Cross Bones

A Novel

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Michele Pawk

A gripping and explosive thriller from internationally acclaimed forensic anthropologist and New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs, featuring Temperance Brennan and Detective Andrew Ryan on the trail of a modern murder and an ancient biblical mystery.

Examining a badly decomposed corpse is de rigueur for forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. But puzzling damage on the body of a shooting victim, an Orthodox Jewish man, suggests this is no ordinary Montreal murder. When a stranger slips Tempe a photograph of a skeleton unearthed at an archaeological site, Tempe uncovers chilling ties between the dead man and secrets long buried in the dust of Israel. Traveling there with Detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe plunges into an international mystery as old as Jesus, and centered on the controversial discovery of Christ's tomb. Has a mastermind lured her into an elaborate hoax? If not, Tempe may be on the brink of rewriting two thousand years of history—if she can survive the foes dead set on burying her.

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.