Cross Bones

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Michele Pawk

Length: 6 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

When an Orthodox Jew is found shot to death in Montreal, Temperance Brennan is called in to examine the body and to figure out the puzzling damage to the corpse. Unexpectedly, a stranger slips her a photograph of a skeleton and assures her the picture is the key to the victim's death. Before she knows it, Tempe is involved in an international mystery as old as Jesus, a mystery that could rewrite 2000 years of religious history.

Tempe learns that the stranger's picture shows bones uncovered during an archeological dig. She discovers the Montreal shooting victim ran an import business that might have fronted for the trade of black market antiquities. Along with Detective Andrew Ryan and biblical archeologist Jake Drum, Tempe travels to Israel to probe the origins of the skeleton and the ancient crypt in which it was found.

They make a startling discovery that raises radical questions about Christ's death and places them squarely in the middle of a swirling controversy. Could one of the tombs really be Christ's last resting place? Or, has someone concocted an elaborate hoax?

Don't miss any of Tempe Brennan's investigations.

©2005 Temprerance Brennan, L.P. (P)2005 Simon & Schuster Inc. AUDIOWORKS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Cross Bones

This is the eighth book in a series by Kathy Reichs, all about a forensic anthropologist by the name of Temperance(Tempe to her friends) and her adventures as she travels between Charlotte, NC and the province of Quebec, Canada. This is one of those authors that you wait for the next book to be published, and I have never been disappointed. As always, I could not put it down until the end, but I do wish the unabridged version was out as well. The reading of this novel by Michele Pawk is also a good choice, since she brings the characters to life. The bad news is - I'll probably have to wait another year before her next book is published. If you like reading stories about 40 something women who are professional and still "Have a Life", you will enjoy this.

How many languages can one reader mangle?

I've read and/or listened to all of Kathy Reichs's books and unfortunately they are getting tired. This particular book is so-so -- tedious and far-fetched at the same time. Raiders of the Lost Ark meets The Da Vinci Code, without the fun of the former. And it features offensive caricatures of Orthodox Jews dedicated to the preservation of human remains in Israel -- here, they are little more than gangs of thugs. But the worst part of this book is Michele Pawk's reading. She manages to butcher virtually every single French name in the Montreal scenes and makes some groaners with the Hebrew as well -- did no one think to consult a native speaker of either language for pronunciation guidelines? Started out as merely irritating but soon became offensive.

Sorry to say, it is disappointing?

Having been a fan of Kathy's books from the first, I anxiously await each new book from her. Sadly, I was extremely disappointed in "Cross Bones". It is a blatant but inadequate attempt to jump on the "The Da Vinci Code" bandwagon.

Kathy labors so hard to make the various plot points sound plausible you can actually sense her breaking into a sweat. I found myself looking forward to the end of the book. I was actually checking the player to see how much more of this I had to listen to.

I am sorry to advise, don't waste your money or your valuable time on this one. There are too many other wonderful titles available on Audible.

A bit Dry

I thought listening to the story would be like watching the program on the tely, but its not. This story was a bit dry and harder for me to keep up with. It could have used a bit more wit. I realize this is a serious nature but still.

It's not overly thrilling, but a good story

What did you love best about Cross Bones?

What I liked the most is the scientific credibility of the story. The story is a bit silly, and not very original though when it comes to the love story of the anthropologist and her detective boyfriend. I was curious how the author would be able to swing it in the end.

What other book might you compare Cross Bones to and why?

It is quite tipycal to its genre. A police story.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I needed some time to get used to the performer's voice, and sometimes to distinguish the different characters.

Great Story, Great reading

This story was exciting, historically interesting, had some great locations. The reading was clear and understandable. Good book for the commute or for walking.

Cross Bones

Audible makes it possible for me to enjoy my favorite authors on my ipod. This book is exceptional with its level of suspense and twists and turns. It is hard for me stop listening once I get started. This audio is fast paced from the very beginning, so it grabbed my attention right away. A must listen to if you like mysteries and suspense!

excruciatingly bad French

why get somebody who cannot pronounce anything French correctly to save her life to read this?
She does a good job otherwise, but the French terms and names are just excruciating to listen to. Actually set me teeth on edge.
The book is, of course, the usually great story.
Pity about the reading.

Didn't hold my interest.

This was my first Reichs, altho I do enjoy Bones on TV. I don't know if the problem was the abridgement or what, but the story is very convoluted, full of conspiracy theory (I don't care for that), and the ending was quite disappointing.