Great, fast read.

Seriously her worst book ever. Why do I keep reading her stuff? How many frigging books can she write about Carrie Gretchen? Kill her already and move on to a new story. This was almost entirely a read of listening to Scarpetta's internal, neurotic monologue. I cannot stand any of the characters anymore. Her stories used to be so good.

I'm not really sure how to rate Depraved Heart. As a follow up to Flesh and Blood, it fails spectacularly to resolve the freakin' SNAP cliffhanger. Who does that? Why would you... I... words fail me, honestly.

I spent the first fourth of the book, maybe even the first third, waiting for a resolution to that SNAP, btw, and it never happened.

Okay. That aside, and it really is a big thing that bothered me, Depraved Heart is a weird book. If you primarily enjoy Kay working a crime scene and a body and finding out the story behind the crime, well, you're SOL. Sorry. We spend an awful lot of time in Kay's mind and it's clear that her brush with Carrie and that whole getting shot thing (but not the blasted SNAP) has seriously rattled the woman. She's a little bit paranoid but that's one of the things that actually rings true about this story. When someone is capable of the crimes Carrie is, you have every right to be jumping out of your skin, waiting for them to strike.

Unfortunately, this is a bit tedious to read about when it's coupled with conversations that involve a whole lot of reading between the lines for every character. The later Scarpetta books would be a hell of a lot shorter if people would just say what they mean instead of dancing around everything. It's exhausting to read about and Kay is clearly feeling the strain as well.

But for all the conversations that take forever to go anywhere, I would read chapters at a time quite happily before realizing that my ultimate question was never going to be answered and that most of the book is spent setting up another book. Possibly. Maybe.

If you like your villains apprehended or any real closure offered, Depraved Heart isn't the book for you. Wait for the next book to come out and then maybe read them together. As it is, it's definitely not a stand alone.

I used to love the Scarpetta books but I just can’t finish this one. The premise of the super secret telephone line being hijacked to send her incriminating videos that she then won’t tell anyone about is crazy and doesn’t make sense. Then the announcement that Lucy shouldn’t call her Aunt Kay any longer — was the day that the FBI is raiding Lucy’s home the time for that announcement? Why is it even necessary? And what is with the way Kay and Lucy are dancing around one another and all but pointing fingers at each other from the time that Kay arrives until the attorney talks with them in the boathouse? I think that the books worked as long as Kay was solving a murder through evidence gathering and autopsy but making her the prey of a psychopathic stalker is just too much and clearly a sign that the series has jumped the shark.

I have no idea what actually happened in this book. Kay blathered a lot and a trio purposefully endangers Kay without ever informing her until the last few chapters. Everything occurs within less than 24 hours.

So, a typical entry for these later books but it takes the prize for the most convoluted story of the series with unclear timelines and dubious machinations. I grasp the concept that Lucy has finally met her match in the IT department. How will Kay and her team operate when Lucy--always their main advantage--has been taken off the board. Kay, however, has little purpose in this novel other than to be a pawn and the narrator. Her big moment at the end could have easily been completed by Benton. Remove Kay and, like Raiders without Indiana Jones*, the plot wouldn't be affected.

I have never liked Carrie. Can't wait until she's gone.

*It pains me to admit that.

terrible. last one I'm reading

As always, so much story coming from the past but being uncovered later. It is remarkable how Ms. Cornwell can weave bits and pieces of the past into each new story.