Take a photo of a barcode or cover
elibug's review against another edition
3.0
Decent story, I just got bored. I feel like the main characters inner dialog is grating. I think the same story could have been told in fewer pages.
julesgou's review against another edition
3.0
I have not really enjoyed the Scarpetta novels, so I was most definitely pleasantly surprised with this one. I enjoyed it more than I have enjoyed some of Cornwell's other novels but, there were still some things that I did not enjoy.
My biggest pet peeve of this novel came at the very beginning of this novel. She is at a crime scene and yet she watches the video. She is supposed to be processing the scene, she is supposed to be paying attention to critical information and she is on her phone watching this video. It made me so mad that is was focused on something else. Yes, I understand that it was an important video and that it is a game changer but it still made me so very angry.
And then there was the secrecy. OMG the secrecy. I hated that. I hate the don't worry about it, or that is all I can say right now. Seriously? Just tell her what is going on.
The big twist was interesting as well. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I'm not sure if I love it or I hate it, but I most definitely didn't see it coming, that is for sure. I am kind of confused between the videos and the big reveal, but I'm sure that I will figure it out eventually.
Ok, now a couple of things that I liked about the novel. There is a lot going on. There are moments of the book that are very descriptive, and reflective. However, there are also moments were Kay and Marino are trying to do 5 thousand differently things at once.
The novel is also very suggestive. There are many moments in this novel that lead you to believe something, or make it appear like something is happening and then go in a different directions. Now, I think this is interesting, because it relates to something specific in the novel [I'm not going to tell you what it is because it might spoil somethings].
All in all, this novel was one of the better Scarpetta novels. I enjoyed it and only had a couple problems with it!
My biggest pet peeve of this novel came at the very beginning of this novel. She is at a crime scene and yet she watches the video. She is supposed to be processing the scene, she is supposed to be paying attention to critical information and she is on her phone watching this video. It made me so mad that is was focused on something else. Yes, I understand that it was an important video and that it is a game changer but it still made me so very angry.
And then there was the secrecy. OMG the secrecy. I hated that. I hate the don't worry about it, or that is all I can say right now. Seriously? Just tell her what is going on.
The big twist was interesting as well. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I'm not sure if I love it or I hate it, but I most definitely didn't see it coming, that is for sure. I am kind of confused between the videos and the big reveal, but I'm sure that I will figure it out eventually.
Ok, now a couple of things that I liked about the novel. There is a lot going on. There are moments of the book that are very descriptive, and reflective. However, there are also moments were Kay and Marino are trying to do 5 thousand differently things at once.
The novel is also very suggestive. There are many moments in this novel that lead you to believe something, or make it appear like something is happening and then go in a different directions. Now, I think this is interesting, because it relates to something specific in the novel [I'm not going to tell you what it is because it might spoil somethings].
All in all, this novel was one of the better Scarpetta novels. I enjoyed it and only had a couple problems with it!
debbiesilkserif's review against another edition
3.0
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 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.
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 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.
elzecatreads's review against another edition
2.0
I've read all of Patricia Cornwell's books. My love for Dr. Kay Scarpetta and the other significant players in the Scarpetta series has started to go south. I don't find Kay, Lucy, or even the irreverently politically incorrect Marino to be very interesting or entertaining any more. Nearly all of the events of this book take place in one very long day, with a little too much navel-gazing on Kay's part. Without giving away too much of the plot, I felt like this book had a lot of build up to what could have been a "big reveal" but really went nowhere, and left us still with a "sort-of" mystery. I'm a bit disappointed...but I'll probably read the next Scarpetta story anyway.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
Straddling the fence at 3.5 stars
As Cornwell builds on her highly successful Dr. Kay Scarpetta series, the reader is pulled deep into a psychological thriller that will not let go until the closing chapter. While investigating a mysterious death in Cambridge, Scarpetta is alerted to a message seemingly sent by her niece, Lucy. This message, a link to a surveillance video from almost two decades earlier, shows a vulnerable Lucy with secrets she's told no one, all of which could implicate her in some highly illegal activities. Scarpetta is unsure what to do or whom to tell, and with no ability to pause or save the clips, she becomes engrossed with her phone and forgets the body before her. What begins as a simple curiosity soon becomes the next round of stalking by Scarpetta's long-time nemesis, Carrie Grethen, whose past relationship with Lucy is only the tip of the iceberg. How does this video and the body laying before her tie into an attack Scarpetta faced months earlier while diving? And once the FBI raids Lucy's property, there seems to be nothing that Scarpetta can do to protect her quasi-daughter from a lifetime behind bars. Has Grethen finally found a way to outmanoeuvre Scarpetta and have the last laugh? Will she rise yet again from the ashes and ruin the calm life that Scarpetta has tried to put in place? Cornwell weaves a wonderful story and utilises some of her key characters in this latest instalment, which keeps the reader begging for more.
As with any novel in the Scarpetta series, the reader is presented with wonderful nuances in the medical field, as well as highly detailed technological developments. However, this new approach, an apparent 'call from the grave' collection of videos adds a new and somewhat curious perk to an already jam-packed series. With interesting developments unfolding from their content and the surrounding scene during which they were taken, Cornwell takes the reader back in time to remember key scenes from early novels in the series. While touted as a highly psychological thriller and complete with crumbs of foreboding throughout, I felt the story lagged at times and focussed too much on a slow dénouement while most other novels, whose central focus is the body being examined, seem to zip from A to Z while gaining momentum. However, by the twenty-third instalment, one can expect the need to tackle similar situations with an entirely new approach, leaving Cornwell a little leeway to do so.
Kudos, Madam Cornwell for another great piece of writing. What will you bring us next and how do the crumbs left play into the next thriller?
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
As Cornwell builds on her highly successful Dr. Kay Scarpetta series, the reader is pulled deep into a psychological thriller that will not let go until the closing chapter. While investigating a mysterious death in Cambridge, Scarpetta is alerted to a message seemingly sent by her niece, Lucy. This message, a link to a surveillance video from almost two decades earlier, shows a vulnerable Lucy with secrets she's told no one, all of which could implicate her in some highly illegal activities. Scarpetta is unsure what to do or whom to tell, and with no ability to pause or save the clips, she becomes engrossed with her phone and forgets the body before her. What begins as a simple curiosity soon becomes the next round of stalking by Scarpetta's long-time nemesis, Carrie Grethen, whose past relationship with Lucy is only the tip of the iceberg. How does this video and the body laying before her tie into an attack Scarpetta faced months earlier while diving? And once the FBI raids Lucy's property, there seems to be nothing that Scarpetta can do to protect her quasi-daughter from a lifetime behind bars. Has Grethen finally found a way to outmanoeuvre Scarpetta and have the last laugh? Will she rise yet again from the ashes and ruin the calm life that Scarpetta has tried to put in place? Cornwell weaves a wonderful story and utilises some of her key characters in this latest instalment, which keeps the reader begging for more.
As with any novel in the Scarpetta series, the reader is presented with wonderful nuances in the medical field, as well as highly detailed technological developments. However, this new approach, an apparent 'call from the grave' collection of videos adds a new and somewhat curious perk to an already jam-packed series. With interesting developments unfolding from their content and the surrounding scene during which they were taken, Cornwell takes the reader back in time to remember key scenes from early novels in the series. While touted as a highly psychological thriller and complete with crumbs of foreboding throughout, I felt the story lagged at times and focussed too much on a slow dénouement while most other novels, whose central focus is the body being examined, seem to zip from A to Z while gaining momentum. However, by the twenty-third instalment, one can expect the need to tackle similar situations with an entirely new approach, leaving Cornwell a little leeway to do so.
Kudos, Madam Cornwell for another great piece of writing. What will you bring us next and how do the crumbs left play into the next thriller?
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
andydcaf2d's review against another edition
2.0
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 they kinda solve the case sort of not. Will think twice about getting the next one.
courtneyann's review against another edition
2.0
I used to love Kay Scarpetta, in fact, I might have to go dig out some of the old books just so I can remind myself of how much I loved her. Doing so might actually help me forget the past few monstronsities about her. These books used to be about finding a killer and using science to do so. Now everything about this series is "what is Kay thinking about and how will she get over the horrible things that have happened and will continue to happen to her". THIS FORMULA ISN'T WORKING CORNWELL! And what the heck... why wasn't the ending of the previous book addressed. Something about a shot going off while Scarpetta was sitting in a tropical place outside on the porch of their rented cabin... Am I just imagining that part happened? Or was Kay perhaps imagining since she had just going through some pretty heavy stuff... Maybe some PTSD going on?
Aside from the not working formula and spending too much time in Kay's head versus solving the crimes at hand, the details in these books have become sooo completely unnecessary. We could cut out roughly 30 words per page and you would still have the same story and you wouldn't feel so bogged down by the lack of story. For example, "I stepped into the shade of a dogwood tree." Seriously? Who the eff cares what kind of tree it was, and why does it matter where you are standing? She is having a "psuedo" conversation with Lucy and Marino. And I think we all know what I mean by psuedo since Lucy and Benton can't have real conversations with anyone about what is going on in their lives. That entire sentence was completely unnecessary and doesn't help to move the story forward, nor does it help me visualize anything that I care about in the story either. My reading experience isn't aided by her descriptions. In fact, my experience is quite frankly slowed down by her descriptions.
And on a different note, this book takes place over the course of about 12 hours. Cornwell has written another Scarpette novel in this format and I don't think that one turned out very well either. The lack of setting changes and slow time movement irked me. We are quite literally halfway through this book and we had only had one major scene change.
I'm not sure I can handle another one of these books if they are ALL going to be in this style. Go home Cornwell and please rethink your delivery style and plot. How on earth does this book have a rating of 3.55 on Goodreads?!?
Aside from the not working formula and spending too much time in Kay's head versus solving the crimes at hand, the details in these books have become sooo completely unnecessary. We could cut out roughly 30 words per page and you would still have the same story and you wouldn't feel so bogged down by the lack of story. For example, "I stepped into the shade of a dogwood tree." Seriously? Who the eff cares what kind of tree it was, and why does it matter where you are standing? She is having a "psuedo" conversation with Lucy and Marino. And I think we all know what I mean by psuedo since Lucy and Benton can't have real conversations with anyone about what is going on in their lives. That entire sentence was completely unnecessary and doesn't help to move the story forward, nor does it help me visualize anything that I care about in the story either. My reading experience isn't aided by her descriptions. In fact, my experience is quite frankly slowed down by her descriptions.
And on a different note, this book takes place over the course of about 12 hours. Cornwell has written another Scarpette novel in this format and I don't think that one turned out very well either. The lack of setting changes and slow time movement irked me. We are quite literally halfway through this book and we had only had one major scene change.
I'm not sure I can handle another one of these books if they are ALL going to be in this style. Go home Cornwell and please rethink your delivery style and plot. How on earth does this book have a rating of 3.55 on Goodreads?!?
libwinnie's review against another edition
1.0
So I guess if you've read one Kay Scarpetta novel, you've read them all. Not to mention that the protagonist is so self-righteous and believes herself to be so morally and intellectually superior to everyone else that I found myself unable to find any redeeming qualities in Dr. Scarpetta and, perhaps for the first time, HATING a fictional character.