Series
Genres
Publication
HarperCollins (2015), Edition: 01, 480 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Suspense. Thriller. HTML: In Scarpetta, Patricia Cornwell has a character as strong as any in popular fiction" �??Wall Street Journal New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell delivers the newest engrossing thriller in her high-stakes series starring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. Depraved Heart: "Void of social duty and fatally bent on mischief." �??Mayes v. People, 806 III. 306 (1883) Dr. Kay Scarpetta is working a suspicious death scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts when an emergency alert sounds on her phone. A video link lands in her text messages and seems to be from her computer genius niece Lucy. But how can it be? It's clearly a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost twenty years ago. As Scarpetta watches she begins to learn frightening secrets about her niece, whom she has loved and raised like a daughter. That film clip and then others sent soon after raise dangerous legal implications that increasingly isolate Scarpetta and leave her confused, worried, and not knowing where to turn. She doesn't know whom she can tell�??not her FBI husband Benton Wesley or her investigative partner Pete Marino. Not even Lucy. In this new novel, Cornwell launches these unforgettable characters on an intensely psychological odyssey that includes the mysterious death of a Hollywood mogul's daughter, aircraft wreckage on the bottom of the sea in the Bermuda Triangle, a grisly gift left in the back of a crime scene truck, and videos from the past that threaten to destroy Scarpetta's entire world and everyone she loves. The diabolical presence behind what unfolds seems obvious�??but strangely, not to the FBI. Certainly that's the message they send when they raid Lucy's estate and begin building a case that could send her to prison for the rest of her life. In the latest novel in her bestselling series featuring chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell will captivate readers with the shocking twists, high-wire tension, and cutting-edge forensic detail that she is famous for, proving yet again why she's the world's #1 bestselling crime… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member niaomiya
One look at how long it took me to read this book (17 days) is a clear indication of how much I didn't like it. I have read every book in the Kay Scarpetta series, and they keep getting worse. The characters have grown so tiresome - Kay, Lucy, whoever Lucy's latest love interest is, Benton, Marino
This book was not a murder mystery/thriller like it should be. This was Patricia Cornwell's attempt at a psychological thriller, and it didn't work. Psychological thrillers have to engage the reader, make the reader care about the characters and what happens to them. I didn't give a flying fig about Kay or Lucy or any of the recurring main characters. In fact, I can't stand any of them. Kay is conceited, Lucy even more conceited, Marino a loud and blustery idiot, Benton a very unlikable automaton with no emotions. Even the minor characters are unlikable; there is simply no one for the reader to get behind and care about.
The book picks up where the previous book in the series ended - with a supposedly not-dead Carrie Grethen on a revenge rampage against Lucy/Kay. My first thought was, "Oh, no, not Carrie Grethen again. Can't we just leave her in the past and move on to new bad guys, new situations, new ANYTHING?" This entire book was about Kay and the recurring theme of "everyone's out to get Kay." For goodness' sake, why does the book have to revolve around her? Give Kay some interesting new forensic cases to work on. Anything. Please.
The big reveal about how mysterious videos are being sent to Kay is such a letdown that I literally groaned out loud. My reaction of "WTF? Are you kidding me?" almost led me to throw the book across the room. And how Benton and Kay are always hunky dory at the end of the book after going through hoops of deceiving (and therefore angering) each other just doesn't sit well with me. There's no way I'd be dining on expensive wine and food and acting like nothing happened when my significant other deceived me in a pretty major way, all in the name of doing good. Uh-uh, no way.
I disliked this book intensely and absolutely hated all the characters. I keep giving Patricia Cornwell another chance in the Kay Scarpetta series, but after this one I've run out of patience. I will not be picking up any more of Cornwell's books in the future because I want my reading experience to be a pleasant one, not one in which I want to hit the author on the head with her book and scream at her for wasting my time.
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- and have essentially become caricatures of themselves, every personality trait exaggerated so much as to be irritating.This book was not a murder mystery/thriller like it should be. This was Patricia Cornwell's attempt at a psychological thriller, and it didn't work. Psychological thrillers have to engage the reader, make the reader care about the characters and what happens to them. I didn't give a flying fig about Kay or Lucy or any of the recurring main characters. In fact, I can't stand any of them. Kay is conceited, Lucy even more conceited, Marino a loud and blustery idiot, Benton a very unlikable automaton with no emotions. Even the minor characters are unlikable; there is simply no one for the reader to get behind and care about.
The book picks up where the previous book in the series ended - with a supposedly not-dead Carrie Grethen on a revenge rampage against Lucy/Kay. My first thought was, "Oh, no, not Carrie Grethen again. Can't we just leave her in the past and move on to new bad guys, new situations, new ANYTHING?" This entire book was about Kay and the recurring theme of "everyone's out to get Kay." For goodness' sake, why does the book have to revolve around her? Give Kay some interesting new forensic cases to work on. Anything. Please.
The big reveal about how mysterious videos are being sent to Kay is such a letdown that I literally groaned out loud. My reaction of "WTF? Are you kidding me?" almost led me to throw the book across the room. And how Benton and Kay are always hunky dory at the end of the book after going through hoops of deceiving (and therefore angering) each other just doesn't sit well with me. There's no way I'd be dining on expensive wine and food and acting like nothing happened when my significant other deceived me in a pretty major way, all in the name of doing good. Uh-uh, no way.
I disliked this book intensely and absolutely hated all the characters. I keep giving Patricia Cornwell another chance in the Kay Scarpetta series, but after this one I've run out of patience. I will not be picking up any more of Cornwell's books in the future because I want my reading experience to be a pleasant one, not one in which I want to hit the author on the head with her book and scream at her for wasting my time.
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LibraryThing member SheTreadsSoftly
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell is a highly recommended addition for fans of the long running Dr. Kay Scarpetta series set during one day.
Scarpetta is at a crime scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts, investigating the death of a young woman. While taking note of the scene and her observations,
The video sent to her was a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost twenty years ago by Carrie Grethen at the FBI academy when she was Lucy's mentor and lover. Carrie, a sociopath and the archenemy of both Scarpetta and Lucy, is the depraved heart "void of social duty and fatally bent on mischief." Scarpetta rushes to Lucy's house where she discovers the FBI is in the middle of a raid. They are harassing Lucy and trying to build a case, any case against her. "Data fiction" may play a part in the case being built against her. But even more suspect is how and why Lucy's harassment may be related to the death scene Scarpetta is investigating.
Patricia Cornwell is an accomplished writer. Her long-running Scarpetta series indicates just how talented she is at writing great crime scene investigation/psychological thrillers that keep her huge fan base reading. I started reading the Scarpetta series from the beginning and stayed with it for years until I finally took a break from it several novel ago. Depraved Heart provided some of what I love about Cornwell's books - the great writing and the detailed scene investigation - and also why I took a break from the series. The positives are the quality of the writing, the tight focus of the plot, and the tense atmosphere. The downside is that this is the 23rd book in a series so it is competing with all the other books in the series for a rating. That is tough competition.
It's a given that I know the characters and could jump into Depraved Heart after a hiatus from the series. If you have never read any Scarpetta books, this is not the place to start. At All. Go back to the beginning and work your way through them. At this point the characters are so established and so well-developed that long-time readers know them intimately. It's simply a fact that you can't include a detailed background of these characters for new readers after so many novels featuring them.
Is Depraved Heart my favorite addition to the series and worthy of my highest rating? Nope. Is it a huge disappointment? Nope. I like Kay Scarpetta. I enjoyed the novel, was hooked to the end and felt like it was a perfectly satisfactory novel. I do wish questions were answered and threats removed rather than continuing. It's a 3.5 for me (rounded up). It's not going to be one of my favorite books in the series, but it's not worth a horrible review.
After I finished reading I was ready for Scarpetta to take a break from Marino, Benton, and Lucy. It's my opinion that the woman needs some quiet time to reflect on the way her loved ones treat her and how much she should be willing to tolerate. Perhaps a break from them would help Marino, Benton and Lucy realize how much they need and depend on her. (Not that I could ever tell Patricia Cornwell how to write any novel.)
Disclosure: My copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
Scarpetta is at a crime scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts, investigating the death of a young woman. While taking note of the scene and her observations,
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Scarpetta receives a message, a video, from Lucy's in case of emergency (ICE) cell phone line. While simultaneously watching the video and observing the crime scene, Scarpetta knows two things. First, from the initial impression of the scene it appears the death was accidental, but upon further observation it seems to have been staged. Second, Lucy is in trouble.The video sent to her was a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost twenty years ago by Carrie Grethen at the FBI academy when she was Lucy's mentor and lover. Carrie, a sociopath and the archenemy of both Scarpetta and Lucy, is the depraved heart "void of social duty and fatally bent on mischief." Scarpetta rushes to Lucy's house where she discovers the FBI is in the middle of a raid. They are harassing Lucy and trying to build a case, any case against her. "Data fiction" may play a part in the case being built against her. But even more suspect is how and why Lucy's harassment may be related to the death scene Scarpetta is investigating.
Patricia Cornwell is an accomplished writer. Her long-running Scarpetta series indicates just how talented she is at writing great crime scene investigation/psychological thrillers that keep her huge fan base reading. I started reading the Scarpetta series from the beginning and stayed with it for years until I finally took a break from it several novel ago. Depraved Heart provided some of what I love about Cornwell's books - the great writing and the detailed scene investigation - and also why I took a break from the series. The positives are the quality of the writing, the tight focus of the plot, and the tense atmosphere. The downside is that this is the 23rd book in a series so it is competing with all the other books in the series for a rating. That is tough competition.
It's a given that I know the characters and could jump into Depraved Heart after a hiatus from the series. If you have never read any Scarpetta books, this is not the place to start. At All. Go back to the beginning and work your way through them. At this point the characters are so established and so well-developed that long-time readers know them intimately. It's simply a fact that you can't include a detailed background of these characters for new readers after so many novels featuring them.
Is Depraved Heart my favorite addition to the series and worthy of my highest rating? Nope. Is it a huge disappointment? Nope. I like Kay Scarpetta. I enjoyed the novel, was hooked to the end and felt like it was a perfectly satisfactory novel. I do wish questions were answered and threats removed rather than continuing. It's a 3.5 for me (rounded up). It's not going to be one of my favorite books in the series, but it's not worth a horrible review.
After I finished reading I was ready for Scarpetta to take a break from Marino, Benton, and Lucy. It's my opinion that the woman needs some quiet time to reflect on the way her loved ones treat her and how much she should be willing to tolerate. Perhaps a break from them would help Marino, Benton and Lucy realize how much they need and depend on her. (Not that I could ever tell Patricia Cornwell how to write any novel.)
Disclosure: My copy was courtesy of HarperCollins.
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LibraryThing member jybquilter
Another Winner from Patricia Cornwell
I’ve read many of Patricia Cornwell’s books and I’m reasonably familiar with Kay Scarpetta and her colleagues. I looked forward to reading this Advanced Readers Edition that I got through Goodreads. It was mostly what I hoped for: a fascinating look into
Was it an accident or something else? Scarpetta thinks the scene looks staged. As she begins her investigation, a video appears on her phone, one she cannot stop. The disturbing contents distract her at a time she cannot afford to be thinking about anything but the case at hand. But she cannot look away.
This is only the beginning of a series of incidents that have her questioning everything, from the case to her family, marriage and even her own perceptions of everyone around her.
Almost all the action takes place during a single day, which leads to my only criticism of the book: 452 pages is a LOT to devote to a single day. The book definitely dragged at some points. That said, I was hooked from the start. I had to know what this was all about. Who was behind the video? Is there anyone she can trust?
I found the ending to be too rushed and unbelievable. Maybe it’s just me.
Kay-against-the-world is a familiar theme in this series. Once again she finds herself battling her colleagues as she zeroes in on the truth behind the death; the FBI, which is making moves against her beloved niece Lucy; and even her husband, Benton Wesley, who appears to be manipulating events with his own agenda. Luckily, she has her investigative partner, Pete Marino, by her side.
I liked this book very much, despite my quibbles.
Depraved Heart is the 23rd book about Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta.
I’ve read many of Patricia Cornwell’s books and I’m reasonably familiar with Kay Scarpetta and her colleagues. I looked forward to reading this Advanced Readers Edition that I got through Goodreads. It was mostly what I hoped for: a fascinating look into
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Scarpetta’s thought processes as she investigates the death of a wealthy woman found at the bottom of a ladder surrounded by broken light bulbs.Was it an accident or something else? Scarpetta thinks the scene looks staged. As she begins her investigation, a video appears on her phone, one she cannot stop. The disturbing contents distract her at a time she cannot afford to be thinking about anything but the case at hand. But she cannot look away.
This is only the beginning of a series of incidents that have her questioning everything, from the case to her family, marriage and even her own perceptions of everyone around her.
Almost all the action takes place during a single day, which leads to my only criticism of the book: 452 pages is a LOT to devote to a single day. The book definitely dragged at some points. That said, I was hooked from the start. I had to know what this was all about. Who was behind the video? Is there anyone she can trust?
I found the ending to be too rushed and unbelievable. Maybe it’s just me.
Kay-against-the-world is a familiar theme in this series. Once again she finds herself battling her colleagues as she zeroes in on the truth behind the death; the FBI, which is making moves against her beloved niece Lucy; and even her husband, Benton Wesley, who appears to be manipulating events with his own agenda. Luckily, she has her investigative partner, Pete Marino, by her side.
I liked this book very much, despite my quibbles.
Depraved Heart is the 23rd book about Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta.
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LibraryThing member whoizme8
Never read a book before in which the main character does not appear. The main character is just supposed or thought to be, but does not appear as such in the story. Wonderful Cornwell book, with the usual cast of characters plus one. Enjoyed reading it.
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural
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Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church" Show Less
LibraryThing member gail616
Another great book in the series. After a few questionable ones, they're really picking up again. I'm so glad!! Also, great setup for the next in the series!!! So excited!!
LibraryThing member KrysiaMariel
I am glad that I received this book for review through HouseParty.com's Chatterbox program.
Although I do recall reading a book or two in the Scarpetta series in the past, it was too long ago to remember any details that would have helped me get through this book. While reading the prior books
That being said, I did really enjoy this book. Patricia Cornwell's writing style is very detailed, from the mundane to the grisly. She really has a way of making it feel like you're there, in the scene, living each moment with the characters.
While I was not very satisfied with the end of the book I do realize that is because it was the end of the book, not the end of the story. I will definitely go back and read all of the prior books and follow the continuing series as new books are released.
Although I do recall reading a book or two in the Scarpetta series in the past, it was too long ago to remember any details that would have helped me get through this book. While reading the prior books
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isn't absolutely necessary to get though this book, I think it would be best to get a better understanding of each character, their relationships and to really GET the story. That being said, I did really enjoy this book. Patricia Cornwell's writing style is very detailed, from the mundane to the grisly. She really has a way of making it feel like you're there, in the scene, living each moment with the characters.
While I was not very satisfied with the end of the book I do realize that is because it was the end of the book, not the end of the story. I will definitely go back and read all of the prior books and follow the continuing series as new books are released.
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LibraryThing member Elleneer
Summer airport reading. Not her best. Even a "haunted house"!!
LibraryThing member buffalogr
I had given up on Scarpetta; but after hiatus, she's back. The book was pretty good and I followed it quite nicely. The intrigue of the FBI (and hubby, Benton) as bad guy throughout most of the book kept me wondering about the author's research. The characters are ALL familiar, even the villain.
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And, near the end, where Marino is attempting rescue, at possible risk of his own life, was a little untoward. Only one more book to go, but Cornwell should think about really killing the series...it's getting tepid. Show Less
LibraryThing member Twink
I started with the first book (Postmortem) in Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series way back in 1990 when forensic mysteries were becoming popular. Her latest release, Depraved Heart, is the 23rd entry in this series.
Now, I must admit, I just haven't enjoyed the last few books - they seemed
Scarpetta and Marino are at the scene of what appears to be the accidental death of a wealthy young woman when a video link appears and starts playing on Kay's phone. Although her policy is to never interrupt a scene investigation with personal calls, she is powerless to stop watching. The video is a twenty year old video of her niece Lucy - and her then lover Carrie Grethem. Grethem was thought to be dead, but surfaced in the last book and attempted to kill Kay. It looks like she's back and still determined to wreak havoc with Kay and her family.
"The FBI placed the niece I raised like a daughter into a psychopathic monster's care, and that decision changed the course of our lives. It has changed absolutely everything."
Depraved Heart picks up two months after the abrupt ending of the last book, Flesh and Blood. Readers who have kept up with the Scarpetta books will have a better understanding of this perpetrator and plotting.
One key element of Depraved Heart is the concept of 'data fiction'. "It's what can happen if we're so reliant on technology that we become completely dependent on things we can't see. Therefore we can no longer judge for ourselves what's true, what's false, what's accurate, what isn't. In other words if reality is defined by software that does all the work for us, then what if this software lies? What if everything we believe isn't true but is a facade, a mirage?"
I was fascinated - and somewhat disturbed - with this notion. (I thought of how much time I spend online...) Are the videos (yes there's more than one) true? Or false? Is Benton lying to her? Who and what can she believe and trust? The reader sees the entire book unfold through Scarpetta's eyes and thoughts.
Marino is a perennial favourite of mine and this time Scarpetta seems to be a little kinder towards him. For the life of me, I have no idea why she stays with Benton. Lucy just annoys me, but I think there's more of a forthcoming story with her new partner Janet.
The book takes place during a twenty four hour period. The book moves along quickly as Kay and Marino attempt to deal with both their latest case - and the apparent danger to Lucy. The tension is palpable as everyone's actions and motives are called into question. I was easily caught up in the story and possibilities. Cornwell does weave an intricate plot, one I appreciated. (But one glaring omission by investigators, that is mentioned and is part of the final whodunit, will be caught by sharp eyed readers.)
The title? "Legal definition of Depraved Heart - 'Void of social duty and fatally bent on mischief.' Mayes V. People, Illinois Supreme Court. 1883."
The ending leaves the door open for a continued story in this vein. Although I quite enjoyed this latest entry more than the last few, a wee bit of me thinks it's time to end this ongoing storyline and give readers a fresh mystery and investigation next time 'round.
Now, I must admit, I just haven't enjoyed the last few books - they seemed
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mired in extraneous detail and became repetitive. But I was willing to give this latest a go. And up front, I want to say, I did enjoy Depraved Heart.Scarpetta and Marino are at the scene of what appears to be the accidental death of a wealthy young woman when a video link appears and starts playing on Kay's phone. Although her policy is to never interrupt a scene investigation with personal calls, she is powerless to stop watching. The video is a twenty year old video of her niece Lucy - and her then lover Carrie Grethem. Grethem was thought to be dead, but surfaced in the last book and attempted to kill Kay. It looks like she's back and still determined to wreak havoc with Kay and her family.
"The FBI placed the niece I raised like a daughter into a psychopathic monster's care, and that decision changed the course of our lives. It has changed absolutely everything."
Depraved Heart picks up two months after the abrupt ending of the last book, Flesh and Blood. Readers who have kept up with the Scarpetta books will have a better understanding of this perpetrator and plotting.
One key element of Depraved Heart is the concept of 'data fiction'. "It's what can happen if we're so reliant on technology that we become completely dependent on things we can't see. Therefore we can no longer judge for ourselves what's true, what's false, what's accurate, what isn't. In other words if reality is defined by software that does all the work for us, then what if this software lies? What if everything we believe isn't true but is a facade, a mirage?"
I was fascinated - and somewhat disturbed - with this notion. (I thought of how much time I spend online...) Are the videos (yes there's more than one) true? Or false? Is Benton lying to her? Who and what can she believe and trust? The reader sees the entire book unfold through Scarpetta's eyes and thoughts.
Marino is a perennial favourite of mine and this time Scarpetta seems to be a little kinder towards him. For the life of me, I have no idea why she stays with Benton. Lucy just annoys me, but I think there's more of a forthcoming story with her new partner Janet.
The book takes place during a twenty four hour period. The book moves along quickly as Kay and Marino attempt to deal with both their latest case - and the apparent danger to Lucy. The tension is palpable as everyone's actions and motives are called into question. I was easily caught up in the story and possibilities. Cornwell does weave an intricate plot, one I appreciated. (But one glaring omission by investigators, that is mentioned and is part of the final whodunit, will be caught by sharp eyed readers.)
The title? "Legal definition of Depraved Heart - 'Void of social duty and fatally bent on mischief.' Mayes V. People, Illinois Supreme Court. 1883."
The ending leaves the door open for a continued story in this vein. Although I quite enjoyed this latest entry more than the last few, a wee bit of me thinks it's time to end this ongoing storyline and give readers a fresh mystery and investigation next time 'round.
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LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
I don't know if I've out grown Patricia Cornwell or if the books just aren't up to her normal standards. I bought a signed first edition and I also have her newest Chaos (also signed) so I'm definitely a fan but this book was just okay. Not bad, of course, but just not up to her normal standards.
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I'm willing to give her next book a chance, especially since I already own it, but I'm really hoping it's better. I think the main problem, for me, is that I am really tired of the never dead villain , Carrie Grethen! She really needs to stay dead. Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
I don’t read many suspense/thriller type books these days. Unless they take place in the past that is – the long, long past. There was a time though, when I loved them and would read almost nothing but those exciting types of novels. I think nowadays I prefer a book that lets me sleep. Having
Flash forward to my current reading life where I am fortunate in my reviewing; I have a shelf of exciting books at all times just waiting for me to read and review. I chose all of them because they sparked an interest. Then this new book by Ms. Cornwell was offered to me and I remembered all of the reading enjoyment I had received in the past from reading Kay Scarpetta’s investigations. It’s been about oh, I’d say 8 years since I’d read one so I was a little behind on her life. That was OK though, Ms. Cornwell knows how to weave in the details of past stories but I do think it was helpful to have a grounding in the world of Scarpetta rather than to start with her this late in the game.
The book opens with a death – of course – but is it a murder? The local police don’t think so but Dr. Scarpetta isn’t quite as convinced it’s an accident. But she is distracted by a video on her phone. A video over which she has no control. It shows her niece, Lucy’s room at Quantico from some time in the past and it brings back an old nemisis – Carrie Grethen. Even with not having read any books from the Scarpetta series in all those years I recognized this name. I knew EVIL was coming.
In not having read the book immediately previous I didn’t have all the information about attempt on Dr. Scarpetta’s life. I also didn’t know she had married Benton Wesley. The Kay Scarpetta in this book is not the one I remember from the ones I read in the past. She was more reserved, more cautious. I suppose all that caused her to leave Richmond and then be in Massachusetts not to mention almost dying (again) have impacted her outlook on life. This book does focus a fair bit on Lucy, her niece – a character I never really liked and she only seems to be getting more unlikable. I appreciate she is important to the forward progress of the plot but I was happier when she wasn’t in the story.
I was – I don’t know if glad is the right word – pleased to revisit a comfortable and familiar character from my past reading life. The book is a twisty, psychological thriller that has at its core a woman determined to destroy all that Dr. Scarpetta has. The Kay in this book is showing signs of perhaps not being up to the fight. It will be interesting to see how she deals with these feelings going forward. I’m going to be looking for the next book to find out.
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written that I will note that I did have a list of favorite authors and one of my favoritest (is that a word?) was Patricia Cornwell. Any time I would go into a bookstore I would check to see if there was a new Kay Scarpetta adventure to read. She is a truly fascinating character.Flash forward to my current reading life where I am fortunate in my reviewing; I have a shelf of exciting books at all times just waiting for me to read and review. I chose all of them because they sparked an interest. Then this new book by Ms. Cornwell was offered to me and I remembered all of the reading enjoyment I had received in the past from reading Kay Scarpetta’s investigations. It’s been about oh, I’d say 8 years since I’d read one so I was a little behind on her life. That was OK though, Ms. Cornwell knows how to weave in the details of past stories but I do think it was helpful to have a grounding in the world of Scarpetta rather than to start with her this late in the game.
The book opens with a death – of course – but is it a murder? The local police don’t think so but Dr. Scarpetta isn’t quite as convinced it’s an accident. But she is distracted by a video on her phone. A video over which she has no control. It shows her niece, Lucy’s room at Quantico from some time in the past and it brings back an old nemisis – Carrie Grethen. Even with not having read any books from the Scarpetta series in all those years I recognized this name. I knew EVIL was coming.
In not having read the book immediately previous I didn’t have all the information about attempt on Dr. Scarpetta’s life. I also didn’t know she had married Benton Wesley. The Kay Scarpetta in this book is not the one I remember from the ones I read in the past. She was more reserved, more cautious. I suppose all that caused her to leave Richmond and then be in Massachusetts not to mention almost dying (again) have impacted her outlook on life. This book does focus a fair bit on Lucy, her niece – a character I never really liked and she only seems to be getting more unlikable. I appreciate she is important to the forward progress of the plot but I was happier when she wasn’t in the story.
I was – I don’t know if glad is the right word – pleased to revisit a comfortable and familiar character from my past reading life. The book is a twisty, psychological thriller that has at its core a woman determined to destroy all that Dr. Scarpetta has. The Kay in this book is showing signs of perhaps not being up to the fight. It will be interesting to see how she deals with these feelings going forward. I’m going to be looking for the next book to find out.
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LibraryThing member KWadyko
I’ve read this series all out of order, but they are still so great! Definitely suspenseful! Patricia does an excellent job of keeping the reader in the loop in regards to details from previous books (in case you’re like me, and read books out of order); I didn’t feel like I missed a beat!
#punkrocklibrarian #audible #audiobook
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#punkrocklibrarian #audible #audiobook
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LibraryThing member KWadyko
I’ve read this series all out of order, but they are still so great! Definitely suspenseful! Patricia does an excellent job of keeping the reader in the loop in regards to details from previous books (in case you’re like me, and read books out of order); I didn’t feel like I missed a beat!
#punkrocklibrarian #audible #audiobook
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#punkrocklibrarian #audible #audiobook
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LibraryThing member trigstarom
Received via Goodreads FirstReads and Harper Collins Canada in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
Okay, so first off, this book is LONG. I don't mean "this took forever to read because it was lengthy", I mean "the first half nothing happened". I haven't read a
Depraved Heart was easy to read and all the character's previous experiences were explained thoroughly so a new reader like myself wasn't too lost for long. I also got a feeling for personalities early on that never wavered from my initial impressions. Although, I found myself not particularly liking any of the characters. Benson is a duplicitous man who is not only a cheat but also a liar, Scarpetta is naive and a bit judgmental while Lucy is a toddler in adult clothing. I think, for me personally, that it might have been beneficial to see how each character came to be the flawed individuals they are portrayed in Depraved Heart in order to make a positive connection to the characters, but without prior knowledge I found myself struggling to like most of the characters. I get they are going through a difficult time or in Scarpetta's case she's struggling with PTSD but again, I have no prior experience with these characters so it was hard to connect with them in their current states.
What did I like? The science was interesting, the way that Cornwell dumbed down some of the more complicated evidence details was far superior to Rieches and I enjoyed how I wasn't sure what would happen next. The series seems to have a previous flair for dramatics so reading this novel I wasn't sure when the "action" would start or even if it would. It does, it just arrives a little late and instead of helicopter chases and James Bond style scuba diving assignations, there's some science sleuthing and bad guy catching.
Plus, it seems they answer the question of who shot Scarpetta while on a evidence dive. Meanwhile, is Carrie alive? Is she still State side and what is her new agenda? Things definitely left off in an interesting place with all the characters on the precipice of an irrecoverably life changing event. I honestly will probably buy the next book in the series to learn more about Carrie and how she intends to exact her revenge. Oh, and to understand why she wants revenge - I don't really fully understand why she hates Scarpetta or Lucy so much..
In the end, Depraved Heart was a long, arduous journey that ended with plenty of questions that made this read worthwhile. The entire novel was a giant detective story that slowly developed over a period of 24 hours that could have probably been written in 100 less pages. Nevertheless, the novel was enjoyable and I never found myself particularly bored with the contents or Cornwell's clearly skilled writing. I don't think ill ever be able to write a book near Cornwell's level of mastery.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy forensics, crime novels, action novels and extremely long series. I definitely believe a new reader can leap right into the story with Depraved Heart, but readers of previous installments of this series might be a bit frustrated with the level of detail concerning the last 22 books.
Also posted on Silk & Serif
Okay, so first off, this book is LONG. I don't mean "this took forever to read because it was lengthy", I mean "the first half nothing happened". I haven't read a
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Scarpetta novel before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew she was a leader in her literary niche with plenty of novels under her belt but I had no idea she's wrote 23 of this series! This knowledge still didn't prepare me for all the history and past experiences the characters have under gone during the previous novels although Cornwell did an excellent job of catching me up.Depraved Heart was easy to read and all the character's previous experiences were explained thoroughly so a new reader like myself wasn't too lost for long. I also got a feeling for personalities early on that never wavered from my initial impressions. Although, I found myself not particularly liking any of the characters. Benson is a duplicitous man who is not only a cheat but also a liar, Scarpetta is naive and a bit judgmental while Lucy is a toddler in adult clothing. I think, for me personally, that it might have been beneficial to see how each character came to be the flawed individuals they are portrayed in Depraved Heart in order to make a positive connection to the characters, but without prior knowledge I found myself struggling to like most of the characters. I get they are going through a difficult time or in Scarpetta's case she's struggling with PTSD but again, I have no prior experience with these characters so it was hard to connect with them in their current states.
What did I like? The science was interesting, the way that Cornwell dumbed down some of the more complicated evidence details was far superior to Rieches and I enjoyed how I wasn't sure what would happen next. The series seems to have a previous flair for dramatics so reading this novel I wasn't sure when the "action" would start or even if it would. It does, it just arrives a little late and instead of helicopter chases and James Bond style scuba diving assignations, there's some science sleuthing and bad guy catching.
Plus, it seems they answer the question of who shot Scarpetta while on a evidence dive. Meanwhile, is Carrie alive? Is she still State side and what is her new agenda? Things definitely left off in an interesting place with all the characters on the precipice of an irrecoverably life changing event. I honestly will probably buy the next book in the series to learn more about Carrie and how she intends to exact her revenge. Oh, and to understand why she wants revenge - I don't really fully understand why she hates Scarpetta or Lucy so much..
In the end, Depraved Heart was a long, arduous journey that ended with plenty of questions that made this read worthwhile. The entire novel was a giant detective story that slowly developed over a period of 24 hours that could have probably been written in 100 less pages. Nevertheless, the novel was enjoyable and I never found myself particularly bored with the contents or Cornwell's clearly skilled writing. I don't think ill ever be able to write a book near Cornwell's level of mastery.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy forensics, crime novels, action novels and extremely long series. I definitely believe a new reader can leap right into the story with Depraved Heart, but readers of previous installments of this series might be a bit frustrated with the level of detail concerning the last 22 books.
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LibraryThing member Mary_Beth_Robb
Excellent at keeping the tension going
LibraryThing member Andy_DiMartino
Another slow sluggish trek thru Scarpetta's head. Half the book was a another study in dialogue between her and Marino. Glad it was a quick read. Not sure if Patricia is going thru a dark spell but there is nothing uplifting about her books in the last few years. You don't even get a feel good when
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they kinda solve the case sort of not. Will think twice about getting the next one. Show Less
LibraryThing member chibitika
Gripping mystery, Cornwell’s typical fine writing and fascinating detail, didn’t disappoint.
LibraryThing member RaucousRain
I waited a long time to receive this ER book … and I am very grateful that it finally arrived.
I liked it well enough but it seemed incomplete in some ways. I really enjoyed the forensic aspects & the details of the story, and I liked getting to know Lucy a little bit more. However when the book
Will I be back and read the next Kay Scarpetta book? Sure, I do like Patricia Cornwell. The next in the series is already out there and maybe it will tied up a few of those loose ends. Additionally, as a fairly recent transplant to a place not far from Cambridge, Massachusetts, I enjoy absorbing the sense of place.
I liked it well enough but it seemed incomplete in some ways. I really enjoyed the forensic aspects & the details of the story, and I liked getting to know Lucy a little bit more. However when the book
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concludes, there were a few too many loose endings for me.Will I be back and read the next Kay Scarpetta book? Sure, I do like Patricia Cornwell. The next in the series is already out there and maybe it will tied up a few of those loose ends. Additionally, as a fairly recent transplant to a place not far from Cambridge, Massachusetts, I enjoy absorbing the sense of place.
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LibraryThing member Briars_Reviews
Depraved Heart by Patricia Cornwell was a solid, steady crime novel.
This is the 23rd book in this series, and of course it's the first one I read. Believe me, that doesn't help AT ALL. Not knowing a lot of the background about these characters and their situations didn't help my understanding of
Besides that issue, this book was really good! I love a good crime thriller - like Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell has her own style and it's fantastic! It's a splash of mystery, some R rated scenes, and some solid character development along the way.
This book seems like it spans a long time, but in reality I think it's only a day or two. I don't even think it goes into the night! So this entire plot involving a dead body and "finding" the killer happened in under 24 hours?! It might not be believable, but it somehow worked. I didn't even notice it was only one day until I looked back over the story and some of the other reviews. I would like to see that expanded on - maybe make the books over a couple days, at the very least? But that's just my opinion.
Overall, I liked this book. I definitely would like to start from the beginning and work through all 23 books, but I doubt I'll be able to find them all (or find the time. My goodness, summer is already over when I wrote this review?!). Gritty crime stories like these always make my days more interesting - some days I love an ooey, gooey, guilty pleasure romance and other days I want an R rated crime/thriller or horror to take up my time.
Three out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This is the 23rd book in this series, and of course it's the first one I read. Believe me, that doesn't help AT ALL. Not knowing a lot of the background about these characters and their situations didn't help my understanding of
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the relationships between these characters when reading this book through. While it didn't ruin the entire book for me, I think it somewhat ruined the experience. Why is the bad guy, well, the bad guy? Why do certain people not like each other? Patricia tries her very best to give as much background as possible in short bits, but it just wasn't enough.Besides that issue, this book was really good! I love a good crime thriller - like Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell has her own style and it's fantastic! It's a splash of mystery, some R rated scenes, and some solid character development along the way.
This book seems like it spans a long time, but in reality I think it's only a day or two. I don't even think it goes into the night! So this entire plot involving a dead body and "finding" the killer happened in under 24 hours?! It might not be believable, but it somehow worked. I didn't even notice it was only one day until I looked back over the story and some of the other reviews. I would like to see that expanded on - maybe make the books over a couple days, at the very least? But that's just my opinion.
Overall, I liked this book. I definitely would like to start from the beginning and work through all 23 books, but I doubt I'll be able to find them all (or find the time. My goodness, summer is already over when I wrote this review?!). Gritty crime stories like these always make my days more interesting - some days I love an ooey, gooey, guilty pleasure romance and other days I want an R rated crime/thriller or horror to take up my time.
Three out of five stars.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
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Original language
English
Original publication date
2015
ISBN
0007552475 / 9780007552474
Other editions
Depraved Heart (Kay Scarpetta Novel 23) by Patricia Cornwell (Paperback)