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All That Remains (Kay Scarpetta #3)
#1 "New York Times" bestselling author Patricia Cornwell's heart-stopping thriller featuring gutsy medical examiner Kay Scarpetta
In Richmond, Virginia, young lovers are dying. So far, four couples in the area have disappeared, only to be found months later as mutilated corpses. When the daughter of the president's newest drug czar vanishes along with her boyfri
...morePaperback, 480 pages
Published
December 1st 2009
by Pocket Star
(first published 1992)
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Patricia Cornwell knows how to keep the pages turning in the Scarpetta series. This was another book I couldn't put down. When Scarpetta is faced with the return of her journalist friend, Abby, who is investigating the same puzzling murders of 5 young couples, Scarpetta has to wonder if she's feeding information to someone else. Especially to the illustrious Pat Harvey, mother of the last slain girl and the national "drug czar" of the federal government. Is the FBI withholding vital in...more
Patricia Cornwell is among the better mystery writers, and this is among the better books of hers that I've read. It's a procedural murder mystery with lots of political intrigue thrown in, and it's a page turner. Only complaints: 1. It's the third book in a series, so there's a lot of time wasted explaining the back story. 2. A few too many twists and turns. There's one thrown into the last 50 pages that kind of defies belief. 3. (spoiler) If The X Files taught us nothing else, it's that the st...more
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I am of two mindsets when it comes to this novel. The mystery itself was compelling, gripping. It possessed the capability of staying with the reader far longer than the reader was immersed in the book. As couples are being murdered – stopped in their vehicles, terrorized, and then their bodies dumped to decompose to the point of little to no physical evidence, the serial killer remains at large and the police baffled. The most terrifying aspect to the cases is the means by which the killer appr...more
Hace varios años compré una novela en bolsillo de serie negra. Recuerdo que la leí, me tuvo entretenida e incluso llegué a comprar otra novela de la misma autora, que nunca llegué a leer. Hasta ahí toda mi relación con Patricia Cornwell.
No podría decir por qué no volví a leer una novela suya. No son obras maestras de la literatura, pero para mí, la idea de un buen libro es aquel que te absorbe y te hace olvidar que el mundo existe durante el rato que dura la lectura. Y, en ese sentido,...more
No podría decir por qué no volví a leer una novela suya. No son obras maestras de la literatura, pero para mí, la idea de un buen libro es aquel que te absorbe y te hace olvidar que el mundo existe durante el rato que dura la lectura. Y, en ese sentido,...more
Hmm, usually I like books that take me into a fantasy world, one that cannot be obtained except by reading. This book is more of a conversation you have with a friend. I think sometimes, "wow, glad that's not me" and move on with my life. I am pretty sure the Dirk Pitt books did so much more than that, and they still sucked. Maybe this one should have recieved a -3 rating, but I want to remain consistent with my rating system. Oh oh, this book also lacked a climax. I don't think books ...more
One of the series featuring medical examiner Dr Kay Scarpetta, this book is surely one of the best. It has the usual cast of characters: Scarpetta herself, Detective Marino, FBI Agent Benton Wesley, plus several others, one being a journalist, Abby, whom we met in a previous title. The forensic science is present here, but not to the point of tedium. Despite Cornwell’s grasp of this subject, her greatest strengths are in narrative, character and dialogue, and in this book these elements are unus...more
I wrote this review in my blog when i read this. And luckily... A couple daya ago i was checking the Cornwell books in here, trying to remember which one have i read, and they all looked the same... Not a good sign...
La reseña que sigue la escribi en mi blog cuando lo lei. Y por suerte... Hace unos dias estaba repasando los libros de Cornwell, tratando de recordar cual era el que me habia leido, y todos me parecian iguales... No muy buena señal...
The first book i read from this au...more
La reseña que sigue la escribi en mi blog cuando lo lei. Y por suerte... Hace unos dias estaba repasando los libros de Cornwell, tratando de recordar cual era el que me habia leido, y todos me parecian iguales... No muy buena señal...
The first book i read from this au...more
My favorite Kay Scarpetta book from Patricia Cornwell, largely because the real-life events on which the plot is based happened in our backyard, the still-unsolved (Colonial) "Parkway Murders." The newspaper for which I worked for 20-odd years (some of them very odd years) burned a lot of ink on the four double murders. Scarpetta's Richmond setting appeals to me for a similar reason: geographical familiarity. Every now and then it's nice to turn a corner and see a familiar river view o...more
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I would have liked a return to the use of forensic science portrayed so charmingly in the first novel, but no such luck. Although significantly longer than the second book, I wonder if the extra padding was really necessary. There were parts that seemed like unimportant filler fluff. I'm determined to read "The Body Farm", but if the characters don't become more compelling, I probably will spend my time on a different series after that.
There was one part that really bothered me. ...more
There was one part that really bothered me. ...more
This will be my first Patricia Cornwell novel. Cornwell is another author living in Virginia, as is John Grisham and David Baldacci, just a name a few. Before starting this book, I researched Patricia Cornwell online. I learned that she is quite a character and has led an interesting life. Being somewhat of a character myself, I have always believed that colorful people often write great ficton.
This book was well writen, interesting and with characters with true to life personalities...more
This book was well writen, interesting and with characters with true to life personalities...more
The mystery was a good mystery for the story, I liked the book. One thing about this book that I thought was very annoying to have to read through was, the main character Kay, talked about her personal life more than the mystery. It seemed like everything was more about the lives of the people than the crime they were investigating. In some parts of the book, it would take a long time just describing the way something looked that wasn't really important and would get boring really fast. The crim...more
Pros of this book:
-The protagonist is not in any way, shape or form a Mary Sue
-she's....somewhat good at her job
-there is blood and no over-romanticizing death
-they're realistic
-the plot makes sense
-there are no LOLWHUT / DOESNOTCOMPUTE moments
-the details are interesting
Cons:
-the swearing and slang feel unnatural for every character
-there are some dumb, overused stereotypes
-I get the sense from this book that ev...more
-The protagonist is not in any way, shape or form a Mary Sue
-she's....somewhat good at her job
-there is blood and no over-romanticizing death
-they're realistic
-the plot makes sense
-there are no LOLWHUT / DOESNOTCOMPUTE moments
-the details are interesting
Cons:
-the swearing and slang feel unnatural for every character
-there are some dumb, overused stereotypes
-I get the sense from this book that ev...more
although the novel itself is rather forgettable, the central characterization is memorable. dry, formidable, determined yet prone to various neurotic relationships (romantic & otherwise), kay scarpetta is a strong creation. unfortunately the forensic science aspects take a backseat to the police procedural aspects in this entry in the long-running series. and i still can't help but question why a coroner finds herself in these various predicaments. in a novel within the 'cozy mystery' subgenre, ...more
A serial killer is loose in Richmond, specializing in attractive young couples whose bodies are inevitably found in the woods months later -- minus their shoes and socks. After months of exposure to all the elements, all that remains of this killer's victims has in every case left Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta unable even to determine an exact cause of death. Frustrated that her high-tech forensic skills have apparently proved useless, Kay enlists the help of and ace crime reporter an...more
This is a long book that goes on and on about the crimes committed against young couples. The piecing together of the information is interesting, but very lengthy. Cornwell explores the everyday, mundane life of Dr Scarpetta and detective Pete Marino. Pete and his wife have separated, and Kay and her lover have parted. A serial killer is mysteriously killing young couples, and the decomposed bodies are found too late to determine the cause of death. Then the daughter of a high-ranking Presi...more
The solution to this crime hinges on an incredible coincidence, almost to the point of non sequitur. I just don't buy it. This one is rather a downer as well, and (spoiler alert) because they kill the killer, we don't really have much insight into his motives. I guess they kill the killers in the first two as well, but I felt like I understood his motives better somehow than I did with this one. I guess that's one good thing (!) about moving away from the first-person narration in the later book...more
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Shelves:
audio,
journalists,
local-interest,
mystery,
police-procedural,
sense-of-place,
series,
strong-women,
suspense,
violent,
first-person
Cornwell's strength lies in her details. As Kay is a medical examiner (coroner), the violence is clinically rather than sensationally described (and described it is). Told in the first person, the investigation unfolds as real investigations unfold: with dead ends, miscues, missing pieces, and an unexpectedly abrupt ending. The "personal" story didn't gel for me but, having read subsequent books, I was happy to fill in some blanks. I enjoy books with local interest so the settings in R...more
I have read all three of the first Kay Scarpetta novel's now and I enjoyed this one the most. I particularly enjoyed the developing relationship between Scarpetta and Marino, especially the gentle humour. Unfortunately I have felt cheated by all three novels. I enjoy thrillers / crime novels where I am also playing detective; where the author teases the reader with a range of characters that may or may not have 'dunnit' whereas Cornwell prefers to withhold the perpetrator's identity and chara...more
As usual, Scarpetta finds herself drawn more deeply than usual into the mysterious deaths. I do often find myself questioning the reality of how deeply involved the medical examiner would get in a homicide investigation. My other qualm was that there were some confusing twists and nuances; I also get a bit tired of the conspiracies against Kay, but I guess that's the best way to justify her getting so involved.
Scarpetta is an engaging character, and it's nice to see other repeat ca...more
Scarpetta is an engaging character, and it's nice to see other repeat ca...more
This book is fine. Another learning experience when it comes to Kindle reading. I've got to remeber to check the copyright date, which sometimes takes a little effort to a beginning kindle reader. This thing was written in 92 so no cell phones, no email. etc., which obviously affects the investigative techniques of the characters. Also, everybody is smoking all the time - strange. It got me thnking about how little characters smoke in the current books Ive been reading. It was distracting, ...more
This series is what I call a "guilty pleasure". Not at all high-brow, but easy to read thrillers with some mystery, and I have to admit that I enjoy the gruesome details about forensic pathology. Being an engineering type, I like to know the details behind things, how things work, in particular when it comes to problem solving or investigative techniques.
I do love the character of Kay Scarpetta; she's a strong, smart woman who is also attractive. She makes me nuts someti...more
I do love the character of Kay Scarpetta; she's a strong, smart woman who is also attractive. She makes me nuts someti...more
Dr. Kay Scarpetta is ready again to solve the mystery of who is killing the young couples in Virginia. Somewhat out of her role as chief medical examiner, her curiousity knows no bounds. She is capable, inventive and intelligent, a formidable trio of abilities. There is some collateral damage to a friend in this book though as they battle the forces and find out who killed the latest victims.
She is at turns frustrated, angry and sure that the FBI is withholding evidence. You really b...more
She is at turns frustrated, angry and sure that the FBI is withholding evidence. You really b...more
This book started out really good. I loved that I was familiar with the territory, and could see places in my mind. The killer was perplexing and scary. And that the team seemed stumped on it all, created a lot of tension.
But, she dragged out this book more. Months and months passed between the initial scenes and the final scenes, and this led to a drop back in that crazy tension. I was unsatisfying with some components of the end.
Overall still a worthwhile read, but jus...more
But, she dragged out this book more. Months and months passed between the initial scenes and the final scenes, and this led to a drop back in that crazy tension. I was unsatisfying with some components of the end.
Overall still a worthwhile read, but jus...more
Another older Scarpetta book, this one deals with a series of unsolved murders that have occurred over the last couple of years. While reading this book I realized that a fair amount of time has elapsed since the last book - I'm not sure exactly how long, but maybe a couple of years even. Lucy makes a brief appearance, this time as a high schooler. A character from an earlier book returns as well, and Kay's relationship with Mark plays a role.
The murders are interesting and the out...more
The murders are interesting and the out...more
I am beginning to have a problem with Cornwell's books. This one is more about the personal stories of her repeating characters and less about the murder. The ending is horrible and not supported well in the rest of the story. I have a problem with such troubled and unprofessional people rising to the level in their careers that these characters have. People with this many problems don't usually have jobs with such responsibility, especially when they can't seem to put them aside. I'm not su...more
Character develoment continues in this book and i feel the reader gets to know Kay and Marino better, I felt empathy for Marino, such a sad helpless sort of guy after he is left to fend for himself. It was great that Kay tells him to stand up to the plate and take care of himself, how can anyone care for him if he doesn't care for himself? Simple rule right ? How many people don't know that ? I would guess quite a few. I liked that she pointed that out to him as a friend without being preachy or...more
I feel like you can tell that writing isn't her first priority. Telling the story is more important, but the style isn't number one. I guess that's fine if you're telling a really good story, but I mostly feel like this has all been done. Just another crime mystery to be solved by a female high in the ranks but isn't completely qualified to be doing so. Maybe I don't know what all a ME does, but I don't think they interview witnesses and other extraneous people involved in a crime. Anyway, not t...more
"All That Remains" by Patricia Cornwell is the third in The Kay Scarpetta Series yet it can be read (and enjoyed) as a standalone book.
I can attest to this as I mistakenly thought this was the first in the series and it was only on it's conclusion and looking for the next book, did I realise two books had come before.
It tells the story of Dr Kay Scarpetta, a Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia as she works through the emotional and political fallout surroun...more
I can attest to this as I mistakenly thought this was the first in the series and it was only on it's conclusion and looking for the next book, did I realise two books had come before.
It tells the story of Dr Kay Scarpetta, a Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia as she works through the emotional and political fallout surroun...more
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Patricia Cornwell was born on June 9, 1956, in Miami, Florida, and grew up in Montreat, North Carolina.
Following graduation from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer, rapidly advancing from listing television programs to writing feature articles to covering the police beat. She won an investigative reporting award from the North Carolina Pre...more
More about Patricia Cornwell...
Following graduation from Davidson College in 1979, she began working at the Charlotte Observer, rapidly advancing from listing television programs to writing feature articles to covering the police beat. She won an investigative reporting award from the North Carolina Pre...more
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