I’ve never read any of the Scarpetta novels before. This is my first one. Honestly it’s terrible. I was looking for a more serious plot than the the usual bedside mystery novels. But this is terrible. Usually you are trying to figure out whodunnit along w the sleuth. This novel is just walking me through her forensic day. Pretty ho hum. Luckily I’m reading in the reviews that this is not usual. I want to finish it but I’m not invested in any of these characters. I really wanted to get immersed in this novel, and I never rate books. Never. Would give it a ZERO if I could, sadly.