Two Nights by Kathy Reichs

Two Nights
By Kathy Reichs
Published by William Heinemann (29 June 2017)
I received a copy from the publisher but also bought my own copy at the author's London event

Publisher's description

Meet Sunday Night, a woman with physical and psychological scars, and a killer instinct ...

Sunnie has spent years running from her past, burying secrets and building a life in which she needs no one and feels nothing.

But a girl has gone missing, lost in the chaos of a bomb explosion, and the family needs Sunnie’s help.

Is the girl dead?

Did someone take her?

If she is out there, why doesn't she want to be found?

It's time for Sunnie to face her own demons - because they might just lead her to the truth about what really happened all those years ago.

My verdict
Often when you read a book by an author you know well, you know roughly what to expect. But Two Nights is very different from Kathy Reich's much-loved long-running Temperance Brennan series. I was very excited to discover that she had a new book with new characters. With the lead character having an unusual name like Sunday 'Sunnie' Night, I couldn't fail to be intrigued.

Two Nights is fresh and different, written in a much more 'thrilling' writing style than the Brennan series. It's full of action so moves at a fast pace. Die-hard Brennan fans should prepare themselves for a very different reading experience - and also for one without all the forensic anthropology that they know and love. Although the plot is intriguing (about a missing girl), the book was very much a character-led one for me.

Sunnie is a great character - damaged (physically and emotionally), yet fearless. She has many talents and isn't afraid to put her emotions first. She is funny and quick witted (as shown through her dialogue), with sharp observations of the world around her. Thanks to Sunnie's distinctive voice, Two Nights was a very quick read for me.

Two Nights has been called a standalone. I'm not sure if this is the start of a new series, but would definitely like to know more about Sunnie and her past. The book hints that there is more to come - so now I'm waiting...