A Conspiracy of Bones (Temperance Brennan #19)(114)
I began the nineteenth Brennan book at a time when bloggers and extremist talk show hosts were polluting the internet and the airways with hateful dialogue, unfounded conspiracy theories, and dangerous misinformation. When mainstream journalists felt compelled to fact-check the utterances of powerful figures. When the terms “fake news” and “alternate facts” had become common lingo. When listeners and readers were constantly forced to question the reliability of both the media and the media critics.
A national atmosphere of suspicion and doubt prevailed. What is real and what is not? It was a timely backdrop. But I also wanted to bring this sense of uncertainty down to a personal level.
That’s when I made a difficult decision. Like Tempe, I am a private person, reluctant to divulge my secrets or express my feelings. I would break that pattern. I would share with my readers a challenge that I recently faced. I would make an aspect of this story my own.
As some of you may know, I didn’t release a book last year. There is a reason I took time off.
Not long ago I was diagnosed with an unruptured cerebral aneurysm. Following its serendipitous discovery, my doctors monitored my brain like NASA tracks asteroids. There have been annual MRAs and the occasional MRI, simple procedures to check for signs of change. For a while all was dandy, everything in place. Then the little bubble decided to do some shape-shifting. I underwent an embolization, a procedure in which miniature metal coils are injected to block blood flow through the arterial wall. Since the surgery, I experience the occasional migraine, but otherwise all is well.
Bottom line. I have a brain oddity and headaches, so our heroine also has the dastardly duo. Do I worry about the aneurysm? Not much. Does Tempe? A bit more. And her fears about the state of her mind parallel the central theme of Conspiracy. What is real and what is not? What happens when the reliability of one’s judgment is questioned?
In Tempe’s case, what ensues when all hard data—her stock and trade—are taken from her? In Chapter 27, she thinks, “I am a scientist. I test hypotheses based on items I can observe, measure, weigh, and photograph. I’d been left with none. Could I rely on my stored perceptions? Could I sort what was real from what was not?”
So. Take a maritime disaster, two separate forensic cases, an atmosphere of hate-mongering propaganda and faux news, a stressful work situation, and a personal medical calamity. Add a computer crash involving a nonfunctioning backup drive and a creepy guy prowling my daughter’s yard at midnight. Mix thoroughly. Ta-da! A Conspiracy of Bones.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
An army of people is involved in the production of any book—and at least a platoon in the creation of the story. As usual, I owe thanks to many for their contributions to A Conspiracy of Bones.
Andra Purkalitis alerted me to controversies surrounding the sinking of the ferry Estonia and graciously bequeathed to me all her research materials on the topic. Credit to Juta Rābe’s Estonia: Kuga nogrim?anas tra?ēdija and to Drew Wilson’s The Hole.
Dr. Jennifer Newman was my go-to expert on the topic of steganalysis.
Captain Harold W. Henson and Detective W. C. Hastings, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, provided information on Hispanic gangs in Charlotte. Thanks, Two Chucks!
In the U.S., much appreciation to those who work so hard for me at Scribner: Nan Graham, Roz Lippel, Brian Belfiglio, Abigail Novak, Katie Rizzo, Kyle Kabel, and Beckett Rueda. And, above all, to my tireless editor, Rick Horgan.
In Canada, I am indebted to Kevin Hanson, Laurie Grassi, and Felicia Quon.
In the UK, Team Reichs is composed of Ian Chapman, Suzanne Baboneau, Gill Richardson, Polly Osborn, Pip Watkins, Richard Vlietstra, and Harriett Collins.
Gratitude to Dan Ruffino in Australia, and to Rahul Srivastava in India.
I would also like to thank my representatives, Deneen Howell and Robert Barnett, for their wise advice.
Paul Reichs offered valuable suggestions when the manuscript was in its infancy.
Last, but light-years from least, I want to thank my returning readers for their loyalty and patience during my gap year. And a big, warm welcome to any first-timers to Tempe’s lab! I love you all, and hope to see each and every one of you in the very near future.