Rating: 
Summary: GRAVY GRAVE
Review: I have to admit that I found this to be one of the weakest in the five novel series, but even in that, it's worth reading if you've become a fan of Ms. Reichs. Perhaps when one stumbles upon a good author and a great series such as Temperance Brennan, we get our expectations set very high and it's disappointing when we're let down.
Perhaps the problem with this book is its preachiness. While I can certainly understand Ms. Reichs' horror at what happened in Guatemala, it tends to bog down the other mystery in the book, concerning the disappearance of four young girls and the discovery of a body in a septic tank. Now, that's ONE unnerving scene, in which Tempe goes into the septic bank to remove the body. It makes me think about what goes on in our septic systems. The addition of Bat Galiano as a possible love interest also seems unnecessary; I think Reichs has prolonged long enough the romance between Tempe and Ryan. They're obviously meant for each other, and her cute little ending about which one of the cops is Tempe running off with is really a cheap slam to her fans.
This book moves a little slower, and additonal preachiness comes in regard to stem cell research.
Write good mysteries, Kathy, as you have in the past and don't expose us to your views on world issues. Including them in the plot is one thing, but jamming them down our throats is another.
But, hey, I'll be there for #6.
RECOMMENDED.
Rating:
Summary: A mixed bag
Review: I am new to the Tempe Brennan series and I found "Grave Secrets" both somewhat enjoyable and somewhat frustrating. I am a big fan of the mystery/thriller genre and I believed, at the outset of the story, that this book would fit the bill. However, Ms. Reichs departed from a tale where our heroine unearths and identifies Guatemalan victims of massacres and wonders haphazardly into a story of a possible serial killer, police/government corruption, and plots to create a black market for stem cells, peppered with extended explanations of DNA and stem cell research. The story contains more characters than the reader can reasonably follow and a fair number of very dull jokes. Also, I believe that many of the scientific explanations were both long and boring and that the ending was rather implausible. Overall, the story was enjoyable but, by no means, a great work of fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: Tempe is Growing Up
Review: In this latest installment of the Tempe Brennan series, Kathy Reichs begins a new transition for Tempe that will probably continue into the next installment. In this one, Tempe goes to Guatemala to donate her services as a forensic scientist when the country tries to recover from the acts of a brutal regime. There are enough gruesome scenes to get the idea of the work that Tempe does, but no overkill (pun alert!). Kathy Reichs does not want to be the Tom Clancy of forensics medicine, so there is no textbook-level detail on foresic science droning on and on, thank goodness. There was a large cast of characters that was hard to keep track of sometimes, but by the end of the book when the mystery is solved, you'll know the characters you need to know. Are the others just red herrings? Yes and no. There is a bit of a "Scooby Doo" ending where there is an explanation of all the details of the crime, but it is authentic. There's no reason to suspect that a forensic scientist would have every single detail of the solution to a murder without some explanation from the police or criminals.The real strength of this book is observing Tempe's dogged determination to move on in her life and find happiness, and Reichs' continuing development as a writer. The series is told in the first person and Tempe's usual sardonic humor is very much in evidence here, as is her fascination with Andrew Ryan, her co-worker and almost-love-interest. If you're new to this series, you could start with this book and not feel like you got invited to a party where you're the odd one out or start at the beginning with Deja Dead.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in this series, but I was disappointed in "Grave Secrets." The story was confusing at times with too many characters and sub-plots. The writing style was flippant with too many one-liners and the on-going romance was immature and unsatisfying. I wanted more forensic detail and flowing description which I thought was missing entirely from this book. I hope the next book gets back to the basics which previously made this series so successful and a pleasure to read.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING
Review: audible.com audiobooks may or may not work. may or may not take longer than reading the book. tech dept keeps banking hours and has one phone line.
Rating:
Summary: Grave Secrets
Review: Started out very well, very interesting mystery. However, all of the questions were answered in the last few pages and the reader has no way to guess all the complicated relationships. It is like the author had to unravel all the mystery in two pages! There is also a romantic angle to this and the author withholds who ends up with the heroine.
I was very disappointed in the ending in all aspects.
Rating:
Summary: Yeah for Kathy Reichs and Temperance Brennan
Review: I really enjoy the Tempe Brennan novels. I find that Ms. Reichs gives very good forensic detail, but it is made interesting, so it's not boring "textbook" stuff. I enjoyed this book as well, but found that the "stem cell" stuff got a little long. Also, I don't know why we had to shift scenes to Guatemala. Surely with Tempe's dual US/Canadian life, she can find enough to keep her busy without going further south. Don't get me wrong, the history we learned about the atrocities that happened in Guatemala was good and it was accurate, but it just didn't ring true that Tempe would be there and getting involved in crime solving. Not only that, but Ryan followed here there, and I thought this was not really explained away that well in the story. But the story is good, Tempe is just as we love her, and on the whole I really enjoyed the book.
Rating:
Summary: Grave Secrets-gravely disappointing.
Review: I found this book not worthy of the wonderful and suspensful previous books by this author. I felt very let down after waiting a long while for this new book to come out. The characters in the book were not clear cut to me. I found most of the plot confusing and the end part of Temperence going off by herself after becoming so terribly ill with apparent food poisoning highly improbable and contrived. The author is capable of much finer work. Loved Fatal Voyage and ALL her other books!
Rating: 
Summary: Best yet!
Review: Reichs just keeps getting better and better. I was not sure if I qould like it, because frankly, I am not very interested, sad though it is, in the desparisodos. But really got hooked. Like the new lovw interest. I hope she won't pull a Cornwell on us like that abomination "Isle of Dogs" or Grisham with "A Painted House". When we like a genre, a recuring series we don't want a change. Keep 'em comintg, Kathy!!
Rating:
Summary: Patricia WHO?
Review: I vow never again to read Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series. Kathy Reichs weaves a first-rate forensic story - without bashing the reader over the head with Cornwellian agenda. Prior reviews have set the scenario. "Grave Secrets" finds Forensic Anthropologist Tempe Brennan in Guatemala helping unearth and identify remains of "the Disappeared" victims of Guatemala's Civil War (1962-1996.) She soon becomes involved in Mayan murders, adolescent angst, and inter-Americas intrigue. I learned more about septic tanks than I ever really wanted to know (and we have one!) But I didn't have a problem swimming through plot twist and turns. There is a little too much romance/Scarlet O'Hara-at-the picnic "whatever beau shall I chose?" hand-wringing for my tastes. I'd give it 4 ½ stars, if we were allowed ½ s.
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