Patricia Cornwell has created yet another thriller. Kay Scarpetta is finishing up work on a snowy Christmas Eve, looking forward to her long awaited get away with her husband, Benton. However, the phantom slasher strikes again, killing a psychiatrist who used to treat Kay's niece Lucy. The full cast of characters is involved, from Marino, her investigative partner; Lucy, Kay's niece; and Dorothy, Kay's sister and Marino's wife. The getaway is delayed so Kay and Benton can investigate. Returning home exhausted on Christmas night, Kay and Benton are greeted by Dorothy's tacos for dinner. But that's not all that awaits Kay.

A mysterious person is killing, seemingly at will. There are no clues and evidence is destroyed. These killings are always on a holiday. There are so many twists and turns in this book, I was definitely not expecting how it ended. For years, I hadn’t picked up a Patricia Cornwell book, and after finishing this one, I wondered why. Sharp Force kept me engrossed and wanting to know more. Thank you @NetGalley for the advanced copy. It was a great read.

“Sharp Force” is the 29th book in the Kay Scarpetta series. This was one of the first series of books I ever “got into” after reading the third entry, “All That Remains”. But somewhere along the way, I felt like the author had lost her beloved characters. They all were self-absorbed. No one was likable. The books felt long and drawn out with too many details. So, I left the series that I loved so much.

When I was chosen by NetGalley to review this book, I was a little nervous. I wanted it to be good. I wanted the Kay Scarpetta that I loved so much. And for the most part, I was pleasantly surprised.

There are two main mysteries that continue throughout the book. And they are gripping. Not just the edge of your seat mystery, but also emotionally. Marino’s involvement with the children of a victim is touching. When everyone is pressuring Dr. Scarpetta to lean a certain direction, she continues to question, and she is proven correct to not jump at the easy solution.

There were moments of “too many details” that bogged down the narrative, but they were few and far between. Instead, most of the details mattered.

So, is the Kay Scarpetta series back? A conditional yes. The interaction of the main characters is still tough to read. Family can be complicated. I get that. But is there just one moment that they smile at each other, share a joke, have a light-hearted moment, or enjoy being with each other?

As for the ending, it was rushed. Such a beautifully told procedural mystery gets wrapped up with a neat little bow (it is Christmas time, after all) in just a few pages. And honestly, it felt more like they lucked into the conclusion, rather than solved the mystery.

Overall, I am back on board with one of my favorite series. Just a few tweaks to this novel and I would hail the return of the Queen of Forensics.

Patricia Cornwell has done it again!

I love Patricia Cornwell and all of the books with one of my favorite characters, Dr. Kay Scarpetta.

I fell in love with this character way back in the 1990's and have read most of them, if not all of them.

This book was wonderful.
I love following Kay, Benton, Marino, and Lucy. The storyline is past paced and suspenful yet so wonderfully comfortable with all these marvelous characters.

I'll be looking forward to reading more.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Phantom Slasher, a serial killer who uses advanced technology to terrorize before killing his victims, has claimed another casualty, someone Dr. Kay Scarpetta knew years ago. Kay and her Secret Service husband, Benton, cancel their Christmas trip to Europe to investigate.

Although this is the 29th in the series featuring Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta and her supporting cast, it would work as a standalone. The atmospheric settings create a spooky backdrop for the story. A fast, engrossing read, it is very scary in terms of what AI and advanced technology might hold for us in the future. I did find the ending a bit rushed.

I get upset when professionals violate ethical standards in a story and was disappointed when Benton and Kay crossed a line by invading someone’s privacy. I lost a bit of respect for them and do wonder if there will be repercussions in future installments of this series.

Fans of this series will welcome this new addition. Others new to it are in for a thrilling ride.

Of course this was going to be a good read! It is another Kay Scarpetta novel with a suspenseful plot that keeps you turning page after page. In this novel, the doctor takes on a serial killer roaming around Washington D.C. over the holidays. Technology advances again keep the plot interesting, but they don’t go too far to make the story outrageous. While I didn’t want the story to end, I also wasn’t looking forward to a violent, stressful knock out scene between Scarpetta and the serial killer. To my surprise, the ending was quick (maybe too about?) and was resolved without overboard suspense. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read an early copy of Sharp Force.

Once again, Patricia Cornwell has blown me away. For years she has been one of my favorite authors and I was thrilled to get a chance to read Sharp Force before publishing. As always, Scarpetta is right in the middle of all the action. Without giving anything away, this series continues to get better and better. Even after all these years.

Patricia Cornwell does it again. As one of the premier mystery writers of the last fifty years, expectations are high when a new Scarpetti novel arrives. This one didn't disappoint.

The usual elements were there. The diverse personalities of Kay, Benton, Lucy and Pete. The attention to detail. The technical details of forensic science. But this book was a little different. Much more of the content took place in a more passive static sense. There were more introspective conversations. Personalities seemed to emerge more in the character development. The book seemed to have a different feel from previous novels. But that wasn't a negative. It was like looking at the facets of a diamond from a different perspective.

Readers will enjoy the newest novel in the Scarpetti series.

After the first page, I rem3mber why b I have loved every Patricia Cornwell novel. I love being immediately drawn in and unable to put a book down. Kay Scarpetta is one of my favorite characters, and I was not disappointed. A fast-paced excitement ride is what you get once again with a creepy villain.
Beautifully done once again Ms Cornwell and 7ntil we meet again Kay!

It's Christmas Eve and Dr Kay Scarpetta is hard at work completing an autopsy as terrible a storm brews outside. She is soon called upon because the notorious Phantom Slasher has struck again.

The Phantom uses high tech ghost holograms to stalk and terrorize his victims. This time she is summoned to Mercy Island, home to a mental institution where a number of people she helped put away are being held. Can she and her team catch the serial killer before Kay becomes the next target?

I was not familiar with the world of Kay Scarpetta, and there was a bit of a learning curve to get up to speed. I found one thing really odd, the AI Janet (an AI version of a person from their lives that had passed) that Kay's sister spends much of her time interacting with as if she was a real person. I'm sure it is backstories more in another of Patricia Cornwell's novels but it just seemed like a strange fact that the reader needs to accept--perhaps some kind of AI reckoning is coming in a later book in the series. That said, it was a well done (though a little run of the mill) serial killer thriller, though I thought the perpetrator reveal was a bit of a letdown. 3.5 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Sharp Force is another gripping installment from the iconic Patricia Cornwell, and it delivers exactly what fans have come to love: strong investigative detail, compelling characters, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. Kay Scarpetta remains one of the most fascinating protagonists in crime fiction, and her blend of intellect, grit, and humanity continues to shine.

The forensic detail is rich without feeling overwhelming, and Cornwell’s ability to tie in relevant themes and modern threats adds an extra layer of intrigue. The pacing is brisk, the suspense builds nicely, and there are some genuinely chilling moments that kept me fully engaged.

While there were a couple of spots that felt a little dialogue-heavy, the overall story was smart, immersive, and satisfying. Longtime fans will be pleased, and newcomers will find plenty to enjoy in this sharp, sophisticated thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Sharp force is another great read. have been reading Patricia Corwell for years and her writing amazes me she is always on the ball with new technology and the research she must do for her books really show.
The book follows Kay, Marino, Benton, Lucy snd Janet in AI form as there is a killer on the loose using technology to frighten and kill their victims.
Kay and team have to go through all the evidence and try and piece together who is doing it. As usual Kay has her enemies and trying to keep them at bay is never easy. Her sister Dorothy is also around who i find light entertainment, however she is getting very attached to the Janet who appears to be getting a little out of control. A throughly enjoyable read. Thank you for advanced copy.

I had taken a break from Patricia Cornwell for a bit. I came back to read this book, thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I can tell you that the author still has the magic

This book is the Kay, Benton and Lucy (also don't forget Marino) characters that you love. The plot was well thought out, the thrill of the hunt for the killer and how everything was tied together at the end.

This book kept me guessing how it was all related and I loved it.

This is a perfect thriller book!

While this continues the Scarpetta series - it would work as a standalone. However, most of the characters are unlikeable, but they’re flawed, which makes sense. I will say this is better than the previous novels.

Got book early as part of ARC, I didn’t realise it was part of a series but easy to read as a standalone everything is pretty much explained. First time reading this author and in not sure about it - book was fine interesting enough but nothing special.

I really hoped for a thrilling new instalment from Patricia Cornwell, but Sharp Force was a truly dismal read. The plot felt so convoluted and messy that I struggled immensely to follow what was happening, or why I should even invest my time.

The characters felt flat, offering no real connection or depth. The pacing was inconsistent, making the entire experience a chore to get through. It truly failed to capture my imagination, proving to be a profound disappointment.

Scarpetta has been on my reading list for many years, and I love the series. I was disappointed when she was retired a few years ago according to Patricia Cornwell in an interview but I could understand. The series was running out of steam. But then she was back and I was thrilled. Maybe she should have stayed retired, because the other stand alone novels have been great.
The action takes place over a period of days and at one point (around 95%) I was wondering how it would end, and then thought it might extend to 2 books. Then, bam, it's over, concluded in the most surprising way. I enjoy the detail of the work the characters have to do but it holds back on the suspense and readability. There is a lot of focus on one character "having done it" and you have to question if this is pushed too much. I also think the suicide story at the beginning gets lost for it being such a large number of chapters.
An enjoyable book but I was left feeling unsatisfied at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am a Patricia Cromwell fan, getting hooked with her first book Post Mortem, and this book did not disappoint. I am always intrigued at the amount of work involved when someone's murdered, and the cross-pollination of the various teams, each dedicated to a specific job yet blending together to solve a crime. The author does an excellent job at expanding upon each person's task without overloading the details. Her medical examiner explanations are succinct. The fact that Richmond, VA is rich with history and with it's troubles adds to the charm. Patricia Cromwell is an excellent writer who keeps the pace moving along while keeping enough of a backstory to keep you engaged and wanting more. There is no reason not to give this a 5-star review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC ebook for Sharp Force.

I have been a fan of Patricia Cornwell since I read Postmortem for the first time so I was very excited to get approval for this installment of the Kay Scarpetta series. The characters had a much more unlikeable quality to them at times which was nice to see. They are fallible characters just like most humans. Im not sure what is going on with Marino as he was grosser then normal. I feel like his character has run it's course in the series. The cat however was a nice addition to the story-line.

The murders are very unusual. I generally don't try to figure them out as I read because I feel it cuts down on some of the enjoyment. While I wasn't 100% surprised at the reveal, I still enjoyed it. Despite being almost 400 pages (maybe I need to make the font on my Kindle smaller), Sharp Force is a quick read. Cornwell has a gift for for crafting engaging storylines and characters you love and hate at the same time. Sharp Force proves again why Kay Scarpetta has become a fixture in the mystery genre.

Sharp Force was another Kay Scarpetta novel that I couldn't put down! While it may not have been as complicated or involved as previous novels, it did not lack the great characters, extensive detail, and plot twist, that I did not see coming. The character, crime scene, and even food preparation details are so defined that I can actually almost taste what they had for dinner. I adore these characters and am always waiting for a new novel so that I spend time with them again. The little bit of family dysfunction, especially at the holidays, makes it so much more real. This was a great read and was very gripping. Patricia Cornwell got me on this one and I definitely did not figure out who the killer was or could have been. Definitely add this to your to be read list!