Body of Evidence

Written by Irene Hannon

Narrated by Thérèse Plummer

The dead don't give up their secrets easily

Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of older residents whose demises appear to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths, as well as her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. And once they join forces to investigate, danger follows. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives—including Grace’s.

Queen of inspirational romantic suspense Irene Hannon closes out her bestselling Triple Threat series with this gripping tale of secrets revealed and romance sparked.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 4, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705067314

Irene Hannon

Two-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is the bestselling author of 40+ romance and romantic suspense novels. She has also won a National Readers’ Choice Award, a Carol Award, a HOLT Medallion, a Daphne du Maurier Award and 2 Reviewers’ Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews. Booklist named one of her novels a “Top 10 Inspirational Fiction” title for 2011. Visit www.irenehannon.com.

Reviews for Body of Evidence

[Cherrie Hart · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Engaging and suspenseful. Loved it. This author is quickly becoming a favorite.

[eyejaybee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the second novel featuring Chief Medical Examiner Dr Kay Scarpetta, and established her working relationship with Lieutenant Pete Marino, Chief of the detective Division of Richmond Police Department, and Benton Wesley, one of the FBI’s Leading profilers. For once, Dr Scarpetta’s forensic skills in the examination of murder victims play less part in the resolution of the crime, in which she is thrown more onto her own resources as a detective.In this case the victim is a successful historical novelist, who is found dead from a brutal assault in her own house. It gradually emerges that she had been stalked for a while before her death, and the terror caused by this was so great that she had decamped from Virginia to the Florida Keys. Running low on funds, she had eventually returned to Richmond, oinly to be murdered on her first night back in the city. What made it seem even more strange was that, despite her fear, she appeared to have let her murderer into the house.As usual with this series, there are various political shenanigans lurking under the surface, exposing the tensions between the different elements of a criminal justice system in which senior office holders are always conscious of the need for re-election. Scarpetta is a very empathetic character, and also highly plausible. However, I felt that the plot in this case was weaker than in its processor (Post Mortem), and I feel that if I had picked up this book first, I might not have bothered with any others in the series.

[readingover50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this book. Dr Scarpetta's personal relationships are not as developed in this book as they are in later books, but that is what happens when you read books out of order. I liked that the story was about an author. The central mystery was a little convoluted. The killer seemed pretty random, but maybe that was the point. Sometimes bad things just happen. I am looking forward to reading more in the series.

[neverwithoutabook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this second novel in the Kay Scarpetta series. Much improved over the first. The "who dunit puzzle" held true to the end. I was also pleased the romance storyline went the way it did although I wasn't really on board with it. Wrapped up quite nicely.

[kristina_brooke-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my intro into the world of Kay Scarpetta and while it was interesting it was rather predictable. The "Killer" was of no interest to me and the story becomes almost too staged for there to be any real suspense. However, Kay and Marino are very interesting characters whose opposing personalties blend well. I am a Patricia Cornwell fan now and would love to see how her writing has progressed.

[aliceanna-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One of her older ones before people say she started phoning it in. I liked this one. The plot was probably a bit of a stretch, but the story moved along without being predictable. Good character development and writing style.

[ecw0647 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The heroine is Dr. Kay Scarpetta, the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia. Oh, no, you say, another Ouincv. Wrong, corpse-breath. Scarpetta is intelligent, short, (we don't know whether she is attractive or not, a relief) and she doesn't swoon over each drooling Sylvester Stallone imitation that happens by. (That's something I've always wondered about: How does Travis McGee, the blue-Rolls-Royce-truck-driving hero of John MacDonald's colored-titled novels avoid AIDS, since he seems to have the self-restraint of a male nymphomaniac?
Anyway, Scarpetta is investigating the murder of a well-known novelist who has returned from the Florida Keys where she has been hiding from someone who keeps threatening to kill her. The night of her return she inexplicably opens the door to the murderer who does just that. The plot thickens as her former boyfriend, a lawyer, appears on the scene worried about her safety and to prevent her (he says) from crossing swords with a crooked entertainment lawyer (redundancy?) who desperately wants the victim's last manuscript. The book is filled with fascinating detail such as the difference between dextromethorphan and levomethorpan which has to do with right and left and why one is legal and the other not. Enough about the plot.

[buffalogr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Another great Scarpetta book. Fun read/listen with twists of plot that engage the reader.

[emscape · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

An author receiving threatening phone calls decides to hide for a while down in Key West and work on her memoir. She’s murdered the very night she sets foot back in Richmond. Kay Scarpetta, Richmond Chief Medical Examiner, investigates the case along with the intensely dislikable Lieutenant Marino. It looks like a psycho stalker did the deed, but the missing manuscript has an unscrupulous and greedy agent complicating the investigation in order to get his hands on the valuable pages. Cornwell’s writing is fast paced, technical enough to be realistic to those familiar with law enforcement and psychiatry, but also understandable to the lay person (although I’m not sure why the ME is getting so involved, it’s been my experience that they mostly limit their investigations to autopsies and evidence found on the body).Unlike a lot of female protagonists in crime novels, I can’t fault Kay very much with putting herself in dangerous situations, but again, she does get much more involved with the case than one would expect from someone in her job description and much, much closer to the killer than necessary. I mentioned this in my review of the first Kay Scarpetta book, Postmortem but it bears repeating: if your lengthy and intensive investigation leads you almost to the point where you know who/where your killer is and said killer shows up at the protagonist’s home/work/favorite restaurant, etc. and tries to kill him or her, your entire investigation is pointless. You pretty much could have waited until he showed up and saved yourself a lot of trouble. I get that it’s nice to have a suspenseful, dangerous climax, but that does not have to happen on the investigator’s own turf.I like a good crime novel, and this had enough twists, turns, and possible suspects to keep me entertained, but the ending seemed a little pat and coincidental. I would rate it as average. 3 stars.

[es135_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a stellar novel by Patricia Cornwell. I especially enjoyed the kind of gothic tone carried in the scenes with the reclusive old lady and her spooky home. The technology, or lack thereof, of the early 90's made me chuckle a few times. For me, the book was kind of slow for the first 2/3 of the novel. Fortunately the last third brought a faster pace and the ending actually gave me chills. Overall, crime readers will probably enjoy this one, and it is alway nice to read about a strong female investigator.

[gatorhater · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Beryl Madison is writing a book in seclusion in Key West Florida, when she decides to return to her home at Windsor Farms in Richmond, Virginia. Shortly after her arrival, she's violently murdered at her very secured residence that has a high class burglar alarm system. Arriving at the murder scene is chief medical examiner for Virginia, Dr. Kay Scarpetta, during her investigation she's questioning how the murderer gain access to Beryl's residence, was the alarm set, did she let the killer in or was there a delay in the alarm too set. About the only physical evidence that was optained during the search were different types and colors fibers on Beryl and within her residence. The investigation heats up rapidly when Cary Harper an associate of Beryl is murdered in his driveway. Beryl was in a bitter dispute over a contract he had with Cary that was signed years previous while livig in Culter Grove, she thought that she was being taken totally advanaged off. Now the plot thickens !!!!

[hscherry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Patricia Cornwell has to be one of my favourite authors and yet again she has delivered a fabulous book. A gripping tale, strange twists.. Loved it!

[kaylol · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I expected a more dynamic ending to this incredible book.

[illanoygal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Once again, another page-turner from Patricia Cornwell about Dr Kay Scarpetta.

[joannsmithainsworth · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed this book, even though the forensic description was a bit burdensome.

[kristinabrooke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my intro into the world of Kay Scarpetta and while it was interesting it was rather predictable. The "Killer" was of no interest to me and the story becomes almost too staged for there to be any real suspense. However, Kay and Marino are very interesting characters whose opposing personalties blend well. I am a Patricia Cornwell fan now and would love to see how her writing has progressed.

[fmrox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, MD and Detective/Lieutenant Marino team together to solve the brutal stabbing death of a local author. Other murders ensue and the plot thickens.I have gone back to read this book after reading over 10 other Scarpetta novels. The plot is much tighter than her later novels. The characters are not as drab and as depressing in much later novels. Scarpetta smokes and it's really annoying as Cornwell tends to fill a lot of her pages with this activity. Marino isn't as nasty and is less subterfuge with his emotions. No Lucy either. Things are better before things got too complex.

[darlingtrk_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Body of Evidence is a reasonable detective story. It has a good premise and likeable characters. The reader is very talented. I enjoyed the interplay between Scarpetta and the detective. They had a great like / dislike going on. The plot is a little dated with the smoking and the prominent gay theme, but the story is believable and changed location enough to be interesting: VA to NY to Key West. After reading a lot of detective fiction this story does not stand out as one of the best, but it is not predictable, and it is not overblown. Above average.

[bnielsen_30 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

USA, 1990.Body of Evidence starter den 30 oktober 1990. Datoerne er baseret på bemærkninger på side 283 og 311-312 om at 10 april 1979 var for 11 år siden. Pete Marino er for nylig forfremmet til Lieutenant og har fået en ny Ford i stedet for hans gamle Plymouth. Han er i starten af 50erne. Mark James, som kom sammen med Kay Scarpetta da de læste jura mere end 15 år siden, dukker op igen.Kay Scarpetta undersøger det brutale knivdrab på Beryl Stratton Madison, som er en storsælgende forfatter. Hun flygter fra Richmond og tager til Key West, hvor hun få timer efter bliver myrdet med knivstik - 27 styks. Det sker den 29 oktober 1990, Cary Harper bliver dræbt den 10 november 1990, Sterling Harper bliver dræbt den 11 november 1990.Al Hunt bliver dræbt den 16 november 1990.Morderen er en Frankie, som også forsøger at dræbe Kay, men hun skyder i stedet ham.Thriller-agtig krimi

[jepeters333 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author Beryl Madison is brutally murdered and her missing manuscript holds secrets.

[darrol_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good self contained volume in this series.

[ct4bergeron · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Reclusive author Beryl Madison finds no safe haven from months of menacing phone calls -- or the tormented feeling that her every move is being watched. When the writer is found slain in her own home, Kay Scarpetta pieces together the intricate forensic evidence -- while unwittingly edging closer to a killer waiting in the shadows....

[miketroll · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One for lovers of gruesome autopsy reports. After all Cornwell' s serial killers in Richmond VA, I don't understand why anyone still lives there.

[msbeautiful · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good mystery, especially for someone who likes science/anatomy