The latest in the Scarpetta series brings us back to our old friends and gives us some of everything—maybe even a little too much of everything. The victims were living off the grid in a highly dangerous area. The grisly nature of the murders is over-the-top. A mysterious, unnaturally large primate footprint is found at the scene, launching Marino into flights of fancy about Bigfoot, of all things. Not to mention a special isolated autopsy suite, government secrets, high-tech drones both big and small, Lucy provoking another helicopter pilot with crazy midair tactics, long-lost enemies, marital tensions, and the usual array of backstabbing incompetents doing their best to undermine Scarpetta. The story is engaging and suspenseful, with just a few too many things all crammed in. Was it Coco Chanel who advised people to take off one piece of jewelry before leaving the house?

Thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for a digital advance review copy.

If I've missed any books in this series over the years - this is the 27th - I'd be surprised. No surprise, then, that I consider Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta to be an old friend whose visits I look forward to. And to be sure, I enjoyed her company this time out. And while I won't reveal any secrets, I'm sure other loyal readers like me will be almost more surprised than the good doctor at the reemergence of a particularly nasty enemy.

Now based in Alexandria, Virginia, Scarpetta has, with the help of the governor, rid herself of a couple of cantankerous (make that downright dangerous) colleagues and starting to whip her lab into shape. Then, she gets called to a remote area to the north, where two campers have been savagely murdered - both impaled by ski poles, among other damages. Closer inspection reveals that they were killed by someone (or something) that has beyond-human capabilities.

Scarpetta and her chief investigator, Pete Marino, are joined by her Secret Service tech wizard niece Lucy, who flies in and out in a helicopter that does everything except make breakfast. While they're inspecting the crime scene and extricating the victims, Marino makes a discovery that chills his sole (and sends shivers down Scarpetta's back because of the possible repercussions).

When the victims are identified, it's learned that they were not the placid outdoor equipment store owners most folks thought they were; rather, they were criminals under investigation by law enforcement that includes Scarpetta's husband, FBI profiler Benton Wesley. The rest of the story focuses on finding out who, or what, killed the couple and why - all the while trying to stay out of the crosshairs of someone who would like nothing better than to bring down Scarpetta and everyone she loves. It certainly held my attention throughout, and needless to say I'm already looking forward to the next installment. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Kay Scarpetta is back with a double-homicide to solve. Two brutalized bodies of people being tracked by the Feds are found by their off-the-grid campsite, along with a mysterious oversized footprint in a nearby mine shaft. Strange technological happenings occur as Scarpetta, Marino, Lucy and Benton investigate. And a long-kept secret is revealed that may be putting all of their lives in danger.
Another timely novel, Unnatural Death talks about extremist groups bent on toppling the US democracy, the depths of spying by enemies like Russia and China, and the worrisome direction technology is taking in the world today. While Scarpetta still has to deal with adversity by co-workers, former co-workers, the media and an annoying FBI agent, at least the story as a whole isn't about someone with an issue coming after her as many of the later books in the series have been.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this e-arc.*

Scarpetta is back, called to a remote wilderness area in Northern Virginia after two campers are brutally killed. She and Marino must recover the bodies and figure out what happened to the couple, whether it is connected to the giant footprint Marino found, and why is the secret service is interested in the case? Cornwell weaves in cutting-edge technology and world events in a seamless manner that adds interest and intrigue. The focus in this book was more Scarpetta's compassion and perceptiveness than her butting heads with critics and other adversaries who always seem to be trying to ruin her reputation, although a new threat tied to her past emerges and I suspect will take center stage in the future. Initially a slow burn, the pace builds as the story progresses and you want to make sure you're paying attention to details because some of them will be important later; I like that in a story! I'm a long-time fan, and I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one.

Kay Scarpetta finds herself investigating a gruesome crime scene.. The more she learns, the more questions she has.

Unusual Death is a great Scarpetta mystery. I enjoyed how the story came together, the connections the author makes, and the way your left asking what’s next. It’s great that the author brings former characters back into the story and keeps the plot fresh and new.

Thank you to Ms. Cornwell, Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is the 27th book in the Kay Scarpetta series. As usual, this book opens with a perplexing case that will challenge Chief Medical Examiner Scarpetta. Two people are found dead, and the government is very interested in these possible crimes. The whole story will require help from Kay’s usual sidekicks. Her husband, Benton, niece, Lucy, and the always oh so pleasant Marino.
The author provides in-depth details about not only the crimes, but also how difficult it can be to actually get to bodies in a remote location. Spoiler: it’s not like what you see on most TV shows.
I suppose, if you have read many of the books in the series, some of the sections may seem repetitive. But,as any series reader knows, some things have to be restated in case someone is picking this book up with no prior knowledge of the characters. To me, it’s like visiting old friends, and it was a quick and enjoyable read.

Finally, Patricia Cornwell has redeemed herself, in my humble opinion, and written a Kay Scarpetta novel that is a worthy addition to this wonderful series after several mediocre books which had left me wondering if I should continue reading his series after more than 30 years. I am so happy that I gave it another chance, I absolutely loved Unnatural Death!

All of my favorite characters are back in Unnatural Death, with Kay and Marino working with Lucy and Benton to solve the mysterious murders of two wealthy outdoors enthusiasts who were also under federal investigation. While I have not always loved the evolution of the characters in the series, Cornwell does a great job of showing them as extremely competent yet personally flawed people, which make them very interesting and empathetic.

Cornwell does a great job of intertwining current political concerns with technological advancements that are disturbing in a totally believable scenario. Her grasp of the politics that affect local and federal agencies and the professional jealousy that can also interfere with getting the job done add layers of credibility to the story, as well.

If you are a fan of Cornwell's series who has been disappointed by some of the recent installments, I encourage you to give this one a chance. Scarpetta is back to full strength!

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the digital ARC of Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell. The opinions in this review are my own.

Unnatural Death by Patricia Cornwell is a highly recommended crime fiction for fans of chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. This is the twenty-seventh novel in the long running series.

Dr. Scarpetta is flown out to wilderness of Buckingham Run in northern Virginia by her niece, Secret Service agent Lucy Farinelli. Agents are already on the ground with her longtime associate Pete Marino. Scarpetta is there to retrieve the mauled remains of two bodies, Huck and Brittany Manson, owners of an outdoor gear store. The retrieval of both bodies is involved, one body in a mine shaft and another in the lake. The two are suspected of spying or links to terrorism so the retrieval and autopsies are top secret. Their trail cameras, which the Secret Service hacked, did not show the assailant. Even weirder is the large foot print Marino found in the cave which he believes is that of Bigfoot. He took a cast of it and has made arrangements to have it examined.

Having read and enjoyed almost all of her early books, I took a long hiatus mid-way through this series after several disappointing books. The pace does start out a bit slow as recovering the bodies and the autopsy take up the bulk of the narrative but does pick up speed. Appreciation of Cornwell's writing style will help. There is a lot of technical, step-by-step medical and procedural details as well as other details (food, technical devices, programming, vehicles, as a few examples) shared as the plot unfolds. Expect political views.

Suspension of disbelief is required with the return of an old nemesis. The major plot thread does reach a conclusion, but there are several other unresolved storylines. This one is for fans of the series who know all the characters, their backstories, and want to know what's happening now. It wasn't surprising (the major twist will easily be predicted by some readers) but it is entertaining and comfortable to see old characters. 3.5 rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Grand Central via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Well, after reading this book and the one before it in the series, Livid, I am through with Kay Scarpetta. I had stopped reading her books for a while but tried giving them a try again a few years ago. Unfortunately, the characters are irritating, the story line was blasé, I couldn’t stay invested in the story and just didn’t care what happened. The way the prosecuting attorney treats Kay on the witness stand at the beginning of the book was appalling. This would not be allowed in real life and was such a turn off. To be honest, I could not find anything about the book that redeemed itself. That makes me sad because I was such a huge Kay Scarpetta fan with the earlier books and was so looking forward to getting back to the nitty gritty moments experienced while reading those earlier books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

I thoroughly enjoyed Kay Scarpetta's return to Northern Virginia with Pete Marino. I read a lot of the series but missed a few of the more recent novels as some of the changes were less interesting to me. I do like that Kay is married to Benton and was surprised her sister Dorothy has married Pete. Also, her niece/daughter of her heart, Lucy lost a partner and child to COVID and she lives in a cabin on Kay and Benton's property. This places all the beloved characters within shouting distance of one another. So, we are in a familiar setting but with everyone there. This is plus for me. I might even go back and fill in the gaps.

The story opens with Lucy calling Pete and Kay to the scene of a savage murder of a man and woman, most likely to be the owners of an outfitters store. The bodies are mutilated and placed oddly. The couple were camping on land not far from their home and had erected cameras intended to protect them, but something went horribly wrong. Why did they seem to have anticipated this? Thrown in for a lot of fun is ongoing undermining of Kay's office and staff by her predecessor and his assistant. Kay helped to depose them. Inexplicably the governor has made up jobs for them and they are posted in Kay's building. We meet some new folks who I expect will feature in the ensemble cast that works so well. Lucy's maverick behavior has a few amusing moments as well, often meeting with disapproval or at least concern from Kay. And I love the cameo appearance of the cat with electronic doors to both Lucy's and Kay's/Benton's houses.

There are multiple investigations going on in the novel. So the central murder, while hardly boring, is not the only thread to follow. I prefer that more realistic view of a busy office. The FBI is closely involved in and trying to keep the lid on the murders at the campsite. Down to Kay and Pete conducting the autopsies in a mobile unit provided for such situations. Kay and Pete are made privy to details that make clear everyone involved in the investigation could be in danger from the killer. Ambiguously dangerous things happen as Kay starts to make connections along with her team. Benton profiles. Lucy does high tech. Pete gets caught up in a Big Foot fantasy. The new guy Fabian wants more to do. Dorothy drunkenly dumps on Kay about Lucy and Pete. In other words, all is right with the world. The theme is an interesting one about fringe groups and I particularly enjoyed this and other details that would amount to spoilers if shared. Great book. Highly recommend.

Entertaining and terrific as always. Clever twisted plot, with old fictional,friends, and as ever, topical and on point, with suspense and technology.. another home run!

I loved this series when it first came out, it was fresh and interesting. But it changed and I stopped reading them. I got tired of reading the same problems over and over again. The same arch villain, the same problems/complaints about Marino, the same problems in Kay’s office, the same issues with Lucy. I decided to retry this series since it’s been about 4-5 books since the last one I read, and guess what it’s exactly the same! I won’t be reading this anymore, so tired of it. #UnnaturalDeath ##NetGalley

I found Kay Scarpetta about ten years ago and quickly devoured her books, especially the early ones. This is the 27th in the series about a Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, VA. This adventure begins when two bodies are found, one in a mine shaft. There is a lot of interest from federal officials who were investigating them. The whole story takes place in just days. Kay uses state of the art technology for autopsies and forensic work. The regular side players are around, her husband Benton who is ex FBI, Detective Morino, annoying sister Dorthy, computer brilliant niece Lucy.

The pace is quick and deals with investigating extremist groups who collaborate with foreign enemies. There is a lot of technical detail. In fact, a large section of the book is just getting to the bodies. I was excited to receive and read this book. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the plot. I will look forward to the next Scarpetta adventure. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.


(4 Stars)

Having a long love affair with Dr. Scarpetta, I was so excited to receive an ARC of the latest novel. This has all of the typical Scarpetta factors with murder, autopsies and pursuit of justice. The suspense and tension is built through the the vivid portrayal of the crime scenes and details of the victim's injuries. The enigmatic circumstances surrounding the murders, including baffling evidence and a larger-than-life footprint, add layers of intrigue that keep the reader guessing. As Scarpetta confronts one of the most challenging cases of her career, the plot unfolds with unexpected twists and turns. While the novel is a riveting exploration of forensic investigation and criminal psychology, some readers may find the pacing to be slightly uneven. Additionally, a more extensive exploration of certain secondary characters could have added further depth to the narrative. "Unnatural Death" is a testament to Patricia Cornwell's mastery of the crime thriller genre. The novel's atmospheric setting, intricate plot, and the resilience of its central character make it a compelling addition to the Scarpetta series. With its intense forensic details and suspenseful twists, "Unnatural Death" earns a solid 4-star rating. Fans of crime fiction and forensic mysteries will find themselves thoroughly engrossed in this latest installment of the Scarpetta saga.

I lost interest in this series a few books ago. However, having been a huge fan of the early books, I thought I would give this one a try. What lost my interest in the first place was how stale the characters had become. This book did nothing to change my mind. Pete Moreno is still a boring, grumpy whiner, Lucy is still an antisocial techno genius, and everyone in Kay Scarpetta's world is incompetent except for her and her small circle of friends and family. Unlike some other reviewers, I enjoyed the techno thriller aspects of this book but found it slow, repetitive and kind of boring. Most of the characters were one dimensional and the ending was anti-climatic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced reader copy.

I love me some Kay Scarpetta!! This series has held my interest from the beginning and I'm always excited to see what new things are going to develop with these characters. Always an element of danger to keep you flipping those pages! And, of course, the end makes you beg for the next book quick, quick, quick!!

This is the most surprising Scarpetta novel yet! Surprising because I had no idea Cornwell had written her best book ever. Seriously, this is my favorite Scarpetta adventure. Unnatural Death is enthralling from the start. It's a case worthy of the talents our cast possesses. How can you not love a crime which might require the services of a
cryptozoologist as much as a chief medical examiner? This is a perfectly paced entry in a legendary series and the conclusion is wholly satisfying. I love the final scene. Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #UnnaturalDeath #NetGalley

The best I can say about this book is that some other readers really enjoyed it. I fell into the group that did not. It was a sluggish read with parts of it written to simply fill out the requirements for the length of a novel (three pages to describe the inside of the helicopter as an example). The storyline had potential, but the several of the characters were annoying and the written was less than what I expected. Several reviewers indicated that her early books were much better and some long time readers indicated that this would be the last one they read as the author has been on a steady downward spiral.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

Know that this likely will be most appreciated by those who have read the more recent installments in the long running series because it very much builds on earlier events (although Cornwall does provide a sort of short reminder in each case). Know also that there's a long buildup to the "good stuff"- that almost the first third of the novel is details about how Scarpetta gets to the crime scene and her niece Lucy's helicopter (it really doesn't take that long to fly from Alexandria to Nokesville). But the mystery itself- who killed the couple and why- is interesting, if a little incomplete (and to be honest, some of it, like Lucy's role, doesn't work). It's never made clear why the Secret Service and not one of the many other federal agencies is running this whole thing except that it's Lucy. And the Bigfoot thing? Really? All of that said,. it's nice to spend time with Scarpetta, Lucy, Marino, Kay, and the rest again (and I'd love to go to dinner at Scarpetta's house). And that twist- well.....Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. All of the above said, this was a page turner for me.

I can’t believe Unnatural Death is book 27 in the phenomenal Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.
It was so nice to be back in the company of Kay and her gang again.
This story was entertaining in a medical/ murder mystery way and it was a quick read.
With a wonderfully written prose, great characters who’ve been developed with realistic ups and downs, perfectly paced story with intriguing killers.
A great return to this fabulous series.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.