clairadise's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I love thé show, and this book was the first of hers I read. It was just as exciting as the show, and I was inspired to read more of her books.
alba_marie's review against another edition
4.0
For the most part, its not necessary (at least to the mystery) to read the books in order, but there was apparently some personal things I missed in books 4 & 5 (which I don't happen to own) that made reading this a bit frustrating ("Spoilers!").
I enjoyed this book, as I do them all. Fast paced and fun as usual, in this book you are plunged into the world of illegal wildlife trade a la Tiger King, introducing us to various unsavoury low lifes who smuggle drugs, live rare animals and bits of dead animals sold to Asia. Which was very sad and hard to come to grips with because I know that this is a real plight that still very much exists and the animals don't have much more protection in 2020 than they did in 2001/2 when it was written.
One thing that I find very interesting about these books is watching the evolution of technology as it happened, watching people's real-time reactions to mobile phones, the Internet, email, digital cameras, and various forensic tech all the while faxes are still commonplace and receptionists ("secretaries") still leave pink slips for missed calls. People still use answering machines too, apparently. All very interesting esp when you compare the first couple books with the later ones.
The mystery in this was decent and yes did include some coincidences but perhaps a few less than in other books. A plane crashes into a rock face, bear skeletons are unearthed at an abandoned farm, a woman goes missing just after giving birth to a baby that doesn't make it, packets of drugs are found about the countryside, and someone is stalking Tempe. Temperatures are boiling in North Carolina, a friend is visiting, and people are dying - some clearly victims, some perhaps accidental. I think one of the most interesting thing about these books (besides the technology item mentioned above) is that each one plunges you into a different world (of crime). Serial killers, religious cults, motorbike gangs (some other ones that I missed...) and now illegal wildlife trade, which according to the note at the back, Dr Reichs has some experience with in the real world, which inspired the book.
I just wish that Brennan learned from her mistakes - she makes a few mistakes that she's made in pervious books with similar results.
While not high literature, this book, like the others in the series so far, create a high quality, fast-paced mystery. If you're paying attention, you have the chance of figuring it out before she does, or if you're like me, you just sit back and enjoy the ride.
I enjoyed this book, as I do them all. Fast paced and fun as usual, in this book you are plunged into the world of illegal wildlife trade a la Tiger King, introducing us to various unsavoury low lifes who smuggle drugs, live rare animals and bits of dead animals sold to Asia. Which was very sad and hard to come to grips with because I know that this is a real plight that still very much exists and the animals don't have much more protection in 2020 than they did in 2001/2 when it was written.
One thing that I find very interesting about these books is watching the evolution of technology as it happened, watching people's real-time reactions to mobile phones, the Internet, email, digital cameras, and various forensic tech all the while faxes are still commonplace and receptionists ("secretaries") still leave pink slips for missed calls. People still use answering machines too, apparently. All very interesting esp when you compare the first couple books with the later ones.
The mystery in this was decent and yes did include some coincidences but perhaps a few less than in other books. A plane crashes into a rock face, bear skeletons are unearthed at an abandoned farm, a woman goes missing just after giving birth to a baby that doesn't make it, packets of drugs are found about the countryside, and someone is stalking Tempe. Temperatures are boiling in North Carolina, a friend is visiting, and people are dying - some clearly victims, some perhaps accidental. I think one of the most interesting thing about these books (besides the technology item mentioned above) is that each one plunges you into a different world (of crime). Serial killers, religious cults, motorbike gangs (some other ones that I missed...) and now illegal wildlife trade, which according to the note at the back, Dr Reichs has some experience with in the real world, which inspired the book.
I just wish that Brennan learned from her mistakes - she makes a few mistakes that she's made in pervious books with similar results.
While not high literature, this book, like the others in the series so far, create a high quality, fast-paced mystery. If you're paying attention, you have the chance of figuring it out before she does, or if you're like me, you just sit back and enjoy the ride.
gothamballer39's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Not my favorite book in the series; overall it was a pretty straightforward story and not all that exciting. I still love the Temperance Brennan character and am interested in where the series is going but this one deflated my enthusiasm a bit.
bookfairy99's review against another edition
4.0
I've been in a reading slump for months. As usual, when I feel restless and unsatisfied with my reading material, I turn to a series I love. Stepping back into Tempe's world of forensic anthropology was just what I needed. I loved getting to see Tempe and Ryan deepen their relationship. Sure, the mystery itself was a little convoluted and perhaps not as engaging as I would have liked, but overall I found myself quickly turning pages and happily anticipating my next reading session. However, I cringed a little at Reich's handling of a trans character (right down to choosing to use the wrong pronoun at the end). Still, given that the book was written almost 20 years ago, I'm willing to overlook it -- and hope she'd do better today.
rouver's review against another edition
3.0
It's Brennan vs. the poachers! (Reichs has gotten riled up about the illegal trade of endangered animals, so we get several facts thrown at us throughout the story.) Reichs has found her formula & she's sticking to it! Brennan comes upon a mystery, new leads develop, we get the obligatory red herring, a dollop of her love-life saga, she & her daughter are in danger, everything is wrapped up & summarized for the reader in the final chapter.
The story starts off w/ the death of an infant (which may or may not be a homicide) and progresses into an airplane accident & drug dealing. We DO get to find out who Brennan is intending to take on vacation (last book's cliffhanger), but Reichs plays coy with the name for the first few chapters. *sigh* Whatever.
As much as I complain & roll my eyes at these books, I still enjoy them. They make for a light read...although Reichs had a ton of characters in this one. While I didn't always remember who they were, I knew at the end it wouldn't really matter...things are laid out nicely for me so I wouldn't HAVE to remember.
The story starts off w/ the death of an infant (which may or may not be a homicide) and progresses into an airplane accident & drug dealing. We DO get to find out who Brennan is intending to take on vacation (last book's cliffhanger), but Reichs plays coy with the name for the first few chapters. *sigh* Whatever.
As much as I complain & roll my eyes at these books, I still enjoy them. They make for a light read...although Reichs had a ton of characters in this one. While I didn't always remember who they were, I knew at the end it wouldn't really matter...things are laid out nicely for me so I wouldn't HAVE to remember.
darkacademiabook's review against another edition
3.0
ok so... many things bothered me in this book one of those being how hard it is to just use she / her pronouns for charlotte but anyway. other than that... i guess it was an interesting book and the writing style was great.
bl0ndekitten's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.25