Deadly Decisions

Rating:
Summary: A good read
Review: Ahhhh.. Still not as good as her first one, but still a decent crime thriller. Reichs introduces some new twists for her heroine to deal with, and I like the way she handles the very contraversial subject of the book. I learnt a lot reading this book - as much as I was entertained by it!

Rating:
Summary: Good....but....
Review: I almost enjoyed this. I felt the plot was thin, the characterizations shallow. I think Ms. Reich compensated for the lack of depth in her story by filling the book with long passages involving very detailed descriptions of highly technical subjects. At times I forgot I was reading a novel, it felt more like a text book....a dull text book. I would have preferred more life in the characters and the plot.

Rating:
Summary: Riding on the coattails of her first two books
Review: I'm being a little generous with the 4 stars, maybe 3 1/2 would be more accurate. While it was interesting to be introducted to the criminal world of bikers, this third novel by Ms. Reichs just did not measure up to the fascinating plot lines in her first two novels. We spent too much time focusing on Tempe's every day routine than we did on digging up old bones. There was just no mystery here! If you have not read Ms. Reich's first two novels, expecially the first "Deja Dead", I would highly recommend that and wait for this one to be released in paperback. Ms. Reichs needs to refocus on what made her first two novels more fun to read, the secrets of the long dead and a good mystery story or she will quickly lose many of her fans.

Rating:
Summary: hell on wheels
Review: the third installment in a series that has already become 'death par excellence'. it is rare that a newcomer equals or tops a reigning queen of a genre;but reich's dr. tempe brennan is a worthy competitor for cornwell's dr. kay scarpetta.in this work, the reader is treated to a history of motorcycle clubs and an introduction to blood spatter analysis interwoven with the usual expertise in forensic anthropology.the rich bi-cultural setting in montreal is an added bonus.

Rating:
Summary: An Avid Fan
Review: I enjoyed this as much as the 2 prior Tempe Brennan tales. The humor laced into the drama is wonderful. I find the writing in the first person interesting. The author's forensic knowledge is obvious, plus she creates incredible interest with the introduction of the biker gang and poersonalities. These are elements most people have no actual contact with. Her character choices and development are superb. How does she come up with these ideas! I eagerly look forward to her next book.

Rating:
Summary: A plot driven by long-distance coincidences
Review: Here's the formula: As Montreal's forensic anthropologist, the narrator encounters a series of grizzly murders - so far, so good. An old friend in the Carolinas just happens to have key information that allows a breakthrough - what luck! A dysfunctional relative from Texas visits as a houseguest, and just happens to have Texas-based ties to the culprits in Montreal. Inevitably, people associated with the perpetrators will physically attack the narrator, but through a lucky break she survives and cracks the case. This is the formula that Reichs uses in both her second and third novels, but it's a very tired and flawed plot structure. She needs to find some way to advance the plot without relying so heavily on a series of cross-national coincidences. This novel, which introduces us to Montreal's cycle-gang subculture, is better than her second, 'Death du Jour,' but still no match for her first novel, 'Deja Dead.'

Rating:
Summary: Another Engrossing Outing for Tempe Brennan
Review: Kathy Reichs third Tempe Brennan mystery, following Deja Dead and Death du Jour, keeps to the same successful formula--engrossing plot, detailed forensics description, involving character development, and a slam-bang climax. In the previous books, Reichs' protagonist has taken on serial killers and killer cults; in this book, forensic anthropologist Tempe Brennan's services are needed to help police put an end to deadly warring between biker gangs in Montreal. It seems the bikers are Montreal's answer to America's "wiseguys." Always acting as a voice for the innocents who are victimized, Brennan this time also has to keep her headstrong, motorcycle-obsessed nephew out of harm's way while solving the mystery surrounding the bizarre actions of her significant other, Detective Andrew Ryan. A great read, leaving fans looking forward to a fourth outing.

Rating:
Summary: Always a treat!!
Review: I must ask everyone to stop comparing Ms. Reichs to Patricia Cornwell. Yes, of course her styles, characters, and forensic detail is different from Ms. Cornwell--she is NOT Patricia Cornwell. Ms. Reichs had me hooked since the first few chapters of Deja Dead. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that she is a little different in her writing. Don't get me wrong, Patricia Cornwell is also one of my favorite writers, but Ms. Reichs' focuses on the forensics rather than the personal lives of the characters (although we see a little of that in the latest book with her nephew and sister, etc.) and that is what, in my opinion makes her a great, refreshing author. I must say, Ms. Cornwell's last attempt bored me--took me a while to get into it and then found it very disappointing. Keep up the forensic detail and the gruesome killings and I'll keep reading. Never mind all the boring family backgrounds and love lives, past and present, and get down and dirty. That is what we are all hooked on!! Forensics and crime solving are at its best with Kathy Reichs!!!

Rating:
Summary: A peek at the underbelly...
Review: In this newest Temperance Brennan novel, the forensic anthropologist stumbles across the bones of a young woman while exhuming victims of a motorcycle gang war in Montreal. While this books provides a troubling glimpse into the world of motorcycle gangs, prompted by the death of a child caught in biker crossfire, the crux of the story revolves around identifying the buried bones of the young woman and solving her murder. After traveling to North Carolina to confer with a colleague after receiving apocryphal information about parts of a body found in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, years ago, Tempe is finally able to identify her mystery victim as 16-year-old Savannah Osprey of North Carolina. The question now is, how did some of the girl's bones end up buried in Montreal? Matters are complicated when Tempe's love interest is arrested for criminal activity and her teenage nephew, fascinated with motorcycles and running with the wrong crowd, arrives unexpectedly for a visit. Before long, the bikers are not only killing each other but gunning for Tempe, too. This is a well-crafted story, albeit short on plot and filled with unlikely links and coincidences but, unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Ms. Reichs's previous books.

Rating:
Summary: A 'Tempe'-ting Read!
Review: 'Deadly Decisions' starts much like Reich's other books; Temperance Brennan is called to Quebec to slice and disect some particularly bad bikers. Once there we are re-aquainted with Tempe's old gang, the stoic but squeamish LaManche, hideous Claudel and elusive, sexy detective Andrew Ryan. But things are far from familliar in Quebec. Rival biker bands are killing each other in the never ending battle for a criminal monopoly, and it is not long before innocents and children get caught in the crossfire. Aide to the local police, Tempe goes hot on the trail of 'Le Motards' (the bikers), chasing after Hell's Angels, Vipers, Heathens and other outlaw troups. Meanwhile, Kit, Tempe's nephew has come to stay and he himself starts to get involved. Once again we see Reichs use the old 'loved one/family member in danger' routine that has been so prominent in her previous novels. However, the book is not without surprises. Andrew Ryan is arrested for stealing and dealing and it looks as if he might be put away for life. Tempe's reaction to this news and her methods of dealing with it ring true, the reader echos her emotions. Unfortunately, it is hard not to get stuck in or skip Reich's almost superfluous explanations of anthropological, criminal and govermental jargon and details. Leaving this out would have improved the book. Despite this, all in all, 'Deadly Decisions' is a good read that pleases, amuses and at times, frightens. Reichs ends in a 'to be continued' manner, ensuring that readers such as myself can't wait for the next one!