Dust

Scarpetta, Book 21

By: Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Length: 14 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

After working one of the worst mass killings in U.S. history, Scarpetta returns home to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Exhausted and ill, she's recovering at home when she receives an unsettling call. The body of a young woman has been discovered on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's rugby field. The victim, a graduate student named Gail Shipman, is oddly draped in ivory linen and posed in a way that is too deliberate to be the killer's first strike. A preliminary examination in the sea of red mud where the body has been left also reveals a bizarre residue that fluoresces blood red, emerald green, and sapphire blue.

Physical evidence links the case to a series of uniquely weird homicides in Washington, D.C., where Scarpetta's FBI husband has been deployed to help capture a serial killer dubbed the Capital Murderer. The cases all connect and yet seem to conflict. Gail Shipman was murdered for financial gain - or was she? It will require the usual ensemble of characters to find out the truth, including Scarpetta's sidekick Pete Marino, who has undergone a drastic change in his life that places him center stage in a Cambridge investigation that puts everyone at risk.

©2013 Patricia Cornwell (P)2013 Penguin Audio

GOOD TWIST AT THE END OF DUST.

Dust is an exciting serial killer, medical examiner, extreme vicious villain, details of blood and gore crime scenes and lots of unhappy characters type of book. Terrible language but in context of these types of personalities. The medical examiner information is detailed and obviously well researched. My favorite character is her rescue greyhound. At least he has a happy life which is more than I can say for anyone else in the book.

Finally!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have read all the books in this series and for a while I have felt like the books weren't the quality that they have been in the past. The last two have been getting better but Patricia knocked it out of the park with this book. Finally, I felt like there was actual resolve to the end of the book instead of reaching the climax and then it ends. I think she is heading in a new direction and no longer felt like the books were getting "stale".

What about Kate Reading’s performance did you like?

I enjoy Kate reading of the series. Her voices for the characters are great and help me form a mental image of who is speaking.

Did not like narrator’s voice!

I have read most of the Kay Scarpetta novels. The narrator seemed to struggle making each voice distinctly differently. If the story had not been so compelling to me, I would not have finished as the narrator was often distracting!

Story good, don't like the reader

The reader has a pleasant voice, but she lifts the end of each sentence, almost like a question, that I don't like.

Dust

Another Kay Scarpetta book I liked. I hate that I didn't start this series in the 90's when it started. I enjoy the characters, stories, and performances. I am looking forward to listening to the next book. I recommend Dust!

back to the Scarpetta stories I like

after a few misses the last few stories, this story is too notch. well put together, and the narration is great.

A bit much

A bit OVER flowery verbage for verbage sake. I'd cut...a lot! Description of smells & plants are only important as they relate to plot.

good storyline but...

Story was good but struggled to finish it because the narrator's voice was so annoying and sing song

Another Scarpetta story, still love them

Sometimes the story is long winded, but love the characters and always seem to learn something because Patricia's books can be an education. I especially love Kate Reading's narration. It feels like home and when she does not narrate I already have a dislike for the story. So please be consistent with narration.

not what they use to be

I remember a time where I couldn't stop listening and wanting to know who the killer was, the last few books, including this one, I find myself not caring in the least. I feel so bored, I often can't wait to finish & move on. mega dissapointment. I miss the suspense, the family dynamics, Marino' s relationship change with Kay, brought it all downhill for me.