Leaving behind her private forensic pathology practice in Charleston, South Carolina, Kay Scarpetta accepts an assignment in New York City, where the NYPD has asked her to examine an injured man on Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric prison ward. The handcuffed and chained patient, Oscar Bane, has specifically asked for her, and when she literally has her gloved hands on him, he begins to talk—and … the story he has to tell turns out to be one of the most bizarre she has ever heard.
The injuries, he says, were sustained in the course of a murder… that he did not commit. Is Bane a criminally insane stalker who has fixed on Scarpetta? Or is his paranoid tale true, and it is he who is being spied on, followed and stalked by the actual killer? The one thing Scarpetta knows for certain is that a woman has been tortured and murdered — and more violent deaths will follow. Gradually, an inexplicable and horrifying truth emerges: Whoever is committing the crimes knows where his prey is at all times. Is it a person, a government? And what is the connection between the victims?
In the days that follow, Scarpetta; her forensic psychologist husband, Benton Wesley; and her niece, Lucy, who has recently formed her own forensic computer investigation firm in New York, will undertake a harrowing chase through cyberspace and the all-too-real streets of the city — an odyssey that will take them at once to places they never knew, and much, much too close to home.
Throughout, Cornwell delivers shocking twists and turns, and the kind of cutting-edge technology that only she can provide. Once again, she proves her exceptional ability to entertain and enthrall.
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I have read & own almost all the books that Patricia Cornwall has written & this is one I loved there’s plenty of twist’s & turn’s sick murders & gory autopsy results but Kay Scarpetta take’s everything in her stride, she’s not alone there’s the very macho Marino ex cop Wesley F.D.I profiler & her near genius nice Lucy all fantastic character’s …
Patricia Cornwell always delivers a great read. I love all the Kay Scarpetta novels. A word of warning… when a crazy man will only deal with you, proceed with caution.
A favorite!
This was a very fast-paced and dark tale of murder, twisted, calculated, and horrible. The killer’s revealed at the very end, but who it turned out to be was rather disappointing, and–for me–not quite believable.
There were often times when I was confused by which character was talking. I had to scan back up in the scene to find the dialogue …
A favorite author
Love all of her books
If I read another Cornwell book, I might go shoot myself. I am being sarcastic, however, her books are all about anger, unresolved issues, anguish, etc. none of the characters ever have a good time. I can’t take it anymore.
I always enjoy this series.
A little dark.
Another one you just don’t want to put down. The twists and turns makes this brilliant.
All Scarpetta Novels are Amazing!
Great work!
All of this authors books that I have read are fantastic!
If you like mysteries and Patricia Cornwall, who emphasizes forensics, you’ll like this book.
Love all her books. They are the kind that keep you up all night,I just have to read the next chapter!
This is, I think, the first of Patricia Cornwell’s books I read. It got me hooked and I now can hardly wait until the next one in the series comes out! She’s an excellent writer and I love reading about Kay Scarpetta and all the characters she invented.
As every Patricia Cornwell book, simply excellent!
Excellent very entertaining as always for this Arthur.
Enjoyed it
I’ve read several books by this author. Why? I don’t know. Scarpetta as a character is s o ego centered and consistently worries about things which are of no consequence to anyone that she drives me up the wall.