I love Patricia Cornwell, and this title is another winner for me! A great taut and tense read - Highly recommended.

Patricia Cornwall on true form. I’ve read so many Kay Scarpetta novels and this one doesn’t disappoint. Equally I haven’t read them for a while and it was easy to fit back in without feeling like I’d missed anything. Love the intricacies and complex story. Would definitely recommend!

Another fantastic Patricia Cornwell book! I’ve been a huge fan of the Kay Scarpetta series for years and I know I’m always in for a good read - this was certainly no different! 4 stars ****

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

It took me a while to get round to reading this book and usually I thoroughly enjoy reading Patricia Cornwell. This novel however I did not really enjoy, much to my disappointment. Generally, on the whole, easy reading, but the "incident" in space, and covert meetings with the government was a tiny step to far to be believable.

I´m sure other people will love it, however, I remain on the fence on this one.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

It has been so long that I have read a Kay Scarpetta novel and it was interesting and I like the way it was up to date with the pandemic and riots etc. I did skim a bit reading so it didnt grab me as much as I had hoped based on my memories.

I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

I haven't read a Scarpetta novel for a very long time and sadly this really did not live up to expectations. I had such high hopes for this and feel terribly let down.

I had high hopes for this. Overall it is an engaging read but the ending was a letdown, being unrelated and coming from left field in a rush in the epilogue, leaving me feeling a bit shortchanged.

I didn’t really enjoy this read saw all the advertising and felt I needed to read but didn’t enjoy not sure if I needed to read the novels before to get a grip on the character but don’t think I will read any more in a rush

Haven’t read a Kay Scarpetta novel for a while and to be honest I struggled with this one. Nothing really started to happen until half way through and found it hard to keep my attention

I'm such a big Kay Scarpetta fan and this series is perfection!! I love the way Patricia Cornwell writes and she always has me glued from page one to the very end. If you haven't read this series yet, start with the first book, you won't be disappointed.

Oh god, how I love the Scarpetta series!! I've been reading since the very beginning, and have truly loved every single one!

Patricia Cornwell needs to retire Kay Scarpetta....NOW! She is done, she is repetiitive and lacks any actual suspense.
I have enjoyed many Scarpetta stories but I find I am now forcing myself to read them and get through. Even her supporting cast are starting to grate on me. I don't think you can continue to have a character such as this who consistently at risk of being killed off or fired and always survive and if it isnt her it's someone in her family. the plot itself was fine but felt more of a stretch because of who it was maybe and I think if it had been an unknown cast / ensemble it would have been something worth recommending. The writing is good and does reel you in.

As always this was a great read, full off suspense. The characters are well written and you can put yourself in their shoes.

I have been a Kay Scarpetta fan since my teens. i loved every story-line so when i saw this book my pathology senses started to tingle!
I read this in one day i was excited to star this and then when i started i just could not put it down.
The plot was great and gruesome with some good twists.
Patricia Cornwell is back and on top form.

As always a fabulous read, fast paced, absorbing and thrilling, catching up with Kay and Benton is always like meeting up with old friends, Patricia Cornwall never disappoints

It has been a long time since I read a Kay scarpetta and although it was good - it was missing the plot lines of the earlier ones! I found it hard to follow at times and I found myself rushing to get to the end!

It was good to be back in the world of Kay Scarpetta. I read all of the previous series years ago. I did enjoy this but not as much as the previous books. I didn't find it gripped me as much and not a massive amount happened to keep me as interested as I thought I would be.

3.5☆

As with the previous few Scarpetta books, I'm finding Kay's woe is me attitude frustrating. Everyone is out to hurt her feelings, whereas she doesn't care about anyone else's.

25 books on I still find Scarpetta to be a good protagonist, however I didn't feel like the story flowed as well this time.

It was confusing at times, especially the Secret Service storyline, and I felt that Lucy's character was dragged back in a really strange, and disappointing way - the whole idea that Kay's entire extended family would move with her for work was weird and how she just magics up a job for everyone (as usual) was unsurprising. Maybe the introduction of some new characters would be a good thing 25 books in?!

It wasn't until I read which number this is in the Scarpetta series that I realised just how long I have been reading books by this particular author. I must have missed a few because I was a wee bit surprised by the Marino and Kay's sister coupling. I know his almost obsessive need to protect and to be in Kay's orbit is a main driver, but her sister can be such ego driven being. Surely that counts as dysfunctional.

Is the obsessive close friendship only viewed as a positive, because Kay is unable to take a step back from it, as opposed to an outsider thinking Marino is on the precipice of something screwy in regards to his friend? Is that a book waiting to happen.

Kay has been more or less manipulated into the career move she has made recently. I think the full picture and repercussions of said move will be fodder for this and some books to come. I actually found Scarpetta's lack of response to the negative attitudes, blatant disregard for her position, was infuriating. Where was her outrage instead of just letting certain people just dance on her grave?

I'm not sure whether the last few years have anything to do with it, but it certainly seemed as if there was a lot going on in this book, perhaps to the detriment of the book. The serial killer plot, the White House situation, her professional status and the way her niece is dealing with a personal loss. Many sub-plots pulling in a lot of different directions, then again some of it felt a little like a build-up to a bigger plot.

It's certainly a gripping read, albeit it one that bounces from one goal post to the other. I am hoping in the next book Kay comes back willing to fight with a bit more vigor.