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Scarpetta (Kay Scarpetta) | 
| Author: Patricia Cornwell
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $39.95
Buy New: $26.37
You Save: $13.58 (34%)
Rating:  146 reviews
Sales Rank: 4753
Format: Audiobook
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 12
Pages: 11
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 5.8 x 5.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 0143143646
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780143143642
Publication Date: December 2, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Unabridged CDs 11 CDs, 12 hours From Americas #1 bestselling crime writer comes the extraordinary new Kay Scarpetta novel.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 141 more reviews...
 Detailed, exciting and well told story December 3, 2008
60 out of 68 found this review helpful
Compelling story of an "innocent" man being set up as a killer. Oscar Bane, a new character insists on speaking only to Kay Scarpetta and Benton when he is suspected in his girl friend, Terri's murder. He is obviously a disturbed person as the reader hears Kay interview him. It is unclear if he is indeed guilty. Kay, being the kind hearted hero that she is, wants to believe this deranged "little person" and since she has seen him as a patient, can not discuss the interview with Benton or anyone else unless Oscar is formally charged with murder. This makes the story more complex as the reader is privy to information that none of the other investigators have knowledge of. The usual twists and turns that Cornwell uses to weave a story abound and all the characters that have become known to Scarpetta readers are part of the investigative team. This is Cornwell's best story yet. It isn't as dark as others and it is refreshing to see her characters grow and change.
 Winding road December 3, 2008
51 out of 75 found this review helpful
The name of the latest Patricia Cornwell crime thriller is well-chosen -- "Scarpetta" revolves solely around Scarpetta.
Fortunately Cornwell seems to be attempting to get back to the roots of what made her series a string of uber-bestsellers, with a greater emphasis on the gruesome crimes. Unfortunately the first two-thirds of the book drag like a deflated balloon, and too often the book feels like an ode to psychobabble and Scarpetta's awesomeness.
Scarpetta is called back to New York when Oscar Bane, a man with achondroplasia (dwarfism), turns himself into the police. He's the only suspect in his girlfriend's murder, but he swears he didn't do it. So Scarpetta is forced to sift through the lies that Oscar tells her, as well as some truly bizarre evidence (a random assortment of DNA in the victim's vagina). Despite Oscar's obvious paranoia, she believes that he really didn't kill his girlfriend.
Meanwhile, Benton is attempting to come to terms with Scarpetta's near-rape, especially since Marino has been assigned to the NYPD and an online muckraker has published a column about the event. As Scarpetta sifts through the evidence, Lucy's computer wizardry unearths some disturbing new information about the victim -- and the online Scarpetta impersonator that may also be a vicious sadistic killer...
In many ways, "Scarpetta" is a big sprawling step back in the right direction for Patricia Cornwell. Cutting edge technology, gruesome crimes and lots of sifting for clues are all included, and Cornwell successfully integrates some seemingly irrelevant plot points -- such as the victim and suspect's achondroplasia -- so that they become important parts of the solution.
Unfortunately, "Scarpetta" is slow. Very slow. The first two-thirds of the book just ooze along with virtually no revelations, except that Scarpetta is sorta-kinda-maybe sure that Oscar didn't do it. Instead, we're treated to a slow grind of speculation, psychobabble and therapy sessions for Benton and Marino. I do not read crime thrillers to hear about the inner angst of the heroine's husband.
As for the seemingly endless whining about tabloid stories about Scarpetta? Hard to care. It has only the most tenuous of connections to the main storyline.
Fortunately things speed up about two-thirds of the way in, when Scarpetta actually gets around to looking at the victim's body and apartment. And Cornwell inserts the creepy idea of being impersonated online, which is taken to eerie lengths that may involve murder. Unfortunately it's still punctuated by the perpetually obnoxious wunderkind Lucy's flirtations with the DA.
The biggest problem is, simply put, Scarpetta. Everyone raves about how beautiful/smart/awesome/brave/famous/kind she is, but here she seems robotic. Despite being newly married and coming face-to-face with her friend-turned-almost-rapist, she registers almost no emotions except a few token flickers. She just drifts through in a cloud of untouchable awesomeness, while everyone marvels at her. It feels like the author is bored with her self-insert.
In fact, Benton and Lucy don't really react at all to Marino's reappearance, except a bit of stiffness -- hardly the homicidal reactions Benton predicts earlier. Marino is the one who really comes alive -- despite Cornwell's contempt for his "blue-collarness", his wrenching journey of repentance and shame is genuinely touching. He's done something terrible, and is trying hard to put his life back together.
"Scarpetta" is a step in the right direction, but Patricia Cornwell's sixteenth Scarpetta book is hampered by a slow plot and increasingly unemotional heroine.
Surprising and superlative creation December 3, 2008
45 out of 50 found this review helpful
This is a superlative creation that both thrilled and educated me. I enjoyed reading each and every line that was cleverly crafted to draw the reader completely into this book. As the title implies, this book is really built around Scarpetta. Her brilliance, beauty and soul are apparent in every line. She is summoned to NYC to do a personal favor for the DA and probably only accepted because it was Benton that asked her to come. She was to interview a suspect in a murder crime that refused to speak with anyone but Kay Scarpetta. His claim was that she could protect him and could prove his innocence. She came and was instantly and completely involved in a situation that she would have preferred not to be apart of. To top it all off, there were many surprises awaiting her, not the least of which was Mario's new job at the DA's office after disappearing out of her life. The four super sleuths of Benton, Scarpetta, Lucy and Marino are reunited in NYC and do some terrific crime solving as a team. The real treat is the ride the reader enjoys through all the twists and turns the plot takes, ending in a very real surprise.
I rate this as one of Corwell's best efforts, don't miss it.
An excellent novel December 3, 2008
33 out of 38 found this review helpful
Patricia Cornwell has created another heart racing thriller involving all her beloved characters. Having all of Kay Scarpetta's team of crime solvers back together in NYC is of course a fantastic story. Marino is back, although he isn't half the man he used to be after a diet, detox and therapy. He is climbing back up the ladder of the living and is reunited with Lucy, Benton and Kay to solve the murder of an obsessive-compulsive little person named Terri. Her boyfriend, Oscar is the main suspect in the case and he demands to speak with only Kay Scarpetta. Every character in this book is described in detail, making the reader feel as if they have met and are personal friends or acquaintances. Lucy is a happier, more well adjusted person, Benton continues to work through his weirdness, Kay is perfect and Marino is a loyal, lovable, street smart, awkward teddy bear. The new characters drew out strong feelings and emotions, both positive and extremely negative. Scarpetta delivers an entertaining journey through the minds of Psychos and the deep feelings of all humanity. This was a terrific read.
JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!! December 2, 2008
32 out of 39 found this review helpful
"SCARPETTA" is absolutely fantastic, proving once again how Cornwell began a genre that has lasted 20 years.
In this book, which is so beautifully written and fast paced, it feels like a movie, we are treated to a riveting case which will keep you guessing until the end. No spoiler for those who haven't read it yet, I'll simply say that in "Scarpetta", Cornwell addresses many previously unanswered questions and allows us to get to know the characters in ways we haven't seen before. Oscar Bane is fascinating and more than once, I found myself leaping to conclusions that turned out to be way off base. Whether you're a diehard Cornwell fan or a newcomer to the series, this book will amaze you, and you may find that after reading it, you're ready to do it all over again. A must have, treat yourself and buy the book!
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