Bones to Ashes: A Novel - Kathy Reichs

Out of curiousity, I decided to read this novel by the forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, who is the scientist that the TV show Bones is loosely based on. I like Bones - I guess I relate to Brennan, or at least would like to. She's a tough, intelligent woman who does important work (with an attractive partner). She's uncompromising about her work and well-rounded in her outside interests (speaks multiple languages, loves jazz). So I wanted to see the type of the novel the real life version (although I'm sure less sensational) would write.

Bones to Ashes was OK, although I can't figure out why it was a best seller. The plot is a bit thin - there's not a lot for the reader to really dig into or try to figure out on their own (always key to mystery novels from my perspective). The science was nearly non-existant - very disappointing. Also, I didn't like Tempe Brennan (the book character). While she's definitely more multidimensional than the TV character (and I realize that the TV character only shares a name with the novel character), she doesn't seem to have a lot of depth. Perhaps if I read all of Reichs's novels, I'd get a sense for her as a person. Maybe jumping in in the middle of a 'series' wasn't the best approach, but I certainly 'get' Sherlock Holmes in every novel.

Overall, Bones to Ashes is mediocre to poor as a stand alone novel, primarily because I really don't care about any of the characters. I don't care that Tempe's husband's getting remarried or that Ryan's daughter is addicted to drugs. I don't care about the cat or the bawdy bird, or even that Evangeline had unnecessarily untreated leprosy (seems a major stretch). Hippo was my favorite, with his doughnuts and anger.

I won't be reading any more of Dr. Reich's works, but it's encouraging to me (as a budding trash-novelist/scientist) that this stuff can get published.