Scarpetta and the gang are BACK! Cornwell weaves a realistic and gripping story! The story begins with the death if a child and a colleague. Could the two be related? An abondoned theme park in the middle of nowhere in the midst of a horrific thunderstorm sets the stage for this terrific forensic thill ride that only Cornwell can superbly narrate.

This is #28 in Patricia Cornell's Dr Kay Scarpetta series.

Although "Identity Unknown" is a standalone read, reading earlier books in the series is highly recommended.

I was intrigued by the book's premise:

A victim uncovered in a bizarre murder scene is a man Kay Scarpetta once loved.

The murder victim's face was alarmingly red and appeared to have been dropped from an unidentified flying craft.

And that was where the author lost me.....

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was not the right reader for this book.

I prefer more realism in my thrillers and am not a fan of thrillers with UFOs. aliens. and over-the-top plotlines.

The book showcased too many characters/storylines and I also prefer books with fewer well-developed characters and fewer tangents.

I listened to the audiobook read by January Lavoy.

January Lavoy is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and, as usual, she did a superb job with the narration.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishing teams Grand Central and Hachette audio, along with Novel Suspects, for review copies.

I have read Scarpetta books since I was in high school back in the 90s... I have always loved how complex she is, at times not the easiest character to like but that's what makes her great.. this is the first time I have listened to one of these books on audiobook and now I need January LaVoy to go and narrate every book in this series, I will go back to the beginning just to be in this world with her narration.

The current book, Identity Unknown, is classic Cornwell, procedural with style and technical details (without being boring or tedious), the woven in complexity of Scarpetta's past and the ever looming Carrie (villian extraordinaire) and the always well developed sceondary characters (Lucy, Marino. Benton). Cornwell knows how to pace her books and how to make even complicated murders and technical details engaging and action paced. I enjoyed how though this is book 28 !!! in this series that I still got to learn more about Scarpetta and continue to enjoy this series.

I am so glad I got to listen to another book performed by Janurary LaVoy, she was brilliant and I am going to go back to the previous two Scarpetta books and listen to her performance on those as well. I hope she continues to narrate this series!

Patricia Cornwell still has it. This novel continues the story of Kay Scarpetta, and if you have not heard of her go and purchase the first book and start the amazing journey following her life/career. This is the 28th in the series featuring Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta and her supporting cast, a familiar villain may have returned, but a former Scarpetta lover also surfaces and dies in a grim manner. Mostly about Kay with less focus on Lucy, Marino and Benton. When a body is dropped from a mysterious flying vehicle into a creepy abandoned amusement park, the victim is someone close to Dr. Kay Scarpetta. She has just completed an autopsy on a young child who may have been murdered by her rich, loathsome parents when she is called on a secret mission with Marino and her Secret Service niece, Lucy, to retrieve the body. That sets off a trail of mystery, danger and the involvement of all the latest technology available. Add this one to your reading list. I believe it will be published in October, 2024
Thanks to #NetGalley, the author and #GrandCentralPublishing

Scarpetta and crew are back in a novel that kept me listening straight through. Despite the grim realities of death, there is a warm feeling from the relationships between Kay, Lucy, Benton et al. There is also plenty of action, from harrowing helicopter rides to diving. January LaVoy has an appropriately authoritative voice for Scarpetta and deftly voices the multiple characters. Her pacing is pitch-perfect and adds to the read. This is another solid entry in the long-running series and is sure to be in demand from Cornwell’s many fans. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a review audiobook. All opinions expressed are my own.