Flesh and Blood

By Jackie French

the thrilling finale to the Outlands trilogy. the City has called on Danielle Forest, Virtual Engineer, to find the source of a new influenza epidemic that is infecting the City and threatening the Outlands. the disease partially kills, and those affected become zombies intent on killing all around them. If the epidemic is not controlled, the deaths are likely to be greater than anything seen since the Black Death. Danielle and her boyfriend, Neil, may be infected with the disease, so they must race against time to find the source in order for an antidote to be made. But can they find the origin of this terrible disease before it's too late? Ages 16+

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jul 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781460703885

Jackie French

Jackie French AM is an award-winning writer, wombat negotiator, the 2014–2015 Australian Children's Laureate and the 2015 Senior Australian of the Year. In 2016 Jackie became a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to children's literature and her advocacy for youth literacy. She is regarded as one of Australia's most popular children's authors and writes across all genres — from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much loved historical fiction for a variety of age groups. ‘A book can change a child's life. A book can change the world' was the primary philosophy behind Jackie's two-year term as Laureate. jackiefrench.com facebook.com/authorjackiefrench

Book preview

prologue

The man’s body lay in the bubble tent. It looked peaceful, as though all suffering was over. The dead don’t feel or think.

A woman knelt by the body. Her eyes were red with grief and sleeplessness. She stood, and pushed through the bubble tent’s flaps, then stumbled down to the creek. She knelt again, and splashed her face with water.

The dead don’t see either. But suddenly the corpse’s face grimaced with remembered pain. The woman stepped back into the tent as the dead eyes opened.

She screamed.

She was still screaming as the dead hands grabbed her.

chapter 1

Power.

How can I describe it? As though a light had been turned on in my brain, flooding me with brightness. As though every muscle in my body was magnified a million times. I could leap to the moon, I could seize the universe.

I lay back and let the power trickle through my mind.

Two years ago I had been cast out of the City; my ability to Link directly with computers — and with the others of the Forest who were computer-Linked too — had been taken from me.

Now it was back.

I was Forest again, not a Tree, and for the moment it didn’t matter that there was no-one alive who could Link with me, that the rest of the Forest were dead, except for Melanie, mindwiped and semi-conscious in her City room, and Michael, happily playing Administrator in the City that had banished me.

I let my mind fly through the blessed complexity of the Clinic’s Net.

‘How do you feel?’

I opened my eyes. A plump woman with salt-and-pepper hair and a scent of fresh bread sat by my bed. Dr Meredith.

‘It worked,’ I said simply.

She smiled. ‘I expected it would. It wasn’t a difficult operation.’

‘I don’t know how to thank you …’ My eyes filled with tears. Shock I suppose. Certainly not pain. I’d never need to feel pain again, now I could Link pain-control impulses directly to my brain.

‘Thank Manny. My grandson. Or is he my great-great-grandson?’ The smile grew deeper. ‘It’s hard to remember the generations nowadays. He was the one who operated. My hands aren’t steady enough to hold a scalpel any more.’

They looked steady as she sat peacefully by my side, soft from kneading butter pastry, with ingrained flour along one nail.

‘It’s not just the operation. You took the risk — all of you …’ I didn’t know what would happen if the City discovered what the Clinic had done; if they discovered that this illegal Outlands clinic even existed. I had no idea what the City did to Outlands undesirables — it was something the City Admin never cared to publicise — but I had no doubt it would be brief, savage and drastic.

‘We trust you to be discreet.’ It was said with a smile, but I didn’t doubt the seriousness of her words.

‘When can I get up?’

‘Tonight. There’s a plastiseal over the wound. Give it a few more hours to bond.’

‘And that’s it?’

She smiled again but her eyes were strangely watchful. ‘That’s it. When your hair grows again there’ll be no sign it ever happened.’

‘I … see …’ After so long it was hard to stay in the real world, not to plunge into the sea of data hovering about my mind. I forced myself back. ‘Where’s Neil?’ I tried not to make my voice pathetic. He’d held my hand as they’d wheeled me in. I had expected him to be holding it again now. Power was all very well, but I wanted Neil too.

The smile faded. ‘My dear …’

‘What is it? Something’s happened to him, hasn’t it?’

She nodded. The eyes were wary. ‘He’s still in the operating theatre.’

Suddenly I understood. ‘No! No, he didn’t … you wouldn’t …’

‘I’m sorry, my dear,’ said Dr Meredith.

chapter 2

They let me see him that night. One of the boys pushed my old-fashioned wheelchair into the recovery room, Dr Meredith at my side.

Neil lay unmoving in the bed. His head was shaved, like mine, with the faint pink of plastiseal over six incisions. His eyes were shut, his face blank.

For a moment I panicked. Dr Meredith touched my shoulder. ‘Link anaesthesia, my dear. We’ll keep him unconscious for another twenty-four hours.’

‘And then?’

She shrugged. ‘I won’t lie to you. I don’t know. Nothing like this has been attempted before.’

‘But even if it fails he’ll be like he was before?’

The pressure on my shoulder strengthened. ‘No promises. Even if the operations work there may be … damage. Mental processing is spread through so much of the brain. There may be memory loss, problems with physical coordination. Hopefully there’ll be none of these. But there may be.’

The panic bit deeper. ‘How much memory loss?’

Another shrug.

‘When will we know?’ I tried to keep my voice steady.

She hesitated. ‘I can’t tell you that either. He may wake tomorrow and there may be no problems at all. There may be problems for a year or more and then they’ll settle down. There may be so much damage that it will be kinder to keep him under anaesthetic indefinitely. Neil knew the risks. He accepted them.’

But I didn’t, my mind screamed. I knew nothing of this! Nothing! Why didn’t he ask me …

For the same reason I didn’t ask him when I chose to have my Link block removed. My mind was my own. My body was my own. It was mine to risk …

I couldn’t speak. My body wanted to hurl itself at Neil, warm him with my warmth, share my consciousness with him. I grasped the edges of the wheelchair instead.

One hour, two. I was dizzy with fatigue.

They wheeled me back to my room.

chapter 3

Dinner was turkey — thin strips of meat fried in butter and spices with a dish of tomatoes baked with potatoes at its side. (I could hear the birds gobbling in the distance, on the farm that disguised the illegal Outlands clinic.) I ate it carefully, knowing I needed the food, trying to appreciate its flavours. I’d be able to Link up any flavour and texture I wanted now, could spoon up Basic stodge and let my mind believe I was eating caviar, scooped from the fish before sturgeon became extinct. But I was used to Realfood now.

Dr Meredith brought in the dessert. There were two plates on the tray. She handed one to me, took the other herself and sat by my bed.

It was cherry tart, with custard. I caught the smell of some unfamiliar liqueur.

Dr Meredith took a bite, swallowed. ‘Too much kirsch.’

‘Is that what it is?’

She nodded and took another spoonful of custard. ‘I could give you the recipe if you like. But I suppose you’d prefer me to answer your questions.’

‘Please.’ I tried to think where to start. ‘I don’t understand any of this. How could you do such a thing?’

‘Morally or technically?’

‘Both.’

‘Well, morally — Neil asked me to. I respected his request, warned him of the dangers. Technically …’ she hesitated.

‘Go on.’

‘Remember how you gave me a tissue sample when you and Neil first came here? Well, Neil gave me one at the same time.’

‘What?’ I cast my mind back. ‘You mean he planned this way back then? But we weren’t even lovers yet.’

‘No,’ she said gently. ‘But Neil loved you nonetheless. Didn’t you know?’

I remembered how defensive I’d been two years before. ‘Yes,’ I said slowly. ‘I remember.’

‘Even back then Neil guessed that one day you’d choose to have your abilities restored. He believed — rightly or wrongly — that when that happened you wouldn’t want to share your life with someone who couldn’t Link minds with you, couldn’t even Link with a computer Net and share its power. He asked me if it would be possible to modify his brain to have those abilities too.’

‘And you told him …’

‘I said I didn’t know. I said I’d think about it. And I did.’

‘I manipulated a cell of Neil’s to incorporate your modification, then force-grew a clone. Today we took modified brain tissue from that clone and grafted it into Neil’s brain.’

‘But … but my modification — it’s not all in one place. It’s not like inserting a bit of brain and there you are.’

‘Thank you,’ she said dryly. ‘I’m aware of that. It took four of my boys nearly eight hours, as a matter of fact. It would have been easier of course just to replace large portions of Neil’s brain with his clone’s. But I wanted to preserve the memories. Neil’s clone is only potentially the Neil that you know. We had to keep as much of Neil’s brain intact as possible.’

I put down the cherry tart. Even the ghost of appetite was gone. Dr Meredith shook her head. ‘Carbohydrates are a natural sedative. Eat up.’

My hand shook almost too much to hold the spoon. ‘What are the chances?’

‘Of the operation succeeding? I told you — I have literally no idea. No past experience to judge by.’

‘No. Of …’ I tried very hard not to cry. ‘Of getting Neil back. The Neil I know.’

‘I’m sorry, my dear,’ said Dr Meredith softly. ‘I don’t know that one either.’

chapter 4

There was pumpkin bread with caraway seeds for breakfast, and poached eggs. Neil’s Link anaesthesia had been withdrawn. He hadn’t woken.

I could walk now, though unsteadily. I found Dr Meredith where I had expected to find her, in the kitchen, buttering toast for a couple of the boys. She raised her eyebrows at them as I came in. They nodded to me politely, took their toast in their hands and left us alone.

‘Something’s gone wrong, hasn’t it?’

‘I have no idea,’ said Dr Meredith, calmly putting the lid back on a jar of blueberry jelly. ‘There’s no need for concern …’ she glanced at me and added honestly, ‘… yet. An operation like that causes considerable trauma. I wouldn’t be surprised by at least a 48-hour recovery period.’

‘Neil’s foster parents — Theo and Elaine — do they know?’

‘Yes. One of the boys is keeping in touch with them with a Realtime Virtual Link. There is a Virtual monitor in Neil’s room. They can see him, speak to him. I asked them not to come here in person.’

‘Why not?’

She raised an eyebrow. ‘This is an illegal clinic. Too many visitors would be conspicuous.’

I wanted to say, to hell with being conspicuous. Theo and Elaine SHOULD be here. I wanted them here. I wanted them with me while I watched Neil unmoving on the bed. Dr Meredith had no right …

But she had every right. She had risked discovery to restore my Link, to operate on Neil. It was I who had no right to criticise her.

I spent the morning searching the Clinic’s Net for anything that might have a possible bearing on Neil’s case. Part of me revelled in being able to Link again, match my brain exactly to the computer’s power. The other part felt turned to stone. I couldn’t allow myself to think — or feel — what it might be like if Neil didn’t recover.

One of Dr Meredith’s boys brought lunch to my room — jellied turkey sausage with tarragon and a dish of fresh peas — and checked my incision briefly. I assumed my medical state was being monitored electronically; I could have Linked in to the monitors, if I cared.

I didn’t.

I spent the afternoon with Neil, watching him sleep. But it wasn’t sleep. I knew how Neil slept, his mouth open, a touch of drool at the corner, a gentle snuffle sometimes that would probably grow to a fully fledged snore as we both grew older.

This was too tidy for true sleep.

Occasionally I looked at the Virtual terminal. Presumably it was Linking Theo and Elaine to the room where I now sat. They’d be gazing at their adopted son, just as I was gazing at him. Perhaps they were even speaking to him, touching his hand in case he could hear them, feel them.

If I wished I could Link into the Virtual, have company while I watched.

But I couldn’t bear it. It was my fault their son lay there. If he had never met me …

Venison — not turkey — for dinner.

chapter 5

Scrambled eggs on poppyseed bread; mushrooms on toast; fried eggs and the farm’s smoked turkey bacon — for three days Neil lay there, and I waited.

On the fourth day I sought out Dr Meredith. She was in the kitchen, as she had been the first time we’d met her, two years before, rolling pastry on the wide wooden table. She looked up as I came in. There was no recipe screen beside her. Dr Meredith rarely bothered with recipes, either in her cooking or her surgery.

‘Spice biscuits. Made with a flaky pastry dough. Should be interesting.’

‘There’s no change,’ I said.

‘No.’ She rolled the dough again. ‘I’m sorry my dear. I warned you.’

‘It’s bad then, isn’t it?’

‘That he still hasn’t woken? Possibly. Even probably.’ She brushed the hair from her forehead, leaving a floury smudge. ‘If I had any more data to give you, I would. All we can do now is wait.’

‘For how long?’

‘We can keep him alive indefinitely. You know that.’

‘There’s absolutely nothing you can do?’ I saw her hesitate. ‘There is, isn’t there?’

‘Not yet. But in a week perhaps, if there’s no change. We can try to wake him artificially — the same process as Link anaesthesia, but sending wake brain rhythms instead.’

‘Why not now?’

‘Because this may be what he needs now,’ she said patiently. ‘Often the body knows what it needs best. Even with all our technology the body still has to heal itself. We can only help. I know it’s frustrating doing nothing, waiting. But at this stage that’s all we can do.’

I walked back slowly to Neil’s room, sat by his bed, watched him, felt the pull of the Virtual terminal till finally I stared at it, undecided. Then I shut my eyes briefly and Linked my comsig into the Virtual receiver.

When I opened them Theo and Elaine were there, hovering over the floor as though they sat in an invisible chair — the sofa they must be sitting on back at the utopia.

‘Danny,’ said Theo softly, and I began to cry. Instantly Elaine’s arms were around me and even if they were Virtual arms I could still feel their warmth, smell the Elaine scent that was partly disinfectant, partly hand cream and partly just Elaine.

Finally I looked up. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said.

Neither of them asked me what I was sorry for. Neither said, ‘If he’d never met you he wouldn’t have tried this stupid, hopeless thing.’

They didn’t need to say the words. I knew it too.

Elaine just said, ‘Hush now. Hush.’ She looked pale and dark-eyed, as though she, too, hadn’t slept for days. Theo looked frail and tired. He was the same age as Elaine, but the vampire modification he had been cursed with made him resistant to regeneration and even rejuve. He was only 86, but looked infinitely old.

He made a move as though to touch me too, then checked it. Since the tragic time his blood lust had killed a girl

Reviews for Flesh and Blood

[jenniferrobb · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this as an audiobook while driving. Loved the accent of the man who told us what disc it was and when the end of the disc was. I've read other Kay Scarpetta books but probably not the whole series and not always in the order they were written. I have to say they've probably never been my favorite series--and I'm not really sure what to think of this one.This book starts off with Kay and Benton planning to vacation for Kay's birthday--a vacation that gets interrupted by a murder--a murder that Marino (now with the police department) thinks is similar to another murder in a different state. Lucy, who seems to be a difficult character at the best of times, is suddenly trying to push everyone who loves her away. Kay, her aunt, is concerned but for some reason, doesn't really press Lucy on it until the last third of the book. I'm a little confused as to why Lucy seems to have changed her mind about the people she loves. We find out why she was trying to isolate herself and while the immediate threat is diminished, the person is still out there at the end of the book--but yet it seems Lucy has changed her mind since Janet and Desi are there in Florida with everyone else. Does she think the person will lie low for a while before striking again (as has apparently happened prior to this)?The end of the book was a bit confusing. The light gets turned off and Kay hears a sound. Does this mean that they all relaxed too soon and are going to be thrust right into another plot?

[darthdeverell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Patricia Cornwell’s Flesh and Blood is the twenty-second novel in her series focusing on Medical Examiner Dr. Kay Scarpetta. The story begins with Scarpetta discovering seven polished pennies on her garden wall, all dated 1981. While pondering this, she’s called to the scene of a nearby murder where an acquaintance of hers was shot by a sniper. The mystery compounds as the manner of death ties to two other sniper killings in New Jersey. Meanwhile, back at the Cambridge Forensic Center, other recent deaths are not what they seem. As Scarpetta begins pulling at the strings, she finds that insurance company TPB Insurers links some of the cases.The company has been harassing Scarpetta for some time since they don’t like that her conclusions would require them to pay out on decedents’ policies. Cornwell summarizes Scarpetta’s philosophy, writing, “I can’t undo death but I can make it less unfair” (pg. 36). This way of looking at things runs through most of Scarpetta’s actions and she worries that it is what attracted the killer’s attention. The further Scarpetta digs, the more it becomes clear that she stands at the nexus of this series of crimes. Worse, from the dates on the pennies to the specifics of the crimes, her niece Lucy Farinelli looks more and more like the only viable suspect. Her husband, FBI agent Benton Wesley, and her friend, Detective Pete Marino, become increasingly evasive as the evidence piles up, leading Scarpetta to believe that federal agents are closely scrutinizing Lucy. Scarpetta must decide how best to investigate this crime even if it means finding the guilty among her closest friends and relatives.Though this is the twenty-second novel in the series, Cornwell catches up the reader on most of the necessary details from the earlier books. While long-time readers might find Flesh and Blood more fulfilling, those looking for a good thriller will be able to enjoy the novel without prior familiarity of the preceding books. In the interest of full disclosure, I won this book from William Morrow through a Member Giveaway on LibraryThing in January 2016. I received it from the publisher in April 2019.

[bookdivasreads · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Kay Scarpetta's birthday was supposed to be a quiet day at home with her husband at their Cambridge, Massachusetts home, followed by a birthday trip to Florida. The quiet day becomes anything but quiet when Dr. Kay Scarpetta is called to a murder scene not far from her home in Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell.The murder of a high school music teacher in Cambridge, Massachusetts is quickly linked to several other murders in Massachusetts and New Jersey. With the help of her husband, Wesley Benton, an FBI intelligence analyst or profiler, her computer genius niece Lucy, and her friend and police detective Pete Marino, it is quickly determined that many of these deaths have ties to Dr. Scarpetta. If that's not bad enough, it appears that someone is not only targeting people with ties to Dr. Scarpetta, but also trying to implicate her niece Lucy. Kay knows that her niece is volatile and moody, but she also knows that she isn't responsible for these murders. Is it possible for Kay and her team to discover the mastermind behind these murders before someone else dies? Who knows all of the players so well that he can manipulate them from a distance?I enjoyed Flesh and Blood, as I've enjoyed reading many of the books in the Scarpetta series. I found this to be a quick and engrossing read and probably would have finished the book in one sitting if it weren't for a series of severe migraine headaches and a leaking hot water heater (probably the cause of the headaches). It was nice to reconnect with Kay, Benton, Lucy, and Marino and to see how they've matured and changed over the years. Kay no longer sees things as "black or white." Benton is no longer avoiding conspicuous consumption due to his wealthy family background (a superficial change, but a change nonetheless). Lucy is in turmoil over a possible change in her relationship with her lover (read the book to find out what change). And Marino is back on a police force and just as volatile as he has been in the past. Most of the action in the story takes place over the course of a few days, and Ms. Cornwell packs a lot of action in that brief timeframe. There's quite a bit of technical jargon that slowed me down (okay, my eyes glazed over but that could have been the migraine), but it didn't interfere with my overall enjoyment with this book. Whether you've read any books in the Scarpetta series before or not, Flesh and Blood is an amazing suspense-thriller read. I can't wait to read the next book in this series, Depraved Heart.

[niaomiya · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Hm, well this book was entertaining but not satisfying. I've read all of Cornwell's Scarpetta novels. They've always given me an unsettling feeling in my stomach -- not because of the violence but because of her main characters' personalities: Kay is always getting upset that Lucy and Benton don't tell her things; Lucy is always having personal issues with her love interests, and these personal issues end up having dire consequences; Marino is always hot-tempered and doesn't know how to hold his tongue; Benton is always keeping secrets from Kay because of his job; etc, etc, etc. I find Cornwell like an addictive drug - I don't particularly like her novels because the characters bother me so much, but the more of her novels I read, the more I feel a need to keep reading them. I have no idea why.I never like how politics and bureaucracy always play a HUGE role in Cornwell's novels. There's always antagonism between the FBI and local police (which is actually expected and realistic), but the antagonism this time has gone so far as to be ridiculous. Additionally, there's always some person in law enforcement who does something underhanded - not necessarily against the law but not by the book either - and it always gets taken care of in far too pat a way.I wanted more of a mystery to figure out. They mystery was there, but it was completely overshadowed by police politics, scene reconstruction, scattered plot elements that finally pulled together in the end but in a wholly unsatisfying way.And when we finally find out who's behind all the killings? Very disappointing. And ultimately unresolved, no less! Ugh.

[suzannie1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

loved it , not too much about Scarpetta's personal life with Benton , believable plot and interesting autopsies , great work .

[doseofbella · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Flesh and Blood (A Scarpetta Novel)By: Patricia CornwellHarper Collins 2014. Pages 369Copy Courtesy of: thereadingroomReviewed by: tkOutstanding return of Kay Scarpetta, Benton Wesley, Pete Marino and Lucy for another adventure of murder and mayhem. I love all the characters, however Marino is my all time favorite. I enjoy his dry humor and stale jokes, and Kay is my second favorite. Her insight is absolutely brilliant. Patricia Cornwell never fails to deliver a clever, and suspenseful journey. Sitting down with one of her books are like a home coming. She will entrance you into a world of high profile cases, with twists and turns along the way, until the cliff hanger left for you in the very last sentence. This story is no exception. It leaves you wanting more. If you are a long time fan, or looking for a stand alone novel, this will satisfy your hunger for suspense. 5/5

[marlaamadison · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Cornwell has written better books. Way too much backstory detail and like her last book, predictable and formulaic. Every case Scarpetta deals with has to have a link to the past and be of nearly global proportions. I'm weary of how Lucy gets involved in every case and continues to be larger than life and all-powerful. I'm still waiting for a return to the kind of Scarpetta stories we all fell in love with so many books ago!

[dearheart_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So much for taking a well needed vacation. On the day she's supposed to hop on a plane and leave with her husband FBI profiler Benton Wesley for a week at a condo on a Florida beach, Dr Kay Scarpetta is needed at the scene of a homicide. It seems similar to two homicides recently in another area and Detective Marino believes it was done by the same person; quite at odds over it with the lead detective. It's obvious the guy was shot, but from where? And why have things in the guy's apartment been staged? And what do the victims have in common? A great deal is uncovered in a number of directions.Okay, I've never read a book in this series before. Have some in my TBR bookcase picked up from used book sales, but never got around to them. This is NOT the best place to start. Yes, we do get background information on each of the regulars as well as their relationships with each other. But a reader who isn't familiar with the characters or past events is missing out on what would otherwise generate strong feelings in readers of this series.This story is loaded with details; all sorts of forensic from anatomy to other clues seen, guns, bullets, scenery and characters. While I would normally think this is a good thing, I felt like it was taken in too many directions and derailed my interest a number of times. I wouldn't think a regular series reader would have as much of an issue with this, especially when it comes to the amount of time spent on series regulars that I don't have as much of an interest in.But I did like the mystery and the way so many things pulled together. And I would like to get to know the characters better. I do think I'd like to read this series from the beginning.

[buffalogr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have read most of the books and liked most of them. But after book #21, I gave up on this series. Why did I then read book #22? The same characters: Scarpetta, Benton, Lucy and Marino--all acting the same and with a different plot. It's got quite a fun twist at the end. But, SCUBA diving? I'll wait for a few months before the next dose of Scarpetta.

[ewhatley_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have read books by Patricia Cornwell for many years and she never disappoints me. Her character, Kay Scarpetta, is no-nonsense, beautiful, bright and unafraid. Scarpetta and her hunky FBI agent husband, Benton, make a perfect team, both professionally and personally. You can feel their mutual respect and love for each other without mush or gratuitous sex. In this book we again see Martino, a former employee of Scarpetta's who is now a detective and Lucy, Scarpetta's brilliant and fearless niece. This story focuses on the team working to solve several murders that at first seem unrelated until Scarpetta realizes they may be the work of one killer. The killer also seems to know a great deal about Scarpetta and her team and taunts them, both physically and through cyber attacks. How many will die before they find the killer? Fast-paced and hardcore, a must read for thriller lovers.

[bearlyr · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love all the Dr. Kay Scarpetta stories! This one is no exception! Patricia Cornwell doesn't let you down, her stories are interesting and captivating! Make sure you read this one, you won't be disappointed! Can easily be read as a stand-alone, although it does reference things from earlier books.

[aleahmom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a great read, when I start one of Cornwell's book I feel like I'm coming back to the family that I haven't seen in awhile. I love Mario, he's like someone I know in real life. Lucy is like a daughter everyone would like to have but untouchable. Kay is great, never boring but always the doer. Bentley the stoic FBI. Great Read.

[maureencean · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm rounding up to a 4 on this one as a nod to Cornwell's having gotten back in the game. Most of the things I have complained about with the past few entries in this series were absent this time around, and I hope they remain this way! A big plus for me also was a different narrator who did not come across as superior and conceited. It's possible that I missed a bit of the story while I was driving, but the side story with Sil Machado (sp?) seemed a little underdeveloped. There was one thing I have to comment on that Cornwell hasn't been able drop, which is Lucy's use of the "R" word. I don't see how a highly intelligent woman, especially one who has been subject to intolerance herself, could possibly have it in her vocabulary. Uh oh, I'm talking about her like she is a real person...help me....

[debavp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good read, predictable if you've read the entire series in order, but not boring. My concern is that I saw shades of the angry Cornwell from the middle of the series and I hope that it was actually part of a particular character and not a resurrection of that style of writing. This was one of the few occasions with a series that I was glad I did not have the next book in the house, otherwise I would have started it right then.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed most of this story.. At times I got a little confused with the story line but I couldn't put it down. I needed to find out how each of the characters were going to get through this newest problem. Keep these coming.

[xleptodactylous · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Kay Scarpetta, chief medical examiner, has her holiday interrupted when a man is shot dead minutes from her own home. After careful examination, it seems that the person is connected to her: although it's a loose connection it's one that keeps rearing its head, especially when another body is found and connections are made to two other murders.

I do like Cornwell as a writer, but I'm starting to dislike Kay Scarpetta as a character. If Cornwell had made up a new forensic pathologist and FBI agent for every book she had written I can't imagine it would have made a difference to me with reading them: she writes very well and always holds my attention. She is highly intelligent and, from her previous jobs, knows what she's talking about. The storyline is apt and usually involves real-life events, which are always interesting to learn about. Very rarely does she veer off-course for some tangent that is irrelevant. Patricia Cornwell is a superb writer.

Scarpetta's constantly being interrupted. It's like she's the only person in the world who can work out how somebody died. Everyone else is incompetent. Nobody is telling her anything. Even her beautiful husband (for whom I have the most absurd soft-spot for ever) always keeps things from her. Another day, another psycho who has it in for her. It's getting boring, though I enjoyed that Marino told her that when they first met he thought she was cold and impersonal (slightly paraphrasing as I don't recall the precise words). I kind of feel like that's how the books are becoming.

Having said that I do love Benton Wesley far too much and Cornwell's writing is sublime. She can keep the suspense like no other and, although it is often mindless drivel spurting out of the brain of Kay Scarpetta, it is still bloody good and much better than some other people. It's more of a 2.5 out of 5 but that's more than I'd give to anyone else.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quick read with all the sustaining characters, except Marino, settling into their new territory. Some unique,aspects, trajectories, complicate the crime solving. An old, thought dead, enemy surfaces as the main suspect. Not a prime contender from this series.. Seems to have been written mostly on automatic pilot.

[berly_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Seven new pennies found near Kay's home dash her hopes of vacation. The killer makes impossible deadly shots. The locales seem disconnected. Until finally the evidence implicates her own niece, Lucy. If you like Scarpetta, this one won't disappoint!

[mandersj73 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Gotta give it zero stars since I won a copy in the May 5, 2016 contest and it's now 4 months later and I still have not received my copy. Will likely change the rating after I receive the book and have a chance to read it.

[nwieme-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

MUCH better than her last 3... but still a little too much blahbity blah blah blah on the description of how to test ballistics.

[carolee888 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Patricia Cornwell’s Flesh in Blood is the 22nd book in the Scarpetta Novel Series and I am a devoted fan. Unfortunately, I have missed a few books along the line but I was delighted to have the chance to read about her again. For anyone who missed all of her books, this does very well as a standalone novel.Dr. Kay Scarpetta is well known medical examiner who is married to Benton Wesley, a FBI profiler and she and Benton are all set for her birthday vacation to Miami. They are preparing a lovely dinner on the grill outside when she sees seven pennies lined up on the wall. Oddly enough, they are all Lincoln head side up, oriented in the same direction and have the date of 1981. Kay remembers that is her niece’s birth year. She really needs this vacation, she is burnt out. But that goes away with a phone call.She gets the news that a high school music teacher has been shot by a sniper as he was taking groceries out of his car. There have been several deaths by snipers previously but there doesn’t seem to be anything in common among the victims. The shots are so precise, not aimed for the middle of the head and the bullets are solid copper. There are other things going wrong lately, credit card fraud on Kay’s card, Lucy doesn’t seem to be herself lately. This is complex. The crimes are complex and a lot of attention to the type of weapon, connections between the victims need to be figured out. One thing to consider is who would have the intelligence to plan and execute these crimes?On a personal note, I was surprised to see an electronic system that I used every day when I was working. I was authorized to use the system and flattered that the author said that most non-lawyers would find it difficult to navigate! Back to the book. One thing that I enjoy the most about Patricia Cornwell’s books is that she know how to handle emotions. There is an emotional current running through the story. I felt very uncomfortable about Lucy, I wanted her to be different but Patricia Cornwell, makes her a complex personality who is not out to please. Her characters do not exist just to solve the mystery but they are alive and interacting emotionally. This adds so much richness to her novels.I highly recommend Flesh and Blood to mystery lovers who like a rich, layered mystery experience.I received an Advanced Reading Copy of Flesh and Blood from Amazon Vine and that in no way determined my thoughts or feelings in this review.

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After a long break from Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta series, I started seeing reviews that made me optimistic and I eagerly looked forward to the old writing style I used to wait for, unfortunately, this was not all I hoped it would be. Flesh and Blood is the 22nd book in Patricia Cornwell’s series, which in itself is quite a feat and I imagine, die hard fans or those new to the series will enjoy Flesh and Blood far more than I did. In this book, it is Kay’s birthday and is headed to Miami with her family when she notices shiny 1981 pennies, seven of them to be exact, on her wall, most definitely odd and curious. Not long after the discovery of the pennies, Detective Marino calls Kay to informing her of a homicide near her and the book takes off. Kay finds herself in the middle of the pursuit of a serial sniper, named copperhead, where clues lead her to a shipwreck in south Florida; anything more would contain spoilers. The writing is solid and typical of Cornwell, so what was off for me? I preferred the earlier version of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, when she really worked the Forensic side of things, as her job title indicates. I have missed a lot in the series, so this could be explained in previous books. My second problem is also personal, not technical, I never cared for the character of Lucy and this book is clearly Lucy focused. Flesh and Blood is a well written and tightly woven mystery with a balanced amount of plot twists and the gang is all here; Kay, Benson, Pete, and Lucy. Flesh and Blood is most likely geared for those who have read the series, as part of the book relies on an older character, which is all I will say to avoid spoilers, however those new to the series may just find a new author to back read.

[krissymwhite68 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The latest Patricia Cornwell Scarpetta novel, Flesh and Blood, places doubts in readers’ minds about one of the main character’s mental stability. The book opens with a Kay Scarpetta and Benton Wesley enjoying a leisurely morning in their backyard. The two are celebrating Kay’s birthday and looking forward to an upcoming vacation in a Miami, Florida condo. The peace is soon shattered, and reality sets in when a murder is reported just a few blocks away – this victim previously tied to an FBI case alleging the murder victim of being a terrorist. It is also when Scarpetta notices seven copper pennies lined up on their stone wall - all facing up, all with the same date. All of a sudden the vacation both Benton and Kay were so close to taking is now on hold, indefinitely. It soon appears the murder might be related to two other sniper killings in neighboring New Jersey. As evidence is gathered and witnesses are deposed, there appears to be a link between all of the cases and an investigator for an insurance company who is intent on making the lives of those suing the insurance company very difficult. Connections between Scarpetta’s cases when the insurance company has been forced to pay out start appearing linking prior cases to the current murders. Strange etchings are found and evidence appears to be left purposely for the investigators to find.Data security also seems to be compromised – credit card fraud, password issues. All start appearing as Lucy’s world appears to be unraveling.As Kay begins to examine the evidence, it becomes clear the killer is targeting Scarpetta, herself. Can the dream team of Kay Scarpetta, Benton Wesley, Pete Marino, and Lucy Farinelli solve the mystery connecting these cases before anyone else, especially those closest to Kay are next?

[laura6thomas-5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I’ve been reading this series for years and finished reading the last two books, Bone Bed and Dust, just in time for Flesh And Blood.This is one of those series that never gets old. Some people might see that there are 22 books and not want to start them. Don’t let that number turn you off. You’ll be wanting more new ones after you taste these.It’s a beautiful morning. The charcoal is almost ready for Kay to start grilling, Benton is reading the newspaper, and in just a few hours they’ll be flying to Florida for her birthday. Until…Good thing these two understand that their jobs aren’t 5 to 9. They’re always on call. So when the phone rings, Kay packs her crime scene bag and heads off to a murder. Benton, in the meantime, has a few things to take care of too. First is what’s up with the copper coins on their patio wall? Who left them? What do they mean? And the reflection he spotted in the woods, could it be a sniper?Looks like Florida will have to wait.If I was asked what I liked most about this book, I’d be stumped. The plot is filled with suspense. Copper coins, a terrorist, a serial sniper, and a possible stalker. Lots to keep you guessing.Then there’s the characters. I love Kay and Benton. From the very first book, I wanted these two to be together. Lots of cases and lots of secrets kept them apart for a long time. Even though they’re married now, they still have a spicy relationship. There’s never a dull moment with them, whether working or just being together.About Detective Pete Merino. Pete’s one of those surly, my way or the highway guys. He worked with Kay until he was lured back to police work. He still acts like they’re working together. He’ll call and say he’s got a case and he’s on his way, so be ready when he gets there. It works, since Kay usually gets called to the same crime scenes he does. It’s fun to see them fall into the comfortable working relationship. She anticipates him, kind of knows what he’s going to do or say before he does it. And ditto for Pete.And last but certainly not least is Lucy, Kay’s niece. She’s a technical geek, one of the best, likes to drive fast cars, and flies a helicopter. Kay and Lucy are like mother and daughter, or siblings. They squabble, they worry, they rely on each other. And they always have each others back.All of these characters are dear to my heart. I cross my fingers when I read each new book, hoping they get through it in one piece. All of them have went to the dark side, and some barely made it out.So, what did I like best? Everything.

[grumpydan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While getting ready for a birthday vacation, Dr. Kay Scarpetta notices seven shiny pennies on her stone wall. They all are from the same year as her niece Lucy’s birth year. Then Pete Marino calls to tell that a teacher was murdered and there goes her vacation. A suspense story with the usual cast of characters make this Scarpetta novel as thrilling as it predecessors. Cornwell amazes me as she continues to develop these characters and the story; although an open ending one, still left me satisfied and look forward to what follows next.