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 'perfidy' - 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
In this 13th book in the 'Maisie Dobbs' series, the English private investigator looks into the killing of Belgian refugees during WWII. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
On the day Britain enters World War II, private detective Maisie Dobbs gets a visit from her old colleague, Dr. Francesca Thomas.
Francesca, a Belgian national, asks Maisie to investigate the death of Frederick Addens - a Belgian refugee who came to Britain as a teenager during World War I.....and never went home.
Instead, Addens made a life in England and became a railway engineer.
Addens was shot in the head while kneeling, which seems like deliberate murder to Francesca. However, Detective Chief Inspector Caldwell of Scotland Yard contends that the railway man was killed during a robbery.
Moreover, Scotland Yard is especially taxed during the gear up for war, and isn't making much progress catching Addens' killer. So Maisie takes Francesca's case and starts looking into Addens' death with the assistance of her employees, Billy and Sandra.
Shortly afterward another Belgian refugee from World War I - a banker named Albert Durant - is killed. Scotland Yard again connects the homicide with a robbery. However, Maisie learns that both Addens and Durant were shot with the same kind of gun, and concludes that the killings are linked.
Maisie interviews people who assist Belgian war refugees, and some of them also turn up dead.
The detective decides that the key to all these murders lies in Belgium, and makes her way there - a VERY difficult undertaking during wartime. While on the continent, Maisie gleans information that helps her solve the crimes.
Though the murder mystery is at the heart of the story, the book provides fascinating glimpses into London during the early days of World War II. Everyone carries gas masks at all times, barrage balloons hover above the city, and blackouts are mandatory at night - when even a tiny chink of light will garner a visit from the 'light police.'
In addition, many children are evacuated to the country, and schools are re-purposed for wartime activities.
A secondary plot line involves the evacuation of a small girl named Anna, about five years old, to Chelstone Manor - the estate of Maisie's patron. At the manor, Maisie's father and stepmother help look after the child, whose family is unknown. Furthermore, Anna refuses to speak and clings tenaciously to a little suitcase she brought along.
When Maisie visits Chelstone Manor she's very taken with the girl, and becomes determined to help her. Maisie's dad warns his daughter not to get too involved with Anna - who will have to leave at some point - but Maisie can't help herself. This part of the story is sweet and moving.
The war causes all kinds of concerns. Maisie's office assistant Sandra - who's pregnant - is worried about bringing a child into a conflicted world. Everyone thinks about the inevitable rationing of food and fuel. People are frightened of German bombs. And so on.
There are a great many ancillary characters in the story, and I had some trouble remembering who's who. All in all, however, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to fans of historical mysteries.
Rating: 3 stars
In this 16th book in the 'Joanna Brady' series, the sheriff investigates geographically distant crimes that seem to be connected. The book can be read as a standalone, but knowledge of the characters is a plus.
*****
Massachusetts resident Selma Matchett, a cantankerous, mean-spirited hoarder, is estranged from both her children, Liza and Guy.
When Selma enters hospice care, Liza cleans out her mom's house and finds nearly $150,000 hidden in books and magazines. Liza proceeds to spend some of the cash to renovate her mother's decrepit house for sale. Then, at Selma's funeral, a man approaches Liza and tells her that be once knew her long-absent father and that Liza needs to be careful because some people 'don't forget'.
Murder and mayhem soon begin and Liza takes off across the country on the 'underground railroad' operated by long-haul truckers, which is meant for abused women.
Liza's plan is to get to her older brother Guy in Bisbee, Arizona to see if he can explain what's going on.
Meanwhile, across the country in Bisbee, Sheriff Joanna Brady has a lot to deal with. Junior, a handicapped man beloved by his adoptive parents and the community, is found murdered - his body lying in a cave with the remains of several abused animals and a live but tortured kitten. Joanna fears a budding serial killer might be responsible.
The medical examiner, Dr. Guy Matchett (Liza's brother), is scheduled to do Junior's autopsy but he is soon found brutally murdered himself, his body showing evidence of torture. Joanna thinks the Junior and Guy deaths are unrelated and - when she's contacted by authorities in Massachusetts looking for Liza - concludes there's a connection between the crimes in Massachusetts and what happened to Liza's brother Guy.
The story skips back and forth between Liza's trek across the U.S. and Joanna's investigations in Arizona. Liza is handed off from one long haul rig to another and meets a series of interesting personalities along the way.
In the Arizona sections, Joanna has a competent team of deputies and crime scene analysts and their work is well-described and informative.
Joanna's family also plays a part in the story, including her supportive husband Butch, rodeo-loving daughter Jenny, and the family dogs and horses. This adds a homey touch to the book.
Joanna solves Junior's murder with the help of forensic evidence and the Matchett case with the help of federal authorities. The Machett solution, however, didn't quite ring true for me. This book is a fine addition to the Joanna Brady series and recommended for mystery fans.
Rating: 3.5 stars
In this 2nd book in the 'Intercrime' series, the Swedish detective squad is on the trail of a vicious serial killer. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Stockholm's Intercrime Unit A squad deals with serious crimes that extend beyond Sweden's borders. As this book in the Nordic crime series opens, the team hasn't had a case in quite some time and is concerned about being split up.
Before that happens though, the FBI calls Unit A leader, Detective Superintendent Jan-Olov Hultin, to report that a Swedish literary critic named Lars-Erik Hassel has been murdered at Newark International Airport.....and the killer is on a plane headed for Stockholm.
The FBI tells DS Hultin that - before he was killed - critic Hassel was rendered mute by a diabolical device inserted into his neck.....and mercilessly tortured.
This is the modus operandi of a serial murderer called the Kentucky Killer, who first used this torture method during the Vietnam War - to squeeze information out of the enemy. Afterwards, the Kentucky Killer employed this technique for his own deadly purposes. However, the Kentucky Killer died in a fiery car crash many years ago. So it looks like a copycat killer is on his way to Sweden.
Detectives from Unit A are deployed to Stockholm Airport to try to apprehend the copycat when he deplanes. However, there are too many passengers and too much confusion, and the murderer gets away.
As the intercrime unit waits for the killer to make his next move they investigate Lars-Erik Hassel, to see who might have wanted the literary critic dead. Turns out Hassel was a self-important snob who mistreated his former wives and skewered many writers, ruining their careers.
Almost everyone disliked Hassel, including his son. Was Hassel's murder random? A hit? Something else?
Meanwhile, the copycat killer gets busy in Sweden, and dead bodies turn up here and there. The police try to see connections among the victims, but make slow progress.
Thus two members of Unit A, Detective Paul Hjelm and Detective Kerstin Holm, fly to the U.S. to consult FBI Special Agent Ray Larner - who spent years pursuing the Kentucky Killer. Hjelm and Holm makes important discoveries in America.....and their colleagues back home also obtain new evidence. This leads to some startling discoveries and a dramatic denouement.
The detectives in Unit A are an interesting bunch who navigate diverse private and professional lives. Paul Hjelm and Kirstin Holm deal with the aftermath of their illicit affair; Gunnar Nyberg - a former Mr. Sweden - is torn with guilt about his previous bad behavior; computer whiz Jorge Chavez adds a light, exotic touch to the team; and so on. The ongoing characters add engaging elements to the novel.
I enjoyed the story and recommend it to fans of Scandinavian thrillers.
Rating: 3 stars
I've read many books in the Myron Bolitar series but never read this first one until now.
Myron Bolitar was a basketball phenomenon in high school and college and an early draft pick for the NBA. Unfortunately he was severely injured in his first exhibition game and had to quit basketball. Instead Myron got a law degree and became a sports representative.
Now in his early thirties Myron represents a small stable of players, including football player Christian Steele - a star college quarterback who's just been drafted by the Titans.
Myron is a master of wisecracks and sarcastic remarks and is endlessly amusing to himself (and probably many readers). He reminds me of Robert B. Parker's 'Spenser' and Rex Stout's 'Archie' in the Nero Wolfe books.
In any case, Myron is having trouble negotiating Christian's contract because the thuggish owner of the Titans......
.....wanting to knock down the pay package, says Christian has a public relations problem. His beautiful girlfriend Kathy Culver disappeared 18 months ago and Christian was suspected of being involved.
And Kathy (or her body) has never been found.
Just before training camp begins Christian, in a highly agitated state, calls Myron. Someone has sent him the latest edition of 'Nips' Magazine, a soft-porn rag that contains ads for phone sex. Shockingly, one of the ads features a nude picture of Kathy. Moreover Christian received a phone call from someone who sounds like his missing girlfriend.
At about the same time Myron's drop-dead gorgeous ex-girlfriend Jessica Culver (Kathy's older sister) shows up.
Dr. Culver, her pathologist father, was just killed by a mugger and Jessica thinks this might be connected to Kathy's vanishing. Since Myron has known investigative skills, Jessica asks him to look into it.
So Myron investigates, with the help of his old college roommate Windsor Horne Lockwood III. Win is a rich, blonde, handsome, American aristocrat - but his dapper, dandyish appearance is misleading. Win is a sixth degree black belt in Tae Kwan Do, handy with guns, and perfectly happy to maim and kill his (or Myron's) enemies if necessary. In fact, Win is a sociopath (but a lovable one if he's on your side).
As Myron does the dual jobs of working out Christian's contract and looking into the 'Nips' and Kathy situation he comes across various thugs and shady characters as well as a college dean, a seductive married woman, a detective, Dr. Culver's best friend, a porn magazine publisher, a porn photographer, Kathy's mother, former college football players, and more. Most of the male characters are flat and blur together, so I had a problem remembering who was who. We do get to meet a regular in the series, Myron's assistant Esperanza - a Latin fireball who used to wrestle under the moniker 'Little Pocahontas'. Esperanza is always an entertaining senorita.
The first two-thirds or so of the book moves along pretty smoothly. Then, when Myron starts to figure out the truth about Kathy's disappearance, the story gets convoluted, confusing, and (frankly) not believable. Another irritant in the book is Myron's constant gushing about how beautiful his ex-girlfriend Jessica is. He mentions this on about every third or fourth page. At one point Jessica walks past an elegant society party and the jaws of ALL the men in the room drop as they turn to stare at her. (Come on!!! Really???)
It feels like, in this first book, Harlen Coben hasn't found his 'Myron Bolitar' legs yet. The book reminds me of the pilot episode of a TV series that starts out shaky but gets better later on. Overall I'd mildly recommend this book to mystery fans - not for the story but for a first meeting with characters that might just become favorites over time.
Rating: 3 stars
