I'M STILL SEEING STARS . . . KAY SCARPETTA IS THE SAME GRUMPY, WONDERFUL, RIVETING PERSONALITY SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN AND SHE'S ONLY GETTING BETTER WITH TIME' JAMES PATTERSON The reason that I share this outline is because it has become a repeated pattern for each of the Kay Scarpetta novels. It’s predictable and over-used by Cornwell. It also contributes to some major problems. Edgar, Anthony, Creasey and McCavity Award winner Cornwell ( Body of Evidence ) combines bone-rattling suspense with an insider's view of forensic science as her sleuth, Richmond, Va., medical Continue reading »

A pioneer of the genre of forensic psychological thriller -- BBC The Agatha Christie of the DNA age - EXPRESS Cornwell has various ideas, such as reminiscent of the tragic love that was born in the conflict between the families in Shakespeare’s plays. And she sprinkles this scene with many hints that only notices when we’re finished reading the story.The primary action and major plot developments occur outside of the primary characters and offstage from the reader. The core people involved are constantly informed of the key activities propelling the plot forward. They don’t actually experience the events first hand. They come in after those events and then react to what has already happened. Way too much time spent on the scientific research, which overwhelms and almost drowns out the story at time.

There were some interesting moments in this book, but the return of Kay Scarpetta continues to be a disappointment for me. Cornwell is not creating something new and refreshing, but rather continues to rely on her plotting methodology of solving a mystery over a condensed two-to-three-day timeframe, an approach that she established and perfected, then used repetitively over and over again until it just got old. Would the readers be happy with the same old or want something new? To be fair, I can only answer that question for myself. Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the spunky and thoughtful chief medical examiner introduced in Cornwell's first novel, Postmortem , makes her second commanding appearance here. Beryl Madison, a writer of Continue reading » The fourth mystery to feature Virginia's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kay Scarpetta (after All That Remains ) is the most intricately plotted and fully characterized novel yet in Cornwell's admirable Continue reading »Cornwell's latest-a stand-alone thriller that was originally serialized in the New York Times Magazine-is likely to disappoint even diehard fans of her bestselling Kay Scarpetta novels (The Body Continue reading » SCARPETTA'S 26TH OUTING AND THE PLOTTING REMAINS EVERY BIT AS FRESH AS WHEN WE WERE INTRODUCED TO HER' BELFAST TELEGRAPH I knew the identity of a murderer and couldn't possibly avert my gaze," declares bestselling author and Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine chairman of the board Continue reading »

But the relief doesn’t last long. She and investigator Pete Marino are soon notified that presiding judge (and Scarpetta’s friend/former roommate) Annie Chilton’s sister has been found dead at the family’s home. Further, evidence at the crime scene—blown electricity, dead wildlife, singed greenery, etc.—indicates the use of a high-tech “microwave gun.” That the victim was employed by the CIA and allegedly having an extramarital affair with Flagler only complicates matters, which are steeped in personal and professional quagmire. When a second body is discovered at a separate location, Scarpetta and expert Co. (including husband, Benton, and niece, Lucy) know that the threat of further violence is imminent. Still, internal strife and jurisdictional turf wars (think CIA, FBI, Secret Service) threaten to delay resolution, even as the terrorist(s) prepare to strike again. The idea is a very actual problem, having created damage all around the globe in the recent years. And here a solid scientific explanation is given. And that is a very terrifying aspect - bunches of madmen and -women armed with wave-guns not easily to detect. The science is relatively easy to understand and Kay, her husband Benson, her niece Lucy and Marino resolve also intern power struggles in several agencies. Kay Scarpetta und ihr Team stellen fest, dass der Tod möglicherweise mit einer Mikrowellenwaffe herbeigeführt wurde.It has been 32 years since the first Kay Scarpetta novel was published in 1990. I was a bit late to the game, but in the mid 90's my sister-in-law recommended the series to me. That was also when I was having my babies and reading about Kay Scarpetta's investigations was a wonderful escape. My youngest will be turning 25 this year and I recall having one of the early books with me at the hospital when I was in labor. This one seemed to take a bit long to get in gear, but once it did there were glimpses of the old days. At the same time there is a modern weapon threat that is realistic enough to scare the pants off of me. I have a feeling I know where the next one will go and it could be a bit of a walk down memory lane revisiting and old series of murders called the Parkway killings. Hailed as the first bona fide forensic thriller, Postmortem paved the way for an explosion of entertainment featuring all things forensic. CSI? You'll read it here first.