‘Devil Bones’ sees Temperence Brennan, forensic anthropologist extraordinaire, on her home ground of North Carolina. Some kind of voodoo temple has been discovered in the basement of a Charlotte townhouse, complete with all the trimmings: cauldron, human skull, and mummified chunks of brain. Seems like a routine case for Dr B. But when a blowhard politician takes an interest, and starts sounding off about the state’s descent into Satanism, things suddenly become a whole lot more complicated. This isn’t, I’m afraid, one of her more memorable outings. It was published in an election year, 2008, so more than a few custard pies are thrown in the general direction of the Christian Right. Well done, jolly good, you want to say, but this is hardly the reason we read crime novels. Nor, for that matter, is page after page of exposition on the difference between voodoo, Wicca, and Santeria, which is forced into the narrative with all the subtlety of a kazoo in a string quartet. The reviewer’s code of honour prevents me from explaining where and how this book strained my tolerance to breaking point, because that would give away too much of the plot. If you’ve already read it, you’ll know what I mean. If you haven’t, and this is the first Kathy Reichs novel you’ve considered buying, my best advice is to start with one of the earlier instalments. They’re easy enough to spot, by the way: just look for the ones without the word ‘Bones’ in the title, written before the tv show became a hit. Chances are you’ll be hooked and want to read the whole series regardless. If this was the only one you’d read though, I’ve a nasty feeling it would stay that way.

I was very disappointed with this. The story moved along okay... but it didn't grip me the way other books by her have. I wouldn't buy it for a friend.