point onwards. Reichs hints loudly that changes are coming, but I fear that another talented writer is going to fall victim to what I call Editor's Disease, where the author is gradually convinced to make become a formula writer - one dollop of blood, two dollops of sex, etc., etc. Hopefully this is a temporary aberration and not a portent of things to come.
Rating: 
Summary: A GREAT SERIES-- Grave Secrets Doesn't Disappoint
Review: The one thing I love about a series, is watching our favorite character(s)grow just like all of us do based upon our life experiences. In the character, Tempe, the author has created an interesting, strong, yet vulnerable character it would be very hard for anyone not to like. So smart, and yet so foolish, when she allows her stubborn and often impetuous streak to get the best of her. For us the results of that happening normally wouldn't put us in danger. When it happens to Tempe, she finds herself in a life or death situation which is, of course, why we all love to read fiction. Personally, I'm enjoying Tempe's forensic/anthropology world as it ties into crime, and the complexities involved when Tempe transitions herself between her worlds in Quebec and NC. The love interest character of Ryan is a nice balance with all the other heavier, grusome story lines. I'm also not disappointed that their relationship has been allowed to grow slowly--more maturely I think--given their ages and past disappointments with relationships. Watching the trust grow between them, along with the lust, has made for very enjoyable reading as well. This last in the series is a fine addition and I was not disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Cess Pit of Crime
Review: The over-riding theme of this book is the connection between the womb and the tomb. I can't say a lot about this without giving information away but readers need to watch for her use of a well and a septic tank to parallel and heighten this story about the deaths of mothers and children. There is also a nice connection between the reason for the deaths of the victims of the death squad and the more recent victim she is called on to excavate and examine. The reader is going to learn more than she ever wanted to know about the inner workings of a septic tank. All in all well worth reading even if not as tightly plotted as some of her previous books. Also, it appears that her personal life may be moving forward a bit with the introduction of a second possible romantic interest although coincidence is stretched a bit thin.
Rating:
Summary: It seems trite - but what a page turner!!
Review: This book is really well written and well crafted. The story takes place in the context of real historical events that are only now being explored, and it lends such credibility to her work. Her detailed knowledge of forensics shines through, but without overpowering the prose or the underlying stories. The characters are well rounded, and it is easy to picture each of them as she writes. I don't read much fiction due to the lack of quality writing out there, but I think this one's a winner.
Rating:
Summary: Why The Coincidences
Review: This is the fifth in the series, and the coincidences are too much! Really! This plot is great, the change of locale is intriguing. But she runs into a guatemalan raised in Canada (?) was is an old friend of her old flame (?). Ms. Reichs must move in a very small circle of friends. She is having a hard time imagining other characters for her stories. The forensic writing is great, as usual. The action is fierce. Please stop the coincidences!! A great read, otherwise!
Rating:
Summary: A little misguided
Review: This is the first and only book of this author/series I have read and this is what I like about the book: -The locations, moving from Guatemala to Montreal is very interesting.
-The character of Tempe Brennan is not the typical self obsessed character Ihave found in Patricia Cornwell novels. Things I don't like about it:
-The descriptions of forensic work seem more like a study guide. It is as if the author is out to prove she knows her business. The knowledge is impressive but it would be better if it were written more as a part of the story rather than a sudden departure into a textbook.
-The story tends to lose focus and several of the characters and diversions are a bit pointless. Overall, it was a decent story but not very engaging.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT MYSTERY / SUSPENSE NOVEL!!!
Review: This is the second Tempe Brennan novel that I've read, and I was not disappointed. In this tale, the heroine is sent on a goodwill mission to Guatemala, to aid in the recovery and identification of the remains of the victims of a massacre that took place many years ago. Amidst the drama at Chupen Ya, Tempe also becomes involved in the disappearances of several young girls that appear to be linked....is a serial killer on the loose?
While identifying the innocent victims of Chupen Ya, the search for the present day killer brings Tempe in close contact with the handsome Galiano, the local detective who is determined to bring both past and present day killers to justice.
Though the story was certainly engaging and enlightening, I did at times find the dialogue somewhat difficult to follow (who's speaking now??).....and most readers will long for more interaction with the obviously handsome Galiano; or even Ryan, the returning Quebec-based detective with whom Tempe already has a history. The ending was a treat, leaving readers looking for the next novel in the series to find out with whom Ms. Brennan may be finding romance this time around.....
This one is a difficult one to put down.
DYB
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: This novel was a disappointment.
The story starts out well but the ending is just ridiculous.
Also too farfetched is the plot device that brings Ryan into the story again.
All in all I would have to say that this book is by far the weakest of the series.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not as solid as first four Tempe stories
Review: We eagerly dived into this fifth book about forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, having thoroughly enjoyed the earlier four stories about her crime solving from a rather different perspective. From the study of bones, sometimes long buried skeletons, Tempe, as in real life does author Dr. Kathy Reichs, is usually able to determine age, race, and gender of the victim; often the means and manner of death; and sometimes even enough clues to pursue the perpetrator. While reminiscent of Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta, the Montreal, North Carolina, and sometimes other settings, coupled with supporting characters in each location, plus the somewhat unique challenges of the analysis involved, lead to entertaining stories and characters we have come to enjoy. In Grave Secrets, Tempe is stationed on assignment in Guatemala, where much of the book is devoted to first her unearthing, then her aiding in the identifying, of two dozen remains of executions of women and children from during the long, 34-year Guatemalan civil war. The atrocities described to us during that period darkened the whole book; presuming this is mostly if not completely fact based, surely a depressing recounting of human cruelty and suffering. Meanwhile, two other stories compete for Tempe's (and our) attention: the case of a skeleton found in a septic tank, and all the interesting technical feats involved in ID'ing the victim; and the disappearance of four missing young women. Pursuing and resolving these cases involved the participation of two leading men in the story - detective Galiano, whom Tempe comes to like, of the Guatemalen PD; and long-time Canadian associate and romantic interest Andrew Ryan, who just "happens" to be old buddies with Galiano and is apparently free to run back and forth to Canada with little restraint. That one of the missing women is the Canadian ambassador's daughter opens the rationale for much of the goings-on as well as much of the suspense. The book concludes with a bedtime cliffhanger in the style of Janet Evanovich, which we weren't sure we really appreciated, but will certainly help sell Book 6! To get to the point, we're not as enthused about this fifth book as Reich's earlier work. We felt much of the chasing around had little or nothing to do with Tempe's skills (let alone her job per se); and too many sub-plots required too many (relatively shallowly developed) characters to populate them adequately. Each successive story element only seemed to subtract from the strength of the novel; and when we were all done, we wound up with a living room dusted and vacuumed, but still cluttered beyond good taste. While Reichs credits her publishers with helping making her book compelling, to us the editors should have carved much of the detail at several points, simplified the story lines, axed some situations that did nothing for the cause, and in general tightened up the whole convoluted tale. We think her other books are better, and urge a little more caution for her next outing, which still we will no doubt anxiously await.
Rating:
Summary: Supremely talented Kathy Reichs...
Review: What has started as a distinguished third career from this talented medical examiner/teacher/writer has turned to gold for those of us who like a well-told tale. I can't imagine how she chose the Guatemalan genocides of the early 80s as her latest setting, but she does and makes it as compelling a story as any she's written. You seethe along with her heroine, Tempe Brennan, at the corruption and incompetence of the local authorities, and yet there are honest, hard-working individuals in those same organizations. She stretches credibility a little here and there as she orchestrates the movement of the story to Canada and back, but the story is so good, you just forgive her.
|
