Dust by Patricia Cornwell

Title: Dust
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Read by:  Kate Reading
Publisher: Penguin Audio

Length: 14 hours (12 CDs)
Source:  Review Copy from Penguin Thanks!

Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta is homebound and sick with the flu after returning from examining a horrifying tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut.  There is no rest for Kay Scarpetta as her former employee Detective Pete Marino drops by to pick her up early in the morning to investigate a murder.  The victim was found at MIT and is a computer programmer, Gail Shipton, a woman that is currently involved in a messy lawsuit as well as with Kay’s niece Lucy.  Complicating matters further, Kay’s husband, FBI profiler Benton Wesley, helicopters to the scene and suspects that the murder is work of a serial killer he has been investigating in Washington, D.C.  Benton cannot determine the motivation of the killer, and also suspects that there may be corruption in the FBI that is trying to cover the killer’s tracks.

Kay Scarpetta is quite the heroine.  She is smart, sexy, and sure that she is right.  She’s cool under pressure even when doubts about Lucy and Pete fill her mind.  She is fascinating.  I enjoyed the mystery of this audiobook and finding out the resolution, but mostly I find myself riveted by Kay Scarpetta and how she will figure this one out.  I would love to watch her in a TV show or movie.

I listened to this as an audiobook and enjoyed it immensely.  Kate Reading is one of the best narrators in the business and did another excellent job with this novel.   I especially enjoy listening to intriguing mysteries on my long drives to and from work as they keep me interested and make the drive go by fast.  

Overall, another great chapter in the Kay Scarpetta books.  I’ve listened to the last two now and really need to back track to read the rest of the series.  I also look forward to the next novel

The Bone Bed by Patricia Cornwell

Title: The Bone Bed


Author: Patricia Cornwell

Read by: Kate Reading

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Length: Approximately 13 hours (10 CDs)

Source: Penguin Audio Review Copy – Thank-you!

I first discovered Kay Scarpetta last year in Red Mist, and was more than a little excited to review the next book in the series, The Bone Bed. I have discovered that I LOVE to listen to mysteries while in the car. With two hours of commute time per day, most of my reading is now done via audiobook. I don’t want to fall asleep while driving, so it is importantly to me to listen to engaging books that keep my attention and make my drive enjoyable.

Kay Scarpetta feels like life is starting to fall out of her control. Her staff is not performing up to par, her husband suspects her of infidelity, and to top it off, she receives a mysterious video on an email that shows a grisly discovery of a missing paleontologist’s ear. Shortly thereafter, she is in Boston Harbor helping to bring aboard a victim from the sea. The rest of the novel is fast paced sleuthing as Kay tries to solve the mystery of the two murders. It is also very interesting how the Chief Examiner tries to keep her personal life in order at the same time.

I really enjoyed this novel and was intrigued with the mystery. The only part I didn’t like was the tying together of the two mysteries, which seemed a bit farfetched. Kate Reading did a great job as a narrator capturing the essence of each character with a distinct voice. Overall, I enjoyed this audiobook and felt it was over too soon!

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell (Audiobook)

Title: Red Mist
Author: Patricia Cornwell
Read by: Kate Burton
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Length: 11 CDs, approximately 13 hours
Source: Review Copy from Penguin Audio

Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell is the perfect audiobook to make your drive seem very short.  It has been awhile since I’ve read any of Cornwell’s novels and I wasn’t sure if I could pick up the plot not knowing the entire backstory of her heroine Kay Scarpetta.  I didn’t need to worry though; the plot soon sucked me and made me want to go for a car ride just so I could listen to this book.  It’s the kind of audiobook that makes you want to stay in the car long after you’ve pulled into the driveway to find out what will happen next!

Kay Scarpetta was almost murdered six months before the start of the novel by the same murderer that killed her deputy chief, Jack Fielding.  Now the woman that molested Fielding when he was only 12 and bore his child wants to see Scarpetta in the Georgia Prison for Women.  When Kay arrives in Savannah, she discovers that the situation is much more complex than she imagined and that she may have been set up.   With twists and turns at every corner, the mystery unfolds and the suspense is brilliant.   I do not want to ruin this plot for anyone that hasn’t read or listened to the book, but let’s just say that I find myself thinking a lot about where my food has come from after listening to this book!

Kate Burton did an excellent job narrating this novel and the eleven CDs went by fast, I was sad that this novel ended.

If you are looking for an excellent suspense novel to read or listen too, I highly recommend Red Mist.  It is a Kay Scarpetta novel, but you can still enjoy the novel as a stand-alone as I did.  I do want to go back and explore more of her story though!

I read this book as part of the Audiobook Challenge2012.