Part of Kay Scarpetta, book 15
First published 2007
Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta confronts a killer who seems to know her every move. When bodies begin appearing with signatures that mirror her own forensic expertise, Scarpetta realizes she has become both hunter and hunted. The murderer leaves clues that feel like personal messages, drawing her deeper into a deadly game. Her niece Lucy and investigator Pete Marino work alongside her as the case threatens everything Scarpetta holds dear. The killer's knowledge of forensic science matches her own, making each new victim a challenge to her professional abilities and personal safety. As the investigation intensifies, Scarpetta must confront the possibility that someone from her past has returned to settle an old score. The case forces her to question not only her methods but her relationships with those closest to her. This deadly pursuit will test whether Scarpetta's expertise can save her when she becomes the ultimate target.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: cat-and-mouse, detective-story, unreliable-narrator
511 pages · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: death, graphic-violence, murder