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: Muddy waters
Review: In this, the 5th in the series of Tempe Brennan books, the initial departure from the Canada/North Carolina loop has Tempe unearthing victims of a 20 year old mass murder in Guatemala. In the meantime, 4 local girls are missing, one the daughter of the Canadian Ambassador. And, to further muddy the waters, a skeleton is found in a septic tank. Lucky for the Guatemalan people, one of the foremost experts in the world on septic tank evacuations happens to be in their back yard working on the mass murder case.
The plots twist, turn, and intertwine. Tempe herself is in some danger, but from whom? And if her life isn't busy enough, a new man enters giving rise to the possibility of an improvement in her social life.
Kathy Reichs is brilliant when it comes to story telling. No doubt her career gives her story lines galore. Each of the Brennan books includes what I consider to be a fascinating lesson in forensics and this was no exception.
The 3 star rating in this case may be party as a result from comparisons to the other books in this series. The trips from Canada to N Carolina were starting to seem like a stretch in the other books. The Canada/Guatemala connection seemed even more of a stretch, as did the "frat-boy" relationship between Tempe's ongoing future flame Ryan and new friend Galiano. Keeping Ryan at arm's length is starting to get old---either go somewhere with this relationship or dump him and move on. I got my hopes up in this book, but that's all I'll say on that one.
The twisting/turning plot lines were each interesting in their own right. I would have preferred a couple of them to have been left out, it started to get a little convoluted. The story of the attack on the village of Chupan Ya that resulted in the cruel murders of innocent women and children could have been explored in more depth. If Reichs wanted to make a political point regarding this issue, then it should have been dealt with more thoroughly. In the end, all plot lines, while worthwhile, were not given the attention they deserved.
The characters were all well written and believable. Some did not get as much attention as they probably deserved.
The end of the story was pulled together a little too quickly for my taste, after sending us off into all these different directions, it seemed trite for it all to tie up into such a nice neat little package in about 2 chapters.
Overall, a good read. Technically, she did her homework. But it could have been even better if she were willing to drop some of the hallmarks of the series such as the flying from place to place and the tired relationship with Ryan. I would not skip this book, but if you're new to the series read the others before giving up.
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Long on dialog...short on substance.
Review: I think I am begining to realize that books which have page after page, after page, of conversation and dialog are apt to be short on action, substance, and depth. While I liked Reichs' other novels, this one--very early on--relates the murder of persons largely unknown to the reader and difficult to care about. Then the vast majority of the novel is banal converstaion, conjecture, and romantic inuendo culminating in a quick resolution of the thin plot in the last several pages...if you really still care. Not her best effort.
Rating:
Summary: Not Satisfying
Review: "Grave Secrets" by Kathy Reichs. CD Audio Version read by Katherine Borowitz. Kathy Reichs is well know for writing novels that employ her in-depth knowledge of forensic analysis to surprise, sometimes shock and often stimulate the reader. The latest book, "Grave Secrets", however is like a large kitchen with too many cooks and too much to eat. You snack something here and snicker something there and soon, you have lost the edge of your hunger, but you are NOT satisfied. "Grave Secrets" begins with the assignment of Tempe Brennan to a burial site in a small village in Guatemala where government death squads have killed all the women and children, Brennan's assignment is to document the deaths, the mode(s) of killing and the calendar time of death. Some of her co-workers are killed in an ambush, and this later appears to be an assassination attempt on Tempe Brennan. In the middle of this, because of her experience and her writing of papers on the subject, Brennan is asked to assist in the exhumation and identification of human remains in a septic system. Then, the over-sexed Canadian ambassador to Guatemala appears to be involved and his daughter is missing. Tempe flies back to Montreal with the Ambassador's wife, where the missing daughter has been found, but, in my opinion, this visit to Montreal really does not advance the plot. The trip does permit Tempe to meet with Andrew Ryan, a romantic interest. The next plot line involves stem cell research, and there is a substantial tutorial on embryonic stem cell research and the potential for help to victims of diseases such as Parkinson's. At least twice, the author has her characters describe President George W. Bush's decision on limiting stem cell "lines' as wrong. Finally, in the next to last chapter after an unbecoming description of an attack of diaherra (where later proves to be caused by drugs slipped into a soda can), Tempe Brennan resolves all the plot lines. The last chapter is tinged with romance as Tempe tries to decide between Andrew Ryan and a Spanish version, nicknamed "The Bat", who had gone to college with Andrew Ryan. There was just too much going on, too quick a resolution of the twisted plot lines and then, the novel changed from a mystery "who dun it" into a romance. The overall book did not satisfy me. The reader, Katherine Borowitz, was excellent and handled both the French names in Montreal and the Spanish names in Guatemala City with appropriate accents. I enjoyed listening to her as I commuted on 495, the ring road around Boston.
Rating:
Summary: Why The Grass Grows Greener
Review: --over the septic tank. Kathy Reichs' "Grave Secrets" tells you more than you ever wanted to know about sloshing around in said septic tank. Tempe Brennan multi-tasks in Guatemala. She is there on a mercy mission to identify 20-year old corpses massacred during government upheavals. Then she is called in by a local homicide detective to assist him in removing suspected remains from a septic tank. Oh my! It is just as bad as you think, but if you can get through that, your stomach and spine should be strong enough for the rest of the story. I enjoyed the exotic setting. Reichs has a good feel for Guatemala, its government and the populace. Tempe is well presented in this outing, brisk, humorous and delightfully vulnerable to a handsome man crossing her path. That said handsome man is almost a clone of the one she has stashed in Canada just shows she is a consistent lady. "Grave Secrets" is seriously over-plotted, but the author does get some good mileage with all her red herrings and distractions. She makes an interesting point of how differently a crime is treated when a major diplomat's daughter is involved as opposed to an ordinary citizen. A warning: when Ms. Reich's says, "Do you want the short version?" Brace yourself for at least three pages of very technical material on such things as stem cells, septic tanks and DNA. I think Kathy Reichs is a steadily improving author. She is head and shoulders ahead of rival Patricia Cornwell because Reichs has the advantage of forensic anthropology credentials and the liveliness of spirit to make her heroine a multi-faceted human rather than a drama queen with angst such as Kay Scarpetta. All you need to enjoy "Grave Secrets" is a strong constitution.
-sweetmolly-Amazon.com Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Lots of Forensic details
Review: GRAVE SECRETS
AUTHOR: Kathy Reichs
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades BOOK REVIEW: Kathy Reichs' character, Tempe Brennan, is back in another forensic anthropology tale. This time Tempe is in Guatemala to investigate what happened at Chupan Ya. While this is where the story starts, there are many side stories in "Grave Secrets". The listener needs to pay attention to every detail or he/she will lose track of what is going on. The atrocities that were inflicted on the women and children of this village by soldiers are unthinkable. The people of the village want to know if any of the victims are their family members. Ms. Reichs also give extremely detailed forensic information in this book. Her others books with Tempe as the character have given forensic information but this time, she has given much more intense descriptions of the workings of forensic anthropology. These details make for added realism. One of the side stories concerns the disappearance of an ambassador's daughter along with three other girls. Remains are found in a septic tank and Tempe just happens to be an expert in recovering remains from such a place. Another story is about the killing of one and the wounding of another of Tempe's colleagues on the Chupan Ya diggings. Then, of course, Andrew Ryan is a part of the story as Tempe's love interest. Then to make matters all the more juicy, Bartolomé Galiano, a Guatemalan investigator, becomes yet another love interest who just happens to have gone to school with Andrew and is looking into the disappearance of the girls. Do any of these stories tie together? Do they all tie together? To get the answer, read "Grave Secrets".
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: 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: 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.
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