Death Du Jour by Kathy Reichs (Paperback)

Tempe Brennan is called to examine the remains of a nun being considered for sainthood. The case seems routine until she notices irregularities that raise doubts about the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. While Tempe documents her findings, a separate case draws her into a series of violent events in Montreal.

A fire in a home leaves several victims. The scene is chaotic, and early reports suggest an accident, but the evidence pushes Tempe to question that. She works with detectives to trace the victims’ connections, uncovering links to a group with secretive practices and strict beliefs.

As Tempe moves between cases, she notices overlapping details. She examines bones, rechecks notes, and follows leads that stretch from rural areas to urban districts. Each new fact exposes deeper problems within the group she is investigating.

The danger increases when people close to the case face threats. Tempe studies the movements of the group’s members and looks for ties between the fire, the nun’s death, and the group’s activities. The results point to planning and control rather than coincidence.

Her work combines forensic analysis with interviews and site visits. She pieces together how ideology and pressure shaped the events. The final reveal connects both cases and exposes the choices that led to the violence.