Livid - Patricia Cornwell

Livid

By Patricia Cornwell

  • Release Date: 2022-10-25
  • Genre: Mysteries & Thrillers
Score: 4
4
From 958 Ratings

Description

In this thrilling installment of the #1 bestselling series, chief medical examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta finds herself a reluctant star witness in a sensational televised murder trial causing chaos in Old Town Alexandria with the threat of violent protests.

Chief medical examiner Kay Scarpetta is the reluctant star witness in a sensational murder trial when she receives shocking news. The judge’s sister has been found dead. At first glance, it appears to be a home invasion, but then why was nothing stolen, and why is the garden strewn with dead plants and insects?

Although there is no apparent cause of death, Scarpetta recognizes telltale signs of the unthinkable, and she knows the worst is yet to come. The forensic pathologist finds herself pitted against a powerful force that returns her to the past, and her time to catch the killer is running out . . .

Reviews

  • A mediocre work

    4
    By Ctoandasan
    Not one of Cornwell’s better works. The ending was abrupt like author was in a hurry to finish, or she was kimited to a number of words to complete the novel.
  • Two thumbs up

    5
    By Nanmac52
    Familiar characters but new case; really interesting
  • Livid

    1
    By xfr52
    Shockingly poor effort from Cornwell which reflects badly on the previous books in the series. Boring, poorly developed and characterless. Do not waste your money.
  • Great Read

    5
    By Barbaralla
    Excellent
  • Livid

    1
    By park centrsl
    Cornwall should stop writing. This book was terrible and truly stupid. She appears desperate.
  • Excellent today kind of story

    4
    By good story 123
    Good story line.
  • Not a good read

    1
    By Geaux65
    Not up to Cornwell standards. 90% unnecessary description and 10% shallow plot. Reads like a hastily written book to meet a deadline.
  • Meh

    1
    By Arlizabeth
    Boring. I’ve read every Scarpetta book and the early ones were so good. Now I read almost out of sentimental obligation - just to see who lives and who dies. This assumes anything happens at all, which isn’t often. This book basically serves to remind us that the main characters are very intelligent, very important and very well-connected people. They are, evidently, the only ones standing between us and certain death on a mass level. As with other installments in the recent past, the action takes place over a day or two and the crime is wrapped up swiftly, in the last few pages. There is no character development whatsoever. One could easily read the last book in the series and whatever the next one will be and have no trouble understanding where the characters are in their lives and how they got there. This time we are spared details of Lucy’s love of expensive and fast machines and Scarpetta’s own familiarity with pricey luxury goods is displayed only through her recognition of a victims’ possessions. I found all that both pretentious and tedious in earlier novels so I didn’t miss it. I did miss Scarpetta cooking, though there are several mentions of food that makes clear that she and Benton are foodies. Oh - and if I read one more detailed account of Scarpetta getting soaked in a thunderstorm, I’m going to purchase a raincoat and an umbrella for the author. Undoubtedly she prefers Burberry. Save yourself the time and skip this one. If you really miss Kay, Benton, Lucy and Marino, read the final chapter to say hi and move on with your life.
  • Livid was painfully boring

    2
    By ec md
    This may be the most ponderously slow book this author gas ever written. Good fir ubsimnia
  • Meh

    1
    By skinnercat
    Scarpetta and her crowd are boring. No surprises anymore. A lot of build up about the crime and then a fast wrap up. The topic is current and scary, but these characters lucked out in catching the bad guy. Nothing to see here.