206 Bones by Kathy Reichs

206 Bones by Kathy Reichs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - < 1 day

Pages - 384

Publisher - Arrow Books

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

There are 206 bones in the human body. Forensic anthropologists know them intimately, can use them to reconstruct every kind of violent end. When Tempe finds herself regaining consciousness in some kind of very small, very dark, very cold enclosed space—bound, hands to feet—Tempe begins slowly to reconstruct...

Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had accompanied the recently discovered remains of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue. Suddenly, Tempe was accused of mishandling the autopsy—and the case. Back in Montreal, the corpse of a second elderly woman was found in the woods, and then a third. Seamlessly weaving between Tempe’s present-tense terror as she’s held captive and her memory of the cases of these murdered women, Reichs reveals the incredible devastation that would occur if a forensic colleague sabotaged work in the lab. The chemistry between Tempe and Ryan intensifies as this complex, riveting tale unfolds, proving once again, that Reichs is the dominant talent in forensic mystery writing.


My Review

Book 12 of the Tempe Brennan series, I will admit I haven't read all twelve nor in order I don't think in any actual sequence however I do try with the ones I have got. Temperance is a Forensic Anthropologist and whilst there is murder and investigations going on I love learning stuff from books and the examinations she does with the authors expertise brings a story and education. So when I see the books I check if I have read them if not I buy and add to the pile and just go from there. We know her and Lieutenant Ryan have a history and the book does briefly cover why they aren't together but there is no denying the attraction is there. So inbetween that we have the case(s) and bones being investigated, a killer on the loose and a newbie in the workplace who clearly wants to make a name for herself, I did not like her from the off.

The book goes between work place dynamics, the back and forth between Tempe/Andrew, we spend a wee bit of time with her ex hubby's family which I liked but not sure it added anything to the plot. This book looks at a few cases, work politics, bitchy colleagues and your usual murder/bones examination and some seriously shady behaviours by some.

I liked it I didn't love it, I have more of this series on my tbrm and will read them and continue to buy them as I come across them, 3/5 for me.

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Unnatural Causes by Doctor Richard Shepherd

Unnatural Causes by Richard Shepherd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - on and off over 5 days

Pages - 442

Publisher - Penguin

Source - Bought

Blurb from Goodreads

Meet the forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd. A detective in his own right, he must solve the mystery of sudden and unexplained deaths.

He has performed over 23,000 autopsies, including some of the most high-profile cases of recent times; the Hungerford Massacre, the Princess Diana inquiry, and 9/11.

He has faced serial killers, natural disaster, 'perfect murders' and freak accidents.

His evidence has put killers behind bars, freed the innocent, and turned open-and-shut cases on their heads.

Yet all this has come at a huge personal cost.

Unnatural Causes tells the story of not only the cases and bodies that have haunted him the most, but also how to live a life steeped in death.


My Review

Forensic Pathologist Doctor Richard Shepherd, you may recognise the name as the guy who goes over the autopsies of the celebrities on the tv program. In this book we get an insight into his personal life as well as (and the main focus) his job as a forensic pathologist.

Some of the cases are very high profile and you will recognise them, even if you hadn’t been born, they have been so publicised in the news you can’t help but know of them. The book is pretty brutal, honest and in depth which some readers may find upsetting or stomach turning.

There are three chapters that cover children’s deaths and I know this is an upsetting topic for some people, I took note of it but left the book at home. I will update this when I get back to include the chapters so readers can skip them but still get to read the book as they are confined to those chapters only.

It is a very interesting read, how he got into forensic pathology, before and after, the impact it had on him, his family and when he came under fire from the public. The stress the job can have and impact on him and his life as a result. It is a very honest read, informative and there was one case that I remember public outrage and hearing from the victim’s families. I had no idea he was the pathologist nor had I really thought about their role in what happened so it was interesting to hear his side and how it impacted on him. Emotive, hard hitting and I would absolutely read more in this vein or by this author, had life not gotten in the way I would have finished it much quicker, 4.5/5 for me this time.

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