Cruel and Unusual

*A compelling and captivating thriller by bestselling author Patricia Cornwall and her fourth novel…….. While going through a devastating loss of a friend and at one time a love interest, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta is finding with some difficulty of keeping her mind on her work. But right now thinking of Mark James isn\’t going to get her through with the next autopsy of Ronnie Joe Waddell who not too long ago was executed by the state of Virginia. From the start, this was going to turn out to be a huge mystery in Kay\’s eyes. First, why was he bleeding? Second, why did he have abrasions under his arms? Third, no stomach contents, why? No last meal? Even Kay\’s friend and homicide detective Pete Marino agrees with her that some things do not add up even though he knows that Waddell was guilty as hell for the murder of the former Miss Virginia ten years earlier. Now at another crime scene, Waddell\’s fingerprints suddenly show up. How can that be? He was just electrocuted! On top of everything else, Kay learns that one of her assistants never took Waddell\’s prints when he was brought into the morgue. Why? Slowly she learns that her offices are corrupt and her computers have been compromised and once again, her enemies are waiting for her to fall flat on her face. As if things couldn\’t get anymore worse, her assistant Susan has been murdered. Why? Again working by the side of her dear friend and colleague, FBI profiler Benton Wesley and together they will begin a quest by asking one huge question \”who did they execute and who is responsible for the murders that are happening now\”? And why is this murderer trying to implicate Kay? Are these three cases in any way related? Who paid Susan off not to print Waddell in the morgue? Before Kay can see any light to the end of the tunnel, she will also have to face a current of obstacles too. With the help of Lucy, Benton and Pete Marino, all details come to light but nothing will prepare any of them when they actually learn about the one responsible. Even Benton especially him, coming across one of the most cunning, devious, intelligent and evil killer of all time. Just when they thought it was over, it wasn\’t!……thank you♡♡

I feel that Patricia Cornwell is writing her novels for adult readers since she goes into quite a bit of detail in many of Dr. Scarpetta\’s cases. Each of her novels can be read independently of each other but I find it much more interesting if I read them in order. I first began reading Cornwell\’s Novels about 15+ years ago. For about ten years she attempted to begin a couple of new series with completely different characters. I suppose that most readers, much like myself, just wanted more of the Dr. Kay Scarpetta series and she did, finally, pick up her pen and resume this series. Her new novels are even better than ever! I am a huge fan!

Spoilers ahead….So this is the fourth book of hers that I am reading, and in every single one, there is some sort of conspiracy against her, and she is slandered in the newspapers. I mean, talk about beating a dead horse. These books are otherwise decent page-turners, but this plot trope had gotten old two books ago. It is too bad since the plots don\’t need these obvious red herrings to move the story along. Outside of this, her books are enjoyable to read.

I quite enjoyed this book and found myself mystified throughout as to \”whodunnit\”. In that sense it was a really good read and delivered the suspense it promised. I usually enjoy Patricia\’s books and like the way she builds a profile of her heroine\’s life, including the people she is close to as well as those more on the periphery of her life – it helps the reader to relate to her and treat her as a real person. I particularly like the way she combines her professional life with her personal one and think it shows the human side which is very necessary considering her profession which could otherwise seem very detached and clinical so well done for that consideration. The plot was complex but not too much so and very cleverly thought out. The only reason I didn\’t find it unputdownable was because for me the over usage of technical jargon got in the way too much. Most people not familiar with the terminology will probably find it irritating – after all, who wants to have to refer to a medical directory to understand what\’s being said! I have heard many others make a similar comment but personally I never found it a bother in her other books but on this occasion I was quite exasperated. A small quibble and I wouldn\’t let it put me off.

I purchased this book several years back. The benefit of having a long period of time between readings of the same book is you forget the details and the book becomes a new book to enjoy all over again.. I have always preferred a lot of the early books by Patricia Cornwell and find them among her bests works.

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