Livid: The new Kay Scarpetta thriller from the No.1 bestseller

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For me, the Scarpetta series was good for a long time and then went downhill. This novel seems like a slight resurgence, but there's still a ways to go. I enjoyed reading this book and made a promise to read more of the previous novels in this series. I would rate it at 3.5 stars but some of that is probably due to not being fully up to speed with the series. Harry Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer team up to exonerate a woman who’s already served five years for killing her ex-husband.

Now add to this mess, the murder of the judge's sister, add in a threat to the POTUS, another murder, and really strange clues to the murders. Ho boy, this was a fast-paced, twisty-turny read! It’s also far too coincidental — the judge’s murdered sister was having an affair with the aforementioned, career-driven lawyer Flagler, for example. Cornwell is best when detailing a crime scene and how a pathologist might work or look for. It’s just a pity that that’s not enough for a crime thriller to, well, thrill.

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The use of microwave guns is an alarming escalation in weaponry, and is of GREAT concern to the authorities, because instructions for building these guns can be found online. Forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a reluctant star witness in a sensational televised murder trial. Two years ago, a former beauty queen’s body washed up on the shore of Wallops Island, Virginia. She was last seen on a boat with her fiancé, who has since been held in jail while awaiting trial. Kay Scarpetta is an expert witness for the case where another forensic pathologist had previously bungled the investigation. Following an arduous cross-examination by the prosecutor, Scarpetta leaves the court only to discover that the sister of the judge on her case has been found dead. In this 26th book in the 'Kay Scarpetta' series, the medical examiner helps investigate a high-tech murder. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a bonus. funding scholarships and literacy programs. Her advice to aspiring authors: “Start writing. And don’t take no for an answer.” determine that Rachel was killed with a microwave gun. It seems someone stood outside and blasted radiation into the house, which fried Rachael's brain and killed her.

As stated in my previous review of “Autopsy”, my problem is simply this. The characters never develop, grow, change, or evolve. They are way too predictable and obvious. I challenge anyone to name one book in the series in which other members of the family did not know more about one of Kay’s murder investigations than she did herself. There probably is one, but I cannot think of it. In addition, the plotlines also follow the same formula and structure, which includes weak, frustrating, and unfulfilled endings. Two years ago, the victim’s body washed up on the shores of Virginia. She had been out with her fiancé, who claims he has no idea what happened to her. When the authorities questioned him, through immediately tossed him in jail, where he sits today. Scarpetta holds the key to the forensic evidence and her word, should it be taken serial by the jury, could free a man or condemn him forever. Just like her previous outing – “Autopsy” – the structure of the novel was the same. Everything takes place over a period of less than 48 hours. It is all slammed together in a wham-bam-thank-you-reader storytelling experience. Fox 2000 bought the rights to Kay Scarpetta. Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen. I’ve read most of the Scarpetta books. This one I am glad to say may be my last if Cornwell’s return to the character is as mindless as this one is. Here is a summary so you won’t have to waste your time.Cornwell received widespread attention and praise for her series of articles on prostitution and crime in downtown Charlotte. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta. This book starts out with a trial that Kay is an expert witness but is being treated like -well, I just don't know how to describe it, but it sure isn't with any respect! This trial has a lot to do with today's political climate in the USA. The primary action and major plot developments occur outside of the primary characters and offstage from the reader. The core people involved are constantly informed of the key activities propelling the plot forward. They don’t actually experience the events first hand. They come in after those events and then react to what has already happened. As always in this series, there are gory descriptions of dead bodies and autopsies, so not for the faint of heart.

They drive to Norfolk (to confirm her boss whom she doesn't like is up to no good) from Alexandria and while driving some of the "terrorists" are arrested. There was good character growth (just a little growth since the series has been around for years, so you expect the character's to have done their growing) -just enough to keep them fresh. An interesting new weapon, at least to me. But the relief doesn’t last long. She and investigator Pete Marino are soon notified that presiding judge (and Scarpetta’s friend/former roommate) Annie Chilton’s sister has been found dead at the family’s home. Further, evidence at the crime scene—blown electricity, dead wildlife, singed greenery, etc.—indicates the use of a high-tech “microwave gun.” That the victim was employed by the CIA and allegedly having an extramarital affair with Flagler only complicates matters, which are steeped in personal and professional quagmire. When a second body is discovered at a separate location, Scarpetta and expert Co. (including husband, Benton, and niece, Lucy) know that the threat of further violence is imminent. Still, internal strife and jurisdictional turf wars (think CIA, FBI, Secret Service) threaten to delay resolution, even as the terrorist(s) prepare to strike again. Maybe it's because it's a timely topic with more questions than answers that's intrigued me for at least a couple of years now. Maybe it's because forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta doesn't seem quite as paranoid as usual (even though in this case, her suspicions may be rooted in fact). Whatever the reason, this, the 26th book in the popular series, is another one I really didn't want to put down.The writing is descriptive and brisk. The characters are intuitive, knowledgeable, and persistent. And the plot is a well-paced, cleverly plotted tale full of mischief, mayhem, coercion, corruption, criminal behaviours, dangerous endeavours, crime scene analysis, secrets, deduction, lies, terrorists, and murder. The book opens with Chief Medical Examiner, Kay Scarpetta, being grilled on the stand in a highly emotive murder case. A man is on trial for his life after the body of his girlfriend was found floating in the river after being with him on his boat the night before, & supporters of both sides are in the courtroom & squaring up to each other around Virginia. The prosecutor is trying to make Scarpetta look cold & indifferent to the case & that this has made her sloppy in her interpretation of the evidence, & the judge is giving him latitude way beyond what is normal. As things play out, Rachael's homicide seems to have a connection with an attempt on the life of the POTUS, as well as the murder of a Virginia merchant. Thus the FBI and the Secret Service, as well as the Virginia police, are all involved in the investigations. This means Kay's FBI profiler husband Benton Wesley...... By 830PM, 28.5 hours since Kay exited the courtroom, everything is all wrapped up in a tidy bow and the killer is dead.