This is an older Patricia Cornwell (Kay Scarpetta) novel that I picked up at the local library's book sale. However, it is one that I apparently missed!
As usual, it is a good, fast paced mystery that has several overlapping plots. For one, Kay is called by the new Medical Examiner in Richmond (where she was previous CME) to come and assist with a curious case. A child was found dead in bed, and although she had been suffering from the flu, it seemed unlikely that it was the illness that killed her. On careful examination, and a second post-mortem-this time by Dr. Scarpetta, it becomes clear that the child was murdered.

Then, there is the bereaved mother. Sad, yes, but also strangely distant. It seems that she and her husband had an unusual sex life that involved others.

To complicate the issue, there are questions about whether the child's window had been left open, and who-if anyone-lived in the property behind the house.

Kay and Marino investigate some trace evidence found on the victim-which strangely, has also been found on the victim of an accident with a bulldozer.

A side issue involves Lucy and a houseguest/lover/employee, who was attacked and severely injured while staying at Lucy's massive south Florida estate. Was the attacker really after Lucy?

Meanwhile a portrait is drawn of a psychopathic killer, who was once known to Kay when she worked in Richmond. Was he involved? In the attack, in the murder? And who else may be culpable here?

I won't give away the plot in case you haven't read it.

Highly recommended for Cornwell readers and mystery readers in general. Good for vacations!

If I wasn't listening to this, I probably would have put it down. I think she needs to retire this series. Edgar Allen Pogue? Give me a break.

I love the Scarpetta character, which is based on a real medical examiner. Generally, Cornwell produces the Scarpetta books with taut and compelling writing. But in this novel, the characters have become caricatures of themselves. Marino is more unpleasant than usual. As a former detective, he is a useful foil and clearly in love with the lovely Kay Scarpetta, but became unacceptably irascible and unlikable in this book.

I know authors can't hit a home run with every book, especially in a long-running series with a character most readers probably think they actually know. But this book wasn't even a dribbling in-field single.

If this had been the first book I read by Cornwell, it would also be the last.

If you’re looking for an easy but interesting read this book is great for you! It was perfect for when I had down time at work, very easy to pick up and put down when I had time for it. The ending was a bit boring to me and I was hoping for a little more action in the resolution, but still would read again.

Also, be careful and make sure to flip through your book if you have a hard copy of this one. I had 20 pages completely missing from mine and another 40 that were in the wrong place.

I didn't want to get anything done that I couldn't listen to the story while I worked. It did seem less meaty than her others, but it kept me not wanting to miss a word.

I read several of these when the series began, but hadn't read any for a while until I ran across this one. I had remembered these as more of a mystery/procedural than a psychological thriller. I don't know whether the series changed or my recollection is off, but this is definitely a psychological thriller. I don't think I've ever read a book with more psychopaths or sociopaths, or whatever in it. Way more than it needed, I felt.

The end seemed much to rushed. One character arrests the murderer in a very brief scene, and that's the end of that. Nothing is resolved with the handful of other psychotic people she has spent so much time telling us about. That bugged me. It seemed like the ending was more about moving the relationships of her continuing characters forward to the next book than about resolving anything involving the characters we will probably only see in this book, beyond that arrest.

It was an enjoyable read up until that unsatisfyig conclusion. The writing is deft, and I didn't want to put the book down. But I felt kind of cheated that so many characters were simply dropped at the end.

3.5 stars

أحب دائماً أي مسلسل تلفزيوني يحمل عبارة

CSI

بغض النظر عن اسم المدينة ففي هذا النوع احترام لعقل المشاهد دعك عن الاثارة الموجودة فيها .. على عكس مسلسلاتنا التي تعج بالمشاكل والسخافات وبالطبع قبل أن أنسى (البويات) ومن غيرهن

قراءة رواية الأثر كأنها مشاهدة ممتعه لعدة حلقات من تلك المسلسلات وبأسلوب يختلف عن اسلوب كاتي ريكس المليء بغرور وعنجهية الرجل الأبيض

Here's the goods - this is my first Scarpetta and am fully convinced, one hour in, that I should have started at the beginning to get into character because I am finding this ugly.

So this can go, and I may try it again once I have the earlier numbers under my belt...

maybe.

Whenever I pick up a Kay Scarpetta book, it's like visiting an old friend I haven't seen for awhile. I have not read these books in order and I feel like I need to, but they all stand independently. In this one she is no longer working for the Medical Examiner's Office and so to me it was more of a "murder" tale than a medical murder tale. Slight I know, but Kay's discoveries on the job are what draws me in. Lots of twists and turns that I didn't see coming! Glad they got the bad guy in the end!!

February 2025: Easy listen as I got work done. So many horrible people involved in the murder of the 14 year old girl! Checked out parents and a psycho living in the neighborhood! Glad they figured it all out in the end!

Pretty good read, but after a while, all her books seem to sound alike. Just my opinion.

I have the physical paperpack, but got the audiobook from Audible. Which felt like it was missing information. I returned it. It said it was abridged. Borrowed the audiobook from my library and at least more made sense.

As for the story, I felt a little bit was hinted and not delved into to much. Would have been interesting had they delved a bit more into Lucy and her personal relationships. I felt like a lot of the story was laying the groundwork for the conclusion, that felt rushed and not delivered in a very satisfying way.

Suspense!