Status
Available
Series
Genres
Collection
Publication
Penguin Audio (2008), Edition: Abridged
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:From Americaâ??s #1 bestselling crime writers comes an extraordinary #1 New York Times bestselling Kay Scarpetta novel.Leaving behind her private forensic pathology practice in Charleston, South Carolina, Kay Scarpetta accepts an assignment in New York City, where the NYPD has asked her to examine an injured man on Bellevue Hospitalâ??s psychiatric prison ward. The handcuffed and chained patient, Oscar Bane, has specifically asked for her, and when she literally has her gloved hands on him, he begins to talkâ??and the story he has to tell turns out to be one of the most bizarre she has ever heard. The injuries, he says, were sustained in the course of a murder . . . that he did not commit. Is Bane a criminally insane stalker who has fixed on Scarpetta? Or is his paranoid tale true, and it is he who is being spied on, followed and stalked by the actual killer? The one thing Scarpetta knows for certain is that a woman has been tortured and murderedâ??and more violent deaths will follow. Gradually, an inexplicable and horrifying truth emerges: Whoever is committing the crimes knows where his prey is at all times. Is it a person, a government? And what is the connection between the victims? In the days that follow, Scarpetta; her forensic psychologist husband, Benton Wesley; and her niece, Lucy, who has recently formed her own forensic computer investigation firm in New York, will undertake a harrowing chase through cyberspace and the all-too-real streets of the cityâ??an odyssey that will take them at once to places they never knew, and much, much too close to home. Throughout, Cornwell delivers shocking twists and turns, and the kind of cutting-edge technology that only she can provide. Once again, she proves her exceptional ability to entertai… (more)
Media reviews
Trouble is, Scarpetta no longer travels without her posse — her husband,... her niece,... as well as Pete Marino... — and it takes the first 100 pages of this overlong narrative just to explain (none too convincingly) how they all happen to be in New York at the same time, working on the same
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case.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member jenniferthomp75
I used to be a big fan of Cornwell's "Scarpetta" books. However, the last few have really been disappointing. So much so that I didn't want to read this book. However, I read a few good reviews about it that indicated that this book is much better than the last few, so I gave it a shot. I shouldn't
First, the character of Scarpetta has somehow become an international celebrity because she does interviews on CNN. There are reported sightings of her to gossip sites. Really? C'mon. Forensic pathologists sightings are not sought after like Brad and Angelina sightings. Second, the plot revolves around a woman obsessed with interviewing Scarpetta for her thesis. Seriously?
The whole book was completely unfathomable to me. I honestly couldn't believe a word I was reading. The author needs to get back to basics and bring her characters down to a believable level.
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have bothered. While the writing is better and the character development less obnoxiously dramatic than the last two, it still bothered me.First, the character of Scarpetta has somehow become an international celebrity because she does interviews on CNN. There are reported sightings of her to gossip sites. Really? C'mon. Forensic pathologists sightings are not sought after like Brad and Angelina sightings. Second, the plot revolves around a woman obsessed with interviewing Scarpetta for her thesis. Seriously?
The whole book was completely unfathomable to me. I honestly couldn't believe a word I was reading. The author needs to get back to basics and bring her characters down to a believable level.
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LibraryThing member simplypeachie
Woe is me. Where has my old Cornwell gone and what has she done with the characters in the Scarpetta series. I waited for this book to come out and was really disappointed in it when I read it. Lots of loose ends. Typos. Oh well, I still read all of it and will probably read the next one but please
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give us back the old Kay and Company. Show Less
LibraryThing member HollyinNNV
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the positive side, the book flows, the story is compelling and the characters are interestingly developed. I liked the decisions that Cornwell made regarding the relationship between Marino and Scarpetta. I thought that it seemed authentic to their
However, I found that I knew (or guessed) the identity of the killer far too early in the book. The clues were far, far too obvious. I kept thinking that a surprise was waiting around the corner when in fact it wasn't. I also found that it was extremely hard to believe that Scarpetta would stand around explaining forensic evidence to her husband (Benton?). Give me a break! Cornwell really needs to figure out another way to get technical info to the reader besides Scarpetta supposedly informing someone around her who would obviously already know these things.
And that brings me to my biggest complaint against this book. I don't have tremendous forensic knowledge. However, the forensic component of the book felt extremely dumbed-down to me. Maybe Cornwell has run out of good ideas or maybe she thinks the general readership of her books has a low IQ, but most of this part of the book felt mundane and juvenile. I used to feel that Cornwell was clever. Scarpetta didn't come across that way for me.
And yet, this was a good "beach book." (Ironic as I read it while it snowed.) If you need a pleasant quick diversion, read it. It's a page turner, for the most part. I'm not sorry I read it.
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character types. The character of the Shrew was well-written and provided a touch of weird whimsy.However, I found that I knew (or guessed) the identity of the killer far too early in the book. The clues were far, far too obvious. I kept thinking that a surprise was waiting around the corner when in fact it wasn't. I also found that it was extremely hard to believe that Scarpetta would stand around explaining forensic evidence to her husband (Benton?). Give me a break! Cornwell really needs to figure out another way to get technical info to the reader besides Scarpetta supposedly informing someone around her who would obviously already know these things.
And that brings me to my biggest complaint against this book. I don't have tremendous forensic knowledge. However, the forensic component of the book felt extremely dumbed-down to me. Maybe Cornwell has run out of good ideas or maybe she thinks the general readership of her books has a low IQ, but most of this part of the book felt mundane and juvenile. I used to feel that Cornwell was clever. Scarpetta didn't come across that way for me.
And yet, this was a good "beach book." (Ironic as I read it while it snowed.) If you need a pleasant quick diversion, read it. It's a page turner, for the most part. I'm not sorry I read it.
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LibraryThing member dijan
Not her best.
LibraryThing member smac1
pretty disappointed in Cornwell's last 3 scarpetta novels. not up to the standard they once were.
LibraryThing member devilish2
Plot - tick. Interesting forensic facts - tick. Characters - half a tick. Dialogue - big negative. Well edited - no. Literature - absolutely not.
I believe there is a genre of fiction - the airport novel. Big blatant, often embossed, covers. Relatively mindless plot and/or characters, that you don't
This, I believe, firmly fits into that category. I read it with a nasty head cold and it fitted the bill perfectly. Needless to say I won't be racing out to read more by Cornwell... until I'm next bedridden.
I believe there is a genre of fiction - the airport novel. Big blatant, often embossed, covers. Relatively mindless plot and/or characters, that you don't
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need to devote a lot of brainpower to in order to vacuum it up.This, I believe, firmly fits into that category. I read it with a nasty head cold and it fitted the bill perfectly. Needless to say I won't be racing out to read more by Cornwell... until I'm next bedridden.
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LibraryThing member MmeRose
Several people assured me that, with this book, the old Cornwell was back. WRONG! Thankfully, I got it from the library, rather than buying it. When I realized that I was reading it with the same amazed dislike I had for her other recent books, I returned it without finishing. Perhaps that will
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keep me from giving her yet another chance. Show Less
LibraryThing member spotteddog
Typical Cornwell, I must have missed one in between because I was confused about the Marino incident.
LibraryThing member hemlokgang
A really good Kay Scarpetta novel. For those who have read all the books, this one resolves the Pete Marino problem pretty well and provides the usual interesting mix of interesting characters and intriguing story line.
LibraryThing member rae2008
Confusing beginning. The first 20-30 pages impart the feeling that the reader somehow should have read a story preceding this one that dealth with dectective Morelli. Could not finish the book because I found it rather rambling.
LibraryThing member Menagerie
*Spoilers within* This book is better than her recent Scarpetta novels. While the premise of the plot is thin, Cornwell does a decent job of skimming over that and diving right into the story. Scarpetta sounds more like herself than she has in recent outings, but her voice is still significantly
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different from the first, and best, books. Marino's appearance does nothing for the book and the non-confrontation between him and Scarpetta was a let-down. Why Cornwell chose to have Scarpetta and Benson marry eludes me and frankly I think it takes away from them as characters as much as she portrays it taking away from their relationship. Cornwell has broken down every single one of her main characters and things seem to be getting worse for them, not better. If she wants to retain her readers, she needs to give them, and her characters, something to hope and strive for. At this point, the forensics and the familiarity are carrying her books but they aren't going to do that forever. Show Less
LibraryThing member lrobe190
Leaving behind her Charleston forensic pathology practice to accept an assignment in New York City, Kay Scarpetta learns the story of an injured psychiatric patient who claims he was attacked by a stalker who was killing someone else at the time.
I have read every Kay Scarpetta book and I love her
I have read every Kay Scarpetta book and I love her
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character. I'm finding that I like her earlier books better than her later ones. Early on, Kay was a strong female character and as a medical examiner she was unique. The later novels are more "noirish". Instead of focusing on the crimes and forensics, Cornwell is focusing more on Kay's personal life, friends and family...which is fairly dark. I will continue reading all of the Kay Scarpetta books, though, because they are still well-written and I like the genre. Show Less
LibraryThing member Honey705
I was in a rush to read this one (library express read that was due back today) so I'm afraid that I skimmed over some of it. It was a good summer read and since I haven't read Cornwell for quite a while I was able to get caught up with the characters. I was impressed at the research that must have
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gone on regarding the internet and technology. However, since Post-Mortem, Kay Scarpetta seems to be aging in reverse. I remember her from many years agao as a middle aged woman and she seems younger now than when she started. Show Less
LibraryThing member JoAnnSmithAinsworth
Way too much forensic and other technical information for me. It obscured the story line. Told in dialog. Seldom saw the emotions behind the actions.
LibraryThing member redheadish
Hmmm I started this book and it took off rather well but then I got sick and haven't finished yet...and still tried to get back into it and finally this 2nd week of February I forced myself to finish lthe book. Its was a good story but for some reason I was just stuck in the middle for so long! So
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happy I finished cause now I could start onthe next book from Kathy Reichs sorry cornwell but Kathy writes better! Show Less
LibraryThing member ctfrench
This 16th installment of Cornwell’s series featuring forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta finds Scarpetta living in Massachusetts with an apartment in New York, both shared with her husband, former FBI forensic profiler Benton Wesley. Scarpetta’s called to Bellevue, where Oscar Bane, a man
This series started strong, seemed to lag, and is, with this installment, on its way back. The reason: Scarpetta, Wesley, Marino and Lucy are together again, using their unique talents and collective intelligence in investigating cases that are twisting and complex. Although the revelation of the killer is unexpected, there are loose ends left dangling as to his ability to move around so easily without being detected and his motivation as to Scarpetta. However, this is a very good read, and this reviewer is happy to see the old crowd back together.
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suspected of killing his girlfriend, is being held. Bane insists he will talk to no one but Scarpetta and is adamant that he did not murder his girlfriend, although all evidence points to him. Bane also claims he is being stalked by the actual killer. As Scarpetta collects DNA from Bane and listens to his declarations, she suspects he is infatuated with her. But Scarpetta is limited by doctor-patient confidentiality and cannot relay to Benton or the police her conversation with or suspicions about Bane. Pete Marino, once Scarpetta’s right-hand investigator, now employed by the NYPD, is pulled into the investigation by the prosecutor, as is Scarpetta’s niece, Lucy, due to her computer expertise. Someone claiming to be Scarpetta had been corresponding with the deceased via email and Scarpetta is being attacked by an online gossip column, all of which tie into the murder, linked to others of a similar nature.This series started strong, seemed to lag, and is, with this installment, on its way back. The reason: Scarpetta, Wesley, Marino and Lucy are together again, using their unique talents and collective intelligence in investigating cases that are twisting and complex. Although the revelation of the killer is unexpected, there are loose ends left dangling as to his ability to move around so easily without being detected and his motivation as to Scarpetta. However, this is a very good read, and this reviewer is happy to see the old crowd back together.
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LibraryThing member jwcooper3
I don't know if it's the writing or the reading....I suspect a little of both. Will have to pick up the actual book to find out. The recording, however, is nothing short of annoying. I only made it through 4 CDs out of 12 and couldn't take it anymore.UPDATE: The book is up to Cornwell's usual high
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standards...something unusual in a log running series. The audio version is just plain annoying. Read it instead. Show Less
LibraryThing member jphillips3334
Here’s another thriller involving Cornwell’s well known character Scarpetta; forensic MD extraordinaire. I’m not that familiar with the Scarpetta lore, and this is the second book I’ve read by her. But I’ve enjoyed reading her book. It’s a good forensic thriller and one does not have to
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be familiar with the main character or have read the other stories. What’s most interesting is her attention to detail dealing with the criminal forensic field; it's interesting to note that she does have a MD background. It’s a good book to read if you like forensic crime thrillers. Show Less
LibraryThing member amacmillen
Another Scarpetta novel. This one is a serial murder investigation in NYC. Scarpetta is together with the entire cast and are baffled by the murder of a small person.
LibraryThing member Heptonj
Yet another excellent book from this fine author.
Kay and Benton become involved with the murder of a young woman who has been corresponding with someone posing as Scarpetta. This is all tied in with a website which targets Kay viciously through malicious untrue gossip.
When another woman is murdered
Although you can more or less guess who the perpertrator is, it is still an edge of the seat thrill with a superb ending.
Kay and Benton become involved with the murder of a young woman who has been corresponding with someone posing as Scarpetta. This is all tied in with a website which targets Kay viciously through malicious untrue gossip.
When another woman is murdered
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and they find a link with two others across the country all the stops are pulled out to find the culprit. This brings the old gang back together again. Lucy, Kay, Benton, Jamie Berger (DA) and thank goodness Pete Marino.Although you can more or less guess who the perpertrator is, it is still an edge of the seat thrill with a superb ending.
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LibraryThing member justicefortibet
Another good book in the Scarpetta series with good guys, bad guys and "little people".
LibraryThing member wiccked
Loved it. This is the Scarpetta of old - almost. I did pick who the bad guy was though.
I didn't actually think the 'bizarre story' was all that bizarre. Maybe because I'm a nut myself.
I didn't actually think the 'bizarre story' was all that bizarre. Maybe because I'm a nut myself.
LibraryThing member phoenixcomet
First time I've ever read a Scarpetta novel and I was not overly impressed. There were too many undefined pronouns making me guess at who was saying what, on top of the fact that I didn't find the character of Kay Scarpetta and supporting characters all that compelling. As far as the story goes, it
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was too over the top. Most interesting was cop Pete Marino and the drama surrounding his relationship with Scarpetta. Show Less
LibraryThing member scarpettajunkie
It was a joy seeing the shades of gray of the different characters in Scarpetta. Marino's character is given depth as he learns to live, lose and love. The suspense is easily traded off for horrible dread when the criminal is revealed. Scarpetta and Benton are kept on their toes more so than usual.
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Finally, we see hope in Lucy and her love life. Harlequin should have such plot. Show Less
LibraryThing member Chris.Wolak
Five days a week I have a two hour commute to school and have been listening to audio books. I loved the early Scarpetta novels but lost a little steam with the last few, but with this this novel I'm a born-again Cornwell junkie!
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008
ISBN
0143143654 / 9780143143659