Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

First Published: 1997 by Scribner

Genre: Crime Mystery Fiction

Age Group: 21 and Up

Summary: This New York Times Bestseller features Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist living in Quebec to escape her marriage in North Carolina that is falling apart. As the book opens she is putting someone's skull back together and thinking about her upcoming vacation to Quebec City. She never makes it though because a body is found dead at a construction site. She is hoping that it is just an ancient burial uncovered until she interviews the men who found it, ancient burials don't stink. Then, instead of a vacation she gets involved in the investigation to find the murderer. Brennan is also dealing with a less than supportive investigator, her friend's odd habits and requests, her failing marriage, and her college age daughter who wants to drop out of school to follow around her basketball playing boyfriend. In spite of all these distractions she manages to add a lot to the investigation. She has a fresh and distinctive look at the case and puts together things that the detectives missed. She learns to trust herself and her instincts. In the end they find the murderer and come across a few surprises along the way.

Personal Notes: This is the writer who inspired Bones, my favorite television show, so I thought I'd pick up the book. I was a little intimidated by the number of pages but it flowed nicely and I hardly noticed them flying by. I was also happily surprised by some of her story line. I usually have mystery books figured out from page one and I did with this one to a little but there were still things that were unexpected and I appreciated that. Overall this was a fabulous novel especially for a debut. I can't wait to read her other books.

Other reviews available:

Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs

Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs


Fatal Voyage by Kathy Reichs


Grave Secrets by Kathy Reichs


Bare Bones by Kathy Reichs


Monday Mourning by Kathy Reichs


Cross Bones by Kathy Reichs


Break No Bones by Kathy Reichs


Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs