I was hoping that others’ reviews on the Scarpetta series were wrong, but it’s appearing they aren’t. This book was the first one that was REALLY slow, and the plot took forever to develop but could easily be seen from the very beginning. I’m sure I’ll finish the series because I can’t quit a series in the middle. Hopefully they’ll pick back up.

DNF on page 132/370

So this is the first book that I DNF in 2018. I just couldn't put myself through this book anymore, which is disappointing because I did really enjoy the first 5 books in the Dr Kay Scarpetta series. But from book 6 I've been disappointed and I won't be continuing on with the series. This book put me into a reading slump, and I didn't think that this book would be worth me reading it until the end.

So the plot of this book is that a 10th dismembered body is found in a landfill in Richmond, but it's the work of a copy cat killer. I got 1/3rd of the way into this book and the characters had pretty much just found the body. There was some taunting from the killer, but honestly the set up was too slow for the thriller/mystery/crime genre for me. Then the victim is supposed to have small pox (which 1/3 through I had not found out yet but it was on the blurb), and I honestly feel like that is a step too far. That it is not needed if you already have the set up for an international serial killer. It would completely change the set up of the book AGAIN. I had an idea of who the killer was going to be, so I turned to the back to find out the killer was. I was underwhelmed, so I decided that the revelation of the mystery and the motives was not worth me reading the entirety of the book. I would have had to force myself to finish this book and I would not have enjoyed it.

In terms of the characters, nothing had changed in this book from the previous books to be honest. The same points are being used over and over again in each of the books, with no real development or change. It's almost gotten to the point where I no longer really care about the characters that I have read and finished 7 whole books about...

Overall, I would really recommend the first book in the series. I really loved it, and I have reread it. It was one of the few mystery/thriller/crime books that I have reread and enjoyed. But I wouldn't recommend continuing past book 5 in the series. The plots have gotten worse, to the point of nonsensical. I can no longer believe that these mysteries could be happening on the streets of Richmond. Maybe in a Hollywood TV show but not in real life, and that's whats really put me off this series.

n  n    Book Reviewn  n
Unnatural Exposure, the 8th book in the "Kay Scarpetta" thriller series, published in 1997, by Patricia Cornwell, get 3 of 5 stars. By this time, fans of the series know Kay Scarpetta really well, and you either love her or get annoyed by her but love the mysteries. I generally like her as a character, but she did push a few buttons in this installment. Now that shes become fairly famous in her field, she's a little holier-than-thou... probably rightfully so, but still, a little goes a long way. This one features more of her niece Lucy and a rival ME who seems out to get her. The chase revolves around a serial killer with a body count both in Virginia and in Ireland. Is is the same person? A copy-cat? An accident? When it turns out there is potential of a lethal virus being released, Scarpetta goes into over-drive and pushes everyone further and further. It also seems someone's out to take her down, as well as anyone she's close to. I liked the medical aspect of this book and the foray into virtual reality, but I like reading thriller books for the mystery, not the ultra technical aspects. They've always been technical, slightly ahead of their time... but this one is a bit heavy-handed. A good read, but fell middle of the pack for me.

n  n    About Men  n
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.

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I'm not quite finished but I have a feeling that I know where the WIngo storyline is going and I'm not happy about it. I liked him in the first book. Then he seemed to disappear from books 2-7 and now he's back and she's going to kill him off. This is one of my pet peeves. My biggest pet peeves actually. Author's create this likable side character and then kill them off to let us know that no one is safe... except all the main characters are. Like I could lose Lucy and be ok or Benton, seriously get rid of Benton. Kill off major characters if you want to shock me, but I just don't understand why authors create these little golden nugget side characters and then kill them off. It annoys me. Not to mention Wingo is everything I like and he's a nice counter to Kay. He is big hearted and sweet and smart and earnest. He's her gay morgue assistant that has gotten HIV. Imagine what a great side storyline that would be. And here is my biggest problem with the whole situation... Kay is so freaking irresponsible. I know there is confidentiality and all, but why not take a second from your bitching and moaning about being quarantined and call Wingo? Encourage him to come in to the CDC. You know overall just help save his life.... But whatever, please spend more time trying to keep Benton from sending Lucy into danger. Not that she is a grown women, very healthy and an FBI agent. Please continue treating her like a 10 year old, and screw everyone else....


Ok, I'm a little further along, and she finally thought to call Wingo, but 2 days later and he's surely a goner, maybe his mom too. Right now I'm reading a lot of detail about riding in helicopters and putting on biohazard suits...

Finished- Wingo's dead. I really wanted to be wrong...

Well, I've finished the book. The mystery that starts this book never gets solved. Lucy and Kay- still not likable. Still don't like Benton. Please give Marino someone who loves him and cares for him, because Kay is pretty awful to him. I just started the next book and Kay actual says to someone- I don't know why you put up with me, and to that I say, I don't know why either...

This had another dark, creepy crime to solve and some great character moments.

Kay continues to be a fave of mine and this reread journey is reminding me why I love her so much. Her commitment to staying true to herself, without apology, is so empowering. She's a force and I'm a fan!

Yet another audio + book book reading experience and both were great!

Surprisingly, this book was far better than any of the other Patricia Cornwell novels I've read so far. While, it is still more soap opera than story, the plot is actually some-what believable, and for once, the main character isn't perfect. Probably one of my biggest character pet-peeves is when the author makes their main character some fantastical ideal of themselves (Michael Crighton was really good about doing this).

In this episode of the ongoing ridiculous adventures of Kay Scarpetta, someone has unleashed some sort of biological warfare agent and announces it in an unusual way. Again, the story itself is decent, but the dialogue is still terrible, the antagonists are still very two-dimensional, and the ending a bit disappointing. Think "Murder She Wrote" where the killer always confesses. Ugh.

If you like mysteries and fiction where you don't have to think about much, this book is for you. I will grant, that it is an entertaining read.

I didn't like this one as much as a few of the previous ones but better than the last book. It moved from religious zealots to biological warfare. Lots of stress for Scarpetta and the other characters with lots of depressing things happening to them. I like the torso killer aspect and expect that's going to be the big thing through a few books which will keep me interested. Great pace like usual and kept me reading until the end with no clue who the killer was.

Nuovo caso per la grandissima Kay Scarpetta. L'inizio del romanzo è alquanto macabro e lo svolgersi degli eventi si fa via via molto interessante. Adoro anche la nipote di Kay, Lucy, un'esperta di informatica. Consigliato.

A good read by a natural storyteller. Full of detail and intrigue

Really good until the last 40 or so pages. I think the wrap-up in this book made me feel a bit cheated. Ties together a lot of Scarpetta and Bento history that I had not gotten skipping books.

I am not sure what to think about this book, There was a lot of harrowing events and highly dangerous situations involving people we should care about....but it came down to events we expected (a beloved member of staff we barely knew) and ( a hardly recognized person we should have known) who were the victims of crimes that seemed unreal.

Kay was out of sorts. Her niece seemed out of her mind more than usual: wanting to get the bad guy and be super human while just being one of the guys.

I don't know what to think any more.

Molto interessante ma la fine mi è sembrata un po' troppo veloce e forzata