206 Bones: A Novel (Temperance Brennan Novels) [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Kathy Reichs (Author), Linda Emond (Reader)

Book Description

Series: Temperance Brennan Novels | Publication Date: August 25, 2009

There are 206 bones in the human body. And  one shattering secret hidden among them. . . .

Cold and alone, bound hands to feet, Tempe Brennan regains consciousness locked in a dark cell—or is she buried alive in a tomb?—and begins to reconstruct the twisted chain of events that led her to this terrifying  place. Tempe and Lieutenant Ryan had recently accompanied the remains  of a missing heiress from Montreal to the Chicago morgue, and suddenly  Tempe is accused of mishandling the autopsy. After an incriminating  phone call and another shocking death, Tempe’s unseen enemy closes  in—even as the corpse of a second, and then a third, elderly woman turns up in the woods of Montreal. Who wants Tempe dead, or at least out of the way, and why? Who would resort to sabotage to destroy the secrets hidden in the bones? Only Tempe can uncover the truth—if she can escape the deadly fate someone has designed for her.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. At the start of bestseller Reichs's outstanding 12th thriller to feature Dr. Temperance Brennan (after Devil Bones), Brennan finds herself bound and injured in an underground tomb. In flashbacks, Reichs fills in the how and why of the forensic anthropologist's deadly predicament. When Brennan and Andrew Ryan of the Sûreté du Québec arrive in Chicago on business, she's accused of botching the autopsy of Rose Jurmain, a Canadian heiress. Knowing only that an anonymous caller instigated the investigation, Brennan is determined to uncover who's out to sabotage her. Back in her Montreal lab, Brennan soon realizes that not only is Jurmain's death possibly linked to the brutal murders of other elderly women but that whoever is out to tarnish her reputation refuses to back off. With her usual blend of cutting-edge forensic science and a stubborn, compelling heroine, Reichs manages to juggle several story lines without losing an ounce of momentum. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“The science is fascinating, and every minute in the morgue with

Tempe is golden.” —The New York Times Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (August 25, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743582454
• ISBN-13: 978-0743582452
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kathy Reichs, like her fictional creation, Temperance Brennan, is forensic anthropologist for the province of Quebec. She is Vice President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, serves on the Canadian National Police Services Advisory Council, and is one of only fifty-six forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. A professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal. Deja Dead, her debut novel, brought her fame when it became a New York Times bestseller and won the 1997 Ellis Award for Best First Novel. In 2007 Break No Bones was short- listed for the Ellis Award for Best Novel. Kathy Reichs is the inspiration for the television drama Bones; her latest novel featuring Temperance Brennan is Devil Bones. Her newest release, 206 Bones, is due out in the summer of 2009

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Here Come the Latvians, August 26, 2009

By 

Renate Schneider - See all my reviews

This review is from: 206 Bones (Hardcover)

Being a Chicagoan, I very much enjoyed all the references to my city at the beginning of this novel.After several books that provided some background on Tempe (her sister, Harry; her family background)it was fun to read about her estranged husband's family, a lively bunch of Latvians!I found that this book, like the others, pulls me in, and what I anticipate will be "just a chapter or two" of reading invariably ends hours later, when I have finished the book, and the day is gone.The plots move quickly, and I just have to know what happens next, much to the detriment of my plans for the day. There have already been several reviews that discuss the plot; I see no point in belaboring that, except to say that there is always new knowledge to be gained, but the story line is fast paced and never preachy.I like that the author's passion for her profession comes through. It is still my fervent hope that Tempe ends up with Claudel and not Ryan, and I eagerly await the next book in hopes that Tempe's fascination with Ryan's blue eyes will be replaced by appreciation of Claudel's sartorial splendor!

83 of 99 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "Something's very wrong.", July 28, 2009

By 

E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 206 Bones (Hardcover)

"206 Bones," by Kathy Reichs, opens with Tempe Brennan realizing, to her horror, that she has been handcuffed and buried in some sort of underground crypt. She does not remember how she got there, but is understandably terrified. The author then traces the complicated series of events that led up to Tempe's abduction and entombment.

For the uninitiated, Temperance Brennan is a renowned forensic anthropologist who divides her time between laboratories in Montreal and the North Carolina. Her pal and partner in detection is the hunky Lieutenant-détective Andrew Ryan, who works for the Sûreté du Québec. The two have an on-again, off-again romance that is currently off, although they remain good friends. Tempe and Ryan have their hands full probing several convoluted mysteries, including the deaths of three elderly females as well as that of a fifty-nine year old woman whose body was found thirty months after she disappeared in Quebec. As a favor to a friend, they also try to learn the fate of a young man who fell or was thrown into a quarry. Ryan spends many hours tracking down potential witnesses and searching for physical evidence, while Tempe follows up leads of her own and carefully studies skeletal remains.

Reichs' strength lies in her encyclopedic knowledge of forensic anthropology. When Tempe talks bones, we listen. In addition, the author skillfully captures the bleakness of a harsh Montreal winter, with its icy temperatures, slick roads, and heavy snowfall. The bitter weather is a fitting counterpoint to Tempe's mood. She is indignant that some of her colleagues are challenging her competence, especially an ambitious newcomer named Marie-Andréa Briel. The reader suffers, as well, because Tempe's inquiries are not all that interesting. They lack the suspense and nail-biting tension that we have come to expect from this talented author. This is a talky novel with too much cutesy dialogue, and the author telegraphs the identity of the villains far too soon. When the bad guys are unmasked, few will be surprised. Another annoying element is Ryan and Tempe's silly banter; these two act more like lovesick teenagers than mature adults. "206 Bones" offers little suspense, a drawn-out and dull plot, and almost no character development. This series may be close to running its course.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fast, entertaining read, August 29, 2009

By 

Skunk Tabby (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 206 Bones (Hardcover)

(What's this?)

I read this in an afternoon--always a good sign. While I haven't read all of Kathy Reichs' books, I have really enjoyed the ones that I have. If you're a fan, you'll enjoy this one--a good mix of the familiar and the new. If you're a fan of the TV series, try not to think of the books as having any relation to the show--they're completely different in tone, style, and depth. I always prefer the books set in Montreal, as this one is, because I enjoy reading about its rich history. The book does serve up plenty of that. I don't want to get into plot-specifics because it is a mystery and why spoil the fun? But the characters, both main and supporting, are well-drawn and realistic, if not relatable.

The book loses a star for a blindingly obvious suspect that went unnoticed until the end and tangents that serve only to slow down the reader and show off the author's researching and/or trivia skills. Also, the very, very end devolves into what feels like a self-serving (although probably justifiable) tirade about qualifications to be a forensic anthropologist. While she may have a point, it was about a subtle as an anvil to the forehead and brought the book to a screeching halt. Granted, it was the last page so halting is to be expected, but the tone just didn't fit in with the overall book. But since I enjoyed the book, I'll let it go. This time.