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readmore's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
nickikendall's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
4.0
I have been an avid reader of the Kay Scarpetta series since it started 22 books ago. I would buy the newest one as soon as it was released and devour it to get my Scarpetta fix. This was back when I mainly stuck to reading only from my select favourite authors and kind of shunned any books being added to my TBR that weren't from my already preferred author list. This self inflicted system of mine, worked for a time until I was up to date on reading everything from my favourites and started looking to try some new authors, needless to say, once I started widening my reading options I soon started piling up newly released books by some of my OG favourites and trying to find time to fit them in to my reading plans. This is why I am sooo far behind now and have only just read this book even though it was published in 2015. Has the series lost its lustre for me after such a long break from it?! In a word...No!! It was like spending some cherished time with old friends that I don't get to see as often as I would like. It's a biggish book but it was very enjoyable. I loved that a previous villain (Carrie Grethen) was back...or was she?! Most of the plot of this book takes place over a 24-hour period when we focus on the legal aspects of what the FBI can and can't do to Lucy based on a tip they've received and an inkling they have about what really happened in the last book in Florida. While we do have a body and an autopsy, Kay isn't doing it herself, and she only comments on what she's seen or heard from others. We're not even certain who killed the woman as it could be a couple of people, but we'll be sure in the next book when the arc concludes.
It was a suspenseful read that delved into how Carrie could pull off such actions from the dive 'accident' in Florida to the copper-mining to the murder of the starlet's daughter in the initial crime that we think is unrelated. My only criticism of this book was that for me, it lacked a lot of the autopsy/medical analysis that I have so enjoyed being so detailed in previous novels, but thats just my personal taste thing and what I have come to expect from a Kay Scarpetta book. That being said, it still kept me guessing and for the last 200 pages, life as I know it was on pause until I finished it. In 2023 I plan to catch back up on the Scarpetta books, I already have them shelved and ready to go! #patriciacornwell #depravedheart #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #amazonaustralia #thriller #kayscarpetta #bookqueen #bookstagram
It was a suspenseful read that delved into how Carrie could pull off such actions from the dive 'accident' in Florida to the copper-mining to the murder of the starlet's daughter in the initial crime that we think is unrelated. My only criticism of this book was that for me, it lacked a lot of the autopsy/medical analysis that I have so enjoyed being so detailed in previous novels, but thats just my personal taste thing and what I have come to expect from a Kay Scarpetta book. That being said, it still kept me guessing and for the last 200 pages, life as I know it was on pause until I finished it. In 2023 I plan to catch back up on the Scarpetta books, I already have them shelved and ready to go! #patriciacornwell #depravedheart #tea_sipping_bookworm #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #amazonaustralia #thriller #kayscarpetta #bookqueen #bookstagram
sunflowerhalo's review against another edition
5.0
Enthralling
I’ve read a few of Patricia Cornwell’s other Scarpetta novels and this one is just as exciting. It’s quite a thriller, it gets your heart pounding. I like how Kay is forced to juggle her personal and professional lives as her family is involved in cover ups and are in danger. I like how Marino is part of their little family and how he’d do anything for Lucy. I like how they describe Carrie as a sociopath and how smart she is but in a way that is always one step ahead. Twisted and crazy but smart.
I’ve read a few of Patricia Cornwell’s other Scarpetta novels and this one is just as exciting. It’s quite a thriller, it gets your heart pounding. I like how Kay is forced to juggle her personal and professional lives as her family is involved in cover ups and are in danger. I like how Marino is part of their little family and how he’d do anything for Lucy. I like how they describe Carrie as a sociopath and how smart she is but in a way that is always one step ahead. Twisted and crazy but smart.
thestarman's review against another edition
~2.33 stars. Not one of the better books in the series. So convoluted as to be unrealistic and eye-rolling at times. Smart characters do lots of dumb things, keep secrets from each other illogically, and it all wraps up suddenly and less than sastisfactorily.
maddievoss's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
woolfardis's review against another edition
3.0
The first thing I want to say about this is that if you've never read any of Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta novels then please do not begin with this one. Start nearer the beginning-number one isn't actually all too bad. The other thing I want to say is that I've definitely up-voted this purely because I like Patricia Cornwell and I still think that her writing is very good and quite hard to beat.
This is a super quick, very fast-paced instalment in the series, and it seems to also be part of a mini-series within the series. The characters have already been fully developed throughout the series so we're not really learning much more here, but I think Kay Scarpetta is still getting a little annoying. I mean, people have tried to kill her before, but it's getting a bit old. The other characters are same-old same-old but still fresh. Like an old friend you see every week is still old. You like them, I like these guys.
There was a severe lack of science, though. Kay didn't even get in to her lab. She just shone her torch everywhere for a bit. That was my biggest gripe with this book. Again, if I hadn't been a fan I would have just left it for dead.
As I said before, it's wonderfully written, but that isn't enough to get around the fact that this book is basically just a filler. It's a bridge between the last book and (hopefully) the culmination of all this Carrie business in the next book. It's a good storyline: I'll say again that I like the writing and I like the characters (soft spot for Benton anyone?) and I'll say again that I've been generous with my rating. It's not perfect-far from it-and it certainly isn't all that great, but for fans it's definitely a must. It's pretty much what you get from all other crime thrillers out there, but with much better understanding of the English language and science.
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This is a super quick, very fast-paced instalment in the series, and it seems to also be part of a mini-series within the series. The characters have already been fully developed throughout the series so we're not really learning much more here, but I think Kay Scarpetta is still getting a little annoying. I mean, people have tried to kill her before, but it's getting a bit old. The other characters are same-old same-old but still fresh. Like an old friend you see every week is still old. You like them, I like these guys.
There was a severe lack of science, though. Kay didn't even get in to her lab. She just shone her torch everywhere for a bit. That was my biggest gripe with this book. Again, if I hadn't been a fan I would have just left it for dead.
As I said before, it's wonderfully written, but that isn't enough to get around the fact that this book is basically just a filler. It's a bridge between the last book and (hopefully) the culmination of all this Carrie business in the next book. It's a good storyline: I'll say again that I like the writing and I like the characters (soft spot for Benton anyone?) and I'll say again that I've been generous with my rating. It's not perfect-far from it-and it certainly isn't all that great, but for fans it's definitely a must. It's pretty much what you get from all other crime thrillers out there, but with much better understanding of the English language and science.
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asolodkin's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. Somehow this book kept me reading even though it was 90% secrets as a plot device. "Suffice it say..." "That's all I'll tell you..." All to then go I to detail later. This book would have been 100 pages if she cut out the useless secrets. Do these people even like each other?
I don't have any interest in reading the next installment but I may check out the goodreads reviews for spoilers.
I don't have any interest in reading the next installment but I may check out the goodreads reviews for spoilers.
kat_pines's review against another edition
3.0
Unsatisfying ending. Lots is suspense with no point where it all came together.
katmarhan's review against another edition
3.0
7/10
I definitely have a case of Scarpetta fatigue, but I will likely keep reading until.
I definitely have a case of Scarpetta fatigue, but I will likely keep reading until