DEVIL BONES

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan is once again called upon to analyze the remains of various murder victims. The listener learns about Wicca, voodoo, Santeria, and various other alternative religions as over-the-top characters with seemingly shady motives weave in and out of the plot. Barbara Rosenblat competently handles multiple characters of varied backgrounds, doing a particularly good job with the male voices. However, her portrayal of Brennan occasionally becomes shrill, and the sharp contrast in tone makes these shifts especially jarring. The plot is contrived in parts, making it difficult for even the most talented narrator to tell a plausible story. M.H.N. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2008]