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Scarpetta (Scarpetta Novels) [Paperback]

Patricia Cornwell (Author)
3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Release Date: 14 May 2009 | Series: Scarpetta Novels (Book 16)

Leaving behind her forensic pathology practice in South Carolina, Kay Scarpetta takes up an assignment in New York City, where the NYPD has asked her to examine an injured patient in a psychiatric 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.

He says his injuries 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 only thing Scarpetta knows for certain is that a woman has been tortured and murdered - and that more violent deaths will follow...

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Product details

  • Paperback: 500 pages
  • Publisher: Sphere; First Paperback Edition edition (14 May 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780751538755
  • ISBN-13: 978-0751538755
  • ASIN: 0751538752
  • Product Dimensions: 12.6 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (97 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 76,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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› Visit Amazon's Patricia Cornwell Page
Patricia Cornwell
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Review

'Cornwell still does it better than anyone else' Daily Mail 'Cornwell's books run on high octane fuel, a cocktail of adrenalin and fear' The Times --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description

Twenty years after creating Kay Scarpetta, Patricia Cornwell has written her most extraordinary novel yet
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Not one of her best 10 Oct 2009
By G. Beech
Format:Paperback
The last couple of Scarpetta's outings have been less than exciting and this one is even worse. It doesn't get going until the last quarter of the book, the murderer is obvious from very early on and there is very little to hold your attention. The ridiculous plot from the last book about Marino's attack on Scarpetta was ruminated over so much I was sick of it. Then it was swept away by everybody forgiving him almost instantly, even Lucy who was supposed to be hunting him down to exact revenge! I feel like Patricia Cornwell isn't even trying anymore. It's as if she thinks that she can get away with writing any kind of dross because Scarpetta is so well known. Not so! We readers will only take so much and then we desert and move on to writers who know how to put a good thriller together, like Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter, which I have now done. I gave Scarpetta one last chance but I'm done reading the rubbish this is fast becoming.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars the last cornwell for me 27 July 2009
By H. Rees
Format:Paperback
I have serious doubts whether Patricia Cornwell even wrote this book, it is the first time I can remember that I could not be bothered to finish a novel. It is poorly written (creatively and grammatically), too long, confused and confusing, predictable, completely lacking in tension, far too focused on explaining how things work (like computers). Dull, dreary, formulaic, demonstrates complete contempt for her readers, and has been given one star because zero was not an option. Just awful. Even as holiday escapism, do not waste your money. Enough said.
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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars What rubbish 4 Jan 2009
By Doug Fleming
Format:Hardcover
The early Scarpetta books were great but her recent novels have been a complete waste of time. The plots and characters are unbelievable and the writing disjointed. I bought this book in the hope that she might have improved, and she has - just a bit - but certainly not enough for me to give her another chance.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars has Cornwell lost the plot? 7 April 2009
By Kraftwerker
Format:Hardcover
Another Patricia Cornwell book bought at the airport for some choice holiday reading. Or so I hoped. I have to agree with some other readers who gave this a low rating. The plot has been dealt with in other reviews, so I won't dwell on it too much. The mystery of the "midget murderer", who turns up at a psychiatric hospital in New York, begging Scarpetta to examine him. There's plenty of attention to forensic detail as you expect from Ms Cornwell, a lengthy description of a REALLY repugnant crime, and for once, a good and exciting ending (unlike the damp squibs that Cornwell can sometimes serve up). But Cornwell's writing has gradually got more dense and bogged down with technical issues (aside from pathology, how computers work, the internet, for example) at the expense of creating a page-turning read. At times, it's like reading a manual. Characters - even the killers - become more unbelievable in terms of their modus operandii. This is not The Body Farm, an intricate and involving story centred on a particular pyschological problem, nor one of the excellent "werewolf" novels in the series. Also, I'm a little tired with her recent books containing characters who have a personal vendetta against Scarpetta, and who are out to ruin her reputation via modern media outlets. In the previous two books it was Dr Self, the cable TV agony aunt. This time, someone is defaming Scarpetta via a blog. Why does Scarpetta attract such out-and-out psychos with the time (and the money) to wage a media war against her? Seeing how mud seems to stick to those in the public eye caught up in scandal, it's a wonder that Scarpetta has managed to rescale her former professional heights since retreating to Florida, given how much negative press must have built up around her. Sadly, I found this to be a rather tedious read and for once, did not enjoy it as a holiday read; there was a book-swap at the hotel so I left it behind for someone else and took an old classic off the shelf instead!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Gave up 25 Jun 2009
By beefley
Format:Paperback
This is the first Kay Scarpetta book that I have abandoned. I lost interest after the first 50 pages or so. Kay Scarpetta has become a really unattractive character; shame because the early books were excellent.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Almost Unreadable 30 Aug 2009
By Dayglo
Format:Paperback
So basically Patricia Cornwell has decided that her female characters (Scarpetta and Lucy) are the most sought-after, beautiful, intelligent, witty, clever, fit, sexy and fascinating women in the whole entire world. How do I know this, you may ask? Because all of the characters in teh book keep repeating it over and over and all of the men and/or women are simultaneously in love with both of them at the same time. That is the only reason I know, since not a single one of these characteristics were evident to me at any point in this woeful, glacial-paced, confusing, pointless novel that appeared to me to have no discernible plot.

It's a pity. Because the actual "mystery / crime" part of the book is interesting. But this book is not a "mystery / crime" book, it is about how wonderful Lucy and Scarpetta are. There is so little by way of "mystery / crime" elements in the book that when on the very rare occasion that a crime storyline pops its head out of the pages, it is startling, confusing and impossible to follow.

It took me a very long time to finish this book, and I only persevered past page 10 because it was a present from my husband and I didn't want to hurt his feelings. After I finished it I gave it to him to read. He could not get past page 10.

If you like crime, go for Kathy Reichs or Karin Slaughter instead.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars another good one
As with all the Scarpetta series of stories , this book also was gripping and was enjoyable from start to finish
Published 1 month ago by anne290604
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the other Scarpetta's I've read.
I am a fan of Scarpetta, but if this was the first novel I had read it would also have been the last. Nothing like as good as Patrician Cornwell's usual books.
Published 1 month ago by Mrs V Shurben
5.0 out of 5 stars Scarpetta
What can I say? I am an ardent fan of the Scarpetta Novels. Once you open them you just can't put them down. Rivetting from beginning to end. Another great book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Wanda
5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another 'can't put it down' book in the Scarpetta series!
I have read most of the Scarpetta books and just read two whilst on holiday, this being the second one! Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. S. L. Flint
5.0 out of 5 stars great
Always great to buy another cornwell novel, I have a full set, Was not sure about the series until I read post mortem and I was hooked, wish they would make films of them.
Published 3 months ago by PP1
5.0 out of 5 stars great
I am a great fan of Patricia Cornwell and now that I am retired I wanted to catch up on the books I previously didn't have time to read. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Miss Charlie R Dendy
4.0 out of 5 stars Needs Some New Blood
Excuse the pun but the story lines are becoming jaded and could do with some new characters to breath new life in to them.
Published 6 months ago by Steve P
5.0 out of 5 stars Another cracking case
I love the way Scarpetta ends up personally embroiled in her investigations. Very cleverly written, and had me questioning all of the characters.
Published 7 months ago by claire addis
5.0 out of 5 stars scarpetta
great stories full of mystery and action right the way through to the end well worth a read this is one of a set not to miss
Published 8 months ago by richard hogben
4.0 out of 5 stars This is the second time I have read this series and I will read it...
I give the whole serries 4 stars. Look forward to her new books as they come out. Very good reads
Published 8 months ago by Gillian McBride
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