by
Kathy Reichs
ISBN: 0-7887-1750-2 Order from: Recorded Books
A tense, but excessively melodramatic and ultimately predictable plot, make this meticulous, and at times gruesome mystery only mildly entertaining.
Reviewed by David on October 29, 1999
Genre: Mystery (Police Procedural, Forensics)
Synopsis: A bilingual American forensic anthropologist (I didn't know such profession existed!) Tempe Brennan is has been serving a visiting teacher and a specialist at the Montreal's medical examiner's office. When two killed and mutilated bodies suggest a deadly similarity in Tempe's mind, she begins an investigation of a potential serial killer, frequently against the better judgement of the police, and at a great personal cost.
Full Review: This is an unabridged recording of Deja Dead. The first-person narrator, Dr. Tempe Brennan is formidably intelligent, but at times overly emotional and melodramatic. A particular annoyance were several instances when the brave doctor ventures into dangerous situations, without letting anybody know, and without even the most elementary preparation. Frequently, such episodes seem clearly designed to build tension—and, not surpisingly, end up dispelling it.
The crime scenes, and the methods of forensic investigation are deatailed, at times to the point of tedium, and occasionally touching on the macabre. However, in most cases the solid scientific background helps solidify the plot.
The book resembles those of the popular series on Kay Scarpetta, such as Postmortem. While less irritating than Scarpetta, this book's similarity in the plot elements and character attributes, make Brennan a less than totally original creation.
This book has appeal in its solid recreation of a city crime, and its detailed description of criminology. Its plot and characters, while sufficient for entertainment, seem artificially set up to build suspense, and lose effectiveness therefrom.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 1997, Recorded Books, 1998, Audio Cassette, 11 cassettes
ISBN: 0-7887-1750-2 Order from: Recorded Books