From one of the world’s top selling crime writers comes the extraordinary twentieth Kay Scarpetta novel.
A woman has vanished while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada. Somehow, the only evidence has made its way to the inbox of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, over two thousand miles away in Boston. She has no idea why.
But as events unfold with alarming speed, Scarpetta begins to suspect that the paleontologist’s disappearance is connected to a series of crimes much closer to home: a gruesome murder, inexplicable tortures, and trace evidence from the last living creatures of the dinosaur age.
When she turns to those around her, Scarpetta finds that the danger and suspicion have penetrated even her closest circles. Her niece Lucy speaks in riddles. Her lead investigator, Pete Marino, and FBI forensic psychologist and husband, Benton Wesley, have secrets of their own. Feeling alone and betrayed, Scarpetta is tempted by someone from her past as she tracks a killer both cunning and cruel.
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"Ok, that's more like it. Not as dark and gloomy as her last 2 books were. Pace picked up quite a bit and I flew thru this one like it was a Prey novel. Keep it up Patricia"
— Andy (4 out of 5 stars)
" Passed the time. "
— Nicola, 2/15/2014" You never know what you are going to get with a Scarpetta book. This one had a lot going on; a lot of secrets. Never ceases to amaze me that Scarpetta and Brennan books have the forensic anthropologists/medical examiners act like they are cops and get in predictably dangerous, life threatening situations. This book was better than most but none of this series is as good as the first three. "
— Lisa, 2/9/2014" It starts out a bit slow and tedious, but picks up from about half way through. There are parts that are way too detailed, like the one with the dinosaur rescue. Cornwell has spent time with a ridgeback in real life as research, and it seems like she's very intent on using every detail she learned, and showing it off. However, at the end it's an okay read. "
— Lene, 2/9/2014" Very good. Started a little dark for me but I ended up really liking it. "
— Virginia, 2/9/2014" Not her best effort....I find everything is formulaic in her novels now and all of the character flaws in Lucy and Marino are becoming tedious. "
— Carolyn, 1/26/2014" I keep reading Scarpetta books even though I haven't liked this series since "The Last Precinct". This one started out okay but then it quickly started rambling and jumped around a lot. I found the conclusion came out of no where and abruptly ended the story. "
— Meagan, 1/26/2014" Disappointing. Tedious. Far too much demand that the reader slog through Kay Scarpetta's endless introspection. I think this series has run its course, and continues to limp along. "
— Delany, 1/23/2014" I am a huge Patricia Cornwell fan, but I have been a bit disappointed in some of the more recent books. I found this story interesting and suspenseful, but the ending felt really rushed and thrown together. Also the character dynamics keep repeating: Lucy is elusive and hiding something (as always) and Marino is behaving idiotically (again) and there is no longer any justification as to why Scarpetta keeps him on. The trouble in Kay & Benton's marriage also felt forced, and it was never clear where this trouble was coming from. Plus the idea that every man Scarpetta comes across is attracted to her is beginning to sound absurd. "
— Jocelin, 1/21/2014" I believe it's time Cornwell allows Scarpetta to rest in peace. "
— Nita, 1/17/2014" I felt recent books in the Scarpetta series were a little disappointing. In this newest in the series Cornwell may have regained her pace. "
— Larry, 1/1/2014" Its been a while since I've read any from the series. Must admit i struggled with parts but over all i really liked it. "
— Joan, 12/9/2013" I've been a fan of the Kay Scarpetta novels for a long time. To be honest, I think this book has probably proven that the series has outlived its storyline, but it is always nice to have a light, easy read during NaNoWriMo. : o) "
— Katy, 12/5/2013" A trifle long (over 400 pages), but still very good. "
— Alex, 12/1/2013" On the whole I enjoyed the book, but I thought the ending was rushed in the last few pages. "
— Muriel, 11/11/2013" Another great Scarpetta mystery! "
— Sandra, 11/4/2013" I want to give 2.5 stars ... Not as bad as the last few, but still not on par with her early books. "
— Kim, 10/31/2013" No more. I can't do it. Too much cosmetic surgery in both her writing and her appearance. I'm done. "
— Rachel, 9/8/2013" Love the Scarpettas as always~ "
— Patty, 8/25/2013" Was really looking forward to Cornwell's new book as I loved Red Mist, which seemed as if she was returning to the style of old. somewhat disappointed. dragged a bit; thought Kay was a bit whiny. "
— Lori, 6/26/2013" Poor Marino... I am soooo tired of him being in trouble or on the brink of failure... I miss him being the big, strong hunk of a man as in the begining of the Scarpetta series.... Not my favorite Cornwell book... Seemed "slapped" together for the holiday.... "
— Michaelannf, 6/3/2013" Surely not one of her best. Very boring and left something with no great explanantion. "
— Jeanne, 4/24/2013" Another good read from Patricia Cornwell. I enjoy this series, and this one kept me guessing until the end in terms of "who done it." "
— Deb, 4/12/2013" I enjoyed this Scarpetta novel but Cornwell HAS gotten very wordy. "
— Sue, 4/8/2013" This was not one of Cornwells better books. had a real hard time getting through it. "
— Mary, 4/7/2013" I remembered why I stopped reading these books. Scarpetta got soooo whiny. "
— Angela, 4/5/2013" I still love the Scarpetta books but this wasn't as good as previous books. "
— Kate, 3/29/2013" I thought the book was great. Had a little bit of trouble getting into it, but once I did I couldn't put it down.... One of her best so far. "
— Dianne, 3/16/2013" Not Patricia Cornwall's best book- I struggled to get through it. Still loved being entertwined with the characters that have come to seem like family to me. Interesting to read about their personal struggles in this book but storyline was kind of boring. "
— Amy, 11/16/2012Patricia Cornwell is recognized as one of the world’s top bestselling crime authors with many New York Times bestselling novels. She wrote her debut, Postmortem, while working at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia, and it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventures—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Beyond the Kay Scarpetta series, she has written a definitive book about Jack the Ripper, a biography, and three more fiction series, among others.
Michael Kramer is an AudioFile Earphones Award winner, a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Narration, and recipient of a Publishers Weekly Listen-Up Award. He is also an actor and director in the Washington, DC, area, where he is active in the area’s theater scene and has appeared in productions at the Shakespeare Theatre, the Kennedy Center, and Theater J.