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Summary: Oh, to be a southern belle in the Montreal winter...
Review: This is Reichs' first novel involving Dr. Temperance (Tempe) Brennan, a forensic anthropologist from North Carolina who has been seconded to Montreal. Although I am not a keen 'grisly-serial-killer-mystery' reader, this was a very well-written book for the genre. Tempe is dealing with a serial rapist/murderer who leaves his remains in garbage bags buried around the city. She does her forensic work at the Laboratoire de Medicine Legale in Montreal and with an odd assortment of characters, and is forced to deal with a considerable amount of resistance from the police force, namely one detective, Luc Claudel (who is almost too obstructive to be believed). Also involved in this mystery is a school friend of hers, Gabby, who is studying prostitutes and sometimes, it seems, leads Tempe around by the nose with just enough information but not as much as she needs. As with most novels of this type, the closing pages find Tempe in a good deal of danger ' that she will only be able to get out of if Detective Claudel will just start believing her. This was actually a fairly good read and I will likely pick up her others.
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Summary: Kay Scarpetta pronounced D.O.A.
Review: I'm from the Richmond area originally, and I began reading Patricia Cornwell simply for the nostalgic factor of recognizing all of her place names. That novelty wore off soon. I kept reading them only because everybody kept telling me they were "fantastic" and I kept thinking eventually her characters would come to life. I was skeptical about Kathy Reichs because her character smacked of a Kay Scarpetta clone; I couldn't have been more wrong. Tempe Brennan has a life, and more to the point she has depth as a character. I love the technical detail that Reichs brings to her novels--everything is carefully woven into the story and the endings never fail to thrill and surprise. Reichs doesn't leave loose ends and neither does she rely on trite conveniences to brush over storylines--both traits are a welcome relief after Patricia Cornwell.
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Summary: The descriptions were a bit tiresome
Review: I like descriptions if they give background to a story or tell something about the character. Unfortunately, in Déjà Dead, many descriptions do neither. They appear to be there just to pad out the story which could have been a lot more compelling and better paced if there were less detail. (Do we REALLY need to know the precise deatil of police procedure? It had nothing to do with the plot.)If Déjà Dead doesn't attempt to be a highfalutin literary endeavour - and why should it? - then it's all the more important that the plot should be watertight. But I am not sure that it is... As others have pointed out, Déjà Dead has a detailed plot which is predicated on chance and coincidence, and it is important that these make perfect sense. The trouble is that the important ones do not. While Kathy Reichs had the makings of a commercial bestseller in her hands, she failed to provide some of the key elements of pace and suspense that would hold it together after the final chapter. A pity, because the fundamental story was good.
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Summary: Cannot compare to Cornwell!
Review: I was not impressed with the character of Tempe Brennan. Much too shallow. She pales in comparison to the wonderful Kay Scarpetta. I found that the book was full of tiresome detail. It takes away from the excitement one should feel when reading this type of novel. Very dissapointing. I can see I shall have to wait for the next Cornwell masterpiece.
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Summary: WOW
Review: If you like to read at night to go to sleep, don't pick this book! Kathy Reichs has a way of pulling you in and not letting go. I couldn't put this book down. Dr. Reichs has a wonderful writing style and captivating story lines. Great book and author.
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Summary: DEJA DEAD IS BORING
Review: ...this woman bores one to death with so much description and that it is difficult to keep one's mind on track. Too much information!!!
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Summary: Deathly imanginative!
Review: I agree everyone will compare Kathy Reichs with Cornwell. I found the plot to be interesting and I think the novel was well written. Unlike the Cornwell this novel ended on it's on and was not just wrapped up again. I will be reading her next novel.
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Summary: cut the comparisons, get to the point
Review: Interesting story overall; hadn't known how forensic anthropology works. BUT the author takes forever to make her point(s). Too many comparisons--"(something) (acted) like (something else) (doing something else)"--got a bit tiresome. And in some scenes she goes into way too much detail--I thought, "Come on, already, cut the trash bag at the crime scene, don't tell me about every movement of your fingers, the color of every leaf, the expression on everyone's face and the pattern of each person's breathing!"
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Summary: Superb!
Review: I really didn't read the book but I listened to the book on tape. This is my first book on tape, and I was not disappointed. Sure enough, it might be different from reading it, but the story line still there. Just listening to Amy Irving, I can see and feel 'Dr. Tempe Brennan'. Now, I'm new fan of Dr. Kathy Reich. More power to you! Currently, I'm reading one of her book, and so far so good...
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Summary: A splendid read!
Review: I read Deja Dead when it was first released a couple of years ago and have since read Reich's other two novels. Simply stated, Deja Dead is great. I absolutely love the way Reichs includes interesting technical information as well as top-notch page turning scenarios. I particularly like Tempe; she is an intelligent, strong and motivated character that also displays duplicity. She seems more real and therefore more likeable than some characters in other novels. All in all, Deja Dead is a must read for those interested in the science of forensic anthropology and mystery. This is an excellent book--you won't be disappointed.
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