Kathy Reichs AKA Bones

My fascination with Forensic Anthropology started with the Fox TV show "Bones", in which Emily Deschanel plays the fictitious character of Temperance Brennan. I knew that this show was inspired by the real life work of Forensic Anthropologist Kathy Reichs. It turns out that Ms. Reichs also wrote a number of books, also fiction, that were based on some of the cases she had worked during her long career.

This is where I became more interested. I started by reading "Bare Bones". It's a gruesome story centered around a newborn's burned remains that turn up in a wood burning stove, of all places. There are also drugs, endangered species trafficking, along with emotional upheaval on a personal level. The book was riveting, to the point where I almost hated to put it down.

The details of the forensic explanations left my head spinning, but helped me understand more of what I was reading and how these things ended up solving the case. According to one Amazon.com review by Nicholas H. Allison: "Bare Bones" is a crisp, enjoyable read that cements Kathy Reich's standing as the best forensic writer at work today. He's absolutely correct. I found that I needed to read more. So I moved on to another book.

This one is called "Monday Mourning". The story centers around 3 sets of skeletal remains that are found in the basement of a pizza parlor. The building had, at one point, ties to the mob. But, the twist is that the mob had nothing to do with the deaths of these young women. Again, it is the forensic science angle of the story that draws you into it. And it is that same angle that eventually helps to identify the young women.

The gruesome tale ends with the murder of a pedophile, a woman that witnessed his perversity years ago, and the involvement of one of his victims, turned ardent torturer. Something that this story focused on is the victimization of young women by pedophiles who are into domination and S & M. While Dr. Brennan solved the case of the 3 sets of bones, there were other victims that were never found.

And like so many of the tragic things that happen in the world today, this book completely touched my heart with it's message. Young women go missing everyday. Black, White, Hispanic, it doesn't matter. This hurts me to my very soul. That there are people out there that would hurt these young women for the thrill of it is sickening. Somehow, fiction or not, it's was good to see them resolve this in the book. Reich's words were poignant and descriptive, leaving me with a chill going up and down my spine.

But, I'd like to share an important message that I learned from this particular book, though indirectly.

If someone you love is missing, please contact:

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.com or your local State Police Department.

Don't let their story be someone's next Best Seller.