Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan star of Reichs' popular series and the hit TV series that sprang from it isn't surprised to be invited to a meeting of the Charlotte, North Carolina, police department's cold-case unit. But she is surprised to find out that a new suspect in several unsolved murders is Anique Pomerleau, a woman Tempe and her sometime partner, sometime lover Andrew Ryan first encountered several years ago (in 2005's Monday Mourning). To find Pomerleau, Tempe must first find the man who knows Anique better than anyone else: Andrew Ryan, who disappeared after the death of his daughter and has cut off all contact with his colleagues and friends. This is a more personal Brennan novel than many in the series; it boasts an excellent story, but its real appeal is the continuing evolution of the relationship between Tempe and Andrew, who have seen more than their share of emotional and professional turmoil over the years (fans of the TV series who haven't read the books, be warned: the books are set in a different period of Brennan's life, and feature an entirely different supporting cast). A fine entry in a long-running series. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: In a textbook example of cross-marketing, Reichs' series continues to feed the TV show's popularity, and the TV exposure drives new readers to the books.--Pitt, David Copyright 2014 Booklist

In bestseller Reichs's exciting, if overly complex, 17th novel featuring Temperance Brennan (after 2013's Bones of the Lost), the forensic anthropologist attends a meeting at the Law Enforcement Center in Charlotte, N.C., at which Vermont detective Umparo Rodas presents DNA evidence linking the unsolved murder of an 11-year-old Charlotte girl to Canadian serial killer Anique Pomerleau, who managed to elude Brennan and her superior, lead detective Andrew Ryan, in 2004's Monday Mourning. Brennan first has to find Ryan, who has withdrawn from the world, and persuade him to return to find Pomerleau. Tie-ins with other old cases, signs that the killer is targeting Brennan's own neighborhood, and Brennan's skill at interpreting confusing, potentially misleading forensic evidence build the suspense. Brennan's strained relations with Ryan, the antics of crass detective Erskine "Skinny" Slidell, and the uncanny aid provided by Brennan's mother, Daisy, provide grist for series fans when Brennan finally unmasks a surprising killer. Agent: Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, William Morris Endeavor. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.