Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell is a roller coaster ride that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. It is the sequel to Port Mortuary in that it answers all the questions that remained with the reader. From the very first page the reader becomes “one” with the thoughts & actions taken by the lead character Dr. Kay Scarpetta. I found myself taking on the emotions and fears of this character. The reader begins to question the motives of those who had been allies to Dr. Scarpetta in the past. Why was Dr. Scarpetta summoned to the Georgia Prison for Women? Who interfered with her travel arrangements? Why was she being manipulated? What could she do to stop it? I was unable to put the book down until all these questions were answered.
Ms. Cornwell’s writing style in this book reminded of the very first book in the series, Post Mortem. The characters must rely on their intellect and deductive reasoning and less on technology to solve the mystery. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery.