Scarpetta

Overview

From America's #1 bestselling crime writers comes the extraordinary new Kay Scarpetta novel.

Leaving behind her private forensic pathology practice in Charleston, South Carolina, Kay Scarpetta accepts an assignment in New York City, where the NYPD has asked her to examine an injured man on Bellevue Hospital's psychiatric prison ward. The handcuffed and chained patient, Oscar Bane, has specifically asked for her, and when she literally has her gloved hands on him, he begins to talk--and the story he has to tell turns out to be one of the most bizarre she has ever heard.

The injuries, he says, were sustained in the course of a murder . . . that he did not commit. Is Bane a criminally insane stalker who has fixed on Scarpetta? Or is his paranoid tale true, and it is he who is being spied on, followed and stalked by the actual killer? The one thing Scarpetta knows for certain is that a woman has been tortured and murdered--and more violent deaths will follow. Gradually, an inexplicable and horrifying truth emerges: Whoever is committing the crimes knows where his prey is at all times. Is it a person, a government? And what is the connection between the victims?

In the days that follow, Scarpetta; her forensic psychologist husband, Benton Wesley; and her niece, Lucy, who has recently formed her own forensic computer investigation firm in New York, will undertake a harrowing chase through cyberspace and the all-too-real streets of the city--an odyssey that will take them at once to places they never knew, and much, much too close to home.

Throughout, Cornwell delivers shocking twists and turns, and the kind of cutting-edge technology that only she can provide. Once again, she proves her exceptional ability to entertain and enthrall.

Editorial Reviews

Editorial Reviews for this product are not available at this time.

Author Information

Bio of Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell is an award-winning novelist whose books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Cornwell was born in Florida in 1956. When she was nine years old, her mother tried to give her and her two brothers to evangelist Billy Graham and his wife to care for. For a while the children lived with missionaries since their mother was unable to care for them. Cornwell was a police reporter for The Charlotte Observer and worked in the chief medical examiner's office in Richmond, Virginia, for six years as a computer analyst. She also volunteered to ride with the police during homicide investigations. While working for the medical examiner, she began to write novels. Although the award-winning novel Postmortem was initially rejected by seven different publishers, once it was published it became the only novel ever to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards, and the French Prix du Roman d'Adventure, in one year. She is also the only woman in the United States to receive England's most prestigious crime-writing award, the Gold Dagger. Cornwell's novels are both national and international bestsellers. They have been translated into several foreign languages. Some of her novels are Body of Evidence, All That Remains, Cruel & Unusual, The Body Farm, From Potter's Field, Unnatural Exposure, Hornet's Nest, and A Time for Remembering, a biography of Ruth Bell Graham, the wife of Billy Graham.

Customer Reviews

• Back to the old Patricia Cornwell

  Posted December 28, 2008 by MysteryFan, Miami

  Finally, another Patricia Cornwell book that takes the plot all the way to the end without rushing. This was a page-turner that I couldn't put down and reminded me of the way she used to write - with vivid descriptions, intertwined characters, and a well-developed plot. My faith has been restored.

• A real disappointment

  Posted January 01, 2009 by Barbara, San Antonio

  I have long been a fan of Patricia Cornwell, but this book was enough to change my mind. It jumped around so much it was hard to keep track of which characters she was talking about. I had to force myself to keep reading. There really wasn't much of a clearly defined plot. It seemed that she spent most of the book developing the attraction between Lucy and Berger.

• Awful!

  Posted January 23, 2009 by roadtrip, San Bernardino

  Not only her worst book, the worst book I've ever purchased! Font types!!!! Save the money.

• Scarpetta

  Posted February 13, 2009 by Dolores King, Murphysboro

  Another great Mystery--Can't wait for the next book. This one was out standing.

• Page turner, hard to put down.

  Posted March 01, 2009 by Donna Davis, Arlington, TX

  I think this was one of the best yet.

• Color me disappointed !

  Posted March 26, 2009 by Gabrielle, Seattle

  I was excited to read this book. I was very disappointed by the time I got thru the first 50 pages but continued on thinking that it had to get better. It didn't. The way Cornwell handled the reunion between Scarpetta and Marino was unrealistic. It was almost as if the incident between them had never happened. I was appalled to find out that Benton had been helping Marino and in touch with him all this time behind Kays back - but Kay didn't seem to care. WEIRD.. No one would have reacted to any of this in the real world like the characters did in this book. I expected more from this author. The story jumps all over the place and the characters are not believable. The ending felt rushed to me - almost like the author was tired of the story also and felt like she had to end it in a hurry after dragging everything on for so long.....

• The Queen Has Fallen

  Posted April 21, 2009 by Howard, Minneapolis

  Although I have never been a Cornwall groupie, I have enjoyed most of what she has written and I certainly consider her a highly competent writer. Or at least I did up until I read this mishmash. The plot is ridiculous, the characters have evolved in caricatures and I will finish the book only because that is what I do. This amateurish piece of garbage will prevent me from reading another of her books again. Goodbye fallen Queen.

• Took way too long

  Posted October 07, 2009 by Bobber, Crystal Lake

  I read and read and read to finally reach the predictable ending. The relationship between Marino and Scarpetta was handled terribly. Major rambling.

• Not her best but still Scarpetta

  Posted October 09, 2009 by Diane, Montreal,Canada

  I'm a big fan and I was waiting to see in what direction she would take the people in her entourage now the stage is set for her next book which is for this October

Additional Info

Imprint

Putnam Adult

Filesize

1.93 MB

Number of Pages

512

eBook ISBN

9781440654480