The Bone Hacker – Kathy Reichs
EVEN ON AN ISLAND PARADISE, DANGER STILL LURKS.
Called in to examine what is left of a body struck by lightning, Tempe traces an unusual tattoo to its source and is soon embroiled in a much larger case. Young men – tourists – have been disappearing on the islands of Turks and Caicos for years. Seven years ago, the first victim was found with both hands cut off; the other visitors vanished without a trace. But recently, tantalizing leads have emerged and only Tempe can unravel them.
Maddeningly, the victims seem to have nothing in common – other than the unusual locations where their bodies are eventually found, and the fact that the young men all seem to be the least likely to be involved in foul play. Do these attacks have something to do with the islands’ seething culture of gang violence? Tempe isn’t so sure. And then she turns up disturbing clues that what’s at stake may actually have global significance.
It isn’t long before the sound of a ticking clock grows menacingly loud, and then Tempe herself becomes a target.
I recieved a review copy from the publishers. Thanks also to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for the opportunity to join the tour for The Bone Hacker
I remember buying Deja Dead when it first released. I remember looking forward to each new Kathy Reichs book as soon as I had finished reading the latest release. I remember watching the Bones TV show and I loved that too. I started reading The Bone Hacker and remembered exactly why I always enjoy returning to the world of Tempe Brennan – each visit is an assured and entertaining story and Kathy Reichs can draw me in every time.
The Bone Hacker (great name) sees Tempe flying south to the Caribbean to investigate the newly-found remains of three young men who all disappeared in similar circumstances over a period of years. While on her way to this investigation on the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) a boat washes ashore carrying a macabre collection of dead passengers. As she is there could Brennan also help the small team the TCI staff to process this scene and help determine what may happen.
Brennan can’t help but feel Detective Ti Musgrove is playing her a little but she’s also impressed with the woman’s determination and focus so she goes along with the suggestion and becomes involved in two cases at once. Musgrove has her own battles to fight – she suspects the missing men may have been targeted by the same people (or person). She is also keeping quiet any potential gang related activity on TCI as an island that welcomes and relies heavily upon tourists is not allowed to have a serial killer or any gang related problems. Political pressure is something Brennan is very familiar with.
Kathy Reichs paints a beautiful picture of the Caribbean settings and we can enjoy Brennan enjoying the food and scenery while being vexed at not having all the equipment or support she feels she needs to do her job effectively. The slower pace of island life isn’t conducive to her plans of a quick and thorough review of the remains which she was brought in to examine.
As with all Kathy Reichs novels the technical detail which underpins Tempe’s work is integral to the narrative. The reader is informed and educated while Brennan conducts her work; we discover at the same time as the characters what secrets or mysteries each victims body may be hiding. The author’s experience lifts these books above many others who try to emulate a post-mortem or anthropological examination without truly understanding nuances and subtleties that someone who’s lived the role could know.
It’s been a couple of years since I least read a Tempe Brennan novel – I quickly realised how much I’d missed them. The Bone Hacker was a real treat and I was shocked and surprised and entertained at all the right places – top stuff!
The Bone Hacker is available in hardback, digital and audiobook format. You can order a copy here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-bone-hacker/kathy-reichs/9781398510838