Where does this author find the time? Kathy Reichs has impressive professional credentials as a forensic anthropologist and manages to write a novel almost every year in addition to her work. Dr. Reichs works for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of North Carolina and for the Laboratoire de Sciences Judiciares et de Médecine Légale for the province of Quebec. She is one of only sixty-eight forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology and formerly sat on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. A professor of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, Dr. Reichs is a native of Chicago, where she received her Ph.D at Northwestern. She now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal and is a frequent expert witness at criminal trials. She also produces the TV series ‘Bones’ which is based on the novels. Like I said, where does she find the time?
What I like about her crime novels is the authenticity of the forensic anthropology which she is expert at. The novels are somewhat formulaic, but I find this more comforting than irritating. She usually is called in to deal with some odd bones which lead to the discovery of a crime. Following her instincts, she investigates, often without the support of her colleagues, gets into danger herself, all the while juggling her private problems and love life while simultaneously solving the mystery! Of course in the end she is ok, and the perps are brought to justice. In a sense she has put herself into the character of Temperance Brennan, who also divides her time between the two locations, has the same credentials, and does the same work. What I like the best is that when she takes on the mystery, she also takes those bones and makes real people out of them. She cares about the people the bones represent and wants to reveal their secrets to honour them, even in death. It all rings rather true, is entertaining, and I usually learn something interesting.
In this particular instalment, she finds some bones in a rat-infested basement of a pizza joint. The mystery leads her into the sad, but all too realistic, story of the kidnapping and brainwashing of these young girls whose bones she has found. In addition to the bones and what they reveal, she also takes on various criminal issues like this and deals very sensitively with them.
The first few books she wrote had French titles: Deja Dead, Death du Jour, and then a number of English titles followed, about one per year. Some are set in the States and some in Canada. Her website will give you a full listing. I’ve read seven so far and enjoy picking one up every year or so. Maybe you will too. I’ve never actually even seen the TV series but I’m sure the books are better! 🙂
Kathy Reichs Website
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