Helpful Score: 22
It is sad, very sad.
The title and the book description are missleading. The book of the dead is mentioned once. Shortly and briefly.
It is hard to find any good words for the book so I will focus on the bad things. There were enough.
The book says it is a Cornwell but it could have been written by anybody else. Gone are times were the reader knew how Scarpetta thinks and feels. Gone are the times were the reader was capable to follow the crime and the main characters life through Scarpettas eyes. The writing in third person, and the focus on the wrong things makes the story boring, unplausible and unbearable.
The whole books focus seems to be on Scarpetta´s, Benton´s and Marino´s messed up lifes, worthy to make a soap opera about it.
I can not say much without spoiling the book but what the h... did she do to Marino ! ? And then there is Dr. Self, you might remember her from "Predator". What a bad choice to turn her (again) into one of the key personalities.
***
Obviously I´m not the only person that had some hopes left that Patrcica Cornwell would get back to her own writing, her early, inspiring Scarpetta novels. After Predator and the last few Scarpetta novels I can only see one direction and that is downhill.
The title and the book description are missleading. The book of the dead is mentioned once. Shortly and briefly.
It is hard to find any good words for the book so I will focus on the bad things. There were enough.
The book says it is a Cornwell but it could have been written by anybody else. Gone are times were the reader knew how Scarpetta thinks and feels. Gone are the times were the reader was capable to follow the crime and the main characters life through Scarpettas eyes. The writing in third person, and the focus on the wrong things makes the story boring, unplausible and unbearable.
The whole books focus seems to be on Scarpetta´s, Benton´s and Marino´s messed up lifes, worthy to make a soap opera about it.
I can not say much without spoiling the book but what the h... did she do to Marino ! ? And then there is Dr. Self, you might remember her from "Predator". What a bad choice to turn her (again) into one of the key personalities.
***
Obviously I´m not the only person that had some hopes left that Patrcica Cornwell would get back to her own writing, her early, inspiring Scarpetta novels. After Predator and the last few Scarpetta novels I can only see one direction and that is downhill.
Helpful Score: 12
My first inclination was to put the book down, unread, and list it on PBS. For some reason, Cornwell introduces a number of new characters and the reader scrambles to fit together the pieces. And then, there's Dr. Self, who is such an antagonistic character that reading what she has to say (and think) makes me crazy.
However, once I decided to keep on reading, I was caught up in the plot. This is not Cornwell's usual crime novel, with the reader taken from point to point in the general direction of a solution. More than ever before, Cornwell develops personalities (flawed, for the most part) and it's not a pretty sight.
It might be that the author is taking a new direction with her writing. It might be that she wants the Benton-Kay relationship to have more substance than it's had in the past. For sure, future âScarpettaâ novels with be with the two of them working as a team. That's my take, anyway.
I consider the time spent reading this novel well-spent, and I have a feeling others will agree with me.
And one other thing: the title refers to one instance where Scarpetta's âbook of the deadâ was not treated properly. It also signifies the start of things going beyond Scarpetta's control. Read it for yourselfâI think you're going to enjoy it!!
However, once I decided to keep on reading, I was caught up in the plot. This is not Cornwell's usual crime novel, with the reader taken from point to point in the general direction of a solution. More than ever before, Cornwell develops personalities (flawed, for the most part) and it's not a pretty sight.
It might be that the author is taking a new direction with her writing. It might be that she wants the Benton-Kay relationship to have more substance than it's had in the past. For sure, future âScarpettaâ novels with be with the two of them working as a team. That's my take, anyway.
I consider the time spent reading this novel well-spent, and I have a feeling others will agree with me.
And one other thing: the title refers to one instance where Scarpetta's âbook of the deadâ was not treated properly. It also signifies the start of things going beyond Scarpetta's control. Read it for yourselfâI think you're going to enjoy it!!
Helpful Score: 11
I am so so disappionted in this book! Not at all Cornwells usual level of writing. The case they are working on seems to take a backburner to all the drama going on with Benton,Scarpetta and Marino. It reads more like a soap opera plot rather than a forensic thriller. The story itself is choppy and seems to bounce around so half the time it's really hard to follow exactly what is going on. Also the end is completely anti climatic. It just drops with a decidely loud THUD!
I really hope Cornwell does alot better in her next Scarpetta offering or I'm likely to stop following this series. Totally dissapointing.
I really hope Cornwell does alot better in her next Scarpetta offering or I'm likely to stop following this series. Totally dissapointing.
Helpful Score: 8
Just finished it tonight and I have to say - I was disappointed in this book. Too many characters, lame bad guy, tedious story - not the riveting stuff Scarpetta fans are used to. Also - Cornwell used the F-word so often I am beginning to think she has run out of intelligent conversation for her characters so she peppered in some expletives to try to heighten the drama - didn't work for me. Also, I felt like the book lacked the emotional depth usually infused into the Scarpetta series. Sad.
Helpful Score: 6
This book is a disappointment. It was as if Cornwell had run out of intelligent, coherent conversations for Scarpetta and decided to write a book anyway. The conversations are choppy. The characters belong in a soap opera.
As others have pointed out, this book is completely misnamed. Scarpetta's "book of the dead" has absolutely nothing to do with the plot.
As others have pointed out, this book is completely misnamed. Scarpetta's "book of the dead" has absolutely nothing to do with the plot.
Helpful Score: 5
I did not like this book!! For some reason the author, with this book and her last one, has changed her style of writing! It jumps all over the place and she has gotten away from writing about solving crimes as a team. Most of the book is about Scarpetta and her dysfunctional family. I think I'll stay away from her books for a little while. :(
Helpful Score: 5
This was the worst Cornwell book I have read. It jumps all over never finishing a thought. Everyone is always mad. I was so disappointed!!
Helpful Score: 5
I am a cornwell fan, but this book was just plain gruesome! It was slow moving, lousy plot....not at all her usual.
Helpful Score: 4
Not one of Cornwell's best. To me this book seemed scattered and harder to follow compared to others in the Scarpetta series.
Helpful Score: 3
Patricia Cornwell had a bad dream one night...in fact, it was a nightmare about Scarpetta, Marino and company. When she woke up in the morning, she wrote it all down and called it "The Book of the Dead."
This was disjointed, foggy, frustrating...all those qualities one finds in a bad dream.
The characters don't act like themselves. The mystery is briefly alluded to, and then forgotten until a frantic resolution (if you can call it that) at the end.
Do yourself a favor, and skip this one. It won't hurt a thing.
This was disjointed, foggy, frustrating...all those qualities one finds in a bad dream.
The characters don't act like themselves. The mystery is briefly alluded to, and then forgotten until a frantic resolution (if you can call it that) at the end.
Do yourself a favor, and skip this one. It won't hurt a thing.
Helpful Score: 2
Well, it's not as awful as "Predator" but it's still not as good as her early Scarpetta novels like "Postmortem" or "Cause of Death." This book finds Kay Scarpetta in South Carolina trying to solve the murder of a tennis star, the victim of a serial killer. The usual suspects are all here: Lt. Pete Marino (the best sidekick ever); Lucy, her tortured genius niece; the stock evil woman character (it was Diane Bray in the werewolf novels, here it's Dr. Maroni, a television psychologist); and, of course, the serial killer villain, whose lineage provides the book's best plot twist.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this book to be a huge disappointment, especially considering how much I like Patricia Cornwell's other books. The plot is long and rambling, it takes too many "side trips", and I felt that the author was not true to the characters that she has spent so many years building. I really wanted to just stop reading after the first 1/3 or the book, but forced myself to finish just so I would be able to pick up the next book in the series and know what was going on. I also hated how she left a major cliffhanger at the end.
Although this was not my favorite book by Patricia Cornwell, I am addicted to Scarpetta so I really enjoyed the book.
Helpful Score: 1
BOOK OF THE DEAD
Starting over with a unique private forensic pathology practice in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, seems like the ideal situation for Scarpetta and her colleagues, Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy. But then come the deaths...
A sixteen-year-old tennis star, fresh from a tournament win in Charleston, is found nude and mutilated near Piazza Navona in Rome. The body of an abused young boy is dumped in a desolate marsh. A woman is ritualistically murdered in her multimillon-dollar beach home. Meanwhile, in New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections among the deaths that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.
Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones facing her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names-and the pen may be poised to write her own.
Starting over with a unique private forensic pathology practice in the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, seems like the ideal situation for Scarpetta and her colleagues, Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy. But then come the deaths...
A sixteen-year-old tennis star, fresh from a tournament win in Charleston, is found nude and mutilated near Piazza Navona in Rome. The body of an abused young boy is dumped in a desolate marsh. A woman is ritualistically murdered in her multimillon-dollar beach home. Meanwhile, in New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections among the deaths that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.
Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones facing her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names-and the pen may be poised to write her own.
Helpful Score: 1
I agree-this book was quite disappointing. I had to force my way through it. It seems Patricia Cornwell hurried through-very few details of the story line, unfinished character woes (Marino, Lucy & Benton) and not enough in-depth with the new characters. Most of the time, the reader doesn't know the feelings or thoughts of Kay Scarpetta as we did in her older books...
Cheri P. (smalltowncher) - , reviewed Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 15) on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I had a hard time reading this book and actually didn't even finish it. I think the author has worn out the characters. They are so unbelievable and unlikeable where they are at now. I used to be so eager awaiting her next book to come out with these characters but have been so disappointed in the last couple that I have read. After reading this one, I think I am going to give up on following her.
This is the first Patricia Cornwell book I've read...saying that I can't compare it to all her other works like the other reviews do. All in all it was an OK book. It did seem rather soap opera-y with the drama between Scarpetta and Marino and Benton and that just isn't my style.
Also, there's a spelling mistake on page 15 and that kind of bothered me. If you are a famous author I assume you have editors that read over and check your book before it's published...
Also, there's a spelling mistake on page 15 and that kind of bothered me. If you are a famous author I assume you have editors that read over and check your book before it's published...
Helpful Score: 1
Not up to Patricia Cornwells normal high standards. Didn't hold together well and didn't seem to be consistent w other stories. Takes place in South Carolina.
Helpful Score: 1
I have been a Patricia Cornwell fan for years. This book to me, was disappointing. It wasn't like her other books. I had to make myself finish it. that is unusual that I feel that way with this author. Not one of her better ones. I think this is actually the worst book I have read by her. I hope the new Scarpetta one won't be disappointing.
Sandra (mycatscanread) -
Helpful Score: 1
I've read all of Patricia Cornwell's books and I wasn't particularly impressed with this one. Scarpetta, Marino and Lucy have moved to Charleston, S.C. I was much happier with Kay when she was in Virginia, but Cornwell keeps moving her around so much that the reader never knows where she'll wind up next.
There is too much going on with too many characters at once, and before you know it, the story has left one geographical location and is in another. I was totally confused with the storyline of Dr. Self. I couldn't stand the character and the testing that was done on her made absolutely no sense to me.
The storyline isn't pulled together in a cohesive way, and one part of the story isn't resolved at the end, so I hope that's one of the first things that gets attention in the next Kay Scarpetta novel. All in all, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I have some other of her books. It's basically a story of the woes of Scarpetta, Benton, Marino, Lucy and Rose. A big disappointment.
There is too much going on with too many characters at once, and before you know it, the story has left one geographical location and is in another. I was totally confused with the storyline of Dr. Self. I couldn't stand the character and the testing that was done on her made absolutely no sense to me.
The storyline isn't pulled together in a cohesive way, and one part of the story isn't resolved at the end, so I hope that's one of the first things that gets attention in the next Kay Scarpetta novel. All in all, I didn't enjoy this one as much as I have some other of her books. It's basically a story of the woes of Scarpetta, Benton, Marino, Lucy and Rose. A big disappointment.
Helpful Score: 1
Afer years of being a Patricia Cornwell fan, I found this book so far out as to be devestating. Obviously she has deviated from her normal writing. The book reads as if she or whoever wrote it was constantly on drugs or a deep depression. There is no real beginning or ending and every character is out of whack.
Anissa S. (Anissa419) - , reviewed Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 15) on + 69 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I have not read one of Patrica Cornwell's novels in a long time. This one moved a little slow and I was not thrilled with the part set in another country. But about midway thru the book it started to pick up. Did not care for the ending but an okay read.
Helpful Score: 1
Another great story about Kay Scarpetta and other characters in her circle. There is more depth to all the characters as more personal information is revealed, Scarpetta has her private private set up in Charleston. Lucy is close to having the best forensic lab in the country. Marino is unhappy about leaving Florida; he dresses in leather and rides his hog everywhere even to see witnesses. Benton works in Boston so he and Kay still have a long distance relationship. However, Kay accepts a ring so maybe this will change. All of them become involved in finding a serial killer. A spiteful psychiatrist stirs up more hateful information to ruin lives. The head psychiatrist of Mclean's in Boston is sitting in Italy and being mysterious in all consultations with Benton who is trying to find a killer. The cop in Italy has an eye for Kay and Benton is jealous. Can things get more screwed up? Yep. Marino loses it!
I loved this book. But I like all of the Kay Scarpetta series. A must read for her fans.
I loved this book. But I like all of the Kay Scarpetta series. A must read for her fans.
Jeanne G. (IlliniAlum83) -
Helpful Score: 1
A dead teen tennis star. A jealous, vengeful TV talk show host. A trans-atlantic murder case. Familial DNA. A veteran of the Iraqi war gone "postal"?
More indepth character analysis than seen in some other "Dr Kay" books made it much more likeable for me. But some disjoint jumping around had me confused in multiple places, reflecting poorer story writing than usual.
A surprise towards the end tied up the loose ends, but I hadn't been able to figure it out ahead of time though ample clues were provided.
More indepth character analysis than seen in some other "Dr Kay" books made it much more likeable for me. But some disjoint jumping around had me confused in multiple places, reflecting poorer story writing than usual.
A surprise towards the end tied up the loose ends, but I hadn't been able to figure it out ahead of time though ample clues were provided.
Very much enjoyed this book. I have read books from this series before this one & after this one (didn't even know this one existed when I got it). A lot of things fell into place...and the character were awesome as always. Everything came together at the end...made sense of the twisted story. Recommended!
Patricia Cornwell does it again!!!! I thoroughly enjoyed "Book of the Dead" and had a hard time putting down. I strongly recommend it for all Scarpetta fans...
enjoyed it
Mary P. (riverratreader) - , reviewed Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 15) on + 164 more book reviews
Starting over with a unique private forensic pathology practice in the historic city of Charleston, SC, seems like the ideal situation for Scarpetta & her colleagues, Pete Marino & her niece, Lucy. But then comes the deaths... A 16 year old tennis star, fresh from a tournament win in Charleston, is found nude & mutilated near Piazza Navona in Rome. The body of an abused young boy is dumped in a desolate marsh. A woman is ritualistically murdered in her multimillion-dollar beach home. Meanwhile, in New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections among the deaths that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible. Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal & unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones facing her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names - and the pen may be poised to write her own.
I found I could not put this book down once I got into it. It had many characters however was just really good.
P.C. Had me guessing on this one!
wonderful read as usual. Patricia Cornwell keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end, very well written and wonderful storyline. Keep em coming Patricia Cornwell!!!
Well I just don't understand what Patricia Cornwell is doing with this series. I'm going along with the ride for a little while longer but it's getting harder and harder and harder. Does everyone in the series have to have something deadly wrong with them? Do we have to kill all of them off? If Ms. Cornwell is getting tired of writing about them then don't...or at least take a break from them.
This book wasn't the tight snappy writing style that I like from her. There were times she was rambling on and on. There was some progress on Scarpetta and Benton but then it was like they just forgot about it. As for Marino, he's totally changed but Ms. Cornwell hasn't really delved into it. She isn't explaining why the total change in how and what he believes. Lucy is almost like a total secondary character that just pops in to break the law then leaves. I thought since Scarpetta had moved to Charleston, SC that it would also become a character in the series. The city is beautiful and has a life to itself but it seems like Ms. Cornwell is missing that. I'm just very disappointed in this book. The ending felt rushed and didn't make a lot of sense in the series but did for the book itself. I don't know. Just feel like I wasted some of my time with this book and I don't normally feel like that with Patricia Cornwell books. I wouldn't recommend this unless you are staying with the series. It's not a good stand alone book.
This book wasn't the tight snappy writing style that I like from her. There were times she was rambling on and on. There was some progress on Scarpetta and Benton but then it was like they just forgot about it. As for Marino, he's totally changed but Ms. Cornwell hasn't really delved into it. She isn't explaining why the total change in how and what he believes. Lucy is almost like a total secondary character that just pops in to break the law then leaves. I thought since Scarpetta had moved to Charleston, SC that it would also become a character in the series. The city is beautiful and has a life to itself but it seems like Ms. Cornwell is missing that. I'm just very disappointed in this book. The ending felt rushed and didn't make a lot of sense in the series but did for the book itself. I don't know. Just feel like I wasted some of my time with this book and I don't normally feel like that with Patricia Cornwell books. I wouldn't recommend this unless you are staying with the series. It's not a good stand alone book.
Another good read
Kay Scarpetta always keeps you guessing and wondering what's next. If you like medical mysterys you will like Kay Scarpetta books.
I really enjoy the Scarpetta series and this one didn't disappoint. Being a medical examiner gets her into some very tense situations. The book is very graphic and not for the faint of heart.
Like all of the Scarpetta books: wonderful!
Good Read
First Patricia Cornwell book I have read. Really liked this writer and enjoyed the book. Will read more.
I love reading Patricia Cornwell books. I think she is an amazing author. This is the one and only book of hers, and I've read them all, where I just could not get into it. I kept hoping that it would get better, but it didn't. She jumped around so much in her story line I could not keep it straight. I did not like this book but maybe you will.It is like new as I did not finish reading it.
Her best yet I think.
Loved it! Great series...
I just finished reading this book in the Kay Scarpetta Series last night. Ms. Cornwell ties all the mysteries of this book together except one....Where is Marino? I guess I'll find out in the latest book SCARPETTA by Patricia Cornwell.
Linda A. (Springfieldreader) reviewed Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 15) on + 458 more book reviews
I know some have not liked this book as well as some of this series, but I would not have missed it. I cannot wait for the next one to come out. I have to know what happens to everyone!
Another excellent Kay Scarpetta mystery. This one explores the underlying feelings that Marino has for Kay, with some disastrous results for both of them. The mystery itself is, as usual, very good, but for me the Scarpetta/Marino dynamic really makes this book.
The reader perfectly depicts Kay Scarpetta. Good choice!
The reader perfectly depicts Kay Scarpetta. Good choice!
I gave this book until I had read half of it to become interesting. It didn't, at least to me. I don't know if I will read any other of her novels. The last several have been kinda boring to tell the truth. Maybe Scarpetta should resign.
Just my two cents.
Monica
Just my two cents.
Monica
This is one of her finest. Leaves you wanting for the next chapter and the next book.
William J. (billystan3) -
Kay Scarpetta really goes overboard this volume. And Patricia Cornwell get's her to the peek of crime solving.
Another GREAT Preston/Child thriller!!! Loved reading it, perhaps too much: lost a lot of sleep reading late into the night.
Tara T. (tarataylor) - , reviewed Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 15) on + 107 more book reviews
I have read books 2-15 of this series this year. I flew through the first ones, one right after another, but when I hit about book 12, the quality of books starting going downhill. Book of the Dead was actually an okay book, but I'm tired of the characters. It seems as if all their bad characteristics come out in every book. Kay has a holier-than-thou attitude; Marino is a jerk; Benton has no communication skills with Kay; Lucy is more than a little full of herself. It's just tiring, really. That being said, the plot was a good one, the killer was surprising. But the characters are just not as likable as they were in the early books. Now, after having said all this - I will more than likely continue reading this series just because I'm curious. But I'm wearing down on this series as a whole.
I found this book to not be up to the standards she has set in other books. It was confusing and difficult at times to know what who were being discussted.
I recommend this book to anyone that is a Patria Cornwell fan. Great ready with twists and turns that make the book enjoyable.
It was off an running. Then the soap opera began. My mind started wandering with the niece-Scarpetta dialog. I gave up and re-listed the book.
GAIL L. (my2luvsemmyandmally) reviewed Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 15) on + 758 more book reviews
Found this book to be disappointing!
Love her!
Starting over with a unique private forensic pathology practice in the historic city of Charleston South Carolina, seems like the ideal situation for Scarpetta and her colleagues, Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy. But then come the deaths....
A sixteen-year-old tennis star, fresh from a tournament win in Charleston, is found nude and mutilated near Piazza Navona in Rome. The body of an abused young boy is dumped in a desolate marsh. A woman is retualistically murdered in her multimillion-dollar beach home. Meanwhile, in New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections among the deaths that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.
Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones facing her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names--and the pen may be poised to write her own.
A sixteen-year-old tennis star, fresh from a tournament win in Charleston, is found nude and mutilated near Piazza Navona in Rome. The body of an abused young boy is dumped in a desolate marsh. A woman is retualistically murdered in her multimillion-dollar beach home. Meanwhile, in New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections among the deaths that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.
Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones facing her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names--and the pen may be poised to write her own.
great read love this author
From America's #1 bestselling crime writer comes the extraordinary new Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel.
The "book of the dead" is the morgue log, the ledger in which all cases are entered by hand. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to have a new meaning.
Fresh from her bruising battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta decides it's time for a change of pace-not only personally and professionally, but geographically. Moving to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, she opens a unique private forensic pathology practice, one in which she and her colleagues-including Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy-offer expert crime-scene investigation and autopsies to communities that lack local access to competent death investigation and modern technology.
It seems like an ideal situation, until the new battles start-with local politicians, with entrenched interests, with someone whose covert attempts at sabotage are clearly meant to run her out of town. And that's even before the murders and other violent deaths begin.
A young man from a well-known family jumps off a water tower. A woman is found ritualistically murdered in her multi-million-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is discovered dumped in a desolate marsh. Meanwhile, in distant New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.
Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones that face her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names-and the pen may be poised to write her own.
Once again, Patricia Cornwell proves her exceptional ability to entertain and enthrall.
The "book of the dead" is the morgue log, the ledger in which all cases are entered by hand. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to have a new meaning.
Fresh from her bruising battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta decides it's time for a change of pace-not only personally and professionally, but geographically. Moving to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, she opens a unique private forensic pathology practice, one in which she and her colleagues-including Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy-offer expert crime-scene investigation and autopsies to communities that lack local access to competent death investigation and modern technology.
It seems like an ideal situation, until the new battles start-with local politicians, with entrenched interests, with someone whose covert attempts at sabotage are clearly meant to run her out of town. And that's even before the murders and other violent deaths begin.
A young man from a well-known family jumps off a water tower. A woman is found ritualistically murdered in her multi-million-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is discovered dumped in a desolate marsh. Meanwhile, in distant New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.
Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones that face her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names-and the pen may be poised to write her own.
Once again, Patricia Cornwell proves her exceptional ability to entertain and enthrall.
