I felt that the author spent a lot of time describing the setting in such detail that she lost focus on what the goal was - writing a story that made you want to turn the page quickly, trying to figure out “who did it”? I must say, the opening chapters of the story in which Kay Scarpetta is on the witness stand in court are really gripping and reminded me of those terrific early stories like Postmortem and The Body Farm in terms of drama and intrigue.

What's interesting is that by the end readers (especially those of us who started with the first book in the series) realize all the main characters are now related by either blood or marriage. An auspicious debut, it went on to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony, and Macavity Awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d’Aventures—the first book ever to claim all these distinctions in a single year. Although there is no apparent cause of death, Scarpetta recognizes telltale signs of the unthinkable, and she knows the worst is yet to come. Scarpetta holds the key to the forensic evidence and her word, should it be taken serial by the jury, could free a man or condemn him forever.It begins with Scarpetta's testimony at a contentious murder trial - and her scientific evidence and methods not-so-politely challenged by a defense attorney determined to win and sully Scarpetta's reputation in the process. Cornwell continues exploring the latest space-age technologies and threats relevant to contemporary life. many jobs have corporate elements with just as many political undercurrents and stresses as better-known government, international, and criminal organizations. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Working with producer Liz Friedman, Marvel’s Jessica Jones and fellow Marvel EP and Twilight Saga scribe Melissa Rosenberg to develop the film and find Scarpetta a home on the big screen. I loved reading her books years ago but really wish I had left it at that and never ever picked up this one. of this book was describing each “environment” within each scene and very little suspense or drama typical to this series. From the Charlotte Observer, Cornwell moved to a job with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia – a post she would later bestow upon the fictional Kay Scarpetta.or perhaps it could simply be that my expectations for Livid had been set too high based on those gripping opening chapters of the story. Once again, Patricia Cornwell offers a glimpse into a nightmarish future that is already here, reminding us that our deepest fears have likely become reality.

I am so pleased that Patricia Cornwell is back and can only hope there are more Kay Scarpetta novels to come of this calibre. Cornwell's demonic plot shifts and changes almost page by page, so the reader's spun round not knowing what to believe. I would like to thank both Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Perhaps though it is that these days I prefer to let my imagination picture what is happening rather than having to read paragraph after paragraph of graphic depictions of what happens to bodies after death, etc. The attention to detail and means by which she could weave a tale left me in awe of Cornwel’s abilities and kept me coming back for more. hours since Kay exited the courtroom, everything is all wrapped up in a tidy bow and the killer is dead. After earning her degree in English from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer. The story starts out with Kay testifying in Old Town Alexandria regarding the alleged murder of a young woman by her husband.