The Bone Bed

Written by Patricia Cornwell

Narrated by Kate Reading

From one of the world’s top selling crime writers comes the extraordinary twentieth Kay Scarpetta novel.

A woman has vanished while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada. Somehow, the only evidence has made its way to the inbox of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, over two thousand miles away in Boston. She has no idea why.

But as events unfold with alarming speed, Scarpetta begins to suspect that the paleontologist’s disappearance is connected to a series of crimes much closer to home: a gruesome murder, inexplicable tortures, and trace evidence from the last living creatures of the dinosaur age.

When she turns to those around her, Scarpetta finds that the danger and suspicion have penetrated even her closest circles. Her niece Lucy speaks in riddles. Her lead investigator, Pete Marino, and FBI forensic psychologist and husband, Benton Wesley, have secrets of their own.
Feeling alone and betrayed, Scarpetta is tempted by someone from her past as she tracks a killer both cunning and cruel.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Aug 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781705079201

Patricia Cornwell

Patricia Cornwell is recognized as one of the world’s top bestselling crime authors with novels translated into thirty-six languages in more than 120 countries. Her novels have won numerous prestigious awards including the Edgar, the Creasey, the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Prix du Roman d’Aventure. Beyond the Scarpetta series, Patricia has written a definitive book about Jack the Ripper, a biography, and three more fiction series among others. Cornwell, a licensed helicopter pilot and scuba diver, actively researches the forensic technologies that inform her work. She was born in Miami, grew up in Montreat, North Carolina, and now lives and works in Boston. 

Reviews for The Bone Bed

[chris.wolak · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kay Scarpetta is back. We were book buddies for a long time, but I didn't see her for a while. Then a few years ago we caught up again in my car via audiobooks and have been seeing each other annually for the last few years.

I know, I know, some of you out there have quit reading this series, thinking it went down the toilet. I admit it was hard going for a while, but as I've said the last two years, I believe Cornwell is getting back on track. Her plots are always intense, but I read this series for the characters. I'm always curious about what's going on in their lives and what new twists Cornwell will turn.

The Bone Bed is the 20th Kay Scarpetta novel, which means this cast of characters has been together for a long, long time. Some of the old patterns are repeated: Marino gets into trouble, Lucy is secretive, and Scarpetta deals with a disloyal insider. I was okay with Marino's trouble and with Lucy's aloofness, but the disloyal insider stick seemed a little forced this time around. I really like what's going on with Lucy's character in this book (animal rights activism and a blast from the past) and hope these lines are developed in future novels. Benton and Kay are a bit shaky even with the hot morning sex, but we all know sex doesn't necessarily imply a happy relationship. I'm sure we'll see more of their strain in future books. Benton is probably the least interesting character at this point in the series. I've never trusted him since that fake death/Bobby Ewing phase. I no longer get what Scarpetta sees in him.

All of the action takes place over two days in Boston. Unfortunately, there's no archaeological action up in Canada, but Scarpetta suits up and jumps in the Boston Harbor to pull in a body that's been set adrift in a rather diabolical manner. There's a long court room scene that didn't seem all that realistic (would a judge allow an attorney such free reign?) and the final action scene doesn't seem all that suspenseful (we all know Scarpetta won't be murdered, right?), but all-in-all, this is a well-paced thriller where the feelings of anxiety are almost palpable, but not crippling to the characters. Scarpetta is getting back to being more of the confident, yet sensitive woman she was in early novels--more action, less paranoia. I hope that trend continues.

I'm not sure how appealing The Bone Bed will be to readers who are unfamiliar with the series, but I'm one of those hopelessly habitual readers who almost always has to start reading a series with the first book.

Now begins the long wait until next year....

[lrobe190 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

My review: Almost too much detail, too many threads without relevance to main plot; ending was a let-down.

[brumby18 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

another fun bit of bus reading, but no real substance - characters and plot too convoluted for me to really appreciate them and it. tied up OK at the end but took a while - not a page turner.

[andy_dimartino · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ok, that's more like it. Not as dark and gloomy as her last 2 books were. Pace picked up quite a bit and I flew thru this one like it was a Prey novel. Keep it up Patricia

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

MUCH better than the previous 3 Scapettas... but a rather lame ending. Book was good until it wasn't lol... if you know what I mean. Things just didn't gel. But better than the last few.

[decaturmamaof2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So this book improved for me after a "meh" beginning. Not the best Scarpetta, but entertaining.

[ameise1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Exciting from the beginning, I realize that I have neglected [[Patricia Cornwell]] 's books.First, Scarpetta realizes that she has a message on her mobile phone from someone with dangerous thoughts. Shortly thereafter, she is sent to a crime scene in the harbor bay. She is filmed by unknown. Too late, she comes to a court hearing and the footage is shown there. Identifying the dead from the bay is difficult. Scarpetta discovers that there are even more deaths. It turns out that this must be a serial killer. Who is behind it? Scarpetta puts herself in danger.

[over.the.edge · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not sure why I couldn't get into this. I tried 3 times. I enjoyed other books by this author, but....this one I had to bail on. But still love Patricia Cornwell.

[lesliehurd · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Once again Scarpetta is on the trail of a serial killer, though it takes awhile for the deaths to be linked. The cover blurb refers to secrets being kept by those closest to Scarpetta, her husband, niece, and chief investigator, but not much is made of said secrets in the book itself. There's slightly less whining in Bone Bed than in the previous "Red Mist," but there's not much else to recommend it. She spends a good time referring to characters who really have little to do with the plot, the "secrets" are irrelevant, and while the identity of the killer surprised me, I barely recognized his existence in the book prior to the great reveal. I think this series has come to the end of the line. And having been completely unimpressed with her other series, I don't imagine I'll be reading another Cornwell anytime soon.

[karenherndon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First I've read of this author and will definitely read more of her books.Good mystery- kept me guessing all the way to the end which is seldom for me. Liked her writing style, characters and her layering of false info to keep they mystery going.

[deankut · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scarpetta strikes again! While I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I would advise the reader not to try and guess Whodunnit. This is a real life accounting of crime, where even sometimes the professionals are stumped. I highly recommend this novel, as well as all Patricia Cornwell novels. It is refreshing to read a book entrenched in reality.

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've read other books in this series--just not necessarily in the series order. I did find it took me a bit to re-settle into the characters to know who was who and who did what. Something different in that there were not many suspects identified during the investigation. That cut down on me being able to guess who the killer was during the story.Despite the title the bone bed (a dinosaur paleontology dig in Canada) doesn't factor overly prominently into the story, though it does seem to be the factor that ties several seemingly unrelated things together.

[jalenv_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My late mother didn't have many Kay Scarpetta novels, but the ones she had sent me to our library to eagerly check out more. Blow Fly ended that interest. Still, when The Bone Bed showed up among the library's newer audio mysteries, I decided to give it a chance.I see that quite a few changes have come to Scarpetta's life since the book I didn't bother to finish. I did finish this one, but that had more to do with the victims than Scarpetta, who was getting on my nerves. Got to feel smug because I'd latched onto a clue that pointed me in the right direction. The narration was adequate.

[jepeters333 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When a famous paleontologist vanishes from an excavation site in Alberta, Kay Scarpetta receives a disturbing message that makes her believe that the disappearance may become her next case. But things quickly begin to change, leaving Scarpetta wondering who she can trust and fearing that this time she is really on her own.

[maryreinert · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kay Scarpetta as forensic examiner becomes involved with the deaths of three similar women; all "of a certain age", educated, and without any obvious reason why they should be killed. Set in the harbor of Boston where they pull one unknown woman from the deeps, things get complicated when the woman's body is tangled with a rare turtle. Typical Scarpetta crime novel.

[cindyb29 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Story OK but don't like Cornwell's writing style since she changed it to first person. Very name- and label-conscious; too impressed with the wealthy. Won't read her again. Also, most of the book centered on a 2-day period, and the end seemed too rushed and over too quick.

[buffalogr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked the book. It was interesting and kept me in it as I listened while driving I-10. Scarpetta is becoming more human with attendant foibles. The technical expertise throughout the book is amazing and indicated much author research. Sometimes, the detail is excruciating. Also, I think it's a bit unbelievable that Scarpetta and hubby don't share case secrets, even after sex...that complicated solving the crime. The bad guy wasn't even introduced until about an hour to go. This is not the first time Cornwell has done this to me, so next time I'll just float around for the first 7/8 of the book and not try to guess whodunit.

[tish.delanoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Truly enjoyed this one! As usual, you didn't disappoint

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

Book DescriptionRelease date: September 3, 2013 | Series: A Scarpetta Novel (Book 20)A woman has vanished while digging a dinosaur bone bed in the remote wilderness of Canada. Somehow, the only evidence has made its way to the inbox of Chief Medical Examiner Kay Scarpetta, over two thousand miles away in Boston. She has no idea why. But as events unfold with alarming speed, Scarpetta begins to suspect that the paleontologist’s disappearance is connected to a series of crimes much closer to home: a gruesome murder, inexplicable tortures, and trace evidence from the last living creatures of the dinosaur age. When she turns to those around her, Scarpetta finds that the danger and suspicion have penetrated even her closest circles. Her niece Lucy speaks in riddles. Her lead investigator, Pete Marino, and FBI forensic psychologist and husband, Benton Wesley, have secrets of their own. Feeling alone and betrayed, Scarpetta is tempted by someone from her past as she tracks a killer both cunning and cruel.

[beckyhaase · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It has been a while since I read a Scarpetta novel so it tookme several chapters to get up to speed on the characters. This was a bit more convoluted than I remember. The red herring was enough to fool me. I was rooting for the wrong "bad guy" for most of the book. I'm still not sure I know who the bad guy was - do I remember him at all???? A good, mystery.

[cookiemo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm not sure why I keep buying her books. I feel that they no longer are as gripping as they used to be. This one seems to wander round and about for some time and it is only toward the end that it really grips you. Why is it called 'The Bone Bed'? This is only a small part of the story, or perhaps I was missing something. I must admit I was surprised at who the guilty person was though. A pleasant read but no where near as exciting as they used to be.

[twink_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

When Patricia Cornwell first started writing, I loved her books featuring forensic pathologist Kay Scarpetta. But, slowly but surely the love affair ended and I stopped following this series. Well, recently I needed something to listen to, so I decided, what the heck, I'll give her another shot. So I picked up her latest book - The Bone Bed.Scarpetta is now the medical examiner for the state of Massachusetts. Her niece Lucy, a talented tech wizard and investigator Pete Marino also work with/for her. Kay's husband Benton, an FBI profiler, also often works with Kay.Scarpetta receives an email which documents a crime committed against an American paleontologist working in Alberta and now missing. Lucy finds evidence that the clip may be connected to a murder on U.S. soil. So, a good premise and I was intrigued.But....although I enjoy personal story lines in addition to the main plot, I quickly grew tired of listening to what seemed to be the same old, same old. Benton and Kay are having relationship problems, Lucy is being secretive, Kay's staff are betraying her, Marino is in trouble again. Sound familiar? Cornwell fills out the story with endless detail - which refrigerator is the parmigiana in - number one or two? "I check my oversized titanium watch on its rubber strap and reach for my coffee—black, no sweetener—as distant footsteps sound in the corridor of my bullet-shaped building on the eastern border of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s campus. It isn’t light out yet this third Monday of October." First lines of chapter one. The reader was Kate Reading. I have to admit she's not one of my favourite narrators. I find her habit of dwelling on final consonants and drawing out words slightly annoying. But her tone does seem to fit the character of Kay, who seems to see herself as somewhat superior and whom I find supercilious. The ending and the 'culprit' were such a letdown. And confirmed why I will be saying goodbye again to Patricia Cornwell. If you're so inclined - read an excerpt of The Bone Bed.(The title The Bone Bed refers to the dinosaur bone deposits in Alberta, Canada. Although they are featured in the opening scene, they truly didn't have a lot to do with the story. It almost felt like Cornwell was copying Kathy Reich's penchant for using the word bone in many of her titles that also feature a forensic pathologist.)

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Maybe I am tired of Kay Scarpetta, but I did not find this book as exciting as the previous books in this series. Also, I am unsure about the killer in this book. It was like the character came from nowhere. I also found the characters to be weak and uninteresting. This was the first disappointment of a Patricia Cornwell novel.