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Book Review of The Scarpetta Factor (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 17)

The Scarpetta Factor (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 17)
barbsis avatar reviewed on + 1076 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3


Since Kay Scarpetta left the Virginia Medical Examiner's Office, she has changed and not for the better. Her integrity and honesty was her claim to fame. Now she's on CNN (like Dr. Phil for pete's sake) getting railroaded by the host, having words put in her mouth and feloniously misquoted.

This book centers around a high-society missing person case, a murdered jogger, an old nemesis of Bentons AND an old nemesis of Scarpetta's. There is a lot going on and in between the many investigations - which Kay, Benton, Marino, Lucy and Jamie are all involved in - the relationship between Benton and Marino (never good to start with) has totally deteriorated and the animosity between them really interrupts the storyline. I found myself saying "enough already" and thinking Benton needed to get past his issues with Marino or someone needed to just move on.

If it wasn't Benton and Marino, it was Lucy and Jamie. Something was bothering Lucy throughout the entire book and Jamie (her lover) was oblivious or just ignoring the situation. On a good day Lucy is a brilliant but troubled individual but she was totally out of control.

I enjoyed the various mysteries and how they tied together but all the other BS was annoying and distracting.