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The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5)
The Body Farm - Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Little Emily Steiner left a church meeting late one afternoon and strolled toward home along a lakeside path; a week later, her nude body was discovered, bound in blaze-orange duct tape. Called by the North Carolina authorities, forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta recognizes similarities to the gruesome work of a serial killer who has long eluded...  more »
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ISBN-13: 9780425201442
ISBN-10: 0425201449
Publication Date: 12/28/2004
Pages: 368
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 235

4 stars, based on 235 ratings
Publisher: Berkley
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

Nightcrawler avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 207 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is classic Scarpetta, complimented by her brilliant--and sometimes frustrating risk-taking niece Lucy. Named for the facility founded by eminent forensic anthropoligist William Bass of the University of Tennessee, this is a fascinating glimpse into a real-world facility. Art imitating life. Either way, it's a great read.
SanJoseCa avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 328 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The name of this novel comes from the University of Tennessee's Decay Research Facility known as the Body Farm. This is a fast moving and complicated story involving scandals and murders
The main character Scarpetta is a chief medical examiner as well as a lawyer and a consultant to the FBI. She is unique and fascinating, but can be annoying at times, especially when she starts whinning about the poor eating habits of the people she works with! I also thought the story was drawn out and a little slow at times. There were too many sub-plots as well as clues that got forgotten and important details that got changed (editor?) But, despite the little draw backs, the suspense held my attention and kept me reading!
daedelys avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 1218 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
So far, this series is getting better with each book as the author progressing in her writing. But, she does need to work on factoid-typos, because in the previous book, her niece was only seventeen. In this one, she's now 21, even though the killer who escaped in the previous book was mentioned as having gone on his spree only 2 years prior. So, either Gault (the killer) went on a 2nd killing spree, or 4 years have actually passed. I wish the author would be consistent, because when a person's reading books back-to-back within a day of each other, things like this get noticed.

As for the drama involving her niece, it's a amazing that a girl who is so smart can be so stupid. It's a little over-dramatic at times, but I suppose it does make for a good side story.

The killer in this one becomes fairly obvious early on, but the fact that they die with Scarpetta in the room is getting redundant for a climactic ending. Especially with the way it's done. The ending just felt rushed, as there was a lot of things happening in a short period of time. The "bad guy" last stand was just a bit too much. The hasty ending makes the reader feel a bit robbed after the rest of the book had been done well and was very interesting.
gsisk avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 188 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I was a bit disappointed in Kay Scarpetta's self-aggrandizing. I did not remember that from other Scarpetta books. There was also a number of times when product brand names were mentioned en passant which makes me suspicious that these were paid product placements.

Aside from that, not bad, but I've read better Scarpetta books.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 4 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I think all of Patricia Cornwells books are excellent. If you like getting into the forensic side of things in a mystery thriller, then her books are for you.
Read All 125 Book Reviews of "The Body Farm Kay Scarpetta Bk 5"

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reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on
This was really my first book read from this category, and it intrigued me. At times, it didn't feel like a writer was writing it, but I think it was probably deliberate. All in all, it's a good read.
hunterchick avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 78 more book reviews
Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta is a character who becomes addicting. Smart, Funny, brave, and tough she is a character who sticks with you, and you will find yourself wanting to read the whole series. Chapters are on the shorter side so the book is easier to digest.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 458 more book reviews
I have read the entire Scarpetta series and have loved them all. This one is no exception.
hunterchick avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 78 more book reviews
Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta is a character who becomes addicting. Smart, Funny, brave, and tough she is a character who sticks with you, and you will find yourself wanting to read the whole series. Chapters are on the shorter side so the book is easier to digest.
polkadotz avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 5 more book reviews
If you can stand the very visual and sometimes disturbing descriptions, this book will keep you guessing until the end.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 26 more book reviews
Love, love, love Patricia Cornwell! This book is based on the Body Farm, a place where scientists study the forensics of decaying bodies to determine how to look at bodies found by law enforcement.
Suspenseful. Makes you want to find out what happens next!
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 54 more book reviews
The main plot in this book was good and credible, but there were a few events that seemed superfluous--most likely set ups for future books. I thought they could have been omitted. All in all, a good read.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 593 more book reviews
Excellent read.
hunterchick avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 78 more book reviews
Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta is a character who becomes addicting. Smart, Funny, brave, and tough she is a character who sticks with you, and you will find yourself wanting to read the whole series. Chapters are on the shorter side so the book is easier to digest.
hunterchick avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 78 more book reviews
Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta is a character who becomes addicting. Smart, Funny, brave, and tough she is a character who sticks with you, and you will find yourself wanting to read the whole series. Chapters are on the shorter side so the book is easier to digest.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 4 more book reviews
Loved it!
snewcomb avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 2 more book reviews
Very good read. Very graphic and a bit disturbing.
hunterchick avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 78 more book reviews
Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta is a character who becomes addicting. Smart, Funny, brave, and tough she is a character who sticks with you, and you will find yourself wanting to read the whole series. Chapters are on the shorter side so the book is easier to digest.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 68 more book reviews
A puzling and terrifying crime occurs in North Carolina. A child is murdered. Forensic pathologist Dr. Kay Scarpetta investigates. I liked this book.
Readnmachine avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 1435 more book reviews
Part of the Kay Scarpetta series. Crisp pacing and outstanding character development mark this whodunnit following the abudction and murder of a child in a sleepy North Carolina mountain community. Cornwell tips the identity of the baddy too early on, but it's a compelling read to see how long it will take Scarpetta to figure out what we already know.
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 60 more book reviews
Another of my favorites in the Dr. Kay Scarpetta series of forensic novels. This one takes Scarpetta to Black Mountain, North Carolina a sleepy little town...where they discover the corpse of an 11 yr old girl and the trail leads Scartpetta to the "pathologists' playground known as the Body Farm" for answers.

Hang onto your hats, another compelling read!
reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 8 more book reviews
Poorly labeled here! This book is Patricia Cornwell's "The Body Farm" It is a UK release but that is the only difference from the American version.
hunterchick avatar reviewed The Body Farm (Kay Scarpetta, Bk 5) on + 78 more book reviews
Patricia Cornwells Kay Scarpetta is a character who becomes addicting. Smart, Funny, brave, and tough she is a character who sticks with you, and you will find yourself wanting to read the whole series. Chapters are on the shorter side so the book is easier to digest.

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