After reading the first book in the series, I felt good enough to want to read the second book sooner rather than later. Book two is fashioned out of some of the basic framework as the first but with enough changes to the facade that it really doesn't detract too much from the story.

Most of the same characters are back for this installment with some new players thrown in. The forensics play along and provide physical clues to go along with the psychological clues. Like the first book, we are given plenty of clues to figure out the twist and don't feel like we've been cheated when it is revealed. As with the first book, I like that we only see what Kay sees and nothing more or less.

Kay Scarpetta, we learn, will always be very *involved* with her work and that will always play havoc with her personal life. Even this early in the series, that thread is obvious. Fortunately, even though this running thread is becoming concrete and will remain in future books, it doesn't overwhelm the main story.

The plot of this one is a little more convoluted than the first. There are several interweaving plots that connect or seem to connect and they provide us with quite a bit of depth in the mystery. What starts out fairly straightforward quickly becomes messy and confusing (on purpose) but comes together fairly nicely at the end.

For a second novel, this one does well and doesn't fall into many of the traps and pitfalls that are out there and because of that, I'll be reading the third. ( )

A very good series continues nicely. ( )

Alguien está acechando a Beryl Madison. Alguien la está espiando, observando cada movimiento y haciendo llamadas telefónicas amenazantes y obscenas. La joven y solitaria escritora busca refugio en Miami, pero finalmente regresa a su hogar en Richmond. La misma noche en que ella llega, inexplicablemente, le abre la puerta al asesino. ¿Por qué Beryl abrió la puerta? ¿Conocía a su asesino?

Una Kay Scarpetta agli albori della serie, ma già capo medico legale a Richmond. Benton è soltanto una conoscenza, Marino ha un brutto carattere ma ha ancora la sua famiglia, Lucy Farinelli è ancora piccola. Ma Kay è fedele a se stessa, si lancia sempre con passione in un caso e, come le rinfaccia il suo capo, rischia di farsi travolgere. Troppe e troppo strane sono le tracce in questo delitto: come mai Beryl ha aperto al suo assassino? E' davvero implicata la mafia? Il grande amore di Kay è buono o cattivo? E quelle maledette fibre arancioni, sono indice di un intrigo internazionale o sono da riferirsi a qualcosa di più semplice? Frankie chi è? Vittima o carnefice?
Kay riuscirà a sbrogliare la matassa e trovare un senso agli omicidi che fanno seguito al primo, pur rischiando la vita lei stessa. Danni collaterali: l'auto nuova fiammante di Marino e lo scoiattolo che finisce incenerito nel rogo della stessa. ( )

"Body of Evidence" does a great deal of character development. It builds the frame for the rest of the series. It is a rich, satisfying read. ( )