Flesh and Blood

Flesh and Blood is the twenty-second book in the Kay Scarpetta series by American author, Patricia Cornwell. Kay and Benton are about to leave for a vacation in Florida when Kay spots seven shiny 1981 pennies on the back wall. There's a shooting nearby, and Marino turns up quick as a flash to take Kay to the scene. Apparently, shooting bears similarities to two in New Jersey. On the way, Marino has an argument with a gardener. A teenage girl drowns, a nasty insurance agent hangs around a lot, a young tennis player confesses. Aaand from there the plot just gets more and more convoluted.

Things to like about Scarpetta 22: • It's much shorter than previous books (<400 pages vs 500+pages) • There is a bit less mind-numbingly boring and mostly irrelevant detail (a bit less, not a lot less) • There are some interesting facts about ballistics and bullets to the neck Things to dislike about Scarpetta 22: • It's all still about Kay. Everything is about how it affects Kay, every word, gesture, facial expression, painstakingly (or painfully) analysed for meaning. (yawn) • Not a lot of medical examining going on • The same old secrets and paranoia "Deceit. Lucy has her own agenda and she and Benton have been talking. She's lying to me and so is he" • Same unlikeable characters: paranoid Kay, aloof Benton, obnoxious Marino, lawless Lucy. Bryce is the only breath of fresh air. • Kay is still unhappy with the behaviour of her staff (ho hum) • Dialogue still wooden • Same tired old plot: a show-off serial killer out to get Kay/Benton/Lucy/Marino • Cliff hanger ending: gee, thanks but no thanks all the same Hmm, not looking good for Scarpetta 23. Yep, it's a pretty easy decision to make: Bye bye Kay.