Depraved Heart

A Scarpetta Novel, Book 23

By: Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Patricia Cornwell delivers the newest engrossing thriller in her high-stakes series starring medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

Depraved Heart: “Void of social duty and fatally bent on mischief.”

—Mayes v. People, 806 III. 306 (1883)

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is working a suspicious death scene in Cambridge, Massachusetts when an emergency alert sounds on her phone. A video link lands in her text messages and seems to be from her computer genius niece Lucy. But how can it be? It’s clearly a surveillance film of Lucy taken almost twenty years ago.

As Scarpetta watches she begins to learn frightening secrets about her niece, whom she has loved and raised like a daughter. That film clip and then others sent soon after raise dangerous legal implications that increasingly isolate Scarpetta and leave her confused, worried, and not knowing where to turn. She doesn’t know whom she can tell—not her FBI husband Benton Wesley or her investigative partner Pete Marino. Not even Lucy.

In this new novel, Cornwell launches these unforgettable characters on an intensely psychological odyssey that includes the mysterious death of a Hollywood mogul’s daughter, aircraft wreckage on the bottom of the sea in the Bermuda Triangle, a grisly gift left in the back of a crime scene truck, and videos from the past that threaten to destroy Scarpetta’s entire world and everyone she loves. The diabolical presence behind what unfolds seems obvious—but strangely, not to the FBI. Certainly that’s the message they send when they raid Lucy’s estate and begin building a case that could send her to prison for the rest of her life.

In the latest novel in her bestselling series featuring chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Cornwell will captivate readers with the shocking twists, high-wire tension, and cutting-edge forensic detail that she is famous for, proving yet again why she’s the world’s #1 bestselling crime writer.

Cery disappointed in ending

Maybe it's me but it seemed disjointed. The ending left me hanging, like the author had to quickly end and submit it.

Too many loose ends - no finality to anything

I have read a lot of Cornwell's Scarpetta books and this was the least satisfying. While it contained the usual five things at once happening, in the end all the important dilemmas that were built up through the whole book were all left hanging. My final response was "SAY WHAT?" After almost 15 hours of listening you would think you would know what was happening with the various agencies security, whether anyone was going to go to jail, and who was part of the conspiracies that took place throughout the story. Very disappointing.

Good story but disappointed!

I have been reading the Scarpetta series for more than twenty years. This book was as good as any of them but this was the first time I listened to an audiobook version. The narrator sounded nothing like the Kay Scarpetta I've been envisioning for the last two decades and I had a hard time reconciling that. The narration was strange at times and not believable. I won't listen to another of these novels unless it's someone new narrating the story.

A Gripping Dr Kay Story

This book is filled with raw emotions. With an impending sense of dread you barely breathe. You are compelled to keep listening. I wouldn't recommend it to the faint of heart. If you have any sense of compassion, you will have to pause occasionally to catch your breath.

Another outstanding book by the masterful story teller Patricia Cornwell. This writer expertly draws the listener into her stories. You will not be disappointed.

Patricia Cornwell is an excellent storyteller, but ....

I think this novel has gone "over the top" in story lines. It is not even close to reality in anybody's life! I will be much more careful in buying Scarpetta books in the future . btw, I have read all but one of the previous novels.

Another Winner

Can't go wrong with any novel written by Patricia Cornwell. This continues to meet expectations of any Scarpetta novel.

Left me hanging!

This is only my 2nd book review. Sounds like if Patricia Cornwell was angry when she wrote this book so I can’t blame Susan Ericksen for sounding angry…but that’s how it came across to me. It was definitely different from all the other Scarpetta audio books I’ve listened to…and all of a sudden it was over and left me hanging.

Fabulous!

Great story and performance. One of the best Ever written Could listen again and again!

average

I found it to be very repetitious and boring through out most of the book. Not her best work

no place to hide

Life without Carrie needs to happen soon. I Can hardly wait for her timely demise.