Book Review
Fire and Bones by Kathy Reich
Mystery | Thriller
The newest Temperance Brennan novel, Fire and Bones, from Kathy Reichs is here! When Tempe is called to the scene of an arson investigation, she finds more than expected. Soon, she’s caught up in a story that dates back decades, involving bootleggers, racketeers, and the infamous Foggy Bottom Gang. But past and present quickly collide as modern-day targeted attacks sweep Tempe into a mystery she just can’t shake.
Earlier this year, I read my first Temperance Brennan novel and thoroughly enjoyed this forensic anthropologist and her penchant for solving mysterious deaths. Tempe is independent, determined, and witty — making for a lively and intelligent main character to follow along with. Given the arson plot, the book naturally focuses on fire and its effect on the bodies (descriptions that aren’t always for the faint of heart) and I appreciated the knowledge and unique angle Tempe’s career brings to this mystery.
The book is short and quick, coming in at just 288 pages, and I think that was reflected in the read. Some moments felt rushed and there was definitely room to have fleshed the numerous storylines out further. But while the plot didn’t feel particularly strong, it was still fun, fast-paced, and easy to binge. Despite struggling with some plausibility issues with the final reveals, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I finished in a day.
Fire and Bones is the twenty-third (!!!) Tempe novel but I had no issues jumping into the series again (despite not having read most of the previous books.) While it can definitely be read as a standalone, this novel confirmed my enjoyment for this series and I will also be going back and reading through the rest of Reich’s work as well.
Recommended for:
Those looking for a quick mystery
This post contains affiliate links; as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Advance copy of the book provided courtesy of the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the book:
(Form the publisher): Called to Washington, DC to analyse the victims of a mysterious arson attack, Tempe quickly finds her misgivings justified. The fire site is in Foggy Bottom, a neighbourhood with a colourful history, and as the pieces start falling into place, the property’s ownership becomes more and more suspicious.
Sensing a good story, Tempe teams up with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Delving into the past, the duo learns that back in the Thirties and Forties the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. Though interesting, this fact seems irrelevant – until the son of one of the gang members is shot dead at his farm in Virginia.
When another Foggy Bottom Gang-linked property burns to the ground, claiming one more victim, what might have been coincidence starts to look more like targeted attacks. As she and Ivy dig deeper, Tempe’s instincts point towards the somehow, her every move since coming to Washington has been anticipated in advance. And every path forward brings with it a lethal threat.