Spotlight Series: Temperance Brennan

Kathy Reichs, like her fictional creation, Temperance Brennan, is forensic anthropologist for the province of Quebec. She is Vice President of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, serves on the Canadian National Police Services Advisory Council, and is one of only fifty-six forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology. A professor of anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Reichs now divides her time between Charlotte and Montreal. Deja Dead, her debut novel, brought her fame when it became a New York Times bestseller and won the 1997 Ellis Award for Best First Novel. In 2007 Break No Bones was short- listed for the Ellis Award for Best Novel. Kathy Reichs is the inspiration for the television drama Bones.

I honestly can't remember whether I watched the TV show Bones or read my first Temperance Brennan novel first. The books and the show are so vastly different that it's very easy to enjoy both without becoming confused. The Temperance Brennan series was the first forensic mysteries I read and caused me to immediately fall in love the with genre. Tempe is strong and intelligent with a realistic moral code. She cares deeply for her family and friends and takes her job very seriously. Romantic elements do show up occasionally, but Tempe never lets it interfere with her work.

Important Characters to Know
Temperance Brennan - Tempe is a recovering alcoholic and forensic anthropologist splitting her time working with the police in North Carolina and Quebec. She also occasionally teaches at the University of North Carolina.

Andrew Ryan - A Quebec detective Tempe often works with. They have an on-again-off-again romantic relationship.

Luc Claudel - Another Quebec detective Tempe works with. They don't especially like each other, but have a grudging respect for one another.

Pierre LaManche - Tempe's boss in Quebec.

Temperance Brennan
(in reading order, links lead to my reviews)

1. Déjà Dead
2. Death du Jour
3. Deadly Decisions
4. Fatal Voyage
5. Grave Secrets
6. Bare Bones
7. Monday Mourning
8. Cross Bones
9. Break No Bones
10. Bones to Ashes
11. Devil Bones
12. 206 Bones
13. Spider Bones

If you like the Temperance Brennan series, you should try:

The Grant County series by Karin Slaughter

The Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell

The Jane Rizzoli/Maura Isles series by Tess Gerritsen

The Alexandra Cooper series by Linda Fairstein

The Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffrey Deaver