This is not like her other books. I will stop on this book. It just tells the same thing over and over..

Disjointed. Repetitive. Seems all characters have personal problems with each other, creating a dark, moody reading experience. Several implausible plot lines. Seemed like author deliberately tried to make the story longer with technical and psychological sidebars. Not an enjoyable read.

I used to look forward to every Cornwell release, but not anymore. The "psycho-babble" she insists on inserting in place of the intrigue of her classics gets old really fast. There isn't an untarnished personality among the regulars and new characters are used to fuel the torment in the minds of the regulars. People in real life overcome their demons if they are as brilliant as Cornwells characters are portrayed to be. I won't be rushing to her next release.

Not even an easy listen. It took days for me to even care about this book or the characters. So sorry I loved this series it just isn't very good anymore. Reader is lackluster as is the story line.

I have read all of the Scarpetta books and I have to say this is the worst. The storyline was drawn out, no continuity and the ending was ridiculous. No more of this for me...not worth the credits.

I am unaware of listening to this narrator previously. Her reading is spotty, with some characters fully developed and others almost wooden in delivery. Scarpetta specifically is poorly portrayed. The author makes a shift in the way she tells the story, with more inner monologue from Scarpetta. Interesting.

I've always been a big Cornwell fan and especially like the Scarpetta series. For me, this one was just awful. Part of it was the narration - so flat and monotone and depressing. All the characters were either depressed or angry. And there were too many subplots - it took forever to see how any of them tied together. The last book was similar, but this one was sleep-inducing - I kept switching to music in the middle of the book, which I rarely do. Everyone needs to lighten up - all the characters and the narrator.

I wish I could get my money back on this one! I have always been a die-hard Cornwell fan, and have read or listened to everything she has ever written. The only other one I didn't care for was Southern Cross. The anger exuded by Scarpetta, Lucy, and other characters in this book was more than a "downer," as if Cornwell was having a psychotic or depressive moment and wanted to share it with all of her fans. The raving madness just went on and on without any of the usual bright spots that make her books a joy to read. Yes, murder and mayhem and postmortems are sometimes depressing, but Cornwell usually makes her books a fun read anyway. Something happened with this one, however, and the madness is just a little too much!

The pervasive theme for the last 3 books from this series has been angst. In each book the characters have become progressively angrier and the dialogue is more tinged with bitterness. More time is spent describing how angry everyone is than is spent on the actual mystery of the novel. It may be time for Ms. Cornwell to retire Kay Scarpetta and her cohorts.

and I haven't even finished! Apparently, I am not the only one. I don't know if the reader contributes to the "darkness", but I believe it is mainly the writing. I hope Ms. Cornwell has not "jumped the shark" with the series. Sorry I used a credit on this one. Psychoanalysis seems to have replaced forensics or at least pushed it to the side.