EVIL BONES

3.5 stars out of 5

As I write this, I’m not sure how I feel except, well, deflated. This series featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan has long been one of my favorites (and for the record, I don’t think I ever missed an episode of the related “Bones” TV series). So naturally, I was delighted to see Tempe front and center in this, the 24^th installment. Also back are all the blood, gore, bones, nasty smells and even nastier villains I’ve come to know and love.

Glaringly missing for the most part is Tempe’s main squeeze, French-Canadian detective Andrew Ryan, but I can live with that (though if they ever break up, he’s welcome to come visit me). I can live with the couple of teenage brats who are staying with Tempe (her daughter is tolerable, but the other one I’d boot out my door before the sun went down). Though mostly weirdos, I enjoyed the other characters who are woven into the texture of the plot and give me plenty of whodunit possibilities to wrap my speculations around.

And it stayed all right with Tempe’s world right up to the ending. The best way I can describe that experience is this: I’m about to gleefully bite into a warm, sugared doughnut, my taste buds anticipating which of several flavors of ooey-gooey jelly will be hidden inside. I take that bite, and surprise: It’s sauerkraut. Where in blazes did that come from, and how in the world does fermented cabbage relate to a doughnut?

All that noted, though, the book as a whole is – as was expected – pretty much a treat to read. It begins as some small, horribly mutilated animals are discovered in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area where Tempe lives and works. She’s upset by what she sees, as is irascible detective Erskine “Skinny” Slidell, who is semi-retired but with whom she’s worked before. Together, they vow to find the culprit and bring him (or her) to justice. As the corpses pile up, though, another, more terrifying thought occurs to them both: the killer appears to be escalating. Does that mean a human could be next?

As readers will expect, the worst happens; a female body really does turn up, mutilated in much the same fashion as the animals. That’s followed by the similarly treated corpse of a male, and then another. Clues begin to pile up as to where the victims are coming from, giving Tempe and Skinny some trails to follow that lead them to a handful of prime suspects. As their investigation progresses and gets closer to a resolution, their nosing around puts the lives of a couple of notable characters in danger and me close to the edge of my seat till I ran smack-dab into that thoroughly disappointing end.

Despite that, though, I’m already up for the next installment (though hopefully with more appearances by Tempe’s hunky significant other). Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to get eyes on this one by way of a pre-release copy.

Evil Bones by Kathy Reichs (Scribner, November 2025); 288 pp.

A DARK AND STORMY TEA

3 stars out of 5

This is a new-to-me series, although I'm not sure how I've managed to miss it since this is the 24th installment. But with a tea shop, a bookstore and murder involved, I couldn't pass up a chance to try a sample. The Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina, is owned by Theodosia Browning, capably assisted by tea sommelier Drayton and young chef Haley. Judging from the extensive food and drink selections at various times of day, it appears that the shop does a thriving business (and made me wonder how on earth Haley could produce such delicacies in such quantity and timeliness when she's basically all alone in the kitchen). But on the fateful stormy night when the story begins, Theodosia walks past a cemetery and, through no fault of her own, sees what she believes is a woman being murdered right before her fog-clouded eyes.

And she's right; turns out the victim is the daughter of the aforesaid bookstore owner just down the street. As the police - including Theodosia's boyfriend, Detective Pete Riley - begin their investigation, similarities to the work of a known serial killer who was active in the area some seven years earlier. An amateur sleuth, Theodosia is eager to do some investigating on her own, but she's cautioned against doing so by Pete and his police cohorts (as is customary in every cozy mystery I've ever read). And just as customarily, Theodosia ignores their warnings and sets out on her own. After all, you see, the victim, an intern at a local TV station, was the daughter of a friend, who asks for Theodosia's help.

To be sure, there's no shortage of suspects - ranging from a former boyfriend to a neighbor who's writing a true crime book to a big real estate developer who's intent on making his mostly unwelcome mark on the historic neighborhood. Theodosia convinces herself each one is the killer, searching for clues to bolster her suspicions at least till the real police find real evidence of their innocence. The requisite ditzy cozy heroine sidekick - the one who's usually obnoxious and headstrong - makes herself known a couple of times, but she doesn't have much of a role in this story. Neither does Theodosia's boyfriend Pete, actually; in fact, they don't seem to have much of a relationship (I'm new to this series, so I'll assume he is as well).

Of course, Theodosia's unauthorized poking around doesn't sit well with the killer, who would very much prefer to be left unidentified. And that, also of course, spells big trouble for Theodosia, "forcing" her to resort to all kinds of devious activities - and one that's downright illegal, which certainly doesn't sit well with me - to get what she's after. The trouble that ensues and how it all ends I can't reveal, but I can say that when it does end, foodies whose mouths watered over some of the scones and tea sandwiches mentioned liberally throughout the book will be delighted to find recipes and other tea-related resources. All in all, it's a fun story that's not too scary to read sitting alone in a big old house in front of a cozy (pun intended) fire. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the pre-release copy to read and review.

A Dark and Stormy Tea by Laura Childs (Berkley, August 2022); 316 pp.

THE RECOVERY AGENT

4 stars out of 5

I know I'm not the only one to have grown a bit weary of the overall silliness of the author's popular Stephanie Plum, her wacked-out family and friends and inability to decide between two hunky guys (at her age, she should be well beyond acting like a lovestruck eighth-grader). This new series doesn't fall far from that mold in terms of either quirky characters or plot, but it's far enough to make me a believer.

Yes, recovery agent Gabriela Rose is feisty - a good thing - and still pretending to fend off the advances of a hunky man (but this time it's just one, her ex-husband Rafer - a guy she's been best friends with since elementary school and with whom she's still in lust). Gabriela's grandma in storm-ravaged Scoon, South Carolina, regularly gets messages from a spirit named Annie, but at least she's not chasing ambulances and crashing wakes like Stephanie's Grandma Mazur. Gone, (happily, IMHO), is the equivalent of Stephanie's ridiculously off-the-wall cohort Lulu (she of the wild hairdos, skanky clothes and penchant for fried chicken). But one of the things I loved about the other series, the humorous lines that never failed to make me chuckle, thankfully have been carried over and sprinkled liberally herein.

As for the plot, that storm that damaged the small community didn't miss Gabriela's family home. But do or say what she might, she can't convince her relatives to cut their losses and move elsewhere. What they need, they say, is enough money to rebuild - $15 million ought to do it, they say. To get it, Gabriela's grandma begs her to go to Barbados, where she'll find maps belonging to the pirate Blackbeard (from whom Gabriela is descended, or so the story goes). How does grannie know of this treasure? She got it straight from her usual source - Annie.

Gabriela, it should be noted, lives in relative poshness in SOHO, is an expert in martial arts and a gourmet cook. Her job of recovering stolen heirlooms, lost treasures and such has taken her to some faraway places, but nothing quite like she encounters this time out. Once she decides that granny/Annie might be onto something, she makes a first stop at the house she once owned but gave to Rafer in the divorce. Wonder of wonders, she finds a treasure chest in the floorboards, exactly as Annie had predicted. No money, though; rather, the find is a very old journal from a well-known explorer who describes his quest to find the Treasure of Lima, notably the Seal of Solomon. That, in turn, is believed to have been held by Spanish conquistador Pizarro, who stashed it somewhere in the Incan city of Paititi.

Gabriela decides to head for the jungle, but Rafer - eyeing an opportunity to get both rich and lucky - insists on tagging along. Without too much fussing, she agrees, and off they go into what can only be called a wild adventure that nearly gets them both killed. And it is here that I'll stop; telling more would give away too much. What I will say is that those who have enjoyed Stephanie Plum should enjoy this series as well - or even agreeing with me that it's better. I'll also say thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in on the ground floor with a pre-release copy. Already, I'm looking forward to the next installment!

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich (Atria Books, March 2022); 320 pp.

THE BONE CODE

4 stars out of 5

I've been a fan of this series it seems like forever - this is the 20th book, and I doubt I've missed more than a couple. They're always a treat to read, and this one is no exception. Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is off to meet a friend who lives on the Isle of Palms off the coast of South Carolina amid a Category 3 storm that's threatening evacuation. A call from the coroner in Charleston tells her some kind of container has washed up on the beach. It seems the container's filled with two dead bodies - wrapped up in plastic sheeting and secured with electrical wire. Uh, oh, Tempe says to herself - that's too close for comfort to a case she handled in Quebec, where she regularly serves as a consultant in Montreal.

Concerned, she snags a flight to Montreal, hoping she can convince her supervisor there to reopen that old case. But she's also eager to touch base with her love buddy, Andrew Ryan, who's retired from the police and now puts his investigative skills to work as a private eye.

Just as she's prepping to head out, though, she's visited by an elderly lady  who shows Tempe some photos and asks for help identifying a suspected ancestor. A little bit of research unearths a connection to so-called "death masks," but Tempe has little time to deal with it and hands off the task to the friend with whom she's staying on the island (there's a bit more mention of this story thread and it's kind of interesting, but it never seemed very important to the rest of the book).

As if dead bodies and a potentially deadly hurricane weren't enough, Charleston is facing terror of a different sort: not long after the threat of COVID-19 has faded, a new virus is on the horizon and spreading quickly. Tagged as "capnocytophaga," it appears to be transmitted to humans by way of dog bites. This outbreak, too, threads its way throughout the story, but the really good part lies in whether, and how, there's a connection between the four bodies found in containers 15 years apart. That investigation, with Tempe's charge aided and abetted by Andrew, gets the lion's share of pages (as it should) and puts both of their lives in danger more than once.

Throughout it all, the author's humor shines through (sometimes in the form of banter between Tempe and Andrew). And oh, did I mention how much I love Andrew? Not only is he extremely competent and oozes French charm when he wants to, this guy drinks Moosehead. That makes him un homme apres mon propre coeur (a man after my own heart, if my Googled translation is correct).

I must say, though, that while I love the medical stuff - one of the main reasons I'm attracted to this series - this one was a little too technical in spots for me to fully "get." But hear this: at no point did I want to put it down. In large part, chalk that up to the author's game of ending chapters with cliffhangers (some more precarious than others). Yeah, I tried to ignore that when dinner or bedtime came, but more often than not, she won.

All in all, excellent once again. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Bone Code by Kathy Reichs (Scribner, July 2021); 368 pp.

THE INSTITUTE

5 stars out of 5

There are only two authors in the world whose books I not only willingly, but enthusiastically, open even when they're 500 pages or more. One is J.K. Rowling (long live Harry Potter) and the other is Stephen King. That's because with either author I've never, ever been sorry that I did - and I'm delighted to report that the winning streak continues with this one.

At the outset, though, I had some doubts. Oh, not about the quality of writing - that's never gonna happen with this author. But the subject matter - the kidnapping and psychological and physical torture of children - just isn't something I wanted to read about for that many pages (one or two would be more than sufficient, thank you very much). But back to that amazing writing ability: Within a couple of chapters, I'd been hooked - and the reeling in continued to the very last page (which I stayed up way past my bedtime to reach, BTW).

The story opens with the kidnapping of the precocious young Luke Ellis and, almost as an aside, murder of his parents. He's drugged, and when he wakes up he's in a room that looks just like his room at home except it's not; he's in The Institute in remote Maine. Soon, he learns that he's not the only one here; he's surrounded by many other youngsters - all with a propensity for telekinesis and telepathy or both. And before long, he learns that the future is bleak; many other kids have been here, been put through the wringer and sent to another wing of the complex - never to be heard from again.

Meantime, readers get a glimpse into the new life of former cop Tim Jamieson, who finds himself - temporarily, he expects - in out-of-the-way Dupray, South Carolina. Though seriously overqualified, he applies for and lands a job as a "night knocker," a non-cop who walks through the very small downtown to make sure all the businesses and buildings are secure. 

Most of the story focuses on the treatment, and mistreatment, of the youngsters at The Institute; all would like nothing better than to escape, but most are convinced that will never happen and some are even resigned to their fate. But as expected, their story and Tim's in the South Carolina setting come together at some point (no, I won't reveal when, how or why, but I will say the journey is filled with excitement, suspense and not a few rather gory details that kept me on the edge of my seat pretty much all the way through). It's not a perfect ending, but then I'm old enough to know that it's not a perfect world. It did, however, brighten the days I spent reading it. Well done!

The Institute by Stephen King (Scribner, September 2019); 576 pp.

THE TUBMAN COMMAND

5 stars out of 5

During all of my years at a public school in rural southwestern Ohio in the 1950s, it was a man's world. I don't recall learning a thing about any women who made history other than Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton (well okay, maybe Betsy Ross, who earned 13 stars for her work). Once I got out and about, graduated from college and joined the ranks of the feminist movement, though, that changed. The area to which I moved (and have spent the rest of my life so far) boasts stops on the Underground Railroad, and I soon became familiar with other suffragette names like Harriet Taylor Upton and Harriet Tubman (notably, the Upton House, her home from 1887 to 1931 and now a museum, is in Warren, Ohio - just a few miles from my home).

Given that proximity and my longstanding commitment to women's rights, then, I was delighted to have an opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I knew a bit about Tubman's work with the Underground Railroad; but until now, I had no clue as to her very important work as a spy for the Union Army. In fact, as detailed in this book, Gen. David Hunter put her in charge of directing and leading the largest plantation raid of the entire Civil War. Reluctantly, she had left her husband and child to carry on her mission, even while knowing that what the future held was nothing short of daunting. Known far and wide as "Moses," she already was a wanted woman who no doubt would be put to death if captured; nonetheless, she was determined to get behind enemy lines to set bondsmen free and recruit them to fight for the Union cause.

The research it must have taken to even begin pulling together a book like this is amazing to me (and as a journalist, I've got more than a passing acquaintance with the process). Turning that mountain of information into an educational yet highly readable format makes it all the more special. Although it is based on facts, it is a novel; the author does an outstanding job of adding details and emotion-filled dialogue that bring the story to life and make it far more interesting than a dry rendition in a history textbook.

In short, well done and highly recommended.

The Tubman Command by Elizabeth Cobbs (Arcade, May 2019); 336 pp.