Against her own judgement and the advice of Benton Wesley and her niece, Lucy, Scarpetta agrees to return to Virginia as a consultant pathologist on a case involving the death of a fourteen-year-old girl. Accompanied by Pete Marino she finds the once familiar territory of her morgue and her department much changed, and the new Chief Medical Examiner treats her with disdain despite the obvious fact that he is in desperate need of her expertise. But professional as ever, she re-examines the evidence and proves the girl was murdered. She also finds trace evidence which matches that found on an accident victim and at the scene where one of Lucy's operatives was attacked. It is not only a forensic puzzle, but opens up the probability that someone is after those closest to Scarpetta.

This was the first book of Patricia Cornwell's that I've read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

An okay read, but not as good as some of Cornwell's other books.

Passed back to me after my friend read it and now on its way to Canada as part of a swap with aunt-sophie. Enjoy.

Received today! Thanks for the trade, themadjock!

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