The 'book of the dead' is the morgue log, the ledger in which all cases are entered by hand. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to have a new meaning. Fresh from her bruising battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta decides it's time for a change of pace. Moving to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, she opens a unique private forensic pathology practice, one in which she and her colleagues offer expert crime scene investigation and autopsies to communities lacking local access to competent death investigation and modern technology. It seems like an ideal situation, until the murders and other violent deaths begin. A woman is ritualistically murdered in her multi-million-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is found dumped in a desolate marsh. A sixteen-year-old tennis star is found nude and mutilated near Piazza Navona in Rome. Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones before her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names - and the pen may be poised to write her own.
Book of the Dead (Scarpetta Novels)
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Review
Classic Cornwell territory with...a sharp political element that will ensure the book isn't on George Bush's bedside table (Daily Express )
Serving up an Ace....Cornwell is firmly back on the money here. (Daily Mirror )
Patricia Cornwell is the queen of gritty, grisly, crime fiction writing and her latest offering doesn't disappoint. Book of the Dead will keep you gripped throughout (Heat )
"The reason we read novels about the forensic investigation of crime is not artistic decorum but a fascination with how things work. This is what Cornwell has always provided, and it is an area in which she does not disappoint." Times Literary Supplement (‘Hannibal Lecter, eat your liver out. Tersely written, elaborately plotted and crammed with research, Cornwell’s writing has always been hard-boiled - but this one would crack a paving stone if dropped.’ )
Serving up an Ace....Cornwell is firmly back on the money here. (Daily Mirror )
Patricia Cornwell is the queen of gritty, grisly, crime fiction writing and her latest offering doesn't disappoint. Book of the Dead will keep you gripped throughout (Heat )
"The reason we read novels about the forensic investigation of crime is not artistic decorum but a fascination with how things work. This is what Cornwell has always provided, and it is an area in which she does not disappoint." Times Literary Supplement (‘Hannibal Lecter, eat your liver out. Tersely written, elaborately plotted and crammed with research, Cornwell’s writing has always been hard-boiled - but this one would crack a paving stone if dropped.’ )
Book Description
The latest in the bestselling series featuring fiction's original pathologist, Dr Kay Scarpetta.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Ondine
Format:Paperback
What on earth has happened to Patricia Cornwell? She used to be one you could rely on for a gripping, gory thriller but this one feels like it was written by someone else. The story jumps around to the extent that I found myself constantly checking I hadn't mistakenly skipped a page (or even chapter) and feels very incoherent. The story just isn't that interesting either and I feel the characters who we've known for years now through her books have developed in ways that just aren't believable.
She's also upped the science-y details to such a level that lots of it was hard to understand, and I think probably unnecessary for the average reader.
Very disappointing and not worth wasting money on. If you haven't read her before - start at the beginning with Portmortem and The Body Farm etc as those are great, just avoid this one.
She's also upped the science-y details to such a level that lots of it was hard to understand, and I think probably unnecessary for the average reader.
Very disappointing and not worth wasting money on. If you haven't read her before - start at the beginning with Portmortem and The Body Farm etc as those are great, just avoid this one.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Officer Dibble
VINE VOICE
Format:Paperback
Having read circa 80 crime novels in last two years there are three that stand head and shoulders above the rest as utter dross. Welcome to one of the three.
This has to be one of the dullest, most interminable books I have ever read. Others have covered the reasons why this is tripe in their reviews but I also felt strongly enough to simply record my disapproval. How anyone can rate this at more than one star defies belief.
Do not buy this, do not touch it with a barge-pole.
This has to be one of the dullest, most interminable books I have ever read. Others have covered the reasons why this is tripe in their reviews but I also felt strongly enough to simply record my disapproval. How anyone can rate this at more than one star defies belief.
Do not buy this, do not touch it with a barge-pole.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Smith
Format:Hardcover
I reviewed one of this author's earlier books which I thought was so bad I'd never waste my time looking at another one. Unfortunately, I broke that rule and tried this offering - bad idea.
You might think that - after the almost universal panning some of her later books have received - the author would try to do something about it, to write the kind of books that generated such good reviews at the start of her career. Unfortunately, I think she's passed the point where any reviews, from anyone, mean anything to her.
The 'Book of the dead' is so badly written that I couldn't even finish it - and I've always ploughed on to the bitter end with all of her other books. It really is that bad.
She appears to have been taking creative writing classes from somebody with no clue what they're talking about. The book is written in the present tense, which sits awkwardly in this genre, and somebody appears to have told her that the only verb she needs to use in speech is 'to say'. The result is cumbersome and tiresome in the extreme, every remark, by anyone, followed by 'Scarpetta says'; 'Benton says' and so on.
The plot, such as it is, makes little sense, if you can be bothered to make the effort and wade through the turgid writing in a determined effort to discover what she's talking about. The characters are familiar, but what they're doing isn't, with Marino breaking every rule he's lived by for no reason that makes any kind of sense. Lucy and Scarpetta are even more arrogant and irritating than ever, and the minor characters appear to be talking nonsense most of the time. Read more ›
You might think that - after the almost universal panning some of her later books have received - the author would try to do something about it, to write the kind of books that generated such good reviews at the start of her career. Unfortunately, I think she's passed the point where any reviews, from anyone, mean anything to her.
The 'Book of the dead' is so badly written that I couldn't even finish it - and I've always ploughed on to the bitter end with all of her other books. It really is that bad.
She appears to have been taking creative writing classes from somebody with no clue what they're talking about. The book is written in the present tense, which sits awkwardly in this genre, and somebody appears to have told her that the only verb she needs to use in speech is 'to say'. The result is cumbersome and tiresome in the extreme, every remark, by anyone, followed by 'Scarpetta says'; 'Benton says' and so on.
The plot, such as it is, makes little sense, if you can be bothered to make the effort and wade through the turgid writing in a determined effort to discover what she's talking about. The characters are familiar, but what they're doing isn't, with Marino breaking every rule he's lived by for no reason that makes any kind of sense. Lucy and Scarpetta are even more arrogant and irritating than ever, and the minor characters appear to be talking nonsense most of the time. Read more ›
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By J. Walker
Format:Paperback
...for sending me off to sleep!
Only managing to read 2-3 pages a night, it's taken me ages to finish this book. It is so unbelievably dull and I loathe PC's changed writing style. Have given her the benefit of doubt for the last time. She should be embarrassed to have such rubbish published.
Only managing to read 2-3 pages a night, it's taken me ages to finish this book. It is so unbelievably dull and I loathe PC's changed writing style. Have given her the benefit of doubt for the last time. She should be embarrassed to have such rubbish published.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By P. M. G.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I agree with what so many other people are saying, I enjoyed her earlier books, but this was sheer gobbily gook!!I will buy no more of her books, I nearly threw it in the bin but perservered to the end, it was pure rubbish!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Welshcake
Format:Paperback
Along with many other reviewers here I was a big fan of Patricia Cornwall's earlier books in the Scarpetta series, but recently they have been getting worse and worse. I couldn't even finish this one. It's almost as if she's getting lazy and feels she can write any old rubbish because she knows people will buy a book with her name on it. Avoid!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By L. Carpenter
Format:Paperback
Now I know this is a novel and I KNOW it's all invented, but is it vaguely realistic that the ever-perfect (more of that later) Dr Scarpetta be entirely surrounded by nutcases? Let me count: 1) Marino - lost the plot; 2) Shandy - bonkers & murderous; 3) Dr Self - bonkers; 4) Italian psychiatrist blokey - amoral in the extreme; 5) Lucius whatshisface - bonkers (why was he even in the book?); 6) Will Rambo (per-lease...) - all of the above. I'm sure there were more, but I lost count of the many, many dysfunctional characters littering this dreary read. It's enough to put anyone off visiting the deep south.
Now we move onto the good doctor herself. It's appears plain to me that Scarpetta is something of an autobiographical image of Ms Cornwell, and if that is the case, what a strange woman she must be. Scarpetta, aside from being a glorious physical specimen of a woman (must get that tongue out of my cheek...), must be the coldest, dullest, smuggest, most humourless character of all time. Always long suffering, but utterly devoid of any personality trait that might make her an attractive lead character. Her 'passionate' relationship with Benton is unconvincing and borders on the snoozeworthy, her 'surrogate-mother' relationship with bionic-Lucy is uncomfortable - the way it is taken as read that she is a better 'mom' than the girl's own useless mother always leaves a nasty taste.
I'm afraid the doc has had her day - take her out to the swamps and leave her to the alligators...
Now we move onto the good doctor herself. It's appears plain to me that Scarpetta is something of an autobiographical image of Ms Cornwell, and if that is the case, what a strange woman she must be. Scarpetta, aside from being a glorious physical specimen of a woman (must get that tongue out of my cheek...), must be the coldest, dullest, smuggest, most humourless character of all time. Always long suffering, but utterly devoid of any personality trait that might make her an attractive lead character. Her 'passionate' relationship with Benton is unconvincing and borders on the snoozeworthy, her 'surrogate-mother' relationship with bionic-Lucy is uncomfortable - the way it is taken as read that she is a better 'mom' than the girl's own useless mother always leaves a nasty taste.
I'm afraid the doc has had her day - take her out to the swamps and leave her to the alligators...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scarpetta
Another scarpetta novel that you can't put down. Everything thing one expects from Patricia Cornwell very intriguing story line time after time.
Published 1 month ago by jan
4.0 out of 5 stars
Scarpetta novel
I enjoy he ongoing stories of Dr Kay Scarpetta and although not given this top score did enjoy the twists and turns as always of Kay and her relationships so would still say a good... Read more
Published 1 month ago by David Goodman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
I've yet to be disappointed with one of her books :-) Can't let it go, when I've started reading :-)
Published 1 month ago by Jeanette Helsted
5.0 out of 5 stars
patricia Cornwell does it again
As usual A really good read difficult to put down. Highly recommended. Scarpetta always keeps you interested start to
Finish plenty of twists and turns.
Finish plenty of twists and turns.
Published 3 months ago by Peter O'Donnell
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing
I used to thoroughly enjoy Patricia Cornwell's Scarpetta books. However, since she drastically changed her style of writing, presumably trying to make it more 'modern', I find... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. Kaye E. Elliott
2.0 out of 5 stars
Better than body farm..........
But not much better!! She doesn't ever seem to explain the ending enough. Always an anti climax and will anyone ever be happy......even just a little?
Published 6 months ago by miss c m smith
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible
I'm currently working through all of the Scarpetta books and this is definitely the worst so far. I can't even tell you really what its about, the plotting appears to make little... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Popsiwinkle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good value for money
I was very satisfied with how quick amazon sent the item to my kindle and the book was good value for the money I would recommend Amazon to my friends and family
Published 10 months ago by Roddy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Very disappointing
I agree with all the negative comments. I've read a good number of crime thrillers and this has to be one of the poorest. Read more
Published 13 months ago by DW
3.0 out of 5 stars
Average
Unfortunately having read some of the reviews here before reading the book, I was expecting it to be rubbish. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Orlando Larsson
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