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Description edit
When the bodies of young courting couples start turning up in remote woodland areas, Chief Medical Examiner Scarpetta is unable to determine the cause of death. Then the daughter of one of the most powerful women in America goes missing....
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
A serial killer is loose in Richmond, specializing in attractive young couples whose bodies are inevitably found in the woods months later -- minus their shoes and socks. After months of exposure to all the elements, all that remains of this killer's victims has in every case left Chief... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters edit
- Dr. Kay Scarpetta: After leaving her hometown of Miami, Florida, the very independent Scarpetta successfully continued her education at Cornell Univervisty before moving on to achieve her doctorate at Johns Hopkins and law degree at Georgetown. Scarpetta is the Chief Medical Examiner for the city of Richmond, Virginia, where she thrives as a driven forensic pathologist. While Scarpetta is currently single, this is after a recent break-up that followed her divorce. Scarpetta has a strong relationship with her niece and friends. Her Italian roots tend to show themselves in her cooking, which serves as Scarpetta's primary source of relaxation.
- Detective Pete Marino: Marino has served as a homicide detective for the city of Richmond since his move from the New York Polices Department. He serves as the partner for the regional FBI VICAP agent in spite of his strong distrust of federal law enforcement agencies. While the detective appears to be experiencing some kind of personal distress, his lack of social grace and communication skills maintains the distance he experiences from people.
- Agent Benton Wesley: Agent Wesley is a profiler for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He works out of Quantico as the current VICAP agent for the region and is getting more and more pressure since the "couple killings" coninue and now involve Senator Harvey's daughter. Wesley continues to serve as FBI mentor to Scarpetta's ex-boyfriend Mark.
- Senator Patricia Harvey: As an ex-federal prosecutor and current National Drug Policy Director," rumors are swirlling that she is is the running to successfully become the first female Vice President. Her primary focus currently is the disappearance of her only daughter, Deborah, with her boyfriend. The vehicle they were travelling in was just found, with no sign of the missing college couple. As this powerful Washington player becomes more desperate, the pressure she applies to the investigation of similar cases threatens the well-being of those involved.
- Abby Turnbull: After losing her sister Henna in the rampage Richmond named "Mr. Nobody," ace newspaper reporter Abby quit her job in Richmond and was hired to work the crime beat for the Washington Post. While her past drives her to get the to truth, her ability to relate to the victims' families is becoming an issue. Her friendship with Scarpetta appears to be close, but Scarpetta worries that Abby is falling apart...and if Abby will take Scarpetta down with her.
- Henna: Add a description of this character.
- Pat Harvey
- Bruce Cheney
- Jay Morrell
- Tony
- Doc Cagney
- Clifford Ring
- Jill Harrington
- Bertha
- Doris
- Mr. Joyce
- Linda
- Jason
- Elizabeth Mott
- Montana
- Connie Wesley
- Ted
- Lucy
- Rose
- Bonnie Smyth
- Haresh
- Dr. Anna Zenner
- Neils Vander
- Judy Roberts
- Dr. Alex Vessey
- Jeff
- Doc Whiteside
- Gail
- Hilda Ozimek
- Mark James
- Jim Freeman
- Mike Martin
- Ben Anderson
- Frederick Wilson Cheney
- Ellen Jordan
- Steven Spurrier
- Gordon Spurrier
- Neptune
- Barry Aranoff
- Bruce Phillips
- Bob Harvey
- Bubba
- Deborah Harvey
First Sentence edit
Saturday, the last day of August, I started work before dawn.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 3 of 21 in Kay Scarpetta. (standard series)
Preceded by Body of Evidence, and followed by Cruel and Unusual.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Patricia Cornwell (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons
Country: USA
Publication Date: August 17, 1992
ISBN: 978-0684193953
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Charles Scribner's Sons
Country: USA
Publication Date: August 17, 1992
ISBN: 978-0684193953
Page Count: 416
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3553.O692 A79 1992
- Dewey: 813.54
Subjects edit
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