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This is the seventh novel in the successful and best-selling Tempe Brennon, board-certified forensic pathologist, series. Tempe is an exact replica of author Dr. Reichs in real life: same job, same education and background, and same dividing her time between two job settings - one in Montreal (she speaks fluent French) and one in North Carolina. Early in the book, Tempe testifies as an expert witness, but this was really just a ploy to describe the glowing credentials of our two heroines (Tempe and the real life one) and establish just what it is that they do (sophisticated bone analysis) to assist traditional medical examiners and coroners. The plot per se gets cooking when three skeletons of undetermined age are discovered in the earthen cellar of a small pizza parlour. While the technical details get a bit much from time to time, Tempe eventually uses carbon dating techniques to determine the likely ages of the bones and to start developing realistic leads re the identities of the victims, seemingly all teenaged young women. A variety of somewhat undesirable people and businesses have passed through the pizza joint building, adding to the suspense. As usual, the Canadian cops hold Tempe at arms length as they have trouble getting excited about the case until it seems likely more current victims are at risk. The intriguing plot concludes with some first class detecting and a little bit of an implausible fire rescue scene with of course Tempe at the heart of the heroics.

We've read this entire set and like the fresh territory it generally covers. While Tempe herself is not exactly that charming a persona, she has a great intellect coupled with a great caring about her work. Those factors combine to make her relentless in stalking the details and, when possible, the perpetrators of the crimes with which she's engaged. A love affair with cop Andrew Ryan is tending to get a little tiresome, and they are at odds throughout most of this story when Ryan appears to be "cheating". A best girlfriend of Tempe's (Anne) comes to visit and gets a lot of print, though we never were really quite sure how that fit into the scheme of things. Nevertheless, we found "Mourning" to be a superb addition to the set to date, featuring Tempe's detective work at her best, with a tremendously clever and satisfying conclusion. If one has not tried Reich's work yet, this one would make a great start.

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.

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.