Death du Jour

After one of the more startling crime debuts of recent years, Déjà Dead, Kathy Reichs has found herself, at a stroke, regarded as a possible contender for Patricia Cornwell's crown as queen of forensic detection novels. As the new book opens, her forensic anthropologist heroine Temperance Brennan is doing what she usually does--helping to identify remains about which there is almost nothing suspicious. In this case she is dealing with a 19th-century nun of vast sanctity, for whose beatification her relics and burial site need authenticating. What could be simpler or less menacing? Almost immediately, Tempe is called in on a bad case: arson, which has left remains so damaged that a normal pathologist cannot cope--and the victims that pathologists normally cope with include infants stabbed to death.

Something sinister is going on, and whether in Quebec, where she has her practice, or the sleepy South, where she teaches, Tempe is not safe. Reichs' first book was good on the domesticity and friendship to which Tempe retreats--and this time we meet her younger sister, Harriet, who has just got rid of her balloonist lover and is looking for a new interest. --Roz Kaveney

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Death Du Bore - Rated
Striking a balance between informing a reader and preaching to them is a difficult one. I have found in the previous Kathy Reich books that I have read that she seems to preach a little too much for my liking. In `Death Du Jour' this reaches new and book ruining heights.

Dr Temperance Brennan returns and for once is not involved in recent murder and mayhem. Instead she has been asked by a group of Nuns to look in the ruins of a church for one of their long dead sisters who is to be potentially canonised. However, as usual trouble follows Temperance and when a local house goes up in flames she is asked to identify the bodies. It seems that several people have died and that it was arson. If these two cases were not enough Brenan becomes involved in a third when two corpses are found on a wildlife sanctuary. Can Brenan juggle all three cases and her personal life which appears to be under threat by a mysterious stranger?

I found `Death Du Jour' a stagnant novel. Firstly, this was due to the fact that there were too many ongoing cases and it became confusing. The worst problem is the patronising tone that Reichs takes when describing things. One minute Dr Brennan is an expert giving in-depth details, the next she is apparently a novice and asking for them. It is too obvious that Reichs is trying to force feed the reader in-depth analysis, it all felt a little hollow to me and far too over analytical. Reichs is probably one of the pioneers of the detailed modern crime novel and as this was an early book in the series perhaps she has refined her skills. As it is this book felt very dated in its style as other authors have gone on to copy her style and improve on it.

Mystery, Danger, Action and Suspense - Rated
Once again I was bowled over by Kathy Reichs. She manages to give her readers a wealth of information without ever talking down to them. She weaves subplots together like the master she's become, and in only two books. Though, sadly, she does at times withhold information from the readers that she shouldn't. If it's told in the first person and our heroine knows the info or clues, then we should too, however this is just a niggling and minor complaint and didn't really take away from the book at all.

The book opens with Tempe in a church graveyard. A long dead nun is being considered for sainthood and Tempe is charged with aiding the Church's investagation. The bones aren't where they're supposed to be, but Tempe can't give this her full attention, because she's quickly drawn into an arson murder case that's tied in to a university student from North Carolina who recently joined a cult, then disappeared.

Mystery, danger, action, suspense all add up to a five star winner for Kathy Reichs.

Review submitted by Katie Osborne

Gruesome but totally absorbing - Rated
Another solid offering from Reichs. I love the way her books engage your concentration from the very first pages. Although I enjoyed the storyline less than Deja dead I think this was mainly due to the inclusion of infant victims rather than a lack in plotline or writing. Relationships between reoccurring characters were developed in an engaging manner which provided some relief between the gore of what was unravelling. I will definitely continue investing reading time in this series and look forward to a continuance of Brennan's relationships with Claudel and Ryan especially.

The one thing I am slightly dubious about however, is whether I am committing myself to another crime series which involves the main character being subjected to continual break-ins and personal attacks: this is what started to irritate me enormously with Cornwell's books and I hope Reichs isn't falling into a similar pattern. Otherwise great stuff, guaranteed to get the pulse racing.

The equal of Deja Dead - Rated
Death Du Jour - Kathy Reichs second offering is easily as good as, if not better than Deja Dead. Thickly layered plot, effective pen work and a complex and entrawling journey into the world of Temperance Brennan. Onwards to Deadly Decisions...

Forensic anthropology - Rated
Death du jour is Kathy Reichs second book. Here we begin in Montreal with Dr. Tempe Brennan, forensic anthropologist, searching for the remains of a Catholic nun who is being nominated for sainthood. That in itself would hav ebeen an interesting story for me to read about. But this quickly becomes a sub-plot of the book as our heroine is called to work on a case which consist of five burned bodies.

These five bodies lead our herione on an interesting murder investigation where the bodies just start to continue to grow. This mystery is well written and tied up nicely by the end of the book. The conclusion of the first body we were introduced too, the remains of the catholic nun, are just quickly brushed over. And left me wanting to know more...Other then that, this is a good read.

This book does give you a very good look inside of forensic anthropolgy. The author has a great grasp on the subject and is able to convey this to the reader in such a way that keeps you reading.