Cause of Death (Kay Scarpetta) (Paperback)

by Patricia Cornwell (Author) "ON THE LAST MORNING OF VIRGINIA'S BLOODIEST YEAR since the Civil War, I built a fire and sat facing a window of darkness where at..." (more)
Key Phrases: hostage phone, dive boots, dive platform, New Zionists, Old Point, Captain Green (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Patricia Cornwell's heroine Dr. Kay Scarpetta is back; this time to solve the mystery of the death of an Associated Press reporter who was killed while nosing about in a decommissioned navy yard. Scarpetta's involvement in the case leads her to be targeted for murder herself by a nasty little neo-fascist cult with delusions of grandeur that include a plan to "kill and maim, frighten, brainwash and torture" all who oppose their plan to rule the world. Helping Scarpetta is her niece Lucy, an F.B.I. agent whose computer expertise leads to a heart-stopping journey into cyberspace. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
First, the good news: the omni-competent Kay Scarpetta is back, along with her sidekicks, in a murder mystery that's tighter than her last escapade, From Potter's Field. Chief medical examiner for the state of Virginia and an FBI consultant, Kay finds ample opportunity to demonstrate her skills in the autopsy room and outside it, too: here, she also dives with a Navy SEAL rescue squad and, through her computer-genius niece Lucy, an FBI agent, takes an up-close-and-personal look at a robot operated via virtual reality. But there is bad news: the work lacks the extraordinary, can't-go-to-bed-til-you're-finished suspense of Cornwell's earlier novels, e.g. Cruel and Unusual. The killers here, members of a nihilistic, fascist cult who think their founder akin to God, are identified early on but never developed as characters. Their crimes, while heinous, don't baffle and tease the reader (or Kay) in the manner of the villain Temple Gault, who was dismissed in the last book. While Cornwell's authoritative presentation of forensic sleuthing, FBI procedures and high-tech crime-fighting compensates mightily for the overneat dovetailing of characters' paths and even the implausible role Kay plays in the climax, the hurried, almost slapdash pace of the climactic scenes is disappointing from so accomplished a writer. But even at less than her best, Cornwell remains a master of the genre, instilling in readers an appetite that only she can satisfy. One million first printing; $750,000 ad/promo; Literary Guild, Mystery Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selections.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (January 2, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425213382
• ISBN-13: 978-0425213384
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (142 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,691 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 7 in The Kay Scarpetta Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Where are the good books?, September 24, 2006

By	Molly (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cause of Death (Kay Scarpetta) (Paperback)

The book started off well with attention-grabbing events related to the death of a reporter. In no time, it bogged down into neurotic reflections on relationships of all sorts. This is billed as a suspenseful crime novel, but it has more romance, both hetero and homo, than crime and suspense. By page 140 I was so bored, I did not think I could continue, but I hate to start a book and not finish it.
Then another murder occurred about half-way through, and the pace picked up a little then but quickly slacked off again. The descriptions are voluminous, peripherally related to the plot, and almost as interesting as a textbook.
Admittedly this is not the type of book I enjoy but I wanted to try a Cornwell book because she is a very successful author. (A $750k advertising budget helps, I'm sure.) It was tough for me to plow through.
It violates the Third Commandment repeatedly, which I find offensive and unnecessary.
On page 287, there are daffodils, crocus, and ivy growing in window boxes in London in early January; one would think it too cold! Does the Putman group not have editors any more? Where are the good books?

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I never finished reading this book, March 6, 2006

By	Dee (SEA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cause of Death (Kay Scarpetta) (Paperback)

While I'm not the type who notes inaccuracies very well, it was the story that bothered me most. Nevermind that many writers these days have serious problems with prose.

I had a very hard time trying to convince myself that a forensic pathologist could be rambling endlessly about "evil". All this with hardly any conscience over having an affair with Benton and sullying his marriage.

Furthermore, Patricia Cornwell pulls out the old trick of "men versus Scarpetta" again. While it was vaguely interesting in the first book or so, this constant reminder is tiring.

Finally, the "conspiracy" part has been beaten to death. It doesn't mean you can't use it though but Patricia employs it to poor effect.

I felt that Cruel and Unusual and The Body Farm were the better books out of this series. I think she has finally worn out her characters and they would've been better laid to rest.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Slips Ahoy!, March 17, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Cause of Death (Kay Scarpetta) (Paperback)

A general in the Navy? Almost as believable as a 23-yr. old genius with an attitude who is the FBI's secret weapon. This book read as though Ms. Cornwall phoned it in.