The Bone Code

I don't read many Kathy Reichs novels. She writes forensic mysteries which I never could get interested in.  This particular novel concerns using family DNA companies to identify dead people. I have read several forensic DNA novels lately and find that I like them so I selected The Bone Code as my entry for October's Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge. It was published in July 2021.

Temperance Brennan is the main character in the series.  When she examined two decomposing female bodies that were inside a medical waste container off the Charleston, SC coast, she recognized many of the details that were identical to an unsolved case that she handled in Quebec fifteen years earlier.  The story began well but soon devolved into corny idioms and dialogue between Tempe and her husband. Pages 100 -200 were dull.  No action happened. The story did pick up for the remaining 150 pages but I could not overcome the boredom of the first half of the book. There was no suspense whatsoever and clues sprung up quickly and were then discarded.  

I cannot imagine anyone under 60 who would be able to stand the dialogue in the book.  There were so many corny phrases from the 1970s (ask me how I know!) that would stop them reading. "Hot damn, holy freaking shit, over my patootie, a real pisser" plus boring paragraphs "I went inside, brushed my teeth and changed into jeans" or "I was finishing a one-line report..." Common French words were part of the dialogue on every page but I did not see any reason for them. 

Now I remember why I don't read Kathy Reichs novels. Perhaps I am spoiled by reading Nathan Dylan Goodwin's Forensic Genealogist Series. Goodwin adds plenty of suspense to his stories and they focus solely on solving the puzzle. 

I would skip The Bone Code. 2 out of 5 stars.