Title:	Depraved Heart
	Author:	Patricia Cornwell
	Published:	Harper Collins
	No. of Pages:	466
	Cover Price:	$28.00 Hardcover, $14.99 Kindle

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In the last Scarpetta novel, Flesh and Blood, Kay was almost killed by Carrie Grethen, who supposedly died a few novels back, but who has miraculously reappeared. Depraved Heart is a continuation of the story, but rather than focusing on solving murders that appear on her autopsy table, Kay seems to be constantly trying to keep her niece Lucy out of trouble. In this case, the entire novel is about Lucy’s first lover, Carrie, who is a psychopath, along with several of Lucy’s other relationships. The FBI is searching Lucy’s house to try to pin something on her, and things are not particularly reasonable or believable. Most Scarpetta fans love Kay, but only tolerate Lucy because she is difficult to relate to, and not particularly likeable. Frankly, it is tedious always having to read about Lucy’s lesbian lifestyle and the trouble it has caused her. Heterosexual people don’t go on ad nauseam about their sexuality, and it would be nice if the characters would just stick to the plot, investigate the murder, and surprise the readers with a unique dénouement. It’s also quite upsetting to have a favorite hero who has had a few challenges over the years but always kept her class, let herself go. This is not the Kay that most of us love.

Although it seems that Carrie, who is supposed to be a genius and a cunning villain, wants to kill Kay, she never really tries very hard to get to her, and kills several insignificant people instead. Cornwell’s first novels in the series were absolute page-turners, with lots of well-researched plausible information. The latest novels are barely worth reading.

Although some of the recent past history is explained in this novel, it is one that should be read only after reading at least the last few novels in the series. Unfortunately there is a huge difference in the first novels in the series, and the recent ones; it may be time to wrap up Kay Scarpetta because the books aren’t fun anymore, don’t have interesting medical and forensic information to help solve the murders, and only rub salt into the wounded characters.

This book was purchased with personal funds and no promotion of the book was solicited by the author or publisher.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
Depraved Heart: A Scarpetta Novel, hardcover
Depraved Heart: A Scarpetta Novel, Kindle Edition