A Book A Week

Patricia Cornwell has captivated readers for decades with her Kay Scarpetta series. The books follow the medical examiner as she investigates murder cases and unexplained deaths. I first discovered the series in high school when I picked up a paperback copy of Post Mortem, and I was immediately hooked. Those thrilling mysteries were far more enticing than the books on my required reading list! Over the years, Cornwell has kept the series fresh, navigating cultural and technological changes while allowing Kay Scarpetta and her world to evolve, solidifying her place as one of the most iconic characters in modern crime fiction. Cornwell returns with Identity Unknown, the latest installment, offering a fast-paced whodunit filled with cutting-edge tech, fascinating characters, and a seemingly unsolvable case.

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is under intense pressure as she autopsies the body of a young girl, the daughter of ultra-wealthy parents who claim she accidentally shot herself. The parents are eager to retrieve their daughter's remains, but the more Kay examines the evidence, the shakier their story becomes. She refuses to release the body until she uncovers the truth.

Her investigation is interrupted when her Secret Service niece, Lucy, calls her to a far more unsettling scene. Lucy arrives by helicopter at the medical examiner’s office and whisks Kay away to a creepy, abandoned Wizard of Oz-themed amusement park. The eerie setting is nothing compared to the grisly discovery awaiting them. A body appears to have fallen from a great height, possibly ejected from an unidentified flying object, leaving even expert pilot Lucy puzzled. 

As Kay approaches the body, she's shocked to realize the victim is Sal Giordano, known as the "E.T. Whisperer"—a longtime friend and former lover. His crumpled remains lie on the dilapidated yellow brick road, surrounded by a strange crop circle of petals. As investigators grapple with theories of extraterrestrial involvement and Giordano's eccentric life, Scarpetta uncovers a more sinister, earthbound explanation that hits disturbingly close to home.

No author unsettles me quite like Patricia Cornwell, and Identity Unknown is no exception. An undercurrent of paranoia runs through every moment of the story, forcing readers to confront horrors they’d rather not imagine. Cornwell weaves this tension throughout her intricate mystery as Kay Scarpetta faces interference from her former boss, a disgruntled ex-employee, and the influential parents of a victim whose death appears far more sinister than anyone wants to admit. And that’s just the beginning.

The novel takes readers to one of the creepiest murder scenes I’ve ever encountered, plunging them into a bizarre investigation that even flirts with the possibility of extraterrestrial contact. Cornwell’s meticulous research grounds the narrative in reality, making the story's chilling elements feel all the more plausible.

Twenty-eight books into the series, Identity Unknown might just be the best one yet. I devoured it in a single sitting, unable to tear myself away until I’d reached the final page. With Amazon recently announcing a two-season pickup for a TV series based on the character, it seems Kay Scarpetta’s journey is far from over. If the books remain as gripping as this one, I can’t wait to see where she goes next.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 74)