The plot of this book begins when Drew Martin, a 16 year old tennis star is brutally murdered in what seems to be a bizzare ritual.

Dr Kay Scarpetta is now living in Charleston and is starting up a new private forensic pathology practice with the help of her niece, Lucy. Pete Marino, her collegue, seems to be self-destructing after becoming involved with a new demanding girlfriend. Scarpetta's own personal life is also having some ups and downs, and even those closest to her are not telling her everything. She also has to deal with what appears to be attempts at sabotaging her, and an old enemy makes an unwelcome return to her life.

As more dead bodies turn up, the hunt for a killer known as 'the sandman' begins...

I have read a couple of Cornwell's previous books featuring Scarpetta, and I remember quite enjoying them. However, this book was a lot weaker than I expected. Whilst I stuck with it and read it to the end, I would not read it again.

I found that I could not empathise with any of the characters, and certain characters in the book just irritated me. I felt the climax of the book was also lacking, it was not the exciting ending I was hoping for.

In fairness, I may have missed something as I have not read the previous 14 in sequence, and I wouldn't recommend it as a stand alone book as certain element of the plot referred back to previous books. ( )

A murder mystery with Dr. Self and a series of murders in Rome and Charleston SC. It appears that Dr. Selfs son is the murder. Marino disappears in this version and Lucy keeps doing her thing ( )

Yet again a step in the right direction. Since I read Predator I took a look at Cornwell's website and had a few of my suspicions confirmed.

Again, there is a continuity factor with this one. She brings in a character from Predator into this book, but yet fails to wrap up the loose ends from Predator that would have made sense here. That's a nasty little habit I wish she'd break.

And what the hell happened to Lucy's sidekick Rudy, was it? Just vanished from Trace, not a mention of him in Predator or Book of the Dead. As close as they were you'd think that it would be a decent story line. ( )

Not my usual fare, but it was a good read even though I popped into the middle of the series and many of the characters are left in unresolved situations. I'll have to look for the sequel now! Perfect summer reading. ( )

Scarpetta teams with Lucy and Benton to solve a series of murders beginning with the death of a famous young tennis player. Benton and Scarpetta's relationship finally progresses. Marino commits an unthinkable act. Lucy discovers a medical problem. And, finally Cornwell starts focusing on the plot and less on her dreary characters. I don't get why she named it Book of the Dead though. ( )

Lots of loose ends to clean up - or make room for a sequel. ( )

It starts slow and gets slower as you read. One of her worst books. I normally enjoy the Scapetta series very much but this one...no so much. Marino has gone off the deep end and Scarpetta is being drug farther and farther down. I wouldn't recommend this to someone just getting in to Patricia Cornwell's novels. It's very off putting. ( )

Well, as a mystery it was ...interesting? But where is the joy of solving the mystery when the whodunit only shows up in the last chapter? It appears that the pathologist in this case is the main protagonist in an ongoing series, so I will assume that the one character that went awol is still alive to be located in a future book. All in all: still looking for that "new author" to enjoy.... guess I need to go to a real bookstore and not try to find her in the grocery store!!

Excellent

Sadly Patricia Cornwell's latest books are not up to the standard of her earlier ones. ( )

The Scarpetta novels used to be be great.

Nowadays they are so burdened with the baggage of the main characters that it ruins the whole experience. Lucy become more annoying as the series goes on, Benton and Scarpetta are so bloody miserable and Cornwell has turned Marino into a psycopath.

The main plot is OK, but you would have thought the death of a major Tennis Star would have attracted more attention than it did. In the end the case was more or less solved by a huge info dump from one of the characters confessing the whole sordid ordeal, just in case you hadn't already worked it out.

Dissapointing. ( )

I have read every Kay Scarpetta book through this one now and I'm not sure I liked "Book of the Dead" as well as the others. It disturbed me, in fact and I'm not sure that I like the trail the author is on with Dr Self and her family issues.

A tennis pro at 16, Drew Martin was found in Rome, horribly disfigured and horribly dead. Somehow the link to not only Dr. Marilyn Self, Scarpetta, Marino and Benton and the others but also to some new characters is tenuous but still there.

There is partial closure on some past plots and definitely a huge new issue revealed bit not solved. All in all, not my favorite but I shall continue on with the series for one more book. ( )

After finishing this book, I made the decision never to read another Scarpetta title. I read all her early titles, but this was clearly a case of 'flogging a dead horse' as we say in the UK. ( well I do! ) I almost think that the 2 star rating may be too generous. ( )

No More Cornwell.

In my opinion this has got to be one of the worst books Cornwell has written.
Ok, I understand that the story have to do with people who have serious psychological problems but it seems that Cornwell decided to make all the characters ……. really mad.
Kay Scarpetta is an unhappy and boring woman. She does not have a life and even the relationship with her fiancée seems to be “strictly” professional. It is a mystery to me why men fall in love with her. She should have some charismas that Cornwell keep very well concealed, otherwise I can’t comprehend it. Lusy….. what she is doing throughout the book is to sneak around, watching everything and everyone, driving SUV and flying her helicopter. That’s it… Oh, there is a hint about her complex sexuality, and –surprise, surprise!!!! everything it’s her mama’s fault.
The men, lets see how I can describe some of the main characters. Benton seems to have lost his intelligence, Marino, although never an angel now has become a complete creep. And the Italian carabiniero look more like a “no brain model” whose only concern is to flirt with Scarpetta.
Boring…… boring…..boring.

I really struggled on through to the end, but it is not that bad if you want to read something easy on the airplane, like me, or in the beach. ( )

I have been a Patricia Cornwell fan for years and I didn't think this book was up to standard. There was too much about Kay Scarpetta and fellow characters and not enough urgency in finding the Sandman. ( )

Typical Kay Scarpetta book however it did leave some unresolved issues at the end.

I have read a lot of Patricia Cornwalls books and usually enjoy them, but this was an awful book. Almost returned it without finishing it a number of times ( )

Cornwell's last three books have deviated so much from her regular characters that she lost me as a dedicated reader. However, I am a glutton for punishment and thus picked up this title. I was mildly surprised that I actually didn't loathe this book though I believe that is because I had such a low expectation. Cornwell has strayed from her original brilliance of her characters and tales once again but seems to be at least attempting to get them back on track with this edition. If you can stand to forgive her from her previous errors it is an adequate way to spend some time. Will I read her again? Probably. (I'll read anything in print) Will I spend money on her books? No. ( )

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is now located in Charaleston, South Carolina where she has a private forensics practice. A nosy neighbor, a thug on a chopper and an elusive medical examiner or coroner don't extend the good doctor any southern hospitality. The action heats up when she and Peter Benton go to Italy to consult on the murder of an American tennis star who had just won a major tournament in Charleston. Apparently her eyes were gouged out and filled in with sand. E-mails to the egotistical Dr. Marily Self from the Sandman make things interesting. We find out he finished off a seriously wounded buddy in Iraq and wants to put others out of their "miseries." ( )

Carol

An excellent read as usual from this author. I don't know how Patricia Cornwell weaves such an intricate thread. The story kept me guessing all the way through. There were many individual stories coming together it seemed to me to make a brilliant complete whole.

Kay is now in Charleston running her own private forensic practice. After the death of a tennis star in Italy she and Benton Wesley (now engaged) have to work hard to quickly solve the crime as it seems the killer has done this before and likely to do it again. The psychiatrist Dr Self is back causing as much trouble to Scarpetta as she can and deeply involved in the murders.

But what has happened to Pete Marino? I don't like the downward spiral the ex-cop is taking as I think he is an essential part of the whole series and would not like to see his exit. ( )

Scarpetta has moved to Charleston, working independently, with Marino and her niece, Lucy. After an American tennis star is found dead - tortured and mutilated, Scarpetta and Wesley have been called to Italy to consult with the IIR. The story has made international news and the Italian police need to find the killer - fast.

Back home in Charleston, Marino has a new girlfriend who appears to be goading him into doing things he knows he shouldn't do. She is intensely jealous of Scarpetta.

Dr Self is back, still full of hate for Kay Scarpetta after the trial in Florida.

This is one of the best of the Scarpetta series. ( )

I am afraid I am just getting tired of Patricia Cornwell. While I loved the early books in the series, the author now seems to be getting angrier and is contantly promoting an agenda. All in all this book was a disappointment, and I doubt I will be reading this author again. ( )

Capturing while reading it but unlikely story. ( )

Very good, love the series ( )