Search - Body of Evidence (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 2)

"Body of Evidence" is a well-plotted mystery with well-developed characters. I highly recommend it

Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta must deal with a deranged killer who stalks and murders a noted historical novelist and then seems to be working back throught the novelist's past....

Takes the reader into the fascinating world of the forensic crime lab.

Patricia Corwell's series starring Kay Scarpetta as the Chief Medical Examiner is one of the best series of books I have read. Mysteries have never been my genre, but I love the CSI TV series and this book intrigues me in the same manner. Corwell is very knowledgeable and her writing style is descriptive and flowing as well as easy to read. Its not so packed with technical jargon that you cant sit and enjoy a nice quiet read without having to reach for a dictioary.

I felt that the book started out a bit slow, like the first one in the series, but it did pick up quicker than the last. Although, even though it leads us into the story, I found the prologue a bit corny and it could've been placed later into the story and would've done better. (the fact that there was a typo in the first sentence didn't help either)

This really is one of those books, where I like the story, but the lead character drives me nuts. For all her intelligence, she's a bit of an idiot. Whether it comes to men or her common-sense involving her luggage. I mean, Hello!, you're investigating something where your safety has been threatened and don't question that your luggage goes missing? Yikes... It makes me really think the character, who may be the author's portrayal of herself, has an ego problem. Especially when she even compares herself to god... Puh-lease!

Also, how many times does an author need to write about cigarettes and smoking? Obsessed much? I used to be a smoker, and know the need to for a nic fix, but even after awhile I was like "All right already, you're against the anti-smokers. Get on with the story!" Maybe she's trying to make the characters more believable, but if that were the case, then she could work on it with other things. "Smart" people would acknowledge, to themselves anyway, when another person is using a double-negative instead of agreeing with it and being wrong about the topic. (I'll let the reader find that spot for themselves.) But, there are several things in casual conversation that could be improved upon to make the characters have more dimension than to constantly have them lighting up a smoke.

And another thing. The lack of knowledge portrayed by the lead character and others on AIDS is a bit strange. I remember doing a research paper in high school before this book was published, and even I seem to have found more myth-busters than what these characters know or make comments on between this book and the first one.

Overall though, it's a pretty decent book, but I will probably take a break from the series for a bit just because it's not as well written as some of the other forensic mystery books I've read.

I have read the entire Scarpetta series and have loved them all. This one is no exception.

another Kay Scarpetta book and another good one.