It’s Dr. Kay Scarpetta’s birthday, and she’s about to head to Miami for a vacation with Benton Wesley, her FBI profiler husband, when she notices seven pennies on a wall behind their Cambridge house. Is this a kids’ game? If so, why are all of the coins dated 1981 and so shiny they could be newly minted? Her cellphone rings, and Detective Pete Marino tells her there’s been a homicide five minutes … minutes away. A high school music teacher has been shot with uncanny precision as he unloaded groceries from his car. No one has heard or seen a thing.
In this 22nd Scarpetta novel, the master forensic sleuth finds herself in the unsettling pursuit of a serial sniper who leaves no incriminating evidence except fragments of copper. The shots seem impossible, yet they are so perfect they cause instant death. The victims appear to have had nothing in common, and there is no pattern to indicate where the killer will strike next. First New Jersey, then Massachusetts, and then the murky depths off the coast of South Florida, where Scarpetta investigates a shipwreck, looking for answers that only she can discover and analyze. And it is there that she comes face to face with shocking evidence that implicates her techno genius niece, Lucy, Scarpetta’s own flesh and blood.
Includes an exclusive excerpt from the riveting next novel in the Kay Scarpetta series, DEPRAVED HEART.
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The Kay Scarpetta series clearly shows the work of a brilliant imagination, clever plotter, intelligent and savvy mind who understands people, and intense soul. After 22 books, I’m unable to put them down… and knowing what it’s like to write a series, I’m in awe of Patricia Cornwell’s talent. With Flesh and Blood, the 22nd of ~25, she continues building and developing a set of characters I often feel are so real, they’re sitting in my living room or bedroom as I’m reading… being their usual sarcastic and bitchy selves… poking a stick in my direction to do more with my life… urging me to push the boundaries. That’s the kind of character I love to experience.
So… why just 3 stars? I think the question for this book and my opening paragraph really goes back to the definition of a book review. Is it an honest opinion of a standalone book? An opportunity to highlight what you liked about it so others might read it? A chance to just complain because you prefer to focus on the negatives? A comparison of it to other books in its genre? A focus on its place within the entire series? A commentary on how well the author conveys something (a) new, (b) different, (c) above standard, (d) comforting, (e) I could go on forever… I often see other people’s reviews and wonder… what were they thinking? do they just like to be mean? Are they so easily contented they give high ratings because they love the author? I’m not judging anyone at all, I’m merely highlighting different ways of writing a review.
That said, I ask again… why just 3 stars from me? To me, a 3 star book is one that is a good read, has interesting parts, has not so interesting parts, doesn’t stand out from the rest of its genre/series/author/type, has no egregious errors, and leaves me feeling okay but not thirsting to read a sequel or another book by the author. Given I love this series, I will read them all, but I might think twice about picking up a different series.
Flesh and Blood has all the gore, science, technology, and deep-rooted psychology I’ve come to adore in the author’s style and books. The writing is good, but not stellar. It didn’t force me to read more chapters, but I didn’t feel it was painful to read. I think it fell prey to average plot with no standout characters other than the main 4 (Benton, Lucy, Marino, and Kay). If we had a powerful viewpoint from the killer, or a strong secondary character who was loved or hated by one of the main ones, I might have latched on a bit more.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I wouldn’t rate is one of the higher ones in the series. I didn’t rush at night to get to bed to read. Thankfully, it was a buddy read with my friend Medhat which is always fun… so that helped since we could discuss it along the way. I’ll still be borrowing the next one from the library in March, so stay tuned for more on this series from me.
Love everything Patricia Cornwell has written!!!
I rediscovered Patricia Cornwell a couple of years ago and I really really enjoy her newer books. Once I got started It was hard to stop and now I await another Scarpetta mystery!
Never able to put down any Cornwell book!!!
Excellent read . This author is a brilliant manipulator of suspense and murderz. I’m like a spider on a fly every time one of her books hit the stands.
Not her best writing.
I loved it. Once you start reading it you will not want to put it down. It keeps your attention from the very start and there is no good stopping place because you want to know what is happening on the next page.
These books are not free!!!
My first Patricia Cornwell read and will definitely not be my last!
Engaging story , complex characters and informative, authentic content. I jumped into this series here (book #22) and that is always a challenge. Authors work to make each book stand-alone but must also carry the extended arc of the series and its characters. It turned out figuring the mystery posed and revealed throughout this book required knowledge of a character/events from earlier in the series. It made my experience a titch off 5-star but looking forward to more from this talented author. Ideally would read series in order. 🙂
Better than Patricia Cornwell has been for awhile. Interesting detailed mystery/suspense.
Love all her books highly recommend
Corwell’s books are interesting and informative regarding forensics & coroner’s procedures. Her books are action packed right up to the end, but most of the tension tends to be resolved in the last few pages, almost as though the author got tired of the story and wanted to wrap up the book.
Not her best, but still good. I have enjoyed the characters she draws over several books in the Scarpetta series
I am enjoying the continuation of the series!
Typical Cornwall book. Another Scarpetta mystery. Read it before The Depraved Heart to help the later make better sense. It is very well written.
Another hit for Patricia Cornwell!
Love her books have read them all
Love Kay Scarpetta and all her adventures
I miss Sue Grafton but Patricia Cornwell is holding interest. She has great details in her book that I am reading.
It had been awhile since I last read a Kay Scarpetta novel, so when this came across at a bargain price, I decided to give it a whirl. It’s like all of the Kay Scarpetta books; I’ve read enough that I know the characters and their history. What makes these books better than a lot of mass market novels is that Patricia Cornwall can craft a great sentence and create a vision in your mind.