The heart-stopping new Dr. Kay Scarpetta thriller from America's #1-bestselling crime writer.
Dr. Kay Scarpetta, now freelancing from south Florida, returns to the city that turned its back on her five years ago.
In Trace, Scarpetta travels to Richmond, Virginia, at the odd behest of the recently appointed Chief Medical Examiner, who claims that he needs her help to solve a perplexing crime. When she arrives, however, Scarpetta finds that nothing is as she expected: her former lab i... (show more)
The heart-stopping new Dr. Kay Scarpetta thriller from America's #1-bestselling crime writer.
Dr. Kay Scarpetta, now freelancing from south Florida, returns to the city that turned its back on her five years ago.
In Trace, Scarpetta travels to Richmond, Virginia, at the odd behest of the recently appointed Chief Medical Examiner, who claims that he needs her help to solve a perplexing crime. When she arrives, however, Scarpetta finds that nothing is as she expected: her former lab is in the final stages of demolition; the inept chief isn't the one who requested her after all; her old assistant chief has developed personal problems that he won't reveal; and a glamorous FBI agent, whom Marino dislikes instantly, meddles with the case.
Deprived of assistance from colleagues Benton and Lucy, who are embroiled in what first appears to be an unrelated attempted rape by a stalker, Scarpetta is faced with investigating the death of a fourteen-year-old girl, working with the smallest pieces of evidence-traces that only the most thorough hunters can identify. She must follow the twisting leads and track the strange details in order to make the dead speak-and to reveal the sad truth that may be more than even she can bear. (show less)
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My second attempt at Patricia Cornwell, and I was rivited. I was not so sure after reading Blow Fly (or skimming rather, since I simply couldn't b... (show more)
My second attempt at Patricia Cornwell, and I was rivited. I was not so sure after reading Blow Fly (or skimming rather, since I simply couldn't bear to subject myself to that trash). But I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. It was well crafted with lots of twists and turns. Just what I was looking for. It was not compltely clean when it comes to questionable content, but it was not over the top, and it was simple to just skip a page here and there, and still be able to enjoy the rest of the novel. This has given me hope that maybe some of her earlier writting is actualy worth seeking out. :) (show less)
Once upon a time I waited impatiently for the newest Scarpetta novel to be released so I could buy it or check it out of our library to read. Afte... (show more)
Once upon a time I waited impatiently for the newest Scarpetta novel to be released so I could buy it or check it out of our library to read. After reading TRACE, I might pick up another one when it comes out, but I might not finish it. I felt no empathy for Lucy or Morelli or Scarpetta. I actually found myself impatient and testy with myself for wanting to finish the book. The characters lacked warmth and heart. The plot was too real - I like to escape in a book, not think about how evil and heartless our world is. I would not recommend this book, as I feel time is precious, and reading this book is not a good use of time. Earlier books, like THE BODY FARM, were more engrossing, interesting, and to be ironic, full of life. Choose one of those if you want to know the REAL Scarpetta and Patricia Cornwell. (show less)
I don't know what's happening to Cornwell's work. I have a few more books of hers to read, but I'm almost hesitating because the stories are getting weaker, the character analysis almost boring, and the apprehension of the villian pathetic and unexciting.
This story had so much potential, but it was probably 100 pages too short. The new Chief Medical Examiner is a good touch with his bizarre phobia, but, then nothing. He needed to get his butt stomped for being such a conceited, arrogant ... (show more)
I don't know what's happening to Cornwell's work. I have a few more books of hers to read, but I'm almost hesitating because the stories are getting weaker, the character analysis almost boring, and the apprehension of the villian pathetic and unexciting.
This story had so much potential, but it was probably 100 pages too short. The new Chief Medical Examiner is a good touch with his bizarre phobia, but, then nothing. He needed to get his butt stomped for being such a conceited, arrogant dumbass, but his presence just disappears.
The old alcoholic lusty rich neighbour of Lucy's needed more exploration, but again, she disappears without much more than the villian having a thought about her.
The dialogue between Benton and the nutcase Henri that Lucy hired became very boring to the point of annoying. Her presence in the story wasn't even a necessity in my opinion.
The interaction between Marino and Suz was interesting though, and the resulting tension that presented itself for Marino when confiding in Scapetta was good to read. It left me wanting more for future stories.
All in all, I felt there was too much superfluous material in this story and not enough meaningful gutsy meat. I don't mind books taking time to evolve, but this one never did. I felt let down and with the feeling of, "is that it?" (show less)
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Dr Kay Scarpetta is back – and working in Richmond again (five years after she was fired). Called in to consult on a mysterious case by her replacement as Chief Medical Examiner, the ‘weedy’ Dr Marcus, it doesn’t take Scarpetta long to realise that all is not as it seems…
Back in Florida, Lucy (Kay’s niece) is dealing with a stalker, and has no idea that what’s going on in Richmond with her aunt might just be connected… (Don’t worry, I won’t give the whole plot away :>)
I like Cornwe... (show more)
Dr Kay Scarpetta is back – and working in Richmond again (five years after she was fired). Called in to consult on a mysterious case by her replacement as Chief Medical Examiner, the ‘weedy’ Dr Marcus, it doesn’t take Scarpetta long to realise that all is not as it seems…
Back in Florida, Lucy (Kay’s niece) is dealing with a stalker, and has no idea that what’s going on in Richmond with her aunt might just be connected… (Don’t worry, I won’t give the whole plot away :>)
I like Cornwell’s books. They’re as close as I’ll ever get to the inside of a morgue (alive, anyway!). The scientific detail is always intriguing and never boring (or glamourised, as in the world of CSI). It does help to know the regular characters (Scarpetta, Lucy, Benton, Marino, etc) and their shared history, so I would recommend reading some of her earlier books before you sink your teeth into this one.
I wouldn’t say that Trace is ‘un-put-down-able’, but it does keep you on your toes. The only negative comment I have is that the story seemed to build and build, and then came to a very abrupt end – a bit of an anticlimax, I felt :< (show less)
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