PREDATOR is the 14th book in the Kay Scarpetta series. The plot and writing are superb, as usual. I gave this book 4 stars for two reasons. First, I found both Kay and Benton becoming increasingly self-centered and unfeeling. Therey're so concerned about being right, they can't seem to see beyond that. Secondly, I found this book to be even my graphic than the previous books in the series. In truth, I was relieved to finish it.

All the usual characters are present but each of them are sad, angry and bitter with little interaction between them. A most unusual book. By the way, what happened at the end? Scarpetta is strangled one minute, then riding along happily in a car the next, no explanation. All in all an unhappy book about twisted people

Wow, all I can say is thank God it's over!
People have said so many good things about Patricia Cornwell. I almost DNF'd.
I can appreciate descriptive writing, however. When she goes into great lengths of detail to describe a group of students just walking passed them, to the point of referencing what potential classes, who would be teaching them, what they learn from said class and then what Marino's personal opinion is... I don't care!
With all that description. I have literally forgotten what he was talking about with the other character! And I wasn't exactly about to try and go back to get the gist of it again...
When it came to the reveal, I am so confused over certain aspects of this story... that I don't even know what any of the links are between the information Scarpetta and Benton found.
Can definitely say, I don't see what the hype is.
Will never read another Patricia Cornwell book again.

This is huge for me. I have been reading my way through the Scarpettas, and I have finally bumped into one that was a genuinely decent mystery with a plot that made sense!

That being said, does anyone else get the feeling that Cornwell is working through her own issues with her characters? I mention this only because my chief complaint with her depictions of Kay, Lucy, Benton and above all, oh my God above all Marino is that she treats the reader as though their actions and reactions make sense to a normal person. Which they don't. I mean, there's Marino vibrating away like a lawn mower with that whole complex love/hate relationship with Kay, who in turn is upset because he doesn't show up for the homemade pasta she throws together early in the book despite the fact that in real life a Kay Scarpetta and a Pete Marino would have nothing at all to say to each other outside of work, and if Kay is a stereotype (and she is!) she needs to be the Smartest Woman in the Room stereotype and not the Madonna. Don't even get me started on Lucy or Benton.

And yet I keep reading them. Well played, Ms. Cornwell. Well played.

I was totally unprepared for how terrible this book was. It seems that Patricia Cornwell took everything she had written in the past book and books and thrown it away. The venue for this book is Charleston, Kay moves around more than a military family! Where, as usual it seems she's unwanted. The first thing that gets me is Lucy, sitting a bar getting drunk and picking up, or getting picked up, by a beautiful woman. Whoa... this is the same Lucy who gave up drinking in the last novel because she could see how it wrecked her life, not only is she drinking she is is smoking weed as well. There are other things underlying this change but it's an incredibly jarring change in a woman who normally is so much in control. Then there is Kay, she and Benton always have their ups and downs but this book is more up than down which is a nice change. And Marino... he's always been a bit of a loose canon but this book pretty much vilifies him. The whole book was jarring in how out of character the characters were. The mystery was good and convoluted but the rest was just terrible.

Okay - this was the worst Scarpetta book. I wanted to like it but it seems all the characters have become annoying caricatures. And in addition to that, the story was incredibly confusing. We have an evil criminal called HOG - The Hand of God, suicides that were actually murders, a scientific study Benton is running on the brains of serial killers, problems at the forensic center in FL.... Which is tied up in the end, but not in a satisfying way.

And my biggest gripe = Scarpetta is attacked (not a surprise - happens a lot) and then we jump to a new chapter where she and Benton are driving along as if no big deal. Then we go quite a ways more in the book, before Cornwell sums up the attack in a sentence. Huh?????

The book left a bad taste in my mouth

This is the first book that I have read from this author. I found the plot enthralling and the forensics very realistic. The story had a good flow but I found the end too sudden. I honestly thought that I had skipped a chapter.

Despite that, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this wonderful author.

Disturbing & hard to follow - first Cornwell book and last

I'll never pick up another Cornwell book. I read the whole damn thing waiting for something to happen or a likeable protagonist or ??? Well, anything to make this the best seller that it is.

Nada, nil, nyet, nothing. Stupid to the nth degree.

Now, I love mysteries, which is why I picked up this book. Huge disappointment. Scarpetta (the preseumed MC) doesn't factor in much. She's not very likable anyway, so I didn't care. Who else? That insecure motorcyle guy (I already forget his Italian name)? What a dud. So hung up on getting it up it was a total bore.

Anyway. I'd say, don't bother.

Another case of a writer who gets any crap sold just because they wrote a book or two that was decent. Everything after is just blech.

This book was like half a book -- something Cornwell sat down and spewed out over a long weekend or so. In general, authors would then go back and edit their work, but it appears in this case that her half-baked manuscript somehow made it past all the editorial gatekeepers, straight to hard copy.

I hate how everyone in Scarpetta's life is so dysfunctional, grumpy, and repetitive. And I hate how Cornwell left us hanging with so many unanswered questions and incomplete plot points (what the heck happened to Joe???). And I hate that I spent money on this awful book.

I read the Kay scarpetta series in the late 90s early 00’s so decided to pick back up where I left off.

I’m not sure if I’ve changed over the years in regards to reading, or the books just arnt what they used to be. I felt like the story was messy , too much going on, no likeable characters, too many POV and to make matters worse it seems my book is 14 pages short than what it states on Amazon , so I’m not sure I even know the ending.

I will no doubt give the next in the series a go just to see if I gel with the characters again. If not I think I will be giving up on scarpetta Benton Marino & Lucy

Scarpetta returns in another explosive novel with a new life, new job, but same old passions. While working on a secret, scientific study into the minds of serial murders, Scarpetta is pushed into the middle of an abduction case with potential dire consequences. While working with Marino, her colleague at the National Forensic Center, they begin to dig deeper into a case and a mysterious 'HOG' calling in tips. With Lucy's help, Scarpetta soon discovers the case is closer to home than she thinks and nothing will stop the most evil from getting what they want.

Cornwell continues to dazzle the reader with new ideas and theories to keep the series fresh and interesting. The move South has helped reinvent the Scarpetta character as well as freshen up the characters on whom Cornwell can draw. Personal growth is always a theme the reader can count on discovering and Cornwell does it in both subtle and dramatic ways.

Kudos Madam Cornwell for this great book!!