This is the 23rd book in the 'Kay Scarpetta' series and - though you don't need to be familiar with all the previous books to understand what's going on - you should read at least a few. To give you some background, I'll provide a brief synopsis of the main characters:
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is a medical examiner who's so notorious that she's in the sights of many criminals, especially the satanic Carrie Grethen - a psychopath who seems impossible to kill. Kay also appears to be on the outs with the FBI, but the reason isn't totally clear (to me).
Kay's niece, Lucy Farinelli, is a genius and former FBI agent who was dismissed from the agency some time ago. While Lucy was with the FBI, evil Carrie Grethen was her mentor - and their ongoing 'relationship' has caused no end of trouble.
Lucy now runs a high tech security company and is VERY savvy about weapons, computers, and every kind of technology. Lucy used her smarts to become immensely wealthy and she and her girlfriend Janet now live in a mansion/fortress filled with expensive art and furnishings. Lucy also owns and flies planes and helicopters, and has an arsenal of weapons that would be the envy of a small country.
Kay's husband, Benton Wesley, is a top profiler for the FBI. Kay and Benton have a complex history that's detailed in previous books. Benton is tall, silver-haired (by now), and handsome - and he has to tiptoe around Kay's fractious relationship with the FBI. How these two stay married is a wonder to me. LOL
Pete Marino is a cop whom Kay has known - and worked with - for many years. Pete is a big coarse, loudmouth who's at least half in love with Kay - which has caused BIG problems in the past. I've often wished Pete would fall off the face of the earth, but he's toned down in this book, so I'm giving him another chance. (Ha ha ha)
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As the story opens Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the Chief Medical Examiner in Cambridge, Massachusetts - and cop Pete Marino - are at the scene of a suspicious death. While Kay is doing her job she receives an enigmatic video clip on her phone. In the video, made 20 years ago, Carrie Grethen is saying that Lucy Farinelli possessed an illegal weapon while she was a student at the FBI Academy. Kay jumps to the conclusion that Carrie - who 'died' in a helicopter crash some time ago - is still alive.....and about to cause trouble for Lucy.
Kay is unnerved by the video clip. So, without completing her analysis of the crime scene, she orders the body of the deceased girl - Chanel Gilbert - to be taken to the medical examiner's office. Kay then leaves the site and rushes over to Lucy's house with Pete Marino.
When Kay and Pete arrive at Lucy's house, the FBI is there - armed with warrants. The FBI agents, one of whom 'has it in' for Lucy, are grabbing ALL of Lucy's weapons and going through her estate with a fine tooth comb.....clearly looking for something.
Kay thinks the FBI is looking for a video taken two months ago. At that time Kay was scuba diving to observe a dead body when she was wounded in the leg with a harpoon. Kay claims that Carrie Grethen shot her, but the dive camera has disappeared, so she can't prove it. The FBI thinks Carrie is dead, and suspects Kay is deluded or lying.
In Kay's mind, the FBI is trying to make it look like Lucy harpooned her. This seems nuts on the face of it, since Kay raised Lucy from childhood and the two women are as close as as two sardines in a tin. However, Kay is convinced the FBI will do ANYTHING to take Lucy down.
At one point Kay finds out that her husband, Benton, knew in advance that the FBI would raid Lucy's compound, but - of course - kept mum because of his job with the agency. Kay isn't too thrilled with her husband's 'perifidy' - but Benton hints that he's got everything under control. Thus we're led to believe he has an end game in mind.
In any case, Kay goes back to the Chanel Gilbert death scene, and it's clear someone has tampered with the house: clocks have been wound, scented candles have been put out, the victim's car is gone, and a noise like a slamming door sounds periodically - though no one can identify the source. In addtion, an arrow contaminated with human tissue mysteriously appears in the locked medical examiner van. Kay is sure Carrie Grethen is responsible for all this - and that it's been done to somehow harm herself and Lucy.
All the action in the story takes place in a single day, during which Kay learns how Chanel Gilbert died; what Gilbert's secret occupation was; and secrets about Gilbert's house. Kay also discovers more about the harpooning incident - things that she apparently misremembered. In addition, Kay receives more enigmatic video clips on her phone. To Kay's dismay, a lot of this looks bad for Lucy, who might be arrested before long.
There's a lot of additional blather in the book about Carrie Grethen: her serious blood disorder; her fear of aging; medicines and salves she uses; and her severe mental illness - which no one quite understands. There's also talk about Carrie's sky-high IQ, which is in the super-genius realm (over 200). Apparently this makes Carrie almost superhuman, since - in this story - she kidnaps and kills trained cops and FBI agents right under the noses of their armed colleagues. There's also a graphic depiction of Carrie's sadism, which is quite disturbing.
By the end of the book some things are resolved - like who killed Chanel Gilbert.....but loose ends remain. I suppose these will be addressed in the next book.
My favorite Kay Scarpetta books have the medical examiner doing a forensic examination of a body (or bodies), then trying to identify and capture the perp - who's usually a weird and fascinating freak. Marino, Lucy, and Benton generally assist with the investigation, and frequently have side stories of their own. The 'Kay crew' generally find themselves in serious danger from criminals with nefarious plans, and it's all exciting and compelling.
"Depraved Heart" is a completely different book, and I didn't like it much. Kay just frets and worries through the entire story, and her paranoia and suspicion are over the top. Kay is certain the FBI is her mortal enemy, trying to destroy Lucy and herself. Kay figures the FBI's 'Plan A' is to set Lucy up for assassination by confiscating her weapons. Their 'Plan B' is to frame Lucy for a crime and send her to prison.
To me, it's UNBELIEVABLE the FBI would waste time and resources messing with Kay and Lucy. And for a woman as brilliant as Kay to succumb to this notion is ludicrous. Of course Lucy believes this too, but she's always been narcissistic and egocentric - thinking everyone revolves around her - so that doesn't count. Maybe I've watched too many seasons of 'Criminal Minds' but I don't think of the FBI as chock full of people with nasty personal agendas.
In my opinion, Patricia Cornwell has gone completely off the rails with this addition to the series. If Kay Scarpetta doesn't get back on track - solving crimes and catching murderers - I'm done with these books.
I can't recommend this book but - in all fairness - I have to note that the reviews are all over the place, and many people LOVE 'Depraved Heart.' Thus, if you're a fan of the series you should probably read the book and decide for yourself.
Rating: 2 stars
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