Customer Reviews
Could have been more but suffered from a subpar story - By: Coma white, 15 Jul 2008 
Since May this year I have been following the Kay Scarpetta series & have found them to be a bit of a dissapointment. However with this one I feel Patricia Cornwell takes a giant step forward with her characters making Kay Scarpetta one of my favorite fictional characters i've ever had the pleasure of reading. And the pace was much improved from the previous 2 booksin the series. Unfortunately all this good work is lost a bit from due to the story line of this one. I just wasnt really captivated by the whole idea of it which I wont goin to incase someone reads this who is yet to read the book. However when I get around to reading the nextin the series 'Cruel & Unusual' I'm hoping Cornwell can bring forward both a great story line & maintain the great witty edge that Scarpetta has.
Dr. Kay Tries to Find a Killer Before he Strikes Again - By: Katie Osborne, 07 Jan 2008 
Dr. Kay Scarpetta has eight decomposed bodies with no known cause of death, couples, lovers, victims of the Couple Killer. When a fresh pair turns up, it looks like the girl is the daughter of a govt. official. Kay's boss wants the crimes solved before anymore bodies turn up, so Kay tries to find the serial killer before he does it again.
There are times when this book gets a little weird, but it is intense, impossible to put down. I read itin one sitting, turning the pages as if they were scorching my fingers. However I did think the killer could have been fleshed out just a bit more, but that's probably just gruesome me, wanting to know every detail about why someone kills the way PC has her bad guys kill. Anyway this is surely a five star effort on PC's part. No one does this kind of stuff the way she does.
Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne
One of her best - By: , 17 Aug 2005 I have read all of Patricia Cornwell's novels so far & followed the life of Dr Kay Scarpetta avidly, this is probably one of her best. The main characters are given more depth & we learn a lot about mysterious Pete Marino & it materialises that he isin fact human & has feelings & these are brought to the surfacein this book, as my favourite charcater of the Scarpetta series, this was the highlight for me. Overall, a great plot, Scarpetta faces a series of murders with unusual findings at the scene of the crime, only later do we realise important inofrmation has been held back & the suspense createdin finding out who, makes this a real page turner, there is also involvement with many different law enforcement groups & it is hard to know who to trust, she even begins to susect her own collegues & friends. There is never a dull minute, murder, gypsies, politicians, media, stalking, this novel is one to grab your attention through the informative & realistic writing & I guarantee ,once you have started reading this, everything else will go by the wayside just so you can find out what really happened.
All that Remains - By: Rich Milligan, 10 Dec 2004 
This is the third of the Dr Kay Scarpetta series & is, without doubt, the best of the first three. Cornwell seems to have got her characters down to a tee by this stage & they gel together very pleasingly & make for a compulsive read.
This novel is quite heavyin the political intrigue stakes & for the first time we really see Scarpetta having doubts over her friends & work colleagues & she has a real battle on her hands to remain loyal to those she knows she should trust & do a professional job at the same time. The one stable influencein the book is the terrific character of Pete Marino, & there are some very touching scenes as we see this tough practical cop show the first signs of his gentler, more sensitive side, as we learn of the breakdown of his marriage. The Scarpetta - Mario verbal fencingin this book is an absolute pleasure.
What's missing in all that remains? - By: John Austin, 13 May 2004 A female pathologist, dressedin white overalls & rubber boots & carrying a heavy bag, raises the tape & enters the crime scene. Who is she? Well, she is one of a species of investigators that has become enormously popularin recent years. Writer Patricia Cornwell has depicted herin a highly successful series, calling her Dr Kay Scarpetta. With trainingin forensic pathology herself, & a string of awards for her books, Miss Cornwell's achievements have elevated her to the top of the queue of authors waiting to be read by this reviewer.
I found much to admire,in this my first Patricia Cornwell book. Plotting & planning have been meticulously done. A disappointing ending - so often the ruination of a good crime novel - has been avoided. The narration isin clean, plain sentences. Cornwell has her forensic pathologist character, Dr Kay Scarpetta, lead the investigation into a series of killings, & her knowledge of the forensic pathology involved is highly impressive.
Reducing my admiration, however, are several deficiencies. I happen to like crime investigation novels that mix some charm, warmth, caprice or eccentricity into the investigative proceedings. Cornwell keeps all these additives locked awayin her cupboard. Dr Kay Scarpetta's life is a distinctly feminist, answering machine, laboratory gowned & masked one, at leastin this book. Am I lookingin the wrong place if I expect wit, warmth, vibrant male-female interaction or spruce dialogue as I follow a forensic pathologist investigating serial killings? As if she were aware of the need for these "cozy" qualities, Patricia Cornwell introduced a niece for Dr Kay Scarpettain her first book which I am now reading, allowing something like maternalism to soften the otherwise strong feminist atmosphere that pervades "All That Remains".
