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I have been a fan of Kathy Reichs since I read her first book, Deja Dead in 1997. Her stories have gotten better in the intervening years....more depth to her characters, including Tempe, more depth to her stories, great plot lines, and a steady pace that keeps the reader hanging on. I agree with other reviewers that Monday Mourning is her strongest work yet....but all of her books are worth reading.

Tempe is in Montreal to testify in a murder case (what else). While she is there, she is called to investigate three skeletons discovered in the basement of a small pizza parlor. Upon first impressions there is some thought that the bodies are "historical", and this is supported when 19th century evidence is discovered near the remains. However, Tempe isn't convinced. She carbon dates the remains and discovers that they day to the 1980's confirming her fears.

As background we discover that Tempe's love life isn't going well. Her significant other isn't giving her the attention she needs. Further, her male co-workers continue to take her and her contributions to police work lightly.

Suffice it to say that the reader is in store for another wonderful ride through fictional police work. A tight story with great characters, Monday Mourning is sure to make you a Reichs fan if you're not already there.

Temperance Brennan is on the job again in "Monday Mouring," the latest forensic thriller by Kathy Reichs. Someone has found three sets of bones in the basement of a Montreal pizza parlor, and Tempe believes that the bones belonged to young women in their teens. How did these bones get in this cellar and how long have they been there? This case is a tough one that gives Tempe many sleepless nights.

To add to her problems, Tempe's relationship with Andrew Ryan, the Canadian cop she has been dating, is strained, and she suspects that he may be seeing another woman. In addition, the stubborn and obstructive homicide detective Luc Claudel gives Tempe a headache whenever she tries to convince him to follow up a lead. The pizza parlor case progresses slowly, with few clues turning up to help the detectives in their investigation. Tempe realizes that she will have to use all of her scientific knowledge and experience to find out who killed these girls, and, she hopes, stop the killer from hurting other young women.

Reichs does a workmanlike job of setting up what proves to be a fairly standard thriller plot. What makes Reichs special is her tremendous attention to detail. Since she herself is one of the world's foremost experts in forensic anthropology, Reichs uses her considerable expertise to add fascinating details about Carbon 14 dating of bones and other obscure techniques to bring an element of realism to the story. A subplot about Tempe's friend, Anne, who comes calling when her marriage goes sour, does not move the plot along very much.

The major weakness of "Monday Mourning" is the formulaic ending, which is filled with damsel in distress clichés and a few obligatory twists and turns. However, Tempe is always terrific, and the fascinating forensic information alone makes the book worth reading.

Tempe Brennan has left the sunny, warm clime of the Carolines for the freezing sleet and snow of Montreal. She has been called back to Montreal to testify in a trial. Tempe is a forensic anthropologist and has license to work in the US and Montreal. She speaks French fluently and has a CV to be admired. She is an enigma: an intelligent, professional woman who wears a surgeon's suit and robe while completing her delicate work in a morgue, and then a warm, womanly persona, dressed in the latest fashion with scent to match, cooking a gourmet meal for the man she loves. She is my kind of woman!

Kathy Reich's, the author is also a forensic anthropologist and works for the US and Canada. She knows of what she speaks, and she has a marvelous eye for detail and an explicit imagination.

Tempe Brennan is reading her notes for the trial when she is called by, Luc Claudel, Chief of Montreal Detectives in Homicide to a murder scene in a basement of a pizza parlor. Luc Claudel, I believe is very attracted to Tempe, and to hide his rude and crude behavior towards her tends to turn her off and get her blood boiling! At the scene Tempe ropes off the area, digs patiently and after many hours finds the skeletons of what she believes are young woman- three in fact. Because an old button found at the scene Luc Claudel believes that this is a murder scene from the early 1900's. Tempe is certain that this murder scene is from the 1980's So, begins the battle for what is correct and true. Tempe is drawn into this murder scene, her life is threatened, and she must work diligently for what she believes is right.

Tempe has had an off and on romance with Andy Ryan, a Montreal detective in the Homicide Division. She and Andy became closer when he visited her in the Carolinas, but since she has arrived in Montreal something is off. He has distanced himself and is called away frequently without any explanation. Tempe is concerned and hurt. How will this romance survive, if they cannot discuss what is going on?

Kathy Reich's book "Mourning" is a page turner. She is able to introduce the human element so well that we care about her characters. We want them to be happy, to win their cases, to battle for justice and above all for truth and love. Tempe Brennan fulfills the role of a modern, professional woman- brilliant in her job and warm and caring as a woman in love. She will outwit Luc Claudel in the coming series, I predict, and she will win him over. After all, she is my kind of woman! prisrob