Books
x dismiss this message

Did you know you can edit this page?

see page history

Description edit see section history

The clues to a series of remorseless killings go up in smoke — and only Kay Scarpetta can find them.

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Summary edit see section history

Carrie Grethen, partner in crime to William Temple Gault, has escaped from prison. Before she does so, she sends Kay Scarpetta a message that makes it all too clear she blames her for Gault's death, and has specific, if cryptic, plans for revenge.

Wary and quite shaken, Scarpetta still... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

Carrie Grethen, partner in crime to William Temple Gault, has escaped from prison. Before she does so, she sends Kay Scarpetta a message that makes it all too clear she blames her for Gault's death, and has specific, if cryptic, plans for revenge.

Wary and quite shaken, Scarpetta still has to get on with an investigation into the death of an unknown female in a fire that has destroyed the isolated farmhouse home of her erstwhile political boss.

The post mortem reveals that the woman was stabbed before the fire was started, but while Scarpetta and her colleagues are puzzling over means and motive, they are called out to the scene of another fire and another murder. The pattern is the same, the answers as elusive, and then Benton disappears while following up a tip-off.

With appalling clarity, Scarpetta sees that Carrie has set up a scenario in which she can manipulate them all - and in which she appears to have the lethal upper hand.

Characters edit see section history

  • Dr. Kay Scarpetta: Medical Examiner with a legal training; specialist in forensic pathology. Consulting pathologist for ATF.
  • Lucy Farinelli: Super intelligent, low on social skills; angry at her mother Scarpetta's brilliant niece. Flies helicopters, fires weapons, hacks computers...
  • Detective Pete Marino: Previously a Detective, than a Captain in the Richmond PD, who has worked with Kay Scarpetta for many years.
  • Benton Wesley: FBI Profiler.
  • Teun Mcgovern: Lucy's mentor and the team leader of ATF's National Response Team (NRT).
  • Kenneth Sparkes: Media mogul.
Popular Covers

Loading covers…

Choose your book’s cover

Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

BENTON WESLEY WAS taking off his running shoes in my kitchen when I ran to him, my heart tripping over fear and hate and remembered horror.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 9 of 21 in Kay Scarpetta. (standard series)

Preceded by Unnatural Exposure, and followed by Black Notice.

This is book 8 of 10 in Publishers Weekly Bestselling Novels in 1998. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Patricia Cornwell (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Putnam Adult
Country: USA
Publication Date: July 6, 1998
ISBN: 978-0399143946
Page Count: 356

Classification edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Adults

older teens

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

   
  • Postmortem
  • Body of Evidence
  • All That Remains
  • Cruel and Unusual
  • The Body Farm
  • From Potter's Field
  • Unnatural Exposure
  • Cause of Death

We’re hiding the themes, errata, awards, links to supplemental material, movie connections, books that influenced this book, books influenced by this book, books that cite this book and books cited by this book sections. If you would like to add content to them, you must first make them visible.