Helpful Score: 4
I haven't enjoyed Cornweill's Kay Scarpetta books as well since she began freelancing. I never got excited about this one,"disconnected."
If you are diehard Cornwell fan you will like it.
If you are diehard Cornwell fan you will like it.
Helpful Score: 4
This was better than I expected (I'd read some bad reviews), but not nearly as good as earlier Scarpetta works. In some places it felt very forced, to be honest. It's worth reading to keep up with the series if you're a fan. If you're not a huge fan though, it probably wouldn't be worth your time.
Helpful Score: 3
This one tends to drag on but a must read if you like to keep up with Kay, Benton, Lucy and Marino. A very interesting look into the mind of a serial killer.
Helpful Score: 3
I have read other books by this author, and while not great literature, they've been engrossing and a quick read. I found this one over-stuffed with characters, confusing and just a complete jumble. I kept reading hoping things would all tie together, but it just didn't deliver. I felt as if the ending was rushed because a deadline was looming large. Can't recommend this one.
Helpful Score: 3
Another well written Scarpetta mystery that manages to ask many questions and leaves some of the answers for the next book.
Helpful Score: 3
Patricia Cornwell is getting a bid grim and gory for my taste.
Helpful Score: 2
Pretty good book. Not as good as the others but def. worth the read. Scarpetta still has it!
Helpful Score: 2
This book was OK, but it did drag some in parts, at least it did for me. It didn't keep me up late at night to turn the next page. There could have been more meat to the book, but it just sort of dropped off where you thought it might get interesting.
Helpful Score: 2
I wanted to love this book. I've always enjoyed the stories of Kay Scarpetta, Marino, Benton Wesley, and Lucy. Even the premise of PREDATOR intrigued me-- Benton is heading a new program where he studies the brains of volunteer test subjects, mostly convicted felons of heinous crimes. He hopes to find a scientific and physical reason for why people do the things they do, and sets out to find if the molecular make-up or abnormalities of the brain cause people to commit vicious crimes against each other. Sounds good, right?
It could have been a great story. There's a plot, of course, where people are dying, strange events are taking place with related murders that seem random, and where an inmate might hold the key to solving the deaths.
The problem is I wanted to shoot almost each and every character that I've grown to love over the years. Benton Wesley is his same, staid self, and I don't have too many complaints about his behavior in PREDATOR. After all, the guy is back from the dead, and I'm happy about that. Kay Scarpetta, on the other hand, has turned into an alternately brooding/bi**y whiner. Marino is a bad-boy-wannabe who now talks in monosyllables such as "mmm" and "mmm-hmm". And Lucy. Sigh. What the HECK has happened to Lucy? As if it wasn't bad enough that in Cornwell's last book, TRACE, Lucy was involved with a psycho-woman, in PREDATOR she's doing all the stupid things she did last time, except this time her involvement with a physcho-woman might get her killed.
What has happened to my favorite characters? I was eagerly anticipating the release of PREDATOR, only to be so let down that I've decided to wait and rent each new Patricia Cornwell release from the library.
I gave the book three stars for the basic plot, which was interesting. If I had to rate the behavior of the characters, it would be in the negatives.
It could have been a great story. There's a plot, of course, where people are dying, strange events are taking place with related murders that seem random, and where an inmate might hold the key to solving the deaths.
The problem is I wanted to shoot almost each and every character that I've grown to love over the years. Benton Wesley is his same, staid self, and I don't have too many complaints about his behavior in PREDATOR. After all, the guy is back from the dead, and I'm happy about that. Kay Scarpetta, on the other hand, has turned into an alternately brooding/bi**y whiner. Marino is a bad-boy-wannabe who now talks in monosyllables such as "mmm" and "mmm-hmm". And Lucy. Sigh. What the HECK has happened to Lucy? As if it wasn't bad enough that in Cornwell's last book, TRACE, Lucy was involved with a psycho-woman, in PREDATOR she's doing all the stupid things she did last time, except this time her involvement with a physcho-woman might get her killed.
What has happened to my favorite characters? I was eagerly anticipating the release of PREDATOR, only to be so let down that I've decided to wait and rent each new Patricia Cornwell release from the library.
I gave the book three stars for the basic plot, which was interesting. If I had to rate the behavior of the characters, it would be in the negatives.
Helpful Score: 2
-(#14 of the Kay Scarpetta Series)-I am scratching my head wondering why the reviews for this book in Amazon.com are terrible. I thought this was a pretty good book. The characters have new issues to deal with. Marino has become a biker. He works out, wears leather and drives a Harley. Lucy has a tumor on her pituitary gland. She is always on the brink of self destruction and its hard to figure out why. Kay and Benton are together but their relationship is strained because he knew about Lucys tumor before she did. There are several investigations going on at the same time. Come to find out at the end, they are all related. And there is one killer. A woman. She is a beautiful woman but was sexually and physically abused as a child. This causes her to become psychotic with a disorder called DID. This is similar to split personalities. Cornwell, is getting a little repetitive with her story lines. Again, a member of her staff, a undesirable, is linked to the murder. He is involved with one of the personalities and is feeding the killer info about Kay, Lucy and Marino. There is definitely surprise and suspense in this book. A new word I learned red herring. Definitely one in here. Something that draws attention away from the central issue. I enjoyed this book and I like the new path Cornwell has taken the characters on. I just hope she doesnt run out of ideas.
Helpful Score: 2
Pedator is the terrifying new Dr. Kay Scarpette novel from America's number-one-bestselling crime writer. Scarpetta, now feelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, digs into a care more bizarre than any she has ever faced, one that has produced not only unusual physical evidence, but also tantalizing clues about the inner workings of an extremely cunning and criminal mind. She and her team--Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and her niece Lucy--track the odd connections between several horrific crimes and the people who are the likely suspects.
Helpful Score: 1
I love the Scarpetta series. This was a great read.
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't find this one quite up to her usual standard. story meandered and then the ending was rushed.
Helpful Score: 1
If you like Patricia Cornewell and Kay Scarpetta you'll love this one!
Helpful Score: 1
Forensic expertise tracking horrific psycopaths
Helpful Score: 1
This is a very book like all of hers. I have never been bored reading Cornwell.
Helpful Score: 1
AWESOME 14th book in Kay Scarpetta series!!
Helpful Score: 1
page turner!
Helpful Score: 1
This is an excellent installation in the Kay Scarpetta series! One of the most complicated killers that she has ever tracked.
Helpful Score: 1
Another fantastic Kay Scarpetta novel. Creepy characters, fast-paced action, keep-you-guessing plot. A little dark, but this one has it all.
Great read as always!
Helpful Score: 1
A good Cornwell thriller
Helpful Score: 1
As with all her novels, Patricia Cornwell doesn't go wrong.. The story is captivating from page 1.. Hard to put down!!! Leave time for reading when opening this book!!! 5 stars!!
Helpful Score: 1
Investigating the disappearance of 2 sisters in florida, Dr. Scarpetta follows clues the twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killers mind...
Great twist at the end! Well written Cornwell classic.
Great twist at the end! Well written Cornwell classic.
Helpful Score: 1
Cornwell does a great job with most of her books. This is a great read if
you have been following her characters, Scarpetta and her niece.
you have been following her characters, Scarpetta and her niece.
Helpful Score: 1
Like many of the reviewers I've read here, I'm a big fan of the Scarpetta novels. I found some of the later KS books to be more action/thriller-like than mystery-like. Predator has a different tone, the story is told from a broader perspective, vs. the KS-centered earlier novels; the shifting perspectives of the narrative were interesting to me, and kept me guessing. The book does have some pretty violent/gruesome themes, but there was some interesting psychological play - as in, the story plays some games on the reader, and packs some surprises.
Helpful Score: 1
If you've read any of the other Scarpetta series, you must read this one too. My goal is to read all the Kay Scarpetta series because they are all really that good!
Helpful Score: 1
Another great book by Cornwell.
The characters of Lucy, Pete and Scarpetta definitely have grown together after being on the same ravaged psychological road.
After I finish it...will very likely relist it so someone else can enjoy it!
The characters of Lucy, Pete and Scarpetta definitely have grown together after being on the same ravaged psychological road.
After I finish it...will very likely relist it so someone else can enjoy it!
I love Cornwell's books, but found this a little hard to follow. The ending makes up for it, though.
This book was good but it was kind of convuluted. It took sometime to take off (meaning capturing my attention) but I thought it was good.
Interesting story
I grow weary of Patricia...
Great book, it really kept my interest and kept me guessing until the very end.
not the best that Patricia Cornwell has written......
Excellent story. I couldn't put the book down because I had to find out what happens, it keeps you thinking and intrigued.
Typical Cornwell. Awesome reading.
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind. The twist at the end will leave you breathless!
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind. Suspensful.
Two sisters disappear in Florida. Dr. Scarpetta follows the clues that twist and turn, leading to a psychopathic jailed killer.
Once again Kay, Marino, Lucy and Benton overcome conflicts with each other to solve a truly weird set of murders.
This was a good book, very suspenseful you don't know what happens untill the end.
another great cornwell
I am beginning to think Cornwall has run this series to the limit. The plot was disjointed; it came together in an improbable series of coincidences and the characters have become so strange (Lucy, Marino) that it's hard to care about them anymore. Cornwall assumes her readers by now are familiar with medical jargon (or at least have a medical dictionary at hand) to advance the plot. Still, I can see where true fans will like the story.
A pretty good read but a confusing ending
Kinda hard to follow- not her best but still a good story.
If you like Patricia Cornwell, you should enjoy this one.
Lucy gets weird in this one.
Another Kay Scarpetta, Medical Examiner, mystery that takes place in Florida.
Typical Cornwell, twists and turns, relief at the end. Better than Zantac!
PREDATOR
Scarpetta, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, digs into a case more bizarre than any she has ever faced, one that has produced not only unusual physical evidence, but also tantalizing clues about the inner workings of an extremely cunning and criminal mind.
She and her team-Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and her niece, Lucy-track the odd connections between several horrific crimes and the people who are the likely suspects. As one psychopath, safety behind bars and the subject of a classified scientific study at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital, teases Scarpetta with tips that could be fact-or fantasy-the number of killers on the loose seems to multiply. Are these events related or merely random? And what can the study of one man's brain tell them about the methods of a psychopath still lurking in the shadows?
Scarpetta, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, digs into a case more bizarre than any she has ever faced, one that has produced not only unusual physical evidence, but also tantalizing clues about the inner workings of an extremely cunning and criminal mind.
She and her team-Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and her niece, Lucy-track the odd connections between several horrific crimes and the people who are the likely suspects. As one psychopath, safety behind bars and the subject of a classified scientific study at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital, teases Scarpetta with tips that could be fact-or fantasy-the number of killers on the loose seems to multiply. Are these events related or merely random? And what can the study of one man's brain tell them about the methods of a psychopath still lurking in the shadows?
This overplotted and cumbersome story of a Scarpetta's search for a serial killer relies entirely too heavily on the reader's familiarity with multiple characters from past novels in the series, and ultimately collapses under its own weight. There's an interesting twist at the end, but there are also major plot noodles left dangling.
I REALLY enjoy Patricia Cornwell's books. It makes me feel like I am right beside her all the way. This one tho was not my favorite. No special reason just could not get into it like her other ones. I sure will not stop me from reading her other books tho.
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into a psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind...
Totally agree with GeniusJen's review! I, too, have been a long time KS fan. I hate the direction Cornwell has taken Marino and Lucy. Haven't read another Cornwell book since this one.
Kay Scarpeta and her team do a great job of solving another bunch of crimes, but not before a lot of blood. There is a lot of detail and cool info. Another scary read.
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind... a real page turner.
Dr Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind...
Suspenseful
Suspenseful
Scarpetta investigates the disappearance of 2 sisters. Jailed psychotic seriel killer manipulates authorities. Not her best, but anything by Cornwell is good.
Very good, hard to put down
I enjoy this author and found this one to be in her top 5 best.
Pretty good reading!
Interesting all the way.
Current in the Kay Scarpetta series.
good read--lasted several days
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind.
Not her best, but pretty good. All the usual suspects (Scarpetta, Lucy, Marino, Benton) are here and in good form. I love the new (healthy!) Marino...and Lucy is always awesome.
Kay Scarpetta strikes again and wonderfully done!
Terrific
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind.
Another great Cornwell book
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Florida, Dr. Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychopathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind.
Investigating the disappearance of two sisters in Floride, Dr Kay Scarpetta follows clues that twist and turn, leading her into the psychpathic depths of a jailed serial killer's mind. Another thriller about Kay Scarpetta written by Patrica Cornwell.
Dr Kay Scarpetta solving another great mysterious death. Similiar to most Patricia Cornwell novels but with a twist. Read it and find out. This murderer is right under her nose.
This is not one of her better books, too many characters.
This book was sensational! It kept you wondering just how many people were actually involved!
Really enjoyed this novel. Great reading.
Another Kay Scarpetta series book. Interesting material if not a bit disturbing in the end.
I love this character. Book weaves a lot of connections.
this was a good book.
This is one of the better books in the Scarpetta series.
Love Scarpetta as usual; but for some reason this one was a slower read and didn't hold my attentiuon as her others. Hope you enjoy it.
I must have missed a book somewhere in the Scarpetta series... suddenly everyone is working at Lucy's forensic academy and Marino has a totally different physical description and personality. It felt very disjointed
Pretty good but somewhat confusing in places.
I have read all the Kay Scarpetta books and love them. This one is no different.
Another Scarpetta mystery. Book was a little scattered but still very good.
MUCH better offering that her last two books! I really enjoyed this one.
Latest in Scarpetta Series - full of surprises. In like new condition.
The latest in the Scarpetta series, the most exciting plot twists to date from Cornwell.
This book is one of the better Kay Scarpetta books, if you have read all of the previous ones. It is a great page turner, and has some real in depth characater work. However, if you have not read the previous books, a lot of the subplots including Benton, Kay, Lucy and Marino will be missed. An excellent and fast read!
this is another kay scarpetta/and her niece lucy novel. the newest one out...good reading
This book seemed a bit more negative than her other books. Kinda depressing all the way through. It was good however to see the characters again. Nice plot.
I liked it!
Not one of her best efforts.
This is one of the best Scarpetta stories yet!
Having read all of the Scarpetta novels, I found this one took a bit of time to get into. The first 100 or so pages are unconnected to each other, but after that, the plot takes off and the threads are connected. Not as much of a thriller as previous books.
dissapointing, too much anger directed at co-workers. Distracted from the story line, not her best effort
Thought it was better than her last few. I would love something like some of the first few though.
Good Scarpetta mystery!
Another great Kay Scarpetta Mystery by Cornwell!!!
All the favorite Kay Scarpetta characters are back, tracking odd connections between numerous murders. Are the crimes related? Can a psychopath behind bars be providing tips that are real? Can studying his brain help the crew solve horrific crimes? Good read.
I enjoy Cornwell always, but this lacked a little something
still enjoyable but not up to par for her.
still enjoyable but not up to par for her.
Where is the story? It never seemed to get going. I continue to be disappointed by Cornwell.
Excellent book as always by Patricia Cornwell.
Brand New
I thought that this was by far the worst book in the Kay Scarpetta series. Some parts of the plot don't make sense and others should have been left out entirely. I almost stopped reading, but kept going since I thought it would get better based on previous reviews.
Good Read
I actually read some bad reviews on this book, but I enjoyed it as much as her others. I had a hard time putting it down. Somewhat on the dark side, but the story kept moving.
Another great Scarpetta novel!
Sorry to say, this is not Cornwell's best work. Not even mediocre. It jumps around between characters far more than is typical of this series, and is very hard to follow. I was disappointed.
An old and well-known predator teases Kay Scarpetta from behind bars.
I found this book confusing with too much going on.
gave this book to my daughter she has the set of this series she said it was a great book
Not loving the newer endings like the older books.
Best Cornwell I've read in quite a while.
as usual with all of the kay scarpetta series books, this one was great. can't wait to read the next one. Patricia Cornwell is one of my most favorite writers.
Great writer!!!
excellent
This wasn't my favorite Scarpetta novel but it is still worth the read. Marino, Kay, Benton and Lucy are like old friends that I haven't heard from in awhile. When a new novel is released, I can't wait to catch up with them. My mental image of Marino was changed in this one. He's working out! I always picture him a dishelved mess!
Dr. Kay Scarpetta, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, takes charge of a case that stretches from steamy Florida to snowboundBoston, one as unnerving as any she has ever faced. The teasing psychological clues lead Scarpetta and her team-Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and Lucy Farinelli-to suspect that they are hunting someone with a cunning and malevolent mind whose secrets have kept them in the shadows, until now. Predator is proof once again that Patricia Cornwell has few peers with her extraordinary ability to entertain and enthrall.
Predator is the terrifying new Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel from America's number-one-bestselling crime writer.
Predator is the terrifying new Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel from America's number-one-bestselling crime writer.
This Scarpetta mystery was rather a weird one. It kept me guessing.
Scarpetta, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy, digs into a case more bizarre than any she has ever faced, one that has producted not only unusual physical evidence, but also tantalizing clues about the inner workings of an extremely cunning and criminial mind.
Slow, not one of her best works. Nothing like her previous Kay Scarpetta books
usual good cornwell novel
A thriller/mystery starring Dr. Kay Scarpetta, investigating a crimnal mind.
Kay Scarpetta does it again--from one of my favorite authors!
Another great Kay Scarpetta book. Some surprises with Lucy, so you know it will continue with her next book. Fast paced and as usual some real twist in the end.
If you are a Patricia Cornwell fan - then this is another good book by her. Perhaps not one of her best but still a good read!
Latest Kay Scarpetta adventure as she adjusts to a new life in Florida with a new job and employees who are not who they seem to be.
Cornwell travelling in the realm of Hannibal in her grand style. Gripping and exciting!
I have never read a novel by Patricia Cornwell that I did not love...this one remained true to my other reads!
Another great one by cornwell. Enjoyed alot. Alittle slow to begin...but speeds up and races towards the end.
Cornwell always writes an interesting book.
Dot
Dot
Great case/mystery but I'm unhappy and confused as to where she is going with her lead characters.
not the best that she has written, but worth swapping for a book you have read.
I love her books but the last few books are written in the first person and I don't like that.
Another thrilling and suspenseful kay scarpetta novel!
I don't read a whole lot of Patricia Cornwell, but the few of the Scarpetta series that I have read have been completely awesome books. I'm very much in to the whole CSI thing, and Cornwell is very meticulous with her details in her stories. This particular book was really good. Though not for the faint of heart, if you enjoy fast paced, gory, white knuckle crime stories, this is an excellent choice. All in all a great book.
I have read the entire Scarpetta series and have loved them all. This one is no exception.
It was a good book, Steady and predictable.
Creepy good!
I did not enjoy this Scarpetta book as much as I have others. Yet, it was still a great Cornwell.
Great Book!
Part of the Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner of VA, series. Several of the CSI episodes on TV are based on this series. I say, start at the beginning... check patriciacornwell.com for a list of all the books in the series.
Another great Cornwell read!!
I have always enjoyed the Kay Scarpetta series books by Cornwell, but this book was a exception. I had to force myself to finish it..was a very..very.. slow read. I had the feeling after finishing this book it could have been a blockbuster hit had someone edited it and rearranged the way it was written and inserted in many areas. Definately not as good as her previous books and was very disappointed in it.
A slightly disjointed book. Tales of kidnapping, torure and murder, against a background of research. She needs to put back the forensic tid-bits that made her books interesting. The good Dr. is becoming a detective instead of an ME..
I love Cornwall and Scarpetta.
GREAT READ,READ IT IN A DAY AND HALF,LOVE THIS AUTHOR!!
Not one of her best. I couldn't even finish it.
This book has a great plot and a lot of work to solve the crime. As usual Patricia Cornwell did a excellent job with the storyline.
the book had many stories simultaneously and I found I would loose the gist of the various parts if I set the book down for very long. Even though it was a very interesting read
Love the Dr. Kay Scarpetta books.
some chapters great, some what was she smoking, not well tied together
This book changed my life.
Book 14: Dr. KAY SCARPETTA Mysteries Series
