Medical examiner, Kay Scarpetta, is up against a gruesome set of medical clues.  The victims are women who were strangled and tortured by a very clever serial killer who can't be stopped.  Really great Scarpetta story! ( )

Allthought the story itself is quite good and Cornwell writes strongly and convincing, for me there was something missing. I can't quite put my finger on it since it is all well researched, well written and plausible but as the end drew near I noticed myself counting down the pages.

The author did convince me to read more of her work, especially this particular series with Kay Scarpetta because the character is so appealing.
Honestly, Patricia Cornwell knows her job and writes down a story as it should be done. It's just not the 'thrilling' experience I'd hoped it to be. ( )

I found the first in the Scarpetta series to be slow building and fast ending. There was hardly any build up to the conclusion and subsequent solving of the crime.

I also found that the book contained a lot of small details about technology which was used, where other areas where skimmed over.

The book was enough for me to attempt the second in the series. ( )

2000

With all her success it would be foolish of me to say I didn't like this book. I did like it, as I do most of Cornwell's work, but there was a certain suspense missing, no fault of the author's. One of the disadvantages of reading the first installment of a series after having read several other volumes is that the reader knows the main characters aren't in any real danger; the knowledge that they will be, at the most, slightly injured if at all lends a feeling of safety to an otherwise thrilling adventure. ( )