
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.

A diamond is found in the jaw of a corpse discovered at a glass recycling plant; Booth learns that he has a medical issue; Hodgins thinks a ghost is following him.

The team attempts to find The Puppeteer, a serial killer from the past, who lives with his victim's bodies before disposing of them; Brennan struggles with guilt over not stopping the killer earlier.

Booth and the lab team desperately search for Brennan after she's kidnapped by her former assistant, Zack Addy.

The team investigates whether an artificial intelligence bot was programmed to kill its creator; Bones plans a surprise for her birthday.