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Read Cross Bones (2006)

Cross Bones (2006)

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Rating
3.84 of 5 Votes: 3
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ISBN
0743453026 (ISBN13: 9780743453028)
Language
English
Publisher
pocket star

Cross Bones (2006) - Plot & Excerpts

Honestly, I want to give the book 1.5 stars, but it won't let me. For series, a one star means I definitely won't read the next book, but in this case, I probably will. However, this book was a chore to get through. I feel like Reichs was jumping on the Dan Brown bandwagon with this book. At an autopsy of a Jewish importer in Montreal, Brennan is handled a photo of a skeleton unearthed at Masada, but the skeleton was never included in the official reports. Could this be the skeletal remains of Jesus? This book had three problems which drive me crazy: 1) too much detail, 2) too stupid too live syndrome, and 3)too preachy. I like science, but even I got sick of the numerous discussions of carbon dating, mitochondrial DNA, and other too in-depth too care descriptions. There was too much detail that failed to move the story along, and instead, it felt as though someone had tied a lead balloon to the narrative pace. Second, I know narrative tension arises when the protagonist puts himself or herself in danger. Yet, when an intelligent woman knows that a killer is on the loose repeatedly running into danger blindly or compromising a crime scene becomes unbelievably frustrating. Finally, in case I wasn't already thinking "Thank goodness, this book is over" when I neared the end, the author has to throw in the "all religions are the same why can't we all get along." Normally, I wouldn't mind so much, but it was just the icing on the cake of "was anything in this book really necessary". The actually mystery of who murdered the Jewish importer was really only explored on 30-40 pages of a 348 page book. My least favorite Temperance Brennan book, so far, let's hope they get better, or the next one will be getting one star.

Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist splitting time between Montreal and North Carolina is drawn into a *really* cold case. As in a set of bones that looks to be around 2000 years old. While working on a case involving the murder of a Jewish merchant, a picture of an old skeleton is given to her by an anonymous person who thinks it's the reason the merchant was killed. Digging deeper (no pun intended), she actually ends up in possession of the skeleton in the picture she received (quite likely found at Masada) and there's a strong chance that the identity of the bones could really mess up some major theology for a number of groups. Brennan has to stay alive, figure out if the bones belong to Jesus Christ, and try and solve the murder of the merchant, all at the same time. A number of people would like to see the bones just "disappear", and if Brennan has to disappear along with them, so much the better... As you can tell, there's some strong parallels to Code in the story. Jewish history would need to be rewritten if the bones belong to Christ, and the entire Christian faith would collapse if the resurrection is proven to be false. There are some real "alternative view" scenarios thrown in, so if the story catches your attention you can actually delve into it further. The ending left a bit to be desired, but overall it was an enjoyable read and a nice addition to the Tempe series.

What do You think about Cross Bones (2006)?

An Orthodox Jewish man is found shot to death in Montreal. The condition of the body leaves more questions than answers for the investigators so Temperance Brennan is called in to examine the body. As she is leaving the ME office, a stranger gives her a photograph of a skeleton and tells her it is the reason for the victim's death. Its obvious that the skeleton is very old so she takes it back to her office to examine it. When she tracks down the actual skeleton, Tempe calls her friend Jake Drum, a biblical archaeologist, who thinks it was stolen from a museum in Israel and insists she bring the skeleton to Israel herself. Soon, Tempe is involved in an international mystery that could cause the need to re-write religious history. During the investigation, Tempe learns that the stranger's picture shows bones uncovered during an archaeological dig and the Montreal shooting victim ran an import business was a front for the trading of black market antiquities. Along with Detective Andrew Ryan, Tempe travels to Israel. As a forensic scientist, Tempe finds herself involved in the most controversial case of her career. The more she learns, the greater the danger the finds herself in. This tale has more than its fair share of twists and turns. At times it becomes confusing and tends to drag in places. The most interesting aspect of the book is the detail of the forensics involved in the investigation. Fewer chase scenes would have been appreciated.
—Genie

I would actually give this book 2.5 stars if that was a possibility. Since it's not, I rounded down.I'm a huge fan of the TV show "Bones." So when I encountered this book by "Bones" creator Kathy Reichs at a second-hand bookstore, I grabbed it, thinking that of course I would like the book too.I was kind of wrong. I didn't hate the book, but it took me some time to get through it. Reichs's writing style is somewhat staccato - her descriptive prose is written in half-thoughts, like she's checking off items on a list, sort of the way her brain probably works while she's examining skeletal remains at her day job. Unfortunately, we're not all forensic anthropologists, so as a layperson, I'd appreciate a little more insight into the subject matter she's writing about. And even though it was published only two months later, the book feels like a "Me too!" companion to "The DaVinci Code." That said, I just picked up another of her books at the same store. It cost a dollar, and I don't like to dismiss an author out of hand, having read only one of her books. So we'll see.
—Kristyn

At this point I believe I'm completely caught up on the Temperance Brennan novels. This one is probably one of my favorites, if not my favorite of all of them. Maybe because it's primarily set in Israel, rich in history, art, and culture. Maybe because I understand the humor, the religious references, among other things, without a guide-book that others WILL require when reading it if they are non-initiated as far as Judaism is concerned, but basically this one book just puts so many other crime-based fiction novels to shame. The story itself will have you on the edge of your seat, pulling you hair out of your head. It's chilling, it's deep, it's fascinating, yet it lacks nothing in terms of humor andthe crime-fighting factor we have all come to know from "Bones" as a TV show, which is what a lot of people expect to see in the books as well. This book has a fantastic balance of everything and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's very on-par, in some respects, with the Da Vinci Code, but the "shock value" is different.
—Lisa

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