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Kay Scarpetta #14
Predator
Scarpetta, now freelancing with the National Forensic Academy in Florida, digs into a case more bizarre than any she has ever faced, one that has produced not only unusual physical evidence, but also tantalizing clues about the inner workings of an extremely cunning and criminal mind.
She and her team --- Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and her niece, Lucy --- track the odd connections between several horrific crimes and the people who are the likely suspects. As one psychopath, safely behind bars and the subject of a classified scientific study at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital, teases Scarpetta with tips that could be fact --- or fantasy --- the number of killers on the loose seems to multiply. Are these events related or merely random? And what can the study of one man's brain tell them about the methods of a psychopath still lurking in the shadows?
She and her team --- Pete Marino, Benton Wesley, and her niece, Lucy --- track the odd connections between several horrific crimes and the people who are the likely suspects. As one psychopath, safely behind bars and the subject of a classified scientific study at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital, teases Scarpetta with tips that could be fact --- or fantasy --- the number of killers on the loose seems to multiply. Are these events related or merely random? And what can the study of one man's brain tell them about the methods of a psychopath still lurking in the shadows?
453 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 25, 2005
1447 people are currently reading
12433 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Cornwell
187 books19.5k followersPatricia Cornwell sold her first novel, Postmortem, in 1990 while working as a computer analyst at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. Postmortem, was the first bona fide forensic thriller. It paved the way for an explosion of entertainment featuring in all things forensic across film, television and literature.
Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cor...
https://twitter.com/1pcornwell
https://instagram.com/1pcornwell/
Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
Postmortem would go on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventure prize – the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. To date, Cornwell’s books have sold some 100 million copies in thirty-six languages in over 120 countries. She’s authored twenty-nine New York Times bestsellers.
Patricia’s novels center primarily on medical examiner Kay Scarpetta along with her tech-savvy niece Lucy and fellow investigator Pete Marino. Celebrating 25 years, these characters have grown into an international phenomenon, winning Cornwell the Sherlock Award for best detective created by an American author, the Gold Dagger Award, the RBA Thriller Award, and the Medal of Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters for her contributions to literary and artistic development.
Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen.
After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer.
Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.
When not writing from her Boston home, Patricia tirelessly researches cutting-edge forensic technologies to include in her work. Her interests span outside the literary: Patricia co-founded of the Conservation Scientist Chair at the Harvard University Art Museums. She appears as a forensic consultant on CNN and serves as a member of Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital’s National Council, where she advocates for psychiatric research. She’s helped fund the ICU at Cornell’s Animal Hospital, the scientific study of a Confederate submarine, the archaeological excavation of Jamestown, and a variety of law enforcement charities. Patricia is also committed to
funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.”
Social and Digital Outlets
http://www.patriciacornwell.com
https://www.facebook.com/patricia.cor...
https://twitter.com/1pcornwell
https://instagram.com/1pcornwell/
Other areas of expertise & interests
Forensics | Forensic Technologies | Ballistics | Weapons | Explosives | Pathology & Autopsies | Crime | Historical and Unsolved Criminal Cases | Jack The Ripper | Helicopter Piloting | Suba Diving | Archaeological Excavation Experience |
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,327 reviews
April 29, 2023
Book Review
3.499999 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5 stars to Predator, the 14th book in the thriller and suspense mystery "Kay Scarpetta" series, published in 2005 by Patricia Cornwell. With so many books in a series, all about crazed serial killers, each successive one needs to do a lot to step it up. I thought this one would do it, as the book focused on multiple killers and tries to understand patterns using brain research. And parts of it were great. But parts of it were too difficult to follow or understand, went off course, had character traits getting more and more annoying... so it fell in the middle of the series for me. I pushed it higher than a 3 only because of how much effort you can tell the author puts into the books, and she should be rewarded for it, as people don't realize how everything does line up from a technical and scientific perspective -- for the most part. It's one of those series you need to take a break from for a few years, to try new stuff. Then go back. With this one, it's very analytic from a psychology and thought-pattern perspective, less from a tracking movements of the killer's actions. Good, but not fantastic.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
3.499999 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5 stars to Predator, the 14th book in the thriller and suspense mystery "Kay Scarpetta" series, published in 2005 by Patricia Cornwell. With so many books in a series, all about crazed serial killers, each successive one needs to do a lot to step it up. I thought this one would do it, as the book focused on multiple killers and tries to understand patterns using brain research. And parts of it were great. But parts of it were too difficult to follow or understand, went off course, had character traits getting more and more annoying... so it fell in the middle of the series for me. I pushed it higher than a 3 only because of how much effort you can tell the author puts into the books, and she should be rewarded for it, as people don't realize how everything does line up from a technical and scientific perspective -- for the most part. It's one of those series you need to take a break from for a few years, to try new stuff. Then go back. With this one, it's very analytic from a psychology and thought-pattern perspective, less from a tracking movements of the killer's actions. Good, but not fantastic.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by.
August 27, 2007
I've read every single one of Cornwell's K. Scarpetta series, and they've gotten progressively worse. I used to love these books, they were so GOOD, but now it's like she's just writing anything to get another book out there. Sad, b/c these really were some of my favorites back when she first started writing them. I don't even know if I can bear to read another one, the characters have gotten so bitter and unpleasant.
May 3, 2008
Okay - this was the worst Scarpetta book. I wanted to like it but it seems all the characters have become annoying caricatures. And in addition to that, the story was incredibly confusing. We have an evil criminal called HOG - The Hand of God, suicides that were actually murders, a scientific study Benton is running on the brains of serial killers, problems at the forensic center in FL.... Which is tied up in the end, but not in a satisfying way.
And my biggest gripe = Scarpetta is attacked (not a surprise - happens a lot) and then we jump to a new chapter where she and Benton are driving along as if no big deal. Then we go quite a ways more in the book, before Cornwell sums up the attack in a sentence. Huh?????
The book left a bad taste in my mouth
And my biggest gripe = Scarpetta is attacked (not a surprise - happens a lot) and then we jump to a new chapter where she and Benton are driving along as if no big deal. Then we go quite a ways more in the book, before Cornwell sums up the attack in a sentence. Huh?????
The book left a bad taste in my mouth
May 16, 2020
First Read: April 2006
Re-read: January 2018
The plot: Predator is made up of several storylines that at first seem unconnected.
- Benton is working on a new project, codenamed PREDATOR that is assessing a killer named Basil. While Benton is interviewing him, Basil confesses to another murder that he says he was never caught for; the murder of a woman in her Christmas themed shop.
- Lucy is dealing with problems of her own and she meets a mysterious woman named Stevie, who has mysterious red handprints drawn or tattooed onto her body.
- Meanwhile Scarpetta is dealing with a murder victim; a woman has been found with red handprints on her body and she must investigate the crime.
- Marino is also having issues; he has received a threatening phone call from someone who called themselves HOG or Hand of God. He strongly suspects one of his work colleagues of somehow hacking into his private work files but cannot prove it. He is also seeing a therapist of his own, a woman named Dr Self.
I found Predator to be very fast paced as each chapter switched view points to different characters but the story was slow to put all the pieces together. I am still enjoying this series and looking forward to re-reading The Book of the Dead and Scarpetta but each book published after that will be new to me.
Re-read: January 2018
The plot: Predator is made up of several storylines that at first seem unconnected.
- Benton is working on a new project, codenamed PREDATOR that is assessing a killer named Basil. While Benton is interviewing him, Basil confesses to another murder that he says he was never caught for; the murder of a woman in her Christmas themed shop.
- Lucy is dealing with problems of her own and she meets a mysterious woman named Stevie, who has mysterious red handprints drawn or tattooed onto her body.
- Meanwhile Scarpetta is dealing with a murder victim; a woman has been found with red handprints on her body and she must investigate the crime.
- Marino is also having issues; he has received a threatening phone call from someone who called themselves HOG or Hand of God. He strongly suspects one of his work colleagues of somehow hacking into his private work files but cannot prove it. He is also seeing a therapist of his own, a woman named Dr Self.
I found Predator to be very fast paced as each chapter switched view points to different characters but the story was slow to put all the pieces together. I am still enjoying this series and looking forward to re-reading The Book of the Dead and Scarpetta but each book published after that will be new to me.
November 8, 2023
Probably best used as kindling for a bonfire!
It's difficult to conceive of the depths to which a former star author has sunk and to convey through a review just how achingly, gut-bustingly awful this pathetic, little pooch of a novel was. The only saving grace (and trust me, this moved the novel from a DNF wall-basher to a 1-star "I struggled through it but I made it to the end" mere waste of time) was that Cornwell's ability to conceive multiple plot lines and plot threads was intact. Lots of stuff happening here - autopsies, forensic tidbits, sadomasochistic torture, serial killers, computer hacking, self-destructive psychological turmoil, citrus canker (yeah ... you read that right!), forensic "hell scenes" used as an educational tool for up and coming medical examiners and forensic investigators, narcissistic television psychoanalysts and much, much more.
But, sadly, the ultimate plot and the manner in which these disparate threads were linked together limped to a disappointing, anti-climactic uninteresting finish that simply fizzled out and death-spiraled to the last sentence of the novel. Cornwell made an attempt to simulate urgency and speed by changing scenes and characters at dizzying speed which achieved nothing but confusion (and occasionally anger) in the mind of this particular reader.
And, what sank this novel to even greater depths was the categorization of every single one of the characters as psychological shipwrecks. Kay and Lucy Scarpetta, Pete Marino, Wesley Benton ... nary a single happy moment, a smile, a chuckle or an upbeat moment in the entire novel. Cornwell seems to have set herself a personal contest to see which character she could portray as the weakest, the most uninteresting, the most dislikeable or the most dysfunctional.
I just can't imagine that even the biggest die-hard Cornwell Scarpetta fans would want to spend a moment of their limited reading time on this one. More than just not recommended ... this comes truly recommended against! Don't go there! To quote one of Cornwell's colleagues and competitors, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
Paul Weiss
It's difficult to conceive of the depths to which a former star author has sunk and to convey through a review just how achingly, gut-bustingly awful this pathetic, little pooch of a novel was. The only saving grace (and trust me, this moved the novel from a DNF wall-basher to a 1-star "I struggled through it but I made it to the end" mere waste of time) was that Cornwell's ability to conceive multiple plot lines and plot threads was intact. Lots of stuff happening here - autopsies, forensic tidbits, sadomasochistic torture, serial killers, computer hacking, self-destructive psychological turmoil, citrus canker (yeah ... you read that right!), forensic "hell scenes" used as an educational tool for up and coming medical examiners and forensic investigators, narcissistic television psychoanalysts and much, much more.
But, sadly, the ultimate plot and the manner in which these disparate threads were linked together limped to a disappointing, anti-climactic uninteresting finish that simply fizzled out and death-spiraled to the last sentence of the novel. Cornwell made an attempt to simulate urgency and speed by changing scenes and characters at dizzying speed which achieved nothing but confusion (and occasionally anger) in the mind of this particular reader.
And, what sank this novel to even greater depths was the categorization of every single one of the characters as psychological shipwrecks. Kay and Lucy Scarpetta, Pete Marino, Wesley Benton ... nary a single happy moment, a smile, a chuckle or an upbeat moment in the entire novel. Cornwell seems to have set herself a personal contest to see which character she could portray as the weakest, the most uninteresting, the most dislikeable or the most dysfunctional.
I just can't imagine that even the biggest die-hard Cornwell Scarpetta fans would want to spend a moment of their limited reading time on this one. More than just not recommended ... this comes truly recommended against! Don't go there! To quote one of Cornwell's colleagues and competitors, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!
Paul Weiss
March 29, 2024
Re Read march 2024
Story 4 stars**⬆️
Audio 4.5 stars**
Narrator January LaVoy
Story 4 stars**⬆️
Audio 4.5 stars**
Narrator January LaVoy
May 25, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written, fast paced, crime thriller. It has a strong and capable female protagonist, murder, mystery, drama, an unexpected twist, and a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audio version of this novel, which should be read in order for continuity, and the narrator, Ms. January LaVoy, does an outstanding job depicting the characters and their personalities.
January 30, 2011
*******SPOILERS AHEAD******
I was horrendously disappointed with this book, though not for obvious reasons. I found the author a very competent one - and if that sounds like an underhanded insult, I don't mean it that way. She's a fine author, and the majority of her characters have subtleties and nuance, especially the older ones, who I became attached to almost instantly.
The problem was the specific story was horrendous. It was a mash-up of every bad crime novel I've ever read, and even the intelligence of the science and the characters themselves couldn't save the book. I was particularly disappointed by Lucy; it felt like the author was writing about a character she knew nothing about, could never identify with, and belonged in some silly erotica/wish-fulfillment fantasy novel. I was terribly sad by the end - not only because of the embarrassing plot (I kid you not: it was a lesbian serial killer with multiple personality disorders, and the whole book is spent trying to convince you her personalities are different people), but because I felt I'd met the author at her worst, that kind of awful first impression you'll try, but never really succeed, forgetting. A sad, confused, depressing novel, with a storyline that horrifies far less than it embarrasses.
I was horrendously disappointed with this book, though not for obvious reasons. I found the author a very competent one - and if that sounds like an underhanded insult, I don't mean it that way. She's a fine author, and the majority of her characters have subtleties and nuance, especially the older ones, who I became attached to almost instantly.
The problem was the specific story was horrendous. It was a mash-up of every bad crime novel I've ever read, and even the intelligence of the science and the characters themselves couldn't save the book. I was particularly disappointed by Lucy; it felt like the author was writing about a character she knew nothing about, could never identify with, and belonged in some silly erotica/wish-fulfillment fantasy novel. I was terribly sad by the end - not only because of the embarrassing plot (I kid you not: it was a lesbian serial killer with multiple personality disorders, and the whole book is spent trying to convince you her personalities are different people), but because I felt I'd met the author at her worst, that kind of awful first impression you'll try, but never really succeed, forgetting. A sad, confused, depressing novel, with a storyline that horrifies far less than it embarrasses.
March 15, 2015
I've been a Cornwell fan since I read her first book. I've had some complaints about her recent books ("Blow Fly" was probably the worst). This is getting back to her roots, but still the magic of her earlier books isn't there. I hate what she has done with the character of Marino. In earlier works, I kind of pictured Marino as an Ed Asner type, but now he's buff and bald and riding motorcycles and I've lost my picture of him. I also loved the working relationship they had, and now it seems non-existent. I also don't like the way she has taken her niece Lucy. The thing I've enjoyed in previous Cornwell books was the weay that these three and Scarpetta's male friend, Benton Wesley worked together to solve crimes. Now...I don't know. The story was so convoluted and there was such a dark undertone to everything. Lucy hates herself, Kay isn't speaking to Benton because he kept Lucy's confidence about a health problem, Marino is whoring after anything with tits and has a love-hate relationship with both Kay and Lucy. The story held my interest, but it just wasn't her best. Also the evil Basil Jenrette, on whom the story appears to hang, has an almost non-existent role that fizzles out in the end. He can't even try to kill Kay and make it gripping. For Cornwell fans, this is a good read. If it's your first Cornwell book, go back and start at the beginning, when they seem to have had more substance.
I was going to read the next book, Book of the Dead, but all the negative reviews on Amazon.com made me decide it would be a waste of my time, since it seems to be even worse than this one. Sorry, Ms. Cornwell!
I was going to read the next book, Book of the Dead, but all the negative reviews on Amazon.com made me decide it would be a waste of my time, since it seems to be even worse than this one. Sorry, Ms. Cornwell!
March 6, 2020
Kay Scarpetta #14: Now in Florida, Kay tries out her new position as Director of Forensic Science; meanwhile Lucy is on a downwards spiral... and although it's becoming formulaic, Cornwell does it so well... yes, Kay and co. are targeted by a serial killer. The last 4 to 5 books in this series were buzzing nicely, as was this one; it's rare that a series hits the 14th book and is still interesting and captivating at times. 6 out of 12.
February 17, 2010
I used to love the Kay Scarpetta series! In an attempt to revisit an old friend I picked up Predator. I was sad to see my "old friends" had been replaced by a poor resemblance of themselves. I hardly recognized the characters as the story was told in a confusing third party narrative making the people dark, depressing and very impersonal. The constant shift in storyline was difficult to follow. I'm only half-way through the book and I can honestly say I'm not sure what the story line is! For the first time ever I'm not finishing a book and I sure don't want to pass the book on to any friends! I feel badly as I know each author puts a great deal of talent, heart and soul into writing but I felt the author was trying to revitalize old characters by changing format. It doesn't work! Keep the original characters, help them grow as individuals and involve them in a suspenseful story. That's the way to do it Patricia!
November 1, 2011
Remember when you could actually read and enjoy the Kay Scarpetta books from Patricia Cornwell?
Back when the series started, Kay was human, had a sense of humor, enjoyed cooking, did things normal people do. As the series has gone on, it has gotten darker, weirder (not a word, I know), more ominous, just...horrid.
The characters have degenerated into caricatures of their worst selves. The world has become sinister and evil. Honestly, there isn't anything enjoyable about reading these books. Who wants to read an extended description of torture?
It makes me remember why I quit reading them a while back.
Back when the series started, Kay was human, had a sense of humor, enjoyed cooking, did things normal people do. As the series has gone on, it has gotten darker, weirder (not a word, I know), more ominous, just...horrid.
The characters have degenerated into caricatures of their worst selves. The world has become sinister and evil. Honestly, there isn't anything enjoyable about reading these books. Who wants to read an extended description of torture?
It makes me remember why I quit reading them a while back.
June 28, 2012
SO what is happening with this series? I'm listening to this series as audio books- I could never read them- and sometimes if I miss who is speaking I can't tell the main characters from the bad guys. Why is everyone so angry and annoyed with each other? Kay can't stand Marino, who is suddenly described looking like Paul Teutul instead of a tall Danny Devito, including his new love of motorcycles. Marino may have transformed outwardly, but he is even more upset and depressed. Kay is suddenly being describe as this beautiful women that all men are lusting after, which was never have I pictured her. Lucy is wandering around aimlessly, and what happened to Rudy? She was so afraid he was going to quit in the last book and now I'm not even sure she still has the company, no less what happened to Rudy. And then there is Wesley Benton the most boring character ever written. Whenever our main 4 were together they were either talking about work (which is good, but not what they mostly did) or fighting (which they did a lot).
Kay is becoming more and more crazy and irrational it seems. Early in the book she actually said something to Rose- her long time secretary and mother figure, (and I'm paraphrasing but it went something like this) "Are you sure you confirmed my flight? Because no offense but you said that last time and I ended up flying all the way to California in coach!" I kept waiting for her to start throwing shoes or coffee cups. When did she become that person? No wonder everyone seems to be out to get her. She's very unlikeable. She used to be a cool Doc that cared about getting the job done and worrying if she would be able to get on the plane with her evidence. She would do her job and be good at it and people respected her because of it. EVen more because instead of slinging mud, she used her big brain to rise above with grace. Now she belittles people she doesn't like in little ways that show insecurity- like with Joe, she only called him doctor in front of other people. Or with Marino- she feels the need to keep telling him she is in charge and she works for him- which I think he's right- he works for Lucy, and so does Kay.
Let's talk about the very confusing mystery in this book for a second. I think what is lacking for me is the sense of here's the body- let's find out how it died and who did it. Now everything is a super secret big conspiracy case that comes to them, with the body being secondary. Not to mention every story is now peppered with the POV or the criminal- which I hate, and there is ALWAYS someone trying to sabotage Kay because she thinks she's is so awesome. I keep rooting for that guy to win- bad sign. The stories are also being weighted down by this open hostility every has for everyone else, and the melodrama that is the most boring and confusing romance in the universe- Kay and Benton. I would really like for them to break up- they are so incompatible. Sometimes love is not enough.
Kay is becoming more and more crazy and irrational it seems. Early in the book she actually said something to Rose- her long time secretary and mother figure, (and I'm paraphrasing but it went something like this) "Are you sure you confirmed my flight? Because no offense but you said that last time and I ended up flying all the way to California in coach!" I kept waiting for her to start throwing shoes or coffee cups. When did she become that person? No wonder everyone seems to be out to get her. She's very unlikeable. She used to be a cool Doc that cared about getting the job done and worrying if she would be able to get on the plane with her evidence. She would do her job and be good at it and people respected her because of it. EVen more because instead of slinging mud, she used her big brain to rise above with grace. Now she belittles people she doesn't like in little ways that show insecurity- like with Joe, she only called him doctor in front of other people. Or with Marino- she feels the need to keep telling him she is in charge and she works for him- which I think he's right- he works for Lucy, and so does Kay.
Let's talk about the very confusing mystery in this book for a second. I think what is lacking for me is the sense of here's the body- let's find out how it died and who did it. Now everything is a super secret big conspiracy case that comes to them, with the body being secondary. Not to mention every story is now peppered with the POV or the criminal- which I hate, and there is ALWAYS someone trying to sabotage Kay because she thinks she's is so awesome. I keep rooting for that guy to win- bad sign. The stories are also being weighted down by this open hostility every has for everyone else, and the melodrama that is the most boring and confusing romance in the universe- Kay and Benton. I would really like for them to break up- they are so incompatible. Sometimes love is not enough.
January 30, 2021
I read the Kay scarpetta series in the late 90s early 00’s so decided to pick back up where I left off.
I’m not sure if I’ve changed over the years in regards to reading, or the books just arnt what they used to be. I felt like the story was messy , too much going on, no likeable characters, too many POV and to make matters worse it seems my book is 14 pages short than what it states on Amazon , so I’m not sure I even know the ending.
I will no doubt give the next in the series a go just to see if I gel with the characters again. If not I think I will be giving up on scarpetta Benton Marino & Lucy
I’m not sure if I’ve changed over the years in regards to reading, or the books just arnt what they used to be. I felt like the story was messy , too much going on, no likeable characters, too many POV and to make matters worse it seems my book is 14 pages short than what it states on Amazon , so I’m not sure I even know the ending.
I will no doubt give the next in the series a go just to see if I gel with the characters again. If not I think I will be giving up on scarpetta Benton Marino & Lucy
July 11, 2018
The problem with this genre is that there are only so many ways to kill a person. The only saving grace is when the characters are delineated with depth and originality, which was only partially true in this book. A mildly surprising epilogue saved this book from a worse rating.
July 9, 2009
It's difficult for me to even grasp what a mess this book was. Some things were so incredibly obvious to the reader (or at least, to this reader) that they could be discerned 200 pages before the characters realized them, and yet other things that readers were curious about for the entire book were never even revealed at all. Plot threads were dropped at random and not picked up again for 100 or 200 pages, and other threads were just dropped altogether for no apparent reason. Personally, I started suspecting the person who turned out to be the murderer, was indeed the murderer, at least 250 pages before it was revealed. And there were some suspicions that should have been raised for the characters - indeed, if they had happened to me, I would have looked into what might have caused this or that to happen, and I don't even work at a top-secret institute - and yet the characters just blindly bungled along ignoring the glaringly obvious, which made me feel so impatient with them throughout this book. And to make it all worse, Cornwell committed one of the worst writing sins - she was constantly referring to how the characters felt (and in clunky language, no less) instead of actually SHOWING us readers what they felt, and some behavior that was, to me, completely uncharacteristic for some of the longtime characters was never explained at all, much less in a way I found satisfactory.
Additionally, having not read any Scarpetta books for several years after having read them voraciously in the late '90s and early '00s, I was completely perplexed by the fact that one of the main characters, who was killed in an earlier book (in, what I may add, was a very moving plot that brought me and many other fans at the time to tears), was alive in this one and everyone was acting like they'd never been killed. It was only when I went back to the library and thumbed quickly through the books I hadn't read from around 2003 to now that I realized that one of the books I'd missed had revealed that they had in fact not actually died after all. If I wanted plot points like that, I'd be watching soap operas instead of reading mysteries.
I'd read a review that I thought had been published a few years ago saying that Cornwell seemed back on her game after several missteps, and I'd hoped this was the book they'd referenced, as I couldn't remember for sure. After reading this and finding it rather ridiculous, I went back to the library and got the book I almost got instead of this one, Trace. I'd initially thought Trace was the one the reviewer had discussed, but then doubted myself. I'm only a few pages into Trace, and so far it's better than this one ever was.
Additionally, having not read any Scarpetta books for several years after having read them voraciously in the late '90s and early '00s, I was completely perplexed by the fact that one of the main characters, who was killed in an earlier book (in, what I may add, was a very moving plot that brought me and many other fans at the time to tears), was alive in this one and everyone was acting like they'd never been killed. It was only when I went back to the library and thumbed quickly through the books I hadn't read from around 2003 to now that I realized that one of the books I'd missed had revealed that they had in fact not actually died after all. If I wanted plot points like that, I'd be watching soap operas instead of reading mysteries.
I'd read a review that I thought had been published a few years ago saying that Cornwell seemed back on her game after several missteps, and I'd hoped this was the book they'd referenced, as I couldn't remember for sure. After reading this and finding it rather ridiculous, I went back to the library and got the book I almost got instead of this one, Trace. I'd initially thought Trace was the one the reviewer had discussed, but then doubted myself. I'm only a few pages into Trace, and so far it's better than this one ever was.
November 24, 2017
This is the 14th book from Cornwell in the Kay Scarpetta series.
This is a book with multiple plot line disorder in which the author tries to save it with emergency triage at the end leaving the book dead on the table with no one to save it.
What a mess. Good luck following the story as it jumps all over the place with all of the characters you are use to (Kay, Marino, Lucy and Benton) plus the victims and killers. The ending in which Cornwell tries to tie it all up is a mess in which not all things are explained (red-hand prints) and any inconsistencies in the book are blamed on a killer with multiple personalities.
It starts out with a pretty graphic lesbian one night stand by Lucy with a strange girl named Stevie. You learn this has become quite normal for Lucy. She is also putting on weight.
Marino is becoming a buff Harley rider who is getting it on with whoever he can too. All the while thinking of Kay while he does and letting his fantasies with her affect his relationships.
Kay and Wesley once again are in different cities with Kay running her Academy in Florida while Wesley studies killer's brains in Boston. Kay isn't as mean to people as she normally is but that might be because she is no longer the focus of each chapter. We only get a glimpse of her unflattering personality every 3-4 chapters.
Another disappointing book from the Scarpetta series.
This is a book with multiple plot line disorder in which the author tries to save it with emergency triage at the end leaving the book dead on the table with no one to save it.
What a mess. Good luck following the story as it jumps all over the place with all of the characters you are use to (Kay, Marino, Lucy and Benton) plus the victims and killers. The ending in which Cornwell tries to tie it all up is a mess in which not all things are explained (red-hand prints) and any inconsistencies in the book are blamed on a killer with multiple personalities.
It starts out with a pretty graphic lesbian one night stand by Lucy with a strange girl named Stevie. You learn this has become quite normal for Lucy. She is also putting on weight.
Marino is becoming a buff Harley rider who is getting it on with whoever he can too. All the while thinking of Kay while he does and letting his fantasies with her affect his relationships.
Kay and Wesley once again are in different cities with Kay running her Academy in Florida while Wesley studies killer's brains in Boston. Kay isn't as mean to people as she normally is but that might be because she is no longer the focus of each chapter. We only get a glimpse of her unflattering personality every 3-4 chapters.
Another disappointing book from the Scarpetta series.
September 5, 2010
Although well into the series of books featuring Dr Kay Scarpetta, this one is genuinely stand-alone, so if the reader has read none of the previous titles there will not be a problem. (This is not the case with all of them. For example, the Last Precinct takes up where a previous title finished and having read the previous book helps a lot).
Continuing the comparison with The Last Precinct, Predator moves much more rapidly and contains several narrative strands woven together with uncommon skill. It is not possible to go into detail without spoiling the book for a new reader, but the last quarter should be read with care. A number of strands come together here and much is explained, though often with such great economy that you might miss something – as I did – and have to re-read several chapters to track down what you missed.
Reading this book I am impressed, yet again, by how intelligent an author Patricia Cornwell is. The combining of plot, narrative and character with such a complex sequence of events required a great deal of skill.
One strand of the plot I liked a lot had to do with Detective Marino’s strong dislike of Joe Amos, a member of Scarpetta’s team, and how Marino managed to suss him out. Unfortunately, being more specific would ruin it for the reader.
Continuing the comparison with The Last Precinct, Predator moves much more rapidly and contains several narrative strands woven together with uncommon skill. It is not possible to go into detail without spoiling the book for a new reader, but the last quarter should be read with care. A number of strands come together here and much is explained, though often with such great economy that you might miss something – as I did – and have to re-read several chapters to track down what you missed.
Reading this book I am impressed, yet again, by how intelligent an author Patricia Cornwell is. The combining of plot, narrative and character with such a complex sequence of events required a great deal of skill.
One strand of the plot I liked a lot had to do with Detective Marino’s strong dislike of Joe Amos, a member of Scarpetta’s team, and how Marino managed to suss him out. Unfortunately, being more specific would ruin it for the reader.
April 28, 2008
This book was like half a book -- something Cornwell sat down and spewed out over a long weekend or so. In general, authors would then go back and edit their work, but it appears in this case that her half-baked manuscript somehow made it past all the editorial gatekeepers, straight to hard copy.
I hate how everyone in Scarpetta's life is so dysfunctional, grumpy, and repetitive. And I hate how Cornwell left us hanging with so many unanswered questions and incomplete plot points (what the heck happened to Joe???). And I hate that I spent money on this awful book.
I hate how everyone in Scarpetta's life is so dysfunctional, grumpy, and repetitive. And I hate how Cornwell left us hanging with so many unanswered questions and incomplete plot points (what the heck happened to Joe???). And I hate that I spent money on this awful book.
June 26, 2018
Αλλού την έχω αφήσει τη Σκαρπέττα, αλλού τη βρίσκω... Να μου πεις, έχουν περάσει και τουλάχιστον εφτά βιβλία από τότε...
Στην αρχή θέλει τον χρόνο του το συγκεκριμένο, μέχρι να πιάσεις το νήμα που ενώνει όλα τα στοιχεία και σχηματίζει την υπόθεση. Πολλά έχουν διαδραματιστεί στο διάστημα που έχει μεσολαβήσει, οι επιπτώσεις των οποίων είναι ολοφάνερες στους ήρωες. Αυτό επίσης θέλει τον χρόνο του, έως ότου κατασταλάξει μέσα σου. Από τη μέση ειδικά και μετά γίνεται πιο ενδιαφέρον και κυλάει πιο άνετα κι ευχάριστα - όχι ότι πρόκειται για ΤΟ αριστούργημα, ούτως ή άλλως.
Πάντως, έχοντας διαβάσει πια πέντε βιβλία με ηρωίδα την Κέυ Σκαρπέττα, έχω βγάλει δύο συμπεράσματα: δεν μπορώ να τη συμπαθήσω με τίποτα, ούτε αυτήν ούτε την ανιψιά της (για την ακρίβεια, δεν έχω αποφασίσει ποια από τις δύο μου σπάει περισσότερο τα νεύρα) και επίσης δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω προς τι τόσος ντόρος γι' αυτή τη σειρά βιβλίων, που μετράει τόσα νούμερα. Ειλικρινά, δεν το καταλαβαίνω. Είναι μέτρια, όλα τους. Πώς έχει φτάσει η Σκαρπέττα να θεωρείται κορυφαία στο είδος της και πώς η Cornwell η καλύτερη Αμερικανίδα συγγραφέας αστυνομικών (θα πέσει το ταβάνι να με πλακώσει!) αδυνατώ να το κατανοήσω! Αν θέλετε οπωσδήποτε να διαβάσετε κάτι σχετικό, με ηρωίδα ιατροδικαστή-ανθρωπολόγο, ψάξτε καλύτερα την εξαιρετική Kathy Reichs και δεν θα χάσετε!
Στην αρχή θέλει τον χρόνο του το συγκεκριμένο, μέχρι να πιάσεις το νήμα που ενώνει όλα τα στοιχεία και σχηματίζει την υπόθεση. Πολλά έχουν διαδραματιστεί στο διάστημα που έχει μεσολαβήσει, οι επιπτώσεις των οποίων είναι ολοφάνερες στους ήρωες. Αυτό επίσης θέλει τον χρόνο του, έως ότου κατασταλάξει μέσα σου. Από τη μέση ειδικά και μετά γίνεται πιο ενδιαφέρον και κυλάει πιο άνετα κι ευχάριστα - όχι ότι πρόκειται για ΤΟ αριστούργημα, ούτως ή άλλως.
Πάντως, έχοντας διαβάσει πια πέντε βιβλία με ηρωίδα την Κέυ Σκαρπέττα, έχω βγάλει δύο συμπεράσματα: δεν μπορώ να τη συμπαθήσω με τίποτα, ούτε αυτήν ούτε την ανιψιά της (για την ακρίβεια, δεν έχω αποφασίσει ποια από τις δύο μου σπάει περισσότερο τα νεύρα) και επίσης δεν μπορώ να καταλάβω προς τι τόσος ντόρος γι' αυτή τη σειρά βιβλίων, που μετράει τόσα νούμερα. Ειλικρινά, δεν το καταλαβαίνω. Είναι μέτρια, όλα τους. Πώς έχει φτάσει η Σκαρπέττα να θεωρείται κορυφαία στο είδος της και πώς η Cornwell η καλύτερη Αμερικανίδα συγγραφέας αστυνομικών (θα πέσει το ταβάνι να με πλακώσει!) αδυνατώ να το κατανοήσω! Αν θέλετε οπωσδήποτε να διαβάσετε κάτι σχετικό, με ηρωίδα ιατροδικαστή-ανθρωπολόγο, ψάξτε καλύτερα την εξαιρετική Kathy Reichs και δεν θα χάσετε!
January 2, 2011
For many years I was a HUGE fan of Patricia Cornwell. And then by the time I read Blow Fly, I found myself increasingly disturbed and disgusted with her books and the self-wallowing of her characters. Gone was the brilliancy and left was the bizarre. I often wondered what was happening in Cornwell's own life and if she was putting her own issues into the emotional and pyschological pitfalls of her characters. I couldn't imagine that she would choose to make them become so unlikeable. Gone were the strengths in the characters that made her books so enjoyable. With the strong interest in reading her newest book set in Dover, DE I decided to go back and catch up on a few books. Can't say that much has changed...the "who done it" and "why" were interesting but I would have liked more details and explanations as opposed to running up and down the coast, trying to connect the dots between the cast of characters and subplots. 2 more to read before I can finally read Post Mortuary.
September 29, 2017
I had a hard time getting into this one as I thought I had missed something in the book. It seemed to do too much jumping around. However, once I did get past the first 100 pages, I got into the book and really did enjoy it in the end. I thought I had missed a book in the series, because Lucy seemed stranger than usual.
This one was pretty graphic, so if you like the cozy read, this is not for you. The forensic and psychological things presented are very interesting to me though.
I just read this again and don't remember reading this the first time. You would think that I would have because of all the gory parts in this book. Apparently, I blocked all that out. Still only giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
This one was pretty graphic, so if you like the cozy read, this is not for you. The forensic and psychological things presented are very interesting to me though.
I just read this again and don't remember reading this the first time. You would think that I would have because of all the gory parts in this book. Apparently, I blocked all that out. Still only giving it 4 out of 5 stars.
July 21, 2011
The reason why people fell in love with the Scarpetta series was the science and the solving of shocking homicides through the use of analysis and technology. Same premise as CSI. The characters are terrible, CONSTANTLY being unfairly treated by every external figure (press, colleagues, government, etc.) that the interactions are frustrating and annoying. 300 pages and unbelievably fantastical situations for a series that is supposed to be grounded in fact. I was genuine annoyed when the wrap up was barely explained and completely confusing. This is officially my last Scarpetta novel. She's jumped the shark.
June 23, 2022
3,75 stars - Dutch paperback
An addition to the series of Kay Scarpetta.
This book keeps you intrigued as to what is next for this character that continues to evolve.
Do the book it selve was not the best in the series.
An addition to the series of Kay Scarpetta.
This book keeps you intrigued as to what is next for this character that continues to evolve.
Do the book it selve was not the best in the series.
September 30, 2008
The Scarpetta books, once so wonderful, have been steadily declining in quality and excitement. I could hardly stay awake.
July 23, 2022
Esse é um livro estranho, normalmente nessas séries de romance policial enormes (Sherlock Holmes, Poirot, Miss Marple e afins) você pode começar a leitura por qualquer um dos livros normalmente que isso não impacta na experiência de leitura, a impressão que eu tive nesse livro é que eu precisaria ter lido os outros livros dessa série para entender esse, principalmente por que o foco da história parece estar mais nas relações entre os personagens recorrentes do que no mistério em si, a sensação final é de pular em um trem em movimento e ser jogado para fora dele antes da viagem terminar.
July 15, 2018
El libro me gustó hasta el penúltimo capítulo. Ese final tan drástico que parece que le falte 1 capítulo hizo que pusiera tan baja las estrellas. Y el final tan abierto! No sé qué le pasó a Patricia en este libro.
May 11, 2025
I have had an on/off one-sided love affair with Kay, Benton and crew for the better part of 30 years, and I can see why it is more off with this instalment of the series.
It was a bit of a higgeldy-piggeldy hot mess and left me having to reread certain parts to figure out what in the heck was going on. Marino has turned into even more of a crass, rude brute and made for a very unlikeable change. Kay has turned, well bitchy and I could give or take Benton and Lucy.
I'll keep banging on with the series, with my fingers crossed.
It was a bit of a higgeldy-piggeldy hot mess and left me having to reread certain parts to figure out what in the heck was going on. Marino has turned into even more of a crass, rude brute and made for a very unlikeable change. Kay has turned, well bitchy and I could give or take Benton and Lucy.
I'll keep banging on with the series, with my fingers crossed.
March 13, 2014
This is huge for me. I have been reading my way through the Scarpettas, and I have finally bumped into one that was a genuinely decent mystery with a plot that made sense!
That being said, does anyone else get the feeling that Cornwell is working through her own issues with her characters? I mention this only because my chief complaint with her depictions of Kay, Lucy, Benton and above all, oh my God above all Marino is that she treats the reader as though their actions and reactions make sense to a normal person. Which they don't. I mean, there's Marino vibrating away like a lawn mower with that whole complex love/hate relationship with Kay, who in turn is upset because he doesn't show up for the homemade pasta she throws together early in the book despite the fact that in real life a Kay Scarpetta and a Pete Marino would have nothing at all to say to each other outside of work, and if Kay is a stereotype (and she is!) she needs to be the Smartest Woman in the Room stereotype and not the Madonna. Don't even get me started on Lucy or Benton.
And yet I keep reading them. Well played, Ms. Cornwell. Well played.
That being said, does anyone else get the feeling that Cornwell is working through her own issues with her characters? I mention this only because my chief complaint with her depictions of Kay, Lucy, Benton and above all, oh my God above all Marino is that she treats the reader as though their actions and reactions make sense to a normal person. Which they don't. I mean, there's Marino vibrating away like a lawn mower with that whole complex love/hate relationship with Kay, who in turn is upset because he doesn't show up for the homemade pasta she throws together early in the book despite the fact that in real life a Kay Scarpetta and a Pete Marino would have nothing at all to say to each other outside of work, and if Kay is a stereotype (and she is!) she needs to be the Smartest Woman in the Room stereotype and not the Madonna. Don't even get me started on Lucy or Benton.
And yet I keep reading them. Well played, Ms. Cornwell. Well played.
January 24, 2022
Let's say 3.5. This series started out great but has become fractured. There are 4 main characters with 4 separate plots so it goes very slowly and none of the plots gets proper coverage. And, as is typical with this series, everything is tied up very quickly and very abruptly in the last couple of pages. Not very satisfying. The most fascinating character in this series (to me at least) is Lucy and she is practically an extra in this book. She has been given the short shrift for a couple of books now. And also, Marino (again maybe just to me) has taken a weird personality shift without explanation. There were some fun supporting characters that had some great potential for conflict and drama that were again somewhat wasted. A missed opportunity. I hope this series improves. I have 3 more of these books in my bookcase. I may jump ship after those if these books don't get better. I didn't hate it. I just didn't love it either. The bar set at the beginning of the series has not been reached in a few books now.
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