The Bone Bed: Scarpetta, Book 20

Where is the confident, take no prisoners Scarpetta gone? Over the last 20 books she has steadily deteriorated. Readers want humanistic heroes, but Cornwell allows her character to slide more and more into the abyss of self-doubt. This novel does not hang together and does not move any of the people forward you care about (except Lucy – for once and only just barely).

The first half of the book goes into way to much autopsy detail and drags on and on and on and on and on. The court case backdrop was not believable; nor, did any real resolution happen in it or to the confrontations that were provoked by it. The story is just flat-out weak. The general theme of Marino screwing up has been done to death (pardon the pun). It would also be nice to see a little more communication between Scarpetta, Lucy and Benton – the non-communication theme has also been played out. Conrwell glosses over this breakdown with flimsy one line justifications. One the positive side, at least Lucy might start to finally catch a break.

If Cornwell wants to keep this series going, she needs to find more inspiration. A great case, a thrill of the chase, let’s get the characters outwardly focused instead of inspecting their own navels. Let Scarpetta and her characters kick some butt instead of having their butts kicked. C’mon Conrwell, Scarpetta deserves better than this!

What would have made the Bone Bed better? A better narrator would have been a good start but would not have saved the lazy effort put forth on the story. Kate Reading provided a barely acceptable Scarpetta, but her reading of the other characters was awful. As for the story, Cornwell once again drones on about past and personal details, yet gives the reader little to go on as far as "solving" the mystery. In the end a barely developed character steps in to provide us with the villian. I really miss the old Scarpetta.

Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore

Her voices for everyone but Scarpetta were terrible.

Few, if any.

This book won't cause me to abandon Cornwell. She has disappointed in the past with a few of the stories I felt were mailed in, but I know one day there will be another Post Mortem and it will be worth it.

Although I have read or listened to almost every Scarpetta novel, there has been disappointment in her last few. I keep hoping the writing will return to the kind of relationships and story lines in the early years--but no.

I had high expectations for this one based on the summary from the publisher- it sounded really good. It held my interest up through the first half of part one, but after that, the continual obnoxious behavior the characters all have for one another began to grate. No one, and I mean NO ONE, is a likeable person. Even Kay and Benton seem to have contempt for each other. There is just no connection between any of the the characters that makes me say "yes--I'd like to see what happens down the road" with these people.

Now I must comment on the narration, which is mentioned by several other people. At the beginning, Lucy sounded a bit like an aging valley girl. As the book went on, her voice smoothed out, but always sounds like she is agitated. Kate Reading is not very good with male voices either. It sounds like she is trying too hard. I really wish they would at least try another narrator--maybe Anna Fields.

The story line did come together at the end, but I didn't like the way it got there. If you can get past the narration, and you are a real Scarpetta fan, you probably will like this book ok.

I was so excited for a new Scarpetta - but pretty disappointed with the ho-hum story line and the overall tired feeling to the book. It seemed as though Ms. Cornwell was trying to meet a deadline...nothing new, nothing exciting but still nice to hear from the recurring characters.

predictable

anyone else

yes

I hate to be cruel but Kate Reading has no business narrating. Her character voices vacillate between downright boring and just plain silly...just awful. She also mispronounces several words in this one - so annoying and distracting to the story.

I have read all the Kay Scarpetta novels and have enjoyed most of them. However, this last novel, Kay seems to be a complaining, somewhat souless character. Her attitude to Marino, who used to be a good friend is always angry, her relationship with Lucy seems somewhat disconnected, as wtih Bently. And when the villain is finally identified, it is almost as if Ms Cornwall had no idea who should be in this role, and quickly selected a character we had not met before in the story. So all in all this novel seems discordant and disconnected.

I usually don't read reviews on books. I find out for myself. How ever I will only read Cornwell books/listen if I see and excellent review. I don't ever have a problem with Kate Reading.

It was more about disfunction with the characters than the store of a crime.

She is a good reader.

They all are having break up type issues. This book is more about relationship problems than the story line of crime.

Very sad that Cornwell has lost the focus of her books which are the crimes.

After reading the first page of reviews, I figure I am again in the minority. I thought the story line was predictable. It was nice to see all the characters together again 2 books in a row. If it were still summer, I'd say it's a good weekend beach read. Where I'm really in the minority is my opinion of Kate Reading. I love listening to her. If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't have made it to the end.

a good narrator. this one was so bad.

no I would advise against

no never ever ever will I listen to this reader again. any book she narrates I will not purchase

anger at reader disappointment i p Cornwell. I have read every Scarpettta. book. I will never listen to another if this is reader

I want my money back

Good plot. I always enjoy Kay Scarpetta. The story is ruined by the narration.

Nasal tone, lack of good inflection.

The narration ruined the book for me. Add that with the characters predictable and stale story line, I was hugely disappointed.

It is EXACTLY the same story line retold.

The voice for Kay is flat but tolerable. The other characters' voice are beyond terrible and so unbelievable.

No

The narration and drawn out story line with Kay's tired out internal dialogue was anything but entertaining.