One of the most interesting Scarpetta I’ve read in awhile. Enough “ Yours Eyes Only” to keep even Scarpetta guessing. It started out so sad I wasn’t sure, then it became two cases and got interesting. Lucy has matured enough that I’m not annoyed by her as was the case in previous books. It’s a good read. I’d like to listen to the audio book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read in advance.

Kay is one of my favorite lead characters and it felt nice to be in her world again. I need to go back and reread the series. It was a good book with plenty of twists and turns.

What a great read! From the first page you could feel the tension leading up to something big happening. Then, blam! it happens. This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions with on the edge of your seat, nail biting intrique to sympathy to whew! I'm glad they're ok. I love these characters and their interactions and that they are so real and have flaws and doubts about themselves etc. I loved this book!

This was my first time reading a Patricia Cornwell book. I have to say this was an ever unwinding thrill seeking, mind bending, incredible read. It constantly kept me guessing and waiting for who did all of this. I can say the story line in this book, I hope is fact, but seemed so genuine. Patricia Cornwell is a master word smith and character builder. She has amazing way to actually paint her characters on the page for you to see, only using words.

Dr. Kay Scarpetta is doing an autopsy on a little girl that she is finding may lead to her parents Ryder and Piper Briley. It looks like it is child abuse in the worst way. If so the parents are going to be out for blood as they are not very good humans. That is when the phone rang out and no one was expecting a call. When Scarpetta answered the call no one was there. She hung up and the next thing it rang again. This time when she answered it there was someone there. It was her niece Lucy Farinelli a U.S. Secret Service Agent. She was calling to notify her aunt about another body that was found that may be linked to the little girl that she is doing an autopsy on. Unfortunately aunt Kay knew this person. Dr. Scarpetta didn't want to believe it was him. It was Sal Giordano. Her long ago lover and now best friend. Lucy thinks it may have been a UAP that dropped in the Oz theme park. As she did Sal's autopsy she saw what looked like him leaving her a clue as to what happened to him. Is it truly an out of this world kind of a clue or something much worse.....

Thank you to Patricia Cornwell for the amazing adventure, thank you to Netgalley for the Arc

I really enjoyed this book. It was quite different from other books in the series as it dips it toes into the otherworldly realm with the alien allusions. But instead of it being ludicrous, it still has that dark and realistic element that makes these books so compelling. I like that it centered almost entirely on Kay and I didn’t mind that the usual cast of supporting characters took a backseat in this one. Scarpetta is such a strong and layered character that she can easily carry the weight of the novel on her own. I think this one could easily be a stand alone read for an introduction to the series for newbies. Not a lot of series stand the test of time. This one does and continues to enthrall me.

I enjoy the Kay Scarpetta characters but it is getting a little stale: I quit reading them for awhile, but continued on but it seems like the same story the past few books

Another in the series....I do like how integrated Lucy has become in Kay's story! My only challenge was the staunch belief in Bigfoot (really?). Another difficult to solve mystery to unravel.

This is an eerie and unusual Scarpetta thriller. Called to a crime scene, she’s shocked to find the victim is an old lover, surrounded by strange clues—including a crop circle of petals. Lucy suspects something otherworldly, but Scarpetta believes the truth is far more sinister.

The forensic details are sharp, and the mystery is gripping, but some plot elements feel a bit far-fetched. While not Cornwell’s best, it’s still an intriguing read for fans of the series.

Identity Unknown is the latest novel in the Kay Scarpetta series and there is really nothing new here. I have read every book, but the last few have lost their luster in my opinion. The plot is redundant, including an old nemesis who comes home to roost. For a brilliant woman, Kay has not been very smart lately. She makes poor choices and does not see what is right in front of her. The personal storyline that includes Marino and her sister has become tiresome, and I find the Lucy and Benton side plot to be uninteresting.

I used to devour the Scarpetta novels, but I have found myself lately finding excuses to put the novels aside. I have been a faithful reader of the novels since the beginning, but I would not recommend Identity Unknown to those new to the series. I am seriously considering starting the series over, as I remember how excited I was to read them. For these reasons, I would not recommend Identity Unknown to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.

I was a fan for years of Patricia Cornwell when she first started the Kay Scarpetta series. Then for a period of time, her writing seemed to diminish and quality and I abandoned her. I decide to give her another chance with this book and I’m happy to say that she is writing as fine as she did in the early years. Maybe she has kept her writing abilities sharp by writing other books. It must be hard to make something seem fresh when you’re 20 something books into a series. I was so happy with this book that I am now reading Autopsy, which is the first book after a six years hiatus. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review .

This is the first book I've read by Patricia Cornwell, and I enjoyed it immensely. One thing that struck me was how detailed the descriptions of the autopsies were that Kay Scarpetta and her staff performed. I was also surprised that Kay and her group would go to crime scenes to gather evidence, and that they appeared in court to give testimony about their findings (and what they didn't find).

Kay and her team were gathering evidence for two cases in this book: a child death that the parents claimed was accidental (a shooting), and the death of an old friend who was oddly found at an abandoned theme park and appeared to have dropped out of the sky. I enjoyed following the trail of evidence with Kay and her team to bring justice.

I received an e-arc of this book from Grand Central Publishing and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

I have been an avid Patricia Cornwell reader for a very long time. In this book we find Scarpetta involved in the mysterious murder of her former love and old friend, Sal Giordano. His body is found in an abandoned theme park. The return of an early series villain determined to hurt Scarpetta and her family raises the stakes.

I enjoyed this read for the most part. However, I would have preferred the story cover a longer span of time instead of the 48 hours the investigation and mystery resolution occurred in. Throughout the book, I think the overly detailed descriptions of events transpiring (making dinner for example) took away from the momentum of the storyline. I felt this bogged the book down and was unnecessary.

I did enjoy that the suspenseful feel was maintained throughout the entire book. The story was detailed and the characters well developed. This is a must read for any Patricia Cornwell fan.

After a few books in the series that seemed to have way too much interpersonal drama for my tastes, the Kay Scarpetta series is back with a winner. This book includes a return of an old enemy and the unusual death of a longtime friend and former love interest of Kay. I was interested and engaged from beginning to end, and happy with the way it was resolved.

This was not my favorite Kay Scarpetta book and while I still enjoyed it, I didn’t love the portrayal of some of my favorite characters. Maybe it’s because its been a while since I’ve read one but man! I’ve been reading this series for YEARS! Years!

I love all the regulars, Marino, Lucy, Benton, Dorothy … and I just didn’t love how Marino is being written or Kay, either. Same with Lucy. Maybe it’s me? I’m getting older and so are they. Anyways, I digress.

The biggest beef I had was the bogging down in details. I love the forensic side of the Scarpetta series – I have a nursing degree – give me all the gory details, but this was a different bogging down in details. There were times I felt like I was sludging through every thought that Kay had, every observation she made, and there wasn’t an actual rationale for them.

I’ll never stop reading this series because, let’s face it, these characters are family but I hope that things change. They deserve a bit of growth, especially Marino!

I received an audio book for review and realized I had not read the previous 2 books, which I luckily had on my bookshelf. I continue to read these books, even if I am sometimes not happy with the plots, but the previous 2 seemed to finally be back to her old standards. However, listening instead of reading made me realize that perhaps there was WAY TOO Much descriptions of Scarpetta's every move. Maybe when I am reading I skim past, but for example, Kay and Lucy need to go scuba diving to get a body out of a crashed helicopter. We literally go into the locker room and gave an extremely detailed description of what they are wearing, and once they get on the boat, how they strap in and every move they make. Simply not necessary.
The plot concerns the death of her old friend and previous lover whose body is discovered in an abandoned amusement park. An old nemesis who I thought we had seen the last of reappears and seems to be controlling the plot.
Also, a side plot is the death of a little girl whose parents play a role in the larger plot. It all gets very complicated.
Meanwhile, Marino, her trusty, crusty side kick who has had a crush on her for years, has married her absolutely obnoxious sister.
Every time I think this is the last time I read her new book, I continue reading. The forensic crime parts and the autopsy descriptions I still find interesting. As a side note, somehow the internet knows I am reading these books and I got a notification that there will be a series with Nicole Kidman playing Kay and Jamie Lee Curtis playing the sister.
Anyway, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio book. I know fans will continue to read the series. As will I.
This is my honest opinion.

I was so looking forward to reading a Kay Scarpetta book, but this was a little too technical for me and not very thriller-y. I couldn't get very far and unfortunately this is didnt finish.

Identity Unknown is a stellar addition to the Scarpetta series, with Cornwell's signature meticulous autopsies and a plot full of twists and turns. While it may be best for devoted fans due to the number of subplots, the writing and characters remain top-notch. Readers of the series will appreciate the latest developments and the secrets revealed through Scarpetta's autopsies.

Dr Scarpetta is called to an abandoned theme park to take care of a body who she soon learns is someone she once loved. She had an affair Sith Sal in her earlier years when she taught in Rome. The murder scene has odd points to it.which must be figured out so she can figure out who killed Sal. While performing the autopsy she soon discovers her old friend left her a clue. She takes the clue.and starts her investigation. She doesn't want to believe that out of this world forces are real so she must dig deep to find the true source behind the killing. Follow along and see where the clues lead her and if she can figure out who the murderer is in the end.

Cornwell delivers another well-written Scarpetta novel. The complex plot and cast of characters, both familiar and new, kept me engaged. The Scarpetta series continues to be one of my favorite series.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another fast-paced thriller in the Scarpetta series. I’ve enjoyed this series over the years and Identity Unknown does not disappoint. A captivating mystery with a supporting cast familiar characters makes this book a great addition to the Scarpetta series.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.