Dark, Fast-Paced, and Timely

Patricia Cornwell delivers another gripping installment in her long-running Scarpetta series with Sharp Force. This time, Kay Scarpetta and her team—Benton, Marino, Lucy, and others—face a case that is disturbing on several levels. A serial killer is on the loose, targeting victims on major holidays and using advanced technology to spy one and then terrify them before making his move. As Christmas approaches, the stakes rise, and so does the body count.

What sets Sharp Force apart is its mix of forensic crime, psychological tension, and an unsettling supernatural twist. A ghostly apparition appears at each crime scene, adding a creepy, mysterious layer that keeps you guessing. Cornwell also weaves in current themes about the dark side of technology and AI, making the story feel especially relevant to what we are living today.

The pacing is fast, the suspense builds steadily, and the emotional weight of the crimes hits hard. Cornwell’s writing is smooth and conversational, making it easy to get lost in the story. The forensic detail is vivid and realistic without feeling overly graphic, and as always, the characters feel like old friends—flawed, human, and deeply compelling.

If you’re a longtime fan of the series, this book will feel like a return to form. If you’re new, it’s a gripping standalone that might just pull you into Scarpetta’s world for good. Sharp Force is equal parts chilling and thought-provoking, and it’s hard to put down once you start. Highly recommended for fans of crime thrillers, forensic drama, and smart, modern mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Patricia Cornwell and Grand Central Publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is an outstanding installment in this long running
series ~ Book 29.
There are some completely fascinating storylines here
and no spoilers from me! Just enjoy every single thing
that happens knowing you have NO idea where we are
going to end up!
I highly recommend this book to not just long time fans,
but anyone who enjoys psychological and police thrillers.
Seriously, everything I’d try to say would result in HUGE
spoilers, so, just trust the process and enjoy!
My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for this
download copy of the book for review purposes.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for this arc. I received this book in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts are entirely my own.

This book is perfect for the holiday season. Patricia Cornwall does it again with an action pact book from start to finish. The book starts with a bang with an autopsy of a man on Christmas Eve who had been found in the water after being reported missing. Then Kay is called to Mercy Island where a psychiatrist was murdered and a senator’s son was badly wounded. The Phantom Slasher is on the prowl having attacked two times previously with a projection of a ghost and a frequency jammer to cut off Wi-Fi and any way to communicate with anyone. And of course the two cases are connected in such a way that the author does a great job of and we get everything sorted out by the end of the book. I’m always eager to read Patricia Cornwall’s book as soon as I get them, this one did not disappoint. I can’t wait to get the physical copy as soon as it’s out.

Kay Scarpetta and her husband are planning to go away for the holidays leaving on Christmas morning but of course in true Scarpetta fashion she has to cancel her vacation. For Christmas Mariano decides to surprise Scarpetta with a spa visit at the hotel she is staying at and when his wife Dorothy finds out (who happens to be Scarpetta’s sister) she is upset and gets even more upset while talking to Jane the AI program that her daughter created and seems to be causing more problems the more sophisticated she gets the longer she communicates with people. And the house where a psychiatrist is killed also happens to be a house that Kay and her husband toured before purchasing their current home. A police officer pulls them over while going to the crime scene and even puts a disrupter under the Tesla that could have caused them to crash or anything else. This book has equal measure of funny and serious scenes but I loved every minute of it. There is more that happens of course but I don’t want to spoil all of it.

Patricia Cornwell has done it again! Another masterpiece filled with suspense and mystery. Sharp Force will have you at the edge of your seat, turning pages faster than ever.

Kay Scarpetta never seems to get a peaceful holiday. It's Christmas morning and the Phantom Slasher is at it again. He stalks his victims and ensures they are filled with fear before he strikes. He is able to watch the victims every move in their home with a secret technology. Two red eyes appear and even sound. You are haunted by this before he strikes swiftly.

Mercy Island is where Scarpetta, Benton, and Marino are headed. They are shocked to hear there was actually a witness this time. The therapist that was unalived is someone that Lucy used to see. She was always overstepping boundaries and Scarpetta didn't think very highly of her but she never wanted to see her in this manner.

As you can imagine, things go sideways every which way they can. This only makes Benton more focused and he is definitely the right person to think outside the box to help Scarpetta and Marino get to the bottom of what's going on. Scarpetta doesn't feel safe though. Something is just not right and she has a feeling someone or something is on her property putting her and her family at risk. She has to get to the bottom of this before she becomes the next victim.

If you love a good thriller that has you trying to figure out how to solve the mystery at every twist and turn, you will absolutely love Sharp Force! Just when you think you have it figured out, the plot will thicken again. The dynamic between Scarpetta and Benton also really stands out in this book. You can see how their years together has sharpened their minds and pushed them to be the best they can at their jobs, but also how they find quiet moments where they can enjoy being in each other's lives. They are each other's safe space in the crazy world they live in.

Thank you so very much to @grandcentralpub and @1pcornwell for my copy to read and review! Thank you to @netgalley for the delivery of this amazing book.