
Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist who works at the Jeffersonian Institution and also writes books, has an impressive ability to read clues from victims' bones. Consequently, law enforcement calls her to assist with investigations when remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that standard identification methods are useless. Brennan is teamed with Special Agent Seeley Booth, a former Army sniper, who mistrusts science and scientists when it comes to solving crimes but who has developed respect for Brennan, both professionally and personally.

Corpses that are linked to Booth's former Army unit turn up around D.C.; Brennan's father hides a serious medical procedure from her.

A recent loss creates tension between Booth and Brennan as they each try to deal with their grief; an old flame from Brennan's past visits.

When the remains of a professional motorcycle racer are found in a hot spring, the team suspects his rival to be the murderer; Dr. Lance Sweets forces Booth and Brennan to accompany him on a double date.

Brennan and Booth investigate the college-basketball world to determine who is responsible for the murder of a player on a nationally ranked team.