This is the first novel in the long running Dr Kay Scarpetta series. When we meet Scarpetta she is forty and has recently become the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond, Virginia. She is currently involved in a series of murders; women who have been strangled in their own bedrooms. Nothing seems to link the victims and Scarpetta feels that Detective Marino is looking in the wrong direction when he suspects the latest victims husband.
A large part of the success of this series, I feel, are the characters around Scarpetta which give her depth. Her ten year old niece, the irresponsible sister and unhappy mother, relentless reporter Abby Turnbull, the delightfully rumpled Detective Marino and the resentful Commissioner all help make us care about what happens. When leaks to the press about the cases are seemingly linked to her office, Scarpetta finds she is under fire from Commissioner Amburgey and the case also causes problems with her 'sort of' relationship with ultra handsome and slick Commonwealth Attorney Bill Boltz.
As other reviewers have pointed out, the ending does feel a little rushed. However, it is worth bearing in mind that this novel is the only book to win the Edgar, Creasey, Anthony and Macavity awards, as well as the French Prix du Roman d'aventure in a single year. It is, undoubtedly, a good introduction to a successful series and, although you sense niece Lucy could quickly become a little wearing, the main characters are generally sympathetic and well written.
