All That Remains: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries)
by Patricia Cornwell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Patricia CornwellEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-06-30
ISBN: 1439149895
Number of pages: 480
Publisher: Pocket Star
Book Reviews of All That Remains: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries)
Book Review: More character-driven than some other Scarpetta's
Summary: 4 Stars
'All That Remains' is distinctive among Cornwell's early Scarpetta books, in that the forensic science doesn't really play much of a role. You might think that would be a fatal blow for a series based around a Medical Examiner, but in fact Cornwell does a good job of tweaking the formula. Since the key plot hook is Scarpetta's inability to determine cause of death, the investigatory rather than the forensic side is emphasised, with 'All That Remains' being a bit reminiscent of a police procedural in parts. But the story is still interesting, with some clever twists and turns, and some good investigation work performed by Scarpetta and Marino.
The story itself revolves around a serial killer who has dispatched eight people over the past years, with the bodies not found until they are so degraded the cause of death is unknown. However, when the latest victim includes the daughter of a high-profile Congresswoman, the pressure on Scarpetta and her associates becomes intense. The case quickly takes on "political" connotations, with suggestions that the government, FBI, and even CIA are trying to sabotage the investigation and hush it up. This does result in yet another of Cornwell's righteous-heroine-persecuted-by-nasty-men scenarios, but it also gives Mark James and Benton Wesley some interesting character moments. Mark and especially Benton come across as more shadowy than before; the FBI connection meaning they may not have Scarpetta's best interests at heart. A variety of sub-plots involving rival journalists and leaking of confidential information muddies the waters of the investigation even further, with Scarpetta unable to trust almost anyone.
This is one of the more character-driven books in the series. Unlike most other Scarpetta novels, 'All That Remains' takes place over quite a long period of time, and provides some insight into the physical and emotional toll taken on investigators (and also victims' families) as the case drags on for months and months without resolution. The combination of time, lack of evidence, and political pressure push several characters to breaking point. The degradation of Pat Harvey is particularly sad, given her strong character at the beginning of the book.
The conclusion is clever, with most of the pieces fitting into place, and the climax is quite tragic. As mentioned, the revelation owes more to old-school police work than forensic wizardry, although there is a clever forensic-based twist at the end.
In all, yet another strong early entry in the Scarpetta series, albeit with a less forensic and more character-driven emphasis than 'Postmortem' and 'Body Of Evidence'.
Summary of All That Remains: A Scarpetta Novel (Kay Scarpetta Mysteries)
#1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Cornwell's heart-stopping thriller featuring gutsy medical examiner Kay ScarpettaIn 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 boyfriend, Dr. Kay Scarpetta knows time is short. Following a macabre trail of evidence that ties the present homicides to a grisly crime in the past, Kay must draw upon her own personal resources to track down a murderer who is as skilled at eliminating clues as Kay is at finding them....
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