Review of "Flesh and Blood: A Kay Scarpetta Thriller" by Patricia Cornwell

 

 

In this 22nd book in the 'Kay Scarpetta' series, the medical examiner is concerned with a series of odd murders. The book works as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a plus.

*****

Dr. Kay Scarpetta, currently the Chief Medical Examiner in Cambridge, Massachusetts, often investigates the deaths of crime victims she autopsies.



Thus Kay is in the sights of many criminals, particularly psychopaths and serial killers. For this reason, Kay has a sophisticated security system in her home; carries a gun; and is savvy about self-protection.

Kay's husband, Benton Wesley, is a top profiler for the FBI and often consults (sometimes unofficially) on Kay's cases.



Kay's niece, Lucy Farinelli, is a genius and former FBI agent and ATF agent. Lucy - who's a computer whiz and master hacker - has become immensely wealthy by developing computer programs for law enforcement agencies, government bureaus, and the military. Thus Lucy owns a helicopter; has top-of-the-line bullet-proof cars; owns all manner of sophisticated weapons; has her own shooting range; etc.



Pete Marino is a cop whom Kay has known, and worked with, for many years. Pete is a coarse, loudmouth who's at least half in love with Kay, which makes their working relationship tense at times.



The Kay Scarpetta books are formulaic in the sense that Kay is ALWAYS in the crosshairs of some devious criminal(s). In this book, Kay is being baited by a killer who seems to want to attract the attention of Kay and Detective Pete Marino.

As the novel opens, it's Kay's birthday and she and Benton are planning to fly to Florida for a vacation. Before departing, Kay and Benton are grilling breakfast on their patio, and several odd things occur. Kay finds seven shiny copper pennies lined up along a wall in their backyard; Benton sees a glint in the nearby trees, like the sun reflecting off a rifle scope; and Marino calls with news of an unusual murder.



The homicide victim, a high school music teacher called Jamal Nari, was shot while unloading groceries from his car. The angle of the bullet demonstrates it came from a very great height, though there are no tall buildings in the area. Kay feels compelled to examine the crime scene, and decides to postpone her Florida trip to investigate Nari's murder.



Nari's autopsy reveals he was killed with a copper bullet polished in a rock tumbler. Marino notes the crime is exactly like two homicides in New Jersey, one of which targeted a woman Marino knew. To add to the eerie coincidences, Kate recently received a nasty message from a highjacked Twitter account called Copperhead.



As Kay inquires into these incidents, she consults with a firearms instructor, who explains all about bullets, guns, rifles, angles, distances, wind speed, snipers, and so on.



Later, when a high-profile homicide occurs in Florida, Kay flies down and scuba dive's an old shipwreck to search for clues. This provides an occasion to discuss scuba gear and scuba diving.



(Note: In an interview, Patricia Cornwell explained that, to write this book, she consulted a marksman and boned up on her scuba diving skills.)

In the midst of Kay's murder investigations, she's harassed by an insurance investigator called Rand Bloom. Bloom's company NEVER wants to pay out on policies, so when Kay's autopsy results - such as accidental death - lead to valid claims, Bloom badgers Kay, follows her, parks near her house, and tries to intimidate her.



Additional characters in the story include Jamal Nari's wife Joanna Cather - a high school guidance counselor whose student accuses her of inappropriate conduct; Leo Gantz - Joanna's student, who falsely confesses to killing her husband; Bob Rosado - a corrupt politician; Troy Rosado - the politician's sociopath son; Sasha Sarin - a fixer hired to keep Troy out of jail; Sil Machado - Marino's detective partner, who's up to something; Kay and Benton's rescue greyhound Sock; and others.



Unfortunately, the book is short on plot and long on extraneous threads. For instance, Kay is worried about Lucy's relationship with her longtime partner Janet, which seems to have hit a snag; Kay muses about romantic affairs/attractions that involve her employees; Kay is annoyed with her intrusive mother, who criticizes Kay's career but extols Kay's flamboyant, attention-seeking sister Dorothy; and more.



All the wrongdoing leads to a dramatic. heart-stopping climax.

The first few books in Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta series were excellent, after which the novels were up and down for me. This story isn't one of my favorites, but I'll probably keep trying.

 Rating: 3 stars

Review of "The Careful Use of Compliments: An Isabel Dalhousie Novel" by Alexander McCall Smith

 

Alexander McCall Smith is probably best known for his 'Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency' series, but he's a prolific author who also pens other series and books.

In this 4th novel in the 'Isabel Dalhousie' series, ethicist Isabel tackles problems related to her niece Cat; a landscape painting; and her job.

*****

Isabel Dalhousie and her younger boyfriend Jamie live in Edinburgh and have an infant son named Charlie. Isabel is a philosopher who edits The Review of Applied Ethics.....



…..and Jamie is an elite musician who gives concerts, teaches music, and makes guest appearances.



In the course of the story, Isabel becomes concerned with three problems.

The first difficulty hinges on Isabel's prickly niece Cat, a delicatessen owner who's had a string of (usually bad boy) lovers.



Isabel's boyfriend Jamie was once Cat's beau, but Cat threw over the clean-cut musician, and repeatedly refused to take him back. Later on, Isabel and Jamie embarked on a romance that led to baby Charlie.



Cat got over Isabel and Jamie being a couple, but the infant is a step too far. Isabel is anxious to restore good relations with her niece, and pleads, "You have to forgive me. You have to forgive me for having Charlie. For Jamie. For everything." Isabel doesn't think she did anything wrong, but wants to smooth things over with Cat.



The second item on Isabel's mind is a work of art. Isabel is the prime beneficiary of a well-funded family trust, and is thinking of using some of her money to buy a landscape painting called 'Sea Livelihood' by Scottish artist Andrew McInnis. McInnes drowned eight years ago, and his pictures are now in demand and expensive. 'Sea Livelihood' is valued at £25,000, which is pricey, but within Isabel's budget. As things play out, however, Isabel comes to suspect the landscape's authenticity.



Isabel's third (and biggest) concern is the loss of her job as editor of The Review of Applied Ethics. Out of the blue - with no previous phone call - Isabel receives a letter from Professor Robert Lettuce, chairman of The Review's editorial board.



Amidst a slew of smarmy compliments and 'thank you for your service', Lettuce announces the board has appointed a new editor - Professor Christopher Dove, who'll start in the new year.



Isabel is shocked! For the ethicist, "There was a sense of disgust at the obvious plotting that must have been going on. Dove probably coveted her post as editor; he was ambitious, and the editorship of an established journal would help him on his climb up the pole of academic success." Isabel is even more appalled when she meets Dove for a planning session, and she decides she must take steps.

While all this is going on, Isabel and Jamie take care of little Charlie with the help of Isabel's longtime housekeeper Grace. Isabel and Jamie even take time for a trip to the seaside, and the descriptions of the Scottish landscape are lovely (except for the whirlpool that drowns people).



I also liked the description of the focaccia and olives served at Cat's eatery, which I'd like to try myself.



By the end of the book Isabel has resolved her concerns with her usual deep thinking, applied ethics, and well-intentioned interference in other people's lives.

I always enjoy the books of Alexander McCall Smith, who uses his background as a legal scholar and bioethics professor to inform his writing.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "The Hunter: Cal Hooper #2" by Tana French

The Hunter is the sequel to The Searcher, but can be read as a standalone.

Cal Hooper was a Chicago police officer who became disillusioned with his job and relocated to the Irish town of Ardnakelty. Cal is now an accepted member of the community, where he owns a house, grows vegetables, and supports himself as a carpenter.



Cal is in a romantic relationship with a widow named Lena Dunne.....



.....and Cal and Lena 'look after' 15-year-old Theresa (Trey) Reddy, who's had a troubled life.



Trey's father Johnny Reddy, who was always a wastrel, left Ardnakelty years ago, leaving his wife and children to fend for themselves.



Trey's mother Sheila did her best, but Trey was growing up as an ill-mannered wild child before Cal and Lena took an interest. Trey is now learning carpentry, and has even acquired a bit of polish. Trey is a troubled girl, however, because her beloved older brother Brendan vanished a few years ago, and Trey is convinced some men in Ardnakelty are responsible.



As 'The Hunter' opens, Johnny Reddy - who was always a charming con man - has just returned to Ardnakelty with a money-making scheme.



Johnny claims to have met an English millionaire in London, a man whose ancestors hail from Ardnakelty. The Englishman's relatives passed down a story about gold in the hills of Ardnakelty, with some information about where to find it.

Johnny spreads the word that the English millionaire is on his way to Ardnakelty, and if the Londoner finds evidence of gold, he'll pay the locals to mine their land. Johnny convinces several lifelong farmers to join him in a get-rich-quick scheme, and the farmers are soon gleefully making plans for their future windfall.





All this gives Trey an idea: she'll take advantage of the farmers' hopes and dreams to get revenge for her brother Brendan.



Cal and Lena fear Trey is headed for big trouble, but they're unable to dissuade her.





The confluence of events leads to a murder, and a police detective comes to town to investigate. The detective's interviews cast suspicion on many citizens of Ardnakelty, who get VERY nervous.



A good part of the book revolves around Johnny Reddy's devious schemes and the dysfunctional Reddy family. With a useless husband and father, the Reddys have always been indigent, struggling, and a bit disdained. Now that Johnny's back with big promises, the young Reddy kids are thrilled to have their daddy back. But Trey and her exhausted mother Sheila....not so much. This part of the book meanders along at a rather slow pace, and I was impatient for things to get moving.



Once the homicide occurs, and the police arrive, the book's pace picks up. It's interesting to see how people in Ardnakelty collaborate and scheme; they're a sneaky clever bunch for sure.



Tana French creates wonderful characters, such as the grocery store owner/gossip queen; the farmer obsessed with UFOs; and the scheming landowner. I was also drawn in by the town's ambiance, with the sweltering heat of summer, and the region's mountains, ravines, forests, bogs, farms, domestic animals, etc. I could picture all this and feel the discomfort of the perspiring townsfolk.



To top things off, Cal, Trey, Lena and others have pet dogs that add a touch of fun to the novel.



I enjoyed this compelling suspense novel, but wasn't completely satisfied with the ending.

Rating: 3.5 stars