“There’s a reason Kathy Reichs is the doyenne of forensic fiction—because her MO is to keep the reader guessing till the last paragraph.” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her twenty-third high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who finds herself at the center of a Washington, DC, arson investigation with deepening levels of mystery and, ultimately, violence.

Always apprehensive about working fire scenes, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to analyze the victims of a deadly blaze. The devastated building is in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood with a colorful past and present, and when Tempe delves into the property’s history, she becomes suspicious about the ownership.

The pieces start falling into place strangely and quickly, and, sensing a good story, Tempe teams with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Soon the duo learns that back in the 1930s and ’40s the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. While interesting, this fact seems irrelevant—until the son of a Foggy Bottom gang member is shot dead at his home in an affluent part of the district. Coincidence? Targeted attack? So many questions.

As Tempe and Ivy dig deeper, an arrest is finally made. Then another fire claims one more victim, and slowly, Tempe’s instincts begin pointing to the obvious. But her moves since coming to Washington have been anticipated—and every path forward seems to bring with it a lethal threat.

About The Author

Photograph © Marie-Reine Mattera

Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs’s first novel Déjà Dead, published in 1997, won the Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was an international bestseller. Evil Bones is Reichs’s twenty-fourth novel featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan. Reichs was also a producer of Fox Television’s longest running scripted drama, Bones, which was based on her work and her novels. One of very few forensic anthropologists certified by the American Board of Forensic Anthropology, Reichs divides her time between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Charleston, South Carolina. Visit her at KathyReichs.com or follow her on X @KathyReichs, Instagram @KathyReichs, or Facebook @KathyReichsBooks.

Product Details

Publisher: Scribner (July 8, 2025)
Length: 288 pages
ISBN13: 9781668050934

Raves and Reviews

“In this excellent new Temperance Brennan novel unsolved mysteries of the past converge with an arson investigation in the present. I absolutely devoured Fire and Bones, just as I have every one of Reichs’s books to date—but this one may just be my favorite yet! With her trademark blend of intrigue, forensics, and the pursuit of justice, Reichs always delivers an incredible thriller.”
—Megan Miranda, New York Times bestselling author of All the Missing Girls and The Last to Vanish

“There’s a reason Kathy Reichs is the doyenne of forensic fiction—because her m.o. is to keep the reader guessing till the last paragraph. With Fire and Bones she once again comes out blazing.”
—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name and coauthor of Mad Honey

“There is no writer working today who produces better forensic thrillers than Kathy Reichs…This is by far the most dangerous case yet for Tempe—full of intrigue and secrets from both the past and the present—and shows once again why Reichs has penned one of the best forensic thriller series ever conceived.”
—Book Reporter

“Reichs crafts a fascinating plot with Fire and Bones, showcasing her signature forensic detail that has long been the cornerstone of the Temperance Brennan novels….Fans of the series will appreciate how Reichs continues to evolve Brennan’s world…The novel provides an intense puzzle that will leave readers both reflective and satisfied.”
—GLAMAdelaide (Australia)

“Reichs keeps things lively and unpredictable by constantly introducing new characters and plot variations. And being a forensic anthropologist herself, Reichs is able to give her stories a level of realism and accuracy that a nonprofessional might struggle to achieve. It’s an excellent series, and this is an excellent entry in it.”
—Booklist

“In Fire and Bones Kathy Reichs is at the top of her game, seamlessly blending science, history, and procedure into a rocket-paced thrill ride. The iconic Temperance Brennan is whip-smart, wise, and wickedly funny as she digs through the ashes of a deadly act of arson into old grudges and buried motives. This is classic Reichs—sure to delight her longtime fans and earn her legions of new ones. I tore through it in a single, breathless sitting.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The New Couple in 5B

“Kathy Reichs, always an amazing storyteller, has once again crafted an incredible novel—a keep-me-up-all-night-story that shows off her expert ability to create characters who come alive on the page. For anyone who loves mystery, this is a must read!”
—Heather Graham, New York Times bestselling author of Whispers at Dusk and The Reaper Follows

“I loved Kathy Reichs’s Fire and Bones in which the iconic Temperance Brennan brings her forensic expertise, dogged detection skills, and wry sense of humor to Washington, DC to investigate a harrowing fire scene. The twists and turns in the case come fast and furious, but Tempe handles each with her trademark aplomb, and every entry in this landmark series is a must-read for me! If you haven’t read Reichs, start now!”
—Lisa Scottoline, New York Times bestselling author of Look Again, Save Me, and The Truth About the Devlins

“This one is packed with plenty of menace, a pitch perfect plot, and a brilliant and complicated heroine. Kathy Reichs is sharper, deeper, and better than ever. Another terrific novel from a consummate storyteller—who knows all the right chords to touch.”
—Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The Templar Legacy and The Atlas Maneuver