Cause of Death

by Patricia Cornwell
Cause of Death cover
Good Books rating 3.5
Mystery
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Paperback • £9.99
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  • ID: 6332
  • Added: 2025-11-12
  • Updated: 2025-11-15
  • ISBN: 9780748109326
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2008-09-04
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Patricia Cornwell's 'Cause of Death' is the seventh book in the acclaimed Kay Scarpetta series, soon to be an original series on Prime Video. This gripping novel features an investigative reporter found dead in Virginia's icy waters, setting the stage for a complex murder investigation. Scarpetta, along with her niece Lucy and police captain Pete Marino, must navigate a world where both advanced technology and traditional detective skills are essential to solving the case. The story delves into the dark and forbidding depths of violence, as the trio follows the trail of death to its chilling conclusion. The book is praised for its intricate plotting and Cornwell's mastery of crime fiction, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. The series has shaped the world of crime fiction, with Cornwell being hailed as one of the best crime writers of our time.

Reviews
Grave Tapping · 2024-01-17
mixed 3.00

The story is ambitious but would have been more compelling if it had focused on a smaller, more believable criminal plot. The inclusion of a cult adds unnecessary complexity.

The reviewer appreciates the ambition of the story but feels it loses its way by trying to cover too much ground. By introducing a cult, the narrative becomes less believable and more convoluted. They suggest that a more focused approach would have made the book more enjoyable. The reviewer also notes that the characters are well-developed, which helps to keep the reader engaged despite the flaws in the plot.

Quick quotes

    Cornwell went big with the story, but a better play would have been to keep it small and criminal and believable.

    A nasty cult is involved, too.

    The writing quality receives positive feedback, but the plot is seen as overly ambitious.

That One Book Reviewer · 2023-06-11
great 4.00

The writing and characters are handled so well that the book can be read in just two sittings. However, the reviewer feels a sense of nervousness about the fast-paced nature of the story.

The reviewer is impressed by the quality of the writing and the development of the characters, which make the book a quick and engaging read. They mention that they can finish the book in just two sittings, highlighting its fast-paced nature. However, the reviewer also expresses a sense of nervousness about the speed at which the story unfolds, suggesting that it might be overwhelming for some readers. Overall, they appreciate the book's ability to keep them engaged from start to finish.

Quick quotes

    The writing and the characters are handled so well that I can read these novels in honestly two sittings.

    It makes me sort of nervous that the story unfolds so quickly.

    The book's fast-paced nature is both a strength and a source of nervousness for the reviewer.

BooksPlease · 2014-12-28
good 3.50

The murder investigation is engaging, but the subsequent scenes involving terrorism and religious fanatics are less interesting. The book's strength lies in its factual analysis and depth.

The reviewer finds the murder investigation to be the most compelling part of the book, praising its engaging narrative and depth of factual analysis. However, they are less interested in the scenes involving terrorism and religious fanatics, which they find less engaging. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to blend factual analysis with a compelling story, but they feel that the inclusion of these elements detracts from the overall experience.

Quick quotes

    However, although the murder investigation was interesting I wasn't all interested in the terrorist/FBI/religious fanatics scenes that followed.

    This one brings a decent dose of conspiracy theory but backed up with the usual depth of factual analysis.

    The book's strength lies in its factual analysis and depth.

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