Rating: 
Summary: It's not 5 star...
Review: ... but it's not as bad as some of the other reviews make it seem. If you read books with a fine tooth comb and search for plot inconsistencies, you might find the book to be the dismal read some of the other reviews have. However, reading the book purely for pleasure reading, Reichs paints lyrical pictures of the situations Tempe finds herself in.Comparisons between Scarpetta and Brennen are probably inevitable, however, Reichs writes her heroine in a different voice and with a different feel than Cornwell's Kay. Each woman is a worthy opponent in their own right but each have their own place. Kay Scarpetta has a place in the morgues and politics of Virginia and Tempe Brennen's place is in the universities and offices of the Montreal police as well as the universities in the Carolinas. A comparison between the two seems almost unfair because of the differences in the forenics employed by the two females. In this first book Tempe finds herself racing against time to find a serial killer no one else believes in. Tempe is fighting not only time but the police as she reviews the evidence. Can she find the proof she needs before her best friend Gabby, her daughter Katy, or Tempe herself becomes the next victim of a serial killer only she sees?
Rating: 
Summary: I was disappointed by the end of the first page.
Review: I purchased this book with high hopes of finding another series of medical suspense books to enjoy. I am a fan of Patricia Cornwell, Robin Cook, & Tess Gerristan-just to give you a little insight to my taste. Kathy Reichs certainly has the medical expertise to write about her forensic anthropologist, Dr. Temperance "Tempe" Brennan. What she does not have is the writer's touch for putting together a story & characters that you care about & want to continue reading. Reichs uses analolgies for most of her descriptions (i.e, "When summer arrives...it flounces in like a rumba dancer: all ruffles and bright cotton, with flashing thighs and sweat slicked skin."). While this is okay once in a while, it gets really old by the 5th chapter. Never once do you get a feeling of Montreal. The only thing that reflects this as the setting is a smattering of French. Some of this is translated - some of it is not. There are names of streets & buildings, but no descriptions. I do not mind technical jargon, but you are wading through way too much detail in this book. To understand the character's job/expertise you must have technical details, but there is a fine line between informative and over the top. Reichs tramples that line. (Just wait to you get to the pages on saws; be prepared to skip entire paragraphs.) Character development is lacking. Gabby is supposedly the Tempe's best friend yet she is in and out at odd times throughout the book. You get a brief description and some bare bones conversations but that is about it. Luc Claudel is a detective that Tempe has never worked with before, but the conversations give the impression that she already knows him and cares what he thinks. The interaction is awkward and stilted through most of the book. Story is not the most original. There are some very unbelievable points in the book and not much of a twist to the conclusion. In fact, the ending is very abrupt and unsatisfying. Overall: If you really like medical thrillers: you are in luck because there are some really great authors out there. Kathy Reichs is not one I would add to the list at this time. Maybe as time goes on she will find her groove. I might try her again later down the road if my library has a copy. I'm always willing to give another chance, but free is better if you are unsure! Reichs is no Cornwell. The comparison stops at the fact that both authors have a techinical/medical background. There is no comparison when it comes to writing skills. If you are looking for some great medical thrillers I recommend the authors noted above. If you just want a little suspense and a good story, give Dana Stabenow, Sue Grafton, Mary Higgens Clark or Janet Evanovich a try.
Rating:
Summary: Can't explain the 5-star ratings
Review: Why I didn't like this book (& why I can't explain its bestseller status): 1) Yes, this may be Kathy Reichs' first novel...but still, one can't get past the BAD WRITING, especially when it comes to the lack of character development. All main characters come out flat (especially Tempe, the forensic anthropologist who is the main character). 2) Something else about the bad writing: what annoyed me especially was the constant use of flowery comparisons. Also, the extremely long-winded descriptions of actions & places, which made me skip whole paragraphs at a time. 3) OK, if we get past the lack of characterization issue & the bad writing, we get to the actual plot, which of course is essential in a crime novel: "Deja Dead" has a plot that makes you want to scream "I've read this book before- many many times!" It's a book that's far from original, especially the cliche of the main heroine getting in harm's way. 4)Again, concerning the plot: there are lots of holes in the plot, such as the monkey & the biologist (I kept turning back to see if maybe I'd missed crucial points). There are also loads of characters who keep appearing & disappearing, with no apparent reason--for example, Tempe's daughter, Katy, whose existence serves no other purpose than simply for the main character to...have a daughter! 5) Tempe Brennan oversteps the limits / boundaries of her job description all the time, during the investigation described in this novel. She is a forensic anthropologist, & yet acts as a detective, showing a disturbing lack of common sense: for example, she keeps going to dangerous places alone (always at night!) & then is surprised & annoyed when the detectives whose job description says they have to solve this case are angry at her! There's no background as to why Claudel dislikes her, some reader mentioned: but how can he NOT dislike her, when she keeps stealing his job from under his nose? It's such a cliche when all the detectives are stupid & our heroine is the only intelligent one... 6) French is thrown in casually from time to time. This I didn't mind. What I did mind was that it was apparent that this was done simply to show that Montreal is where the story takes place. No other descriptions of Montreal exist, no "feeling" of Quebec comes out of this story. 7) Another point that many readers have mentioned is that the book is FULL OF technical details. These are interesting, but tend to be far too many. 5 or 6 pages full of descriptions of how saws work? Please!! 8) Tempe's relationship with Gabby is inexplicable & annoying. The crazy scenes that take place between them (especially the ones where Gabby appears in the middle of the night, out of nowhere) are hard to understand, & are never properly explained. 9) Last point: Of course "Deja Dead" is being constantly compared to Patricia Cornwell's books. Even though the Scarpetta novels keep getting worse & worse, I still find them far more original & fast paced.
Rating:
Summary: Great Start
Review: I recently finsihed Deja Dead and thoroughly enjoyed it. Yes I agree that Kathy Reichs will be compared to Patricia Cornwell but she no doubt in turn will be compared to someone else! I enjoyed the plot, the chararters and the pace of the book. The forensic details were exactly that but it certainly helped me to understand things a lot better. Overall I think that Kathy Reichs has a lot of potential as a writer and I look forward to reading more of her stuff in the future. I do have one small criticism which I wonder have other readers noticed....after finishing 'Deja Dead' i started "Death du Jour. Right now I'm about half way through it and I have noticed a few similarities with her first book. Maybe she should try and keep the plots as unique as possible.
Rating: 
Summary: I Wish I Had Found Reichs Sooner...
Review: I am a huge Cornwell and Patterson fan. I stumbled upon Kathy Reichs completely by accident and have been praising her ever since. The stories are well woven and the characters created with a believable complexity and humanity. This author knows her subject very well and it shines through on every page. Highly Recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Very good suspense!
Review: It's very difficult to stop reading this book. I went to bed very late because of it... The suspense is great! Also, a lot of details are provided about the way an autopsy is done. I have learned a lot while reading this book. I strongly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, hard-to-read/hard-to-put down book!
Review: As other reviewers have said Reich's first novel is an obvious addition to the genre of medical examiner mysteries. Though the protagonist is an American, she lives and works in Canada, which is a nice change of pace. If anything, this novel is more grisly then most of the Kay Scarpetta stories. Probably has to do with the subject choice of serial murderers. If it weren't something you don't wish on any nation, I'd be relieved to see that other nations like Canada and England have problems with these guys (they are almost always guys) too. I wish someone could explain why our civilizations seem to breed these monstrosities of human beings. Anyway, Reich does a good job for the first time out. The reason for the four stars is the grisly subject matter. Anyone with a propensity for nightmares or who enjoys lighter fare, should steer clear of this book...but it is an intelligent addition to the genre. I have a few problems with anyone butting into police business so willy-nilly with little regard for the rules. I could understand it if family or friends were involved, but I feel this is less reality and more personal desire to wield more individual control over cases which deeply involve and horrify us. Karen Sadler,
University of Pittsburgh
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing Debut
Review: No wonder people have been urging me to read Kathleen Reichs! I finally caved in, began with "Deja Dead," her debut novel, and was swept away by her incredible brilliance. This is a book that simply cannot be put down. I read it before work, I read it on the train, I snuck it in between tasks at work, I read it at lunch, I read it far into the night when my eyes were hanging on stalks. And still I had to race to the finish. Temperance Brennan is a fortyish American forensic anthropologist from the South, who is working in French-speaking Montreal. A recovering alcoholic, she is divorced, mother of a college-age daughter, troubled--and incredibly good at what she does. In a tight story heavily interspersed with fascinating scenarios of Montreal, Temperance (called "Tempe") is called upon to autopsy a young female victim of a pathologically gruesome murder. This leads to a foray into the Dark Side as Tempe, convinced that she has seen the work of a vicious serial killer, sets out to prove it to her skeptical (and often chauvinistic) male colleagues. The exquisitely insane nature of the killer, made all too clear by the havoc he wreaks on his victims, forces Tempe to face her own demons and she tries to stop one from real life. But he may be impossible to stop. Perhaps "Deja Dead" is to brilliant because in real life, Reichs IS a forensic anthropologist who has lived and worked in the South and in Montreal. Whatever the cause, it is obvious that she is a born writer. I gave this book five stars because it is impossible to give ten. Needless to say, I am already on Book Two of the Temperance Brennan series, and won't be able to stop until I have read them all.
Rating:
Summary: A Real Grabber
Review: This book grabbed me the minute I started reading it. Kathy Reichs' descriptions are so vivid and wonderful. I will definitely read other books by her, and recommend Déja Dead very highly.
Rating: 
Summary: Excessive forensic detail becomes exasperating!
Review: Tempe Brennan is an intelligent forensic anthropoligist working in Quebec. Tempe pursues a one-woman search for a sadistic serial killer. The crime novel is well written and keeps your interest, however; the excessive forensic detail quickly becomes exasperating.
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