Take a photo of a barcode or cover
ejl2623 's review for:
Unnatural Death
by Patricia Cornwell, Patricia Cornwell
I thoroughly enjoyed Kay Scarpetta's return to Northern Virginia with Pete Marino. I read a lot of the series but missed a few of the more recent novels as some of the changes were less interesting to me. I do like that Kay is married to Benton and was surprised her sister Dorothy has married Pete. Also, her niece/daughter of her heart, Lucy lost a partner and child to COVID and she lives in a cabin on Kay and Benton's property. This places all the beloved characters within shouting distance of one another. So, we are in a familiar setting but with everyone there. This is plus for me. I might even go back and fill in the gaps.
The story opens with Lucy calling Pete and Kay to the scene of a savage murder of a man and woman, most likely to be the owners of an outfitters store. The bodies are mutilated and placed oddly. The couple were camping on land not far from their home and had erected cameras intended to protect them, but something went horribly wrong. Why did they seem to have anticipated this? Thrown in for a lot of fun is ongoing undermining of Kay's office and staff by her predecessor and his assistant. Kay helped to depose them. Inexplicably the governor has made up jobs for them and they are posted in Kay's building. We meet some new folks who I expect will feature in the ensemble cast that works so well. Lucy's maverick behavior has a few amusing moments as well, often meeting with disapproval or at least concern from Kay. And I love the cameo appearance of the cat with electronic doors to both Lucy's and Kay's/Benton's houses.
There are multiple investigations going on in the novel. So the central murder, while hardly boring, is not the only thread to follow. I prefer that more realistic view of a busy office. The FBI is closely involved in and trying to keep the lid on the murders at the campsite. Down to Kay and Pete conducting the autopsies in a mobile unit provided for such situations. Kay and Pete are made privy to details that make clear everyone involved in the investigation could be in danger from the killer. Ambiguously dangerous things happen as Kay starts to make connections along with her team. Benton profiles. Lucy does high tech. Pete gets caught up in a Big Foot fantasy. The new guy Fabian wants more to do. Dorothy drunkenly dumps on Kay about Lucy and Pete. In other words, all is right with the world. The theme is an interesting one about fringe groups and I particularly enjoyed this and other details that would amount to spoilers if shared. Great book. Highly recommend.
The story opens with Lucy calling Pete and Kay to the scene of a savage murder of a man and woman, most likely to be the owners of an outfitters store. The bodies are mutilated and placed oddly. The couple were camping on land not far from their home and had erected cameras intended to protect them, but something went horribly wrong. Why did they seem to have anticipated this? Thrown in for a lot of fun is ongoing undermining of Kay's office and staff by her predecessor and his assistant. Kay helped to depose them. Inexplicably the governor has made up jobs for them and they are posted in Kay's building. We meet some new folks who I expect will feature in the ensemble cast that works so well. Lucy's maverick behavior has a few amusing moments as well, often meeting with disapproval or at least concern from Kay. And I love the cameo appearance of the cat with electronic doors to both Lucy's and Kay's/Benton's houses.
There are multiple investigations going on in the novel. So the central murder, while hardly boring, is not the only thread to follow. I prefer that more realistic view of a busy office. The FBI is closely involved in and trying to keep the lid on the murders at the campsite. Down to Kay and Pete conducting the autopsies in a mobile unit provided for such situations. Kay and Pete are made privy to details that make clear everyone involved in the investigation could be in danger from the killer. Ambiguously dangerous things happen as Kay starts to make connections along with her team. Benton profiles. Lucy does high tech. Pete gets caught up in a Big Foot fantasy. The new guy Fabian wants more to do. Dorothy drunkenly dumps on Kay about Lucy and Pete. In other words, all is right with the world. The theme is an interesting one about fringe groups and I particularly enjoyed this and other details that would amount to spoilers if shared. Great book. Highly recommend.