Deja Dead

By: Kathy Reichs

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

It's June in Montreal, and Dr. Temperance Brennan, who has left a shaky marriage back home in North Carolina to take on the challenging assignment of Director of Forensic Anthropology for the province of Quebec, looks forward to a relaxing weekend in beautiful Quebec City. First, though, she must stop at a newly uncovered burial site in the heart of the city. The remains are probably old and only of archeological interest, but Tempe must make sure they're not a case for the police.

One look at the decomposed and decapitated corpse, stored neatly in plastic bags, tells her she'll spend the weekend in the crime lab. Something about the crime scene is familiar to Tempe: the stashing of the body parts; the meticulous dismemberment. As a pattern continues to emerge, Tempe calls upon all her forensic skills, including bone, tooth/dental, and bitemark analysis and x-ray microflourescence to convince the police that the cases are related and to try to stop the killer before he strikes again.

Told with lacerating authenticity and passion, Déjà Dead is both poignant and terrifying as it hurtles toward its breathtaking conclusion and instantly catapults Kathy Reich into the top ranks of crime authors.

©1997 Kathy Reichs (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic Reviews

"Accomplished and chilling." ( People)

"Kathy Reichs knows how to put all [of her] exotic experience into a novel....Quebec's own Southern gal give[s] Cornwell a run for the money." (Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail)

"What makes Déjà Dead so compelling, in addition to the authoritative descriptions of how a forensic scientist 'reads' the story the bones tell, is the character of Brennan - smart, persistent, gutsy, ironic yet vulnerable." (Judy Stoffman, Toronto Star)

Perplexed over other reviews about the narrator

I was surprised at the negative reviews of the narration of this book. I've listened to a number books narrated by Barbara Rosenblat and have always been impressed by her interpretations. Normally, I listen to books in the car, so possibly have not heard some of the "offending sounds" others have pointed out because of background road noise. But I think her performances are terrific. She has a way of creating a mood, a personality for the characters she reads. Subtleties in voice, in accent, denote and differentiate the characters beautifully. I have bought books she's narrated simply because she was the reader.

Now, the book. I have enjoyed most of the Temperance Brennen stories. A forensic anthropologist, Brennen is called in on cases where the mostly unidentifiable remains require extensive analysis and investigation to solve murder cases. There is thoughtful description of how these analyses are done, which I find fascinating. How anthropomorphic details like size,age, sex, etc. can be deciphered from clues in often very deteriorated human remains. The detailed police tactics involved in the case are also intriguing and interesting, because she describes enough detail to reveal the logic and rationale for how cases are handled. The story is convoluted, and engaging. I found I couldn't wait to get back in the car for my commute to listen to the next section of the book.

There are twists and turns in the story, and characters are revealed in such a way to lead you to wondering all the time how they fit together, and which is the perpetrator in this murder mystery.

Scenes are described with exacting detail, and given Rosenblat's interpretation, I feel drawn into each scene. Brennen's own relationships and inner demons are like a continuous undertone - a layer under the surface of the story that kept me intrigued not only with her job, but her life and relationships.

I think this is a good read, and I think Barbara Rosenblat is a great reader.

29 of 29 people found this review helpful

Disappointed

What disappointed you about Deja Dead?

I didn't enjoy the narrator, nor the constant use of French (poorly in my opinion, being Canadian and accustomed to the mingling of the two languages in every day conversation.

The story didn't grab and hold me. Now i wasn't expecting BONES from TV but I was expecting to at least like the main character. Unfortunately I found the main character annoying and was put off by her.

The narration as I mentioned above was not to my liking. The woman's voice comes across as her being as bored with the story as I was.

What was most disappointing about Kathy Reichs’s story?

The pacing dragged. Too much introspection of the main character with too little insight into the other characters.

How could the performance have been better?

A narrator who didn't attempt voices unnecessarily. Often what someone says in a story is quite enough to characterize them. Using an accent, or *voice* distracts from it. Sure there are times when emphasis is required and desirable but at other times it's nothing more than unnecessary.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Deja Dead?

I would remove the use of French words. While I understand the desire to immerse the reader into the culture of the city (And don't get me wrong Montreal is a wonderful and unique place to live) but for myself it was distracting from the story. Jarring in that everytime it came up I was reminded I was reading (hearing) a story and not able to just immerse myself in the action and dialogue.

Any additional comments?

I'd had the entire series as offered by Audible in my wish list.
They are now removed. I'm glad I didn't purchase a number of them at once.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Glad I didn't take heed of negative reviews

Having read the negative reviews of this book for some reason I purchased it anyway. Having read one of her books I knew it wasn't 'Bones' the tv series and was based in Quebec.

The narration was good. Ok sometimes 'breathy' but it was just one isrening to someone tell you their version of events. Annoying - definitely not.

Too much French I read a couple of times was there a need? It's set in Quebec where their language is French so yes street names stores etc will be in French. Her writing a very few of the phrases in French and then translating them into English I felt lent flavour to the overall story.

Overall I enjoyed the narration the story and background information and am looking forward to the next book.

My advice on any book. Try them and broaden your horizons. Who knows one persons hate is another's enjoyment.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

Mixed

The book itself is great, but the narrator sounds like she's on a respirator. Her inspirations are so distracting. I don't know if she's a heavy breather, or the book is just poorly recorded, but I would have skipped this recording if I had known.

17 of 20 people found this review helpful

Excellent book, horrific narration

Where does Deja Dead rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is the worst narration possible. Excellent to read but this woman narrator is the worst.

Any additional comments?

Seriously, she belches and sounds like she is chewing gum and gurgling water while reading. I was nauseous listening. Kathy has written an excellent book but you want earplugs to listen to this. I want my money back for this one!

13 of 16 people found this review helpful

Narrating issues

I am listening to this book as I write this review. I listen on my IPod while I garden or work around the house...using my headphones. I can't do that with this particular book, the narrator's swallowing and sucking throughout is thoroughly distracting and nauseating. So I pulled out my headphones, put the IPod across the room an listen from a distance to diminish the effect. As soon as I started listening, I realized the mistake I had made. I have never paid much attention to the narrator but recognized her swallowing from another book I bought in the past. From now on that will be the number one thing I check. She overacts a bit, as well.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Not Bones

I enjoy the TV show Bones. Warm,funny murder mystery. This is not that, even though the series is based on K Reichs books This book is not warm or funny at all, ever. The medical terms are sort of interesting and the French well spoken by the narrator. BTW same with the series Rizzoli and Isles. Series warm funny book Not. Elsie J

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Storyline as expected, narration simply obnoxious

Would you try another book from Kathy Reichs and/or Barbara Rosenblat?

NO!

What was most disappointing about Kathy Reichs’s story?

The storyline was as expected, slightly predictable and detailed murder mystery.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Barbara Rosenblat?

Anyone with a less nasal voice.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

If it were read as a book and not listened to would have been satisfactory.

Any additional comments?

At one point in this book the narrator intones

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

One star is too generous

This is the first time that I felt that the book was NOT better than "the movie". I am a fan of the television series Bones, and looked forward to "reading" the book. I anticipated character development much better than the tv series, instead I was introduced to a middle-aged, whining, 12-step alchoholic meddler who "blunders" into crime solving and then blames others for the tragedies that ensue.

The narration was horrible.

Don't waste your credit.

11 of 15 people found this review helpful

A great book by a great author but...

This is a really great book by one of my favorite authors but I suggest you just read it unless you can handle a narrator smacking and chewing in your ear for almost 12 hours. Her voice is fine but she seems to be sucking on candy, eating or chewing gum throughout the reading. It drove me nuts and makes me upset that I used this months credit for it.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Not for followers of the Tv series 'Bones'

Now I love the Tv series and bought the books to see how the author had written the story. They bear no relation to the program, which was good once you realise this and listen with fresh ears as if to an unfamiliar author. They are well written but I didn't find it as gripping as I would have liked.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Annoying

I think I would have quite enjoyed the story, but it was unfortunately ruined by the irritating reader. Constant sucking, swallowing and lip-smacking! Really annoying!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Gripping

Totally excellent...great story which kept me guessing right to the nail-biting, adrenalin-rush finish. Loved this book and reader!

Gritty graphic unputdownable tension with style.

If you could sum up Deja Dead in three words, what would they be?

Graphic truelife gripping

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deja Dead?

When Temperance Brennan is searching a deserted graveyard on her own at night in a storm and discovers another body. The story really grips you and it's almost like you are with her the tension is so great you know that something else is going to happen but it is still so frightening when it does.
I couldn't put the book away until I knew she was safe again, one of many moments in the story which held me as much in its grasp as it did the characters involved.
An excellent read.

What about Barbara Rosenblat’s performance did you like?

She managed to give a credible performance with believable voices for each character without resorting to over exaggeration.
She wracked up the tension exactly when needed and gave each character a wonderful depth with her interpretation.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I really enjoyed the ups and downs of this story and really felt the characters frustrations and excitement when they were on the hunt for the killer it wss a roller coaster of emotions from start to finish.

Any additional comments?

This was the first Temperance Brennan story that I have listened to and as soon as I had finished it I ordered the next need I say more.
The characters in the book are different to those in the "Bones" television series but the main premise is the same. The main character is believable. The writing very detailed (possibly too much so for some, as the descriptions are very graphic and detailed but necessary in the main ) and I couldn't put the story down.
I finished the book in 3 sittings it was so good, my family are not such fans as I was so engrossed I had no time for anything else until I had completely finished it.

Another good book.

This was another good book by Kathy Reichs, solid and informative. Always a pleasure to add the stories of Temperance Brennan to the library.

Not same as tv character.

I love watching Bones on TV and so it was natural to try the books. Before I did however, I read other reviews and realised that they were not the same as the TV series. Brennan herself is very different and there are no other characters whom you would recognise. Therefore don't begin reading/listening if you expect it to be more of the same. That said as a stand alone murder/thriller it's a very good book, if a little gruesome. The things the killer does to his female victims are extreme and I can't help wonder if a male author would have been heavily criticised for it. However, the story is well put together with woven threads throughout that lead it to a satisfactory conclusion.

That said however, I haven't been a able to give it 5 stars because I feel it took rather too long to get going. It seemed to flit about quite a lot and I wondered if it was all relevant. (It was, actually). However since I was not aware of this at the time, I considered stopping listening to it altogether and only continued because of the authors reputation and other reviews. I'm glad I did, as when it got going, it REALLY got going.

My last criticism is the narrator. I didn't care for her. Her French accent was superb, (to me anyway) but it was sometimes quite difficult to tell which character was supposed to be speaking - even though she would indicate who it was straight after their line. That in itself became quite confusing.

I'm now listening to book number 2 read by Lorelei King (who has narrated quite a few of the books I've listened to), so I have enjoyed this one sufficiently enough to stick with the series.

Good listen

I didn't really know what to expect when I started listening to the book, but it was a positively surprised. It was well narrated and entertaining and the characters are interesting.

Avoid if you abhor violence and rape of women.

Since I follow the teachings of Abraham-Hicks, I must ask myself what is in my vibration lately that I have attracted so much misogynistic sadistic carnage of women by men? It's worrying! In the space of 12 days I've lived through a string of rapes and murders spanning decades in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,' which I've found out in Sweden is called 'Men Who Hate Women,' followed by a documentary of Jimmy Savile using his status of 'celebrity' to satisfy his paedophilian lusts by raping young girls, and now 'Déjà Dead' by Kathy Reichs which follows yet another serial rapist and killer of women.



I downloaded this because I was curious to see how the books compared to the TV series 'Bones.' I can say it's VERY LOOSELY based on Kathy's books: There is a forensic anthropologist, her name is Temperance Brennan... that's where the similarity ends! If you're a fan of 'Bones' then don't approach the books expecting them to mirror the series. THEY DON'T.



If you're of a sensitive disposition and have a vivid imagination then I can't, in good conscience, recommend this book. It follows the grisly murders of several women who have been raped, their bodies dismembered and found in plastic bags. Also animal mutilations. It may have been better if I hadn't listened to it alone in the dead of night, when I found myself locking my bedroom door just in case the perpetrator had escaped from the pages! All's said and done, the book left me afraid of the world and the men in it for a week after I'd finished it! That's not the kind of mindset I like a story to leave me in so I don't think I'll read another Kathy Reichs as a result, although her others may be different.



It's fast-paced, however, and fantastique in its way, although the heroine's attitude to her best-friend seemed a little incongruous and there are a few too many similies especially in the first half. I say if you've got the stomach for it and your imagination's less active than mine, then go for it.

Very Good Listen

Quality of both written and narrative very, very good. Storyline good to follow. Enough personal background information on the main character has been incorporated without distraction to the main story; very good enhancement. Very flowing, something you'd just want to carry on listen to till the end.