Mary's Reviews > Bones of the Lost

Writing this review makes me sad. I used to be such a fan of this series and recently started watching a few reruns of Bones - the title character is a mash-up of Brennan as written, Reichs herself and a fictional socially awkward anthropologist. When I saw Bones of the Lost available on Netgalley I thought this might just the kick-start I needed to pick up the series again. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that way.

Both the writing and the story just were not up to par.

Writing - the prologue is written in almost all simple sentences. That can be used to great effect when done properly and sparingly. It went on for way too long which seemed choppy and amateurish (I really do hate saying that). I'm not supposed to quote from an ARC and I won't but it wasn't good. A writer has such a short period at the beginning of the novel to set the tone and draw in the reader. Didn't work. Another section was written primarily with questions. The MC asking herself question after question after question. This was almost worse than the simple sentences. I wanted to kick the book and couldn't because I didn't want to damage my I-Pad.

Story - all of the little mysteries became interconnected. I know many authors feel they have to do this to make it a cohesive story. I would argue that point but will say that, again, it can work when done properly. In this case, the connections were so far-fetched and far-reaching that it did not make sense. The primary plot points were not very original either (human trafficking, war crimes, etc.) I felt that I had read it all before.

Now I'm going to rant for a second. I'm trying to decide if I have changed so much as a reader or if many of these writers have just become either a) lazy, b) bored with their own characters or c) hired interns to do their writing. I can no longer read the Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell. I used to absolutely love that series but that last one I tried to read a few years ago was just painful. And, James Patterson, don't even get me started. Charlaine Harris, Tess Gerritsen (to some extent) and the list goes on and on. Now I have to add Kathy Reichs and it is making me angry.

Maybe it is me. Maybe not.

Ready for tears but I have to give this 1/5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.