Scarpetta - Patricia Cornwell

Kay Scarpetta, Medical Examiner, finds herself drawn into another bizarre murder case. Oscar Bane is the main suspect, but has willingly admitted himself into a New York physciatric hospital- the Bellevue, which just happens to be run by Benton Wesley, Scarpettas husband. So I suppose it comes as no surprise (at least to the reader) when he has asks to be examined solely by Scarpetta. Why? The murder victim is his girlfriend, he strongly protests his innocence, in fact claims to have fought with the unknown assailant and believes Scarpetta is the only person who can help him. But is Oscar just ... more

It has just taken me over 3 weeks to read this book, which is so unusual. The majority of the Scarpetta series I have read in a day or two, the one previous to this took a little longer at about a week. But this book was so awful I struggled to even get to the end. It is such a shame because Patricia Cornwell has the ability to be such an excellent writer, but she has really let herself down badly with Book of the Dead, I haven't read a synopsis of the latest book Scarpetta, but I hope Patricia puts the series to rest in it, because judging by this one she's taken it a step too far. Its hard ... more

I'm one of those people who loves to read, and I honestly don't seem to get enough of books - but I can't afford to buy them at the same rate that I read them. So, I always look forward to when my Gran comes to stay because she always has the latest crime novels for me to borrow. Usually, her choice of novels has been ok, but not great, so when she brought along "Scarpetta", and suggested that I read it, I jumped at the chance, having read "Postmortem" and several of Patricia Cornwell's other books in the same series. One of the main elements of Patricia Cornwell's writing that I enjoy is that ... more