The Bone Hacker by 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.
About the author
Kathy Reichs’s first novel Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. Kathy was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest running scripted drama Bones, which is based on her work and her novels. Kathy uses her own dramatic experiences as a forensic anthropologist to bring her mesmerizing thrillers to life. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Kathy divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Montreal, Québec.
Review
‘The Bone Hacker’ is full of twists and turns and captivated me with its forensic knowledge! This is the 22nd outing for Tempe but it can easily be read as a standalone. Any background information is given by the author and the location of the Turks and Caicos means the narrative is quite separate from the rest of the series. Now I love this series and also the TV adaptation but they are very different. I even fangirled recently when Hart Hanson replied to one of my tweets!
Tempe is called in to examine some remains which have been found in the islands of Turks and Caicos. The local police believe that someone has been targeting young attractive tourists and two sets of remains have been found. Tempe flies over and as soon as she arrives a boat is found with five sets and remains and is asked for her help. Are these deaths related to the missing tourists at all?
What follows is a complex plots with many twists and turns! I could maybe have done without the final twist as I think the serial killer plot was enough in all honesty. It was very enjoyable to see how everything fitted together though! I devoured in a few sittings in one day found it to be compelling. Plus I love all the forensic details, you know you are learning as you are reading when you spend time googling the subject matter!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
