Scarpetta: Scarpetta (Book 16) (The Scarpetta Series)

The attraction of earlier books in the Scarpetta series was tightly paced procedural action. This title spends a lot of "time" stumbling around in the "minds" of the characters to the extent that it detracts from a compelling plot line. It results in a tedious read compared to earlier titles - it is worth the slog but it is a test of patience.

Bestselling author Patricia Cornwell brings her readers another suspenseful thriller featuring one of her favorite charachters, Dr. Kay Scarpetta. As each chapter continues, this book is impossible to put down from beginning to end!.........Since leaving behind her private forensic pathology practice in Charleston, along with all the painful memories that went with it, Dr. Kay Scarpetta accepts a position in New York City, but little did she know when the NYPD requests her help to examine a possible suspect in Bellvue's psychiatric hospital, her life was about to be drawn into one of the most biggest and deadliest mysteries of her entire career. Specifically asking for her, and only her, Kay suspiciously examined Oscar Bane who was handcuffed and chained to the bed in the infirmary and while she proceeded collecting evidence, he began to tell her a chilling tale. The injuries he sustained to himself was due to an attack by a vicious killer who violently murdered his girlfriend, and to make matters even worse, he told Kay he was being followed for weeks by an unknown stalker. Was it true? Was Oscar telling her the truth? Or was he fixated on Kay just to get her to Bellevue for his own personal gain? All she knew with a certainty that Oscar's girlfriend Terri Bridges was brutally tortured and murdered by a twisted psychopath. When another murder occurs proving Oscar's innocence, Kay is joined by her forensic psychologist husband Benton Wesley and her niece Lucy, who just opened her own investigative firm in New York, and together they start their own investigation, but just when they thought they had the killer in their midst, they are stunned by the chilling truth. As they are joined by a friendly ally, they find themselves taking a deadly journey through cyberspace, but nothing will prepare them when they discover the shocking realization of what really happened and who was really responsible, making them all realize that danger was not only lurking nearby, but it was much closer to home than they ever thought possible!........thank you

I enjoyed the early Kay Scarpetta books but the ones since she left Richmond have gone down hill. The plots are is mishmosh of personality clashes, far fetched bad guys and no clear cut plot. I haven't finished this book and I doubt if I will. This will be my last Kay Scarpetta book.

The book is very interesting. It makes Kay a little more human nut I feel they are picking on her. The last book and this book concentrate on her personal like more. I feel that the writer made her more stuck up and that is not Kay Scarpetta!! She is incredibly smart but she is not stuck up. Anyway, this book was a great read!! Loved the story plot!! So far all of the Kay S carpetta books are Awesome!!!☺

Patricia Cornwell's writing is so visual that the reader can see the ongoing actions very clearly. Her characters engage the reader from the beginning. Her research is in a class by itself. She wants the reader to be involved in every step of the novel. As a reader, I am never disappointed by the amount of research Ms. Cornwell incorporates into her writing which allows an even deeper dimension to her work. Her books are always worth the time it takes to read them.

I am filling out a collection of Cornwell Scarpetta series, and it was great to find this book. Not quite as riveting as some others, but I don't think we could expect all to be the same nail-biting terrors as some of her others.

Author Cornwell's often challenging formula of complaining characters, convoluted plots, and random pacing is tweaked a little in "Scarpetta", as some rare and welcome warmth is seen among the supporting cast, the plot is a little more compelling and easier to follow than recent entries, and the central character herself is presented a little more multi-dimensionally. On that last point, Dr. Kay actually jokes once or twice and even displays a sensual side. Saints preserve us!Actually, I'm one of the few readers who didn't mind the way things were before, admiring Ms. Cornwell for writing the kinds of stories she wanted to write without regard for slick readability and other lowest common denominator elements. Still, it was nice to see an injection of actual cameraderie among the central cast of Kay, Benton, Marino, and Lucy, and well as some eventual individual happiness for each.In addition to the decent central mystery (did troubled police suspect Oscar Bain brutally kill his girlfriend or did someone else do it?), there's a subplot involving an internet gossip site that adds a little fun to the mix. A well-staged final confrontation scene and a moody, effective epilogue (set in the famous New York eatery, "Elaine's"), brings it all to a satisfying close.Another one or two like this and I might refuse to go back to the way things were before, as "Scarpetta" has shown that it's possible for this series to showcase tough, edgy stories without the central core characters hating themselves and each other.

I liked that it kept me guessing who the killer was. I always love the detail Cornwell describes because it helps me create a picture in my mind. I love how she researches and learns about what she writes about. I don’t like the F word and GD being used at all, but this book had A LOT of F words. It makes me cringe. But still, it is a hard book to put down!

Very poor Scarpetta story. I'm a fan of these novels but something is different about these last two or three that I've read, in order. This one almost feels as if there is a ghost writer behind it. It is very wordy and there are too many acronyms and explanations - some of which are unnecessary as avid readers are aware of them - but on the whole there are too many technical references and unspoken interactions between the protagonists that leave one confused. The characters do not seem to be developing. Must Kay always be in danger of someone being out to get her? It's becoming tedious that she's in constant danger, and, it seems, very few people respect her any more. Additionally, why does the author continuously refer to her now by her surname, only using her first name when other characters are referring to her - and yet her husband is always mentioned by his first name! Scarpetta is losing her credibility in my eyes.

It's rubbish: the storyline, the Scarpetta/Benton/Marino characters, the forensics, the descriptions, this is so amateur, so unlike any Scarpetta that I'd like my money back please. Written description of the size of what's underneath the hospital gown of a dwarf...really???Believe me, the first third of this book is Scarpetta in a room on her own with a dwarf, talking out his psychiatric issues and describing 'Kay's cool hands on his skin...'No seriously, I'd like my money back. Selling this book on the back of Cornwell's previous work with Scarpetta is so bad it's fraudulent.

Having read the series in order up to this book, I felt that the style has started to change. It may only be my opinion. Well worth the read. . I do however recommend reading these series of books in the chronological order as some aspects of the underlying story can be confusing.

Well, the most recent ones in this series before this one I'd been quite off about. Then after downloading this I saw the reviews which were pretty awful......but I was pleasantly surprised as I really enjoyed it. In places it seemed written in an odd way where so many conversations between the characters were either double-edged or they were holding two conversations in one. Quite strange but it was the case throughout the whole story.I've stuck with these characters for many years now and though some relationships were changed and some regulars missing the main ones still feature. Lots had happened since the ending of the last book and the beginning of this one. Nice to learn more about other characters and see new friendships develop there, too.However, it loses one star for me because it wasn't without mistakes which I don't expect to see this far into the author's career. Maybe some, like bloody hyphens or spaces randomly added, or dropped, are formatting mistakes, but if so they still need addressing. (Mc-Ewans'/fi gured/nineten/chromatog-raphy).The copyright at the start was cei enterpirses which I'm sure isn't correct.There were some laugh out loud remarks in this story too which I don't usually associate with these stories. I'm glad I once more enjoyed this series a lot more.

....I have a serious girl crush going on here..... I love all the female characters in Scarpetta. Even the cold Dr Lester.Patricia Cornwell, I wish I had the vocabulary to do justice to a review of your book(s). I would love to meet the person who could convince me that your characters only exist on a page. You're just too Damn clever.....wow. I am so looking forward to diving into the forensic world of the Scarpetta family again.Oh, one more thing..... I feel your empathy and soft spot for Morino through Kay and Lucy...but his reprehensible behaviour was too easily forgiven. This allowed him to worm his way back into the lives of those he hurt way too quickly..... An 'assault is an assault' and he needs to deal with more comprehensively...He is , after all, an enforcer of the law. Hope he stays with the ADA for a longer period.