Cross Bones

A Novel

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Michele Pawk

As fresh and shocking as today’s headlines, a “chilling” (People) Temperance Brennan novel in which a harrowing excavation unearths a terrible tragedy never laid to rest—from New York Times bestselling author and world-class forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs.

They are “the disappeared,” twenty-three massacre victims buried in a well in the Guatemalan village of Chupan Ya two decades ago. Leading a team of experts on a meticulous, heartbreaking dig, Tempe Brennan pieces together the violence of the past. But a fresh wave of terror begins when the horrific sounds of a fatal attack on two colleagues come in on a blood-chilling satellite call. Teaming up with Special Crimes Investigator Bartolome Galiano and Montreal detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe quickly becomes enmeshed in the cases of four privileged young women who have vanished from Guatemala City—and finds herself caught in deadly territory where power, money, greed, and science converge.

Critic reviews

"Such bloody good beach reading."
-- USA Today

"There's nothing like a morgue mystery to brighten up a summer day."
-- Entertainment Weekly

"Likely to leave you with the shivers of an ice storm."
-- People

"As good as Cornwell at her best."
-- Detroit Free Press

"The science is fascinating, and every minute in the morgue with Tempe is golden."
-- Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

Not a fan of this story

I have enjoyed Kathy Reich books but this one I found disappointing. Subject matter is controversial and the story dragged on in parts.

Made me think...

Really enjoyed this book! I like Kathy's writing in general but found this story keeping me wanting more. I read one comment that it was too much like a scientific lecture, and I can see where some might find that the details of miocondral dna a bit tedious but I found it fascinating. Well worth your time.

Not my favorite

I found this story very confusing and hard to follow. The performance didn’t help it either.

Shades of Dan Brown

I loved the background info woven into the plot. The conspiracy theories were fascinating. But the ending was firmly grounded in reality and plausibility.

Good book...

The only issue I've had with this book is some chapters have really long pauses between the end and new chapter identification. Not all chapters, but enough and sporadic to where you think something is wrong with your device.