by Kathy Reichs
Part of Temperance Brennan, book 16.5
First published 2014
Dr. Temperance Brennan travels to Florida for what should be a relaxing getaway with her ornithologist friend. Her companion studies how invasive Burmese pythons threaten native bird populations in the Everglades. When they dissect an eighteen-foot python specimen, they discover human bones in its stomach. Brennan recognizes clear evidence that murder preceded this grisly consumption. The forensic anthropologist abandons her vacation plans to investigate the killing. Her search leads deep into the Everglades, where the case's origins lie buried in the swamp's most dangerous corners. Brennan must navigate both the physical perils of the wetlands and the human predator who committed this crime. The investigation forces her to confront how violence can reach even the most remote places.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Everglades, Florida
98 pages · Kindle Edition · Bantam
Content warnings: violence