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Unnatural Exposure  By  cover art

Unnatural Exposure

By: Patricia Cornwell
Narrated by: C.J. Critt
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Publisher's summary

Filled with tension and continual surprises, Unnatural Exposure is a thrilling chapter in Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta's life, and a triumph for #1 New York Times best-selling author Patricia Cornwell.

The body of an elderly woman is found dismembered in a Virginia landfill. Scarpetta initially believes the clues mirror that of a serial killer she's tracked before. But upon further investigation, she discovers puzzling pox-like erruptions on the woman's body that, perhaps, point in another direction.

When the killer contacts her via e-mail, Scarpetta enlists the aid of her computer-savvy niece, Lucy, to help track this monster through cyberspace. Learning that the Virginia victim was exposed to a high-tech virus that might unleash an epidemic, Scarpetta realizes she's dealing with a sophisticated mind.

Her investigation leads her from the government's biological defense facility in Utah, to Atlanta's Center for Disease Control, and eventually to quarrantine, when it is discovered that Scarpetta has been exposed to this fatal virus. Along the way, she's forced to deal with the unscrupulous ambitions of a slick FBI agent, Lucy's problems, and her own turbulent feelings for Agent Wesley Benton.

Unnatural Exposure is the 8th book in the Kay Scarpetta series.

Don't miss the other titles in Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series.
©1997 Patricia Daniels Cornwell (P)2002 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Cool, abrasive, with an edge sharper than a Stryker saw." (The New York Times Book Review)
"In this return to the luridly fascinating world of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell delivers the goods." (Publishers Weekly)

What listeners say about Unnatural Exposure

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love the crossover into infectious disease

Good book—and apropos of these days with the rise of infectious disease. Cornwell’s stories and narrator, CJ Critt, bring Kay to life. Spoiler alert: The narrator is different in the next book and it isn’t the same—Kay doesn’t have that deep voice that embodied her and the other characters of the earlier books.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Solid Scarpetta

Interesting, though terrifying, storyline about a mutant virus outbreak. Great reminders of pre 9/11 travel liberties and nice to see some overall plot points developing, in some cases wrapped up. Actually listened to it twice!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

My least Fav of great author

Love Patricia Cornwell books however, this was my least favorite. Hard to get past the contradictions during the read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Love this series and this author. You can’t put them down and can’t wait for the next one!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Again! Amazing!

I have read this book and just finished listening to it through Audiobooks. It is so fascinating!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of Cornwell’s best

From Tangier Island to USAMRID I liked the varied locations. A good outbreak story always has heart pounding suspense and this book was no exception.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love the Kay Scarpetta novels

Story line was good. Narrated was good as usual. I don’t have fifteen words. I just wanted to leave a short review

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Very good

I am throughly enjoying listening to this series in order. I’m getting to know the characters as they progress. I’m looking forward to the TV show coming out.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I have come to love these books...

And I have finally gotten used to the narrator's shortcomings. Matter of fact I've come to expect them. Now, Audible has gone and changed narrators on me! The new narrator starts on the next book and she's worse. I give up...

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Tired of some things

Maybe the problem is that I’ve been listening to this series one after the other, but I’m super tired of Benton. I can’t stand how she does his voice, don’t want to hear him talk about fetishes, and am over the combo of them.

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