All That Remains

A Scarpetta Novel

By: Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by: C. J. Critt

Length: 12 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

A serial killer is stalking Virginia’s young lovers, taking their lives and taunting police with a single clue: a jack of hearts. For two years, the meaning of this card has eluded FBI investigators. But as Scarpetta begins searching the victims’ remains for microscopic clues, she begins to suspect that someone in the FBI knows more about the murderer.

Flesh and bone: investigate more of Kay Scarpetta's forensic cases.

©1992 Patricia D. Cornwell (P)1995 Recorded Books, LLC

Entertaining read

Great narration to an interesting story. I listen to these books while I work and I am so glad there are so many in the series.

Good read

Great character build up. Sometimes the flow of the story seemed off, but it I like the ending

SCARPETTA BOOK AT IT'S BEST

This book was very good, but then all the Scarpetta novels are good. They all have such twists and turns. Sometimes I do wonder though, about how all these weirdos get to her! ;o)

Awesome

Every book of hers I read just blows me away. You never can guess who the killer is. So good

Diggin' the Scarpetta series

Where does All That Remains rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In my top five for sure.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that the storyline was simple and easy to follow.

Which character – as performed by C. J. Critt – was your favorite?

I just like her narration in general.

Any additional comments?

I would recommend this to anyone into mystery and detective novels. It has a similar feel to the Patterson Women's Murder Club series, which I loved!

Not quite as good as the first two.

OK. there are probably hundreds of reviews of these books and trying to figure out my own path on this one is difficult... I like the Scarpetta books a lot. This genre fits into my junk-food-for-the-brain category of reading, and this series was one of my favorites back in the 1990s when they were written. But I stopped reading after one of my favorite characters was killed. I decided to start from the beginning - and hopefully get past that event next time. It has been a very long time since I read these, so the stories are like new again, and this time I am listening which is a very different experience.

So, on to my opinion. I like the book, but do not love it.

Pros:
1. The relationship between Marino and Scarpetta is challenging and intriguing.
2. Mariono's gruff exterior is sometimes difficult to handle and that makes him more interesting.
3. Scarpetta's bond with Lucy. It makes Kay more vulnerable.
4. The fact that the protagonist is a smart and educated woman.

Cons:
1. The plot in this one is a bit too political for my taste.
2. Benton Wesley is not being portrayed as particularly smart even though I know he is brilliant. (This may be partially attributable to the narrator's choice of voice for him.)
3. The description of the crimes gets a bit gruesome, and it doesn't feel necessary to the tension of the story.
4. Kay's relationship with her mother and sister is too extreme. It doesn't feel like the animosity is real, and it makes Kay come off as "better-than-thou". I remember feeling this way when I read the series before too.

And my opinion of CJ Critt is still the same. I like her much better than most of the reviewers. I think she gives Kay the appropriate silliness that lightens her and makes her less perfect. I like the grit she gives to Marino. I fell like she blends into the narrators voice. The only negative for me is her reading of Benton. I hope this improves in future volumes. One note: I listen to most books at 1.5 speed (because I like it better) and I think the faster speed eliminated some of the complaints I saw from other reviewers.

will listen to more

I loved it. Just the right amount of elaboration on each character and just enough mystery to keep you guessing.

Undecided on this one

I am very unsure of what I think about this book. I liked the mystery and fought it extremely engaging but there were some many red herrings that the final reveal was exceptionally anticlimactic.

The series really needs to get off the Scarpetta as a lone wolf routine. I know most people are thinking but she wasn’t Marino and Abby were there for her. Well it takes about ¾ of the book before Marino usually realizes Scarpetta is correct and by this time her job is usually in jeopardy or the press is crucifying her. Her superiors never support her because they are such politicians.

The narrator was really good and hope the series stays with this narrator.

Waste of time

Don't get me wrong I love the author. And I enjoy audio storyteller as well. But the same droning voice throughout made it difficult to finish.

All that remains

All That Remains, was a good book until the end, the finish was shockingly vacant!