Cause of Death

by Patricia Cornwell and CORNWELL PATRICIA

Book Overview

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is faced with a labyrinthine case that wraps a web of danger around her and those closest to her--and threatens to wreak fear and death far beyond Virginia--in this "standout" (New... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399141464
• ISBN13: 9780399141461
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: Putnam Adult
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.6"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

I Disagree With the Negatives...

I was just looking at the reviews for this book and couldn't believe I had read the same book that the previous reviewers have read. Perhaps it is because I have been reading all of the books of the series in order, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters and their relationships continue to evolve, as do their relationships with each other. This book, as well as the previous ones are solid police and forensic procedurals. Some have complained that Kay is a super woman...well, she is, that is her character. She is an over achiever professionally and academically. That counters with the decisions she makes in her personal life, where she doesn't do so well. The woman not only is the top in her field, she also possesses a law degree. Like I said, I don't understand all of the negative reviews. I enjoyed the book and look forward to continuing with the series.

Cornwell is mind-blowing

This is my second-time around for "Cause of Death"...i like her books THAT much. This time i'm working through them in order, which is one thing i made the mistake of not doing when i first came across her. Anyway...on first reading, this one wasn't really my favourite, but when i read it a second time, i absolutely loved it. The plot is really exciting, intriguing, fast-paced...in fact, everything we have come to expect from Ms Cornwell. Scarpetta is back, and a it more jaded than usual. Lucy too is back, and its good to see her working independent from her aunt, proving she is equally capable. (What Cornwell does to the character in later books is a shame).The first half of the book is a tad better than the second, but the electrifying conclusions really makes up for that. Otherwise, this book is extremely well written (whatever the minor faults of some of her books, they always are) extremely fast-paced, and with a dark and muddy plot which stinks of corruption and intrigue. The first couple of paragraphs are possibly the best first couple of paragraphs which Ms Cornwell has ever penned. The book begins right at the deep end (literally) with invetigative reporter Ted Eddings found dead whilst diving under the murky surface of the ELizabeth River. The way COrnwell describes this scene is extremely evocative and more than a little scary. The way Scarpetta has to don diving equipment and take a dive into the muddy depths of the water to find the body is chilling...The climax is great, the plot is exciting and a good puzzle, the characters are good, if a little unrealistic. But nonetheless, Cornwell is still a (possibly THE) maestro popular fiction.

it could have been better

This was a rather interesting book, it was very scientific and I learned alot from it, I dont usually read boks to learn about things. This book had it all, interesting, information, and suspense.

I couldn't put it down!

In Patricia Daniels Cornwell's book the Cause Of Death. I couldn't put it down! Her Forensic detail was great and I learned new things as I read on. This is one of her best books yet!